Who's going to win it all?

[WhiteSoxfan1986]

Penn and Indiana State in 1979 was the last case where it happened.

 

There was also UMASS in 1996.

[Rowand44]

There was also UMASS in 1996.

They're really not a true mid major though. The a10 isn't a bcs conference but it's kind of in the middle between mid major and power conference.

[ZoomSlowik]

I picked LSU. I think it's going to be either them or Florida. I don't think UCLA can hang with LSU. Frankly, they were fortunate to get through a very weak bracket.

[Rowand44]

I picked LSU. I think it's going to be either them or Florida. I don't think UCLA can hang with LSU. Frankly, they were fortunate to get through a very weak bracket.

Ha, still not sold on ucla obviously?

[ZoomSlowik]

Ha, still not sold on ucla obviously?

 

Not when they need a massive late run to beat a Gonzaga team that we've been ripping for months, and when they let a Memphis team that barely shot 30% with no 3's hang around for the entire game. They play some pretty good D, but so does LSU, and they've got a much better inside game.

[Rowand44]

Not when they need a massive late run to beat a Gonzaga team that we've been ripping for months, and when they let a Memphis team that barely shot 30% with no 3's hang around for the entire game. They play some pretty good D, but so does LSU, and they've got a much better inside game.

Well yes, they played like total s*** for 35 minutes of that zags game and pulled it out, that's a mark of a pretty good team imo. Also LSU obviously has the better inside game but UCLA has the better guards which is also pretty obvious. I can see this game going either way but I'm cheering for LSU cause I win more money if UCLA doesn't win it all.

[IlliniKrush]

Not when they need a massive late run to beat a Gonzaga team that we've been ripping for months, and when they let a Memphis team that barely shot 30% with no 3's hang around for the entire game. They play some pretty good D, but so does LSU, and they've got a much better inside game.

They still made the final four though. You gotta give em credit for that. They won the games, bottom line.

[ZoomSlowik]

UCLA is basically the Pac-10 version of the Illini. It's ridiculous how similar they are, especially offensively. I guess their big men are a bit more athletic, but no one has the production that Augustine does.

Edited March 27, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[IlliniKrush]

UCLA is basically the Pac-10 version of the Illini. It's ridiculous how similar they are, especially offensively. I guess their big men are a bit more athletic, but no one has the production that Augustine does.

Good point. The one thing i really like about UCLA is that Collison guy. I like his penetration skills a lot. The guards seem really good at taking care of the ball, they have Afflalo and Farmer, where as we really had a Dee brown hold it offense a lot of the time. I think UCLA has some better depth as far as the other players go, they do more things where as some of the Illini guys are really good at one thing or another.

[whitesoxfan101]

I don't like the UCLA/Illini comparison. If Illinois had as good a true point guard as Farmar this season, the offense would have been near the top of the Big 10. Defensively UCLA is a lot better than the Illini and more consistent as well, since their players don't take stupid fouls all game.

[ZoomSlowik]

Good point. The one thing i really like about UCLA is that Collison guy. I like his penetration skills a lot. The guards seem really good at taking care of the ball, they have Afflalo and Farmer, where as we really had a Dee brown hold it offense a lot of the time. I think UCLA has some better depth as far as the other players go, they do more things where as some of the Illini guys are really good at one thing or another.

 

I like Collison and Mbah a Moute. With a little more experience they should be solid. Bozeman is a fairly solid defender, but doesn't offer much else at this point. Afflalo is also pretty solid, but he seems to disappear for long stretches. Of their other guys only Hollins seems productive when he comes in.

 

I'm not all that impressed with Farmar at this point in his career. For a guy that plays in a fairly low risk offense, he turns the ball over a lot (3.7 average). Plus he shoots from outside quite a bit for a guy that isn't really a good shooter. At times he takes it to the basket, but he doesn't do it enough considering that's when he's at his best (Afflalo does this too, although he is a better shooter). His shooting percentage is also pretty low considering that very few teams in the Pac 10 play decent defense.

 

That said, this should be a very dangerous team next year. They've got a lot of young guys that should be better, and Josh Shipp should be back. He's an athletic wing player that gives them another solid option.

[Rowand44]

That said, this should be a very dangerous team next year.

I'd say they are a pretty dangerous team this year considering they are in the final four.

[ZoomSlowik]

I don't like the UCLA/Illini comparison.  If Illinois had as good a true point guard as Farmar this season, the offense would have been near the top of the Big 10.  Defensively UCLA is a lot better than the Illini and more consistent as well, since their players don't take stupid fouls all game.

 

I disagree. I don't think Farmar is really that much better at distributing the ball, and he turns it over a lot more. Their numbers are virtually identical, only Farmar shoots a higher percentage from the field and Dee doesn't turn it over as much. He plays virtually the same style as Brown, with a little more penetrating, and probably not quite as good in transition. Considering UCLA lost to Washington twice during the season, I don't really see it making that big a difference in the final result.

 

I really don't think they're any more consistent than the Illini. Their anemic offensive performances in the tournament show that. They're more athletic which gives them a slight edge, but Illinois is a bit more physical. Granted that came back to haunt them in the tourney, but it's generally been an asset.

Edited March 27, 2006 by ZoomSlowik

[ZoomSlowik]

I'd say they are a pretty dangerous team this year considering they are in the final four.

 

Okay, I worded that poorly.

 

Obviously I don't think they're one of the 10 best teams in the country right now, regardless of the tournament results. Next year they probably will be.

[danman31]

They're really not a true mid major though.  The a10 isn't a bcs conference but it's kind of in the middle between mid major and power  conference.

Yeah, if it's possible for a team out of their conference to be a #1 seed they aren't in a mid-major conference. St. Joseph's recently was a #1. Even Memphis pulled a #1 seed out of C-USA, that's far from a power conference this year.

[Jordan4life_2007]

I don't see anyway UCLA beats LSU outside of both Farmer and Afflalo having good games. In other words, they can't shoot a combined 3/18, as they did against Memphis, and expect to be in the game. LSU is too good.

[Rowand44]

I don't see anyway UCLA beats LSU outside of both Farmer and Afflalo having good games.  In other words,  they can't shoot a combined 3/18,  as they did against Memphis,  and expect to be in the game.  LSU is too good.

Memphis is a better team then LSU imo. I agree that they're going to have to shoot better but don't expect LSU to put up a lot of points.

[Jordan4life_2007]

Memphis is a better team then LSU imo.  I agree that they're going to have to shoot better but don't expect LSU to put up a lot of points.

 

The one thing Memphis lacks is a low-post-game changer like Davis. Whether they're a better team overall is not the question, I just think LSU is a tougher match-up.

[Rowand44]

I just think LSU is a tougher match-up.

That's fair but you said LSU is just too good so it kind of came across like you were saying LSU is better then Memphis.

Edited March 28, 2006 by Rowand44

[Jordan4life_2007]

That's fair but you said LSU is just too good so it kind of came across like you were saying LSU is better then Memphis.

 

Stop questioning me.

[Reddy]

george mason all the f***ing way! i'm totally on board. it's friggin hilarious

[ZoomSlowik]

That's fair but you said LSU is just too good so it kind of came across like you were saying LSU is better then Memphis.

 

Memphis definitely has more talent, but I think LSU is the better team. For all their depth and athleticism, Memphis doesn't really have any low post players and has few players that can create their own shot (even Carney and Williams struggle with that at times). They rely on the 3-pointer a lot more than they should.

 

LSU might be a little thin on guards, but they've got a huge advantage over pretty much every team in the country inside, and Darrell Mitchell gives them one pretty good perimeter player. They also play solid defense more consistently than Memphis (who seems to have lapses similar to UConn), and they don't have as many stupid turnovers.