Bout that time again guys, who's your favorite and your sleepers? I think KU, UK, and OSU are the teams to beat right now. As a higher seeded team I see U of L possibly winning a game or two. And just to instigate, is it safe to say we are back at this point Jeff sitting at 32-2 with an SEC title and SEC tourney title....or is the jury still out on this one?:D Honest to goodness could be the first team in history to lose to a 16 seed and I'd STILL be extremely happy with this season as a whole!
Hard to say, Trevor. Given Calipari's history, though......maybe the banners you guys hang will be stamped in disapearing ink.
The first things that jump out at me... Duke will be the first #1 to lose. Wisconsin will make the elite 8. UTEP makes the sweet 16 and gives Syracuse all it can handle. West Virginia has an easy road to the elite 8. No doubt they had a great year and exceeded expectations. I don't know if you can claim a program to be "back" if they fall off again next year.. Hard to say what next season will look like after losing their top 3 players to the NBA...3 potential lottery picks.
Me too! That's why I'm SO happy we have them to match up with if we make it past Texas and Wisconsin....lmao what a bracket. UK and KU got the top two seeds and easily the hardest two brackets.... logical.
Took the words right out of my mouth...err fingers. Second thing that sticks out: Purdue is toast without Hummel....
Duke and Cuse is a toss up. I personally think Cuse has the easiest road, but it seems a lot of years whoever heads West does get a slightly easier road. I can't wait to see if UofL shows up the first round. IF they win their first game, I think they will def knock off Duke next....but on the other hand, they could just lose by 20 the first round. Very shaky year for them. As for losing players, we will almost certainly lose 3 starters to the NBA lottery. Then again, we will still have a top 25 roster left over and 2-4 VERY promising recruits still have us at the top of the list. I see no way we return to this year's level next year, but we will still be a top 25 team IMO.
Top 25 roster this year without Wall, Cousins, and Patterson? I'm hoping I read that wrong. They definitely have a good recruiting class coming in...Cal usually does. You never can tell what you're going to get until they are on the floor playing games. Sometimes you get immediate studs like UK this year, and other times they don't pan out in the first year like Texas. Either way, if Cal stays out of trouble, UK's future looks bright.
The Duke thing is a complete JOKE! How are they ahead of Syracuse as a #1 seed? How do they get the easiest road to the final four? Kansas got boned BIG time IMO. Easily the hardest bracket to get through.
I think Cuse will be the first #1 out. It will either be them or Duke. I could see Duke losing in the second round. My Volunteers could easily get upset in the first round. Trev, I'd like to add to your hot teams list. Look for Georgetown to make a run, and West Virginia right now is deadly.
I like Georgetown too, but my main concern is that they really only play 6 guys. If those 6 guys don't get tired or in foul trouble, they could do some damage. Tough with such a short bench.
Now that I look at the bracket, they have the easiest road ever. Which is unfortunate, but fortunate for them because I feel that they are the weakest of the number 1 seeds. A possible matchup that I'd like to see, and might determine the national champion is the potentiel WVU and Kentucky. If they both make it that far, I feel that game will determine the national champion. I REALLY REALLY like both of those teams odds. I hate Kansas, and really do not want to see them win another.
When was the last time Duke beat a team higher than a 5 seed? Wasn't it like 2004? No wonder the committee gave them an easy bracket.. pity :D
Yes seriously, right now, the other 3 are playing better basketball. Syracuse has lost 2 straight going in the tournament. If you would have asked me in February who I thought the best team was, I would have told you Syracuse, but right now, they aren't.
No, they aren't playing the best right now, but Carolina certainly wasn't playing the best basketball last year at this time going into the tournament coming off a loss to Florida State. If Onauku (sp?) hadn't gotten hurt and they still lost in the first round of the Big East, I'd still think they'd be the best team in the tournament. But, since he got hurt I think they are behind Kansas. Jim Boeheim is an excellent coach and they are just a team of guys who know how to play the game. Maybe I like them just because of how they play, but I think they are a Final Four team. Just for fun I'd rank the number 1 seeds as Kansas, Syracuse, Duke and Kentucky. I I hate Duke but the team they have this year has the makeup to make a deep run. Kentucky is the most talented team in the field, but their lack of maturity and leadership will likely cost them a chance at the Final four.
My 4 would go Kansas, Kentucky, Duke, and Syracuse. Maturity was a big hang up with Kentucky for me in the early goings but they have passed my eye test with flying colors. I've watched them play a lot this year and I don't see maturity seriously affecting them in the tournament.
