Pre-BTT final basketball open thread
Obviously we have our game at 4:30 on CBS, but right now a good one for the regular season AAC title is going with #10 Cinci @ #11 Wichita State. Cinci is up 37-36 at the half, crowd is electric in Wichita.
No other major conference games today really. A bunch of smaller conference tournaments have games today including:
- Liberty @ Radford at 1 for the Big South title on ESPN
- Illinois State vs Loyola-Chicago at 2 on CBS for the MVC title (neutral site, Loyola is projected as a 12 seed in a lot of spots so if they lose they might steal a bid as an at-large)
- Lipscomb @ FGCU at 3 on ESPN for the Atlantic Sun title
I'd really prefer not to see MSU again, despite how we've beaten them both times.
Illinois beat us by double digits both times in 88-89, and then Higgins did that thing.
times in a row is hard, but doesn't it sound like you may be better than the team you beat twice in a row? I like our chances at the Garden because it truly sounds like a second home; the players like playing there and the fans definitely like seeing us there. That might give us an edge today, or at least a better chance of winning. I'd favor Purdue more if we were playing at a genuine no home field advantage court for either team but I don't think MSG is that kind of place for Purdue. Oh that's right: We beat them here last year.
Last year's games were in DC.
It just feels the same, lol.
but the game hasn't started yet
Why is it hard to beat a team three times in a year? If you've already beaten them twice this seems like solid evidence you are better than them
In this case, both games were one/two possession games throughout, so mainly evidence that this game is very likely to be close
it happened in the BIG at least 3 times this year alone.
In AP Preseason poll, we got 6 votes, good for #39 in the poll. Less votes than Minnesota (#15), Northwestern (#19), Wisconsin and Maryland. Team of hard working overachievers who get better w each game, and play the best D I have ever seen a Michigan team play.
Let's finish the deal today, and go create some havoc at March Madness.
Go Blue!!!
Cincinnati drops to a 5 or even a 6 seed. Definitely behind Michigan. They will basically have no top notch wins.
I think WSU's resume, even with a loss today, is still at a 4-seed level. Closer to Michigan's resume. WSU would still have that 1-1 split with Cinci and they have a number of good road wins.
squeezed out the win, 62-61.
I am not an expert in this - but looking at the sites, wouldn't it be just as easy to send Cincy to Pittsburgh or Nashville as compared to Detroit? All about 4 hour drives, if I have my Midwest geography right...
Keep Carsen Edwards in check. He was lighting it up yesterday, so maybe he's cooled off a bit for today.
Win of lose today, they have been a lot of fun to watch and are heading into the tournament as one of the hottest, if not THE hottest team in America. But if they do pull it off today, how freakin' impressive is it to go back to back by doing it with 4 in 4?
Zavier Simpson was praised by the commentators this weekend for his ability to 'trap' a defenders arm with his off hand, which he appears to do almost every time he drives. Late in the MSU game however he was called for an offensive foul for this.
Is it an illegal move, similar to the 'hook' that players use typically in the post? Or is it more like the 'swatting away' of hands that ball handlers seem to be allowed to do? Or is there some gray area here like holding in football?
between a WR and DB in football. Totally a judgement call that goes against the D 90% of the time.
That call on Z yesterday was BS IMO. He has the right to protect his space.
I appreciate the info. Go blue
They should already be a 4 IMO. Simple math says that the top 16 should be 1-4 seeds. I know it doesn't work quite like that, be after this week, we will be well inside the top 16.
Cincinnati-Wichita State is a great game right now. I would recommend it if you're looking for one to pass the time.
Well, I am forcing people here in th house to pass the time watching hoops. I don't mind. They might.
tough to beat a good team 3 times. problem is, they taken our best shot twice and came out on top. not sure how much better we can plays vs Purdue.
either way, we're playing with house money at this point - tho it would be nice to hang a banner.
They had to play a top game against Rutgers (OMG did I just type that???) to win and another decent game against PSU. They're due for a letdown and Wagner was off sorts yesterday. He didn't get his first points until second half. Even then he was still off. He usually follows a game like that with a monster showing. Purdue has to play lights out or Michigan will put their lights out.
tough to beat a good team 3 times. problem is, they taken our best shot twice and came out on top. not sure how much better we can plays vs Purdue.
either way, we're playing with house money at this point - tho it would be nice to hang a banner.
I was wondering if people have changed their opinons about having this game a week earlier and at MSG? No doubt my enjoyment has been that we've done well but it is nice to have our games be one of the major games over the weekend and at MSG.
Has anyone else changed their mind a bit on this?
I think a lot of people overlook this when they keep projecting Michigan as a top seed. Michigan puts the finishing touches on its résumé, for better or worse, in the next couple of hours. Meanwhile, every single team around them has a chance to add additional impressive wins that are going to be more recent, and we all know that people tend to overrate recent events.
If Michigan wins today and doesn't get the seed people are hoping for, it's just one more reason to be upset with Jim Delany. Not that we need one.
Had a Palatine, finishing up a Julius, gonna walk my dog. I have pork cooking and I'm going to make burgers when I get back from the walk. A real dude day for myself.
nah - i will walk and cook as much as I can.
Pairing a Schlenkerla Helles with the burgers. I don't really drink straight liquor. I will occasionally partake in a cocktail when I am in a place where the cocktail program is well regarded.
Buzzer beating 3 as time expires gives Radford the Big South title and their first NCAA Tourney appearance since 2009.
Congrats to Radford and HC Mike Jones (who?), a Beilein assistant from 2000-2003.