NCAA Tournament Teams We Hate

[Lehigh Football Nation]

http://www.slate.com/id/2186858/

Haters of Duke, UGA, and Arizona will love this article in slate, and one FCS team (Cornell) and one ex-FCS team (WKU) made the list.

Unsurprisingly, it was American's inclusion that made me perk up my ears:


American University, Patriot League, No. 15 in East Region
At opposite ends of the 20th century, bookending those happy days when the school acted as a supposed front for the CIA, American University found itself thoroughly beset by noxious gasbags. I refer, in the first instance, to the containers of Lewisite and mustard gas buried at the fringe of campus after World War I. On the tail end, I refer, of course, to John Feinstein.

There are many fine reasons to root for American, out of the Patriot League, not least because this will be the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. But I can't, in good conscience, cheer for any team that inspires Feinstein, America's Favorite Sportswriter™, to inflict his prose on the reading public, especially the sort found in The Last Amateurs, Feinstein's 5,897th book. The book is nominally an account of the Patriot League's 1999-2000 basketball season; the real subject, however, is Feinstein himself, who is sad that he can longer watch major college basketball—with its "win-at-all costs mentality" and "pampered players"—and pretend he's 8 years old.

Now, it is not American's fault that Feinstein fashioned the school and its fellow conference members into some ridiculous last redoubt of athletic purity, full of intelligent young men playing for "glory and honor" (as opposed to the kids in Conference USA, who, as we all know, play for hookers and cocaine). But the die has been cast. American University: Basketball that's good for you. Cheering for the Eagles now is like cheering for Brussels sprouts and condoms.—Tommy Craggs

The problem with this analysis? I'd check John Calipari's expense report at Memphis... :D

[dbackjon]

Duke!

[dbackjon]

Did I mention Duke?

[dbackjon]

North Carolina and Kansas - the axis of evil stealing coaches.

[TheValleyRaider]

http://www.slate.com/id/2186858/

Haters of Duke, UGA, and Arizona will love this article in slate, and one FCS team (Cornell) and one ex-FCS team (WKU) made the list.

Unsurprisingly, it was American's inclusion that made me perk up my ears:



The problem with this analysis? I'd check John Calipari's expense report at Memphis... :D

Actually, the real problem with it is that American wasn't in the League when Feinstein wrote the book xdohx xwhistlex :p

Oh, and I'm okay with hating Cornell :D

[Appaholic]

I fokking HATE dook...

[Ivytalk]

I hate UNC and Duke (more), but the reasons for hating poor Cornell were pretty lame. The real reason to hate Cornell is that Keith Olbermann went there.xcoolx

[wkuhillhound]

Hating WKU come on. xrolleyesx

[Go...gate]

Actually, the real problem with it is that American wasn't in the League when Feinstein wrote the book xdohx xwhistlex :p

Oh, and I'm okay with hating Cornell :D

AU made it into the last chapter. No mention was made that a few years after the book was published, AU basketball's graduation rate was 18% xeekx xpissedx xnutsx , notwithstanding its status as a strong school academically.

[bandl]

Where's UVA?

Oh wait...are NIT teams off-limits here?

[Marcus Garvey]

The problem with this analysis?

The problem? That's easy.... It's "The Slate." I suppose if they call Feinstein a "noxious gasbag," they're probably right. I immagine they can smell their own kind. xrolleyesx

[TheValleyRaider]

AU made it into the last chapter. No mention was made that a few years after the book was published, AU basketball's graduation rate was 18% xeekx xpissedx xnutsx , notwithstanding its status as a strong school academically.

Wasn't that number actually determined to be from several years ago? Like, right after they had joined the League?

I gotta think they're at higher numbers now xchinscratchx

[Go...gate]

Wasn't that number actually determined to be from several years ago? Like, right after they had joined the League?

I gotta think they're at higher numbers now xchinscratchx

I strongly believe this is true, ValleyRaider, but the numbers which have had play in the media seem to be the old ones. I understood that AU had improved significantly in this area per their agreement when they joined the PL. AU has a pretty high (and improving) academic profile, and this is the worst kind of contrast with that improvement.

[Peems]

It seemed like it was all fun and games...sorta. It seemed like they got disgruntled fans who then would harp on anything. I thought Arizona one was pretty classless and a low blow. I don't think anyone can really lambast Lute Olsen and not come away as a hater/dick

[dbackjon]

It seemed like it was all fun and games...sorta. It seemed like they got disgruntled fans who then would harp on anything. I thought Arizona one was pretty classless and a low blow. I don't think anyone can really lambast Lute Olsen and not come away as a hater/dick

It is very easy to hate Lute - and he deserves it.

NAU used to be guaranteed a home game with Arizona and Arizona State every year - we played one away, one home each year.

Lute whined and complained about it, and threatened to leave Arizona unless the policy was changed. The Board of Regents (mostly UofA jock sniffers) gave in. Neither has played in Flagstaff since.

Lute was very insulting to NAU/Flagstaff during the whole episode.

Lute weasels out of return trips worse than Montana football...

He is a dirty recruiter as well.

[Franks Tanks]

Wasn't that number actually determined to be from several years ago? Like, right after they had joined the League?

I gotta think they're at higher numbers now xchinscratchx

ESPN had American at 18%. I havent found any others stats on the isse.

[DuckDuckGriz]

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clap


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[dbackjon]

Who can hate Coach Ben Howland and his Bruins???

[Peems]

It is very easy to hate Lute - and he deserves it.

NAU used to be guaranteed a home game with Arizona and Arizona State every year - we played one away, one home each year.

Lute whined and complained about it, and threatened to leave Arizona unless the policy was changed. The Board of Regents (mostly UofA jock sniffers) gave in. Neither has played in Flagstaff since.

Lute was very insulting to NAU/Flagstaff during the whole episode.

Lute weasels out of return trips worse than Montana football...

He is a dirty recruiter as well.

Like I said mostly disgruntled fans...:D

[Eyes of Old Main]

I am immediately suspect of this list since it doesn't include North Carolina. Their virulent arrogance astounds me.

I'm also think Gonzaga should be on this list.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I don't know why I seem to be the only person in America that hates John Calipari to the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro, but apparently I am since that yellow, lying, crook's team is not on the list either.

[dbackjon]

Has anyone mentioned Duke?

[Marcus Garvey]

Who can hate Coach Ben Howland and his Bruins???

Pitt fans?

[Marcus Garvey]

Has anyone mentioned Duke?

No point really. That one is understood.

[mrklean]

DUKE!!!

[uni88]

I don't know why I seem to be the only person in America that hates John Calipari to the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro, but apparently I am since that yellow, lying, crook's team is not on the list either.

I'm with you on this one!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Michigan State right now...

[dbackjon]

Pitt fans?

Why would they hate him - he built their program up from mediocrity to being in contention year after year in the Big East and ranked nationally, left a great assistant behind to continue the tradition.

[GeauxLions94]

I don't know why I seem to be the only person in America that hates John Calipari to the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro, but apparently I am since that yellow, lying, crook's team is not on the list either.

My No. 1 - Duke for obvious reasons
My No. 1A - Memphis, Calipari is a complete douchebag and his team couldn't spell Memphis if it was spotted six letters and given the clue for the final letter, "it's the organ you see with."

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

My No. 1 - Duke for obvious reasons
My No. 1A - Memphis, Calipari is a complete douchebag and his team couldn't spell Memphis if it was spotted six letters and given the clue for the final letter, "it's the organ you see with."

I despise Calipari as well. He's a complete crook. I wish John Chaney really did kick his a*s in 1994.

The Memphis bball team in class is probably like the old celebrity Jeopardy SNL skits.

[Hoyadestroya85]

Georgetown... only big east team i'm not rooting for

[TheValleyRaider]

Wasn't that number actually determined to be from several years ago? Like, right after they had joined the League?

I gotta think they're at higher numbers now xchinscratchx


I strongly believe this is true, ValleyRaider, but the numbers which have had play in the media seem to be the old ones. I understood that AU had improved significantly in this area per their agreement when they joined the PL. AU has a pretty high (and improving) academic profile, and this is the worst kind of contrast with that improvement.


ESPN had American at 18%. I havent found any others stats on the isse.

I found the thread where we talked about AU's grad numbers being higher than what is published. Hopefully the argument about the numbers being old is true, and the Eagles have improved xpeacex

http://www.anygivensaturday.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30358

[Thunderstruck84]

I figured I'd bring this thread back up because I have a new team to hate on now that Duke just isn't as fun to hate anymore.

xsplatxThe UCLA Bruinsxsplatx

First there was the regular season:

1) The terrible call against Stanford that allowed Collison to send the game to overtime and UCLA to win

2) The Cal game: First the no call when Ryan Anderson got hammered on that inbounds pass, then the missed call of giving the ball to UCLA when is was out of bounds off of them. Then there's Shipp's ridiculous circus shot to win it... even if it was legal, which I'm still not sure it was, the fact that he shot it and made it is as lucky as it is infuriating.

and now this:

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1470/532763dq4.jpg
Guess what? No foul called on this one.

This was when Texas A&M was down 2 as time was running out. Funny how the stripes have no problem making that terrible call in the Stanford game to allow UCLA to put a game into overtime yet they manage to swallow their whistles when the same situation happens is this game with UCLA on defense, how coincidental.

..... it's too bad UCLA and Duke won't end up playing, I think the referees' heads would've exploded trying to figure out who they were supposed to give calls to.

[EDIT] In case the first pic wasn't convincing enough
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8564/37063269jt6.jpg

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The way UCLA is winning is starting to get rediculous. I've never seen a team bailed out so many times like the Bruins have by the refs.

[wkuhillhound]

I figured I'd bring this thread back up because I have a new team to hate on now that Duke just isn't as fun to hate anymore.

xsplatxThe UCLA Bruinsxsplatx

First there was the regular season:

1) The terrible call against Stanford that allowed Collison to send the game to overtime and UCLA to win

2) The Cal game: First the no call when Ryan Anderson got hammered on that inbounds pass, then the missed call of giving the ball to UCLA when is was out of bounds off of them. Then there's Shipp's ridiculous circus shot to win it... even if it was legal, which I'm still not sure it was, the fact that he shot it and made it is as lucky as it is infuriating.

and now this:

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1470/532763dq4.jpg
Guess what? No foul called on this one.

This was when Texas A&M was down 2 as time was running out. Funny how the stripes have no problem making that terrible call in the Stanford game to allow UCLA to put a game into overtime yet they manage to swallow their whistles when the same situation happens is this game with UCLA on defense, how coincidental.

..... it's too bad UCLA and Duke won't end up playing, I think the referees' heads would've exploded trying to figure out who they were supposed to give calls to.

[EDIT] In case the first pic wasn't convincing enough
http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/8564/37063269jt6.jpg

WKU may have some magic left. Anything is possible. xnodx UCLA's luck has got to run out sometime and maybe the Toppers is the team to do it.

[Thunderstruck84]

WKU may have some magic left. Anything is possible. xnodx UCLA's luck has got to run out sometime and maybe the Toppers is the team to do it.
I think the vast majority of the nation is with you and the Hilltoppers in this game, UCLA has a very high unlikability factor by everyone outside of the people wearing true blue and gold or black and white stripes.

[wkuhillhound]

My worry would be if UCLA dominates early. I don't know if the Toppers have the manpower necessary to close the gap.

[dbackjon]

No one should hate ex-NAU head coach Ben Howland, and his exciting brand of basketball! :D

[Thunderstruck84]

No one should hate ex-NAU head coach Ben Howland, and his exciting brand of basketball! :D
I don't necessarily hate Howland, I hate UCLA and their referee induced luck over the last few weeks (and I don't like Kevin Love for some wierd reason that I can't figure out). But UCLA's and Howland's brand of basketball is anything but exciting, he is and always will be a defensive coach. Don't get me wrong, he's a fantastic coach who's deserves [most of] the success he's achieved, they're just not that enthralling to watch.

If you want to watch an exciting brand of basketball watch Kansas, 80+ ppg, 20 apg, 50% FG, and 40% 3PT as a team.

[bonarae]

The teams I don't like are mostly eliminated by now, but I don't really hate UCLA.

In case you don't know, WKU has a Filipino player in Japeth Aguilar, but he doesn't really play that much. I looked at WKU's game notes, and they seem to play 2 F's and 3 G's. Note their roster, they only have 2 centers, and 1 of them is injured. hillhound, can you explain this?

[wkuhillhound]

The teams I don't like are mostly eliminated by now, but I don't really hate UCLA.

In case you don't know, WKU has a Filipino player in Japeth Aguilar, but he doesn't really play that much. I looked at WKU's game notes, and they seem to play 2 F's and 3 G's. Note their roster, they only have 2 centers, and 1 of them is injured. hillhound, can you explain this?

Japeth Aguilar is the 1st ever Filipino to ever play college ball in the US. He transferred from the Phillippines that might explain most of it. They do need to recruit a true center. We haven't had a true center since Chris Marcus. Hopefully, Magley and Evans can counterpunch Love in the game.