NCAA Basketball 24-25

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 11:06 am

I hadn't seen Houston play this season...but watching them last night against the Zags...geez, that's a good team. Their swarming defense in the first half made it seem like they had 6 guys on the floor at times. Kelvin Sampson remains a really good coach...especially now that his "ethical shortcomings" have been pretty much been made into no big deal anymore.

I was texting with my daughter's after the game ended, saying "Hey, sometimes you run into a better team". And that was the prime example of why you don't lose stupid games earlier in the year...so you don't end up in that 8/9 matchup and have to play a number one seed in the second round.

Post by **Shirley** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 12:02 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 11:00 am
Shirley wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 9:57 am I don't love Calipari, but man, Arkansas has played two fun games so far. They are athletic and aggressive, and they've brought thought out of both opponents so far.
I didn't see this game...but I did see last night that for some reason Pitino benched his top player for the last 5ish minutes of the second half. Was there any explanation for that?

Honestly, I didn't notice when I was watching it live. I only read about that later. They missed a ton of threes in the last few minutes, trying to catch up.

duff · Post by **duff** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 12:08 pm

From what I have read, Pitino made it seem he was displeased with the hero ball type play. Especially when the team as a whole was shooting like shit and Luis was even worse.

SJU had only 5 assists all game.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 12:57 pm

Guy was 3-17 or so when he got benched. That'll do it.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 1:54 pm

I watched most of that second half and... I get the guy was 3-17, but he is also Big East player of the year and NO ONE else on that team was a better to hit 3's.

It's whatever, Pitino is an asshole, so I'm glad he lost, even it was Calipari on the other end of it.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:05 pm

Might be right considering none of the attempts in the last minute looked good but I also think too many coaches ride guys to the end. If it's not his day try something else. Maybe keep him in and run stuff for others but gotta trust him and 3-17

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:16 pm

Cut me, Mick!

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 2:24 pm

Nothing like knocking a coach out of the tourney and then taking his job 4 days later.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:07 pm

17 more free throws in one half is embarrassing refereeing.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:30 pm

Giff wrote: Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:07 pm 17 more free throws in one half is embarrassing refereeing.

But Baylor outscored them in the paint you gotta reward a team for being aggressive oh wait

cerranoredux · Post by **cerranoredux** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:56 pm

God, I hate Duke.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 5:06 pm

I’m glad it ended up a blowout tbh. Got UK, UNM, and UH as my rooting interests now.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:15 pm

Ha! Maryland payback!

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:16 pm

fun game, sorry SC

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 8:38 pm

Finally nice to see the Terps on the other side of a buzzer beater this year

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:41 am

Didn’t get to see the game but just read about it. Bummer. But, good show, Rams!

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 8:33 am

sancarlos wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:41 amDidn’t get to see the game but just read about it. Bummer. But, good show, Rams!

Possibly for the best with the obvious, yet uncalled travel on the game winner.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 10:35 am

DSafetyGuy wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 8:33 am
sancarlos wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:41 amDidn’t get to see the game but just read about it. Bummer. But, good show, Rams!
Possibly for the best with the obvious, yet uncalled travel on the game winner.

Wondering if anyone was going to call that out. Sheesh, that wasn't even a close call.

Post by **Shirley** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:48 am

Nonlinear FC wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 10:35 am
DSafetyGuy wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 8:33 am
sancarlos wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:41 amDidn’t get to see the game but just read about it. Bummer. But, good show, Rams!
Possibly for the best with the obvious, yet uncalled travel on the game winner.
Wondering if anyone was going to call that out. Sheesh, that wasn't even a close call.

It was the first thing my wife said when she came in to see what I yelled about. Hell of a shot though. I thought it was way off line, but I never expected him to go glass from that angle.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:51 am

Some dude banked in a three from the corner in one of the games

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:16 pm

A_B wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:51 am Some dude banked in a three from the corner in one of the games

I saw that...can't remember the game though.

Banked it off the upper corner of the backboard. Crazy shot...

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:56 pm

Shirley wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 11:48 am
Nonlinear FC wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 10:35 am
DSafetyGuy wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 8:33 am
sancarlos wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 12:41 amDidn’t get to see the game but just read about it. Bummer. But, good show, Rams!
Possibly for the best with the obvious, yet uncalled travel on the game winner.
Wondering if anyone was going to call that out. Sheesh, that wasn't even a close call.
It was the first thing my wife said when she came in to see what I yelled about. Hell of a shot though. I thought it was way off line, but I never expected him to go glass from that angle.

Pretty inconsistent game from the stripes. They let a whole lot go. Solid commentators tend not to talk about the refs, but the crew felt obligated to comment on numerous non-calls (3 second, travels, the elbow).

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 3:27 pm

I didn't get to watch all of the game, but there were some ref shenanigans in the UNM/Mich State game as well. Anti-Mountain West bias FOR SURE!

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Mar 24, 2025 9:40 pm

Unless she got super lucky, it looks like Juju Watkins just blew out her knee.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:36 am

mister d wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 9:40 pm Unless she got super lucky, it looks like Juju Watkins just blew out her knee.

Not so lucky

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:23 am

I don't know if folks caught MD's coach post game presser... It was pretty wild. Complaining about NIL, revenue sharing and the over all commitment of the current AD to the basketball program. Bitching about not being able to stay an extra night in NYC to celebrate Christmas. And blowing up the AD, saying he was out the door to SMU.

Wild stuff.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:51 am

wlu_lax6 wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:36 am
mister d wrote: Mon Mar 24, 2025 9:40 pm Unless she got super lucky, it looks like Juju Watkins just blew out her knee.
Not so lucky

That sucks...

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:34 am

Nonlinear FC wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:23 am I don't know if folks caught MD's coach post game presser... It was pretty wild. Complaining about NIL, revenue sharing and the over all commitment of the current AD to the basketball program. Bitching about not being able to stay an extra night in NYC to celebrate Christmas. And blowing up the AD, saying he was out the door to SMU.

Wild stuff.

Did he say that again? I thought that was all Wed and then confirmed he was being transparent on Thursday after the presser.

I also was curious if the Terps would go back to College Park after the game on Sunday evening before having to turn around and go to San Fran for Thursday. Nope. Staying on the West Coast. Wonder how this will impact their school work.

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 12:36 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:34 am
Nonlinear FC wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:23 am I don't know if folks caught MD's coach post game presser... It was pretty wild. Complaining about NIL, revenue sharing and the over all commitment of the current AD to the basketball program. Bitching about not being able to stay an extra night in NYC to celebrate Christmas. And blowing up the AD, saying he was out the door to SMU.

Wild stuff.
Did he say that again? I thought that was all Wed and then confirmed he was being transparent on Thursday after the presser.

I also was curious if the Terps would go back to College Park after the game on Sunday evening before having to turn around and go to San Fran for Thursday. Nope. Staying on the West Coast. Wonder how this will impact their school work.

Well they did enough traveling IN GAME

Rush2112 · Post by **Rush2112** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:55 pm

and god damn it Pitino Jr. is leaving UNM for Xavier. I understand the bigger name and all that, but anyone that just takes UNM to a little higher level (who I think he was poised to do) is going to be a god in ABQ forever. My hope is that they don't go back to only looking at coaches that have some tie to the state or university because that put us in the doldrums after the similar highs that Alford had us before he left for UCLA (and now he's back at the same level at Nevada.)

ETA AND Donovan Dent the MWPOTY is entering the portal. Back to the shitcan Lobo basketball. Sigh.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 1:00 pm

All the talk is Williard leaving Maryland and going to Nova. Missed the team dinner last night. Rumors he is working the transfer portal for Nova already. Chick Hernandez (DC Sports Anchor on CBS affiliate) says terps are searching for a head coach. With a list including:

American University's Duane Simpkins
George Mason's Tony Skinn
John Calipari

This is a change in what folks thought yesterday when everyone said he was working on finalizing his deal with Maryland.

Maybe time to load up on the Gators

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 1:56 pm

I have a dude that sends a lot of $$ to the Terps and he strongly hinted at this yesterday morning. I was texting him about Queen and he throw out some nuggets about Willard.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 2:14 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote: Thu Mar 27, 2025 1:00 pmAll the talk is Williard leaving Maryland and going to Nova. Missed the team dinner last night. Rumors he is working the transfer portal for Nova already.

Heard the same after Maryland's opening round game. Even by the low bar of coaches getting far less shit for bailing than players do, missing mid-tourney activities and starting work on the new job is insane. Just fucking quit now if that's the case.

Post by **Shirley** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 3:37 pm

Yeah, that’s awful. I get that it’s a business and there’s lots of money at stake. But these dudes are supposed to be competitive and he’d bail on his team during the tournament? I can’t imagine being a Villanova admin and being comfortable with that.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 4:05 pm

And here's the thing, when you step back and really look at Willard. And no offense to Terps Nation for what I'm about to type:

He had a decent, but hardly incredible year in the B1G - Finished 2nd and now this is a good run in the NCAA. I will circle back to this.

Prior to that, at Iona, he had a .500 record with Iona in 3 seasons. He finished 3rd his final season. No NCAA appearances

At Seton Hall, it took him 5 years to get to the tournament. He won ONE conference championship in the COVID season. He had an overall losing record in the Big East. I may be mistaken, but I don't think he ever got them out of the first weekend, and in fact, it looks like he never won a first-round game.

And even when you look at his 3 seasons as MD. It has been an improvement, for sure. However, this season's run is built on a foundation of a generational talent. Queen, as mentioned here, is a one-and-done player. Folks who follow MD know they have a notoriously short bench, which doesn't really bode all that well for next year, notwithstanding the portal.

In other words, Willard could very well be looking at his roster and realizing he needs to make this move now. The problem is that he's behaving like such an ass, his effort to blow up MD (totally unnecessarily, BTW) has the potential to cause Nova to pull back from the deal.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 4:15 pm

And to be fair, from his perspective:

* - He can take credit for luring that generational talent to his squad.
* - MD has not been good to basketball with their NIL efforts, at least a case can be made.
* - The fact that the AD skiddaddled leaves him in limbo, in a situation where he clearly wants to negotiate a new contract and advocate for the program.
* - All this while other high profile jobs are out there.

The problem lies in how he's put all this out in the public arena.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 4:20 pm

brian wrote: Tue Nov 05, 2024 1:58 pm Just realized some conference is going to break the record for tournament bids - just a question of which one?

Heh.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 7:23 pm

How the hell is Florida a one seed.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 7:30 pm

That was the first half of a S16 basketball game involving #1 and #4 seeds, and not some bottom half of the standings teams of the A10 mid-January.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 8:07 pm

I like Stan van gindy. But man sometimes he needs to shut the fuck up.