ZoomSlowik

QUOTE(chimpy2121 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 10:02 PM) I did both the prerank and exclude lists. Also, I saw the draft order was set to random...shouldn't it go in order? Oops, yeah, that'd kind of help. I'll do that now... Crap, don't have a full roster yet, can't edit.

I heard through the grapvine that those guys are cool with Tru. Alright, now for the fun part guys. I'd REALLY appreciate it if you guys do some draft prep for me. Two things I'd like you to do: 1) Put your 5 keepers as your top 5 players on the pre-rankings. 2) Put other people's keepers on your excluded list (everyone's list is in this thread). If you're short on time, please at least do the first one, that'll make my life a lot easier...

QUOTE(THEWOOD @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 05:28 PM) Isnt the draft tonight? Yep, in a couple of hours...

Alright, that leaves just Beastly. I'll come up with someone else if we don't get a response in the near future...

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:39 PM) I like USC in that game, I really do. Also, just saying, NMSU is athletic enough to stick with UT. I personally believe Texas is a tad overrated, jmo. I think they are too, but it's hard to ignore Durant, and Augustin has been a damn good point guard for most of the year as well. If they had a competent big man they'd really be A LOT more dangerous IMO. I've liked USC most of the year, I'm just not sure they have quite enough to hang with UT. Also, Arkansas is a bad matchup for them in the first round with their size, and they're not exactly terrible on the perimeter either. Even if they win, they'll probably be a bit more beat up, which tempers my enthusiasm a bit...

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:04 PM) The interesting thing about Durant is he's better against bigger guys and doubles. When KU doubled him or put Arthur or Kaun or somebody big on him, he scored at will. His trouble came against a smaller, quicker guy in Brandon Rush. Really, the only way to stop him IMO is use quickness to slow him/wear him down, although Brandan Wright on Durant would be a fascinating matchup. Well, big guys have no chance, he's much more dangerous on the perimeter than inside. Ideally you'd put a big athletic wing player on him (like Rush, Wright, or as it pertains to UNC, Terry) who's main goal is to try to deny the ball. Then with the double you bring a big if he's in the post or another guard to try to seal/trap on the perimeter (of course the problem is that you can't really leave Augustin or Abrams too often, and Mason is an okay shooter too. I'd rather take my chances with the latter two though). If you can get him with the double and stop him from shooting over you, then that should help because he's not the greatest passer and half of the other guys on the floor aren't huge threats, or even better, he'll try to force up the shot through the two guys. That's pretty hard to do though, as he's obviously huge and freakishly athletic. QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:21 PM) Texas better worry about their first two round opponents before they worry about the Tar Heels. I think that could be a hell of a game with USC. Both are perimeter oriented teams with athletic perimeter players that can shoot, and USC has been pretty good defensively. They also actually have someone that can score in the post in Gibson. I couldn't pick them over UT though, they have no one that can matchup well with Durant (MAYBE Young, but not so sure about that), and they really only have 4 good players themselves. To be fair though, they did struggle to put away Baylor and Oklahoma State. If Durant tries to do everything and is forcing shots while Augustin and Abrams aren't really factors (and both struggled a bit in the Big 12 tourney), that really hurts their cause. As gifted as he has, he can't do it alone.

Florida UCLA UNC Texas A&M

We've got a full roster, but I gotta double-check to make sure it's the right roster. I'm not sure who the following teams are: killa khalid Long Live Man Soo Lee Judging by the roster I'd say that these teams belong to Elamins and Fourofakind. Am I right?

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 01:30 PM) I fully expect Durant to burn UNC for 50 because UNC had to turn him down for his grades. But, I still don't think they can take UNC's depth. You'd think teams would start doubling him at all times since James and Mason generally aren't going to hurt you that bad. If he doesn't crack at least 25 against most teams they're toast unless Abrams is hot...

I just can't take Texas over UNC. UNC is considerably bigger and deeper, and Texas is just as young. Durant can only do so much, I don't see him getting enough help.

QUOTE(chimpy2121 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 10:38 AM) I don't care if it's pushed back. However, we only have 8 people in the league now. Damn slackers! This is what happens when I leave for a while.

Sorry, your commish is a lazy ass that spent the last week in Tucson. I'll crack the whip early tomorrow...

We're adding some more muscle to this league, Knightni and Tru will be filing the last two spots. DPBL representin'!

Dukies go down again, UNC won comfortably. Interesting ending though, Hansbrough took an elbow from Henderson, looks like he might have broken his nose. Henderson was ejected and is suspended for the next game.

UCLA pulled it out. They tried to blow it after leading by 10, but WSU just couldn't score enough. UCLA looked pretty solid outside of some awful outside shooting. UNC is starting to give me a 2005-UConn vibe. They have a ridiculous amount of talent, but they don't play enough defense and make sloppy mistakes somewhat regularly. I generally like to go with the talent when filling out my bracket, but I just don't know about them...

You can do whatever you want, but most of the people on the wait list wanted a head to head league...

I guess go ahead and roll with League 6 (got 10 by my count), Indywallin' started it...

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 10:53 PM) WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhoooooooooooooooooooooooo A&M falls, with a KU win on saturday We win the Big 12. but it wont be easy vs. texas. I still say you guys win even after tonight. Your game is at home, which is a big difference. Plus A&M was basically all-Law for both overtimes and they still damn near pulled it out, you'd need more than 2 guys fouling out for that to happen to Kansas...

Games over, Texas win. Law just didn't have enough help in the overtimes. Monster games from Augustin and James from Texas.

He's probably not done either with Carter and Jones out of the game...

Another crazy game involving Texas. Acie Law is just insane, they need to stop letting him shoot in those situations...

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 02:20 PM) Another one of your favorite teams, Texas A&M. I love everything about that team, and have been beyond impressed when I've seen them play. I know they're resume overall isn't that impressive but they're the best team I've seen play this year(I know this is going to cause quite the stir here). As for UCLA, I'm still a fan, but I think their lack of an inside presence is going to catch up to them in the tournament. They're going to miss Ryan Hollins a bunch come March imo. Actually, I recanted on a lot of my Texas A&M comments before the season... I don't know, I think UCLA can hold their own with Mata and Mbah a Moute as their inside guys, especially with the talent they have in the backcourt. The thing that worries me the most is depth. I like them against every team except possibly Kansas and OSU, and those are about toss-ups. As for A&M, I like them as a team, I got them in the Elite 8/Final Four territory depending on the matchups. My concern with them is that if they play a team with a little more offensive punch that still plays solid defense and maybe runs a little more they could have problems. They lost hard-fought games against LSU and UCLA earlier in the year as well as two games to Texas Tech in that fashion, and Acie Law bailed them out against Kansas. If they run into Kansas again or someone like OSU, Wisconsin, or Pitt I could see them going down (though I do like them more than those last 3, and Kansas is about a push). I would rank my confidence as such right now: 1) UCLA- I love their backcourt 2) Kansas- Would be #1 if not for their history, hiccups this year, and relative lack of challenges recently. 3) Texas A&M- They do have a lot of solid pieces, though individually Law is the only guy I really like. 4) UNC- They have me torn, generally I go with talent, but they've lost numerous games they probably shouldn't have. Perimeter players worry me, though I like Lawson. 5) Florida Dropped from #1 on my list with their play recently, they looked AWFUL last night. 6) OSU- Their roster outside of Oden and Conley worries me. Very inconsistent wing players, they've dodged a few bullets. 7) Wisconsin- Solid, but Butch injury worries me.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 02:07 PM) I have one sure fire Final Four team and after that it's going to completely depend on matchups between about the other 4-6 teams that I think could get there. Care to elaborate? I agree, a lot of it will depend on what teams they run into. The only team I really have any faith in right now is UCLA (quite a difference from last year, huh? ), I have some questions about everyone else.

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 01:24 PM) Syracuse's resume in 2003 wasn't all that either. I could make the same case for Marquette that year. Special players have a way of getting things done in tournament time. I agree Texas' defense is very sub-par, however teams that face them will soley be focused in on how to stop Durant, and often get backed out of their normal gameplans and tempo. Syracuse was a 3-seed that year, they went 30-5 with 2 wins over a Sweet 16 Notre Dame team and a win against a strong Pitt team (2-seed that lost to Marquette in the Sweet 16). Marquette was 27-6 with a 14-2 record in Conference USA and wins over Wake Forest and Louisville (both ranked). I'm not entirely sure what seed they were, but given the bracket they faced (Holy Cross in the first, #24 Missouri in the second, #4 Pitt in the third, and #1 Kentucky in the Elite 8) I would say that they were probably a #3 seed as well. Texas on the other hand will fall in the 7-9 range unless they pull an upset this week. Their 3 best wins so far are against rather mediocre Texas Tech and Oklahoma State teams. Not exactly the same thing.

Well, before last night I would have said: Florida UCLA Kansas UNC However, Florida looked like utter crap against Tennessee, so now I'm more reserved about that one, I'd probably throw A&M in there. They will not make the Final Four playing like that, Horford was the only one that showed up. Also, without seeing the bracket I tend to go with the chalk, I'll have at least one team that's a 4-6 seed in there once I see the brackets (though I'm not enamored with anyone on Lunardi's current bracketology). QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 12:12 PM) me too, but I'm bored. UT did look awfully good last night, but have been very inconsistent away from home. Then again, most of those bad times was when Lofton was out. Really anxious to see A&M and Texas tonight. If Durant can beat them, he can carry them to a final four. I REALLY don't buy Texas in the Final Four. They have no interior players and have mastered the art of matador defense...