**NCAA Basketball Thread**

[tyler3440]

Floridas defense is playing lights out. And their offensive transition is pretty darn good right now

[mthawk07]

Originally Posted by tyler3440

Floridas defense is playing lights out. And their offensive transition is pretty darn good right now

That's the two best things they do this year. Half court offense struggles quite a bit, but they can get out in transition in a flash and score. Kasey Hill is the reason for that. This is an old fashioned ass whooping right now, these guys have been a different team since losing to Vandy.

[kydmb99]

I mean props to Florida, they're playing very well, but Kentucky is horrible. Could easily see this team spiraling out of control and being an 8 or 9 seed

[mthawk07]

This is the best game Florida has played since the Patric Young/Scottie Wilbekin days.

[tyler3440]

I guess young teams no matter how talented are going to struggle sometimes. Kentucky sometimes hits the jackpot with the young kids like 2 years ago.

[kydmb99]

Would be lying if I said I wasn't somewhat sick of the NBA first, one and done culture Cal has created at Kentucky.

[seekupig]

Saturday was a perfect example of why Kansas wins the Big XII every year. They tripped at home which NEVER happens. Baylor & WVU respond by promptly returning the favor just hours later. Golden opportunity wasted.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by seekupig

Saturday was a perfect example of why Kansas wins the Big XII every year. They tripped at home which NEVER happens. Baylor & WVU respond by promptly returning the favor just hours later. Golden opportunity wasted.

at the end of the day BU needs to beat Kansas, and Kansas needs to beat WVU.
both teams winning wouldn't have changed much aside from buying themselves out of another loss late

[SmoothG]

I know most people are down on josh pastner (and I'm an Arizona homer) but really happy to see him do well this year at Georgia tech. Wins against unc, fsu, notre dame and vcu.

Random thoughts: USC is 20-4, didn't see that coming. Oregon state might be the worst p5 school. Washington might have the number one pick and they're 9-14 (2-9) eww. And I know I don't follow along as much as some in here but I didn't expect cincy to have the year they're having. Or Texas to be as bad as they are. Not sure what to say about Indiana, creans reduced buy out kicks in in July I think which would be real inoportune time to fire or hire anyone they want. Florida and South Carolina doing a good job helping Kentucky make the sec not as terrible. Frank mason poy. Mark few coy (assuming they win out).

[SmoothG]

South Carolina shot 3/30 in the first half, including 2/23 from inside the arc. That's impressively bad.

Looks like penn state might take down Maryland.

[Foreverford05]

UVA has no identity this year and are a complete crapshoot. Literally no idea what you're getting night to night. Slightly infuriating to watch, honestly. Will not in the least bit be surprised to go lose at vatech Sunday.

[SmoothD41]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

I know most people are down on josh pastner (and I'm an Arizona homer) but really happy to see him do well this year at Georgia tech. Wins against unc, fsu, notre dame and vcu.

Random thoughts: USC is 20-4, didn't see that coming. Oregon state might be the worst p5 school. Washington might have the number one pick and they're 9-14 (2-9) eww. And I know I don't follow along as much as some in here but I didn't expect cincy to have the year they're having. Or Texas to be as bad as they are. Not sure what to say about Indiana, creans reduced buy out kicks in in July I think which would be real inoportune time to fire or hire anyone they want. Florida and South Carolina doing a good job helping Kentucky make the sec not as terrible. Frank mason poy. Mark few coy (assuming they win out).

I just don't see IU running Crean out of town anymore. I used to, but the truth of the matter is the IU program has fallen so far in the national landscape over the years that I really am not sure that they could do a whole hell of a lot better at this point. Crean is a fine coach, he's certainly not great and certainly not awful. He did a great job cleaning up the mess from the Sampson era, he's won two Big Ten titles in the last four years, we have the most wins over Top 3 teams in the country since 2011, have been to the sweet 16 three of the last five years, and I think that our AD, unfortunately, considers that plenty good enough. We'll see what happens when his contract is up in 2020, but I just can't see anything happening before then at this point barring the wheels completely falling off the next few years.

[SmoothG]

Fair points for sure. I think he deserves a hell of a lot of credit/praise/recognition/something for taking them from where they were to where they. Taking over a program in that shape and turning it around like he has is not easy. I just think the relationship has run its course, time for him to move on and time for Indiana to get a good coach who can take them back up to the next level.

Speaking of taking over programs in trouble and how tough it can be, which makes every Arizona fan so grateful for what millers done. Not sure if people remember but the last few years of lute Olson the 3 different head coaches that came the next 3 years left Arizona with no talent, no stability and was going in the wrong direction. So, Arizona offered the job to Tim Floyd and in one of the greatest moments in wildcat basketball history happened - he said no. So they offered miller who also said no. Then changed his mind a few days later. I'm just worried he's gonna go in the next few years. Any names out there as candidates for Indiana?

[kydmb99]

I think Indiana fans have given up on Brad Stevens

[pearljammer]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

South Carolina shot 3/30 in the first half, including 2/23 from inside the arc. That's impressively bad.

Looks like penn state might take down Maryland.

I can't imagine playing 4 OTs in basketball. I get winded when I walk to the mailbox lol.

[UNC41]

I'm not sure what is more mind-blowing ... that two teams played four OTs and neither team reached 100 points or that Lonzo Ball's younger brother scored 92 points tonight.

[SmoothD41]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

Fair points for sure. I think he deserves a hell of a lot of credit/praise/recognition/something for taking them from where they were to where they. Taking over a program in that shape and turning it around like he has is not easy. I just think the relationship has run its course, time for him to move on and time for Indiana to get a good coach who can take them back up to the next level.

Speaking of taking over programs in trouble and how tough it can be, which makes every Arizona fan so grateful for what millers done. Not sure if people remember but the last few years of lute Olson the 3 different head coaches that came the next 3 years left Arizona with no talent, no stability and was going in the wrong direction. So, Arizona offered the job to Tim Floyd and in one of the greatest moments in wildcat basketball history happened - he said no. So they offered miller who also said no. Then changed his mind a few days later. I'm just worried he's gonna go in the next few years. Any names out there as candidates for Indiana?

I definitely remember Arizona hitting a little unstable rough patch after Lute. For some reason I remember Kevin O'Neill, but I can't remember who else they brought in.

Miller is awesome. I remember really wanting him when IU hired Crean.

[SmoothD41]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

I think Indiana fans have given up on Brad Stevens

The sane ones have.

[SmoothD41]

Lonzo Ball's brother, LaMelo, scored 92 points last night in a high school game. Apparently he only had 23 at half, which is just absurd.

[Rodey]

I have no idea how you score 92 in a high school game. That is insane.

[ryguy469]

Originally Posted by SmoothG

I know most people are down on josh pastner (and I'm an Arizona homer) but really happy to see him do well this year at Georgia tech. Wins against unc, fsu, notre dame and vcu.

Random thoughts: USC is 20-4, didn't see that coming. Oregon state might be the worst p5 school. Washington might have the number one pick and they're 9-14 (2-9) eww. And I know I don't follow along as much as some in here but I didn't expect cincy to have the year they're having. Or Texas to be as bad as they are. Not sure what to say about Indiana, creans reduced buy out kicks in in July I think which would be real inoportune time to fire or hire anyone they want. Florida and South Carolina doing a good job helping Kentucky make the sec not as terrible. Frank mason poy. Mark few coy (assuming they win out).

Still can't wrap my head around this one, especially given how average every team in the country is

My random observation of the week: Kansas 64% as a team, good for 327th in the nation. woof.

[scrock25]

'Cuse making a case.

[unccrombie]

Originally Posted by scrock25

'Cuse making a case.

i think the orange are in, barring a meltdown. they just need to hold relative par.

[snow1868]

Big game in Stillwater with Baylor tonight, would be nice to add another key win and improve that resume. I think the Cowboys are in, but I'd like to not fall into that 8/9 seed range.

[scrock25]

Originally Posted by unccrombie

i think the orange are in, barring a meltdown. they just need to hold relative par.

Yesterday I was reading an article putting them in the last 4 category.

But I agree at this point, just keep doing what they're doing.

[lockman21]

I am dead inside.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by ryguy469

random observation of the week: Kansas 64% as a team, good for 327th in the nation. woof.

yeah, it's bad. luckily they're #10 in the nation in FG% and #7 in the nation in 3ptFG%. Kind of makes up for the FT issues. Josh Jackson is a serious liability at the end of games due to FT's, but it's hard to sit someone that is so good on both ends. Could see that costing them in March though.

[ryguy469]

That's the key, close game in March that comes down to a fouling situation could leave the door open for Kansas to make a surprise early exit. Even the top 5 teams clearly have a weakness this season, it's really odd.

[kydmb99]

Duke has the highest ceiling but I still believe that North Carolina is the best overall team in the country at this point.

[seekupig]

Originally Posted by kydmb99

Duke has the highest ceiling but I still believe that North Carolina is the best overall team in the country at this point.

There really is no best team in the country. If there is, it's not Carolina. They're in that group with a bunch of good, but flawed teams. Disagree on Duke. They are what they are at this point.