runningorange
Walk On
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- Mar 27, 2012
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Our team this year reminds me of several other different teams I have seen in the last decade + (some good and some bad).
Option 1, Villanova 2009: Like Nova in 2009, we came flying out of the gates. However, we both stumble near the end of the year and get blown out in a game that decides the conference regular season title. Nova lost in the first round of the BET and limped into the NCAAs as a 2 seed. There they barley survived Robert Morris in OT and lost in the round of 32. They started hot and were unable to right the ship and overcome adversity.
Option 2, Syracuse 2000: We start 19-0 and lose a game we should have won to SHU at home. The team then plays .500 ball the rest of the way and loses as the top seed in the BET in the first round. The team is able to get it together in the NCAAs and gives MSU their toughest test in the sweet sixteen in route to their national title, a game we easily could have won (although MSU was the best team that year for sure).
Option 3, UConn 2004: This team looks amazing at times, and looks like a team that can win it all. However, their are many lapses where they play down to their competition (lose at home to PC). Okafor sits much of the season finale against Syracuse with a back problem and UConn looks sunk. They right the ship and win the BET in thrilling fashion and Okafor gets healthy. The ride continues for 6 more games as Okafor plays great, they have a great draw (6 seed is the highest seed they play before the final four), and cut down the nets.
Option 3, Duke 2006: Led by Sheldon Williams and JJ Reddick this team has a great regular season and is given a one seed. However, those who watch this team regularly can see that they have flaws. Taking away 2 players can completely bog down their offense. A talented and athletic LSU team is able to do this successfully with lockdown defense and it is curtains in the sweet sixteen as Duke can't find its offense.
Option 4, Georgetown 2013: This team was excellent defensively. They played at a snails pace offensively. Despite some shortcomings Georgetown has an excellent regular season and is given a 2 seed. Georgetown is unable to play at a fast pace and is unable to match the tempo and scoring of 15th seed FGCU in round 1. FGCU fast breaks all game while Georgetown only plays in the half court and has a stone cold shooting night (huge fear of mine).
Option 5, Pitt 2003-present: Pitt has had many very good teams and despite playing a slow brand of basketball has become very successful by winning ugly games and rock fights. Despite good regular season success, Pitt has never played above their seed in the tournament with a host of early exits. (Often due to not being allowed to get away with their physicality or being offensively challenged)
Option 6, UConn 2011: This team displayed great potential through stretches (Maui, @Texas, BET) but looked very flawed and beatable at times as well (9-9 conference record). This team had high level NCAA talent (Kemba, Lamb), got hot at the right times, was given a good draw and had everything come together.
Syracuse, 2014: This team has looked great at stretches and very poor at stretches and I can see it going a lot of ways in the next few weeks. We have several NBA level talents, but are not deep, struggle with injuries, and sometimes play to the level of competition. We play great defensive but struggle shooting and often let our opponent dictate the pace of play. When we play to our ceiling we can beat anyone, but a 14, 15, 16 seed seems scary with our poor offense (Saint Francis, BC, Miami (first game) anyone?)
Result = ?
Option 1, Villanova 2009: Like Nova in 2009, we came flying out of the gates. However, we both stumble near the end of the year and get blown out in a game that decides the conference regular season title. Nova lost in the first round of the BET and limped into the NCAAs as a 2 seed. There they barley survived Robert Morris in OT and lost in the round of 32. They started hot and were unable to right the ship and overcome adversity.
Option 2, Syracuse 2000: We start 19-0 and lose a game we should have won to SHU at home. The team then plays .500 ball the rest of the way and loses as the top seed in the BET in the first round. The team is able to get it together in the NCAAs and gives MSU their toughest test in the sweet sixteen in route to their national title, a game we easily could have won (although MSU was the best team that year for sure).
Option 3, UConn 2004: This team looks amazing at times, and looks like a team that can win it all. However, their are many lapses where they play down to their competition (lose at home to PC). Okafor sits much of the season finale against Syracuse with a back problem and UConn looks sunk. They right the ship and win the BET in thrilling fashion and Okafor gets healthy. The ride continues for 6 more games as Okafor plays great, they have a great draw (6 seed is the highest seed they play before the final four), and cut down the nets.
Option 3, Duke 2006: Led by Sheldon Williams and JJ Reddick this team has a great regular season and is given a one seed. However, those who watch this team regularly can see that they have flaws. Taking away 2 players can completely bog down their offense. A talented and athletic LSU team is able to do this successfully with lockdown defense and it is curtains in the sweet sixteen as Duke can't find its offense.
Option 4, Georgetown 2013: This team was excellent defensively. They played at a snails pace offensively. Despite some shortcomings Georgetown has an excellent regular season and is given a 2 seed. Georgetown is unable to play at a fast pace and is unable to match the tempo and scoring of 15th seed FGCU in round 1. FGCU fast breaks all game while Georgetown only plays in the half court and has a stone cold shooting night (huge fear of mine).
Option 5, Pitt 2003-present: Pitt has had many very good teams and despite playing a slow brand of basketball has become very successful by winning ugly games and rock fights. Despite good regular season success, Pitt has never played above their seed in the tournament with a host of early exits. (Often due to not being allowed to get away with their physicality or being offensively challenged)
Option 6, UConn 2011: This team displayed great potential through stretches (Maui, @Texas, BET) but looked very flawed and beatable at times as well (9-9 conference record). This team had high level NCAA talent (Kemba, Lamb), got hot at the right times, was given a good draw and had everything come together.
Syracuse, 2014: This team has looked great at stretches and very poor at stretches and I can see it going a lot of ways in the next few weeks. We have several NBA level talents, but are not deep, struggle with injuries, and sometimes play to the level of competition. We play great defensive but struggle shooting and often let our opponent dictate the pace of play. When we play to our ceiling we can beat anyone, but a 14, 15, 16 seed seems scary with our poor offense (Saint Francis, BC, Miami (first game) anyone?)
Result = ?
