First Round Thoughts

[whodem]

Holy #$@%^!  How can Badger fans enjoy this????

Badgers are 5-12 on FG's so far in the first half.  At this rate they MIGHT end the first half with less than 15 FG attempts.

I have got to find my wife's knitting needles so I can poke out my eyes.

They win.

[brewcity77]

Holy #$@%^!  How can Badger fans enjoy this????

Badgers are 5-12 on FG's so far in the first half.  At this rate they MIGHT end the first half with less than 15 FG attempts.

I have got to find my wife's knitting needles so I can poke out my eyes.

I agree, they are an awful team to watch. What I find funny is all the announcers talking about how good they are defensively. But they aren't good defensively. They're about on par with Marquette, and we are definitely not a good defensive team. But because they play so damn slow and end up in low scoring contests as a result, everyone is convinced they are good on defense. #64 in the country is NOT good on defense, especially when you are in a tournament that should feature the 68 best teams in the country (theoretically).

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

So Wisconsin is painful to watch.  If they win, at least their fans get to celebrate a victory.

If MU's athleticism leads to a loss tomorrow, what good did being aesthetically pleasing get them?

Give me an NCAA win and I'm happy, regardless of how painful the game was to watch.

I'll never understand the bitching about how Wisconsin plays, when they've achieved much more than MU in recent years.

Be a Badger fan then you negative Nancy.

[MUMac]

So Wisconsin is painful to watch.  If they win, at least their fans get to celebrate a victory.

If MU's athleticism leads to a loss tomorrow, what good did being aesthetically pleasing get them?

Give me an NCAA win and I'm happy, regardless of how painful the game was to watch.

I'll never understand the bitching about how Wisconsin plays, when they've achieved much more than MU in recent years.

If calling UW difficult to watch is "bitching", what should we call your constant drumbeat against MU?  "Bitching" would be FAR too soft a word.

[willie wampum]

If calling UW difficult to watch is "bitching", what should we call your constant drumbeat against MU?  "Bitching" would be FAR too soft a word.

You can call it being realistic.

MU was a .500 team in conference play and finished in 11th place.

That pales in comparison to what UW achieved and they also appear comfortably poised to win their first round NCAA game.

Give me those "traditional" ballplayers who have the high BB IQ over someone who thinks going 1 on 3 on a fast break is a smart play, or over a guy who refuses to run out the clock with a lead and instead tries to drive in for a contested layup and helps lead MU to a loss that carried over for the rest of the season.

[MUMac]

You can call it being realistic.

MU was a .500 team in conference play and finished in 11th place.

That pales in comparison to what UW achieved and they also appear comfortably poised to win their first round NCAA game.

Give me those "traditional" ballplayers who have the high BB IQ over someone who thinks going 1 on 3 on a fast break is a smart play, or over a guy who refuses to run out the clock with a lead and instead tries to drive in for a contested layup and helps lead MU to a loss that carried over for the rest of the season.

Nah, that's bitching.  

[karavotsos]

Refs protecting Wisconsin players like they're their virgin daughters.

[whodem]

Refs protecting Wisconsin players like they're their virgin daughters.

What game are you watching?

UW is up by 16 right now so it wouldn't matter anyways.

[whodem]

I agree, they are an awful team to watch. What I find funny is all the announcers talking about how good they are defensively. But they aren't good defensively. They're about on par with Marquette, and we are definitely not a good defensive team. But because they play so damn slow and end up in low scoring contests as a result, everyone is convinced they are good on defense. #64 in the country is NOT good on defense, especially when you are in a tournament that should feature the 68 best teams in the country (theoretically).

I agree completely. They aren't a good defensive team this year. The reason though that they're still a really good team is because they're better then usual on offense mainly because Taylor has taken his game to another level.

[WarriorHal]

Speaking of Taylor, is he NBA bound or will MU have to deal with him again next season as a senior?

[whodem]

Speaking of Taylor, is he NBA bound or will MU have to deal with him again next season as a senior?

He's a lock to come back.

[MUMac]

Speaking of Taylor, is he NBA bound or will MU have to deal with him again next season as a senior?

Been wondering this for the past month, myself.  I would expect that he will put his name in to get the feedback.  I would guess it depends upon what he hears from the NBA.

[Lennys Tap]

Tough way to go out. Terrible play there to end it thought. Didn't even get a shot off when they had three seconds from half court.

Didn't get a shot off in either of their last two possessions. Totally disorganized.

[brewcity77]

Speaking of Taylor, is he NBA bound or will MU have to deal with him again next season as a senior?

I think he goes. He has a decent chance of being a first round pick and his stock will never be higher. Staying makes no sense for him.

[whodem]

I think he goes. He has a decent chance of being a first round pick and his stock will never be higher. Staying makes no sense for him.

What makes you think he'll have a chance to be a 1st round pick?

EDIT: Especially since a lot of people think there is a chance he won't be drafted at all.

[karavotsos]

What game are you watching?

UW is up by 16 right now so it wouldn't matter anyways.

The game in which they were calling handchecks on the perimeter that were unwarranted.  Fouls whenever a Belmont player slapped at the ball.  Fouls on guys fighting through screens.  A missed charge call on Taylor at the end of the first half and Leuer in the second half.  Both at big times.

And Belmont was not what the national media promised.  They stunk.  I feel cheated on that game.

[MUMac]

A missed charge call on Taylor at the end of the first half and Leuer in the second half.  

On Taylor's play, the defender came off his man and was under the basket.  That is the rule change they made last year.  I don't like it, because each official interprets it differently.  I wish they would have the dotted line that the NBA uses.  That would make it more consistent and also take some of the confussion away from the fans on those calls.

[brewcity77]

What makes you think he'll have a chance to be a 1st round pick?

Production. He may not be as quick as a guy like Walker, but he has great range and is arguably the safest ball-handler in the country (his TO rate is 2nd in the nation to Crowder, but he's a point). He's not as long as you'd like, but once you get to the latter half of the first round, teams are usually only looking for developers and backups. Taylor could be a decent backup for a playoff team with his ability to shoot off the bench and smartly manage a game. And smart is his main attribute. He knows the game and plays it the right way. He won't beat his own team. And considering how good he's been this year, does he want to risk the possible drop in his stock without having Leuer as a safety valve?

[whodem]

Production. He may not be as quick as a guy like Walker, but he has great range and is arguably the safest ball-handler in the country (his TO rate is 2nd in the nation to Crowder, but he's a point). He's not as long as you'd like, but once you get to the latter half of the first round, teams are usually only looking for developers and backups. Taylor could be a decent backup for a playoff team with his ability to shoot off the bench and smartly manage a game. And smart is his main attribute. He knows the game and plays it the right way. He won't beat his own team. And considering how good he's been this year, does he want to risk the possible drop in his stock without having Leuer as a safety valve?

Point well made, but I don't think his stock will drop at all even without a guy like Leuer there mainly because his stock still isn't high anyways. The guy even with a great year is projected to be a late 2nd round to undrafted pick. A majority of NBA teams see the guy as a lifelong backup PG, and the NBA would rather have a guy that could be great rather then a guy who's already proven to be a solid player. This is one of the biggest reasons NBA teams miss on so many guys. They draft almost completely based on potential and that's why you guys like Favors picked in the top 5.

[karavotsos]

On Taylor's play, the defender came off his man and was under the basket.  That is the rule change they made last year.  I don't like it, because each official interprets it differently.  I wish they would have the dotted line that the NBA uses.  That would make it more consistent and also take some of the confussion away from the fans on those calls.

I was stunned they didn't have the charge circle, and I said it at the beginning of the year.  That rule change that you refer to I don't think is really a rule change, it just gives the ref another excuse to make whatever call he wants to make. I didn't think the guy was close to under the basket. 

It looks like Taylor is relying on the chicken wing and shoulder dip a lot more now.  After watching this year, I have no idea what contact a dribbler is allowed to make with his off arm.

I hope Pullen crushes him.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Cincinnati looking good. I thought they were pretenders all year.  Looks like I was wrong.  Had Mizzou winning in my bracket.

On another note, I hurt a little every time Kim English is mentioned.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Real bummer with St. John's here. They're a really, really good team with DJ Kennedy. They're just a good team without him. Zags are currently handing it to the Johnnies. Too bad.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

UCLA may blow a 23 point lead with 6 minntes left (approximations).

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

UCLA may blow a 23 point lead with 6 minntes left (approximations).

Almost did. Man, what a rough day on the bracket.

[karavotsos]

Cincy v. UConn is the travesty of round 2.  If you're going to do that put a potential Wisconsin v. Purdue in Round 3, at least.  No one wants to watch more of that Big 10 nonsense than necessary.

Cronin moved up a notch in my book this year.  That puts him at notch one.