A couple of weeks ago I was listening to some talking heads on ESPN radio discuss whether or not Miami should be ranked No. 1. Their biggest arguement against was that they had lost to Florida Gulf Coast. Not such a good arguement now.
Gip, I spent all day saying that, as well. Yesterday proved that a great many of the 'talking head' bracketologist/experts don't know the game at all. I had never seen FGC play before last night. I had, however, seen Miami play several times. The Canes are a really damned good team who had a fantastic season, as strong a season as anyone.. As a former player and coach of competitive sports, I have an issue with someone dismissing any and all worth/merit of a team based on one loss.. especially in a sport like hoops in which there are so many games played. I really wish I could have remembered who the one guy was (white guy, to the camera right on espn) who just ripped Miami and FGC... I wanna hear that dude today.. because using his metric, all of his credibility is shot because she was wrong about Florida Gulf Coast. Also..Georgetown has no heart. I thought that was the problem under Thompson the son and father. Lots of talent, no heart.
:evil: The worst performance of the first round, bar none, was UCLA: no heart, no guts, no care, no show. You knew the Bruins were in big trouble this year before the season started. Their best players were three transfers from North Carolina and three super freshmen who announced that they were "one-and-done" and gone for the NBA before they even attended a practice. They never even wanted to attend UCLA...except to showcase their basketball skills then take the first ticket out of town. I wondered at the time: how the hell does a coach make something out of a mess like that? Talent is never enough. It's a only a starting point. Last night capped a lost season. The pathetic effort, the blank stares, the shrugs of unconcern, the selfish shooting, the phantom defense. What do you want them to do...risk injury? Randy Moss could have coached this team. They were his kind of guys... Head coach Ben Howland is certainly gone after this fiasco, but he was never treated fairly anyway. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1578686-ucla-vs-minnesota-does-bruins-loss-signal-end-of-ben-howland-era If you had ever heard a broadcast of Bruins basketball you would know what I mean. Colorman Bill Walton criticized Howland non-stop through every broadcast. He compared the coach to John Wooden at every opportunity and repeated over-and-over-and-over again that Howland's style was "not real UCLA basketball" because it had set plays instead of patterns... Whoever the new coach is, I hope the locals give him a fair chance. No Bruin coach has had that since Wooden himself...
Ben Howland won the Pac12 regular season title with arguably the worst and least talented UCLA team I've seen in some time. What more does the Bill Waltons of the world want? The last guy Bill Walton embraced put the program on probation. Howland can only do so much. Hell, just before the guy it was discovered Muhammad was a year older than he was supposed to be and it turns out the dad is behind it all. Serious Marinovich level crazy. When Howland got burned by that dick from Artesia who bolted to the NBA, he tried to stay away from the 'one and done' superstars. People bitched about the lack of talent. Howland starts going back after the top flight kids, and then people bitch about that. Walton bitches about everything, it's really all he's good at since his playing days finished. I don't buy any of this stuff. There is a lot of behind the scenes action on bringing the guy from Pitt out to USC. USC is most certainly making a play to make a run in hoops, and their media arm (the LA Times) has been brutal on Howland. Let those without heart go. This guy can coach. If we just shut up and get out of his way, the program will be in great hands. Right now we've got Bryantitis in Westwood.
Down goes Gonzaga, Whicita State just went unconsious from the 3pt line late in the game. They were throwing them up from everywhere and getting nothing but net.
Bill, the events of the past few days make your fear justifiable. At least you're still dancing. :shock:
Amen! Amen! Hopefully our length and athletic ability will allow us to contest their perimeter shots effectively and help them cool off!!!! This will be a great challenge for Matta and the kids....survive and advance. Nothing else matters.....
I felt this game with Iowa State would go down to the wire. Aaron Craft missed two critical one & one foul shots, but redeemed himself and the Buckeyes with a trey to win the game. On to Los Angles!
I guess I was correct my assessment of the finish of the final with Iowa State. Arron craft made a three point shot at games end to provide the Buckeyes with a victory over Iowa State.
I guess I was correct my assessment of the finish of the final with Iowa State. Arron craft made a three point shot at games end to provide the Buckeyes with a victory over Iowa State.
So here is what we know so far. Four teams from the Big 10, all in different draws so it is possible that the Final 4 could be all Big 10 teams. Florida in the Sweet 16 and it looks like 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast is going to advance an would be playing the Gators. I am watching them right now and they look very good. Miami will play later and if they advance that would be 3 teams from the state of Florida. I think that would be a first. This FGC team is amazing. They beat Miami in an early season game but didn't beat any other major team yet here they are headed for the Sweet 16, the first ever 15 seed to get that far. Jury still out on the other SEC team, they are losing in the first half, but they lost the first half to the Gators and to Wisconsin but came back to win both. Two teams from the ACC left, Duke and Miami, and both ikely advance. Pacific Coast Conference has Oregon and Arizona. The next round will be interesting. And for that matter tonight may yet be interesting and Illinois could be the 5th Big 10 team if they beat Miami. Stay tuned.
Bill, Illinois hung in there with Miami. B1G Ten is finishing strong but I think the state of Florida has an edge at this point on geographical location (grin) I agree the next round of games will be interesting and provide some great basketball for the fans.
Ben Howland....Fired at UCLA Tubby Smith ....Fired at Minnesota...this one surprises me. He upset UCLA and that was the final straw for Howland. He seems like he's done a pretty good job at Minn, but then I guess it all gets down to expectations for the program and are you meeting them...just winning isn't enough.