Thursday Sweet 16 open thread

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 6:51 PM EDT in Basketball Comment 134 comments

I don't care if they're not playing.

And then there were 12.

Your lineup:

1. Connecticut vs. 5. Purdue (7:07 p.m.)

1. Pittsburgh vs. 4. Xavier (7:27 p.m.)

2. Memphis vs. 3. Missouri (9:37 p.m.)

2. Duke vs. 3. Villanova (9:57 p.m.)

Who ya got? I'll take the not-so-bold quartet of UConn, Pitt, Memphis State and 'Nova.

Let's take it a step further and go top scorers for each game:

--E'Twaun Moore (Purdue)

--DeJuan Blair (Pitt)

--Tyreke Evans (Memphis)

--Corey Fisher (Villanova)

Enjoy the hoops.

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Comments

This could get ugly for Purdue

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Purdue is shooting 10% so far

Its gonna be a loooong night

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

7/11 v. 1/10

Seems like the lead should be bigger than 8.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why AJ?

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

who made the wallpaper up top?

nicely done

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saved balls...

…does it seem like we’re at like a -50 for “balls thrown off of players going out of bounds”? I don’t remember us doing it once this year and it seems like it happens to us all the time.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 7:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmm...hey Calhoun

put someone on Hummel and Purdue only has 1 pt…

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HEY CALHOUN...

Hummel?

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yUK fans are saying they want yUK to steal the headlines for U of L’s Sweet 15 tomorrow by announcing they are firing BG…..sheesh. No wonder we love ’em. Come on Purdue….it would take a miracle for them to beat UConn.

by Linda on Mar 26, 2009 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good for recruiting

Im sure…way to go pUKe fans..fire another coach and see how much further you sink in the quicksand..

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The next caller talked about how overrated the Big East is

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't....

….see any Big East teams left in the NIT….

wait, Notre Dame.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sure proved it to those UK fans last night, eh?

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it me or does Adrien seem to be playing soft tonight?

should have thrown that one down

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Huskies having one of those Cardinal droughts

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

JAM the ball....

by Linda on Mar 26, 2009 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What a terrible shot....

…..by Fields. But how awesome.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Onions

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that was a "No ... Yes" shot for sure.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm glad the UConn game turned out the way it did.

For two reasons:

1. They won. That’s good for the Big East, and bad for the Big Ten, which is good all around. Of course, now they’ll probably be facing Memphis State, so if they lose that game like I think they will, we’ll have to deal with that.

2. They didn’t blow them out by 30 points. I was beginning to worry that UConn was playing like their Jerome Dyson days where they were almost unbeatable. This just shows that they can be beat if a 5 seed could hang with them like that.

Now Pitt just needs to get their heads out of their asses.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 9:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to cheer for UConn

Because I don’t want to play them.

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, pull hard for Memphis..

…although you’d think with a week to prepare and two months to think about it and no Dyson we’d have a shot.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we played Memphis in the Final Four

It would be like a regular season game against Kentucky times three as far as pent up nervousness/rage/testosterone goes.

I’m not sure by body could take it.

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 9:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You would love it...

…and you know it.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously I would love to see....

…how the dribble driver motion fares against our zone.

I don’t think Evans could single-handily dribble through our press.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with playing Memphis State would be

that I couldn’t be satisfied with losing. When we lost to Illinois in 2005, I wasn’t too upset because I thought they were a better team, and heck, we made the FF. But losing to Memphis State in the FF would mean that they are going to the NC and we could have prevented it. And they aren’t better than us.

But without underestimating Memphis’ talent or ability at all, can you imagine a better match up for us at that level than a team run by a non-PG freshman?

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

why is everyone counting out mizzou?

Theyre looking pretty good so far..and Im not too sure Id want to play them either. Very scrappy.

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

I still think they are the worst match up for us, Dyson or not.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Apparently...

……WHAS 11 cut into Grey’s Anatomy to break the story that Gillespie is officially fired.

People on CatsPause and ITV posted it.

Now back to real basketball – let’s go Memphis! Beat UConn.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

really?

i dont see anything on the interwebs confirming

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAS reported it..

…broke in during Grey’s.

Whether or not they are wrong I’m not sure. “sources close to Todd” apparently.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmm

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by Mike Rutherford on Mar 26, 2009 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

CatsPause already up...

…to 8100 online. Over/Under is 16,012, breaking the record.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just hope they don't get Calipari.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They'd be on probation within 5 years wouldn't they?

World Wide Wes + UK boosters + Lexington Herald Leader = flying high and then disaster right?

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Between the two of them, I don't think they'd have to cheat anymore.

Of course, they probably would for old time sake.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my money is on Calipari..he is a

perfect fit. Much more money to lure players in at UK

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What a difference two Easters make

Idiots

by BR7 on Mar 26, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and memphis looks terrible against the first good team they've played since october

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That montage is marvelous

by BR7 on Mar 26, 2009 10:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Memphis State/Missouri

might score more points than all four teams in the earlier match ups tonight.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this is a fun game to watch for sure

figures the other one I thought would be awesome to watch is happening at the same time

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what MMOD is for.

I have 1 on TV and 1 on the computer.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was all choppy for me the other day

Good the first couple times I tried it, but for some reason it was crappy the last time. Havent tried since.

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, the other game is on Insight 502 if you have it.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ahh yes...forgot that

thanks man

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Memphis St looking like I thought they would

against good competition…weak

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

wow what a shot!!!

Hey Will Scott…

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WOW

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So I guess we have to ask oursevles.

Do we really want to play UConn, Memphis or Missouri? I don’t even think I know anymore.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

answer

1) mempis – they suck
2) mizzou – they’re not big or deep enough to keep up with us
3) uconn – they already trashed us

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mizzou has 11 players they can throw on the court

just like us

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh

well i still maintain that they’d be #2

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was UConn with Dyson

and we’re playing better now than we were then. I woldn’t mind seeing the rematch – there are no easy games from here on out anyway.

by rickinva on Mar 26, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

typo

…is it just me…

by rickinva on Mar 26, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mizzou - we can run with them

by BR7 on Mar 26, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They are all good.

But I think I’d rank them (in order that I’d like to play them):
1. Memphis
2. Missouri
3. UConn

I just think UConn has our antidote. Memphis is talented, but vulnerable where we are strong. I haven’t seen much of Missouri, but based on this, we might have some problems scoring against them or slowing them down with our press.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont want Mizzou

at this point Memphis St is who I fear the least for our guys..although Conn without Dyson?

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we finally stop hearing about how great Memphis's defense is?

My sheet’s Elite Eight is looking OK so far. I have UConn, Pitt, Mizzou and Nova… tomorrow I have Louisville, Kansas, Syracuse and either Carolina or Gonzaga depending on which sheet you look at.

by rickinva on Mar 26, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want to see Villanova destroy Duke.

Just to rub it in Coach K’s face. Here he was all season saying that ACC>Big East. Now if he gets beat by a Big East time, sending only one (assuming UNC wins) ACC team to the round of 8 while at least three from the Big East go, it would just be poetic justice.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yup..eat that Count Chocula

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My lord catspause is going bananas right now..lol

had to be a fly on the wall for a bit…funny stuff. they will never learn…there is no instant fix, I dont care who they get.

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They're convinced everybody will be their next coach, including Travis Ford.

I could see that happening, but I don’t think it will.

Also, an article that was linked there:
http://www.volunteertv.com/sports/headlines/41952887.html

The interesting part is a quote from Pitino:
"His response included a surprising tidbit: Pitino considered the Providence job last year.

“The only job I even though about for a 24-hour period…is Providence College last year,” Pitino said. “I wanted to sit down with them and talk about the job because of personal reasons that were very deep to me.”

“Outside of that, for eight years I haven’t thought about any job except the University of Louisville.”"

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Travis is a decent coach

but honestly..theyre trading 6 of one for half a dozen of the other. They need an experienced big name coach. Calipari would be an ideal fit IMO…perfect for his ego.

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that's a little bit of Pitino being Pitino.

His way of giving respect to Providence and also making himself seem non-mercenary.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me, or does CBS completely blow it this time of year?

Or is it playing in the domes? So many things that make college basketball great seem to be gone during this later rounds.

by centrecard on Mar 26, 2009 10:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

these

by centrecard on Mar 26, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Villanova outplays Duke in the first half

only has a 3-point lead. Should be better.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

duke can't hit anything. henderson singler and schyer 3-20

i think they make a run

by cardscott5 on Mar 26, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, but I was hoping they wouldn't.

Villanova can do better, too, however, and hold them off.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Memphis St...lol

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Anderson knows

40 minutes of hell REALLY well…I remember those UAB days

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So Missouri just decided to take it upon themselves to show the country what Memphis is really about this year.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i can not believe what is happening

and this isn’t vintage missouri. bilas sucks without raftery.

by cardscott5 on Mar 26, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew the real Memphis St would stand up

against good competition…comical

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, Mizzou really dominating...

….crazy to see.

Would we try to slow these guys down or try to play their game better than them?

Do they have a chance to beat UConn?

UAB gave us some tough games in 2005 – we pulled them both out though. At least Pitino would have the strategy ready in a dusty old binder somewhere.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's a style that can overcome talent differences.

But it can back fire, too, if we are disciplined.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mempis getting run out of the gym

why did i pick them in the final four?

by davidson07 on Mar 26, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

because they actually played defense during the regular season?

by cardscott5 on Mar 26, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

fuggin CUSA..lol

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

My bracket is boned now.

by CARD_G6 on Mar 26, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

same....but seeing Memphis St finally exposed is worth it

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WHAS..

….apparently reporting that UK issued a statement saying Billy G NOT fired, no press conference tomorrow.

CatsPause blowing up even more. Riots likely outside WHAS soon.

by CardsFan922 on Mar 26, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love UK fans.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

funny because several others joined in on the BG fired bandwagon

fox41..wlky..etc

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Memphis starting serious come back.

Back to 16 quickly. Plus 2 FTs.

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

9 unanswered points

by 83fan on Mar 26, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

come on mizzou

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Woo hoo Nova by 10

I hate Duke more than I hate UK. Comes of living in ACC country for 24 years.

by rickinva on Mar 26, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

but this game is literally killing my eyes. This was supposed to be the best game of the night? Just switched back to 30 Rock.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Mar 26, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, messed up the italics

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Mar 26, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Id watch basketball any day over a sitcom

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At this point its pretty crap basketball.

Plus I’m still flipping back. It’s 30 Rock; it’s not like Dancing With The Stars or American Idol.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Mar 26, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true...not reality tv or CSI...lol

by twistedwedge on Mar 26, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

God no

I don’t watch "Dancing With The Stars" for the exact same reason I don’t take long lavender baths or have a cat named Mr. Mittens.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Mar 26, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy cow

Nova is killing them! And is it just e, or are they taking a page from our book? The swarming, aggressive defense… have we had an influence on the way the game is payed in the Big East?

by rickinva on Mar 26, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs