2019 NCAA Tournament Thread

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:57 am

I grew up with one of the Tech assistants, so pretty cool to watch them make it this far.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 1:18 pm

That Virgina-Oregon game was painful. It felt like Virginia was regularly on the verge of either opening it up or blowing it.

I don't think I've ever seen a team play defense like Oregon. I honestly couldn't tell most of the time if they were in a man or zone. I think it was mostly a man, but since they're all the same guy, essentially (6'9" and athletic), they just constantly switched on every cutter and screen. So, basically, it became a zone, because the defender would just let the cutter go to the next guy and take the screener. I don't think Virginia ever figured out an effective attack strategy.

That said, they haven't shot well for four straight games now. Luckily, they've still won three of them, but eventually it's going to have to either get better or they're getting bounced. They'll need to score to beat Purdue.

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 6:46 pm

UNC / Auburn restoring the joy to college basketball again after the two late games last night tried to kill all joy forever.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:39 pm

I think what bothers me about the directv commercials is they aren’t even in the same vein as their “ok” campaign. That dude is actively bad not just ok.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:42 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2019 7:39 pm I think what bothers me about the directv commercials is they aren’t even in the same vein as their “ok” campaign. That dude is actively bad not just ok.

YES

tennbengal · Post by **tennbengal** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:03 pm

Auburn’s rim defense has been ridiculous this half. Unc is rightfully shook.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:48 pm

Fuck Duke. The coverage is so fucking annoying.

Fuck. Duke.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 9:51 pm

tennbengal wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2019 8:03 pm Auburn’s rim defense has been ridiculous this half. Unc is rightfully shook.

So many clean blocks that the officials got right. Refreshing.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:05 pm

Holy shit, there was just a halftime graphic for some dude with Jr. in his name with the header “Today, Junior”.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:03 pm

Can't believe Coolio missed that at the rim. That was the perfectly designed play on the out-of-bounds....

psunate77 · Post by **psunate77** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:22 pm

I don’t have a dog in these games. But how was that not a foul on Kentucky on Houston Chance to tie it? He def got body to body contact as player was going up for shot.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:32 pm

psunate77 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2019 11:22 pm I don’t have a dog in these games. But how was that not a foul on Kentucky on Houston Chance to tie it? He def got body to body contact as player was going up for shot.

I mean this in the nicest way but that is incoherent.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:08 am

Never get in a poker game with a man named Houston Chance

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:54 am

I enjoyed the salt in the wound aspect of Ol' Dadgum Roy getting his teeth kicked in during the second half topped by having to shake sleazy Bruce Pearl's hand.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:29 pm

man....Texas Tech's defense in the second half of that game was SMOTHERING. Gonzaga had no idea how to handle it.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:47 pm

For the Cavs to only be down one despite Purdue making everything for fifteen minutes is good for Shirley.

Post by **brian** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:58 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:29 pm man....Texas Tech's defense in the second half of that game was SMOTHERING. Gonzaga had no idea how to handle it.

No one ever remembers that the national champ is almost always a top defense (though many had good offenses as well which explains national champs).

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:01 pm

I guess I’m spoiled but it’s wild that neither Virginia or Purdue has a final four in 35 years.

ETA:: teaxas tech never being ther isn’t as surprising as that.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:03 pm

I’ve had some drinks.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:44 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:03 pm I’ve had some drinks.

Same here.

Cheers buddy!

ETA: OHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:48 pm

Hoooooooly f’ing S.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:57 pm

An all timer game

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 9:59 pm

This game has to end with Edwards making a triple right?

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:03 pm

Double overtime would be nice.

Edit: Wtf was that?

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:11 pm

So that foul by Purdue to prevent the 3 attempt at regulation, right decision?

It didn't look like Virginia had anything going, and I hate stopping the clock, and depending on defensive rebounds, which Purdue struggled with.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:17 pm

Percentage wise I bet that’s the right call. Fluke tip out, fluke pass-shot.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 10:31 pm

Yeah but they were bad on the boards. Tons of tip outs tons of watching loose balls. That big guy is a stiff. No clue why he got so many minutes. I like the foul call too but you could see that the odds weren't as favorable as they might be with quality bigs.

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:01 pm

Hey guys. Anything cool going on?

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:23 pm

Shirley wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2019 1:01 pm Hey guys. Anything cool going on?

You recovered from last night?

Post by **brian** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 2:43 pm

That Midwest bracket had a murderer's row of unrepentant cheaters make the Sweet 16, huh? Calipari, Pearl, Sampson and Williams (who is arguably the "cleanest" and still presided over one of the biggest academic cheating scandals in NCAA history).

NCAA FTW, amirite?

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:28 pm

Wide-open shot to win for Auburn and it’s off target. We’re going to overtime.

AB, have you caught your breath yet?

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 3:53 pm

God, Calipari is such a bad offensive coach. The entire sport is moving towards pace and space and he still insists on playing two traditional bigs and having his guys pound the ball for 20+ seconds in the halfcourt. Kentucky’s defense was great all tournament long but it’s bad offense finally caught up to it today.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:04 pm

To expand on my last post, Kentucky was 16-60 on 3s this tournament. That’s atrocious and the fact they came this close to the Final Four is a testament to how well they played defensively. It’s almost impossible to win in today’s era of basketball without even competent outside shooting.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:19 pm

I have zero empirical evidence to point to, and I could simply be talking out of my ass. Is it possible that three-point shooting is a skill that takes time to develop, unlike height, and Calipari’s penchant for one-and-dones means they can’t or don’t develop shooters?

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:28 pm

After seeing PJ Washington hit that late contested 3 and then looking at his stats, I'd agree with JoeK about Calipari not coaching the offense well -- Washington could have carried the team with a better system. I'm also happy to jump on any criticism of Cal because of his micromanaging coaching style. Let the players play and think on their own. Now we need to be entertained by drunk Barkley instead of drunk AB :(.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:02 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2019 10:55 am yeah, TT was a scary match-up going in, but no-one thought it was going to be THAT brutal.

MI is a weird team and has relied on defense to work through their habitual 5-10 minutes per game of shitting the bed on the offensive end. Last night they met their match.

TT is a brutal team to play at this point. Good luck to anyone trying to break that shit down.

I'm brilliant.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:03 pm

EdRomero wrote: ↑Sun Mar 31, 2019 4:28 pm After seeing PJ Washington hit that late contested 3 and then looking at his stats, I'd agree with JoeK about Calipari not coaching the offense well -- Washington could have carried the team with a better system. I'm also happy to jump on any criticism of Cal because of his micromanaging coaching style. Let the players play and think on their own. Now we need to be entertained by drunk Barkley instead of drunk AB :(.

Assuming I’d be less drunk now is bad commentary.

Post by **brian** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:05 pm

Texas Tech-Auburn is the final the world needs.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:32 pm

And Duke beating UVA 45-28 is the final the world is going to get

EdRomero · Post by **EdRomero** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 5:43 pm

You're not supposed to be able to block threes like this. Incredible.