NCAA National Championship: Mon April 7

[kirbivore]

Isn’t it Luther every year?

The original was some studio musicians. Probably the same group who were the real voices of Milli Vanilli.

 

[kirbivore]

no team ranked outside the top 12 in week 6 of the AP has won since 2003.

interesting spot to take a future bet

Also for your brackets next year in the Ken Pom era no team that started off the year unranked, got a top 2 seed in March, and has reached the Final Four. I believe this goes back to 2005. This year St. John's and Michigan St. didn't break through. I believe the record for this stat is 0-40.

 

[Cuse99&01]

The original was some studio musicians. Probably the same group who were the real voices of Milli Vanilli.

That’s a pretty diverse song catalog, “One Shining Moment” to “Blame it on the Rain”

 

[Cheriehoop]

Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games

Jay Bilas threw out a pretty bad Duke take over its shocking Final Four collapse.

www.yahoo.com

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games

Jay Bilas threw out a pretty bad Duke take over its shocking Final Four collapse.

www.yahoo.com

agree with jay bilas. it very well could have hurt them. the author seems to lack an understanding of what Bilas meant when he said the ACC let them down. The ACC was garbage. Duke was so much better than most teams that the younger guys on Duke could very well have been negatively impacted by that lack of game stress experience. Its impossible to prove but to say it was a ridiculous comment is in fact ridiculous.

 

[upperdeck]

Many teams have had that same type of issue over the years as well.

 

[kirbivore]

Many teams have had that same type of issue over the years as well.

Duke this year basically had a Gonzaga situation from 2000 through whenever St. Mary's became a player. Tough OOC schedule then a soft conference slate.

 

[Cusefan0307]

agree with jay bilas. it very well could have hurt them. the author seems to lack an understanding of what Bilas meant when he said the ACC let them down. The ACC was garbage. Duke was so much better than most teams that the younger guys on Duke could very well have been negatively impacted by that lack of game stress experience. Its impossible to prove but to say it was a ridiculous comment is in fact ridiculous.

Or their guards just suck compared to everyone else’s in the FF.

 

[Nicknack]

Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games

Jay Bilas threw out a pretty bad Duke take over its shocking Final Four collapse.

www.yahoo.com

Not sure how anyone could disagree with what Bilas said. He just gave an opinion that sounds reasonable. Also, I'm sure he never meant that it's the ACC's responsibility to prepare Duke. He's just stating the obvious... the ACC was really down this year and as a result, Duke wasn't battled tested which may have contributed to the deer in headlights end of game scenario against Houston.

 

[Cheriehoop]

agree with jay bilas. it very well could have hurt them. the author seems to lack an understanding of what Bilas meant when he said the ACC let them down. The ACC was garbage. Duke was so much better than most teams that the younger guys on Duke could very well have been negatively impacted by that lack of game stress experience. Its impossible to prove but to say it was a ridiculous comment is in fact ridiculous.

They did lose 3 games, 1 in the ACC to Clemson. The ACC definitely was down. Duke also had three 5 star freshmen starting, leading the team who lacked any college experience and only 1 player who had any tournament playing experience. They should have had plenty of film to study and have plans to attack the #1 defensive team in the country including Houston’s inbound press I would think. Cryer and Roberts, 2 of 3 Houston’s top scorers were in their 5th year of college basketball while Sharp the 2nd top scorer was in his 3rd year and each one had been in the NCAA tournament every year of their college career. Cooper Flagg, Duke’s top scorer was 5 years younger than 2 of Houston’s top scorers, Kneuppel was 4 years younger. Maluach had 6 points and 0 rebounds in 21 minutes plus 4 fouls, a factor too? Lots of factors could be chosen in Duke’s loss. Duke’s Proctor and James were the only 2 players even in their 20’s (22 and 21), the same ages as Houston’s youngest starters. You could pick, guess, use many factors including Bilas’ for their loss but Duke had a great season and lost to a very experienced, older, determined, defensively minded team. It’s why they play these games instead of just anointing a champion after the regular season. I never gave an opinion just noted Bilas’ opinion.

 

[Cusefan0307]

They did lose 3 games, 1 in the ACC to Clemson. The ACC definitely was down. Duke also had three 5 star freshman starting, leading the team who lacked any college experience and only 1 player who had any tournament playing experience. They should have had plenty of film to study and have plans to attack the #1 defensive team in the country including Houston’s inbound press I would think. Cryer and Roberts, 2 of 3 Houston’s top scorers were in their 5th year of college basketball while Sharp the 2nd top scorer was in his 3rd year and each one had been in the NCAA tournament every year of their college career. Cooper Flagg, Duke’s top scorer was 5 years younger than 2 of Houston’s top scorers, Kneuppel was 4 years younger. Maluach had 6 points and 0 rebounds in 21 minutes plus 4 fouls, a factor too? Lots of factors could be chosen in Duke’s loss. Duke’s Proctor and James were the only 2 players even in their 20’s (22 and 21), the same ages as Houston’s youngest starters. You could pick, guess, use many factors including Bilas’ for their loss but Duke had a great season and lost to a very experienced, older, determined, defensively minded team. It’s why they play these games instead of just anointing a champion after the regular season. I never gave an opinion just noted Bilas’ opinion.

They weren't particularly great in close games all year. 1-4 in games decided by 5 points or less. Their two oldest players probably were their two weakest in their starting lineup too. Kneuppel and Flagg were more than good enough.

That said if Duke won I doubt there would be as many excuses being made for other schools. Duke just wasn't as good as the experts thought.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Duke needs to come to the realization that trying to win a national championship with freshmen is going to be difficult. They had a very special talent with Flagg and they still couldn’t win. Next years class is not as good as the group they had this year. They’ve already missed out on good portal kids. We have to hope the players we are bringing in are more equipped to have success next year over their talented freshmen.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Duke needs to come to the realization that trying to win a national championship with freshmen is going to be difficult. They had a very special talent with Flagg and they still couldn’t win. Next years class is not as good as the group they had this year. They’ve already missed out on good portal kids. We have to hope the players we are bringing in are more equipped to have success next year over their talented freshmen.

If Flagg goes to UConn they probably win a title. Surprised no one else has said it yet.

 

[upperdeck]

they lost because the coach ddnt handle the end of game well as much as the players.

 

[longtimefan]

agree with jay bilas. it very well could have hurt them. the author seems to lack an understanding of what Bilas meant when he said the ACC let them down. The ACC was garbage. Duke was so much better than most teams that the younger guys on Duke could very well have been negatively impacted by that lack of game stress experience. Its impossible to prove but to say it was a ridiculous comment is in fact ridiculous.

I think this point is over emphasized re: Duke this past season. Yes, they pounded the ACC. But they also clobbered Baylor by 23 and Alabama by 20 in the tourney, and would have done the same thing to Arizona if Love had not played out of his mind.

In other words, Duke was just that good this year. I think their 19-year-olds ran out of gas vs. the much more physically (and mentally) mature defensive machine that Sampson built.

An interesting aside about the Final Four--In the final 2:05 of the semi-final vs Duke, Houston scored 15 points. In the final 2:05 in the final vs. Florida, they scored 0.

 

[Newhouser]

I think this point is over emphasized re: Duke this past season. Yes, they pounded the ACC. But they also clobbered Baylor by 23 and Alabama by 20 in the tourney, and would have done the same thing to Arizona if Love had not played out of his mind.

In other words, Duke was just that good this year. I think their 19-year-olds ran out of gas vs. the much more physically (and mentally) mature defensive machine that Sampson built.

An interesting aside about the Final Four--In the final 2:05 of the semi-final vs Duke, Houston scored 15 points. In the final 2:05 in the final vs. Florida, they scored 0.

Florida took advantage of Texas Tech, Auburn and Houston doing dumb things.

 

[Scooch]

Most-watched final in 5 years. Final Four + Champ game most-watched since 2017.

Florida-Houston national title nailbiter tops 18 million mark

The college basketball season ended on a strong note on the court -- and in the ratings -- as a compelling national championship delivered for CBS.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

Not to say I told you so, but I told you so. Cinderellas make for better stories, and power conference teams make for bigger ratings.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Most-watched final in 5 years. Final Four + Champ game most-watched since 2017.

Florida-Houston national title nailbiter tops 18 million mark

The college basketball season ended on a strong note on the court -- and in the ratings -- as a compelling national championship delivered for CBS.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

Not to say I told you so, but I told you so. Cinderellas make for better stories, and power conference teams make for bigger ratings.

Starting thirty minutes earlier helped ratings too.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Florida took advantage of Texas Tech, Auburn and Houston doing dumb things.

I can agree with that. But to say its ridiculous to even think it may have contributed is simply wrong. I don't know how anyone can know either way. But it is a reasonable contention.

 

[kirbivore]

Most-watched final in 5 years. Final Four + Champ game most-watched since 2017.

Florida-Houston national title nailbiter tops 18 million mark

The college basketball season ended on a strong note on the court -- and in the ratings -- as a compelling national championship delivered for CBS.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

Not to say I told you so, but I told you so. Cinderellas make for better stories, and power conference teams make for bigger ratings.

 

[Oakland]

Jay Bilas inexplicably blamed Duke's Final Four collapse on a lack of close ACC games

Jay Bilas threw out a pretty bad Duke take over its shocking Final Four collapse.

www.yahoo.com

Maybe their S&C program is not good enough.