2020-2021 Men’s Basketball Season

[SFA 93]

SFA vs. Kansas Dec. 29, 2020

[bonarae]

IDK what Harvard's schedule is at this point. Maybe there will be only Ivy League games for us this 2021.

[SFA 93]

The Jayhawks scheduled SFA after Harvard cancelled.

Harvard was originally scheduled to play Kansas Dec. 29 until the Ivy League announced they were canceling fall sports last month.

[bonarae]

There will be Dancing for March but the start date is being decided... xcoffeex

[walliver]

The ACC wants all D-1 programs to participate in March Madness.

It really isn't that big of a deal as conference tournaments assure that almost all conference-affiliated teams have a direct shot to the championship.

[bonarae]

The men's basketball season will start November 25. Practice can start October 14.

Minimum 4 OOC, 13 games overall, 27 games maximum.

No scrimmages or exhibitions AT ALL.

Bad news for the Ivies. Before they can begin, they say goodbye with all the restrictions in place set by the NCAA. xbawlingx

[bonarae]

More on this season:

The OOCs are not required
Only one multi-team event (number of games allowed is reduced)

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2020-09-18/college-basketballs-gavitt-holzman-plan-having-ncaa-tournament-fields-sites

[bonarae]

Harvard says goodbye to playing for this season. Now I have to back a different team for this season, perhaps a SoCon team. xbawlingx

(Sources to be added later as I am on mobile)

Sent from my SM-A715F using Tapatalk

[JALMOND]

Portland State and the University of Portland are the only 2 DI schools who's home state still prohibits them from practicing basketball.

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/10/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-is-officially-adrift-in-college-sports-sea.html

Oregon and Oregon State are cleared and the paperwork from the Vikings and Pilots were a carbon-copy of what the Ducks and Beavers submitted, yet Oregon's (dis)honorable governor Kate Brown refused to grant them the same level of clearance as she did for the Pac-12 schools. Both PSU and UP are instructed to resubmit in 6-12 weeks. Until then, neither the Vikings or the Pilots can hold formal 5 on 5 practices.

[JALMOND]

Portland State and the University of Portland are the only 2 DI schools who's home state still prohibits them from practicing basketball.

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/10/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-is-officially-adrift-in-college-sports-sea.html

Oregon and Oregon State are cleared and the paperwork from the Vikings and Pilots were a carbon-copy of what the Ducks and Beavers submitted, yet Oregon's (dis)honorable governor Kate Brown refused to grant them the same level of clearance as she did for the Pac-12 schools. Both PSU and UP are instructed to resubmit in 6-12 weeks. Until then, neither the Vikings or the Pilots can hold formal 5 on 5 practices.


Per Oregon governor Kate Brown..."That exemption does not extend beyond the Pac-12 at this time."

https://www.kptv.com/news/psu-up-athletics-push-for-waiver-of-restrictions-that-limit-practice-home-basketball-games/article_8a801380-14c9-11eb-8bd0-8712f5da5902.html

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I was scheduled to work NDSU Men's and Women's bball games and wrestling matches this winter. Then we got this email last night. Not sure what's going to happen with the winter sports season but it honestly doesn't look all that promising. The collapse of the ESPN tourney in Florida over testing procedures is concerning.

31816

[JALMOND]

Exemption has been extended to "all Division I schools in Oregon", clearing the way for Portland and Portland State to start practicing.

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/11/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-ends-the-madness-levels-court-for-division-i-basketball-programs.html

[Bisonoline]

I was scheduled to work NDSU Men's and Women's bball games and wrestling matches this winter. Then we got this email last night. Not sure what's going to happen with the winter sports season but it honestly doesn't look all that promising. The collapse of the ESPN tourney in Florida over testing procedures is concerning.

31816

When did you move to Fargo?

[TheValleyRaider]

The Patriot League is back on the schedule...for now

https://patriotleague.org/news/2020/11/9/mens-basketball-patriot-league-plan-on-2021-basketball-season-starting-in-january.aspx

Starting January 2, going to be a bit different with some scheduling restrictions:
- Divided into three regional "mini-conferences" (Colgate is with BU/HC/Army)
- Will play all teams in "mini-conference" 4 times, plus extra to get to 16 total
- Minimal travel (no flights) and overnight stays, so lots of Saturday/Sunday back-to-backs against the same opponents
- No OCC (Army and Navy excepted)
- 8-team tournament in early March
- It does not specifically address NCAA Tournament, but Fall sports are being done in a way to qualify, so I assume basketball is expecting to participate

[apaladin]

Starts 2 weeks from tomorrow and most teams still have not announced their schedules. Crazy year to say the least.

[Laker]

The four D1 Dakota schools to play each other in non-conference action in the Pentagon.

https://www.sanfordpentagon.com/news_article/show/1132104

[bonarae]

Ivies say goodbye to the Madness. xbawlingx


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[SFA 93]

SFA 2020-2021 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
(Pretty weak non-conf. Kansas cancelled, nobody wants to play us, signed Duke)

Nov. 25 - RHODE ISLAND (NEUTRAL)
Nov. 26 - ST. BONAVENTURE (NEUTRAL)
Nov. 27 - TOWSON (NEUTRAL)
Dec. 2 - HARDIN SIMMONS (HOME)
Dec. 5 - ALCORN STATE (HOME)
Dec. 9 - LETOURNEAU (HOME)
Dec. 12 - LOUISIANA-MONROE (AWAY)
Dec. 16 - ARKANSAS STATE (HOME)
Dec. 18 - LSU - SHREVEPORT (HOME)
Dec. 22 - PAUL QUINN (HOME)

[SFA 93]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EmAMHjEXUAADTh8?format=jpg&name=large

[JALMOND]

Portland State's non conference schedule being finalized...

11-25 at Washington
11-27 CS-Fullerton at Seattle
11-28 San Diego at Seattle
12-13 at Washington State
12-17 at U of Portland

[bonarae]

Meanwhile... Ivy seniors this year really want to play and have entered the transfer portal with so little time left... xconfusedx

[SFA 93]

SFA vs. Rhode Island
Nov. 25, 2020 (Wed.) 11:00AM

https://www.hoophall.com/events/bubbleville

[SFA 93]

OK, so Rhode Island bailed on the tournament to go play elsewhere, and now we get San Francisco.

[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

the high majors have COVID-19 cases in their programs, and thus games have to be postponed, opponents changed and in a few cases, games have to be cancelled.

[Laker]

Fans will not be allowed at the Sioux Falls Pentagon's basketball tournament. The teams have changed so many times it is hard to keep track of who will actually show up tomorrow.

https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2020/11/23/fan-wont-be-allowed-at-upcoming-sanford-pentagon-college-basketball-games/

[JALMOND]

Husky Classic involving Washington, CS-Fullerton, Portland State and San Diego has been cancelled due to COVID issues.

https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2020/11/21/21589082/husky-classic-cancelled-uw-washington-huskies-mens-basketball-schedule

Meanwhile, PSU still is not cleared for practicing or playing in the state of Oregon. Ducks and Beavers would like to schedule the Viks but can't at this moment. Huskies would like to reschedule as well.

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/11/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-now-putting-all-college-basketball-programs-in-state-at-disadvantage.html

[SFA 93]

Yep, SFA just turned around and is bringing the team back home, pulling out of Bubbleville Tournament.

[JALMOND]

Husky Classic involving Washington, CS-Fullerton, Portland State and San Diego has been cancelled due to COVID issues.

https://www.uwdawgpound.com/2020/11/21/21589082/husky-classic-cancelled-uw-washington-huskies-mens-basketball-schedule

Meanwhile, PSU still is not cleared for practicing or playing in the state of Oregon. Ducks and Beavers would like to schedule the Viks but can't at this moment. Huskies would like to reschedule as well.

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/john_canzano/2020/11/canzano-oregon-gov-kate-brown-now-putting-all-college-basketball-programs-in-state-at-disadvantage.html


Viks still waiting on approval from the governor. If approved today, Viks will play at Oregon State on Friday and at Oregon on Saturday. Both Ducks and Beavers are putting pressure on the governor to "make it happen".

Strange times, NCAA basketball waiting on government approval.

[bonarae]

First day of basketball action has started but without some high major big guns playing.

ETSU lost big to ACU in the Gulf Coast bubble.

There are sub-D-I losses already as well; USC Upstate lost to Southern Wesleyan (D-II).

[bonarae]

Viks still waiting on approval from the governor. If approved today, Viks will play at Oregon State on Friday and at Oregon on Saturday. Both Ducks and Beavers are putting pressure on the governor to "make it happen".

Strange times, NCAA basketball waiting on government approval.

If it wasn't approved, should the Viks sit out the entire season like the Ivy League and some HBCUs?

[bonarae]

ETSU lost to the Govs in a close game.

[bonarae]

ETSU gets in the win column against MTSU.

[bonarae]

The Spiders upset Kentucky at Rupp for their first-ever win against an AP Top 10 team.

[SFA 93]

After cancelled games, pre-season tournament cancellations, and schedule changes, SFA finally gets to play somebody tonight on ESPN+!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoFxV1sXIAIzrjr?format=jpg&name=small

[SFA 93]

SFA:102 (1-0)
LaTourneau:57 (0-1)
FINAL

KENSMIL 11-14; PTS:23;REB:7;BLK:1;STL:1
KACHELRIES 8-8; PTS:17;AST:4;REB:3;BLK:1;STL:1

SFA 14 steals

[SFA 93]

SFA signs G: Coban Porter 6-5; 190 out of Columbia, Missouri

He is the younger brother of NBA players Michael Porter Jr. and Jontay Porter.

[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

Have you noticed the uptick in the number of sub-D-I opponents on teams' schedules this season? xchinscratchx

[SFA 93]

SFA:86 (2-0) 17th straight win
MCNEESE:76 (1-2)

Gavin Kensmil PTS:23;REB:5;AST:1;STL:2
Cameron Johnson PTS:20;REB:4

[SFA 93]

SFA: 97(3-0)
LSU-A: 79 (7-2)
FINAL

Cameron Johnson PTS:29;REB:5;AST:1;STL:3
Calvin Solomon PTS:14;REB:13;AST:3

[SFA 93]

SFA (3-0) vs. #2 Baylor (3-0)
WED. DEC. 9; 7:00 P.M. (ESPN+)

[bonarae]

After a long break, ETSU finally gets to play, and will open the homecourt against UAB.

[POD Knows]

NDSU finally wins a game after a bunch of close losses, beats South Dakota last night by 7 or so. Should have beat the Jacks the night before but can't close. Gave Kansas a scare, lost by 4 in a game they could have won.

[bonarae]

ETSU lost at home to UAB, 65-61.

[bonarae]

COVID protocols and positive COVID tests have both claimed potential scarring NET ranking-lowering games of high and mid majors... xsmhx

[POD Knows]

https://twitter.com/Swany8/status/1337955175571615747?s=19

Stay classy SDSU. Got your ass handed to you by a team that was 0-5.

Sorry, need to get my game face on for football this spring and thought I would get started by ripping on the Jackrabbit Men's BB team.

[bonarae]

ETSU now has 3 wins in this homestand, one against Gardner-Webb, and the latest 2 against non-D-I teams, D-II Lee and NAIA Columbia International.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple was one the last "major" teams in the country to open their season when we took down NJIT 72-60 on Saturday. We're currently getting smoked by 20+ at #6 Houston.

I'm watching NDSU battle TCU on ESPN2. The Bison are hanging in but can't stop the Horned Frogs to the deficit under 10.

[bonarae]

Alabama and its primadonna and outspoken HC crushed ETSU 85-69


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[POD Knows]

Temple was one the last teams "major" teams in the country to open their season when we took down NJIT 72-60 on Saturday. We're currently getting smoked by 20+ at #6 Houston.

I'm watching NDSU battle TCU on ESPN2. The Bison are hanging in but can't stop the Horned Frogs to the deficit under 10.NDSU down 4 at the half to a pretty good TCU team. Gut tells me this is a close as the game will be but NDSU is hanging in there.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

NDSU down 4 at the half to a pretty good TCU team. Gut tells me this is a close as the game will be but NDSU is hanging in there.

NDSU just took the lead with about 15 minutes left!

Temple lost 76-50 to #6 Houston. Now we wait another 8 days until the next game, SMU in Philly....

[POD Knows]

NDSU just took the lead with about 15 minutes left!

Temple lost 76-50 to #6 Houston. Now we wait another 8 days until the next game, SMU in Philly....NDSU up by 2, 10 minutes left, no way NDSU holds on and wins #BOOKIT

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

NDSU up by 2, 10 minutes left, no way NDSU holds on and wins #BOOKIT

Rocky with an epic dunk!! Holy Crap!! That's gotta be a Top 10, maybe #1 play!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

In a weird twist of fate TCU took control of the game following the Rocky dunk. The Bison had a stretch following that play where they couldn't score despite getting some good looks. TCU meanwhile scored on something like 8/10 possessions. This win was there for the taking for the Bison.

NDSU is much better than their 2-6 record suggests given how tough their schedule has been. The only bad loss is the 22 point setback to Nebraska. I have to think they'll be right in the thick of things in the Summit. They're a very dangerous mid-major team.

[bonarae]

ETSU begins SoCon play with a come-from-behind win against WCU. 86-78 was the score.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple lost to SMU 79-71 yesterday to drop our record to 1-2.

Unfortunately, Temple has more Covid issues within the program which has caused the cancellation of our next two games; Memphis and Tulane. We didn't start the season until 12/19 and now this. If it was up to me I'd say enough is enough and move on to next year.

[bonarae]

The Patriot League will finally tip off conference play tomorrow as the last D-I conference to tip off this season.

However, Loyola Maryland's first four games are postponed due to COVID-19. BU won't tip off until Monday, and Holy Cross the following day. xsighx

[bonarae]

ETSU dominated UNC Greensboro 71-61

[bonarae]

March Madness will entirely be held in Indiana

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-01-04/ncaa-announces-further-details-2021-division-i-mens-basketball-championship

[Laker]

March Madness will entirely be held in Indiana

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-01-04/ncaa-announces-further-details-2021-division-i-mens-basketball-championship

Players will be named "Chip", "Biggie," "Soapy," "Speed" and "Fireball", coached by Rock, and cheered on by Mitzi. Games will be barn burners & the winners will celebrate with "swell" hot fudge sundaes.

[bonarae]

Oops. ETSU has hit a speed bump due to a positive COVID-19 test. xoopsx

As a result, the next two scheduled games are postponed.

Meanwhile, both Boston U and Colgate are 1-1 apiece.

[walliver]

March Madness will entirely be held in Indiana

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-01-04/ncaa-announces-further-details-2021-division-i-mens-basketball-championship
Will the woke NCAA be allowed to use the words INDIANapolis and INDIANa? Or will it be Indigenous Poeple's City in Indigenous People's Land?

[bonarae]

ETSU will finally return to the court on Saturday against Furman.

Meanwhile, how about Drake?!

[bonarae]

A different approach to bracketing will be in place for this season only.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-01-15/new-bracketing-principles-adopted-2021ncaa-tournament

[bonarae]

ETSU lost big to Furman on the road, 78-66.

[bonarae]

ETSU takes care of VMI, 92-81.

[bonarae]

ETSU puts down WCU, 59-48.

[bonarae]

ETSU avenges their earlier loss to Furman by beating them at home, 71-62.

[bonarae]

ETSU beats The Citadel 112-84

[BEAR]

We lost all three of our point guards to injury including a conference leading beast. I thought we were going to have a good year compared to others...but the team just isn't the same.

[bonarae]

ETSU gets topped by Wofford on the road 67-62

[Laker]

Not D1- but D3 won't be having championships this winter.

https://www.d3hoops.com/notables/2021/02/committee-decides-championships-fate

[bonarae]

ETSU beats Mercer 70-64


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[bonarae]

ETSU's home win streak was snapped by Chatty 67-65.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I've basically tuned this season out from a serious rooting interest perspective. All the schools I care about either stink or are middling at best.

Temple is 4-7; with awful losses to Tulane and a Cincinnati team starting walk-ons
DePaul is 3-8; my newest school (well officially in June), they've pretty much sucked since the late 80's....
Lehigh is 3-7; outside of a buzzer beater win against Lafayette there has been very little to cheer about...
Syracuse is 10-6; The Orange still have a shot at a tourney bid but odds are they'll come up short. The end of the Boeheim Era is starting to feel Bobby Bowdenish. Just a whole lot of "meh"....

Notre Dame is 7-10 but I could never get that invested in Irish hoops....

[bonarae]

ETSU lost to Forlorn Four member The Citadel 79-71.

[bonarae]

ETSU beats Wofford 71-49.

[bonarae]

Maine says goodbye...

https://goblackbears.com/news/2021/2/13/mens-basketball-program-chooses-to-conclude-2020-21-season.aspx

[bonarae]

ETSU was edged by Chatty 53-51.

[bonarae]

ETSU lost to Mercer at home 71-64.


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[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

With the majority of the bluebloods out of the Dance running, could 2021 be the mid-majors' and the long-drought-breaking teams' time to shine in March?

[bonarae]

Should ETSU be penalized by the SoCon for kneeling during the anthem?

https://markybillson.medium.com/more-questions-than-answers-concerning-the-etsu-basketball-anthem-protest-7f0fb9c4fbdf?source=social.fb

[bonarae]

ETSU lost to UNC Greensboro in OT, 85-74.

Meanwhile, we lost opportunities earlier in the week due to opponents' positive COVID-19 tests.

[TheValleyRaider]

Patriot League regular season over, now getting set for the tournament.

Navy officially takes home the regular season title based on percentage (one more win in one more game than Colgate). The winners of the three "conferences" are the top three seeds, the rest ordered by percentage.

As of this morning, Colgate is ranked #9 in the nation by Net, between Ohio State and Kansas. Somehow I do not expect this to translate into the #3 seed we so clearly deserve.
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

Higher seeds host games. 1st Round/Quarterfinals on ESPN+, Semis and Championship on CBS Sports

First Round - Wednesday March 3
#7-Boston University vs #10-Lehigh
#8-Holy Cross vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday March 6
#1-Navy vs 8/9
#2-Colgate vs 7/10
#3-Lafayette vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #5-American

Semifinals - Wednesday March 10
1/8/9 vs 4/5
2/7/10 vs 3/6

Championship - Sunday March 14

[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

The "not intended for" tournament will be only 16 teams, all of whom are at-larges and played in the DFW metroplex.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2021-03-01/2021-nit-feature-16-teams-all-rounds-dallas-fort-worth

[TheValleyRaider]

One round in the books, BU advanced by knocking off Lehigh. Loyola also went through, but in their case it was because Holy Cross had to drop out due to COVID positives.

Next round set, ready to go on Saturday, all on ESPN+

Colgate wakes up today still ranked #9 in the nation by NET: https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

First Round - Wednesday March 3
#7-Boston University vs #10-Lehigh
#8-Holy Cross vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday March 6
#1-Navy vs #9-Loyola Maryland
#2-Colgate vs #7-Boston University
#3-Lafayette vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #5-American

Semifinals - Wednesday March 10
1/8/9 vs 4/5
2/7/10 vs 3/6

Championship - Sunday March 14

[bonarae]

The conference tournaments are on!

First autobid will be awarded tonight at 8 PM EST, from the OVC. Belmont and Morehead State will contest it.

[TheValleyRaider]

First autobid will be awarded tonight at 8 PM EST, from the OVC. Belmont and Morehead State will contest it.

Looks like Liberty beat them to it: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31013314/liberty-flames-make-ncaa-tournament-even-playing-atlantic-sun-finale

[TheValleyRaider]

Raiders take care of business, holding off BU to advance to the semifinals again. Nice little bit of revenge for losing the title game last year. Colgate gets Bucknell in the semifinals, first team outside of the North division they'll have played all year.

Army was the other home team to win, as Loyola upset #1 seed Navy, and Bucknell knocked off Lafayette.

First Round - Wednesday March 3
#7-Boston University vs #10-Lehigh
#8-Holy Cross vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday March 6
#1-Navy vs #9-Loyola Maryland
#2-Colgate vs #7-Boston University
#3-Lafayette vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #5-American

Semifinals - Wednesday March 10
#2-Colgate vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Championship - Sunday March 14

[bonarae]

Meanwhile...

Does Army have any chance to play spoiler in the possible final and exit the Forlorn Four?

[TheValleyRaider]

Does Army have any chance to play spoiler in the possible final and exit the Forlorn Four?

Yes. They are Colgate's only loss on the season, a game that was in Hamilton, or would get Bucknell at home. Standings are all weird due to winning percentage plus limited and unbalanced schedules, so I can't really say how much stock to put into the seedings.

Much as I would be happy to see Army make the tournament someday, not against the 'Gate.

[bonarae]

ETSU beats Chatty 63-53 in the SoCon tournament first round.

Morehead State wins the OVC tournament and steals an autobid. Game wasn't even close xsmhx

[bonarae]

ETSU lost to UNC Greensboro 77-65, ending the Bucs' season.

The Forlorn Four only has one member that could exit their group right now, and it is Army.

[dewey]

NDSU holds on to beat UMKC 69-65. Bison advance to the Summit League semifinals.

Dewey

[POD Knows]

Wow, really good game between ORU and SDSU, ORU wins with a tip in with no time on the clock 90-88. ORU 14 of 14 from the line and 14 of 26 from 3 point land. They are a good shooting team.

[dewey]

Great surge by NDSU to now take a 74-69 lead with 228 to go.

Sam Giesel for NDSU has been really good down the stretch.

Dewey

[dewey]

NDSU defeats South Dakota 79-75. NDSU will be playing for their 3rs straight Summit League tournament title tomorrow night at 800.

Go Bison!

Dewey

[Gil Dobie]

NDSU defeats South Dakota 79-75. NDSU will be playing for their 3rs straight Summit League tournament title tomorrow night at 800.

Go Bison!

Dewey

ESPN 2 tonight

We NDSU went to DI, I would have been happy with making the big dance once every 10 years or so, 3 in a row would be awesome.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

NDSU has a really good basketball program! Last year some of you Bison fans were down on them and I told you to keep the faith. Sure enough, they won the Summit Tournament. I'm surprised they don't receive more love given their presence in March and the fact they've proven to be a tough out.

I honestly can't think of too many football/basketball combos that are as good as or better than NDSU's run over the last decade when you factor in simply winning/success. Baylor? Cincinnati? Michigan? Villanova? Oregon? NDSU is right there....

[Gil Dobie]

Mike Wilbon picks NDSU tonight. Don't know if this is good, lucky or the kiss of death.

[dewey]

ESPN 2 tonight

We NDSU went to DI, I would have been happy with making the big dance once every 10 years or so, 3 in a row would be awesome.

No kidding. The chance to win 3 straight Summit League Tournament championships is awesome.

One of these years I am taking the kids to Sioux Falls for a few games. Would have last year if not for COVID.

Go Bison!

Dewey

[dewey]

That pick and pop by Abmas and Obanor is killing NDSU. The help defense isn't rotating fast enough.

Bad start for NDSU.

27-15 733 to go 1st half.

Dewey

[dewey]

Well the bad start got worse.

37-16 400 to go 1st half.

Dewey

[dewey]

Wow! 45-20 Oral Roberts is destroying NDSU in the 1st half.

ORU doing everything right offensively and doing great defensively. Plus NDSU couldn't hit the water from a boat. NDSU shooting a miserable 21.9% in the 1st half.

UGH!

Dewey

[Gil Dobie]

Kind of similar to what the Bison did to the Hawks last year.

[dewey]

Kind of similar to what the Bison did to the Hawks last year.

Terrible game offensively and defensively.

Oral Roberts is pretty dang good. Abmas and Obanor are tough on that pick and pop.

Dewey

[dewey]

Good 2nd half start by the Bison. Much better on both sides of the ball.

48-28 with about 15+ to go.

Need to get it down to 10-15 with 10 minutes to go.

Dewey

[dewey]

58-47 803 to go 2nd half. Great defensive effort by NDSU.

Come on Bison!

No matter what happens the effort in the 2nd half has been impressive.

Dewey

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Bison making one helluva run! I was watching Gonzaga mount their comeback against BYU and basically forgot about the NDSU game...

[dewey]

68-62 with NDSU shooting the and 1. 3+ to go 2nd half.

I am PUMPED!

GO BISON!

Dewey

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Ugh, NDSU fights all the way back but comes up just short. That was a great defensive play by ORU. NDSU needed to be a little bit more patient and get the ball in Kruser's (sp??) hands.

Gonzaga was able to complete comeback and ended up winning by 10.

That was one crazy hour of hoops!

[Gil Dobie]

Great comeback by the Bison, so close.

[dewey]

Ugh, NDSU fights all the way back but comes up just short. That was a great defensive play by ORU. NDSU needed to be a little bit more patient and get the ball in Kruser's (sp??) hands.

Gonzaga was able to complete comeback and ended up winning by 10.

That was one crazy hour of hoops!

I was not a fan of that last possession by NDSU. I liked the pick and roll with Griesel and Kreuser but Griesel forcing that shot was terrible.

One hell of a comeback though.

Almost one of the greatest comebacks ever.

Dewey

[dewey]

I didn't understand the phantom call on NDSU against Abmas on 1 end and then a no call against Griesel.

Still an incredible 2nd half effort.

Dewey

[TheValleyRaider]

Colgate eviscerated Bucknell, 105-75, in the semifinal. A conference record for points scored in the tournament, and a fourth straight final for the Raiders.

Loyola upset Army in the other semifinal, a #9 seed making a run to the final, shades of Holy Cross in 2016.

The final is noon Sunday in Hamilton, televised by CBS Sports

First Round - Wednesday March 3
#7-Boston University vs #10-Lehigh
#8-Holy Cross vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday March 6
#1-Navy vs #9-Loyola Maryland
#2-Colgate vs #7-Boston University
#3-Lafayette vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #5-American

Semifinals - Wednesday March 10
#2-Colgate vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Championship - Sunday March 14
#2-Colgate vs #9-Loyola Maryland

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Duke is out of the ACC Tournament due to a positive Covid test within their program. Not a Duke fan but I do feel bad for them. This also opens up the real question of how in the world will the NCAA Tournament proceed in a legit/fair manner?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

AAC Tournament gets underway today

#8 South Florida vs #9 Temple
#7 Tulsa vs #10 Tulane
#6 Central Florida vs #11 East Carolina

Top 5 seeds are on hiatus until tomorrow
1. Wichita State
2. Houston
3. Memphis
#4 SMU vs #5 Cincinnati

DePaul upset Providence last night in the opening round of the BE Tourney. The Blue Demons play UConn tonight.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Colgate eviscerated Bucknell, 105-75, in the semifinal. A conference record for points scored in the tournament, and a fourth straight final for the Raiders.

Loyola upset Army in the other semifinal, a #9 seed making a run to the final, shades of Holy Cross in 2016.

The final is noon Sunday in Hamilton, televised by CBS Sports

First Round - Wednesday March 3
#7-Boston University vs #10-Lehigh
#8-Holy Cross vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Quarterfinals - Saturday March 6
#1-Navy vs #9-Loyola Maryland
#2-Colgate vs #7-Boston University
#3-Lafayette vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #5-American

Semifinals - Wednesday March 10
#2-Colgate vs #6-Bucknell
#4-Army vs #9-Loyola Maryland

Championship - Sunday March 14
#2-Colgate vs #9-Loyola Maryland

I'll will be rooting hard for the Raiders! They have the potential to advance so long as the seeding/draw is reasonable.

[TheValleyRaider]

I'll will be rooting hard for the Raiders! They have the potential to advance so long as the seeding/draw is reasonable.

I'm excited about this team's potential, especially if they can get up to the 13-seed line. I see lots of projections at 14, which is a bit tougher. No respect for our Top-10 NET rating ;)

Loyola first, though. Raiders lost at this stage a year ago, the day before everything shut down.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I'm excited about this team's potential, especially if they can get up to the 13-seed line. I see lots of projections at 14, which is a bit tougher. No respect for our Top-10 NET rating ;)

Loyola first, though. Raiders lost at this stage a year ago, the day before everything shut down.

SVP did a little blurb on Colgate's #8 NET Ranking last night!

Realistically, a 13 or 14 seed would be fair given the PL's overall quality and the lack of OOC games. Teams make the second week from that seed range "quite a bit"...

As long as the Raiders come out focused they should take care of Loyola. Last year's loss to Boston U. should only help to fuel the fire.

[Professor Chaos]

Minnesota and Northwestern played one of the ugliest games in recent memory last night:

https://twitter.com/StatsBySTATS/status/1369835128202162179

Combined they shot:

36-107 from the floor (33.6%)
10-38 from three (26.3%)
15-36 from the FT line (41.7%)


And the also combined for 31 turnovers to 19 assists along with 34 fouls.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/matchup?gameId=401296273

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Temple's season mercifully comes to an end with a 73-71 loss to USF. We played awful to start the second half, got way behind then tried a furious late rally that came up short. Temple men's basketball has some serious introspection to do. McKie's tenure has gotten off to a rocky start and recruiting remains mid-majorish. It's been 20 years since our last Sweet 16 appearance and 9 years (March 5, 2012) since we spent a week in the AP Top 25. We suffer from the same disease that plagues Georgetown, DePaul, Indiana and St. John's. The nuances are just different. The Owls finish with a 5-11 record.

Syracuse lost on a buzzer beater to Virginia! I was far more engaged in this one relative to the Temple game. The Orange have played really well the last 2-3 weeks. They pass the "eye test " imo. In fact, if they get in they have the talent/zone to advance.

Villanova lost to Georgetown which did bring a slight smile to my face. Granted, their demise is injury related. I'm interested to see what type of seed the Wildcats receive. As presently constructed a 5 or 6?

[TheValleyRaider]

Temple's season mercifully comes to an end with a 73-71 loss to USF. We played awful to start the second half, got way behind then tried a furious late rally that came up short. Temple men's basketball has some serious introspection to do. McKie's tenure has gotten off to a rocky start and recruiting remains mid-majorish. It's been 20 years since our last Sweet 16 appearance and 9 years (March 5, 2012) since we spent a week in the AP Top 25. We suffer from the same disease that plagues Georgetown, DePaul, Indiana and St. John's. The nuances are just different. The Owls finish with a 5-11 record.

Syracuse lost on a buzzer beater to Virginia! I was far more engaged in this one relative to the Temple game. The Orange have played really well the last 2-3 weeks. They pass the "eye test " imo. In fact, if they get in they have the talent/zone to advance.

Syracuse probably gets in, but they have lived on the bubble for at least a decade now. I realize the ACC is a different environment than the old Big East, but it's fair to wonder how much more Boeheim has left. Syracuse can, and arguably should, be a better program than this.

How secure is McKie at Temple? Obviously results aren't good, but that doesn't mean the administration isn't satisfied for other reasons. I am of course concerned that Langel would be a top choice for the Owls, a bit surprised his name hasn't come up more often for other searches, at least in the northeast.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Syracuse probably gets in, but they have lived on the bubble for at least a decade now. I realize the ACC is a different environment than the old Big East, but it's fair to wonder how much more Boeheim has left. Syracuse can, and arguably should, be a better program than this.

How secure is McKie at Temple? Obviously results aren't good, but that doesn't mean the administration isn't satisfied for other reasons. I am of course concerned that Langel would be a top choice for the Owls, a bit surprised his name hasn't come up more often for other searches, at least in the northeast.

It seems like Boeheim will retire upon Buddy's graduation. The program has no doubt slipped in recent years but can still compete at an elite level. The talent level remains good enough to produce a Top 25 team; the consistent energy is not. I'm interested to see what direction Syracuse goes once Jimmy B does hang it up. Will McNamara get a serious look? Would Brad Stevens be interested if he and the Celtics part ways? Syracuse can't afford to have those Dome seats empty in the winter.

McKie definitely gets one more year before he'll face legitimate pressure. As long as Fran Dunphy is the acting AD there won't be any significant changes. Once the AD spot is permanently filled then the ball could get rolling in another direction. Langel will no doubt be a hot name moving forward. Ultimately, I think his resume and profile will steer him into a certain environment. Davidson and the A10 is a spicy combo once McKillop retires. It also wouldn't shock me if he decides to stay in Hamilton for the foreseeable future.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

MEAC top seed North Carolina A&T was forced to pull out of the conference tournament. Sucks xsmhx

North Carolina A&T pulls out of MEAC tournament after positive COVID-19 test (espn.com) (https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/31047430/north-carolina-pulls-meac-tournament-positive-covid-19-test)

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

DePaul got smoked by UConn 94-60. The Blue Demons run of program futility continues. I'm interested to see if Dave Leitao comes back for yet another go around. There's some young talent on the roster but at this point it's two decades of insanity.

UConn appears to be peaking at the right time. They're a darkhorse Final 4 team. Bouknight is the perfect type of March guard.

[bonarae]

Hartford, since the days of Vin Baker, has their best squad and is going to the Dance for the very first time.

Norfolk State is returning to the Dance for the first time since 2012, when they upset Mizzou in the first round.

[Laker]

Hartford, since the days of Vin Baker, has their best squad and is going to the Dance for the very first time.

Norfolk State is returning to the Dance for the first time since 2012, when they upset Mizzou in the first round.

One of my big interests every year is seeing which teams on the men's and women's sides make it for the first time. I was so happy for Northwestern when they finally broke through. They were the only Power 5 school that had never gone. The WAC women have a situation- Cal Baptist beat Grand Canyon, but aren't eligible yet. I read that Utah Valley might get the auto bid now. Not sure how that works.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Georgetown destroys Creighton 73-48 to claim the Big East Title! Congrats to Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas! I was rooting like hell for 'em!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The Patriot League Championship, Colgate vs Loyola (MD), is currently on CBS Sportsnetwork.

[TheValleyRaider]

Colgate is a basketball school now! :D

Raiders win the Patriot League for the second time in three years! Back to the Dance!

[Laker]

Men's tourney bids by state.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EwjkqRdVkAMc0KZ?format=jpg&name=small

[Chalupa Batman]

Heard on the radio today this is the first time since 1965 that Kentucky, Indiana, and Louisville all failed to make the field. That may change though as Louisville is one of the first 4 teams out and may end up being a replacement entry if another team has to drop out due to Covid.


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

DePaul got smoked by UConn 94-60. The Blue Demons run of program futility continues. I'm interested to see if Dave Leitao comes back for yet another go around. There's some young talent on the roster but at this point it's two decades of insanity.

UConn appears to be peaking at the right time. They're a darkhorse Final 4 team. Bouknight is the perfect type of March guard.

Thankfully Dave Leitao was sent packing today! Woohoo!!

[bonarae]

The "Not Intended For" Tournament kicks off today with Richmond playing Toledo and St. Mary's Gaels playing the Hilltoppers.

[NHwildEcat]

16 seasons...no NCAA bid, no conference tournament title game appearance! What the hell is going on at UNH? This is more than just a coach that needs to be replaced. The AD needs to go as well. People are getting too comfortable in Durham.

[bonarae]

Richmond advances to the quarterfinals of the NIT... Davidson will play tomorrow against NC State.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Drake earns their first tourney win in 50 years (to the day) with a thrilling 53-52 come from behind victory over Wichita State. Game definitely felt like an old school MVC slugfest...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Norfolk State survives a furious App State comeback to advance with a 54-53 win!

Texas Southern held off Mount Saint Mary's 60-52.

FCS'ers 2-0 tonight, HBCU's 2-0 tonight.....

[bonarae]

Meanwhile, down in Frisco, Davidson lost to NC State.

FCS in the Dance tomorrow:
Colgate vs. Arkansas
Morehead State vs. West Virginia
Villanova vs. Winthrop

[bonarae]

Saturday in the Dance:

Georgetown vs. Colorado
EWU vs. Kansas
Texas Southern vs. Michigan
Drake vs. Trojan Horses
Norfolk State vs. Gonzaga
ACU vs. Texas

NIT:
Dayton vs. Memphis

[TheValleyRaider]

Go 'Gate!

[Chalupa Batman]

Go 'Gate!

Was looking really good there for a while, rough finish to the half though. Would’ve been nice to weather the run a little better and have a 7 point lead or so. Hoping they can adjust to the pressure in the 2nd half.


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

That 3rd foul on Burns was atrocious! Refs need to recognize a blatant flop.

Colgate needs to handle the 'Hogs press. That was difference down the stretch. If the Raiders can get this back to a half court game they'll be able to run better offense.

[Chalupa Batman]

March Madness returning with a vengeance. Florida-VT headed to OT after Gators miss 2 FT’s either of which would’ve given them a 4 point lead with 7 seconds left. VT comes down and hits a game tying 3.


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The word of the day for Colgate is "drought". They simply couldn't put the ball in the basket on a consistent basis against a really good team.

[Chalupa Batman]

The word of the day for Colgate is "drought". They simply couldn't put the ball in the basket on a consistent basis against a really good team.

They’ve been getting plenty of looks, just a tough shooting day. Too many turnovers too


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

They’ve been getting plenty of looks, just a tough shooting day. Too many turnovers too


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I honestly expected more from Colgate given their experience and Burns ability to be a true difference maker. Arkansas ends up winning going away, 85-68...

[Chalupa Batman]

I honestly expected more from Colgate given their experience and Burns ability to be a true difference maker. Arkansas ends up winning going away, 85-68...

I actually thought they did pretty well. They were at a disadvantage inside which means you have to hit jump shots which is tough to do for 40 minutes. Reduces any margin for error you may have.


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[TheValleyRaider]

Tough shooting day from some guys (0 from Burns in the 1st half, Cummings missed several threes), awful at the FT line. Also some really bad turnovers, even those not generated by the pressure. Credit Arkansas for generating turnovers and getting buckets off them.

Would an underdog-loving crowd have made a difference during those stretches when Colgate was playing well, or at least helped to stem the runs? Maybe, but that's the world we're in, plus it's not the reason Colgate lost.

This is still a golden age of Colgate basketball. Plenty coming back, but Burns graduates, so they might fall back to the PL pack a bit. Should still be one of the favorites for a title next season.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The Summit League strikes again!

Oral Roberts stuns #2 seed Ohio State in OT!!

[Laker]

The Summit League strikes again!

Oral Roberts stuns #2 seed Ohio State in OT!!

Great win by ORU. Summit should be enjoying the extra money.

Loyola Chicago is giving Georgia Tech fits so far.

[Chalupa Batman]

Great win by ORU. Summit should be enjoying the extra money.

Loyola Chicago is giving Georgia Tech fits so far.

Nice win for Loyola. They’re going to have their hands full against Illinois.

[Laker]

Nice win for Loyola. They’re going to have their hands full against Illinois.

I don't think that they can handle the Illini even if they park Sister Jean in the middle of the lane.

[Chalupa Batman]

I don't think that they can handle the Illini even if they park Sister Jean in the middle of the lane.

Her ability to stay out of foul trouble will be the key.

[bonarae]

CBI starts on Monday and only features teams from the Eastern time zone.

Bryant and Stetson are the featured FCS-playing teams.

[POD Knows]

Has Ohio State ever been good at MBB, nice loss dickweeds.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

whelp, it's March and Syracuse made an unfamiliar foe look completely lost! The Orange dominated San Diego State on their way to a 78-62 win (wasn't that close). The Orange will likely face old Big East nemesis West Virginia in the second round. That figures to be one of the most hyped games this weekend.

[bonarae]

Only one of the three FCS who played today advances to the round of 32, and it's Villanova.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

So far "Bad Georgetown" has shown up in the tournament. Colorado has controlled the action for most of the first half; up by 10-14....

[Chalupa Batman]

So far "Bad Georgetown" has shown up in the tournament. Colorado has controlled the action for most of the first half; up by 10-14....

Doesn't help the Colorado shot the lights out in the first half. Something like 10-16 on 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes.

EWU got out to a 9-0 start against Kansas. Jayhawks lead 20-17 halfway through the 1st half.

[Chalupa Batman]

EWU up by 8 over Kansas at the half 46-38.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Kansas found another gear with about 10 minutes left to seize control of the game. Up 10ish with 4 to go....

[Chalupa Batman]

Oregon-VCU game is off and Ducks advance due to Covid protocols within the VCU program

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Oregon-VCU game is off and Ducks advance due to Covid protocols within the VCU program

And just like that the legitimacy of this tournament has already been compromised...ugh. This sucks.....

[Chalupa Batman]

And just like that the legitimacy of this tournament has already been compromised...ugh. This sucks.....

Just wait until one of the legit title contenders has to forfeit a game. Or someone wins their Elite 8 game or something because their opponent has Covid.

Hope we don't see anything like that.

[bonarae]

Don’t you like tennis style walkovers? xchinscratchx

That is what the NCAA is trying to do to the Dance.


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[Chalupa Batman]

14 seed Abilene Christian up 4 against 3 seed Texas with 1:19 left


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[Chalupa Batman]

ACU now down 1 after Texas hits a pair or FT’s and a 3. Texas fouls ACU on a outback attempt with 1.2 seconds left. ACU to the line after a timeout.

Edit: Wildcats hit both free throws and knock off the Longhorns 53-52. Every seed except a 16 won a game this round.

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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Abilene Christian takes down Texas!! wow! talk about some instate bragging rights for life!!!

- - - Updated - - -


ACU now down 1 after Texas hits a pair or FT’s and a 3. Texas fouls ACU on a outback attempt with 1.2 seconds left. ACU to the line after a timeout.


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That dude who made those free throws was locked in!!

[Chalupa Batman]

Abilene Christian takes down Texas!! wow! talk about some instate bragging rights for life!!!

- - - Updated - - -



That dude who made those free throws was locked in!!

ACU coaches wife (at least I think that’s who she was) had a few meme-worthy shots of her at the end of the game.

Huge stones to knock those in. Didn’t sound like he was the best free throw shooter but he was clutch!


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[Professor Chaos]

What a win for ACU... takes down the big state school... first tournament win in school history in just their infancy as a D1 program... almost blew it down the stretch before just eeking it out... further destroying my awful bracket but I still love it. This is why the opening weekend of March Madness is my favorite sports weekend of the year!

[Chalupa Batman]

Loyola takes down Illinois in a convincing 71-58 win. I would have never guessed that the Ramblers would be able to take it to Illinois like that. There wasn't a single minute of the game that the Illini looked like the better team.

Congrats to Loyola, they are in a nice position for another run to the Final Four. They play the winner of Oregon State/Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16 and then likely either Houston or West Virginia if they get to the Elite 8.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The 'Cuse survive 75-72 against WVU! The Orange controlled most of the game but had to hold on for dear life the last minute to advance to the Sweet 16. Boeheim better work on some late game inbound plays! The Orange's recent runs as a double-digit seed reminds of Temple under John Chaney. Just need the chance to unleash the defense in a 1 and done setting...

Huge congrats to Loyola! They were the better team for 40 minutes! Illinois looked awesome down the stretch. I know the Ramblers were a legit Top 20 type team but that's still a big time upset; especially the 13 point margin of victory.

[Chalupa Batman]

Oral Roberts up 2 over Florida with under 2 minutes to go and they have the ball!!!

Edit: ORU now up 3 with 16 seconds left, Florida to inbound after timeout.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Oral Roberts wins! Second ever 15 seed in the Sweet 16!

The Summit League has become a feisty hoops conference!

[Chalupa Batman]

Oral Roberts wins! Second ever 15 seed in the Sweet 16!

The Summit League has become a feisty hoops conference!

Next up for them is Arkansas. Should be similar to the Razorbacks matchup with Colgate, hopefully ORU can continue their hot shooting.

I'm bummed that Rutgers blew a 10 point lead late to Houston, that would've blown that region wide open for Loyola. I still like their chances but that would've been huge.

[Professor Chaos]

ORU has now won 4 straight win or go home games by razor thin margins. They're living the charmed life.... hopefully they can keep it going! They played Arkansas back in December and led by 10 at the half and that game was tied with 8 minutes left so no reason why they can't keep it going.

No matter what they've made some nice money for the Summit League. Go go ORU!

[Chalupa Batman]

Villanova to the Sweet 16 after a 23 point win over North Texas. Without their PG Gillespie the last couple games they struggled but they seem to have righted the ship with 2 easy wins, albeit against 12 & 13 seeded teams. Baylor will be a whole different animal for them.


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[Chalupa Batman]

Next up for them is Arkansas. Should be similar to the Razorbacks matchup with Colgate, hopefully ORU can continue their hot shooting.

I'm bummed that Rutgers blew a 10 point lead late to Houston, that would've blown that region wide open for Loyola. I still like their chances but that would've been huge.

#12 Oregon State takes down #4 Oklahoma State and now I'm really bummed that Rutgers couldn't hold on against Houston. That would've made #9 Loyola the highest remaining seed in the Midwest Region along with #10 Rutgers, #11 Syracuse and #12 Oregon State and would've probably been the favorite, or a co-favorite with Syracuse. Instead Loyola plays Oregon State and Syracuse plays #2 Houston. Still very doable for the Ramblers.

[bonarae]

Stetson wins while Bryant loses big.

Meanwhile, was Iowa overrated for much of the season?

[Chalupa Batman]

Stetson wins while Bryant loses big.

Meanwhile, was Iowa overrated for much of the season?

The whole B1G 10 was probably overrated. They had 4 of the top 8 seeds and Michigan is the only one of those teams left, playing LSU later tonight. Maryland is the only other team in the conference still left and they are playing tonight also.

[bonarae]

Stetson and Richmond both lost this week.

[Chalupa Batman]

Wow did the Big 10 and Big 12 have terrible performances the first weekend of the tourney. Between the 2 conferences they had 5 of the top 8 seeds, 9 of the top 12, and 10 of the top 16. Of those 10 only 2 (1 seeds Michigan & Baylor) advanced to the Sweet 16. Of the 8 teams that didn't make it out of the weekend, 6 lost to teams seeded at least 7 spots lower, including 5 to double digit seeded teams. The Summit League has just as many Sweet 16 representatives as either of those conferences do.

On the flip side the Pac 12 had an outstanding weekend. They won all of their first round games (including UCLA beating Michigan St. in the first four & Oregon advancing via no contest after VCU couldn't play because of Covid) and then going 4-1 in the second round, in spite of having no teams seeded higher than #5.

Only FCS school with a team still in the dance is Villanova, they take on #1 Baylor tomorrow. Mid-major teams (always my rooting interest) left in the tourney are Gonzaga, Loyola, Oral Roberts, and Houston. Gonzaga is a heavy favorite to come out of the West Region, while Loyola and Houston are favored in their games to setup a matchup between them for the Midwest Region championship. Only once since 1983 have more than 1 mid-major team made the Final Four, that was 2011 when Butler and VCU met in the semi's.

[Professor Chaos]

Wow did the Big 10 and Big 12 have terrible performances the first weekend of the tourney. Between the 2 conferences they had 5 of the top 8 seeds, 9 of the top 12, and 10 of the top 16. Of those 10 only 2 (1 seeds Michigan & Baylor) advanced to the Sweet 16. Of the 8 teams that didn't make it out of the weekend, 6 lost to teams seeded at least 7 spots lower, including 5 to double digit seeded teams. The Summit League has just as many Sweet 16 representatives as either of those conferences do.

On the flip side the Pac 12 had an outstanding weekend. They won all of their first round games (including UCLA beating Michigan St. in the first four & Oregon advancing via no contest after VCU couldn't play because of Covid) and then going 4-1 in the second round, in spite of having no teams seeded higher than #5.

Only FCS school with a team still in the dance is Villanova, they take on #1 Baylor tomorrow. Mid-major teams (always my rooting interest) left in the tourney are Gonzaga, Loyola, Oral Roberts, and Houston. Gonzaga is a heavy favorite to come out of the West Region, while Loyola and Houston are favored in their games to setup a matchup between them for the Midwest Region championship. Only once since 1983 have more than 1 mid-major team made the Final Four, that was 2011 when Butler and VCU met in the semi's.
I still remember that tournament final that year between Butler and Duke. Gordon Hayward was inches away from hitting the most spectacular shot (given the circumstances) in NCAA tournament history when little Butler, who was still in the mid-major Horizon League at that point, almost beat mighty Duke to win a national championship but Hayward's halfcourt heave bounced off the backboard and just barely spun out of the rim.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai_bOHGovPg

EDIT: Dammit, I guess Butler lost to UConn in the 2011 title game and it was the 2010 title game where they lost to Duke... still that was oh-so-close to the "shot heard 'round the world".

[Chalupa Batman]

I still remember that tournament final that year between Butler and Duke. Gordon Hayward was inches away from hitting the most spectacular shot (given the circumstances) in NCAA tournament history when little Butler, who was still in the mid-major Horizon League at that point, almost beat mighty Duke to win a national championship but Hayward's halfcourt heave bounced off the backboard and just barely spun out of the rim.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai_bOHGovPg

What a game that was. The entire game was a grind, which made it so intense over the whole 40 minutes. The biggest lead either team had the entire game was something like 5 points, and being right in Butler's backyard in Indianapolis made for such an amazing atmosphere. Duke survived that game, though I doubt their players would ever admit that. Those Bulldogs were one of those teams that even if you beat them, the other team would think "Wow, we don't want anything to do with them ever again."

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Roy Williams is retiring! One of the sacred jobs in North American sports is open! Who will it be?!?!?

[Chalupa Batman]

Roy Williams is retiring! One of the sacred jobs in North American sports is open! Who will it be?!?!?

My money is on Wes Miller.


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

My money is on Wes Miller.


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Miller seems to be a hot name if they keep it in the family! Chris Beard signing with Texas (his alma mater) today ended that speculation rather quickly.

Hubert Davis has to be high on the list imo if they want to stay inhouse. I've been saying for about 5 years now; anyone can rightfully convince Billy Donovan to return to college will hit a home run. Stevens has had at least legit success in the NBA. Donovan just wallows in obscurity....

I don't see anyway Wright and Few leave their kingdoms at this point for foreign soil.

[Chalupa Batman]

Miller seems to be a hot name if they keep it in the family! Chris Beard signing with Texas (his alma mater) today ended that speculation rather quickly.

Hubert Davis has to be high on the list imo if they want to stay inhouse. I've been saying for about 5 years now; anyone can rightfully convince Billy Donovan to return to college will hit a home run. Stevens has had at least legit success in the NBA. Donovan just wallows in obscurity....

I don't see anyway Wright and Few leave their kingdoms at this point for foreign soil.

My guess is Miller and Hubert Davis will be the front runners, though I’m not sure if that’s something Davis would want. He had no inkling to get into coaching until they did a College Game Day in Chapel Hill and Roy Williams talked him into joining his staff. Maybe he doesn’t want to be HC.

Couple other names I’ve heard are Jerry Stackhouse, but he has underwhelmed at Vandy so not sure what the UNC interest would be. The other one is Rasheed Wallace, that’s really out of left field and I’d be surprised if he was the guy.


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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Gonzaga 93 UCLA 90 Final/OT

Absolutely all-time great Final 4 game! The level of play was as high as it can be in college basketball. There's been several historic title games but not too many great Final 4 games. This is up there with Duke vs UNLV in 1991 in terms of Final 4 greatness. Just so damn good! Neither team blinked for 45 minutes....

Baylor rolled Houston 78-59

In a rarity, we get the two best teams on Monday night Gonzaga vs Baylor. Probably the two best title game teams since UNC vs Illinois in 2005....

[Professor Chaos]

Gonzaga 93 UCLA 90 Final/OT

Absolutely all-time great Final 4 game! The level of play was as high as it can be in college basketball. There's been several historic title games but not too many great Final 4 games. This is up there with Duke vs UNLV in 1991 in terms of Final 4 greatness. Just so damn good! Neither team blinked for 45 minutes....

Baylor rolled Houston 78-59

In a rarity, we get the two best teams on Monday night Gonzaga vs Baylor. Probably the two best title game teams since UNC vs Illinois in 2005....
The only two college basketball games in my memory I'd put over it in terms of combing the quality of the game and the stakes are Kansas/Memphis title game in '08 and UNC/Nova title game in '16 (which is my personal #1).

The amazing thing was is, despite 183 points scored, I didn't think the defense was bad. It was just some fantastic play by the offense on both sides. That dunk block and unbelievable half court bounce pass for the dunk from Suggs is quite possibly the greatest back-to-back plays from a single player in a matter of a few seconds in basketball history given the stage it was made on. That pass especially was other-worldly.

[Chalupa Batman]

Anybody else get annoyed as **** the way Bill Raftery says every team is playing "man-a-man" defense at the beginning of games? It used to be kinda cool but now it sounds like he's sneezing while simultaneously failing to hold in a fart.

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[Professor Chaos]

Anybody else get annoyed as **** the way Bill Raftery says every team is playing "man-a-man" defense at the beginning of games? It used to be kinda cool but now it sounds like he's sneezing while simultaneously failing to hold in a fart.

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I love Raftery so doesn't really bother me... I did get worried listening to the broadcast last night that at some point his classic "A little lingerie on the deck!" will be deemed inappropriate by someone or other at some point.

[Laker]

Anybody else get annoyed as **** the way Bill Raftery says every team is playing "man-a-man" defense at the beginning of games? It used to be kinda cool but now it sounds like he's sneezing while simultaneously failing to hold in a fart.

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I pointed that out to the basketball players in my class- how he would say man2man before a team even had possession. One time a team set up in a zone- he quickly change it to zone- with man2man principles.

[Chalupa Batman]

I love Raftery so doesn't really bother me... I did get worried listening to the broadcast last night that at some point his classic "A little lingerie on the deck!" will be deemed inappropriate by someone or other at some point.I really like Raftery, it's just that call at the beginning that annoys me. If you've never listened to him before its hard to understand what he's saying. It's almost become a parody of itself.

Loved his call after the Suggs shot, "there's onions, then there's MAJOR onions!"

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[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I really like Raftery, it's just that call at the beginning that annoys me. If you've never listened to him before its hard to understand what he's saying. It's almost become a parody of itself.

Loved his call after the Suggs shot, "there's onions, then there's MAJOR onions!"

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Raff dropped an "inhale and enjoy" before OT! LOL.....the man is a classic but I do sometimes worry he'll say something that will offend the wrong person/group of people. He's always talking about drinking...lol

[Professor Chaos]

Raff dropped an "inhale and enjoy" before OT! LOL.....the man is a classic but I do sometimes worry he'll say something that will offend the wrong person/group of people. He's always talking about drinking...lol
I missed that but that's awesome. Raftery is a national treasure... him and Nantz are as good as it gets for a play-by-play/color combo in any sport IMO. And Billy Packer irritated the **** out of me so I'd like to think of myself as fairly unbiased although maybe I just was so happy to listen to anyone other than Packer do the color for these big college basketball games.

Now if only they could add this guy into the mix:
https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ShinyIdenticalJackrabbit-size_restricted.gif

I could listen Bill Walton and Bill Raftery call a knitting contest and be entertained.

[Chalupa Batman]

I pointed that out to the basketball players in my class- how he would say man2man before a team even had possession. One time a team set up in a zone- he quickly change it to zone- with man2man principles.

I've heard him do that a few times with Syracuse games. "Jim & Grant, Syracuse goes (long pause) 2-3 zone, with man-a-man princples."

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Baylor came out and hit Gonzaga with several huge shots, took a 19 point lead but the Zags found their legs the last 5 minutes of the half....

Bears 47-37 at the break

Baylor was pretty awesome the first 15 minutes. If they can keep it up they'll likely win. The Zags got their offense going and was able to get the Bears in some foul trouble. This should be a good second half...

[Chalupa Batman]

Baylor came out and hit Gonzaga with several huge shots, took a 19 point lead but the Zags found their legs the last 5 minutes of the half....

Bears 47-37 at the break

Baylor was pretty awesome the first 15 minutes. If they can keep it up they'll likely win. The Zags got their offense going and was able to get the Bears in some foul trouble. This should be a good second half...

Coming into the game I thought Baylor was the better team but damn that was an impressive performance for the first 15 minutes or so. Equally impressive of the Zags to cut it to 10 at the half. Baylor in a lot of foul trouble that will probably help Gonzaga’s comeback attempt. Expect another push by Gonzaga.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Coming into the game I thought Baylor was the better team but damn that was an impressive performance for the first 15 minutes or so. Equally impressive of the Zags to cut it to 10 at the half. Baylor in a lot of foul trouble that will probably help Gonzaga’s comeback attempt. Expect another push by Gonzaga.

Baylor leads by 11 at the under 16. Gonzaga had two golden opportunities to cut it to single digits but didn't convert. All of Baylor's bigs are in foul trouble. If this is a 6 or 7 or point game at the under 8 timeout advantage probably Gonzaga.

[Chalupa Batman]

Baylor leads by 11 at the under 16. Gonzaga had two golden opportunities to cut it to single digits but didn't convert. All of Baylor's bigs are in foul trouble. If this is a 6 or 7 or point game at the under 8 timeout advantage probably Gonzaga.

Gonzaga’s getting mostly what they want on offense now. Can Baylor continue hitting 3’s to keep the Zags at bay?

Timmie picking up his 4th really hurts.

[Laker]

I kept waiting for the Zags to come back but Baylor is just too good. Disappointing for a championship game to be so one sided.

[Chalupa Batman]

I kept waiting for the Zags to come back but Baylor is just too good. Disappointing for a championship game to be so one sided.

Not really a fluke either. Baylor is just so hard to defend, you’re only hope is they have an off shooting night. 7 game series Baylor probably wins in 5.

Congrats to Scott Drew and the Bears, remarkable what he’s done there with what he inherited after the Dave Bliss fiasco.

[Professor Chaos]

Not really a fluke either. Baylor is just so hard to defend, you’re only hope is they have an off shooting night. 7 game series Baylor probably wins in 5.

Congrats to Scott Drew and the Bears, remarkable what he’s done there with what he inherited after the Dave Bliss fiasco.
I don't know about that Baylor winning 5 out of 7. They played great but Gonzaga played pretty poorly too. They missed a lot of good looks from 3, missed a lot of FTs, and turned it over a ton which is all out of character for them although Baylor had a lot to do with that last one. They also got destroyed on the glass and that was due as much to getting out-efforted by Baylor as it was being outsized. I think this was a case where UCLA didn't beat Gonzaga on Saturday night but they beat them tonight.... seems odd that a team could be so flat going for the first undefeated college basketball season in 45 years but that's exactly what happened.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I kept waiting for the Zags to come back but Baylor is just too good. Disappointing for a championship game to be so one sided.

Baylor was just nasty! Without question of the top teams during my life. That was a team of talented men who could compete with the best teams from the 90s and 00's imo. Their defense and 3 point shooting tonight were fantastic. Their overall effort and just will is as good as I've seen. Reminds of those old Laettner/Duke teams or 1999 UConn. They never got out hustled.

I do feel bad for Gonzaga. This felt like their year to break through. Few keeps getting great recruits but how many chances are you going to get? To be fair, it did take Coach K, Boeheim, Tarkanian and Roy awhile to break through. But the slope will always be a little slipperier in the WCC.

[Chalupa Batman]

I don't know about that Baylor winning 5 out of 7. They played great but Gonzaga played pretty poorly too. They missed a lot of good looks from 3, missed a lot of FTs, and turned it over a ton which is all out of character for them although Baylor had a lot to do with that last one. I think this was a case where UCLA didn't beat Gonzaga on Saturday night but they beat them tonight.... seems odd that a team could be so flat going for the first undefeated college basketball season in 45 years but that's exactly what happened.

Maybe they were flat, but I think it was more Baylor made them look that way. It’s impossible to defend them unless you have at least 4 outstanding individual defenders and even then it’s no easy task.

Gonzaga was 15-21 (71%) from the line compared to 73% on the season so it’s not like free throws killed them, but missing 4 of 5 when they really needed them stood out so it looks worse. 14 turnovers compared to 12 on the season isn’t all that out of line either. Just 1 more made 3 in this game would put them at 35%, just under the 37% they shot on the season. They didn’t play to their peak offensively but they weren’t really bad either. Overall they shot 51% from the field.

Gonzaga got killed on the boards, and I don’t know that would improve much if they got to play Baylor again. Coupled with not being able to defend them, it’s just a terrible matchup for them.

Gonzaga can certainly play better on offense and out score Baylor if they played again. I guess I could see them getting a 2nd win in a 7 game series, they just aren’t good enough defensively and on the boards to get any more than that IMO.

[Chalupa Batman]

Baylor was just nasty! Without question of the top teams during my life. That was a team of talented men who could compete with the best teams from the 90s and 00's imo. Their defense and 3 point shooting tonight were fantastic. Their overall effort and just will is as good as I've seen. Reminds of those old Laettner/Duke teams or 1999 UConn. They never got out hustled.

I do feel bad for Gonzaga. This felt like their year to break through. Few keeps getting great recruits but how many chances are you going to get? To be fair, it did take Coach K, Boeheim, Tarkanian and Roy awhile to break through. But the slope will always be a little slipperier in the WCC.

Baylor this year reminds of Villanova’s run in 2018. Just too efficient and too relentless for whoever is in front of them. Imagine those two teams playing. What a fun hypothetical matchup that would be, I think they would be pretty evenly matched.

[JALMOND]

Just a note. The last NCAA men's basketball champion that did not also play DI football (FBS or FCS) was Marquette in 1977. Marquette discontinued football in 1960.

Gonzaga discontinued football in 1941.

[Professor Chaos]

Saw an interesting factoid regarding Gonzaga that surprised me: in the last 20 years they have won exactly one game against teams seeded higher than #3 in the NCAA tournament (Utah in 2016).


I found that kind of shocking considering all the tournament success they've had (2 championship games, 2 Final 4s, 4 Elite 8s, 9 Sweet 16s) in that timeframe. Does make you wonder whether having 12-14 gimmes amongst 2-4 games against potential tournament caliber teams every January and February is a hindrance to them?

[NHwildEcat]

Saw an interesting factoid regarding Gonzaga that surprised me: in the last 20 years they have won exactly one game against teams seeded higher than #3 in the NCAA tournament (Utah in 2016).


I found that kind of shocking considering all the tournament success they've had (2 championship games, 2 Final 4s, 4 Elite 8s, 9 Sweet 16s) in that timeframe. Does make you wonder whether having 12-14 gimmes amongst 2-4 games against potential tournament caliber teams every January and February is a hindrance to them?

I really wish schools could set their conferences differently for given sports. Or designate a single sport where they play in a conference that would further benefit them. Like, it would be nice for Gonzaga to play in the Pac-12, but just in basketball. No doubt it would improve their program and give them more tests throughout the year.

[TheValleyRaider]

Saw an interesting factoid regarding Gonzaga that surprised me: in the last 20 years they have won exactly one game against teams seeded higher than #3 in the NCAA tournament (Utah in 2016).


I found that kind of shocking considering all the tournament success they've had (2 championship games, 2 Final 4s, 4 Elite 8s, 9 Sweet 16s) in that timeframe. Does make you wonder whether having 12-14 gimmes amongst 2-4 games against potential tournament caliber teams every January and February is a hindrance to them?

I don't know if that's quite fair. The Zags have played in that same conference for years, plus performing well OOC. Just this season, for example, they played Kansas (got a #3 seed this year), West Virginia (#3), Iowa (#2), and Virginia (#4) and won all those games. How many games are they playing against #1 or #2 seeds in the tournament to even judge? How do other schools who are consistently top seeds fair in similar matchups?

As for Monday, Baylor won by getting the early lead. They were too deep and solid defensively to let the Zags back in. Add in their early struggles from 3 (they started 1 for 10!), and the hole was just too big. How different is the game if they don't spot Baylor a 9-point lead? Baylor is really good, and a worthy champion, but I don't want to overrate a single result to somehow invalidate what was clearly an excellent team.

Not that you are doing that, PC, but it still feels like backward projecting a single event.

[Professor Chaos]

I don't know if that's quite fair. The Zags have played in that same conference for years, plus performing well OOC. Just this season, for example, they played Kansas (got a #3 seed this year), West Virginia (#3), Iowa (#2), and Virginia (#4) and won all those games. How many games are they playing against #1 or #2 seeds in the tournament to even judge? How do other schools who are consistently top seeds fair in similar matchups?

As for Monday, Baylor won by getting the early lead. They were too deep and solid defensively to let the Zags back in. Add in their early struggles from 3 (they started 1 for 10!), and the hole was just too big. How different is the game if they don't spot Baylor a 9-point lead? Baylor is really good, and a worthy champion, but I don't want to overrate a single result to somehow invalidate what was clearly an excellent team.

Not that you are doing that, PC, but it still feels like backward projecting a single event.
The thing is those elite teams they play OOC spend their January and February going through the meat grinder schedules in Big Ten/Big 12/ACC/etc and I think it's a fair point to wonder if those teams don't improve more over the course from November/December to tournament time than Gonzaga typically does.

I'm sure win percentages are low for all teams going against teams seeded 2 or higher but both times the Zags have made the title game they haven't beaten a team seeded higher than #4 (among those 10 tournament wins). You do bring up some good points though.

[Laker]

Hartford Hawks are dropping from D1 to D3. Ironically, they made the men's basketball tournament for the first time this year.

https://www.wtnh.com/sports/university-of-hartford-board-of-regents-vote-to-transition-from-division-i-to-division-iii-athletics-model/?utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral

[NHwildEcat]

Hartford Hawks are dropping from D1 to D3. Ironically, they made the men's basketball tournament for the first time this year.

https://www.wtnh.com/sports/university-of-hartford-board-of-regents-vote-to-transition-from-division-i-to-division-iii-athletics-model/?utm_source=t.co&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral

It is unfortunate for their athletes. I have long felt they were better suited in DII - based on their profile. DIII seems like a reach. But DI - America East was not a good fit. Only private school with the 8/9 lowest budget was never a recipe for success.