I see where TN is 3rd in the RPI rankings. I would think that if they could continue as they have played and win the SEC tournament, they would get a #1 seed in the Dance.
Most Tennessee fans are waiting to see if the bottom will drop out. We are not used to this kind of success from the men's team. I'm taking advantage of it while I can! :lol:
From what I can gather UConn and Duke are almost Locks for #1 seeds. Villianova is close to being a #1 seed, Tenn, Texas, Gonzaga all have good shots at #1 seeds. So does Fla. Terry
Tennessee has a bad weekend after losing to the Tide on the road. I had bad feelings after we bbroke into the top 10 that there would be a let down. Unfortunately, I was right. :cry: Out of respect for Bryan and KP, I declined to use this picture for my avatar. However, I will display it anytime that Bama beats us! :twisted:
Here's some interesting speculation.... If Steve Alford leaves Iowa to take the Indiana job, Bruce Pearl was extremely interested in the Iowa job a few years ago when they hired Alford over him. He is from Iowa! Could be with his great season this year that he might consider overtures from the Hawkeyes, even if to do nothing but extract a "hefty" extension from Tenn. Terry
It's okay with me <r>Tom, use whatever picture you want, as long as the score remains the same. <E></E></r>
Either the SEC is very balanced with great teams or the conference is very mediocre with balance. I think the SEC has teams capable of great play but not consistently enough to make the Final Four and probably not the Elite 8 either. UF has now lost three in a row and never were really in the game today vs. Bama although it was tight throughout. I expect Tenn to lose two more times, UF to lose two more times and a team like Bama or LSU or Ky to win the SEC tourney. No SEC team will be better than a 5 seed most likely unless LSU goes on a tear and wins the tourney. 6 SEC teams in the NCAAs with maybe two making the Sweet 16.
The only thing I can say is that ND went to Alabama and beat the Tide in the dedication game for their new court. We were up by something like 20pts at half and went on cruise control to win handily (but not by 20). This is a ND team that is not in the top 12 of the Big East. I doubt if any SEC team other than Tenn maybe could compete in the Big East upper level, this year. Next year of course could be the other way around. Terry
It's precisely that inability to beat non-con teams that has me skeptical about the SEC in the NCAAs. Beating up on each other isn't very impressive and no elite team has emerged from the SEC nor will it. I thought Tenn. could be that team but 2 out of 3 losses later (and UF had the ball with a last shot opp. to win last Wed.) I don't think the Vols are Elite 8 material. I do see Tenn, LSU, Ark and Bama with the best Sweet 16 chances however. UF under Donovan has trouble in the close ones and the NCAA is all close ones.
MCG wrote: You won't get any argument from me on that one MCG. I am so happy that we are showing progress in men's basketball but I can also see that we have a lot of room for improvement. :wink:
Gators teams the last 5 years... 2001-2002 6-5 last 11 (lost 2nd rd SEC, 1st round NCAA) 2002-2003- 6-5 last 11 (lost 1st rd SEC, 2nd round NCAA) 2003-2004 6-5 last 11 (lost 3rd rd SEC, lost 1 round NCAA) 2004-2005 8-3 last 11(won SEC, lost 2nd rd NCAA) 2005-2006 5-6 last 11 (?) I think for Donovan to be successful that his teams must have very good depth because that pressing, full court style just runs out of gas at the end of the grueling SEC schedule. In 1999-2000, the NC game year, UF had great depth with Haslem, Miller, Nelson, Bonner, Harvey, Dupay, Weaks and Wright. All of these 8 players contributed mightily and the last 11 regular season games UF went 9-2 in the SEC. It's too damned bad that Walsh and Roberson decided to take off prematurely for the NBA or else this Gator team would be a vastly deeper and better team than it is.
Interesting stats on the Gators you put up. Does anybody have the depth anymore to play the 40 minutes of hell ( isn't that Pitino called it?). UConn always seems to have a lot of depth, and while I don't think of them as plodders, they play a variety of styles they can execute in the 1/2 court, they can run with you and play defense but they don't play the 40 minute man to man press. This may be the best Texas team that Rick Barnes has had, better maybe than the TJ Ford final four team. But even given that he's recruited incredibly well we still don't have the depth of talent that it would take to play like you describe. And he hasn't had a lot of guys leave early for the Pro's. Terry
"40 minutes of hell" was coined for the great Arkansas teams of the mid-90s and they most likely did have the depth to run it effectively.