General College Basketball Thread 2020-2021

[wadesworld]

Have you watched Duke's offense the last half decade?

Yes?  Their adjusted offensive efficiency is:

2021: 17th
2020: 9th
2019: 7th
2018: 3rd
2017: 6th

Is that supposed to be a knock on him or...?

[wadesworld]

Whew, we dodged a bullet there when Johnson opted for Duke. We don't need the publicity of another recruit bolting Marquette's program, aina?

You can thank Markus for that.  Didn't think he'd get any shots at Marquette.

[GooooMarquette]

FWIW, MSU and Duke in those years were 2 seeds, not top 5 teams, much less the unquestioned top 2 teams.

You completely missed my point.

Of course MSU and Duke were 2 seeds...but they both lost to 15 seeds (top-60ish teams). If a 2  seed like MSU or Duke can lose to a 15 seed, a 1 seed like Gonzaga or Baylor can certainly lose to another 1, or some other high seed. And that's all it would take in a single-elimination tournament.

[MU82]

In tonight's East Tennessee State - Chattanooga game, Chat led by 3 with 9 seconds left. An ETSU player was fouled with 4.8 seconds left. He made the first and missed the second ... and ETSU grabbed the rebound.

A pass went into the corner and the ETSU player appeared to have made the winning 3 at the buzzer ... but his coach called time-out a split-second before the ball left the shooter's hand. So the basket was waved off. ETSU came out of the time-out with 2.8 seconds left and tried a desperation shot, but it hit the back of the rim.

I'm guessing that the ETSU coach will not sleep very well tonight.

[JWags85]

You completely missed my point.

Of course MSU and Duke were 2 seeds...but they both lost to 15 seeds (top-60ish teams). If a 2  seed like MSU or Duke can lose to a 15 seed, a 1 seed like Gonzaga or Baylor can certainly lose to another 1, or some other high seed. And that's all it would take in a single-elimination tournament.

I fully got your point. Great teams can lose to lesser teams in single elimination. I just disagree with you.

My point was that Baylor and Gonzaga are so far beyond other teams this year, even other teams in the top 10.  Baylor just went into Austin, where Texas was #6, and were favored by 6 (so about 10 on a neutral floor) and blew them out of the gym.

Two dominant teams in relation to everyone, moreso than I can remember as of late. Combination of very good teams and a lot of teams being negatively affected by COVID and other issues this year.

Anything can happen, sure, but when you have 2 teams who would be favored by double digits against probably all but 3-4 other teams in the country, that's as good as time as any to say "you can have the field".  Seth Greenberg and another analyst tonight actually said "give me Baylor, Gonzaga, and Michigan, you can have the rest, hands down" during the UVA game.

[GooooMarquette]

I fully got your point. Great teams can lose to lesser teams in single elimination. I just disagree with you.

My point was that Baylor and Gonzaga are so far beyond other teams this year, even other teams in the top 10.  Baylor just went into Austin, where Texas was #6, and were favored by 6 (so about 10 on a neutral floor) and blew them out of the gym.

Two dominant teams in relation to everyone, moreso than I can remember as of late. Combination of very good teams and a lot of teams being negatively affected by COVID and other issues this year.

Anything can happen, sure, but when you have 2 teams who would be favored by double digits against probably all but 3-4 other teams in the country, that's as good as time as any to say "you can have the field".  Seth Greenberg and another analyst tonight actually said "give me Baylor, Gonzaga, and Michigan, you can have the rest, hands down" during the UVA game.

Fair enough, but teams favored by double digits still lose games. Happens every March.

[Uncle Rico]

Yes?  Their adjusted offensive efficiency is:

2021: 17th
2020: 9th
2019: 7th
2018: 3rd
2017: 6th

Is that supposed to be a knock on him or...?

Accumulating talent and letting it do its thing is easy to do at Duke but he doesn't run much of an offense anymore.  This is one of those cases where I trust what I see from his team. When you have a bunch of burger boys, you can let them do their thing but when they run sets and plays, it's a mess.

This isn't an attack on his accomplishments or record.  He established one of the greatest programs in college basketball history and did so with some of the most beautiful college basketball you could watch.  If Coach K said I'm coming to Marquette, I'd hire him in a minute.  When it comes to X's and O's, there are better coaches in today's game.  I just think he's coasting at this point and he's probably earned it but when I watch them play, I see a team undisciplined and often lost.  If Jay Wright is coaching one of those Duke teams you listed, my hunch is they have a national title or two

[wadesworld]

Accumulating talent and letting it do its thing is easy to do at Duke but he doesn't run much of an offense anymore.  This is one of those cases where I trust what I see from his team. When you have a bunch of burger boys, you can let them do their thing but when they run sets and plays, it's a mess.

This isn't an attack on his accomplishments or record.  He established one of the greatest programs in college basketball history and did so with some of the most beautiful college basketball you could watch.  If Coach K said I'm coming to Marquette, I'd hire him in a minute.  When it comes to X's and O's, there are better coaches in today's game.  I just think he's coasting at this point and he's probably earned it but when I watch them play, I see a team undisciplined and often lost.  If Jay Wright is coaching one of those Duke teams you listed, my hunch is they have a national title or two

Of the past 5 NCAA Tournaments that have been played, Duke has won one national championship, lost in the Elite Eight twice, and lost on the Sweet Sixteen once.  Let's not pretend like Duke suddenly sucks because they're having one down year.

[Fred Garvin]

Michigan State lightning it up with 10 points scored,7:30 left till halftime. Joey 0-1 lol

[4everwarriors]

He's scored the last 6 Spartan pts on 2/2 from the arc, hey?

[Fred Garvin]

That's all coaching!!!

[MU82]

He's scored the last 6 Spartan pts on 2/2 from the arc, hey?

Not surprised. He's a good shooter ... when he isn't turning the ball over or pouting.

[Billy Hoyle]

Not surprised. He's a good shooter ... when he isn't turning the ball over or pouting.

2 TO's a game fir his career, 1.9 this season,

[JWags85]

Just to wrap up, MSU was terrible, but Joey turns it over and bricks a 3 on two of the last three MSU possessions. 6 TOs on the night. Interestingly, he didn't attempt a single 2 pointer all night

[PGsHeroes32]

He's scored the last 6 Spartan pts on 2/2 from the arc, hey?

Wilted down the stretch as we are accustomed to seeing. 6 TOs was really impressive.

[MuggsyB]

Only positives of the 2020-21 season:

Kentucky sucking

Duke sucking

Mich St. sucking

[MU82]

He's scored the last 6 Spartan pts on 2/2 from the arc, hey?

Your hero's last 2 minutes tonight was a microcosm of his last two months in a Marquette uniform. Three turnovers, each more careless than the one before, a brick of a 3 attempt, got killed on D, his team loses. But hey, Joey almost scored twice as many points as he had turnovers, so not a bad night all in all.

It would be nice if you liked any Marquette players from the last two seasons half as much as you like the failed traitor who pi$$ed on your alma mater ... but ewe bee ewe, Doc!

[cheebs09]

Your hero's last 2 minutes tonight was a microcosm of his last two months in a Marquette uniform. Three turnovers, each more careless than the one before, a brick of a 3 attempt, got killed on D, his team loses. But hey, Joey almost scored twice as many points as he had turnovers, so not a bad night all in all.

It would be nice if you liked any Marquette players from the last two seasons half as much as you like the failed traitor who pi$$ed on your alma mater ... but ewe bee ewe, Doc!

You're becoming pretty obsessed with piling on Joey.

[MU82]

You're becoming pretty obsessed with piling on Joey.

You're right. Unless correcting factual errors or asked a direct question, I'll back off for awhile.

[MuggsyB]

You're right. Unless correcting factual errors or asked a direct question, I'll back off for awhile.

What do you think of Joey's play this season and his propensity to turn the ball over? 

[Uncle Rico]

You're becoming pretty obsessed with piling on Joey.

As weird as those obsessed with telling us the Hausers successful moments every time they can.  MU82 is right, some folks would rather the current players fail and the Hausers succeed.  They'll deny but actions don't lie.  I'll be glad when both have graduated and moved on

[shoothoops]

Jeff Borzello with a piece on the offensive turnaround for Illinois this season, changing offensive schemes with significantly improved results. (And of course guard play)

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30914193/how-illinois-fighting-illini-became-final-four-contender

[Uncle Rico]

Jeff Borzello with a piece on the offensive turnaround for Illinois this season, changing offensive schemes with significantly improved results. (And of course guard play)

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/30914193/how-illinois-fighting-illini-became-final-four-contender

Great work by Borzello.  Great work by the Illinois staff. 

[GooooMarquette]

You're becoming pretty obsessed with piling on Joey.

He is, but in fairness, there are a couple of threads now where people are constantly posting updates about every move Sam and Joey make. I suspect the Joey bashing would all but disappear if the Sam and Joey threads (especially the one dedicated specifically to them) did as well.

[MU82]

What do you think of Joey's play this season and his propensity to turn the ball over?

Maybe Shaka can actually win an NCAA tournament game at Texas this year.