NCAA Basketball Thread 2024-2025
Quick OP here just to get us up and running
Things to watch for this year:
1. Can UConn 3-peat? Hurley won back to back championships with Clingan, Tristen Newton, and company. Can he make it a third with only one returning starter?
2. Who will be this years national player of the year? Zach Edey was the best player I've seen play college basketball in my lifetime. People throw the term generational talent around alot and Edey was truly a generational talent winning back to back national player of the year awards. But, now he's gone. So who can win the award?
- the 5th year guards in Mark Sears(Alabama) and RJ Davis(UNC) are a good spot to start. Both elite shooters and engines of an offense, they should lead two really good teams.
- the 5th year centers in Hunter Dickinson(Kansas) and Ryan Kallbrenner(Creighton) are also viable options. They'll be the anchors to what should be two really good teams.
- The phenoms: Cooper Flagg(Duke), Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper(Rutgers), VJ Edgecombe(Baylor), and Tre Johnson(Texas) lead a loaded freshman class.
3. Who are the contenders?
Spoiler
Lettuce college basketball
Announcer said that he didn't think either one was a foul. Not sure what he was watching because today's was a blatant foul.
yeah
unless those were AI images being broadcast and we didn't see the actual action taking place on the floor. otherwise obv foul was obv
a tip of the cap to the Buffs. huge resume win
Yeah, but also lolDan
Hurley is toast in one sense. As I said after last years NCAA's, no more titles for him. Oh ... he might get one more, but the over under is .5. And I take the under. Life is not a magical run, and when it is it ends.
BUFFS baby!
did not expect that result at all.
at the half
32.1 possessions
Memphis: 1.06 ppp
Sparty: 0.97 ppp
0.09 diff
at the half
33.44 possessions
Bama: 1.017 ppp
Cougs: 1.077 ppp
0.06 diff
----------------------
Bama w a crazy 53.8 OR%
great game kansas - duke in an awesome atmosphere. felt like watching a March game.
what an awesome win
WV really starting to come together
they were picked 13th in the b12 and just beat gonzaga, and Colorado was picked 15th and just picked UConn
this conference is preposterous
Auburn making mincemeat of Memphis
up 20 w 4:29 left in the first half
at the half
32.8 possessions
Memphis: 0.945 ppp
Auburn: 1.433 ppp
0.488 diff
-------------------------
Auburn w another preposterous half of OR% at 55.6%
we have an early MM fave folks and they reside down in the Plains
did anyone see the end of oklahoma - providence?
oklahoma hits 2 FT to go up 77-73 with 3 seconds left and then gets a technical foul for having 6 players on the court when providence is bringing the ball up. not sure I've ever seen that before.
providence makes both FT and then misses a wide-open look for 3 at the buzzer to lose 77-75. line was oklahoma -3.5 btw. oof.
Auburn w another preposterous half of OR% at 55.6%
we have an early MM fave folks and they reside down in the Plains
This is as good as chance as Auburn will ever have to win a NC in basketball. The team has eight seniors in the rotation, which is almost unheard of for a good team in this era. They are deep enough to stay on the throttle defensively for the entire game. They have an elite post player who demands a double team in halfcourt sets. They have a couple of other guys who routinely make tough shots. They have at least four functional 3 pt shooters. But most of all, they rebound the ball like crazy, especially on the offensive end. They will live on the offensive glass against any team that tries to play zone like Memphis did.
Clemson once had to finish a game vs UNC w only 4 players on the court
I will never forget Rick Barnes' last trip to Chapel Hill with the Tigers, an 87-79 defeat when the Tigers were whistled for 41 fouls and finished the game with just four players on the court. Clemson actually outscored North Carolina 8-6 during those last 70 seconds as Terrell McIntyre hit a pair of 3-pointers.
Don't forget the time Alabama played Minnesota with just 3 players. Down 15 with 6 minutes to go they were 3 on 5...and Alabama managed to pull the lead down to 3 with 1:37 minute left. LOL baby Pitino
Pretty sure this is the only time I have ever cared about a 7v8 Maui Invitational game, but go Dayton!
Just to be clear I'm not up late to hate on UConn. I'm usually up this late. But I am happy to hate on UConn this up late. Is it possible to go from #2 to unranked?
Looks like no 3peat. Oh well it was a fun run. Haters enjoy
Agree that Auburn looks the part. It's a long season but there's no one I'd pick to beat them neutral today. UConn will most likely be fine by March.
Gonzaga vs UConn in a couple weeks lost so much luster over the last couple days.
I.U. taking it on the chin again
at the half
41.65 possessions
Zags: 1.369 ppp
I.U.: 0.936 ppp
0.433 diff
the Wolfpack want revenge for the F4 loss
at the half
30.0875 possessions
NCSU: 1.064 ppp
Purdue: 1.097 ppp
0.033 diff
PayPal Cal up against it in KC
at the half
38.9125 possessions
Illinois: 1.259 ppp
Arkansas: 0.874 ppp
0.385 diff
