NCAA Basketball 2007-2008

[Plow]

I see Monday coming down to if Rush and Chalmers are on. If they're not and Memphis is able to pack the middle heavily it's going to be awfully tough for KU to score.

If Rush and Chalmers (or even Robinson and Collins) are hitting, I think it just gets too tough for anybody to stop em both inside and out.


Edit: My pick is KU in a relatively close one pulling away at the end, by virtue of the only cheer in sports capable of giving you the chills through TV.

[Roranora]

Man this championship game is going to be so fun to watch. If you're Self, who do you put on Rose? Collins and Robinson (Collins especially) are great defensively and have ridiculous hands, but Rose looked tonight like he'll be able to toss around any guard that isn't at least 6'3"... which is just unfair at the college level. Memphis looked like an NBA team with 6'3" - 6'6" people all playing the 1, 2, and 3 spots. Rush and CDR will probably be on each other, making me feel like someone else from either team will have to step up offensively for his team to win. Taggart seems like he can score so effortlessly sometimes, but then again Arthur did that early in the game against UNC tonight. If Chalmers isn't unnoticably quiet like he was tonight, I've got to give the edge to KU. And Jackson/Kaun better stay the hell out of foul trouble because I don't think Aldrich can pull another game out like that, especially against Dorsey.

I got the 2 games right tonight; I've got to stick with KU, but I don't see either team ever leading by 28 on Monday.. '-'

[Plow]

And Jackson/Kaun better stay the hell out of foul trouble because I don't think Aldrich can pull another game out like that, especially against Dorsey.

Just remember that was against pretty much the consensus player of the year, known for his work ethic and never having a weak game, and head to head he just straight up outplayed, outhustled, and outworked him.


It's kinda funny, I was only talking about the other 3 earlier, they usually don't have enough foul trouble to have to use Aldrich that much, I think he averages like in the 8-10 minutes a game range tops. He's just a big goofy freshman that looks awkward as hell but flies all over the court.


lol but yeah only way I see it being a blowout either way is if KU just has a terrible game and gets mopped

[Freight]

Too bad everyone forgot about the tournament challenge cause I'm totally dominating that.

On the other hand I've been calling Kansas v. Memphis all year. Hopefully this will be like a track meet with a basketball

[Tyche]

If Kansas wins, I get 2nd place, losing by 10 to to snoogans

[Snoogans]

So glad I go to KU! My bracket was junk in the rankings until now. Rock Chalk baby!

[Tymon]

They rioted last night here in Memphis. I'm glad I don't live downtown.

If they win on monday I'll probably just go out of town for a few days. It's really going to be bad. Crime.

[Akiyama]

So. UNC fans never pissed me off, but where's Doofus now? I'm sure he was upset "Hands Bro" didn't dominate and what not. Where's his effort now?

[Doofus]

So. UNC fans never pissed me off, but where's Doofus now? I'm sure he was upset "Hands Bro" didn't dominate and what not. Where's his effort now?

I'm still here, but I have very little to say. Anything I say to try and explain what happened would be greeted in here with "Poor sport"(Looking at you tyche), so I wont bother too much.

Kansas had a 28 point lead at one point then UNC went on a 36-12 run, bringing it down to 4 points(It stayed 4-6 points until the last 5 minutes or so, then UNC gave up and stopped playing for some reason, and Kansas scored a few baskets and ended up with a 18 point win, but the final score does not tell the story of the game). A national championship team does not allow that to happen, Kansas will loose Monday.

As far as UNC's playing, that was the biggest choke I've ever seen, period. Theres nothing I can say to defend it, they lost that game and I am pissed at them. Like I said, Kansas was TRYING to give away that game when they squandered a 28 point lead but UNC just didn't take advantage.

UNC fans aren't mad or disappointed, we are simply shocked, that is the worst game I have seen them play in years, I honestly have no explanation.

[Tyche]

So. UNC fans never pissed me off, but where's Doofus now? I'm sure he was upset "Hands Bro" didn't dominate and what not. Where's his effort now?

I'm still here, but I have very little to say. Anything I say to try and explain what happened would be greeted in here with "Poor sport"(Looking at you tyche), so I wont bother too much.

Kansas had a 28 point lead at one point then UNC went on a 36-12 run, bringing it down to 4 points(It stayed 4-6 points until the last 5 minutes or so, then UNC gave up and stopped playing for some reason, and Kansas scored a few baskets and ended up with a 18 point win, but the final score does not tell the story of the game). A national championship team does not allow that to happen, Kansas will loose Monday.

As far as UNC's playing, that was the biggest choke I've ever seen, period. Theres nothing I can say to defend it, they lost that game and I am pissed at them. Like I said, Kansas was TRYING to give away that game when they squandered a 28 point lead but UNC just didn't take advantage.

UNC fans aren't mad or disappointed, we are simply shocked, that is the worst game I have seen them play in years, I honestly have no explanation.

I thought the final score told the story of the game pretty well. A complete domination by the better team. I didn't think the run by UNC told the story of the game. Kansas completely abandoned their post play and went into prevent way too early, allowing UNC to get back in it. Then they tried to compensate by jump shooting. If they would have played the game out for 40 minutes the way Self had planned, it would have probably been a 30+ point game. You don't think it's a coincidence that they shot up 18 points when they started going back inside?

Thanks for outing me though...

[Akiyama]

So. UNC fans never pissed me off, but where's Doofus now? I'm sure he was upset "Hands Bro" didn't dominate and what not. Where's his effort now?

I'm still here, but I have very little to say. Anything I say to try and explain what happened would be greeted in here with "Poor sport"(Looking at you tyche), so I wont bother too much.

Kansas had a 28 point lead at one point then UNC went on a 36-12 run, bringing it down to 4 points(It stayed 4-6 points until the last 5 minutes or so, then UNC gave up and stopped playing for some reason, and Kansas scored a few baskets and ended up with a 18 point win, but the final score does not tell the story of the game). A national championship team does not allow that to happen, Kansas will loose Monday.

As far as UNC's playing, that was the biggest choke I've ever seen, period. Theres nothing I can say to defend it, they lost that game and I am pissed at them. Like I said, Kansas was TRYING to give away that game when they squandered a 28 point lead but UNC just didn't take advantage.

UNC fans aren't mad or disappointed, we are simply shocked, that is the worst game I have seen them play in years, I honestly have no explanation.

I thought the final score told the story of the game pretty well. A complete domination by the better team. I didn't think the run by UNC told the story of the game. Kansas completely abandoned their post play and went into prevent way too early, allowing UNC to get back in it. Then they tried to compensate by jump shooting. If they would have played the game out for 40 minutes the way Self had planned, it would have probably been a 30+ point game. You don't think it's a coincidence that they shot up 18 points when they started going back inside?

Thanks for outing me though...

I have to agree with Tyche here. UNC is a good team, but Kansas is really good too. The final score did tell the story, and as Tyche said, it should have been even worse. As they said during the game, UNC/Kansas was three different games in one. Kansas destroyed UNC, UNC came back on a run while Kansas was just firing up jump shots, then Kansas went back to the post and dominated again. Hansborough just got outworked all night and Brandon Rush played out of his mind. I just think the better team won the game. It wasn't a fluke at all. Self had a gameplan and for 2/3rds of the game, they carried it through.

Either way, Monday night with Rose, CDR, and Dorsey against Kansas's Rush, Chalmers, and Collins (along with Kaun) .. it's going to be nuts.

[Plow]

Kaun's a backup ;p They start 3 guards and 2 forwards, Arthur is the real threat inside and has started all year, Jackson stepped up his game fairly early on in the season and starts over Kaun.

edit:

I've just changed my mind about this. I think KU will keep up with the speed not by trying to compete in running with them, but by getting their shots from inside and getting back on defense.

Meanwhile, with no real inside scoring threat KU's defense will manhandle the guards, with 20 6'9+ fouls to throw around.

There's also the whole issue of trying to defend against the KU foursome with 1 considerable inside defender and a team without a player listed as a true center. If Dorsey gets into any kind of foul trouble, KU could shoot like 75% lol.


If KU plays smart, they really should run away with this game, barring some insane ridiculous shooting 28 foot 3's with 2 guys in your face crap. There's still the possibility of KU just not being able to do anything on the outside at all, I just don't see how Memphis stops them inside even if they're packing it hard.

Greg Oden and Stephen Curry: both 20 years old lol. Oden was actually 18 in the picture.

[Jayhawk]

Rock chalk!

[Akiyama]

Kaun's a backup ;p They start 3 guards and 2 forwards, Arthur is the real threat inside and has started all year, Jackson stepped up his game fairly early on in the season and starts over Kaun.

edit:

I've just changed my mind about this. I think KU will keep up with the speed not by trying to compete in running with them, but by getting their shots from inside and getting back on defense.

Meanwhile, with no real inside scoring threat KU's defense will manhandle the guards, with 20 6'9+ fouls to throw around.

There's also the whole issue of trying to defend against the KU foursome with 1 considerable inside defender and a team without a player listed as a true center. If Dorsey gets into any kind of foul trouble, KU could shoot like 75% lol.


If KU plays smart, they really should run away with this game, barring some insane ridiculous shooting 28 foot 3's with 2 guys in your face crap. There's still the possibility of KU just not being able to do anything on the outside at all, I just don't see how Memphis stops them inside even if they're packing it hard.

Greg Oden and Stephen Curry: both 20 years old lol. Oden was actually 18 in the picture.

....I know. I'm talking about coming off the bench. In the win against Davidson (where Kansas did NOT look like a Final 4 team), he was important to their win. That's why I say he's just as important as the starters. As far as "Shooting 75%" and "run away with this game, barring some insane ridiculous shooting" shit, I don't think you should say that. I think it should be illegal for fans of a certain team to make analysis, especially when you get stupidity out of them. I'm not saying Kansas isn't good. I'm not saying that at all as I do think they are good. I'm also not calling you stupid, so don't read too much into my statement. People around BG have a habit of doing that. I'm just saying that there are just a lot of cases where it just doesn't seem Kansas belongs. The middle of the Kansas/UNC game where they let UNC get back into it because they went jumper happy... the poor play against Davidson, etc. They can get too inconsistent. I guess that's why they say everyone makes a run in basketball.

On the note of Memphis, I know they have their flaws, but out of the four #1 seeds, I'd have to say that Memphis played the best. After the Mississippi State game, they really rolled through competition and proved naysayers like myself wrong. (I picked Texas to beat them.) UNC rolled over their opponents, but the teams they played weren't really as good. Mississippi State had moments where they were a decent team, albeit in a weak SEC conference. UNC played Washington State in one round, and they don't move up and down the floor. The defend like crazy. Kansas had their close calls, and UCLA lived on the edge. I'm not saying this means Memphis will "roll over Kansas and have no trouble" and I'm hoping for a close game to make up for a disappointing Final Four. Memphis is just as fast as Kansas, and Memphis has Derek Rose. Brandon Rush is alright, but he has times where he can't hit the broadside of a barnyard. It's hard to stop Rose when he drives, and he can hit the jumpshot. That and he's been playing Point really well this tourney.

Both teams also have amazing depth, so that'll play key too. If I had to go with a game changer though, I think I would go with each team's bench. It's going to be a long 40 minutes.

Anyway, I'm picking Memphis, but I think it'll be a close game in the mid to high 70's. Kansas will win if they can stop Memphis from getting the easy points by driving to the basket too easy. Memphis will win if Kansas' starters shoot cold, and if they go through a 5-6 minute period without scoring. (If they go through a drought like they did against UNC, then it'll be a blowout.)

[Roranora]

Greg Oden has to have some genetic defect..

[Plow]

....I know. I'm talking about coming off the bench. In the win against Davidson (where Kansas did NOT look like a Final 4 team), he was important to their win. That's why I say he's just as important as the starters. As far as "Shooting 75%" and "run away with this game, barring some insane ridiculous shooting" shit, I don't think you should say that. I think it should be illegal for fans of a certain team to make analysis, especially when you get stupidity out of them. I'm not saying Kansas isn't good. I'm not saying that at all as I do think they are good. I'm also not calling you stupid, so don't read too much into my statement. People around BG have a habit of doing that. I'm just saying that there are just a lot of cases where it just doesn't seem Kansas belongs. The middle of the Kansas/UNC game where they let UNC get back into it because they went jumper happy... the poor play against Davidson, etc. They can get too inconsistent. I guess that's why they say everyone makes a run in basketball.

On the note of Memphis, I know they have their flaws, but out of the four #1 seeds, I'd have to say that Memphis played the best. After the Mississippi State game, they really rolled through competition and proved naysayers like myself wrong. (I picked Texas to beat them.) UNC rolled over their opponents, but the teams they played weren't really as good. Mississippi State had moments where they were a decent team, albeit in a weak SEC conference. UNC played Washington State in one round, and they don't move up and down the floor. The defend like crazy. Kansas had their close calls, and UCLA lived on the edge. I'm not saying this means Memphis will "roll over Kansas and have no trouble" and I'm hoping for a close game to make up for a disappointing Final Four. Memphis is just as fast as Kansas, and Memphis has Derek Rose. Brandon Rush is alright, but he has times where he can't hit the broadside of a barnyard. It's hard to stop Rose when he drives, and he can hit the jumpshot. That and he's been playing Point really well this tourney.

Both teams also have amazing depth, so that'll play key too. If I had to go with a game changer though, I think I would go with each team's bench. It's going to be a long 40 minutes.

Anyway, I'm picking Memphis, but I think it'll be a close game in the mid to high 70's. Kansas will win if they can stop Memphis from getting the easy points by driving to the basket too easy. Memphis will win if Kansas' starters shoot cold, and if they go through a 5-6 minute period without scoring. (If they go through a drought like they did against UNC, then it'll be a blowout.)

First off, the Davidson game was really not a bad game for KU. If you eliminate the ridiculous 3's made from 5 feet behind the line and Curry making drives I don't think even Rose can match, KU holds them like... in the upper 30's. Rush did have a bad game, but it's not like they didn't outplay them rather convincingly, Davidson just got ridiculous shots again and again. Those were not open 3's they were nailing other than a couple by the blonde guy, and there's pretty much no such thing as an easy drive against KU.


As for the rest of the tourney, wins by 24, 19, 15, and an 18 point win over the overall #1 seed. This by the overall 4, i.e. the least protected of the 1's. Memphis had a 3 point game vs Mississippi State, not exactly Davidson.


Quick, name a player coming off Memphis's bench. Hell, name their 4th and 5th starters! lol, I'm sure if you're paying close attention to Memphis you can at least name the last 2 starters, but with KU you can probably name at least 3 people coming off the bench, although you might have to look to make sure which ones are the starters and which ones are coming in later once you get past Kaun and Aldrich heh.


Anyway, I'm not saying I think it will be a blowout, just that while Memphis has a decent advantage in guard play, KU's interior advantage is just... beyond massive.

Somewhere recently I'm pretty sure I've seen KU play an extremely fast team that's all about flying up and down the court and has "great depth" to match up with, and in the end I do believe it turned out there were 3 players on that team worthy of being on the same court as the top 8 or so guys from KU. On paper I just don't see how anyone can give the edge to Memphis unless they just believe KU is due for a bad game.


/shrug, we'll see how it goes, but I have a feeling that when the game is coming to a close we're all going to feel every hair on our body stick straight up from hearing a certain old familiar call.

[Deejay]

God damnit I hate KU. I wanted to see Lolsborough make another game winning shot so he can do another one of those run-skip-punch-dances.

And fuck Rush's high top.

Memphis bandwagon feels nice and comfy.

[Plow]

Well KU couldn't plan to be in much better shape than this at halftime. They just own everything inside the 3 point line and while Memphis has shooters it's not their game to beat people by dropping 3's all day.


Essentially I think the game so far has looked just like it should on paper, KU makes some dumb plays but for the most part there's just no answer for their inside game, be it the big guys themselves or the guards driving.



Looks like an exciting 2nd half, but I'm still predicting the Memphis big guys wearing out, and I don't think that Mexican Warren Sapp guy will help out too much lol. If KU stays calm and plays smart, it's their game to win I think.

[Plow]

getting crazy, memphis D really stepping up...


that was a nice 3 pointer a foot in front of the line there too btw...

[Akiyama]

KU has hit their stretch of playing awful. It's been about five minutes since their last field goal, and Memphis has now stretched their lead out. Didn't I mention that if Kansas has one of these runs, Memphis could pull away? Hmn. I think I did. Granted I'm not saying it's over. There is an eternity left with all of the time-outs and such, but Memphis is looking a lot better, and Rose is finally heating up. He's playing strong, and Rush is frozen cold along with the rest of their outside shooters. If Kansas were ahead by 8 with this much time left, they could just keep pounding and pounding on the inside. With them behind, it doesn't exactly work that way. They are gonna have to start making up ground sometime.

Also, what a crazy bank shot there as the shot-clock expired.

I think they are reviewing.

Edit: They are about to change it I bet.