New Sports Illustrated cover

Very sweet!

Indeed….

Grog

"There is no OFF position to the genius switch" - D. Letterman

by GrogInOhio on Mar 4, 2009 4:26 PM EST reply actions

likey likey

by frankpos on Mar 4, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions

$20

says T-Will comes down with the rebound….

by louisvillains on Mar 4, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

It’s interesting. Last year, if you look at the teams’ records heading into the tournament, the Top 4 teams were CLEARLY the Top 4 teams. As a result, they made the Final Four (UCLA, Memphis, Kansas, UNC).

This year, there are 7 teams that have the ability to win it all (NFW Michigan St. has a chance). In other words, there isn’t the same concentration of outstanding teams, but that should make for a fun tournament.

by Quinn1979 on Mar 4, 2009 4:51 PM EST reply actions

Just for fun...

Not sure this year’s 4 are any less dominant than last year’s. Might just be hindsight since they all did end up making it to the FinalFour. I took a look at last year’s Top 4 on March 3rd:
1. UNC
2. Memphis
3. UCLA
4. Tennessee (Kansas was #5 in one poll, #6 in the other), Tenn was #1 the previous week, before dropping one to Vandy. They only didn’t get a #1 because they coughed it up to Arkansas in the SEC tourney.

This year, for the past 4 weeks we’ve had the same 4 as #1 seeds on bracketology and the like…
1. UConn
2. Pitt
3. UNC
4. Okla
maybe some brief apperances by Duke and Wake, but I think we can all agree now that they are not Top 4. In fact, the Top 4 had at least a two game cushion on the #5 for the last couple of weeks:

Week 14:
1. Connecticut (30) 24-1
2. Oklahoma (1) 25-1
3. North Carolina 23-2
4. Pittsburgh 23-2
5. Michigan State 20-4 sucks
6. Memphis 22-3 (22-5 adjusted)
7. Louisville 19-5

So, I think this year’s Top 4 are as dominant as last year’s, with a pretty wide gap to Memphis and Mich St….As for UofL, finishing 1 game ahead in the same conference usually counts for a higher seed. Except there is one little thing that we UofL fans can’t seem to remember…basketball in November and December still counts.

UConn – zero nonconference losses
Pitt – zero nonconference losses
UofL – 3 nonconference losses all to unranked teams

With the unbalanced schedule (UConn and Pitt played each other 2x,), I think we need to finish at least a full game ahead AND go further in the BE tourney to steal one of their #1 seeds. Just tough to put a 23-5 team ahead of a 25-3 team.

by Phauz on Mar 4, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Records

Come on, guy. Why were you taking records as of March 3rd? Take a look at the records of the Top 4 teams going into the NCAA tournament:

1. UNC 32-2
2. UCLA 31-3
3. Memphis 33-1
4. Kansas 31-3

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/rankings?seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=1&seasonType=3

The Top 4 teams had a combined 9 losses. The Top 4 teams this year have a combined 11 losses as of now and that doesn’t even include on-the-come losses for Pitt/UConn in the reg season and potentially the tournament. I’m just saying that when you look at teams 5-10 in last year’s poll, there was not a CHANCE that those teams were going to win it all. Hell, #5 Wisco was a 3-seed. This year, it’s different where I think there are 7 elite teams.

Here’s the outcome which is best for UofL:

1. UofL beat SH and WVU (obvious).
2. Pitt beat UConn in reg. season.
3. UofL make finals of BET.
4. UConn beat Pitt in BET semis.

I think if UofL wins the reg. season by a full game AND wins the BET, there is not a chance in this world that you could put two BE teams ahead of UofL as #1-seeds. However, if UConn beats UofL in the finals, I think there is a 65/35 chance that UofL would be ahead of Pitt as a #1. Sure, UofL would have more losses, but UofL would have also (i) finished a full game ahead of Pitt in the BE reg. season, (ii) beat Pitt head to head and (iii) advanced further in the BET.

Also, here’s another case in point why Bracketologist incorrectly project the “spot” seed for a team but do not look appropriately into the future. Marquette is currently projected as a #4 by most accounts. There’s not a chance in this world they are a 4. They will lose to Pitt and get bounced early in the BET. I’m thinking a #6.

by Quinn1979 on Mar 4, 2009 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

#5 on your list

Would be GREAT if Marquette could somehow knock off Pitt tonight

by Phauz on Mar 4, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

I sure hope

we land in a bracket with Oklahoma or Memphis. May regret it, but right now I think that would give us the best shot at Detroit.

theoldman

by theoldman on Mar 4, 2009 5:13 PM EST reply actions

here here

I Promise You One Thing. A Lot Of Good Will Come Outta This.
You Will Never See Anyone Type On The Message Boards As Much As I Will For The Rest of This Season .
You Will Never See Anyone Push and Root For His Team As Hard As I Will For The Rest of This Season.
And You Will Never See Another Team Fight Tougher and Harder Than Louisville Will In the Big East For The Rest of This Season.
God Bless.

by AllinWithMyCards on Mar 4, 2009 5:21 PM EST reply actions

HELP!!!!

I can’t find the link for the game tonight….someone posted it but now I can’t find it and I’m in Florida with my sick sister…..the game isn’t on here. Sure would appreciate it if someone would post the link again…thanks

by Linda on Mar 4, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions

It's on ESPN360

by centrecard on Mar 4, 2009 5:39 PM EST up reply actions

if your internet provider doesnt have access to espn 360 try here:

http://www.justin.tv/cbb2k8

by Ben Go CARDS on Mar 4, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions

Which is our best shot at #1 seed?

Pitt beats UConn

UofL 16-2, 25-5
Pitt 15-3, 28-3
UConn 15-3, 27-3

or

UConn beats Pitt

UConn 16-2, 28-2
UofL 16-2, 25-5
Pitt 14-4, 27-4

I’m not saying I don’t want us to with the Big East, but the silver lining of us finishing second might be a better chance to steal Pitt’s 1 seed. Worried if we only finish up 1 game on both, those 3 nonconf losses to unranked teams might outweigh our conference record.

by Phauz on Mar 4, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions