Tonight's game marks the end of the 2007-08 NCAA Basketball season. I don't think many people would have been surprised if you told them that both UNC and UCLA would be in the Final Four. I think they would have been more surprised if you told them both lost to teams that looked much better.
Memphis is a team that was a popular pick as the first #1 seed to go down. A team with a freshman PG... a team that is downright awful at free throws... teams with those faults normally don't last very long in this tournament. Heck, I thought they'd get beat by Michigan State. Well, once the Big Dance started, and the competition got better, so did the free throw shooting. And, Derrick Rose, to put it simply, has been one of (if not) the best players in this tournament. They also are full of other quality players that know their part.
Kansas is a experienced team. I look back to their win against Davidson as "the game" that might get them over the hump. It seems like all teams have a big scare on their way to the championship and for them, well, that game was scary. I really liked the way they came out against UNC. I don't think any team could have overcome that type of start.
I know I've been a little off on a few games, but I think I have a good feeling on these two teams. It's going to come down to Mario Chalmers and Joey Dorsey. For Kansas to win, Chalmers will have to play error-free ball. His assist/turnover ratio will need to be 1.8/1 or higher. The other key for a Jayhawk victory is to get Joey Dorsey in foul trouble. Kansas is pretty deep up front, Memphis is not. I am confident these two things have to happen for Kansas to win. Now granted, if Russell Robinson goes Donald Williams... or CDR has a Webber-esque error, then Kansas could win. However, I'm taking Memphis by 9.
Showing posts with label NCAA hoops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCAA hoops. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2008
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
National Semifinals
For the first time ever, all four #1 seeds made the Final Four. And it has two very interesting match-ups. Roy Williams vs. his former team and pressing Memphis vs. not-so-good-against-the-press UCLA. Here are my quick thoughts on these two games.
I think Kansas needed the scare they got against Davidson. But Roy Williams will outcoach Bill Self and the Heels will outplay the Jayhawks. I don't think it will be much of a game in the end. Heels by 13.
The other game will be very entertaining. I think Memphis will try to keep the tempo up, while UCLA tries to slow it down. For some reason, I think Memphis is going to pull this out. I really thought it would be a UCLA/UNC Finals, but the fast-paced, pressing Tigers are going to win by 8.
That's all I have. Chime in with any comments.
I think Kansas needed the scare they got against Davidson. But Roy Williams will outcoach Bill Self and the Heels will outplay the Jayhawks. I don't think it will be much of a game in the end. Heels by 13.
The other game will be very entertaining. I think Memphis will try to keep the tempo up, while UCLA tries to slow it down. For some reason, I think Memphis is going to pull this out. I really thought it would be a UCLA/UNC Finals, but the fast-paced, pressing Tigers are going to win by 8.
That's all I have. Chime in with any comments.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Contest Scenarios
There are 8 scenarios for how the tournament can play out, here they are and who would place...
By no means consider this final. I would say it's 99.9% accurate, so take it for what it's worth. Payout 65%, 25%, 10%. I did this quick, so if I find any errors, I will be updating it.
PS: Check out my last post about what Kansas would have to do to beat Davidson. Go figure Bill Self didn't figure it out until halftime.
North Carolina over Memphis:
Glodosky 96
Fellows 95
Dachel 93 (Tb -7)
Gleason, B 93(Tb -9)
North Carolina over UCLA:
Nygaard, St 94
Nygaard, Marg 93
Braaten 92
Memphis over North Carolina:
Kimberly, C 92
Gleason, B 91
Glodosky 90 (Tb -3)
Heebink, A 90 (Tb -8)
Memphis over Kansas
Keefer, D 93
Murphy, D 91 (Tb -6)
Nygaard, St 91 (Tb -10)
UCLA over North Carolina:
Harris, M 97
Davis, J 92
Estrada, C 91
UCLA over Kansas:
Harris, M 92 (Tb -5)
Stitt 92 (Tb -5) *Would split 1st and 2nd - Each would receive 45%
Johnson, Mel 90
Kansas over Memphis:
Johnson, E 93
Saxe 92
Luehman 88
Kansas over UCLA:
Luehman 93
Duch 92
Kimberly, J 91
By no means consider this final. I would say it's 99.9% accurate, so take it for what it's worth. Payout 65%, 25%, 10%. I did this quick, so if I find any errors, I will be updating it.
PS: Check out my last post about what Kansas would have to do to beat Davidson. Go figure Bill Self didn't figure it out until halftime.
North Carolina over Memphis:
Glodosky 96
Fellows 95
Dachel 93 (Tb -7)
Gleason, B 93(Tb -9)
North Carolina over UCLA:
Nygaard, St 94
Nygaard, Marg 93
Braaten 92
Memphis over North Carolina:
Kimberly, C 92
Gleason, B 91
Glodosky 90 (Tb -3)
Heebink, A 90 (Tb -8)
Memphis over Kansas
Keefer, D 93
Murphy, D 91 (Tb -6)
Nygaard, St 91 (Tb -10)
UCLA over North Carolina:
Harris, M 97
Davis, J 92
Estrada, C 91
UCLA over Kansas:
Harris, M 92 (Tb -5)
Stitt 92 (Tb -5) *Would split 1st and 2nd - Each would receive 45%
Johnson, Mel 90
Kansas over Memphis:
Johnson, E 93
Saxe 92
Luehman 88
Kansas over UCLA:
Luehman 93
Duch 92
Kimberly, J 91
Psycho T (and today's games)
I was too tired after the UNC/Louisville game to post. But there was something I really wanted to say... and I was going to sleep on it to decide if I actually was going to post it. I am.
"Tyler Hansbrough won't be a sucessful NBA player."
I like Tyler Hansbrough and I like UNC. But after watching last night, I'm even more convinced that Hansbrough won't have great success in The League. Don't get me wrong, his work ethic is unmatched and that will get him a shot. I expect him to be drafted, most likely in the 1st round pf the 2009 draft. He'll be 24 by the time he plays his first NBA game. (By the time LeBron James is 24, he'll be a three-time All-Star Game MVP and possibly NBA MVP, along with 11,000+ total points. Four times what Psycho T will ever score.) For a guy being hands down the best player in the ACC and, aside from Michael Beasley, the best player in the nation, it's tough to believe he's the 3rd best prospect on his team. Maybe that's why I like college basketball so much more than the NBA.
My NBA prediction: Late 1st round pick in 2009. (Goes to an already good team.) He'll sign a 2 yr/$1.9 million guaranteed contract. He may break into the rotation. But at 6-8, 245, he won't be able to bang with the 4s, nor is he athletic enough to play the 3. He'll strictly be an energy guy - a la Mark Madsen. Because he's reached his peak physcially, there's not a lot of upside left. He can probably stick around for a few years after his guaranteed contract is up, but by 2013, there's a pretty good chance that Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough will be selling real estate... which is too bad.
As for today's games:
Memphis at Texas - Do I dare pick against Memphis again? How much of an advantage does Texas have playing in Houston? I think that Memphis should win this game, but Texas does have a chance. But for that chance to be reality DJ Augustin has to really outplay Derrick Rose. And I don't see that happening. Memphis by 8 and moving on...
Kansas vs Davidson - I think Stephen Curry is going to finally meet his match in Brandon Rush. My issue is that I don't think Bill Self is a good enough coach to realize that Rush needs to guard Curry. Rush will be able to out-muscle Curry, something no one has been able - or tried - to do.
My personal feeling is that Self is going to try to guard Curry with Russell Robinson, and I don't think it's going to work. If Rush guards Curry, Kansas by 12. If Self brings someone else at Curry, all bets are off.
"Tyler Hansbrough won't be a sucessful NBA player."
I like Tyler Hansbrough and I like UNC. But after watching last night, I'm even more convinced that Hansbrough won't have great success in The League. Don't get me wrong, his work ethic is unmatched and that will get him a shot. I expect him to be drafted, most likely in the 1st round pf the 2009 draft. He'll be 24 by the time he plays his first NBA game. (By the time LeBron James is 24, he'll be a three-time All-Star Game MVP and possibly NBA MVP, along with 11,000+ total points. Four times what Psycho T will ever score.) For a guy being hands down the best player in the ACC and, aside from Michael Beasley, the best player in the nation, it's tough to believe he's the 3rd best prospect on his team. Maybe that's why I like college basketball so much more than the NBA.
My NBA prediction: Late 1st round pick in 2009. (Goes to an already good team.) He'll sign a 2 yr/$1.9 million guaranteed contract. He may break into the rotation. But at 6-8, 245, he won't be able to bang with the 4s, nor is he athletic enough to play the 3. He'll strictly be an energy guy - a la Mark Madsen. Because he's reached his peak physcially, there's not a lot of upside left. He can probably stick around for a few years after his guaranteed contract is up, but by 2013, there's a pretty good chance that Tyler "Psycho T" Hansbrough will be selling real estate... which is too bad.
As for today's games:
Memphis at Texas - Do I dare pick against Memphis again? How much of an advantage does Texas have playing in Houston? I think that Memphis should win this game, but Texas does have a chance. But for that chance to be reality DJ Augustin has to really outplay Derrick Rose. And I don't see that happening. Memphis by 8 and moving on...
Kansas vs Davidson - I think Stephen Curry is going to finally meet his match in Brandon Rush. My issue is that I don't think Bill Self is a good enough coach to realize that Rush needs to guard Curry. Rush will be able to out-muscle Curry, something no one has been able - or tried - to do.
My personal feeling is that Self is going to try to guard Curry with Russell Robinson, and I don't think it's going to work. If Rush guards Curry, Kansas by 12. If Self brings someone else at Curry, all bets are off.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hoops and Twins
Not quite a repeat of last night. And if Drew Neitzel wasn't junk, maybe that would have been a game worth watching. The games tonight averaged 17.5 point winning margins, compared to last night's 13.5 with an OT game... plus the UCLA game was a close game, it's just not many people stayed up to finish it.
Looking ahead to tomorrow: I'm going to take UNC and UCLA. North Carolina has been a wrecking crew. (They played an exhibition today against the Heat and beat them by 30. Wait, that was the UNC girls team? Just kidding.) I like Louisville, but I think I remember their collapse against Illinois in the Elite 8 a few years ago... and I can't pick against the Heels in Charlotte. (I could be wrong about the Illinois/Louisville game, I'm too tired to research it.)
As far as the West Regional Final goes, I can't pick Xavier. If Collison/Westbrook can lock down 5footnothing Drew Lavender, it's over. And I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't be able to. So there's that...
The Baseball (in America) opener is Sunday night and the Twins open Monday. The Twins made a move today that Twins fans have been waiting on, optioning Francisco Liriano to the minors. I think a lot of us were holding out hope that Liriano would be the Liriano of '06 already, but I think we all knew that, realistically, it's going to take a while. Let's keep our fingers crossed that all goes well in both rehab starts and he can make it back to the big club in mid-April.
The rotation is set and it appears that LeAnne (my lovely, blog-supporting wife) and I will get the pleasure to see Boof pitch on Tuesday night. I think this will be the 3rd time in a row she's see him pitch and I think I've seen him pitch live no less than 6 or 7 times. In fact, the first Boof-pitched game we saw, we bought the tickets hoping to see Liriano. Lirano got scratched the night before the game due to elbow pains. Looks like we haven't quite come full-circle.
More tomorrow...
Looking ahead to tomorrow: I'm going to take UNC and UCLA. North Carolina has been a wrecking crew. (They played an exhibition today against the Heat and beat them by 30. Wait, that was the UNC girls team? Just kidding.) I like Louisville, but I think I remember their collapse against Illinois in the Elite 8 a few years ago... and I can't pick against the Heels in Charlotte. (I could be wrong about the Illinois/Louisville game, I'm too tired to research it.)
As far as the West Regional Final goes, I can't pick Xavier. If Collison/Westbrook can lock down 5footnothing Drew Lavender, it's over. And I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't be able to. So there's that...
The Baseball (in America) opener is Sunday night and the Twins open Monday. The Twins made a move today that Twins fans have been waiting on, optioning Francisco Liriano to the minors. I think a lot of us were holding out hope that Liriano would be the Liriano of '06 already, but I think we all knew that, realistically, it's going to take a while. Let's keep our fingers crossed that all goes well in both rehab starts and he can make it back to the big club in mid-April.
The rotation is set and it appears that LeAnne (my lovely, blog-supporting wife) and I will get the pleasure to see Boof pitch on Tuesday night. I think this will be the 3rd time in a row she's see him pitch and I think I've seen him pitch live no less than 6 or 7 times. In fact, the first Boof-pitched game we saw, we bought the tickets hoping to see Liriano. Lirano got scratched the night before the game due to elbow pains. Looks like we haven't quite come full-circle.
More tomorrow...
Stephen Curry
I guess I was a little off on my Wisconsin prediction. But to be completely honest, I just didn't see Stephen Curry torching UW the way he did. I mean this is Wisconsin. And they play Wisconsin defense. To Curry's credit, he is the best player the Badgers saw all year. (Prove me wrong!) Even though every intelligent person watching the game knew he was going to be the guy taking the shots, he was still able to get the ball and get good looks... and make some unbelievable shots. (Did anyone else see LeBron say, "I want that guy!"? Ok, I didn't either, but you know he was thinking it.)
All in all, it's too bad that Stephen Curry wasn't recruited by a big-time college, but I really believe he's getting more exposure this way then if we playing for, say, Duke. He has become a legitimate NBA prospect. (NBAdraft.net projects him as a late-first round pick in 2009.) My only question is, if he played for the Wolves, would he be their best player right now?
(Not many saw this coming, only 3 or 293 entries in my pool had Davidson going to the Elite 8. I know, I know, I never did. But I did on my Facebook bracket!)
All in all, it's too bad that Stephen Curry wasn't recruited by a big-time college, but I really believe he's getting more exposure this way then if we playing for, say, Duke. He has become a legitimate NBA prospect. (NBAdraft.net projects him as a late-first round pick in 2009.) My only question is, if he played for the Wolves, would he be their best player right now?
(Not many saw this coming, only 3 or 293 entries in my pool had Davidson going to the Elite 8. I know, I know, I never did. But I did on my Facebook bracket!)
Another round of NCAA picks
I'm back to blogging after a short hiatus. (Apparently google had to confirm that I was a human, and not spam.)
4 for 4 last night. Although, I think tonight's games are much harder. I'll see if my luck continues...
Davidson vs. Wisconsin
-Wisconsin fans travel well, but Davidson College is paying for students who want to go. I think that will minimize the "home feel" that Wisconsin would have had. Personally, I'm torn between being a Wisconsin guy and having picked Davidson as my dark horse. I'm hoping that Curry and Co. will keep it close, but I have a feeling that the Badgers will pull away and win by 12.
Stanford vs. Texas
-I would have loved to see Marquette playing Texas, but I guess I'll have to settle for the Cardinal. I think it would be a close game on a "neutral" court, but I don't think Houston is very neutral. And after last night I don't think the Pac-1o is as tough as we believed previously. I'm taking Texas by 10.
Villanova vs. Kansas
-Kansas usually finds a way to choke early in the tournament... but I think they're a deeper team now then they have been in the recent past. I like the way Scottie Reynolds plays, but he's going to have to have a Curryesque performance tonight to give Villanova a chance. Kansas in a 2o point route.
Michigan St. vs Memphis
-There's nothing like watching two of college basketball's best coaches go head-to-head. If Drew Neitzel was even a lick of consistent, I'd take the Spartans 10 out of 10 times. Unfortunately, he's brutally inconsistent. But, he's a senior, and that has to count for something. I like the Spartans chances. If they can keep it close, Memphis will blow it at the free throw line, and I think that has a good chance of happening. Michigan St. by 6.
I plan on posting later tonight about the Twins.
4 for 4 last night. Although, I think tonight's games are much harder. I'll see if my luck continues...
Davidson vs. Wisconsin
-Wisconsin fans travel well, but Davidson College is paying for students who want to go. I think that will minimize the "home feel" that Wisconsin would have had. Personally, I'm torn between being a Wisconsin guy and having picked Davidson as my dark horse. I'm hoping that Curry and Co. will keep it close, but I have a feeling that the Badgers will pull away and win by 12.
Stanford vs. Texas
-I would have loved to see Marquette playing Texas, but I guess I'll have to settle for the Cardinal. I think it would be a close game on a "neutral" court, but I don't think Houston is very neutral. And after last night I don't think the Pac-1o is as tough as we believed previously. I'm taking Texas by 10.
Villanova vs. Kansas
-Kansas usually finds a way to choke early in the tournament... but I think they're a deeper team now then they have been in the recent past. I like the way Scottie Reynolds plays, but he's going to have to have a Curryesque performance tonight to give Villanova a chance. Kansas in a 2o point route.
Michigan St. vs Memphis
-There's nothing like watching two of college basketball's best coaches go head-to-head. If Drew Neitzel was even a lick of consistent, I'd take the Spartans 10 out of 10 times. Unfortunately, he's brutally inconsistent. But, he's a senior, and that has to count for something. I like the Spartans chances. If they can keep it close, Memphis will blow it at the free throw line, and I think that has a good chance of happening. Michigan St. by 6.
I plan on posting later tonight about the Twins.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
NCAA picks
The field of 16 is reduced by 4 tomorrow night. I'm going to give my thoughts on each game.
West Virginia vs. Xavier
-This is the toughest game of the round for me to pick. I'm going with Xavier solely on the fact that they've beaten better teams in the last week. Xavier by 7.
Washington St. vs. North Carolina
-The Cougars will find their hands full with the Heels. Coming east to Charlotte is going to be way too much for them to handle. Hansbrough and Co. win by 14.
Western Kentucky vs. UCLA
-I don't know if the Bruins will be able to handle the trip all the way to Phoenix... except I do, and they will. Western Kentucky hasn't seen a team as good as this all year. UCLA by 13.
Louisville vs. Tennessee
-I've never been a big fan of Tennessee. I don't know if it's Chris Lofton, Bruce Pearl, or Wayne Chism's crooked headband... but I always find myself annoyed while watching them. I hope that Sosa can keep it together long enough to give the Cardinals a 6 point victory.
West Virginia vs. Xavier
-This is the toughest game of the round for me to pick. I'm going with Xavier solely on the fact that they've beaten better teams in the last week. Xavier by 7.
Washington St. vs. North Carolina
-The Cougars will find their hands full with the Heels. Coming east to Charlotte is going to be way too much for them to handle. Hansbrough and Co. win by 14.
Western Kentucky vs. UCLA
-I don't know if the Bruins will be able to handle the trip all the way to Phoenix... except I do, and they will. Western Kentucky hasn't seen a team as good as this all year. UCLA by 13.
Louisville vs. Tennessee
-I've never been a big fan of Tennessee. I don't know if it's Chris Lofton, Bruce Pearl, or Wayne Chism's crooked headband... but I always find myself annoyed while watching them. I hope that Sosa can keep it together long enough to give the Cardinals a 6 point victory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
