2025 NCAA Tourney Thread

[jesmu84]

Who would have thought that picking the 4 #1 seeds to make the final four this year was a good strategy? 

And picking 3 #2 seeds with the weakest 2 seed losing early so the 3 seed makes it for the other 4 teams  - brilliance.

Did you fill out a bracket? Did you make those same picks?

[PointWarrior]

Did you fill out a bracket? Did you make those same picks?

Well, I actually did.   And so did my brother and about 30M others.

[WhiteTrash]

I believe the Big East still holds the record with 3 FF teams in one year. I thought the SEC might tie it this year.

[Billy Hoyle]

There were only 11 games where a lower seed beat a higher seed, the fewest since seeding began.

Drake, Arkansas, Colorado State, McNeese State and New Mexico were the only double digit seeds to win a game and only 10 seed Arkansas won two games. The other lower seeds to win were two 9 seeds, two 6 seeds, and a 5. And games haven't been competitive outside of a few that came down to the final possession (UM/UCSD, BYU/Madison, Maryland/CSU, Houston/Purdue) and a few others in doubt inside the final two minutes

[Viper]

Izzo is March

he won't be April

[jesmu84]

Well, I actually did.   And so did my brother and about 30M others.

30 million people have perfect elite eight and final four picks?

Source?

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, I'm glad we have Shaka's March record of achievement instead

When Shaka starts covering up rape, I'll get concerned

[Billy Hoyle]

When Shaka starts covering up rape, I'll get concerned

Buzz lost in the second round

[Uncle Rico]

Buzz lost in the second round

Thank goodness

[Norm]

From the Auburn Undercover website, in their write-up of the win over MSU:

"Just like the Sweet 16 against Michigan, getting "three stops" was a constant message from the team whenever Auburn went to the bench.

"Whenever they went on a little run, we just emphasized, 'We've gotta get three stops. We've gotta get three stops,'" Chad Baker-Mazara said. "If we stopped them offensively, we would be good. Everybody stuck to that game plan."

Baker-Mazara had some ice on his shooting wrist in the locker room and said he was OK."


Where have we heard the importance of three defensive stops in a row before??

[MUbiz]

Pretty much every college basketball program puts a emphasis on 3 stops in a row. Other programs call them gaps, Tukey's etc.

There have been articles written on the subject:  https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/836753/2019/02/28/kills-gaps-turkeys-by-any-name-getting-three-straight-stops-is-a-secret-to-success/

[MuggsyB]

My observation of Houston is that Sampson figured out how to teach suffocating defense and sustain that model.  And if you look at the teams in the E8, all of them are extremely physical on the defensive end.  We need to increase the physicality of our roster with a badass 3 and D guy, and a power interior player. 

We're not going to recruit like a a blueblood, but if we can find some toughness inside, I think the Houston model is possible for MU.  I've also noticed that teams with physicality across the board, can get away with that style without being called for 50 fouls a game.  We must, must, must, find a power player inside.  I'm sick of getting pushed around.  My goal if I was Shaka would be to end that immediately. 

[PointWarrior]

From the Auburn Undercover website, in their write-up of the win over MSU:

"Just like the Sweet 16 against Michigan, getting "three stops" was a constant message from the team whenever Auburn went to the bench.

"Whenever they went on a little run, we just emphasized, 'We've gotta get three stops. We've gotta get three stops,'" Chad Baker-Mazara said. "If we stopped them offensively, we would be good. Everybody stuck to that game plan."

Baker-Mazara had some ice on his shooting wrist in the locker room and said he was OK."


Where have we heard the importance of three defensive stops in a row before??

Hard to believe any team other than Marquette believes three defense stops in a row is a good strategy. 

[MU82]

Hard to believe any team other than Marquette believes three defense stops in a row is a good strategy. 

Ya gotta admit that hearing the crowd chant, "KILL! KILL! KILL!" is pretty cool.

[Billy Hoyle]

My observation of Houston is that Sampson figured out how to teach suffocating defense and sustain that model.  And if you look at the teams in the E8, all of them are extremely physical on the defensive end.  We need to increase the physicality of our roster with a badass 3 and D guy, and a power interior player. 

We're not going to recruit like a a blueblood, but if we can find some toughness inside, I think the Houston model is possible for MU.  I've also noticed that teams with physicality across the board, can get away with that style without being called for 50 fouls a game.  We must, must, must, find a power player inside.  I'm sick of getting pushed around.  My goal if I was Shaka would be to end that immediately. 

Houston has transfers so no, that model is not possible for MU.

[MUbiz]

Ed Cooley and Georgetown call 3 stops in a row a "cherry".

[Scoop Snoop]

Houston has transfers so no, that model is not possible for MU.

The "My goal if I was Shaka" at the end is all anyone needs to read. The post is filled with his usual rantings.

[willie warrior]

My observation of Houston is that Sampson figured out how to teach suffocating defense and sustain that model.  And if you look at the teams in the E8, all of them are extremely physical on the defensive end.  We need to increase the physicality of our roster with a badass 3 and D guy, and a power interior player. 

We're not going to recruit like a a blueblood, but if we can find some toughness inside, I think the Houston model is possible for MU.  I've also noticed that teams with physicality across the board, can get away with that style without being called for 50 fouls a game.  We must, must, must, find a power player inside.  I'm sick of getting pushed around.  My goal if I was Shaka would be to end that immediately. 

The "My goal if I was Shaka" at the end is all anyone needs to read. The post is filled with his usual rantings.

Shaka doent seem like he wants bangers

[cheebs09]

Ed Cooley and Georgetown call 3 stops in a row a "cherry".

Please, it is Cooley & Company around these parts.

[Scoop Snoop]

Please, it is Cooley & Company around these parts.

And English Enterprises at Providence. After road wins celebrated with milkshakes, Marquette is Shaka Shakes.

Cue the COLES to point out that MU did not win as many road games as they should have.

[Norm]

Hard to believe any team other than Marquette believes three defense stops in a row is a good strategy. 

Yeah, not sure why I even bothered sharing the quotes with this board.

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah, not sure why I even bothered sharing the quotes with this board.

I appreciate it.  Some people think our coaches are stupid and hate to find out they're not

[MuggsyB]

Who would you compare Flagg to as far as NBA potential? 

[wadesworld]

Who would you compare Flagg to as far as NBA potential? 

His ceiling is Kevin Durant. I don't think he'll be that. Somewhere between Franz Wagner and KD probably.

[The Sultan]

I was going to say ceiling of Tatum?