No men's NCAA thread??? Pac 12 are 10 and 1, killin' it!

[pete6032]

I had no idea the post was about basketball. It was just a list if funny acronyms and strange terms I'd never heard before.


The underlined bits mean literally nothing to me and give me no clue as to what's going on apart from a vague sense of location.

I wasn't trying to put basketball down (hell, I had no idea that's what this was about), I just found it funny how I had literally no idea what you guys were happily chatting about!

Sorry for any unintended offence!

The NCAA tournament is an event where all of the big colleges and universities in the U.S. get together to have a basketball tournament. The 64 best teams across the country get invited to play. During most of the year these teams do not typically play each other because college basketball teams are placed into different conferences (basically a bucket of teams). These conferences have names like the Pac-12, Big-10, SEC, ACC, etc. There are a bunch of different conferences that are comprised of teams of similar size and geographic location, kind of like how you have different football leagues across Europe (premier league, La Liga, etc). So its a big deal when the 64 best teams in the country get together and play. The tournament is sudden death, so you go home when you lose. It starts out with 64 teams, then down to 32, then down to 16, 8, 4, 2, etc then a champion is crowned. When it gets to 16 teams left that round is called the "sweet 16." The round of 8 is called "elite eight." The round of four is called "final four," and the last two teams play in the national championship. The whole tournament is called "March Madness" because it happens over the course of a few weeks in March every year. The sudden death format of the tournament makes it extra exciting to watch.

You underlined a bunch of college names, which are the colleges those basketball teams are affiliated with (Oregon State, USC = University of Southern California, UCLA = University of California Los Angeles, etc).

 

[zinfamous]

Wales just missed out on a Grand Slam on Super Saturday just because the good France turned up. Still we have the Triple crown and there's a good chance that we will win the tournament unless France get some ridiculous score and a winning bonus point. Which is unlikely if the same Scotland turn up that turned up for the Calcutta Cup.

Rounders?

 

[zinfamous]

I'm not a college hoops fan, but it's basically now or never for the Zags.


I need a Greek to ATOT translation for this one.

Welshbloke is so Welsh that Bloke is actually his real last name now--he had it changed legally because he was tired of people trying to pronounce Dyfodwg ne' Glynogwyr

 

[Hans Gruber]

well the Pac-10 never had their own tournament back when that conference was last relevant in basketball (70s), so I guess it makes sense for them to call themselves whatever they want to make themselves feel better. Still, it was only that joke Bill Walton and those illegitimate UCLA teams that ever accomplished anything for the conference.

Come at me.

The reason people said the NCAA tournament was becoming the Pac-10 invitational. There were so many Pac-10 teams deep into the tournament and national championship games. I am talking late 90's through the early 2000's. Not talking about the Walton UCLA era.

 

[zinfamous]

The reason people said the NCAA tournament was becoming the Pac-10 invitational. There were so many Pac-10 teams deep into the tournament and national championship games. I am talking late 90's through the early 2000's. Not talking about the Walton UCLA era.

I only recall UCLA winning in like, 95? and Arizona in 97 or 98? I do recall various Arizona teams being consistent in those days and then more recently with Sean Miller, but I don't remember that heavy a concentration of Pac-10, consistently, outside of those programs during those years. I probably forgot some. I know Oregon and Stanford had some really good years, but it never seemed to be consistent with them.

I do recall Duke and fricking UNC cheaters and that one time with Maryland and Duke again, and UNC again, and again. The bastards. Tim Duncan making people know what Wake Forest was for several years. And either year, Duke or UNC would be in the final four anyway. starting out with half the conference at least, for those 2 decades. Virginia in those days, too, but moreso now. That's nuts.

 

[Muse]

I'm not a college hoops fan, but it's basically now or never for the Zags.

Now's as good a time as any, but now or never? They are about as consistent as it gets for making the tournament. I believe their roster doesn't look like they will fade after this year. And Mark Few's pretty darn good at recruiting monster BB players. The one player it looks like they can't do without ATM is Timme. If he stays healthy, they are the odds on favorite to win it all this year. But now or never? Don't know where you get that.

 

[pete6032]

My favorite part is googling the locations of schools that don't reveal their locations in their name. Gonzaga, Creighton, Oral Roberts, etc.

 

[pete6032]

I only recall UCLA winning in like, 95? and Arizona in 97 or 98? I do recall various Arizona teams being consistent in those days and then more recently with Sean Miller, but I don't remember that heavy a concentration of Pac-10, consistently, outside of those programs during those years.

Same

 

[digiram]

I'm loving all the double digit teams getting into sweet 16 and all the upsets. It gets tiring seeing the same ol Duke, UNC, UK, KU, year in and year out. I like the way Loyola plays D, and their big man has a nasty hook shot.

 

[Muse]

I'm loving all the double digit teams getting into sweet 16 and all the upsets. It gets tiring seeing the same ol Duke, UNC, UK, KU, year in and year out. I like the way Loyola plays D, and their big man has a nasty hook shot.

Cameron Krutwig, yeah!

 

[manly]

I only recall UCLA winning in like, 95? and Arizona in 97 or 98? I do recall various Arizona teams being consistent in those days and then more recently with Sean Miller, but I don't remember that heavy a concentration of Pac-10, consistently, outside of those programs during those years. I probably forgot some. I know Oregon and Stanford had some really good years, but it never seemed to be consistent with them.

The Pac-12 hasn't been relevant in men's hoops or football for some time (minor exceptions not-withstanding) so yes the mid-1990s until late 2000s does seem like a bit of glory years.

Now's as good a time as any, but now or never? They are about as consistent as it gets for making the tournament. I believe their roster doesn't look like they will fade after this year. And Mark Few's pretty darn good at recruiting monster BB players. The one player it looks like they can't do without ATM is Timme. If he stays healthy, they are the odds on favorite to win it all this year. But now or never? Don't know where you get that.

It's a single-elimination tournament, so if you're betting, you take the field over Gonzaga. But from the bits I've read/seen, this is the best Zags team ever and many of the usual hoops blue bloods aren't in the tourney, or have already lost. Don't get me wrong, a "mid-major" like Gonzaga is pretty much a major program and is relevant every year. But based on their talent level, unbeaten record, and annihilation of opponents all year, this is by far their most compelling chance ever. It's extremely rare for a non-power conference team to win the tournament, and the last time was UNLV in 1990. So if not now, then when?

 

[Muse]

It's a single-elimination tournament, so if you're betting, you take the field over Gonzaga. But from the bits I've read/seen, this is the best Zags team ever and many of the usual hoops blue bloods aren't in the tourney, or have already lost. Don't get me wrong, a "mid-major" like Gonzaga is pretty much a major program and is relevant every year. But based on their talent level, unbeaten record, and annihilation of opponents all year, this is by far their most compelling chance ever. It's extremely rare for a non-power conference team to win the tournament, and the last time was UNLV in 1990. So if not now, then when?

I'd bet even money that Mark Few's Zags win the championship, if not this year, sometime in the future.

 

[zinfamous]

I'd bet even money that Mark Few's Zags win the championship, if not this year, sometime in the future.

that's the same kind of hot take one would make c. 1988 like, "I bet Mike Kryzweski's Duke Blue Devils will win a championship sometime in the future!"

I'm surprised GOnzaga hasn't yet, because I thought they had--checked, and they were 2nd in 2017. I thought they had been to more than just the one final 4. ....it also looks like they created their own conference just so that they could win. They've come in 2nd only once in the last ~23 years, lol.

 

[manly]

that's the same kind of hot take one would make c. 1988 like, "I bet Mike Kryzweski's Duke Blue Devils will win a championship sometime in the future!"

I'm surprised GOnzaga hasn't yet, because I thought they had--checked, and they were 2nd in 2017. I thought they had been to more than just the one final 4. ....it also looks like they created their own conference just so that they could win. They've come in 2nd only once in the last ~23 years, lol.

They're a perennial 25 win team, but when's the last time Gonzaga had a player go top-5 in the NBA draft?* You can win the NCAA tournament with a "seasoned" cohesive team like Villanova has done a couple times, but that's the exception to the rule. It always helps to have all-world talent, which the blue bloods monopolize. It's the same reason the Pac-12 hasn't won squat in forever; we don't recruit the same elite talent as the other Power 5 conferences do (crooked Sean Miller excepting).

Like I said, this Gonzaga team has dominated all season. It's hard as fuck to go unbeaten, but you don't get these chances very often. For a similar comp, look at VCU under Shaka Smart or Butler under Brad Stevens. The "mid-majors" can do some damage within a time window, but none has broken through with a championship.

* Apparently the only time was Adam Morrison, and we all know how that Michael Jordan draft pick turned out.

 

[zinfamous]

^right, I was trying to remember that floppy haired kid's name. He was also the standout that kinda made that "Frist real" Gonzaga team, right? It was 4 or so seasons after that, and everyone still wanted to call that program "Cinderellas," for no good reason.

And I also don't recall much about Morrison after that. But then, I haven't paid much attention to the NBA since ~99ish.

I thought Sean Miller was vindicated from all the shenanigans? OK, just read up...it looks like AZ is just waffling on making a decision with him, and NCAA is going with the "failed to discipline assistants/encouraged the violations thing." so...it's definitely smelly.

Well, at least he's no Jim Harrick! or Calipari!

 

[zinfamous]

Both are feeder schools to Duke. Everybody knows this. One of them lost to Wisconsin. Was it the right one?

I oughta beat you senseless.....but really, I don't mind Duke. Kinda like them, actually. They are rivals, but if anything, they exist to kick UNC's ass, so that's always a good thing. And I like Kwresysdfcki, even what is worth not liking about him. I just like how those teams so thoroughly invest into that game. Though, yeah, all of that has changed significantly in recent years. You can no longer recruit an upperclass team. You just have to tolerate 1 year with the best players now, and it's the only way to survive. Sucks.

but it was UNC which lost to Wisconsin, and that's a good thing. Also, whenever NC State is in the NCAA tournament, we also lose to Wisconsin. I have no idea how we always end up in their bracket, but we do. And then we lose to them. It's fucking frustrating, because we shouldn't--at least, not all the time. It's so stupid. I think we lost to Wisconsin in 4 out of last 5 tournament appearances, haha.

It's the same thing as USA and Ghana in the World Cup. It always happens that way, and the results are always the same.

 

[Muse]

Pac Pac Pac... still only one loss (newcomer Colorado). Shouldn'a put 2 Pac-12 teams in the same 4 team bracket. USC and Oregon square off today, just one can advance to the Great Eight. Oregon State already there, a "12 seed." They killed it yesterday. Ethan Thompson run-out monster jam to the house.

 

[WelshBloke]

... Oral Roberts,..

He must have been a popular guy in high school!

 

[Muse]

He must have been a popular guy in high school!

I just watched the HD video recap of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles versus Arkansas Razorbacks game played yesterday. Must have been heartbreaking for the Golden Eagles, the game was a "toss up" all the way and Arkansas (heavily favored) barely squeezed out a win at the last second.

 

[WelshBloke]

I just watched the HD video recap of the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles versus Arkansas Razorbacks game played yesterday. Must have been heartbreaking for the Golden Eagles, the game was a "toss up" all the way and Arkansas (heavily favored) barely squeezed out a win at the last second.

I mean I was just making a juvenile joke about the name tbh!
I understand nothing of basketball.

 

[Muse]

I mean I was just making a juvenile joke about the name tbh!
I understand nothing of basketball.

Understood that completely, however there are other eyes on this me lad. I will add that basketball is a wonderful game and great fun to play. And if you love to play it, observing it well played can be quite exciting. Merely watching the attached video there, some 11 minutes, will give you a good idea of what basketball is about, BTW.

 

[pete6032]

Look up a list of notable alumni who attended Oral Roberts University. It's a who's who of odious people.

 

[WelshBloke]

Look up a list of notable alumni who attended Oral Roberts University. It's a who's who of odious people.

Maybe they just left with a bad taste in their mouth?

 

[Muse]

Pac 12, 12 wins, 2 losses, just one loss to a team not in the Pac 12.

KILLIN' IT!

 

[Muse]

Maybe they just left with a bad taste in their mouth?

Covid will do that to you, folks... mask up!!!!