First 2009 March Madness thread

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

So Oklahoma is a Top 5 team but Kansas is garbage?

Please tell me this statement is based on their last meeting when Griffin didn't play. And I didn't say they were garbage. Sweet 16 is not really garbage in the grand scheme of things.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Please tell me this statement is based on their last meeting when Griffin didn't play. And I didn't say they were garbage. Sweet 16 is not really garbage in the grand scheme of things.

No, it's based on them being a better team and playing more defense. That game was a blowout until Cade Davis hit a few threes to keep it interesting. Yeah, no Griffin made things tough for the Sooners, but Aldrich and the twins wouldn't have allowed Griffin to have the kind of game he's been having against Texas Tech, Colorado, Iowa State, etc. anyway. Kansas is way better on the interior than anybody he's faced this season.

[miraja2]

I keep hearing people talk about how wide open it is this year....but I don't really see it that way. Anything can happen in the tournament, but at this point I think UNC will be a strong and deserving favorite.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I keep hearing people talk about how wide open it is this year....but I don't really see it that way. Anything can happen in the tournament, but at this point I think UNC will be a strong and deserving favorite.

Isn't that what everyone says every year? And come tournament time, more often than not, they are bounced before the Final Four.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Isn't that what everyone says every year? And come tournament time, more often than not, they are bounced before the Final Four.

Doesn't mean it's not true though. Often, they are the deserving favorite but everyone knows that the favorite doesn't always win. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't be favored this year if they are the best team.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Doesn't mean it's not true though. Often, they are the deserving favorite but everyone knows that the favorite doesn't always win. That doesn't mean that they shouldn't be favored this year if they are the best team.

Deserving favorite and strong favorite are very different though. They are the deserving favorite cause of Lawson. They aren't a strong favorite though cause their second best player, Hansborough, isn't that great.

[King Glorious]

How great he is is certainly up for debate. I've never been convinced of how good he is either and don't expect him to make a great pro. But that doesn't take away from what he's been able to do in college. To put up the numbers he does night and night out for four year in the toughest conference in the country....he's earned my respect. He might not be great but as long as he's productive enough to get you 15-20 and 10+ boards a night, I'll take it.

I don't think they should be odds-on or anything but I think that they have a much better chance than anyone else.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Isn't that what everyone says every year? And come tournament time, more often than not, they are bounced before the Final Four.

Are you saying that North Carolina is the favorite every year and then they get bounced before they make the Final Four? If so, I have no idea what you are basing that on.
The last five years:
2004: They were a #6 seed....so I somehow doubt they were the favorite.
2005: They WERE the favorites this year....and they won it all.
2006: They were a #3 seed....so again, hardly the favorites.
2007: They were a #1 seed this year, but with defending champion and eventual winner Florida also in the field as a #1 seed, the Heels were certainly not the favorites.
2008: They were a #1 seed last year and DID make it to the final four.

So....in none of the last five years did UNC fail to make the Final Four when entering as a Tourney favorite.
But even if they had....what would it have to do with this year?

North Carolina is the most talented team
imo. Their D is really bad at critical points in games, a big concern.
Its hard to tell if they lose focus because they
are so intent on opening it up offensively or what...
It seems like they just want to outscore other
teams, and when the other teams create pace
problems for them its trouble. They also seem
to let the opposition's guards penetrate way too much.

This is a very interesting year.