2023-2024 College Basketball Thread

[MU82]

The Athletic has quite an article about Kentucky's new in-season addition, a 7-2 Croatian sensation who apparently is part Dirk, part Wemby and part Kukoc.

https://theathletic.com/5216285/2024/01/20/kentucky-zvonimir-ivisic-debut-georgia/?source=pulsenewsletter&campaign=8750829

A little snippet:

John Calipari already had the most potent offense in America, and now the Wildcats add a 7-foot-2 center who protects the rim, passes with aplomb and splashes 3-pointers? Oh, come on. Kentucky ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring, No. 3 in turnover percentage, No. 5 in offensive efficiency, No. 7 in effective field-goal percentage and No. 9 in 3-point percentage — even before Zvonimir Ivisic jumped onto that moving train midseason and did his best Dirk Nowitzki impression Saturday in a 105-96 victory.

Throw tempered expectations out the window after this. In a surreal scene, Ivisic checked in with 16 minutes to go in the first half against Georgia and had a block, assist, steal and another assist in his first two and a half minutes of college basketball. The second assist sent the Rupp Arena crowd into convulsions of delirium as he zipped a behind-the-back pass to Antonio Reeves for a 3 that capped an 11-0 UK run with Ivisic on the court. But he was just getting started.

Ivisic became an instant Croatian sensation when he checked back in with 8:20 to go in the half and swished a 3, blocked another shot, snared a rebound, splashed a long 2-pointer, then another 3, then another. Four straight jumpers, nothing but net. He scored 11 points in less than three minutes. Ivisic blew the game open for Kentucky — the Cats were plus-20 in his eight first-half minutes — and the crowd nearly blew the roof off the building.

Is the rest of college basketball doomed this season? Or could they still lose to UNC-Wilmington even with this freak on the team?

[MuggsyB]

I guess Shannon is playing for Illinois. 

Weird. 

[PGsHeroes32]

FAU might be the most egregiously overrated team of the last like decade

Even if they come back to win this game. They are in a absolute dog fight or losing to garbage every single game.

[CountryRoads]

What an embarrassing week for Memphis losing to South Florida and Tulane this week.

[JWags85]

What an embarrassing week for Memphis losing to South Florida and Tulane this week.

It's pretty incredible how consistently terrible Penny is as a coach. They scored 28 points in the first 8 min of the second half.  Then Hunter made a few adjustments that naturally Penny had no answer for and they scored 17 the rest of the way and got completely handled the last 5 min of the game.  They made 2 actual baskets the last 8 min of the game. 

And then, down 2 with a full 15 seconds left, Penny chooses a minimal motion set with a single high screen for a contested 25 footer despite having superior inside talent and his team being ice cold from deep for 10 min.   They are a dream tourney matchup for anyone

[MuggsyB]

What an embarrassing week for Memphis losing to South Florida and Tulane this week.

Many thanks to the mighty Green Wave.

[WhiteTrash]

It's pretty incredible how consistently terrible Penny is as a coach. They scored 28 points in the first 8 min of the second half.  Then Hunter made a few adjustments that naturally Penny had no answer for and they scored 17 the rest of the way and got completely handled the last 5 min of the game.  They made 2 actual baskets the last 8 min of the game. 

And then, down 2 with a full 15 seconds left, Penny chooses a minimal motion set with a single high screen for a contested 25 footer despite having superior inside talent and his team being ice cold from deep for 10 min.   They are a dream tourney matchup for anyone

Average age of Memphis - 23.2; Average age of San Antonio Spurs - 23.5.

[nyg]

It's pretty incredible how consistently terrible Penny is as a coach. They scored 28 points in the first 8 min of the second half.  Then Hunter made a few adjustments that naturally Penny had no answer for and they scored 17 the rest of the way and got completely handled the last 5 min of the game.  They made 2 actual baskets the last 8 min of the game. 

And then, down 2 with a full 15 seconds left, Penny chooses a minimal motion set with a single high screen for a contested 25 footer despite having superior inside talent and his team being ice cold from deep for 10 min.   They are a dream tourney matchup for anyone

Like MU yesterday, in the last 6:20, they scored two points. Both free throws by Kolek.  Not one field goal made.   MU got the win, Memphis got the loss. 

[Viper]

Average age of Memphis - 23.2; Average age of San Antonio Spurs - 23.5.

avg age of the Wisconsin Badgers, 38.

[MU82]

Like MU yesterday, in the last 6:20, they scored two points. Both free throws by Kolek.  Not one field goal made.   MU got the win, Memphis got the loss.

I don't follow Memphis well enough to know, but Wags seems to be saying this kind of thing is a pattern for Penny's team.

[panda]

It's pretty incredible how consistently terrible Penny is as a coach. They scored 28 points in the first 8 min of the second half.  Then Hunter made a few adjustments that naturally Penny had no answer for and they scored 17 the rest of the way and got completely handled the last 5 min of the game.  They made 2 actual baskets the last 8 min of the game. 

And then, down 2 with a full 15 seconds left, Penny chooses a minimal motion set with a single high screen for a contested 25 footer despite having superior inside talent and his team being ice cold from deep for 10 min.   They are a dream tourney matchup for anyone

Marquette is way way better, but I think both teams fall into my category of, could win or lose a second round tournament game by 20.

[JWags85]

I don't follow Memphis well enough to know, but Wags seems to be saying this kind of thing is a pattern for Penny's team.

Yep.  Memphis is a glorified AAU team.  Lot of talent, fun to watch when they are shooting well, but absolutely miserable at times cause Penny easily gets out coached they are are TERRIBLE end of game in close match ups.

MU was REALLY frustrating yesterday.  But it happening against a greatly improved SJ team led by an absolute legend is different than the frequent failings by Memphis against very inferior teams

[CreightonWarrior]

I guess Shannon is playing for Illinois. 

Weird.

Returning to a thunderous applause no less. This could age very very poorly.

[brewcity77]

What an embarrassing week for Memphis losing to South Florida and Tulane this week.

Felt to me like water finding its level. They rose to #10 in large part because they got lucky to win two games in overtime, two games on buzzer-beaters, and generally winning by less impressive margins than their ranking would indicate. They were never as good as their ranking appeared and it caught up with them.

[GoFastAndWin]

MU '82 thanks for posting the Athletic article on the debut of the 7' 2" Croatian. Maybe on the way to our NCAA Championship, Marquette and Kentucky can play a game that supplants the Laettner shot game with our Warriors winning 264-263. 🤣

[pbiflyer]

FAU might be the most egregiously overrated team of the last like decade

Even if they come back to win this game. They are in a absolute dog fight or losing to garbage every single game.

FAU has completed an extraordinary achievement in college basketball. Hitting for the CBB cycle, if you will.

Quad 1 Win
Quad 2 Win
Quad 3 Win
Quad 4 Win
Home Win
Road Win
Neutral Court Win

Quad 1 Loss
Quad 2 Loss
Quad 3 Loss
Quad 4 Loss
Home Loss
Road Loss
Neutral Court Loss

https://x.com/madeformarch/status/1749285241628344357?s=20

[tower912]

Minnesota is so stationary on offense that it looks like Wisconsin is playing zone.

[Uncle Rico]

Minnesota is so stationary on offense that it looks like Wisconsin is playing zone.

At least they have the Vikings

[MuggsyB]

Garcia isn't exactly lighting it up for the Gophers. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Cant call myself a Gopher fan but as the local squad I obviously watch em and would like to see them do well if it doesnt impact MU

So that said, its lovely watching Klesmit nail big shots again.

[Oldgym]

#6 Kentucky currently getting trucked by South Carolina in Columbia,  5 to play.

[MuggsyB]

It would be nice if Minnesota could make a freaking free throw. 

[tower912]

Fts no matta in Minnesota.

[Uncle Rico]

Fts no matta in Minnesota.

Sad

[ATL MU Warrior]

Texas up by 11 just under 5 to play at #11 Oklahoma