NCAA Men's Final Four Thread

[RedOctober3829]

Purdue vs. NC State 6:09 PM TBS/TNT/TruTV
UConn vs. Alabama 8:49 PM TBS/TNT/TruTV

Should be 2 fascinating games. Really looking forward to seeing if NC State's magic continues and if DJ Burns can stay with Zach Edey for 40 minutes. In the other game, can UConn's dominance withstand the 3-point shooting of Alabama?

 

[Animale]

I'm guessing Diarra and Middlebrooks spend more time guarding Edey 1 on 1 and there will be quick double teams if Burns is on him to save DJ on fouls and stamina. State really hasn't had to play anybody like Edey in the ACC so it will be interesting to see what that approach is.
It also goes the other way, can Edey slow Burns down both in the paint and in getting open looks for others or will they have to double to save Edey/slow Burns down. I haven't watched Purdue at all so don't know their defensive approach.
Most likely Purdue v UConn in the final but wouldn't that be something if its NCState v UConn for both men and women!

 

[JOBU]

I'm guessing Diarra and Middlebrooks spend more time guarding Edey 1 on 1 and there will be quick double teams if Burns is on him to save DJ on fouls and stamina. State really hasn't had to play anybody like Edey in the ACC so it will be interesting to see what that approach is.
It also goes the other way, can Edey slow Burns down both in the paint and in getting open looks for others or will they have to double to save Edey/slow Burns down. I haven't watched Purdue at all so don't know their defensive approach.
Most likely Purdue v UConn in the final but wouldn't that be something if its NCState v UConn for both men and women!

Winner gets the rights to the Hurri… er Whalers franchise.

 

[DJnVa]

Interesting little story while we wait for the games: Gambling has made ends of games miserable for college basketball benchwarmers - The Athletic

This season he’s played a grand total of 21 minutes and scored six points. Three of them came in the NCAA Tournament. With 37 seconds left in a game long decided, Barrett drained a baseline 3 against Grambling State, putting himself in the box score of Purdue’s first-round victory. As the ball swished through the net, the bench erupted, Barrett’s teammates knowing full well what he’d sacrificed and endured. His bucket would be the last for the Boilermakers as Purdue cruised to a 78-50 win. Back in the locker room, Barrett picked up his phone and scrolled through the congratulatory texts from friends and started to search through his DMs on social media.

He stumbled on this:

You sure are a son of a b—.
Hope you enjoy selling cars for the rest of your life.

Followed by:

I hope you f-ing die.

And then the kicker:

Kill yourself for taking that 3 you f-ing worthless loser. Slit your f-ing throat you f-ing f– that was completely uncalled for. I hope you f-ing kill yourself.

The Boilermakers were 27-point favorites against Grambling. Barrett’s bucket meant they won by 28. “I had no idea what the line was,” Barrett said. “I’m just out there, making memories with my friends.”

 

[BaseballJones]

I know what I'm about to say may rankle a lot of people here but oh well: Gambling sucks. It's a ruinous industry. There's really good reasons why it's long been considered a vice across cultures and time. (and not just in ultra-conservative, "Puritanical" societies)

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Classic Xtwittersocialmedia. The angry people post but all the people who won on that shot are silent. Wish they could yell at each other and leave the poor kid alone.

 

[Humphrey]

Even in a crummy Patriot League game, I've seen the officials waste minutes deciding an out-of-bounds call with under 10 seconds left and one of the teams up by more than 2 possessions. No doubt because of the effect another basket would have had on the over/under.

 

[bosox188]

I suppose one way to stop UConn is to simply keep them from making it to Arizona at all.

@MattNorlander

BREAKING: UConn does not have a plane to fly to Arizona at the moment, Dan Hurley tells @CBSSports. Was supposed to take off at 6 ET, logistical/mechanical issues with the plane coming in from Kansas City forced significant delays. NCAA handles all trace for NCAAT.

The issue for UConn (among many) is crew flying plane from KC would be over their FAA hours and can’t fly UConn immediately to Arizona. UConn’s earliest option is to get a smaller plane via Cincinnati that won’t take off until 12:45 am ET and not land until nearly 5 am ET/2 am PT.

The plane from Cincinnati would require a fuel stop because it’s smaller. The Huskies are going to get to Arizona with hours to spare before Thursday media availability. They have tried for an hour working every charter possible, but nothing is available for the next five hours.

UConn remains in limbo and waiting on its earliest flight, but barring a stunner, it’s not getting out until we’ll after midnight and will have to stop somewhere to refuel. If it waits on the plane from Kansas City, per Hurley, that crew can’t fly until 10 am ET on Thursday.

Obviously a travel disaster for the No. 1 overall seed. All other teams are on the ground in Arizona. Alabama and Purdue got in yesterday, NC State just landed in the past hour.

 

[BaseballJones]

Where's Robert Kraft's plane when you need it?

 

[bosox188]

Last year, the UConn men's team had to switch hotels in Vegas because the rooms were in horrendous shape and then they got their stuff stolen. These incidents through no fault of their own, because my understanding is the NCAA handles the hotel arrangements as well.

I look forward to our beautifully psychotic head coach using this as a disrespect card.

 

[reggiecleveland]

I know what I'm about to say may rankle a lot of people here but oh well: Gambling sucks. It's a ruinous industry. There's really good reasons why it's long been considered a vice across cultures and time. (and not just in ultra-conservative, "Puritanical" societies)

I am with you.

 

[JOBU]

I suppose one way to stop UConn is to simply keep them from making it to Arizona at all.

Perfect. I’m sure Hurley was running out of ways to get the team to buy into the disrespect angle. He will no doubt spin this into some slight to keep that chip on everyone’s shoulders.

And @BaseballJones I seem to recall the Pats ditched the 767’s because of some legal dispute between the team and the charter company that operates them.

 

[BaseballJones]

Perfect. I’m sure Hurley was running out of ways to get the team to buy into the disrespect angle. He will no doubt spin this into some slight to keep that chip on everyone’s shoulders.

And @BaseballJones I seem to recall the Pats ditched the 767’s because of some legal dispute between the team and the charter company that operates them.

Oh I did not know that.

 

[Dan Murfman]

They have finally arrived.

View: https://twitter.com/uconnhuskyad/status/1775828939904332045?s=61&t=mLlSRkfq4VtgCm4CvSpAPg

 

[JOBU]

I know “it’s just the NIT” but these kids are playing hard and it’s been a wild game.

 

[MuzzyField]

I know “it’s just the NIT” but these kids are playing hard and it’s been a wild game.

100% Agree!

 

[bosox188]

We were robbed of seeing both these teams in the NCAAs. But whatever, there's one title for the Big East down...

 

[Remagellan]

We were robbed of seeing both these teams in the NCAAs. But whatever, there's one title for the Big East down...

With the way UConn is steamrolling teams, I doubt the NCAA Final will be as good a game as this one was.

 

[Ale Xander]

They should have a game , say next Friday, between the winners of the NiT and the NCAA’s.
It would be cool but the NCAA’s probably can’t take that chance.

 

[Rusty Gate]

UConn vs. Seton Hall? Been there, done that.

 

[JOBU]

Yeah what incentive would there be for the NCAAT champ?

 

[canderson]

It’s about time for Alabama to have a terrible shooting game. UConn by ~18.

I hope NC State wins and Painter chokes again but I bet Purdue rolls.

 

[bosox188]

Is it just me or does the video quality on this game look like shit? It looks like it's been smeared and scrubbed and overly filtered. Stood out to me immediately when I put it on. I don't recall TBS/TNT feeds looking quite this bad earlier in the tournament.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Bruins game over, what did I miss?

 

[tims4wins]

State is down 10 and Burns is <50%? Shocking.

I'd bet the house against them. Burns in particular. He's going to have like a 6-19 day.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Don’t know how State can have a comeback when they are getting so dominated on the glass.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

State making a run

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Only way State can get a rebound is loose ball off Purdue out of bounds. But Horne is a really good player. Nice transfer for State.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Pretty even statistically in most categories. Purdue is getting easier chances but North Carolina State is making their harder chances. Disparity is on the boards. State looks hopeless. They are only hanging in there by causing some empty trips by being able to turn Purdue over. State either needs to find some equality on the glass or make all their threes. Otherwise they just can’t keep up.

 

[tims4wins]

This game is almost exactly the same as the Duke-NCSU game. Low scoring. 6 point game. Burns with 2 fouls and a non factor in the first half. Last Sunday NCSU dominated the second half. TBD how this second half plays out.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

This game is almost exactly the same as the Duke-NCSU game. Low scoring. 6 point game. Burns with 2 fouls and a non factor in the first half. Last Sunday NCSU dominated the second half. TBD how this second half plays out.

They were competitive on the boards. Here the disparity is only -9 but they look hopeless. Every board is a major adventure.

 

[Auger34]

Braden Smith is a bum.

 

[tims4wins]

Product is horrible.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Product is horrible.

State exhausted and Purdue playing a C- game.

 

[tims4wins]

State exhausted and Purdue playing a C- game.

They last played 6 days ago. Why are they exhausted.

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

They last played 6 days ago. Why are they exhausted.

I remember UConn was in 2011. I think they are redlined for three weeks, playing 9 elimination games and then they get the week off and they can’t get the energy back. The difference is that Connecticut was a great defensive team and they got two lower seeds in the final four and so won two games with 50 something points. I think State needed to keep playing. The energy is gone,

 

[canderson]

Agreed - this game is incredibly boring. They had an 8 minute stretch play without stop in the first that seemed to have killed them.

 

[Auger34]

Product is horrible.

Has it been good at any point this season? That’s why the UConn lovers talking about how their team is one of the best ever is a fucking joke

 

[tims4wins]

Has it been good at any point this season? That’s why the UConn lovers talking about how their team is one of the best ever is a fucking joke

It hasn’t been good for years.

 

[canderson]

This one is over and the UCOonn - Alabama game will imo probably be even worse.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

This game is over. No need to drag it out with fake timeouts and all the other nonsense.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

They last played 6 days ago. Why are they exhausted.

Because they spent the last 6 days drinking and fucking their way through campus.

 

[Auger34]

It hasn’t been good for years.

Agreed. These teams pale in comparison to teams in then 1990s-2010s. Its just not close

 

[tims4wins]

Has there ever been a final four like this before where 1 v 4 is the closest matchup?

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Duplicate

 

[DennyDoyle'sBoil]

Line moving. Alabama from +500 to +380 and spread has moved a point toward Alabama. Wonder what people are seeing.

 

[riboflav]

Did Ian Eagle really use the G word?

And, why is this game thread so dead?

 

[bosox188]

If they want to keep giving Castle a few seconds to take an open three they're welcome to do that.

 

[Ale Xander]

Cajones

 

[BigSoxFan]

Did Ian Eagle really use the G word?

And, why is this game thread so dead?

Resident UConn fans getting nervous?