Final Four Discussion

MalReyn · Post #1 » by **MalReyn** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:41 pm

Semi-finals, April 4th
Michigan State - UConn, 6:07 PM
Villanova - UNC, 8:43 PM

Finals, April 6th
Teams TBD

Polynice4Pippen · Post #2 » by **Polynice4Pippen** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:13 am

One thing I may have actually gotten right with my crappy bracket was North Carolina/UConn in the title game. Those two teams are tougher matchups for Michigan State and Villanova than they've faced in previous rounds. But Nova and MSU bring the defense and are playing with amazing confidence. Still, I expect a UNC/UConn matchup with Carolina prevailing.

Jackson 5ive · Post #3 » by **Jackson 5ive** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:15 am

As long as someone beats unc I'll be happy, I'm not so sure it will be Nova, Nova will have to almost play a perfect game to win it, though they love it when the odds are against them!

PHILA · Post #4 » by **PHILA** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:01 am

i dislike hansborough, his style of play i guess.. i would like to see UConn go all the way..

ElectricMayhem · Post #5 » by **ElectricMayhem** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:22 am

I'll say:

UNC: 76
Nova: 61

UConn: 67
MSU: 62

I had picked UNC to win it all originally until all the articles about Ty Lawson's toe came out. Instead, I panicked and picked Memphis to win it all. I think UNC will easily dispatch Villanova. MSU will keep the UCONN game close through defense, poise, and all the little things an Izzo team does so well, but in the end, I don't know if they have the talent to pull it out.

Post #6 » by **studcrackers** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:09 pm

if unc beats michigan state in the title game i'll finish 2nd in my money pool, but i dont see michigan state upsetting uconn. money aside id probably rather see nova or uconn win it, i detest roy williams

Post #7 » by **jman3134** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:51 pm

Obviously, I am cheering on Nova to win it all. UNC looks like the clear cut favorite, with UConn being a few steps behind. I would take Lawson over Price anyday, and their wing scoring is much better.

If Nova can get passed UNC, they have really faced the toughest team in the country imo.

MalReyn · Post #8 » by **MalReyn** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 1:51 am

jman3134 wrote:Obviously, I am cheering on Nova to win it all. UNC looks like the clear cut favorite, with UConn being a few steps behind. I would take Lawson over Price anyday, and their wing scoring is much better.

If Nova can get passed UNC, they have really faced the toughest team in the country imo.

UNC is the best offensive team by a wide margin, but I think Nova is actually better defensively. Granted, they're still clear underdogs. The biggest issue will be guarding Hansbrough. But if they can slow him down or get him in foul trouble they definitely have a chance.

Jackson 5ive · Post #9 » by **Jackson 5ive** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 2:01 am

MalReyn wrote: jman3134 wrote:Obviously, I am cheering on Nova to win it all. UNC looks like the clear cut favorite, with UConn being a few steps behind. I would take Lawson over Price anyday, and their wing scoring is much better.

I couldn't disagree more, I'd let Hansflopper score and try to shut down Ty Lawson, just about any time Lawson has a bad/off game unc loses.

skiz2 · Post #10 » by **skiz2** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 6:57 pm

Money Mo wrote:
MalReyn wrote: jman3134 wrote:Obviously, I am cheering on Nova to win it all. UNC looks like the clear cut favorite, with UConn being a few steps behind. I would take Lawson over Price anyday, and their wing scoring is much better.

I couldn't disagree more, I'd let Hansflopper score and try to shut down Ty Lawson, just about any time Lawson has a bad/off game unc loses.

If I were a Duke fan I wouldn't call Hansbrough "Hansflopper" considering Duke has produced stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0upQDkY-pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv4l0KInMNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqBtrVXyDdM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cl5mnyTyFI

I couldn't resist. :wink:

Jackson 5ive · Post #11 » by **Jackson 5ive** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 3:21 am

skiz2 wrote:
Money Mo wrote:
MalReyn wrote: jman3134 wrote:Obviously, I am cheering on Nova to win it all. UNC looks like the clear cut favorite, with UConn being a few steps behind. I would take Lawson over Price anyday, and their wing scoring is much better.

I couldn't disagree more, I'd let Hansflopper score and try to shut down Ty Lawson, just about any time Lawson has a bad/off game unc loses.

If I were a Duke fan I wouldn't call Hansbrough "Hansflopper" considering Duke has produced stuff like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0upQDkY-pg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv4l0KInMNM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqBtrVXyDdM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cl5mnyTyFI

I couldn't resist.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! :roll:

Post #12 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 3:52 am

Nova vs. UConn for the championship!

Post #13 » by **jman3134** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 5:27 am

HMFFL wrote:Nova vs. UConn for the championship!

We can only dream, right?

MalReyn · Post #14 » by **MalReyn** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 12:35 pm

jman3134 wrote:
HMFFL wrote:Nova vs. UConn for the championship!

We can only dream, right?

I just managed to get some tickets and booked a flight this morning to go, my first Final Four! I know this is the finals I'm pulling for...

Let me just say, it'll be the most depressing thing ever if my team, UConn, gets knocked out in the semifinals...

Post #15 » by **jman3134** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 6:15 pm

Eh, you are lucky. Lost a lottery, so I am not going to spend 200-400 for tickets + the additional flight+room fees.

Post #16 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 6:43 pm

I actually like the UConn matchup a ton for the Spartans.

Suton is exactly the kind of big man who can give Thabeet trouble with his outside shooting and his savvy. Unless Calhoun opts to play Adrien against him, Suton will drain jumper after jumper against Thabeet or get him in foul trouble. Suton on the other hand is a great positional defender and he has the lower body strength to frustrate Thabeet and keep him out of the paint.
The other marquee matchup is Travis Walton against A.J. Price. Price is huge for the Huskies and their offense and when Walton shuts him down which he is certainly capable of, then UConn loses one integral part of their offense and one of their leaders.
Stanley Robinson against Raymar Morgan looks terrific on paper but since Morgan is struggling mightily after returning to the lineup, the Huskies look to have a clear advantage here.
Another thing is that I think MSU's offense could fare very very well against UConn's D. The Huskies are about pressuring the ball and letting people drive into their bigs so they can swat away shots near the baskets. The Spartans though rely heavily on execution, down screens and off the ball movement which often results in open outside shots. They will look for the open jumper and not challenge UConn's size inside just like they did against Louisville. If they can hit their jumpers and get on the run on occasion, then I truly like their chances.

Of course all of this is theory and in the end, UConn is clearly the more talented and physically gifted team. But so was Louisville and they got completely picked to pieces by the Spartans. A lot will depend on mental toughness and inner will and right now I see no team as strong in those areas as the Spartans, of course led by Izzo off the bench.

TheBoondocks · Post #17 » by **TheBoondocks** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 9:28 pm

UConn shall win this for the following reasons:

1. Too much athleticism in the frontcourt. Thabeet, Robison, and Adrien are all athletic freaks and are the main reason why UConn averages a ridiculous 49 rpg as a team (Leading the nation). IN addition to this, they are the NCAA leader in blocks/game at 8 bpg.

2. AJ Price is a man possessed. He's playing the best ball of his college career, and has gone through so much adversity. I think he wants this a lot more than people think.

3. Jimmy Calhoun. Best coach that's left in the Final Four.. NOT A DIME BACK!

Post #18 » by **jman3134** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 9:40 pm

Calhoun better than Izzo and Roy Williams? That is up in the air.

TheBoondocks · Post #19 » by **TheBoondocks** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 9:52 pm

Maybe not Roy Williams. Izzo, certainly.

Post #20 » by **jman3134** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 10:29 pm

In the tournament?