NCAA Tournament and Bracket

[leeraymond]

Only one loss by the Big 12 in the opening round.

I was thinking the same thing. I never gauge the strength of a conference just based on the non-conference wins. I look at what conferences have the most teams remaining after the first round of the NCAA's and the Sweet 16. Here is a Power Conference break-down of the win percentage of the schools; the percentage of teams still left after the first-round games. Here is the ranking: BIG 10: 100%; BIG XII: 85.7%; BIG EAST: 60%; SEC: 57%; and the ACC: 25%.

[bearcatbret]

Only one loss by the Big 12 in the opening round.

[sedz]

Alabama in a dog fight with Robert Morris.

Those teams combined for 92 points at the rim. Insane.

Alabama runs an NBA offense, but their defense is so passive. No help and very little ball pressure. They just rely on their length to contest shots.

[Lobot]

Penny for your thoughts.. see ya Memphis

[London 'Cat]

Alabama in a dog fight with Robert Morris.

[sedz]

Watch how all wing teams like Drake and McNeese play. They aren't running PnR from the top and just leaving wings isolated and stationary. There is a lot of side to side movement to create driving lanes. Lots of flare, Iverson, and down screens. Most action is free throw line across - the 4 high area. You don't have to be an elite ballhandler to slash to the rim if you have a lane.

[leeraymond]

Yes! That's what I've been pushing all year. Stop running actions through Jizzle/Aziz and instead slash from the wings and get to the free throw line. Trap on defense and force turnovers. It even works against big front lines, as Drake just showed against Missouri.

Drake is #304 in 2pt defense because they are small. But they are #10 in forcing turnovers, #11 in free throw rate, #16 in offensive rebounding, and #22 in defensive rebounding because everyone is a long athletic slasher. They easily beat Missouri's press without a true PG because they pass over it.

I understand what you are saying. However, with the way UC's wings handle the ball, I am not sure that Simas, Skillings, or Betsey can drive the ball consistently without turning it over. That has been one of the problems with UC's wings (shooting guards and small forwards) for a long time; ball handling. Shaq Thomas had good size, but he could not handle the ball. Davenport, Scott, Keith Williams, Skillings, Simas, and Bishop, to name a few, could not handle the ball. Note: I know that Scott was a PF, but he was used as a wing at the pro level. That is why I included him.

[leeraymond]

All of the 12-5 games lived up to the hype yesterday. UC San Diego did a great job of adjusting their defense to keep the ball out of Goldin's hands in the second half, which they opened with a 17-4 run. Then Tyler McGhie went nuts and scored 9 points in 4 possessions to take a late lead before failing to score over the final 2:30.

Clemson mounted a furious comeback, trimming a 22 point deficit to just 2 over the final 7:40. McNeese went 18 for 26 at the rim in that game, another team of all 6'3 to 6'9 wings that attacks the rim and the glass. McNeese is much smaller than Clemson inside but they have bigger guards so they were able to outscore Clemson at the rim by 14 and outrebound them by 7.

Surprising loss by Clemson. However, I see how and why Clemson lost. McNeese is a very quick team. Lakhin had 10 rebounds but not much else. Bad game for him. McNeese plays Purdue next. Purdue is a different animal. Should be an interesting game.

[leeraymond]

Yes! That's what I've been pushing all year. Stop running actions through Jizzle/Aziz and instead slash from the wings and get to the free throw line. Trap on defense and force turnovers. It even works against big front lines, as Drake just showed against Missouri.

Drake is #304 in 2pt defense because they are small. But they are #10 in forcing turnovers, #11 in free throw rate, #16 in offensive rebounding, and #22 in defensive rebounding because everyone is a long athletic slasher. They easily beat Missouri's press without a true PG because they pass over it.

Those guys can shoot the ball as well. Drake is shooting about 48% on the season and about 36% from three. Also, Drake is well-coached. There is no substitute for good coaching.

Drake plays Texas Tech next. That should be a very good game. Two similarly sized teams with similar playing styles. Tough and scrappy. Attack oriented. Two good shooting teams.

[sedz]

All of the 12-5 games lived up to the hype yesterday. UC San Diego did a great job of adjusting their defense to keep the ball out of Goldin's hands in the second half, which they opened with a 17-4 run. Then Tyler McGhie went nuts and scored 9 points in 4 possessions to take a late lead before failing to score over the final 2:30.

Clemson mounted a furious comeback, trimming a 22 point deficit to just 2 over the final 7:40. McNeese went 18 for 26 at the rim in that game, another team of all 6'3 to 6'9 wings that attacks the rim and the glass. McNeese is much smaller than Clemson inside but they have bigger guards so they were able to outscore Clemson at the rim by 14 and outrebound them by 7.

[London 'Cat]

Yes! That's what I've been pushing all year. Stop running actions through Jizzle/Aziz and instead slash from the wings and get to the free throw line. Trap on defense and force turnovers. It even works against big front lines, as Drake just showed against Missouri.

Drake is #304 in 2pt defense because they are small. But they are #10 in forcing turnovers, #11 in free throw rate, #16 in offensive rebounding, and #22 in defensive rebounding because everyone is a long athletic slasher. They easily beat Missouri's press without a true PG because they pass over it.

Drake is so active on offense too. Very little standing around waiting for a pass. The players make themselves available by moving without the ball. I think the ‘Cats would benefit from watching Drake play. It was a clinical defeat of Missouri..

[leeraymond]

Yes! That's what I've been pushing all year. Stop running actions through Jizzle/Aziz and instead slash from the wings and get to the free throw line. Trap on defense and force turnovers. It even works against big front lines, as Drake just showed against Missouri.

Drake is #304 in 2pt defense because they are small. But they are #10 in forcing turnovers, #11 in free throw rate, #16 in offensive rebounding, and #22 in defensive rebounding because everyone is a long athletic slasher. They easily beat Missouri's press without a true PG because they pass over it.

I am really surprised that Drake beat Missouri. I saw the game a little, but I did not pay that much attention to Drake. The next time that they play I am going to really pay attention to them.

[sedz]

Couldn’t UC run that offense? We have the players - Skillings, Betsey, Griffith, Reed, Mitchell.

Yes! That's what I've been pushing all year. Stop running actions through Jizzle/Aziz and instead slash from the wings and get to the free throw line. Trap on defense and force turnovers. It even works against big front lines, as Drake just showed against Missouri.

Drake is #304 in 2pt defense because they are small. But they are #10 in forcing turnovers, #11 in free throw rate, #16 in offensive rebounding, and #22 in defensive rebounding because everyone is a long athletic slasher. They easily beat Missouri's press without a true PG because they pass over it.

[London 'Cat]

Drake has 4 starters from Div. II programs. That guy can coach.

[London 'Cat]

Drake is what a true all wing lineup looks like. Everyone on the roster is 6'3 to 6'9, they switch screens, get in passing lanes, and everyone on the floor is capable of rebounding and slashing to the rim. What they lack in post defense they make up in other areas.

Couldn’t UC run that offense? We have the players - Skillings, Betsey, Griffith, Reed, Mitchell.