tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645425172987184540.post3497073511124641218..comments2017-04-20T00:07:27.189-04:00Comments on True Hoops: It takes 4 to tangoDr. JRShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16308250493283088653noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645425172987184540.post-87292712195447826312011-03-21T01:13:34.622-04:002011-03-21T01:13:34.622-04:00Yikes. LolYikes. LolAhmed Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855483578005686974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645425172987184540.post-11895700965574799392011-03-18T17:47:04.965-04:002011-03-18T17:47:04.965-04:00Not sure how many times 3 one seeds have made it, ...Not sure how many times 3 one seeds have made it, but I can guarantee you it's more than seeds under number 4 making it. And dont worry about Duke matching up with UConn, cuz Kemba wont be getting past San Diego State. Bitter sweet, no???Ahmed Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855483578005686974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645425172987184540.post-25677483446936337652011-03-18T15:08:06.647-04:002011-03-18T15:08:06.647-04:00Let me address my picks.
First of all, I make no a...Let me address my picks.<br />First of all, I make no apologies for being incredibly Big East Biased.<br />You will notice 3 of my Final Four teams are from the Big East. Top to bottom, it is the toughest conference in the country. That doesn't mean individual teams from other conferences aren't better - as evidenced last night by how Gonzaga overmatched St. John's.<br /><br />I partially blame myself for that loss. All year long I haven't been following St. John's. In fact I never watched one of their games. It wasn't only until after I jumped on the bandwagon that they had a let down. I should of just played it cool. But can you blame me? <br /><br />New York has been yearning for quality basketball for a LONG time. And there is no denying the ton of excitement in the city that was generated by the Red Storm this year. Credit this senior class for bringing the program back. I must say, I don't know if I have ever been as excited to watch a St. John's game as I was yesterday - and that includes while I was on the team!<br /><br />But the truth is they were overmatched. Clearly they were undersized - out rebounded 43-20! Not only that, but they were out skilled, out shot, and even out swagged. One thing I wanted to caution against yesterday was for St. Johns to be aggressive but not over-zealous. To not rely on their athleticism too much and feel they could just win by running. They gambled too much and seemed as if they didn't have much of a plan besides pressing full court. They never switched it up. The problem is when you face a patient/confident team, that is fundamentally sound and has a game plan - you will be at a disadvantage. Which is why Gonzaga got wide open shots all night long and shot close to 70% from three. <br /><br />I think they beat BYU in the next round, and I'm not hating on Jimmer. <br />Jimmer is nice. He can put up 60...... but Gonzaga as a team is putting up 70-80 points. We'll see what happens. My Michigan St. pick was also wrong.<br /><br />But if you want to talk about picks homie, you picked all one seeds! Who do you think yo are? President Obama? Way to take a risk on that buddy. Of course all of those teams are impressive or have players that are impressive, thats why they are one seeds. But if you talk about going against the chalk? How many times have 3 one seeds made the final four? <br /><br />There are so many intangibles that go into these single elimination games. The most important is how confident a team is playing vs. if they or their opponent is playing scared. Then of course there is strategy. If a team is confident, has a game play and executes it, they have a chance. If the are skilled, then that is even better.<br /><br />And as for you picking Duke. I don't care who they have, if they play UNCONN Kemba walker will be the best player on the floor. Period.Dr. JRShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16308250493283088653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8645425172987184540.post-10927842061219730622011-03-18T11:34:37.696-04:002011-03-18T11:34:37.696-04:00Well, it would be really easy for me to sit here a...Well, it would be really easy for me to sit here and take your bracket apart based on the tournament having already begun, but that would be unfair. I base a lot of my pics on hunches, how teams are playing, how they play in general, and past tournament experience. Perfect example, Morehead State and Louisville. I picked Morehead State. Why? I thought when Pitino signed w/ Louisville, that they would be the team of the 2000s. Hasn't panned out that way. They have played well, but in order to be considered a dominant team, you need to win a championship or 2. They have zero under his tenure. So that alone has left a sour taste in my mouth. That encompasses a few of the factors I use to make picks. But this is the most important one: A wise man once said, "Pressing teams hate being pressed." And they pressed them to death. On top of that, Pitino has allowed Morehead State to come in and WATCH HIS TEAM PRACTICE in the past to learn their press defense/offense. How long did you think that was gonna last till they caught up??? Another factor is that while both teams had the same time to prepare for this game, there is more video on Louisville available than there is Morehead State. On top of that, all these double digit seeds out of the conferences that have more than 3 letters have the all or nothing attitude in all their NCAA appearances. A perceived powerhouse like the Cardinals, not so much. Then again, Im not in the locker room, so I could be wrong. <br /><br />I find it difficult to pick against "the chalk" when it comes to picking the Final Four. Look at the history. How many teams seeded below 4 have made it??? Not a lot. I dont think ANY team seeded lower than 6 has made it in the last 25 years. Ohio State is overwhelmingly impressive. I would NOT have Duke in the Final 4, but based on rumors alone with Irving supposedly coming back, how can you not??? Nolan Smith is a candidate for Player of the Year, and he's not even the best player ON HIS TEAM!!! That has GOT to count for something. Kansas just has unbelievable depth and length, and, barring them laying an egg in the second round (which they've been known to do) they should have an easy road till the Elite 8 with a potential match up with the Fighting Irish. As for the other bracket, I decided to go with Jimmer. Last night for the first time in my life I saw a give n go run for a 35 footer from Fredette. That's AWESOME!!! I think the potential match ups favor them, and I think Pitt will live up to their usual expectations, and get cracked in round 2 (or 3. Whatever the NCAA Powers That Be are calling it now) National Champion: Kansas. Charles Barkley said something about Ohio St and it's stuck in my head, and it stopped me from picking them. They CAN NOT dominate teams that they are clearly better than. How will they play against a team that has equal or greater talent? You better be right, Sir Charles.Ahmed Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855483578005686974noreply@blogger.com