Final Four Reaction Thread

[KSB2424 3,083]

Since the others were deletorated. Couple thoughts........

 

Even though my team wasn't in the Final Four I thought it was one of the most entertaining in a few years. Duke, Whisky and UK all three had stellar college teams that were highly skilled, well coached and play at a high level.

 

With that said............

 

They do have to do something about the reffing in the college game. It's pretty bad. Not just last night but its been that way all tournament. Wildly inconsistent and the fact that they can't get calls right even after reviewing them is weird. (i.e. face slap by UK player and out of bounds calls)

 

Two streams of thought on one topic. The 1 and done rule is awful for college basketball as a whole, and I think its on full display recently. With that said I have zero issue with K and Calipari using the rule to their advantage. Why wouldn't you?

[edjr 5,567]

I did not fill out a bracket since the 1st time I can remember.

 

I did not watch 1 single second of any of march madness, i missed nothing.

 

I feel extremely happy about my decision.

 

I did watch some regular season, when there was nothing else on, on the weekends.

 

I am getting that much closer to canceling cable

[parrot 789]

Why was the other thread deleted?

 

They do have to do something about the reffing in the college game. It's pretty bad.

 

Not just at the college level, all levels. The blocking call when that should have been a charge on Winslow is a perfect example. Different sanctioning bodies have gone to considerable lengths to clarify this call in recent years, explaining in pains-taking-detail what legal guarding position is and what the defender is, or is not, allowed to do. Then the refs get in a game and just blow an obvious call like that. It drives me insane.

[RLLD 3,455]

I felt that Wisconsin did earn their place in the title game, even if they weren't really championship material. If it were as simple as the best team making it there would be no reason to play the game. Dook should be calling those Wisconsin players and thanking them profusely for beating Kentucky, I am not absolutely sure that Dook could have beaten Kentucly.....

 

The right team won, Dook plays in a better BB conference, against better teams and that factor played into their ability to handle a very talented and well coached team from a lesser conference. I like the way Wisconsin plays, I like how they limit their fouls while still playing hard and aggressively, they would likely hang well in the ACC, but really just be a middling team.

 

As a further note, this article was interesting: http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-83228307/

[RLLD 3,455]

Why was the other thread deleted?

 

 

Not just at the college level, all levels. The blocking call when that should have been a charge on Winslow is a perfect example. Different sanctioning bodies have gone to considerable lengths to clarify this call in recent years, explaining in pains-taking-detail what legal guarding position is and what the defender is, or is not, allowed to do. Then the refs get in a game and just blow an obvious call like that. It drives me insane.

 

Agree. Some of the calls, and the non-calls, stagger the imagination. Even worse, they will sscrew up the review as well.

[posty 2,296]

Didn't watch any of the Final Four... Only watched the WVU games until they fell behind 18-2 against Kentucky...

[KSB2424 3,083]

The block / charge call has to be better. Flopping has to stop. And for the love of the baby Jesus can we stop with the most famous move going today in both the NBA and College Basketball.

 

It goes like this:

 

1. Guard drives to the paint

2. Guard jumps, sometimes completely horizontilally into the defenders chest or face creating contact

3. Guard flails arms wildly

4 Defender with arms up and sore jaw gets called for a foul

5. Guard goes to the free throw line and makes two free throws

 

It's the most efficient "move" in basketball.

[edjr 5,567]

Flopping has to stop.

 

 

 

you must be new to sports.

 

It's just another way of cheating, that any coach and team will stoop to if it gives them an advantage.

 

I know, I know. Only the Patriots have ever done this in your eyes.

[RLLD 3,455]

 

 

you must be new to sports.

 

It's just another way of cheating, that any coach and team will stoop to if it gives them an advantage.

 

I know, I know. Only the Patriots have ever done this in your eyes.

 

Dook is renowned for its flopping, both in terms of frequency and ability. Others do it, but dook is the flat out master, it used to be the joke that they must have a course in flopping at dook.

 

People hide behind things such as gamesmanship to justify cheating. You will hear the term, "thats just a smart play", in every sport you have players actively cheating instead of just playing.

 

One of the most gratifying sights, to me, is when a defender gets slightly tapped and flails back on the ground......there is no call and the offensive player scores.....I FLIPPING love it. Instead of falling down like a little b!tch to get a call you don't deserver (cheating) why not D up like a real man and play?

[Cruzer 1,992]

Great game last night, one for the ages... Wisconsin had it - even had a Duke's 2 bigs on the bench and let a couple freshman guards beat them.

 

Final minute of the game, ball goes out and they call it off of Wisconsin. Replay clearly showed Winslow last touched it - how'd they review it and still fock it up. That play was huge - horrible call that could of changed the outcome.

[edjr 5,567]

 

 

 

People hide behind things such as gamesmanship to justify cheating. You will hear the term, "thats just a smart play", in every sport you have players actively cheating instead of just playing.

 

Unless it is Duke or the Patriots

[cyclone24 1,814]

Really enjoying the "I didn't watch one game" posts. Who cares you didn't watch any....doubtful you achieved something great in the time we all wasted watching a great tournament....but thanks for letting us know...LOOK AT ME!!!

 

It was a good, but not great tournament. IMO the medias obsession with Kentucky really took away from hearing the stories from other schools, under dogs, etc. There also weren't as many lower seeds advancing that anyone cared anout.

 

The officiating wasn't bad last night....or at least certainly didn't cost Wisconsin the game. I also found it funny Wisconsin supporters didn't complain about officiating in the firwt half when they got called for TWO whole fouls....ridiculous.

 

IMO the game struggles because kids today just can't shoot a lick. Terrible shooters. And everything is a 3 or a drive and get fouled. Go watch old NCAA games(and NBA for that matter)...and how many midrange shots guys take..it's amazing. It's all the time.

 

The game is also a football game essentially. Tighten up the game and you'll have plenty of scoring. Please god don't shorten the clock....teams struggle enough to get into an offense as it is....

[Sho Nuff 719]

Great game last night, one for the ages... Wisconsin had it - even had a Duke's 2 bigs on the bench and let a couple freshman guards beat them.

 

Final minute of the game, ball goes out and they call it off of Wisconsin. Replay clearly showed Winslow last touched it - how'd they review it and still fock it up. That play was huge - horrible call that could of changed the outcome.

 

Biggest thing that hurt on that out of bounds call was Duke went down at hit a 3.

 

Even with that...Wisconsin gave them the game...they got them in foul trouble and couldn't capitalize.

Dekker was non-existent shooting the ball and relied on 2nd chance points.

Did Gasser even attempt a shot?

Traveon Jackson looked terrible every time he was in the game.

 

And you can't miss free throws or have long stretches of doing nothing

Glad my team got there...but disappointed in how that game finished.

[parrot 789]

Didn't watch any of the Final Four... Only watched the WVU games until they fell behind 18-2 against Kentucky...

 

Well hey, thanks for checking in.

[HenryHill9323 65]

Budgers choked. Not ready for Prime Time.

[parrot 789]

The block / charge call has to be better. Flopping has to stop. And for the love of the baby Jesus can we stop with the most famous move going today in both the NBA and College Basketball.

 

It goes like this:

 

1. Guard drives to the paint

2. Guard jumps, sometimes completely horizontilally into the defenders chest or face creating contact

3. Guard flails arms wildly

4 Defender with arms up and sore jaw gets called for a foul

5. Guard goes to the free throw line and makes two free throws

 

It's the most efficient "move" in basketball.

 

 

Winslow got 4 free throw on an obvious charge and what should have been either another charge or a no call.

[KSB2424 3,083]

I wonder if Okafor's poor performance hurt his draft stock? I'm sure it won't hurt it much, but it may have pushed him off the 1 spot down to 2 or 3.

 

Dude is a beast though, if you only saw him last night you wouldn't think so but he's going to be nice in the NBA.

[edjr 5,567]

I wonder if Okafor's poor performance hurt his draft stock? I'm sure it won't hurt it much, but it may have pushed him off the 1 spot down to 2 or 3.

 

Dude is a beast though, if you only saw him last night you wouldn't think so but he's going to be nice in the NBA.

 

Remember Daniel Manning? he was a sure fire HOF from his tournament performance.

 

[DankNuggs 305]

Wisconsin pucked up once they got that 9 point lead... Dekker played terrible... they needed that third option and he couldn't provide it.

 

Refs were atrocious... i thought it was like the WWE officiating. it was that comical...

 

Duke and Kentucky got the benefit of the doubt on most calls.

[ZeroTolerance 582]

I like the way Wisconsin plays, I like how they limit their fouls while still playing hard and aggressively, they would likely hang well in the ACC, but really just be a middling team.

Everyone loves stroking the ACC year in and year out. The ACC is not a significantly better conference than everyone else. It has two schools that are dominant. The last time a team not named Duke or North Carolina came out of the ACC to reach the final four was Georgia Tech...11 years ago. If you go back TWENTY years, you get Maryland added to the list. Just for comparison, in the last 13 years, the Big Ten has sent 6 different schools to the title game. The Big East and Big 12 also have shown more depth.

[vuduchile 1,941]

Last night's game was sorta sloppy at times, but it was a decent final four. I didn't watch every second of the games, but what I caught was entertaining.

 

Aside from the big men, I was impressed by Dekker and the 2 freshmen from Duke.

[DankNuggs 305]

Everyone loves stroking the ACC year in and year out. The ACC is not a significantly better conference than everyone else. It has two schools that are dominant. The last time a team not named Duke or North Carolina came out of the ACC to reach the final four was Georgia Tech...11 years ago.

With Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, ND, and Miami joining it is a much deeper conference.

[ZeroTolerance 582]

With Syracuse, Louisville, Pitt, ND, and Miami joining it is a much deeper conference.

People have been blowing the ACC for decades like it is on another level, when it has been two schools who have done all the lifting.

[KSB2424 3,083]

Everyone loves stroking the ACC year in and year out. The ACC is not a significantly better conference than everyone else. It has two schools that are dominant. The last time a team not named Duke or North Carolina came out of the ACC to reach the final four was Georgia Tech...11 years ago.

 

I don't think its 'significantly' better either; just like I don't think the SEC is 'significantly' better than other major football conferences But its hard to argue that if you had to rank college bb conference you would put the ACC as first.

 

Pre-Season next year has like 5 ACC teams in top 12.

 

And this year they had the best record in the tournament of the major conferences. 5 teams in the sweet 16.

 

I do agree they are not significantly better, and it is overblown some, but just sayin'. You have to put them first, just not heads and shoulders first.

[ZeroTolerance 582]

 

I don't think its 'significantly' better either; just like I don't think the SEC is 'significantly better than other major football conferences But its hard to argue that if you had to rank college bb conference you would put the ACC as first.

 

Pre-Season next year has like 5 ACC teams in top 12.

Pre-season polls, smh. How many ACC teams were that high last year, when the conference was shut out of the elite eight?

[DankNuggs 305]

Pre-season polls, smh. How many ACC teams were that high last year, when the conference was shut out of the elite eight?

Sorry, ACC is the strongest basketball conference... If the Big East hasn't broken up it would have been the best conference.

[KSB2424 3,083]

Pre-season polls, smh. How many ACC teams were that high last year, when the conference was shut out of the elite eight?

 

They had 5 teams in the sweet 16 this year.

 

I'm sort of agreeing with you a bit that it IS overstated (sort of like the media does with SEC football), but what conference are you ranking over them? You intellectually, honestly can't is all I'm saying. It's closer than the media portrays (agreed), but the ACC is still the top basketball conference. I think that is a fair statement.

[ZeroTolerance 582]

 

They had 5 teams in the sweet 16 this year.

 

I'm sort of agreeing with you a bit that it IS overstated (sort of like the media does with SEC football), but what conference are you ranking over them? You intellectually, honestly can't is all I'm saying. It's closer than the media portrays, but the ACC is still the top basketball conference. I think that a fair statement.

I never even said that they weren't the top conference. My argument came from RLLD's comment that the ACC is way stronger than the field and a team like Wisconsin would just be a middling team in the ACC. Funny that Wisconsin beat MSU 3 times (the team that beat the ACC champ and Louisville) along with UNC, Zona and UK, but a close loss to Duke somehow shows that they were not ACC strong.

[KSB2424 3,083]

I never even said that they weren't the top conference. My argument came from RLLD's comment that the ACC is way stronger than the field and a team like Wisconsin would just be a middling team in the ACC. Funny that Wisconsin beat MSU 3 times (the team that beat the ACC champ and Louisville) along with UNC, Zona and UK, but a close loss to Duke somehow shows that they were not ACC strong.

 

Then I guess we agree for the most part. I do not agree with RLLD's comment that Wisconsin isn't a great team. I think they were a top 5 team in the country most of the year.

 

Hypothetically speaking if Kentucky was in the ACC I think they would have won the league, BUT I do not think they would have gone undefeated in the regualr season. They'd still would've been ranked #1 but with a record of like 32-2 or something. Dominant, just not undefeated.

 

Hyptothetically speaking if Wisconsin was in the ACC I think they would have been still ranked Top 10 in the nation and Top 3 in the League. They were / are a fantastic team. But they would of had a couple more losses than they did. Maybe a 2 seed in the tournament instead of a 1.

 

[ZeroTolerance 582]

The rest of the ACC, when it comes tournament time, has been highly overrated. In the last five tournaments, the conference has sent one school to the final four twice (Duke 2011, 2015) and no one else even once.

[RLLD 3,455]

Everyone loves stroking the ACC year in and year out. The ACC is not a significantly better conference than everyone else. It has two schools that are dominant. The last time a team not named Duke or North Carolina came out of the ACC to reach the final four was Georgia Tech...11 years ago. If you go back TWENTY years, you get Maryland added to the list. Just for comparison, in the last 13 years, the Big Ten has sent 6 different schools to the title game. The Big East and Big 12 also have shown more depth.

 

I understand that there is an inclination to pull up how many teams the Big 10 gets into the tournament, or manage to get a lucky run (like Mich St) and so forth. I think that there are those who view the Big 10 as a strong BB conference, and they are not wrong, but it simply is not in the same level as a conference such as the ACC or even the PAC 10. having been forced to watch the abortion of offense that prevails in the Big 10 I find that even a team such as Wisconsin is going to lose a handful of games to even the lower rung ACC teams because those teams play disciplined ball, real and focused offense. I think the Big 10 does play good defense, but I also think they rely too heavily on banging and physicality whereas ACC teams rely more on athleticism within the design.

 

Clearly the Big 10 gets good players, has good coaches and can play ball, also it is clear that the fabric of how they play as a conference is inferior to others. Hey, they have football at least, and hockey too, and wrestling is pretty greta, so they can hang their hats on those I suppose.

[DankNuggs 305]

 

Then I guess we agree for the most part. I do not agree with RLLD's comment that Wisconsin isn't a great team. I think they were a top 5 team in the country most of the year.

 

Hypothetically speaking if Kentucky was in the ACC I think they would have won the league, BUT I do not think they would have gone undefeated in the regualr season. They'd still would've been ranked #1 but with a record of like 32-2 or something. Dominant, just not undefeated.

 

Hyptothetically speaking if Wisconsin was in the ACC I think they would have been still ranked Top 10 in the nation and Top 3 in the League. They were / are a fantastic team. But they would of had a couple more losses than they did. Maybe a 2 seed in the tournament instead of a 1.

 

Wisconsin is a great team. Their front line was probably the best in the country. I think Kaminsky was the best player in the country. You could see in the game how raw Towns and Okafor are. Great talent, and to think how dominant they would be with a couple years of college development. Instead they will go pro and have their flaws exposed for the next half decade.

[RLLD 3,455]

Everyone loves stroking the ACC year in and year out. The ACC is not a significantly better conference than everyone else. It has two schools that are dominant. The last time a team not named Duke or North Carolina came out of the ACC to reach the final four was Georgia Tech...11 years ago. If you go back TWENTY years, you get Maryland added to the list. Just for comparison, in the last 13 years, the Big Ten has sent 6 different schools to the title game. The Big East and Big 12 also have shown more depth.

 

I understand that there is an inclination to pull up how many teams the Big 10 gets into the tournament, or manage to get a lucky run (like Mich St) and so forth. I think that there are those who view the Big 10 as a strong BB conference, and they are not wrong, but it simply is not in the same level as a conference such as the ACC or even the PAC 10. having been forced to watch the abortion of offense that prevails in the Big 10 I find that even a team such as Wisconsin is going to lose a handful of games to even the lower rung ACC teams because those teams play disciplined ball, real and focused offense. I think the Big 10 does play good defense, but I also think they rely too heavily on banging and physicality whereas ACC teams rely more on athleticism within the design.

 

Clearly the Big 10 gets good players, has good coaches and can play ball, also it is clear that the fabric of how they play as a conference is inferior to others. Hey, they have football at least, and hockey too, and wrestling is pretty greta, so they can hang their hats on those I suppose.

 

 

Then I guess we agree for the most part. I do not agree with RLLD's comment that Wisconsin isn't a great team. I think they were a top 5 team in the country most of the year.

 

Hypothetically speaking if Kentucky was in the ACC I think they would have won the league, BUT I do not think they would have gone undefeated in the regualr season. They'd still would've been ranked #1 but with a record of like 32-2 or something. Dominant, just not undefeated.

 

Hyptothetically speaking if Wisconsin was in the ACC I think they would have been still ranked Top 10 in the nation and Top 3 in the League. They were / are a fantastic team. But they would of had a couple more losses than they did. Maybe a 2 seed in the tournament instead of a 1.

 

 

I have stated all along that Wisonsin is a good team, and is certainly the best team in the Big 10 but in terms of being in the ACC, they would lose at least twice and perhaps four times within that league alone. I would also submit that had they played in amongst the ACC they would have been better equipped to beat Dook. As I posted before the game, good team, plays a style I like, but due to not having to face great teams game after game during the season just ill-prepared to beat an elite ACC team in the national championship.

[FeelingMN 273]

The teams at the top of every conference are the only ones that matter. The ACC has better teams in the middle of their conference compared to anyone else.....which makes them the best conference. But is Duke that much better than Wisconsin or Kentucky because they play in the ACC? No.

 

Duke, Wisconsin, Kentucky were all preseason top 5 teams. They played up to expectations and all had terrific years. That's why this final four was one of the better ones in some time.

 

And Duke won because of guard play. Say whatever you want about the NCAA but the game is the same as it's ever been at its core....at least come tourney time. Guard play and coaching wins the tourney and it's why Duke won.

[RLLD 3,455]

The teams at the top of every conference are the only ones that matter. The ACC has better teams in the middle of their conference compared to anyone else.....which makes them the best conference. But is Duke that much better than Wisconsin or Kentucky because they play in the ACC? No.

 

Duke, Wisconsin, Kentucky were all preseason top 5 teams. They played up to expectations and all had terrific years. That's why this final four was one of the better ones in some time.

 

And Duke won because of guard play. Say whatever you want about the NCAA but the game is the same as it's ever been at its core....at least come tourney time. Guard play and coaching wins the tourney and it's why Duke won.

 

Fair enough

[FeelingMN 273]

Wasn't Wisconsin one of, if not the most offensively efficient teams ever? How is that bruising, physical, defensive basketball? It isn't. It just isn't as flashy as other teams.....but it's better basketball. The numbers prove it.

 

And when your coach has 7 final four appearances, I don't think making a run in the tourney qualifies as "lucky".

[RLLD 3,455]

Wasn't Wisconsin one of, if not the most offensively efficient teams ever? How is that bruising, physical, defensive basketball? It isn't. It just isn't as flashy as other teams.....but it's better basketball. The numbers prove it.

 

And when your coach has 7 final four appearances, I don't think making a run in the tourney qualifies as "lucky".

 

You will note that those terms were used to depict the Big 10 in general, whereas the description of Wisconsin was not in line with that description, in fact I noted them as playing differently. I think of all the Big 10 teams their style most closely approached good basketball, and that which is found in the ACC; their ability to play hard without fouling is something I have noted more than once as being exemplary. I also noted that they are a good team with a good coach, and that in this years tournament Mich st was lucky, not Wisconsin.

[ZeroTolerance 582]

Pac 12? C'mon, man. That conference has been so consistently mediocre over the last 7 years or so that they even earned the distinction of being the first power conference that couldn't get a bid for their regular season champ. Their undisputed best team is Arizona, who hasn't made a final four in 14 years. If UCLA was still the program they were from 2006-2008, that would at least give them two relevant schools.

[Magnificent Bastard 190]

So Calipari has as many titles as Rollie Massimino. Is that one title worth what the Kentucky program now stands for? They've never cared about academics, but this recent edition under Calipari takes it to another level.

[cmh6476 755]

i wish my team wuz good