Upset Alert: UNC vs. Butler

[GoldenWarrior11]

The ESPiN suits are probably in full-on freakout mode.  "Quick, get Georgetown and Villanova to the ACC NOW!  And find a way to put Creighton on probation!  Move DePaul and Marquette back to the Great Midwest Conference!!  SOMEONE MUST MAY FOR THIS INSULT TO OUR BELOVED UNC!!!"

[Ellisium]

Are they on NCAA probation yet?

Nothing.  I'm not sure if it's calm before the storm or if the investigation is still pending.  The allegations go way back..... over ten years, so there's a lot of data to muster up.  I'm sure the NCAA will "take its time" with this one.  UNC is a historic flagship program and if they're crippled it hurts the overall NCAA product.  Look at what happened with Calipari's UMASS and Memphis teams and how they lost their postseason accolades.  Their violations  are miniscule in comparison to what has been happening @ UNC.  There's potential to void out a decade's worth of wins and 2 championships along with future restrictions.  

[tower912]

Congrats to Butler.

[Ellisium]

The ESPiN suits are probably in full-on freakout mode.  "Quick, get Georgetown and Villanova to the ACC NOW!  And find a way to put Creighton on probation!  Move DePaul and Marquette back to the Great Midwest Conference!!  SOMEONE MUST MAY FOR THIS INSULT TO OUR BELOVED UNC!!!"

I hope it forces Dick Vitale to retire.  That would be the cherry on the sundae along with a loss of scholarships and postseason play. 

[Atticus]

I hope it forces Dick Vitale to retire.  That would be the cherry on the sundae along with a loss of scholarships and postseason play. 

Losing schaolarships is a joke punishment. How many wins can be credited to the 12th and 13th scholarship players at big time programs? Zero?

UNC will survive a post-season ban just fine. In fact, there are about 15 schools that wouldn't skip a beat with a post-season ban.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Excellent win for the conference. Well done dawgs!

[RushmoreAcademy]

Our old friends Rutgers lost yesterday by 18 to the 0-4 St. Peter's.

[Atticus]

Is there a single BE team in discussion for the NC?

The answer is no.

So who cares in November???

[brewcity77]

Is there a single BE team in discussion for the NC?

The answer is no.

So who cares in November???

Near as I can see, Kentucky and Duke are the only 2 teams in the country in that discussion.

[Atticus]

Near as I can see, Kentucky and Duke are the only 2 teams in the country in that discussion.

So...hey...small battles are great in November! I will bet any amount of money that not one BE team makes it to the final four. Charity of your choice.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Is there a single BE team in discussion for the NC?

The answer is no.

So who cares in November???

It is newsworthy/publicity - which is something the Big East needs. Secondarily it's not a bad thing so who cares if people talk about it.

[brewcity77]

So...hey...small battles are great in November! I will bet any amount of money that not one BE team makes it to the final four. Charity of your choice.

Nothing against charity but when I'm saying the NC is a 2-horse race, why would I put money on anyone other than those two?

[MU82]

Is there a single BE team in discussion for the NC?

The answer is no.

So who cares in November???

Was UConn "in discussion" for the 2013 national title?

What a silly post.

[Atticus]

Nothing against charity but when I'm saying the NC is a 2-horse race, why would I put money on anyone other than those two?

Exactly! Hell, I'll bet odds no BE team makes it to the E8!

[tower912]

Or NCState, Villanova, Kansas (88), UConn with Kemba.....  Chico's old crapshoot dictum.    If you ask me who the best two teams are in the country right now, Kentucky or Duke.   Who will win the title?   Obviously, Kentucky is the favorite, but that 4+ months from now.   A whole lot can happen.  

[MU82]

Butler:

29 offensive rebounds while North Carolina had 26 Defensive rebounds.  Talk about an ass whoopin' on the glass!

Butler outrebounded UNC by 17 overall.  I'm not sure if I've ever seen a UNC team be manhandled defensively like this before.  Butler is just as tall as UNC but much wider.  It looked more like a football team on the court for Butler.   They're going to give a lot of people problems.   It's too bad their offense isn't that good, otherwise they'd be a top 5 team.  They can't shoot the ball well at all - had they.... UNC would have been blown out by 20.  

Butler is easily a top 20 team this year.  They're going to outrebound a lot of teams and beat them with sheer physicality.  

As I watched the final 10 minutes of the game -- and I thank the O.P. for calling my attention to it, otherwise I might have never turned on the TV -- I had two thoughts:

1. Good for Butler! They had a rough season last year but they look tough-minded, athletic and well-coached. My only beef with how they played down the stretch was that they shot too quickly several times when they could have worked the clock, but they made up for it by out-hustling and out-working UNC over and over and over again, playing sound D and controlling the glass.

2. How are we gonna get any rebounds against that team? I believe the preseason coaches poll had us tied with Butler for 6th in the Big East. Wow. I'm not seeing it. Unless Luke Fischer is the next Moses Malone, that team will KILL us on the boards. Based on the (admittedly small) sample I've seen so far, they very well might have the best player at every position when we meet.

I hope to hell I'm wrong!

[brewcity77]

We need our guards and wings to start rebounding. Both Juan and Steve are around 7 boards per game. Our frontcourt is rebounding fine. But even reliable rebounders like Derrick (around 4 rpg last year) aren't getting to anything. Unlikely this will ever be a good rebounding team but if the guys in the backcourt start showing effort and getting to balls they can at least be adequate.

[Jables1604]

So according to Atticus' logic only Kentucky and  Duke have the right to be discussing their results in November?  Tell you what Atticus, let's make the bet $500. Since you think it's a #donedeal you take Duke and Kentucky.  I'll take the field.  Let's agree that the donation be made to Marquette in the name of James Foley.  Deal?

[WayOfTheWarrior]

On a separate note, G-Town just downed #18 Florida in OT. 

[MU82]

On a separate note, G-Town just downed #18 Florida in OT. 

Doesn't matter. Florida isn't "in discussion for the NC."

[brewcity77]

If we're not going to be good, at least we can live vicariously through the rest of the Big East. Georgetown and Butler were incredibly fun to watch today. Love to see them play each other in the Atlantis title game Saturday.

Watching St John's, on the other hand, was awful. So much talent, but so selfish and poorly coached. That team has top-10 talent with 10-cent brains.

[Johnny B]

If we're not going to be good, at least we can live vicariously through the rest of the Big East. Georgetown and Butler were incredibly fun to watch today. Love to see them play each other in the Atlantis title game Saturday.

Watching St John's, on the other hand, was awful. So much talent, but so selfish and poorly coached. That team has top-10 talent with 10-cent brains.

I was thinking the exact same thing while watching them. Dont know how they won that, oh well another win over the BIG

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Doesn't matter. Florida isn't "in discussion for the NC."

Darn....... Since UK and Duke are only in the discussion, perhaps I should go back into hiding. 

[Anti-Dentite]

Darn....... Since UK and Duke are only in the discussion, perhaps I should go back into hiding. 

All hail the dark one!