College Basketball 2011-2012

[jjfanec]

If 8-10 in the Big Ten with their OOC schedule/results gets them in the tournament, well, I don't know what then.

I should be clear that I dont think Northwestern will make the tourney by the end of they year. I just dont think they know how to win on the road. But as of right now they have an argument to be in the tourney. Although they are getting rocked at Minnesota so that probably shows their true colors

[homer]

Like you said if they take care of business against Indiana at home and PSU on the road the Badgers vs OSU game would be pretty huge.

 

I'm very confident they'll beat IU. I think PSU has all the makings of a trap game though. Coming off a big win against IU, OSU on deck at home for first place.....and PSU has beaten Purdue and Illinois at home this year. They aren't a complete pushover.

[jjfanec]

Like you said if they take care of business against Indiana at home and PSU on the road the Badgers vs OSU game would be pretty huge.

 

I'm very confident they'll beat IU. I think PSU has all the makings of a trap game though. Coming off a big win against IU, OSU on deck at home for first place.....and PSU has beaten Purdue and Illinois at home this year. They aren't a complete pushover.

This teams losses to teams like Iowa keep me from being confident in any game, but if they play to their ability they win both those games. Then OSU is a whole different story

 

[Oldcity]

The bubble is as weak as ever. Lunardi had a combined 16 teams from the Big 12, SEC, ACC and Pac 10 combined! That is a lot of openings for mediocre teams to get in this year

Yep, and they want to expand the field. What a bad idea.

[hawing]

Big resume-building road win for Wisconsin @Illinois today. When was the last time they won @Illinois and @Purdue in the same year?

1918, per someone's tweet this afternoon.

[jjfanec]

The bubble is as weak as ever. Lunardi had a combined 16 teams from the Big 12, SEC, ACC and Pac 10 combined! That is a lot of openings for mediocre teams to get in this year

Yep, and they want to expand the field. What a bad idea.

I know it is such a terrible idea. They need to have some sort of restrictions on who makes it. I would much rather have a couple more mid-majors than a team that cant even go .500 in conference play

[Glennron]

Personally I'd like to see them get rid of all the play in games and keep it at 64 for forever. Can't imagine anyone (who doesn't make bank off the extra play-in games) being against this.

[jjfanec]

Personally I'd like to see them get rid of all the play in games and keep it at 64 for forever. Can't imagine anyone (who doesn't make bank off the extra play-in games) being against this.

Agreed. There are so few teams who have a legitimate gripe for not getting into the tourney each year. Why expand? I know the reason it is simple - money. Funny that money is the reason they expand one college sports post-season to the point where it is getting watered down and it is the reason another sport cannot add teams for a better post-season

[brwrsfan]

The fact that there are even play in games no is just a joke to me. I do like that they make the at large teams play in finally. Imagine you're a small school, win your tournament and get in. Then the bracket comes up and the committee thinks you suck so bad that you're team 64 or 65 and have to play a game just to get into the actual tournament. I know it counts as a real game, but we know it's not. They earned their spot in there, being a 16 seed is bad enough, the play in game of the 16's I just find to be embarassing and a joke.

 

That being said, there shouldn't even be more than 64 teams. Yeah, you occassionally get a team like VCU and George Mason that make a run, but those are rare. Anyone that is in the final 5 as an at large bid, generally speaking, isn't that great of a team. You had a whole season to earn your spot in the tournament, if you didn't win your conference, and you're not one of the top 35 or so at large teams, you really don't have that much of a gripe. You simply weren't that good. I hate hearing about teams 66, 67 or now 69, 70. We're talking about someone that isn't in the top 50 or so in the country (take out the auto births that are ranked higher and the other at large schools), and we should change the whole structure just so very marginal teams can feel better about themselves? Really NCAA? You can add as many teams you want into the postseason basketball tournament (and mind you, if you reach the finals that's 3 additional weeks of play, in 3 different cities)....but we can't add an 8 team football playoff? Which would also be 3 weeks in 3 cities?

[owbc]

The purpose of the tournament is to find the National Champion, and based on past results, seeds as low as 11 can make the Final Four. If more at large teams were to be added, they would be seeded at 12 or lower, only above the weak conference champions.

 

If they want more teams involved in postseason play, they should consider working with the NIT to allow more teams and get more national exposure.

[brwrsfan]

Teams as low as eleven CAN make the Final Four, but it's really far and in between. The tournament is perfect the way it is (minus the play in games). Going to anything bigger than this just seems silly and counter-productive.

[MJLiverock]

Personally I'd like to see them get rid of all the play in games and keep it at 64 for forever. Can't imagine anyone (who doesn't make bank off the extra play-in games) being against this.

I'd even ask if anyone is really making any money on the play in games. The arena in Dayton was usually only half full if that and I can't believe the television audience was even that big for two small conference unknowns battling. Maybe that is why they started another play in game with teams from bigger conferences involved?

[Funketown]

Well, this makes two straight games with UNC looking like the team they were supposed to be. Losing Strickland for the year is a tough one, but they are really taking it to a pretty solid NC State team.

 

After five tries, I finally won the student ticket lottery for the GaTech game on Sunday. Got my fingers crossed for the Duke game...

[jjfanec]

Badgers stay .5 a game out in the Big Ten. Penn State is a trap game but if they take care of business there they will have a good chance to be playing for first place in the Big Ten when OSU come to Madison

[TooLiveBrew]

Very nice recovery by the Badgers, and like jjfanec (post #136) mentioned, they've definitely found their identity/identities on offense. Guys don't seem to just be hovering around the 3-pt. line all game anymore. And the more Bruiser & Berggren play, the better they look.

They still don't have 'the horses', if you will, but they've begun to execute well on a routine basis, & that's Bo Ryan basketball.

[jjfanec]

Very nice recovery by the Badgers, and like jjfanec (post #136) mentioned, they've definitely found their identity/identities on offense. Guys don't seem to just be hovering around the 3-pt. line all game anymore. And the more Bruiser & Berggren play, the better they look.

They still don't have 'the horses', if you will, but they've begun to execute well on a routine basis, & that's Bo Ryan basketball.

I agree completely. It is a team that could make a nice run in the tourney with a favorable seed and a break here or there, but they still lack a real scorer. Maybe Taylor will turn it around but I think he is what he is right now. He is solid but not last years Jordan Taylor.

Berggren was great last night. Gasser was good most of the game but bad down the stretch. Brust has the ability to win games from outside. Evans is the ugliest somewhat productive player ever. Bruiser is getting much better. The fact that they are half a game out after a 1-3 start is impressive to say the least. They are still struggling to hit threes but at least they are not shooting 30 of them a game

 

[TooLiveBrew]

Maybe Taylor will turn it around but I think he is what he is right now. He is solid but not last years Jordan Taylor.

 

I don't even think last year's Jordan Taylor is actually Jordan Taylor (meaning I think he played over his head). His jumper is pretty ugly for a guy who plays at such a high level, and in general he's just not a very natural-looking shooter. What makes him an elite college player is obviously his physique -- he's just so much stronger than most guards (1-guards, 2-guards, hell probably even a lot of 3s) he faces. But yeah, he's not a true scorer & unfortunately is the closest thing the Badgers have to one right now.

 

 

They are still struggling to hit threes but at least they are not shooting 30 of them a game

 

Yeah, and honestly (knowing how Bo is) it was surprising that the players got away with ineffectively jacking so many 3's as long as they did, playing on a Bo Ryan team.

[fondybrewfan]

Ryan Evans really needs to stop shooting. He just can't make that 10-15 FT jumper. Badgers are playing better and are looking more like a #5 or #6 seed in the NCAA tourney right now. At that level I don't think it matters who they play they will be considered prime to be upset; and I can't necessarily disagree with that. This team still screams 1 and done to me; sure they can get hot but they can also be brutal on any given day.

[brwrsfan]

I have to disagree on Evans. Last night his jumper wasn't falling, but he's made plenty of those this season. I'm very confident in him shooting from 15 feet out. I cringe if it's further than that, but he's made a few threes this year too.

[Glennron]

Yeah, 10-12 foot jumpers from Evans are fine. I've seen him take WAY too many 15-18 footers though in Big Ten play. Other than that he has been great.

 

Did Berggren get hurt last night? I don't remember seeing him in the game the last 8 minutes or so. He did an outstanding job on Zeller.

[Baldkin]

Alrighty...

Evans- Great player, but takes too many 15-18 footers, which are the worst shots in college hoops. Just take a 3.

Brust - Hits the open 3, but still doesn't know to pump fake and drive to the hoop. If he gets that, he'll be amazing.

Taylor - His ability to control the ball and not turn it over is amazing. The problem is, Even now, when the shot clock gets to 15, the team will stand around and watch him, and he isn't good enough to go 1v2.

Last thought- I wish Bo would try Bergerren and Kominski at the same time. Go big on someone. Just once.

[jjfanec]

Last thought- I wish Bo would try Bergerren and Kominski at the same time. Go big on someone. Just once.

I think this will happen a good amount next year. Kaminsky is way ahead where most bigs are at this point in his development. He doesnt have the post moves of Wilkinson but he seems to have the same kind of confidence.

[owbc]

It really is amazing how Bo continues to rotate new players (and coaches) into the system. The Rob Wilsons are almost unheard of, almost everyone gets better each year. Remember that guy Vander Blue--what happened to him? Brust and Gasser are both better.

[jjfanec]

It really is amazing how Bo continues to rotate new players (and coaches) into the system. The Rob Wilsons are almost unheard of, almost everyone gets better each year. Remember that guy Vander Blue--what happened to him? Brust and Gasser are both better.

It is pretty impressive. Very few guys have not developed a good amount under Bo.

The Vander Blue vs Gasser/Brust will be fully evaluated in 2 years. Right now Gasser has lead because like Blue he is a very good defender and rebounder but his offensive game is well ahead of Vander. Blue seems to only be able to score against the cupcakes. In BE play I dont think he scored 10 points in a game yet this year. I am not sure I would say Brust is better yet. Definitely better offensively but overall Blue is a better defender and rebounder

 

[ilovebeer]

nice come from behind win for Marquette today.