College Basketball/March Madness Thread

Post #1121 » by **Manhattan Project** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:00 pm

Look at Steve Lavin, the knock on him was coaching. I thought that he did a good job this year with the X's and O's, combine that with the deep class that he has coming he is someone that took me by surprise.

Look at Brad Stevens, amazing coach. Butler isn't a big school, but by no means a small one either and he does a fantastic job. I was amazed when he signed that extension. I love Jay Wright and how he makes it all work for him considering he usually can only land guards.

Post #1122 » by **Flaming Mo** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:07 pm

Manhattan Project wrote:Look at Steve Lavin, the knock on him was coaching. I thought that he did a good job this year with the X's and O's, combine that with the deep class that he has coming he is someone that took me by surprise.

Look at Brad Stevens, amazing coach. Butler isn't a big school, but by no means a small one either and he does a fantastic job. I was amazed when he signed that extension. I love Jay Wright and how he makes it all work for him considering he usually can only land guards.

I dont think Lavin did anything special in terms of strategy and lets not forget he brought Gene Keady in to help him out. Praise to him for that as the best manager is the one who shares the work but in the end, I think it also says something about his talent as a coach.

Stevens is propably looking to make that Butler program a national powerhouse for the long haul. He loves it there and with every year he will be able to recruit better and build on the success.

Jmonty580 · Post #1123 » by **Jmonty580** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:14 pm

hobojoe2131 wrote:It helps when Calhoun has no problem committing recruiting violations

No, but seriously. You're going to tell me that Roy hasn't benefitted from coaching at Kansas and UNC in terms of recruiting? Guys dream of playing there, and Roy is a good recruiter so he makes it happen. These schools were good before he got there, and they'll be good when he leaves.

Low blow on Calhoun lol, thats wrong, shoulda seen it coming though. All I'm saying is to maintain a winning team and culture you need more than just good players. Sure he gets more recruits because of where he is caoching, but if you dont maintane the winning with the talent you assemble the schools rep goes down (as for as recruits are concerned) and the in turn the coach loses his rep as a good coach.

I mean look at Kentucky. Billy Gilespie goes there, and he isnt the best recruiter but he had some decent players. Being with Kentucky def helps in the recruiting process all by itself. He sucked as a coach, underacheived, and got canned. Calipari comes in and not only brings in top recruits (more appealing good), but he takes Billys players and makes them even better than they were with Billy. Good coaches make it regardless of the school. They'll start at the bottom and work their way up gaining respect for the school and creating a rep for themselves. Over time that gets you recruits, and if you make the most of your oppurtunites you can bring in better and better talent year after year until you build your own powerhouse.

hobojoe2131 · Post #1124 » by **hobojoe2131** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:30 pm

Jmonty580 wrote:
hobojoe2131 wrote:It helps when Calhoun has no problem committing recruiting violations

No, but seriously. You're going to tell me that Roy hasn't benefitted from coaching at Kansas and UNC in terms of recruiting? Guys dream of playing there, and Roy is a good recruiter so he makes it happen. These schools were good before he got there, and they'll be good when he leaves.

Low blow on Calhoun lol, thats wrong, shoulda seen it coming though. All I'm saying is to maintain a winning team and culture you need more than just good players. Sure he gets more recruits because of where he is caoching, but if you dont maintane the winning with the talent you assemble the schools rep goes down (as for as recruits are concerned) and the in turn the coach loses his rep as a good coach.

I mean look at Kentucky. Billy Gilespie goes there, and he isnt the best recruiter but he had some decent players. Being with Kentucky def helps in the recruiting process all by itself. He sucked as a coach, underacheived, and got canned. Calipari comes in and not only brings in top recruits (more appealing good), but he takes Billys players and makes them even better than they were with Billy. Good coaches make it regardless of the school. They'll start at the bottom and work their way up gaining respect for the school and creating a rep for themselves. Over time that gets you recruits, and if you make the most of your oppurtunites you can bring in better and better talent year after year until you build your own powerhouse.

Calhoun's a very good coach, and he's built up UCONN's rep. He's not the kind of guy I'm talking about.
There are guys who clearly get superior talent, but don't maximize it. You talk about the need for success to keep the program's development up, but It's hard to stay out of the later rounds of the tourney for too long when you're bringing in 3 top 30 recruits annually.

And good coaching can only get you so far. This isn't football where coaching goes a HUGE way. Basketball is a game that the players dominate, and bringing in freshmen annually who are just physically superior gives you a huge advantage over well coached teams who can't match that skill.

hobojoe2131 · Post #1125 » by **hobojoe2131** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:32 pm

Flaming Mo wrote:
Manhattan Project wrote:Look at Steve Lavin, the knock on him was coaching. I thought that he did a good job this year with the X's and O's, combine that with the deep class that he has coming he is someone that took me by surprise.

Look at Brad Stevens, amazing coach. Butler isn't a big school, but by no means a small one either and he does a fantastic job. I was amazed when he signed that extension. I love Jay Wright and how he makes it all work for him considering he usually can only land guards.

I dont think Lavin did anything special in terms of strategy and lets not forget he brought Gene Keady in to help him out. Praise to him for that as the best manager is the one who shares the work but in the end, I think it also says something about his talent as a coach.

Stevens is propably looking to make that Butler program a national powerhouse for the long haul. He loves it there and with every year he will be able to recruit better and build on the success.

Seeing Stevens jump around with his players after the Pitt win gave me a huge grin. Big money programs are going to throw huge sums at him sooner rather than later. I wish he was coaching at Wisconsin (even though I love Bo).

Post #1126 » by **Flaming Mo** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:41 pm

hobojoe2131 wrote:Seeing Stevens jump around with his players after the Pitt win gave me a huge grin. Big money programs are going to throw huge sums at him sooner rather than later. I wish he was coaching at Wisconsin (even though I love Bo).

Funny as MSU fans on another forum said the same thing that if Izzo would retire or they would have to replace him, Stevens would be their first choice... another guy I love is Anthony Grant from Alabama, he is gonna have that program up there really soon. Great coach.

Post #1127 » by **Manhattan Project** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:24 pm

Flaming Mo wrote:Funny as MSU fans on another forum said the same thing that if Izzo would retire or they would have to replace him, Stevens would be their first choice... another guy I love is Anthony Grant from Alabama, he is gonna have that program up there really soon. Great coach.

I don't know all that much about him aside from the Duke upset when he was at VCU and the fact that Vitale seems really high on him. Though looking at the SEC you might be right. With Bruce Pearl being fired it will take that program some time to get back up, Calipari recruits nation wide not local.

Figure you have Grant, Fox and Donovan as the best recruiters there.

Post #1128 » by **Flaming Mo** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 6:40 pm

Manhattan Project wrote:I don't know all that much about him aside from the Duke upset when he was at VCU and the fact that Vitale seems really high on him. Though looking at the SEC you might be right. With Bruce Pearl being fired it will take that program some time to get back up, Calipari recruits nation wide not local.

Figure you have Grant, Fox and Donovan as the best recruiters there.

His team is steamrolling through the NIT right now which to me is a good sign. He mixes defenses tremendously and adjusts his style to the talents of his team. He also has another good recruiting class coming in to a team that already is pretty good and wont lose much.

Post #1129 » by **Manhattan Project** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:11 am

PLEASE COME BACK COLLEGE BALL, I CANT DEAL WITH THE KNICKS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Smoke24 · Post #1130 » by **Smoke24** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:44 am

Manhattan Project wrote:PLEASE COME BACK COLLEGE BALL, I CANT DEAL WITH THE KNICKS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Lets Go Huskies!!! Clap..Clap..Clap, Clap, Clap...

Post #1131 » by **Gremz** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:27 am

I'm the worst at brackets. If someone was to ask me what my bottom three successful past times are, I'd assume that they were jerks.

Jmonty580 · Post #1132 » by **Jmonty580** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:43 pm

Smoke24 wrote:
Manhattan Project wrote:PLEASE COME BACK COLLEGE BALL, I CANT DEAL WITH THE KNICKS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Lets Go Huskies!!! Clap..Clap..Clap, Clap, Clap...

Thats what I'm talkin bout!!! I want a win so bad, we need this.

Plus I want VCU and Richmond to win. Has 1 city ever put 2 teams in the elite 8 before?

Much less a small city the size of Richmond. If Richmond and VCU go at it in the elite 8 Richmond (the City) is going to go completely nuts!!

hobojoe2131 · Post #1133 » by **hobojoe2131** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:46 pm

SDSU is going to be a tough matchup. They should put Kawhi Leonard on Kemba.

Jmonty580 · Post #1134 » by **Jmonty580** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:49 pm

hobojoe2131 wrote:SDSU is going to be a tough matchup. They should put Kawhi Leonard on Kemba.

When I first saw the bracket I was happy to be up against SDSU in a sweet 16 match up. Now I'm a little worried lol. Plus its a home game for them, Uconn doesnt play well in hostile environments. I'm hopefull for a Uconn win, but not confident at all. I'll be on the edge of my seat for the whole game tonight even if Uconn goes up big in the first half. Nothing short of a 30 point half time lead will leave me comfortable that Uconn will win lol.

Post #1135 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:18 pm

hobojoe2131 wrote:SDSU is going to be a tough matchup. They should put Kawhi Leonard on Kemba.

That's gonna be one hell of a matchup. Great game too as it will be a hostile environment yet UConn is clearly the bigger program and has the star power of Kemba. Very intriguing game...

Jmonty580 · Post #1136 » by **Jmonty580** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:49 pm

For anyone thats intersted. nice little espn write up on the two Richmond Teams.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournamen ... id=6249319

hobojoe2131 · Post #1137 » by **hobojoe2131** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:05 pm

I think there's a pretty solid chance we end up taking Justin Harper. He could be our Shawne Williams replacement if he leaves via FA.

hobojoe2131 · Post #1138 » by **hobojoe2131** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 7:22 pm

Just read this quote. Awesome:

Last season, Duke came into the Kohl Center and Wisconsin beat the Blue Devils, 73-69.

"I'm very friendly with a couple of the (Duke) assistant coaches," Bilas said. "I said, 'How'd you like it there? Great facility, isn't it?' They said, 'Gee, it was beautiful. People are really nice. They welcome you, they kick your ass and say thanks for comin'."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/118538349.html

Post #1139 » by **Flaming Mo** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:20 pm

hobojoe2131 wrote:Just read this quote. Awesome:

Last season, Duke came into the Kohl Center and Wisconsin beat the Blue Devils, 73-69.

"I'm very friendly with a couple of the (Duke) assistant coaches," Bilas said. "I said, 'How'd you like it there? Great facility, isn't it?' They said, 'Gee, it was beautiful. People are really nice. They welcome you, they kick your ass and say thanks for comin'."

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/118538349.html

Haha, huge fan of Bilas... you can disagree on some of his opinions but he is one of the most knowledgable and articulate experts out there. Basketball fans should listen when he talks.

I agree on Harper, I saw him two years ago I think for the first time and he already looked like a pro then. Extremely fluid, agile and extremely skilled. Now he doesnt fill a direct need but would strengthen our bench and over the course of the season he could really take pressure off Amare who wouldnt have to log as many minutes anymore. Reminds me a little bit of Darrell Arthur who I was a huge fan coming out. Another comparison I can think of is a bigger post version of Wilson Chandler.

hobojoe2131 · Post #1140 » by **hobojoe2131** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:29 pm

That would most certainly be welcome. He might be more of a luxury pick than a need, but value wise and skillset wise it's a good fit, and there aren't going to be a ton of guys who fit the system as well as he does.