2002/3 College Hoops Season

[sensei_hanson]

Time to start this one up again as well. For some odd reason, this thread usually does better than the NBA thread. It probably has a lot to do with the Captain's continual mockery of fundamentally sound white basketball players (aka "donkeys" or "big honkey stiffs"), KNVB and Sandman's blind devotion to the Duke Blue Devils, my constant bitching about an 8-20 Tar Heels team, and, of course.....

March Madness.

Last night saw the first minor upset of the year as Alabama knocked off last year's final-four darling, Oklahoma. Hollis Price was ass yesterday, didn't have any flow to his game and really got picked apart by an underrated Crimson Tide backcourt. Mo Williams looked VERY good last night.

Obviously, the traditional powerhouses are still going to be competitive. Duke returns Duhon, Jones, and Ewing. Freshmen recruits Shavlik (who is the biggest, whitest donkey of them all) Randolph and Sean Dockery. Duhon is hurt at the moment but Duke doesn't really play an important game until early December. He should be good to go.

The best team right now is Arizona. They're the only team with two preseason All-Americans on their roster - Jason Gardner and Luke Walton. Walton is a huge talent, an excellent big man with good skills and passing ability. They're also returning all five starters, including SG Stoudamire, PF Anderson and the big wildcard, 6'10 manchild center Channing Frye in the middle. They've also got a great 6th man in Will Bynum, a sophmore PG.

Kansas returns a trio of talent with Kirk Hinrich, Nick Collison and Aaron Miles. Big question here is whether or not they can fill the void left by Drew Gooden and Jeff Boschee. I don't think they have enough up front to do it, but their backcourt is so damn strong they'll be top three all year.

Texas will be good, with arguably the best PG in the nation - TJ Ford. He looked excellent as a freshman last year, leading the Horns into the sweet 16. He's got a good center to work with in James Thomas as well.

Here are the AP and Coaches Top-25 Polls:

AP Poll - Team Record Points Prev

1. ARIZONA (50) 22-10 1,773 7
2. KANSAS (14) 33-4 1,715 2
3. OKLAHOMA (6) 31-5 1,640 3
4. TEXAS 22-12 1,422 --
5. PITTSBURGH (1) 27-5 1,404 9
6. DUKE 31-4 1,394 1
7. FLORIDA 21-8 1,298 15
8. ALABAMA 27-8 1,295 8
9. MICHIGAN ST 17-12 1,117 --
10. XAVIER 26-6 1,016 22
11. OREGON 26-9 995 11
12. MISSISSIPPI ST (1) 24-7 800 17
13. MARYLAND 31-3 789 4
14. UCLA 21-12 747 --
15. CONNECTICUT 27-7 722 10
16. GEORGIA 22-10 703 23
17. KENTUCKY 22-10 627 16
18. MARQUETTE 26-7 509 12
19. MISSOURI 24-12 506 --
20. WESTERN KY 28-4 480 19
21. INDIANA 24-11 415 --
22. GONZAGA 29-4 381 6
23. CINCINNATI 27-4 303 5
24. MINNESOTA 18-13 183 --
25. TULSA 24-7 146 --

Coaches Poll:

1. ARIZONA (27) 24-10 770 10
2. KANSAS (3) 33-4 740 2
3. OKLAHOMA (1) 31-5 680 4
4. PITTSBURGH 29-6 613 9
5. TEXAS 22-12 583 18
6. DUKE 31-4 574 5
7. FLORIDA 22-9 554 23
8. ALABAMA 27-8 494 14
9. OREGON 26-9 475 6
10. MICHIGAN ST 19-12 439 --
11. XAVIER 26-6 386 24
12. UCLA 21-12 322 20
13. MISSISSIPPI ST 27-8 321 21
14. CONNECTICUT 27-7 314 6
15. MARYLAND 32-4 285 1
16. GEORGIA 22-10 269 --
17. KENTUCKY 22-10 262 13
18. MISSOURI 24-12 221 15
19. MARQUETTE 26-7 215 18
20. CINCINNATI 31-4 168 8
21. INDIANA 25-12 167 3
22. GONZAGA 29-4 163 16
23. WESTERN KY 28-4 151 --
24. MINNESOTA 18-13 86 --
25. ILLINOIS 26-9 83 11

 

[Regs]

Hollis Price was ass yesterday

Is that what the kids are saying these days?

Good timing Sensei, I had no idea that NCAA hoops had started. Time to start paying a little more attention to the various sports channels on the dish!

Go Heels!

~Regs.

 

[sensei_hanson]

There's a couple of good games on tonight. Texas takes on Georgia, which will give you a chance to see TJ Ford run the show.

Marquette takes on Villanova as well - watch this one only to see Dwyane Wade carry Marquette on his shoulders.

But if you have dish access, I urge you to watch the 8-0 Mavericks go into Boston and take on the Celtics at the Fleet Center. Starts in a half an hour.

 

[Dapotayto]

Sensei, is Luke Walton related to Bill Walton? His kid or something? I swear if I hear Bill Walton say "Throw it down big man" to Shaq all year like he did last season I'm gonna fcuking snaaap! Thanks the gods Shaq is hurt right now!

Hey, what's up with Syracuse nowadays, Sensei? Have they dropped out of the big time teams? Let me know I'm too lazy to look it up on the internet, dude. You are my only hope Obi-Wan!

 

[sensei_hanson]

Luke Walton is indeed Bill Walton's kid. Bill actually has three sons who all play D-1 college ball, but Luke is hands down the best of the lot. He's a 6'9 small forward who can pass, shoot and handle. Very similar to Golden State's and former Dukie Mike Dunleavy Jr.

I can't believe you don't love Bill Walton like I do. The guy is a moron, but he's hilarious. I remember him clowning Greg Ostertag after one of his brutal shots hit backboard and came right back to Karl Malone. Everybody is booing, and Walton says "Excellent pass by Ostertag, utilizing the glass to perfection."

Syracuse have one guy worth mentioning. Carmelo Anthony. He was projected as a top-10 NBA pick this past draft if he came out after High School. He opted to play college (basically for one year, tops) on a pretty ordinary Syracuse team. The theory here is that he'll shine in this scenario, rather than with a more talented team where he might not get as much recognition. He'll probably end up winning national freshman of the year, and get a really fat NBA contract for it. Life's tough.

HTHBH (copyright Jinky),
-Sensei.

 

[Dapotayto]

Gracias Sensei. You should be writing for The Province, man. Ah, I don't hate Walton. I just hate how he continually strokes Shaq's ego. "What footwork", "What Vision", "What godlike domination of the universe by the omnipotent bigman". He can be funny though. For example, I believe it was the playoffs last year when the Lakers came out with the Shaq bobblehead. They showed it on the t.v. screen and there was a silent moment or two then Walton says "Throw it dooown big man", pretty much mocking himself. Did get a chuckle there.

Pitt is ranked in the top 5? Been a while for the Panthers hasn't it?

 

[Captain Shamrock]

Since joining the the Big East, Pitt has had a couple of successful years. They have never been ranked as high as they are during this time though. In 86/87 they posted a 25 - 8 (12-4 conference) and followed this by winning the Big East in 87/88 with a 12 - 4 record (24-7 overall). Last year, they made it to the Sweet Sixteen and posted a 29 - 6 record. They have return 3 seniors and 5 juniors and their 3 leading scorers Brandin Knight, Julius Page, and Donatus Zavackas are back. They have a lot of balance on the team and don't have an outright superstar, which more often than not, is a good thing.

Sensei,

I can't stand a team(Kansas) who have a guy on the squad who looks like a fifth member of the Beatles in the early 60s. He is the stereotypical white guard with a shocking first name. He will NOT make it to the NBA....Kirk Hinrich is annoying....

 

[ParkHead]

The UNC Tarheels will be much better than they were last year. Starting three freshman!! Lookout for McCants he will be fun to watch. This team will be ranked by the end of the year!! How can you not like the HEELS!!


Presason pick for me will have to be Texas, very strong this year!! T.J. Ford is something special.


theDeanDomewillrockinagainthisyear

 

[Captain Shamrock]

It looks like Rashad McCants, mcCan score a lot of points. He scored another 18 in a 71-67 win over Rutgers tonight. Against Penn State he went 11-14 from the field too. Hopefully, this NC team will stay together for a couple years to bring a little excitement back to college hoops BEFORE exiting to the NBA......He was 7 - 13 from the field tonight, which is still over 50%. Solid numbers for a freshman....

Captain

 

[sensei_hanson]

I just finished watching the UNC-Rutgers game. Tar Heels were VERY lucky to escape with a victory over a very average Rutgers game. Obviously, given the lack of upper classmen, Doherty will have to rely on McCants, Felton et al, but I wonder how long the wins will last. I mean, they're 2-0 against some pretty subpar teams. They could be in serious trouble once ACC play starts....they only have two seniors and no juniors.

Captain,

From all accounts, NBA scouts are extremely high on Hinrich given his ability to lead from the PG position, and his basketball smarts. Another thing you have to consider is how many Jayhawks become NBA players. I'm not that high on him, especially with the Ringo tribute haircut, but whatever. I hate all Jayhawks to begin with, with the exception of Paul Pierce, who has turned out to be money. I think Hinrich is going to struggle with Aaron Miles in the backcourt....he won't be as hands-on with the offense as he was last season. Just a thought. Like I mentioned earlier, they're gonna need a HUGE year from Nick Collison to replace what Gooden took with him to the NBA. At least none of these guys was as annoying as Jeff Boschee, who looked like one of the last cuts from Making The Band and ended up at Kansas.

As for Pitt, they've got one of the best PGs in the country with Brandin Knight. He's the younger, and more talented brother of Grizz backup PG Brevin Knight. And considering how far Brevin has gone with his size and skill, you have to think good things are to come for the Panthers. Julius Page can play as well...they've also signed former Kitsilano Secondary star Levon Kendall as one of their big freshman recruits this off-season.

 

[Captain Shamrock]

Obviously, given the lack of upper classmen, Doherty will have to rely on McCants, Felton et al, but I wonder how long the wins will last. I mean, they're 2-0 against some pretty subpar teams. They could be in serious trouble once ACC play starts....they only have two seniors and no juniors

This should help them mature. A thumping of the number 2 team in the nation is pretty impressive. Kansas never got close after the 10 minute mark in the first half. They won outright as 13 point underdogs......Go Heels! How about McCAnts numbers again? His shooting % is $!




Final 1st 2nd Total North Carolina 38 29 67 Kansas (2) 29 27 56 North Carolina REBOUNDS PLAYER MIN FG FT 3PT OFF TOT AST PF ST TO PTS R McCants 35 10-15 4-5 1-4 2 4 0 2 3 4 25 S May 33 4-10 0-0 0-0 2 11 3 0 4 1 8 J Williams 31 6-12 1-2 2-6 2 4 0 2 0 3 15 R Felton 30 3-9 4-5 0-2 0 2 4 3 1 1 10 J Manuel 25 1-4 0-0 0-2 1 2 2 0 1 2 2 W Johnson 3 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D Noel 10 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 M Scott 23 3-6 0-0 1-3 0 3 1 2 5 1 7 J Holmes 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 B Sanders 6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 J Miller 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 P Mclamb 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 D Price 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 200 27-59 9-12 4-18 7 27 10 12 14 12 67 Percentages: FG .458, FT .750, 3PT .222Team Rebounds: 1Blocked Shots: 11 (S May 5, J Manuel 2, J Williams, B Sanders, R McCants, R Felton)


Sorry about the formatting.........You get the point though.....


Captain

 

[halfvolley]

How's Oregon look?

Sensei you seem to know a lot about the teams this year and I've been oblivious so far. Any chance I could get the low down on Oregon? That's my team!

I'll be keeping a close eye on this thread as March Madness nears. Annual pool I'll be ready!

 

[sensei_hanson]

look who's back....back again.....

How 'bout them TarHeels!!

NEW YORK (AP) -- Don't worry about North Carolina getting carried away by Wednesday night's 67-56 stunner over No. 2 Kansas in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.

Where do the Tar Heels go from here, freshman sharpshooter Rashad McCants was asked.

"We've got practice tomorrow," McCants said.

That would be preparation for Friday night's championship game against Stanford. The Cardinal (4-0) had an upset of their own in the doubleheader opener, defeating No. 7 Florida 69-65. The Gators (3-1) and Kansas (2-1) will meet in the consolation game.

North Carolina (4-0) is halfway to last year's total of eight victories. Coach Matt Doherty survived that nightmare season and imported a roster of freshmen who seem determined to turn things around.

McCants sent that message, shooting 10 for 15 from the floor and scoring 25 points.

"We feel like this is a team game," he said. "We came in here with a game plan and we executed it. We're young, but we believe in each other."

They've got other people believing, too.

"Freshmen in college basketball aren't like they used to be," Kansas coach Roy Williams said. "Ten or 15 years ago, they were scared to death but they aren't anymore."

Doherty likes his freshmen, too.

"They're a confident group, a very poised group," Doherty said. "We made some adjustments and they believed. I'm not ready to anoint this team a national champion. We're not giving out any rings tonight."

The loss ended a streak of 14 straight victories in the Preseason NIT for Kansas, which was a Final Four team last year. And it was an emotional triumph for Doherty, who spent seven years as an assistant at Kansas under Williams, a Tar Heels alumnus.

The Kansas coach said he saw this coming.

"I've been disappointed in some of the things that have gone on in practice," Williams said. "I was hoping we wouldn't have to have this kind of wake-up call."

Doherty shed his jacket early and dashed up and down the sideline as North Carolina, the youngest team in the country, took it to the Jayhawks.

McCants set the tone right at the start, nailing a 3-pointer on his first shot and then driving for a dunk that seemed to shake Kansas.

The more experienced Jayhawks played haphazard, often sloppy basketball, turning the ball over 11 times in the first half, and 21 times in the game. North Carolina took advantage of every mistake.

With McCants making six of eight shots and sophomore Jawad Williams nailing five of eight, North Carolina constructed a nine-point halftime lead at 38-29.

It only got worse for Kansas after that.

McCants, and freshmen teammates Raymond Felton and Sean May, built the lead to 50-33 in the early moments of the second half, playing textbook basketball that often left Kansas looking befuddled.

Nick Collison, who had 19 points, tried to get the Jayhawks going, but he was outmanned. When Wayne Simien missed an easy dunk and Kirk Hinrich blew a driving layup, it was clear that Kansas was not going to find a way back.

 

[sensei_hanson]

Cap,

What a game last night. McCants was absolutely phenomenal against the supposed best backcourt in the country (Hinrich who?) - but like I said before, Kansas is waaaay overrated. Still, victories such as these go a long way to getting the younger players ready for tough ACC play and the NCAA tourney. Obviously the Heels will be there this season.......The McCants, Felton and May trio have the potential to be the finest since the Jamison, Carter and Williams trio in the mid-90s.

Halfvolley,

Oregon is kind of in the same situation as Gonzaga is this year. They've lost Freddie Jones and Kris Kristofferson (which is equal to the amount of on-court talent Zaga lost with Dan Dickau), but they can still rely on Luke&Luke (Ridnour and Jackson) to provide most of their perimeter scoring - much like Zaga is still dangerous with Blake Stepp and Corey Violette. The obvious worry for this team is that they only have one senior on their roster, and they aren't that big.

They're still #10 in the polls and I expect them to stay in that range for most of the season. They play a lot of quality teams in the Pac-10 (Zona, Stanford and UCLA to name a few) so they'll be battle-tested come tourney time. Guard James Davis will have to be the elusive third scorer they need to fill the void left by Jones. He's averaging close to 16 a game already but is a horrid defender. If the big men can develop at all, they're an elite eight team. If not, they won't achieve the success they had last season.

 

[ParkHead]

Heels on their way to the top 25!! McCants is a Diaper Dandy as Mr. Vitale would say. Bring on the Dukies!!

 

[halfvolley]

Thanks.

Sensei,

Thanks again for the update on Oregon. I was wondering who was around and who has left. I love the 3-pt threat they'll have this year. I just wish I didn't place them in my final 2 last year. That's what lost the pool for me.

Thanks.

 

[sensei_hanson]

Watched Duke handle UCLA on saturday morning. Looks like McCants isn't the only super freshie in the state of North Carolina this year.....JJ Redick went for 20 and pretty much dominated All-Name Team member Dijon Thompson in the backcourt. 5-10 from three point land. Not too shabby.

Unfortunately, Redick looks like he hasn't seen the sunlight in about six years. The jet-black hair doesn't help matters either.

 

[knvb]

Go Duke Go.

There is nothing wrong with being pastey. Just ask Jason Kidd.

 

[sensei_hanson]

Interesting day of college hoops.

UNC crashed back down to earth with a tough 98-81 loss to Kentucky. By "tough" I mean "getting whipped in the Dean Dome" tough, as Kentucky went on a crazy 18-2 run to start the second half, and never looked back. The quality big men the Cats had were too much for UNC's interior defense (or lackthereof). Fitch and Estill in the middle for UK were the difference. Onto Vermont for the Heels then....scary that McCants went out with an ankle injury, but by all accounts he should be okay.

The best game of the day was Oregon taking Kansas, 84-78. Simply put, the Luke and Luke combo is brilliant. 26 for Jackson, 25 and nine dimes for Ridnour as they handled a Jayhawks backcourt which had a pretty decent afternoon. The big problem for the Hawks is the brutal frontcourt performance by Collison....this allowed a smallish Ducks team to stay competitive with some excellent guard play. It should be noted that Jackson and Ridnour went a combined 6-9 from behind the arc today....as a team, the Ducks were a sizzling 68% from 3pt land.

Duke whipped Michigan, Xavier got past Cincy in the battle of Ohio. That is all.

 

[sensei_hanson]

bad day for the 'heels

May breaks his foot, out 8-10 weeks, and UNC loses to Iona. The Iona freaking Gaels, for the love of christ. I mean, the losses to Davidson and Hampton last year were supposed to be a thing of the past. This is the first ranked team Iona has beaten a nationally-ranked team in 23 years.

If it makes any difference, UNC was without Williams and Scott, and lost May after 30 seconds into the second half.

This is bad. Very bad.