TOURNEY WATCH: 3/26/2011
by BracketCat on Mar 26, 2011 12:00 PM CDT
in Men's Basketball
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Rock chalk, around the clock — Friday was all KU, all the time.
Forget the win over Richmond, which was at best a minor obstacle.
Ohio State, the only other remaining No. 1 seed, stumbled all over its feet in its second consecutive Sweet Sixteen exit at the hands of an SEC team.
Guess it's not just the Ohio State football program that can't beat the SEC in the postseason.
It also makes one question just how good a coach Thad Matta really is, considering the experience and talent his team basically wasted this year when it really counted.
Of course, that removed the primary challenger to Kansas' pursuit of a second national championship in four years.
While Kentucky and North Carolina beat each other up Sunday, and the superstars of Arizona and Connecticut trade body blows tonight, Kansas only has to surmount No. 11 seed VCU, playing in its fifth tournament game in two weeks, to reach the Final Four.
VCU's a nice story, but this is the end of the line because the Rams don't have the personnel to slow down the Morris twins and they will be playing the early Sunday game after going to overtime in the late Friday game. Sound familiar?
As for those other four teams and Florida, I don't think any of them can beat KU because they all would have the Jayhawks' full and undivided attention.
No, I think our last, best hope lies in another killer B: The Butler Bulldogs. There's an outside chance that the Beakers might take the Boy Wonder and his Cinderella kids lightly, even in the Final Four, and Butler is equipped for the upset.
Associated Press Ranking = 21
ESPN/USA Today Ranking = 24
Overall Record = 23-11
Big 12 Record = 10-6
Top 50 Record = 4-7
Big 12 Seed = 4
NCAA Seed = 5
RPI = 23
SOS = 11
Region (Site) = Southeast (Tucson)
Signature Wins (RPI 1-30) = Kansas, Texas, Utah State
Quality Wins (RPI 31-100) = James Madison, Virginia Tech, Gonzaga, Washington State, Baylor, Nebraska (2), Missouri
Bad Losses (RPI 101 or greater) = none
- James Madison (21-12, 10-8 CAA) | RPI = 88
- Virginia Tech (22-12, 9-7 ACC) | RPI = 62
- Presbyterian (13-18, 7-11 Big South) | RPI = 204
- Gonzaga (24-10, 11-3 WCC) | RPI = 56
- No. 3 Duke (32-5, 13-3 ACC) | RPI = 4
- Texas Southern (19-13, 16-2 SWAC) | RPI = 192
- Emporia State (16-14, 12-10 MIAA**)
- No. 2* seed Washington State (22-12, 9-9 Pac-10) | RPI = 82
- Alcorn State (4-24, 4-14 SWAC) | RPI = 337
- Loyola-Chicago (16-15, 7-11 Horizon League) | RPI = 197
- No. 2 seed Florida (29-7, 13-3 SEC) | RPI = 8
- UNLV (24-9, 11-5 Mountain West) | RPI = 25
- UMKC (16-14, 9-9 Summit League) | RPI = 212
- North Florida (15-19, 10-10 Atlantic Sun) | RPI = 149
- Savannah State (12-18) | RPI = 252
- Oklahoma State (20-14, 6-10 Big 12) | RPI = 61
- No. 1* seed Colorado (24-13, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 65
- Texas Tech (13-19, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 165
- Missouri (23-11, 8-8 Big 12) | RPI = 37
- No. 24 Texas A&M (24-9, 10-6 Big 12) | RPI = 30
- Baylor (18-13, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 94
- No. 1 seed Kansas (35-2, 14-2 Big 12) | RPI = 1: Win over No. 12 seed Richmond (77-57 in the Southwest Region of the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen)
- Nebraska (19-13, 7-9 Big 12) | RPI = 89
- Iowa State (16-16, 3-13 Big 12) | RPI = 138
- Oklahoma (14-18, 5-11 Big 12) | RPI = 126
- No. 8 Texas (28-8, 13-3 Big 12) | RPI = 11
- No. 19 Utah State (30-4, 15-1 WAC) | RPI = 15
- No. 16 Wisconsin (25-9, 13-5 Big Ten) | RPI = 16
*NIT
**Division II
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Nice write up, BracketCat -
and I like your observation about Butler, and the killer “B.” I hope Butler beats Fla. (I’m assuming KU dispatches VCU). The Beaker fans will need a fistful of valium to get through the week, if that happens!
oh hail the Purple and White
I have a feeling VCU just might get this done.
Don’t know why, just a feeling.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 26, 2011 1:48 PM CDT reply actions
A VCU win
would be a great story, but I think I’d prefer the hell Beaker fans would go through if KU and Butler were to meet in the semis. The know in the stomach of KU fans at the prospect of having to face another killer B would be delicious!
oh hail the Purple and White
knot, not "know"
oh hail the Purple and White
But the Beaker fans
would get to hang another Final Four Banner….
"To all the fake fans that just jump on and off the bandwagon who think we suck go cheer for somebody down the road then" -JP
Who's counting?
Besides, just make it sweeter when we do catch up (a little) and start beating them with some regularity again. It is going to start happening. Frank’s gonna get us there, I believe that.
oh hail the Purple and White
by Furnace76 on Mar 26, 2011 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I prefer that the Squawks lose as early as possible every year.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 26, 2011 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I sense a Marquettesque shellacking...their time in this Tourney is going down in flames.
Just a feeling.
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. -Wayne Gretzky
Do not underestimate UNC...because they have been there and done that.
Also Roy has won a NC and of course Duke was eliminated making way for them to advance to the Championship Game.
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. -Wayne Gretzky
Was at the games in Newark last night.
UNC looked dominant and the first game was quite a snoozer.
Second game was game of the tourney and a ton of fun. I’ve never really liked Kentucky but found myself rooting for them hard (I think possibly because of the Fiesta Bowl and double standard with the impermissible benefit suspensions I don’t like OSU). The rest of the arena was the same. Crowd was very pro-Kentucky. Real impressed by Knight. Apparently he has a 4.0 and already qualifies as a sophomore as he’s taking advanced courses. Also, not surprised that Sullinger is coming back. He is a great college player but just don’t see him succeeding as a pro. Seems like a good kid so hope I’m wrong, but another year in college can’t hurt.
Sullinger won't succeed in the pros?
Whaaaaaa?!?
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 26, 2011 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions
Just my opinion.
He can’t play center at the next level and not sure he has the quickness to be a dominant power forward. Plus in person he looks a lot shorter than he’s listed.
He's predicted to be a lottery pick.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 26, 2011 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't care enough about Sullinger to really want to argue much about this, but I think you would admit that
being a lottery pick hardly means you will be successful in the pros.
Sullinger very well may be a good NBA player. He certainly is skilled. I’m just not blown away by him and think he might have some trouble at the next level. Won’t know for a couple years though, I guess, which is all that matters. OSU fans must be pretty happy he’s coming back.
I doubt very much that he's actually coming back.
Not very many players predicted to go high in the draft come back for another year. The kid was emotional in the moment, and that’s all it was, I think.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 26, 2011 8:27 PM CDT up reply actions
This.
Tristan Thompson said a week ago that he was coming back, but apparently signed with an agent yesterday.
Money talks and bullshit walks.
Oh, I know.
I’m just saying it’s not likely that he comes back.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 27, 2011 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions
You're probably right.
He’s a kid who probably got caught up in his emotions. Though on occasion some kid just really loves college that much. I bet if Beasley could do it over again he would have stayed at least another year.
I don't know about Beas.
Wasn’t he from a really poor family? And being picked #2 in the draft set him for life, so I don’t begrudge him that at all. The one I wish had stayed another year or two (and who I think could have REALLY benefited from it) was Billy. Without looking, I’m pretty sure he didn’t go until the second round, and I think if he’d have stayed, worked on his game, and gotten more disciplined, he could have been a top half of the first round type of guy.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 1:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Bill was from an even poorer family.
Can’t really have it both ways. If a kid can go and provide financial security for his poverty-stricken family, he should go. End of story.
Yeah, I wasn't actually referring to the financial element.
Beasley has said on a couple of occasions he liked college better than being in the pros. Of course there are other factors to consider, but there’s a part of him that from a sheer enjoyment/happiness standpoint probably wishes he just finished his senior season at KSU.
Once in awhile a big time player like Sullinger will decide to soak in the college scene for another year. Maybe he’ll renege on his proclamation once the sting of the loss wears off a bit. But I wouldn’t be shocked if he sticks around.
Can you IMAGINE what kind of team we'd have had this year if Beas was still around?
(This is assuming BW would have gone pro early, just for family reasons.)
Jake, Rod, Shane, Beasley, Curt
+Jamar, Will, JHR off the bench.
I think we win the league, and go DEEP in the tournament with that type of rotation.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I am sure Sutton would still be here
if Beasley was still here. I think a lot of things would have been different. And theres no way Southwell over Sutton. I think Walker would have gone pro still. With all his familys need and his knees in question (24/7) it would have made sense for him.
"To all the fake fans that just jump on and off the bandwagon who think we suck go cheer for somebody down the road then" -JP
Dom moved to be with his baby, if IIRC.
How would Beasley still being here change that?
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
that was the version of the story KSU and Sutton put out there..
not sure if that’s the whole truth.
by WillieWannabe on Mar 28, 2011 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions
We're on a message board.
Speculate away.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
I heard……. He wasnt working out over the summer. He was putting in zero effort to improve and stay in shape. Heard he got lazy and fat (which i doubt these guys get “fat”). Was told Frank got on him serveral times to get his shit together and start doing work at which point he still didnt. So the final time was a choice to get it together or get out. I guess we saw what happened. BUT it should also be noted that Sutton was talking with his lady/child all the time and really did miss them.
"To all the fake fans that just jump on and off the bandwagon who think we suck go cheer for somebody down the road then" -JP
How would Beas still being here fix that problem, though?
It’s my experience that if a player is being lazy, that often that’s just who they are.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 29, 2011 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions
Oh, I'm not mad at him for it. He's a favorite of mine, in fact.
I like the guy a lot, I just think that HE would have benefited, even on the financial side, from staying another year or two.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
It was second round
And then traded right away to Boston. Who has since traded him to NYC where he is still. Hes on my list of favorite players so I try to follow him.
"To all the fake fans that just jump on and off the bandwagon who think we suck go cheer for somebody down the road then" -JP
Yeah, I thought so.
I think if he would’ve stayed one or two more years, he could’ve been a top-20 draft pick. I knew he was with the Knicks now, and I’m glad he’s caught on somewhere.
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Mar 28, 2011 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
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