The more I see of some of these top teams like Baylor,
- Thread starter DrEss
- Start date
Baylor is one of those teams that could get to the FF or almost as easily lose in the opening weekend, IMO. They are very talented and have a lot of length. But sometimes, they just don't play smart enough....and they turn it over.
They were ahead of Kansas for much of the game. Kansas ended the game on an 8-0 run to win.
The one maddening part was right at the end of the half....Baylor scores on a difficult drive to go up 12 with less than a minute. So, Kansas comes down the court, and Baylor gives Mason an open look for 3....9 pt game. Baylor then does what I think too many teams do when there is more than 35 secs left in the half.....pound, pound, pound the rock at the top of the key or wing instead of just looking/working for a good shot.....Kansas would likely have still gotten a possession. Kansas plays solid D, knocks the ball out with 5 secs left on the shot-clock....then it's a scramble and forced shot.....Kansas gets a transition three to end the half down only 6.
I would just as rather not see either Kansas or Baylor in Purdue's bracket, and I'm probably in the minority here......between the two, let's see how the Boilers would fare against the Jayhawks.
However, Mason is tough as nails, and Purdue would have fits trying to contain him. He made a drive and dish late in the game for a highlight sky-walking slam from Jackson....a great play. Purdue is going to have to beat these types of teams somewhere along the line. They are both beatable, but they are also tough match-ups for most teams as well.
JMHO
I think this year's tourney could be a s#itshow.
There's certainly a top tier of 5 or so teams, but they aren't THAT much better. And there's not a ton of difference between 6-25.
However, sometimes when you have that, you don't see a lot of upsets with the top seeds and then everyone else is a mess. But there certainly is not a Kentucky of 2015 or something that you say "so much for that" if you get paired in their bracket.
I know what you're saying, Ibodel. It's unpredictable, but it may/may not have the drama a lot like to see in the first few rounds. IF (and it's a big IF) Purdue plays up to its capability, there's no-one in the field, the Boilers couldn't knock off.
We shall see....hope the Boilers can keep the train rolling today to start.
Not to mention so much of how you do has to do with luck of the draw..literally.
I don't even see that top tier of 5. I see may 2 or 3. The isn't much separating 5 to 20
As always, it's the matchup problem that bites many teams. And that's where this year's Boilers are so different. We can pound it under or we can shoot 3s. Our D has been far better the last two games, with our guards looking quicker than they may be. Biggie's passing has been awesome, so they can't just double team him as worked well earlier in the season, we've reduced turnovers, Isaac is making more shots, Carson isn't a freshman anymore, Spike is healthy, we're playing like a well-oiled team, no one is trying to be #1. Lots of goodness going on.
No draw...human bias in all selections...nothing random in the tourney and I know you know that...
Hell I'd rather have a draw than having the political seeding that always has UK, UNC, and Duke playing at home with a relatively easy path through the first 2-3 games.
Well yes, but I am also referring to the path you have which is heavily luck-based.
For example, last year North Carolina made the national championship game. Their path to the Final Four never involved playing the higher possible seed. They played a 9 seed (instead of an 8), then a 5 seed (instead of a 4) - not the biggest differences, but then they played the 6 seed to make the Final Four (the 2 and 3 seeds lost to a 7 and 14 seed). And then in the Final Four they played a 10 seed!
Using another example, Notre Dame as a #6 seed made the Elite 8. They played a #11 play-in game team, then played a #14 seed, then they played a #7 seed.
Now, there's absolutely no discrediting their accomplishments. Winning 3 straight games in the NCAA Tournament is never easy, no matter the seed number. But there are certainly "easier" routes to making a deep run than others.
Agree that sometimes a particular bracket opens up a lot for a top seed (like North Carolina last year) or for a lower seed to advance....eventually, though, midnight comes calling.....maybe not until the FF.....for North Carolina, it took until the final shot. Yes, some luck helps, definitely, but you also can't depend on those bracket busters, either. I know that's not what you're implying. The pod system has also changed the dynamics a little for the opening rounds.
All any team can do is prepare for the next game in front of them.....sometimes a bracket looks really good or really tough....but you never know. MSU and Purdue I thought both had really decent "draws;" and neither won a game.
On the flip side, Villanova (IMO) was a very worthy champion......chalk through the Southeast Regional (#15, #7, #3, and #1 Kansas)......then destroyed a very good #2 seed Oklahoma in the National Semi-Final before knocking off #1 seed North Carolina. That's also one of the many reasons I think Villanova will be a very tough out this year....a good chunk of that team is still playing and has been battle-tested.
Absolutely. You certainly don't want to depend on a favorable route like UNC had last year, but it also helps to have a break go your way here or there. Purdue has not had a lot of those favorable breaks over the years - and a lot of the teams we've lost to have gone on to have significant runs (or win the whole thing).
Fully understand. Remember those seeds were not random but selected with human bias. The path only results in luck, if you assume that there was no bias in seeding. Perhaps it was not luck, but the result of underseeding some? Now if you believe that seedings are an accurate reflection of abilities, then by all accounts it was luck. I believe that seedings are generally an attempt to be "fair" inside teh scope of "perceived" ( human bias) team abilities and then stratigically arranged to make money. Teh current senario may be the best that can be done in an attempt to be fair, but no question bias has a place
yes, VERY true that many teams Purdue has faced and played as well as anyone, but got beat made a run in the tourney
We've been knocked out by Florida, Duke, and UConn since 2006/07 (my freshman year) who I believe all went on to win the thing. Am I missing anyone?
We've also lost to VCU who I believe went to the Elite 8 or Final Four that year as a Cinderella, and obviously Cinci and UALR.
Who else am I missing in recent years?
We've also lost to VCU who I believe went to the Elite 8 or Final Four that year as a Cinderella, and obviously Cinci and UALR.
Who else am I missing in recent years?
Kansas in 2012 (Rob Hummel's last game); they lost to Kentucky in the Championship game.
