NCAA Hoops Thread '21-22

[MU82]

For my money, Arizona is the second-best team in the country.

FIFY.

[JWags85]

For my money, Arizona is the best team in the country.

I'd take Gonzaga and Auburn over them in a heartbeat.  UCLA handled them pretty comfortably at home last week and Zona looked pretty pedestrian against ASU.  They're really good, but I don't think they're the cream of the crop

[panda]

I'd take Gonzaga and Auburn over them in a heartbeat.  UCLA handled them pretty comfortably at home last week and Zona looked pretty pedestrian against ASU.  They're really good, but I don't think they're the cream of the crop

Tubelis at less than 100% has skewed their rotation a bit. Once/If he gets back to 100%, they'll be a true force.

[panda]

FIFY.

Gonzaga last season was a bit more dynamic than they are this season with Suggs running the show. They undoubtedly still have Final Four talent, but I don't think they'll be able to get over the hump this season. Not enough depth if plan A doesn't work against another premier team.

[Uncle Rico]

Arizona and UCLA are both final 4 good.  Both are national championship good.  I think there are more potential champs this year than in recent years.  There will also be a lot of upsets in March because of overseeded teams.

[panda]

Arizona and UCLA are both final 4 good.  Both are national championship good.  I think there are more potential champs this year than in recent years.  There will also be a lot of upsets in March because of overseeded teams.

Agree - I don't see a dominant team this year.

[Uncle Rico]

Agree - I don't see a dominant team this year.

Gonzaga, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Houston and Duke are all legit national title contenders at the moment. I could be wrong but that list seems bigger than most years

[panda]

Gonzaga, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Houston and Duke are all legit national title contenders at the moment. I could be wrong but that list seems bigger than most years

I'd take Duke out and replace them with Illinois but I agree with your larger point. Lots of solid, talented teams at the top without a clear cut top team.

Gonzaga probably the consensus top team, but it's so challenging for me to lock them in as a title contender playing mostly low majors throughout their conference season.

[Uncle Rico]

I'd take Duke out and replace them with Illinois but I agree with your larger point. Lots of solid, talented teams at the top without a clear cut top team.

Gonzaga probably the consensus top team, but it's so challenging for me to lock them in as a title contender playing mostly low majors throughout their conference season.

I use teams in KenPom top 20 offense and defense to gauge real contenders.  Illinois is just outside looking in and that can change in a month.

Baylor finished 22nd in defense last year but were top-10 most of the year defensively.  UConn 2014 is the outlier

[panda]

I use teams in KenPom top 20 offense and defense to gauge real contenders.  Illinois is just outside looking in and that can change in a month.

Baylor finished 22nd in defense last year but were top-10 most of the year defensively.  UConn 2014 is the outlier

Fair enough - I'll take a battle tested Big 10, veteran Illinois team over a young Duke team any day of the week.

[Uncle Rico]

Fair enough - I'll take a battle tested Big 10, veteran Illinois team over a young Duke team any day of the week.

Like I said, those numbers can change in a months span and Illinois could fall into my parameters.

[panda]

Like I said, those numbers can change in a months span and Illinois could fall into my parameters.

Are those your proprietary parameters?

[Uncle Rico]

Are those your proprietary parameters?

Not without a lawsuit

[panda]

Not without a lawsuit

lol

[PGsHeroes32]

Gonzaga, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Houston and Duke are all legit national title contenders at the moment. I could be wrong but that list seems bigger than most years

Houston will not be winning the national title

[Uncle Rico]

Houston will not be winning the national title

Probably not

[MuggsyB]

Gonzaga, UCLA, Arizona, Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Houston and Duke are all legit national title contenders at the moment. I could be wrong but that list seems bigger than most years

I would definitely add Purdue to that list.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Houston will not be winning the national title

No, but picking them to the Final Four last season won me my bracket!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I would definitely add Purdue to that list.

Purdue's defense is very bad. Well, very bad for a potential final four team. They have the best offense in basketball but defense wins championships and they are lacking it.

[Uncle Rico]

I would definitely add Purdue to that list.

Final 4 good, not title good

[lawdog77]

I use teams in KenPom top 20 offense and defense to gauge real contenders.  Illinois is just outside looking in and that can change in a month.

Baylor finished 22nd in defense last year but were top-10 most of the year defensively.  UConn 2014 is the outlier

Here's a good breakdown:
https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-12-31/mens-college-basketball-national-championship-history-heres-where-recent

[MuggsyB]

Purdue's defense is very bad. Well, very bad for a potential final four team. They have the best offense in basketball but defense wins championships and they are lacking it.

Yes, but they're still dangerous imo. 

[Hards Alumni]

I'm excited to see Gonzaga crap the bed in the tournament.  Pretty soon they have to play some road games!

[MU82]

Final 4 good, not title good

Obviously. They're gonna lose to us!

[JWags85]

I'm excited to see Gonzaga crap the bed in the tournament.  Pretty soon they have to play some road games!

I mean they demolished UCLA on a neutral floor and totally handled TTU on a neutral floor as well but go off!

They had one loss to a VERY good Duke team and another to a Jekyll and Hyde Bama team that beat Gonzaga and Houston in the span of a week, plus beat Baylor and stuck with Auburn.

I think the "Gonzaga's schedule is soft they'll trip against real teams" is a bit played out given their non conference scheduling the last few years and their recent tourney performances.