Topic: Running 2011-12 College Basketball thread

[dixiehack]

UT would still need Bama to lose once, which is entirely possible Saturday in the roach motel that is the Tad Pad.

[TigerVols]

UT would still need Bama to lose once, which is entirely possible Saturday in the roach motel that is the Tad Pad.

Better tell that to the News-Sentinel.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2012/feb/27/cuonzo-martin-we-are-fighting-for-our-lives/?partner=popular

[Cosmo]

Apparently the shit is going to hit the fan tomorrow. Some sort of expose by Dohrmann in SI about Ben Howland and UCLA basketball and drug use.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/02/28/report-sports-illustrated-expected-to-release-highly-negative-article-on-ucla-basketball-program/

[dixiehack]

The News-Sentinel could figure it out if their agate guy wasn't off interviewing all the time. [/crossthread]

[Versatile]

My understanding is a four-way tiebreaker is determined by head-to-head records of tied teams. In the scenario of a four-way tie at 10-6 for second place in the Southeastern Conference, it would get a little more complicated because of a tie between Tennessee and Vanderbilt with 3-2 head-to-head records against the other three teams.

The tiebreaker then between Vanderbilt and Tennessee is record vs. the top team, but neither beat Kentucky. So the next tiebreaker would be against the next-highest team in the standings, which would be Florida. Tennessee swept Florida and Vanderbilt split against Florida, so Tennessee wins that tiebreaker. Here's the results:

• Tennessee would be 3-2 against Alabama (0-1), Florida (2-0) and Vanderbilt (1-1) and the second seed.
• Vanderbilt would be 3-2 against Alabama (1-0), Florida (1-1) and Tennessee (1-1) and the third seed.
• Florida would be 2-3 against Alabama (1-0), Tennessee (0-2) and Vanderbilt (1-1) and the fourth seed.
• Alabama would be 1-2 against Florida (0-1), Tennessee (1-0) and Vanderbilt (0-1) and the fifth seed.

.
That, at least, is my understanding of the rules. It's definitely how the rules played out in when the league had a divisional format, and I think they've stuck with those rules.

[Cosmo]

More on the Howland story:

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/29/story-paints-ben-howland-an-uncaring-coach-who-ignored-players-coddled-to-stars-and-ignored-issues/

[zagoshe]

Ben Howland is a classic example of an excellent coach who was promoted one level above his level of competency.

I said it when he was hired. I said it when he had a few great recruits early and went to Final Fours. And I'll say it again - he is a terrible fit for UCLA and he doesn't have the star power to successfully be that school's coach.

First, his defensive style is not what players on the West Coast want to play and it is not what Showtime Hollywood fans want to watch.

Second, his style is predicated on guys buying into a system and developing over four or even five years -- except to win at UCLA you better get some one and two-and-done type kids. This means his grand plans for building teams are always changing.

The guy he mentored, on the other hand, Jamie Dixon will miss the tournament this year, but it is the first time in eight or nine seasons and the reason is he never has a young team. He never has to rebuild as he loses usually two or three seniors but has seven or eight other guys who have played lots of minutes already ready to step in and they almost all have been in his program for three or more years.

That works at Pitt and if Jamie Dixon never makes a Final Four or even another Elite Eight but keeps winning a lot of games and going to the NCAA Tournament he will be at Pitt for life cause it is good enough.

It isn't good enough at UCLA.

Ben Howland will likely be let go at some point, maybe not this year but soon enough and when he does it won't shock me if he resurfaces at a job like, oh I don't know, Oregon State or something and he will have a lot of success cause he will be able to run his program his way.

People can rip John Calipari all they want but he is the kind of guy UCLA needs - someone who can be bigger than what seems to be a larger than life job and can handle the expectations like he has at Kentucky.

[MileHigh]

Amateur hour in Fort Fun, storming the court beating the No. 17 team.

Nice comeback (down 14 in the second half) for the Lambs and they should be in the tournament, but come on. Is that Matt Stephens at midcourt hugging Tim Miles?

[Matt Stephens]

Colorado State upsets UNLV. First time in school history Rams have defeated three ranked teams in a season. Great to see for Tim Miles. As long as CSU doesn't slip up at Air Force this weekend (which has an amazing chance of happening), that should lock up an NCAA Tournament bid.

[Matt Stephens]

Amateur hour in Fort Fun, storming the court beating the No. 17 team.

Nice comeback (down 14 in the second half) for the Lambs and they should be in the tournament, but come on. Is that Matt Stephens at midcourt hugging Tim Miles?

lol fourth court storming of the year (CU, SDSU, UNM and UNLV). A little excessive, but the Rams being successful at anything other than volleyball, well, it hasn't happened in a while. I'm here in Arkansas, but I may have to text Tim in a few to say congrats.

[MileHigh]

Beat ya by 3:39.

[MileHigh]

Amateur hour in Fort Fun, storming the court beating the No. 17 team.

Nice comeback (down 14 in the second half) for the Lambs and they should be in the tournament, but come on. Is that Matt Stephens at midcourt hugging Tim Miles?

lol fourth court storming of the year (CU, SDSU, UNM and UNLV). A little excessive, but the Rams being successful at anything other than volleyball, well, it hasn't happened in a while. I'm here in Arkansas, but I may have to text Tim in a few to say congrats.

Stop. Miles has Lambkin 1 fueled up for ya to join in the party at the Crown Pub.

[Matt Stephens]

But I'm supposed to be the designated CSU poster 

[Ben_Hecht]

Ben Howland is a classic example of an excellent coach who was promoted one level above his level of competency.

I said it when he was hired. I said it when he had a few great recruits early and went to Final Fours. And I'll say it again - he is a terrible fit for UCLA and he doesn't have the star power to successfully be that school's coach.

First, his defensive style is not what players on the West Coast want to play and it is not what Showtime Hollywood fans want to watch.

Second, his style is predicated on guys buying into a system and developing over four or even five years -- except to win at UCLA you better get some one and two-and-done type kids. This means his grand plans for building teams are always changing.

The guy he mentored, on the other hand, Jamie Dixon will miss the tournament this year, but it is the first time in eight or nine seasons and the reason is he never has a young team. He never has to rebuild as he loses usually two or three seniors but has seven or eight other guys who have played lots of minutes already ready to step in and they almost all have been in his program for three or more years.

That works at Pitt and if Jamie Dixon never makes a Final Four or even another Elite Eight but keeps winning a lot of games and going to the NCAA Tournament he will be at Pitt for life cause it is good enough.

It isn't good enough at UCLA.

Ben Howland will likely be let go at some point, maybe not this year but soon enough and when he does it won't shock me if he resurfaces at a job like, oh I don't know, Oregon State or something and he will have a lot of success cause he will be able to run his program his way.

People can rip John Calipari all they want but he is the kind of guy UCLA needs - someone who can be bigger than what seems to be a larger than life job and can handle the expectations like he has at Kentucky.

UCLA has its own sleaze issues, but Bruins aren't getting all hot and bothered about potential SEC-calibre (vacated) circumstances.

[Dick Whitman]

Most absurd court-storming of the year so far was DePaul fans storming the court after beating unranked Pitt.

Best court-storming of the year was Indiana after beating Kentucky in the game of the year to this point. Totally raw and spontaneous and cathartic. Vitale was actually scared shitless while it was going on.

[Chef2]

Most absurd court-storming of the year so far was DePaul fans storming the court after beating unranked Pitt.

Best court-storming of the year was Indiana after beating Kentucky in the game of the year to this point. Totally raw and spontaneous and cathartic. Vitale was actually scared shitless while it was going on.

Best court-storming was definitely IU over UK.......a close second was Notre Dame over 'Cuse.

[BrianGriffin]

Meanwhile, with Vandy's win over Florida...if the Gators lose to KY and the Vols win out (all of which is very doable) then Cuonzo Martin's team finishes second in the SEC. And yet they still might not make the Big Dance.

UT had to slick out of Baton Rouge last night in what was an entertaining game. Your scenario is still there.

The Vols look like an NCAA team to me, although I doubt that they get there. Stokes was outstanding last night. He makes a huge difference when you consider that he replaces a kind of journeyman player with a difference maker and, in the process, make themselves deeper in the front line.

Might be too little, too late.

And before somebody says "It was just LSU," for the first 15 minutes, LSU played very well. LSU has moments, like the Marquette game or the Mississippi State comeback, where they are pretty good, especially at home. For much of last night, they were that good and Tennessee was still able to win on the road.

[albert77]

Colorado State upsets UNLV. First time in school history Rams have defeated three ranked teams in a season. Great to see for Tim Miles. As long as CSU doesn't slip up at Air Force this weekend (which has an amazing chance of happening), that should lock up an NCAA Tournament bid.

If CSU is in the NCAA field, then my alma mater (Southern Miss) ought to be in with a bullet because they bitch-slapped the Rams by 21 at the Fort. Yeah, it was in November, but that's still got to look pretty good on the resume, as does the fact that Southern is 24-6.

[TigerVols]

Meanwhile, with Vandy's win over Florida...if the Gators lose to KY and the Vols win out (all of which is very doable) then Cuonzo Martin's team finishes second in the SEC. And yet they still might not make the Big Dance.

UT had to slick out of Baton Rouge last night in what was an entertaining game. Your scenario is still there.

The Vols look like an NCAA team to me, although I doubt that they get there. Stokes was outstanding last night. He makes a huge difference when you consider that he replaces a kind of journeyman player with a difference maker and, in the process, make themselves deeper in the front line.

Might be too little, too late.

And before somebody says "It was just LSU," for the first 15 minutes, LSU played very well. LSU has moments, like the Marquette game or the Mississippi State comeback, where they are pretty good, especially at home. For much of last night, they were that good and Tennessee was still able to win on the road.

Plus, Stokes is hurt and playing about about 75% capacity. If the Vols could have locked up one of those early-season near-misses, they'd be a lock themselves. Alas, they didn't, and I think as a result they'll be a trendy pick to win the NIT! (yikes).

[Matt Stephens]

Colorado State upsets UNLV. First time in school history Rams have defeated three ranked teams in a season. Great to see for Tim Miles. As long as CSU doesn't slip up at Air Force this weekend (which has an amazing chance of happening), that should lock up an NCAA Tournament bid.

If CSU is in the NCAA field, then my alma mater (Southern Miss) ought to be in with a bullet because they bitch-slapped the Rams by 21 at the Fort. Yeah, it was in November, but that's still got to look pretty good on the resume, as does the fact that Southern is 24-6.

Southern Miss should definitely be in, IMO. Got revenge for the loss last season.

[albert77]

Colorado State upsets UNLV. First time in school history Rams have defeated three ranked teams in a season. Great to see for Tim Miles. As long as CSU doesn't slip up at Air Force this weekend (which has an amazing chance of happening), that should lock up an NCAA Tournament bid.

If CSU is in the NCAA field, then my alma mater (Southern Miss) ought to be in with a bullet because they bitch-slapped the Rams by 21 at the Fort. Yeah, it was in November, but that's still got to look pretty good on the resume, as does the fact that Southern is 24-6.

Southern Miss should definitely be in, IMO. Got revenge for the loss last season.

Yeah, Matt, I distinctly remember that game from last year (apart from the fact that it was at Cancun). It was pretty much USM's season in a nutshell. They were in the game all the way (I think they lost by 5), but they just could never quite make the right play at the right time, then Eustachy had to separate a couple of players as they were going into the locker room after it was over. That was probably a more talented team than this year's team, but that bunch had really bad chemistry. BTW, I think CSU is going to get in, as well. They are obviously playing a lot better than they were in November.

[dreunc1542]

Miller just hit a crazy three-pointer for FSU with 0.8 left as it looks like they've escaped with a win in Charlottesville. The Seminoles looked done with about three minutes to go in the game as Bernard James was kicked out of the game.

[Big Circus]

In March or April of 2015, when Tony Bennett is stepping down after three straight losing seasons, tonight is going to be seen as the beginning of the end.

[Roscablo]

Colorado State upsets UNLV. First time in school history Rams have defeated three ranked teams in a season. Great to see for Tim Miles. As long as CSU doesn't slip up at Air Force this weekend (which has an amazing chance of happening), that should lock up an NCAA Tournament bid.

If CSU is in the NCAA field, then my alma mater (Southern Miss) ought to be in with a bullet because they bitch-slapped the Rams by 21 at the Fort. Yeah, it was in November, but that's still got to look pretty good on the resume, as does the fact that Southern is 24-6.

Southern Miss should definitely be in, IMO. Got revenge for the loss last season.

Yeah, Matt, I distinctly remember that game from last year (apart from the fact that it was at Cancun). It was pretty much USM's season in a nutshell. They were in the game all the way (I think they lost by 5), but they just could never quite make the right play at the right time, then Eustachy had to separate a couple of players as they were going into the locker room after it was over. That was probably a more talented team than this year's team, but that bunch had really bad chemistry. BTW, I think CSU is going to get in, as well. They are obviously playing a lot better than they were in November.

That was CSU's only home loss and it wasn't even that close. They were missing Hornung but I don't think it would have made any difference.

[mb]

Gonna feel like there's something missing on Selection Sunday when there's no Seth Greenberg bemoaning the Hokies' tournament omission.