2025 MBB NCAA Sweet 16/Elite 8 Thread

LionJim

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Alabama’s Mark Sears is a great player, 14 points already. Looks like Jalen Brunson.
 

MtNittany

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Bet all chalk on the 2 early games. Bama 1st half line already a winner. If UF comes through it will be a great early session for sure. Like the favorites later as well.
 
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OuiRPSU

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I’m dreading an all-SEC final four.

Not to worry. My Blue Devils will make sure this doesn’t happen.

Or so I’ve been told by one of my former students (and former Blue Devil) who I still keep in touch with.
 

Erial_Lion

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Up 15 with 9 minutes and change left, and Alabama is firing up transition 3's. It seems that Nate Oats has engrained in their heads that there is only one way that they play.
 

LionJim

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Up 15 with 9 minutes and change left, and Alabama is firing up transition 3's. It seems that Nate Oats has engrained in their heads that there is only one way that they play.
22/44 for 3s at 7:14, NCAA tournament record.
 

Nothing Special

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Up 15 with 9 minutes and change left, and Alabama is firing up transition 3's. It seems that Nate Oats has engrained in their heads that there is only one way that they play.
He has. 3's and lay-ups. They rarely, and I mean VERY rarely, shoot a mid-range jumper.
 

Tom McAndrew

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Texas Tech goes on a 16-3 run, and hits a 3 to tie it, 72-72. Arkansas cals TO with 9.7 sec left in the game (though they are reviewing the video, so the time remaining may be adjusted). Will Arkansas pull out a win, or are we heading to OT?
 

MtNittany

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I don't watch much college basketball. The "official reviews" are tiresome to say the least. I get that they want to get it right, but at some point trust your officials and clock keepers and let the game proceed.
 

Tom McAndrew

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And, I missed the last minute of OT of the Texas Tech - Arkansas game, as my cable feed locked, and then all I got were error messages. smh

 

Bison13

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He has. 3's and lay-ups. They rarely, and I mean VERY rarely, shoot a mid-range jumper.
This is the analytic approach in full display. I will say that after years of charting shotts and percentages for my own teams, the mid range pull up in the elbow area should be a shot that is used more. Percentages for the guards making that shot can be well over 50% for certain players/teams and thus are usually over the 1.1 ppp mark.

Sears has really made himself into quite the player in his time at Bama after transferring from Ohio.
 
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nittanyfan333

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Arizona made it competitive down the stretch, but Duke is going to win their matchup.

Think about this: Love was 1 shy of his CAREER HIGH, and it still wasn't enough to beat Duke. an that's with Duke only taking 19 3-pointers and being in pretty significant foul trouble most of the game.


..... sick


Flagg is the truth
 

Erial_Lion

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Think about this: Love was 1 shy of his CAREER HIGH, and it still wasn't enough to beat Duke. an that's with Duke only taking 19 3-pointers and being in pretty significant foul trouble most of the game.


..... sick


Flagg is the truth
Arizona turns up the heat with the press last night so what does Duke do? Just have your 6'9" four bring the ball up the court since he has the ball handling skills of a guard. He's ridiculous. This Duke team is going to be really hard to beat.
 

Bkmtnittany1

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So what NBA team has the first pick in the draft, because that is where Flagg is headed.
 

nittanyfan333

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Arizona turns up the heat with the press last night so what does Duke do? Just have your 6'9" four bring the ball up the court since he has the ball handling skills of a guard. He's ridiculous. This Duke team is going to be really hard to beat.

at one point he drives into the top of the lane, spins to his off (left) hand to the high post elbow and finger rolls a swish for 2. KEEP IN MIND, this kid should be getting ready for his Sr. High School Prom....
 

LionJim

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So what NBA team has the first pick in the draft, because that is where Flagg is headed.
Probably Washington will have the best odds. But with NIL it is not a foregone conclusion that Flagg is NBA bound. While he was out injured he sat on the bench with a necklace that to my untrained eye looked to cost $75k minimum.
 

Erial_Lion

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Probably Washington will have the best odds. But with NIL it is not a foregone conclusion that Flagg is NBA bound. While he was out injured he sat on the bench with a necklace that to my untrained eye looked to cost $75k minimum.
It's a lock that he's heading to the NBA. NIL $ won't touch NBA $ (with endorsements, and getting one year closer to the next big contract).
 
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LionJim

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It's a lock that he's heading to the NBA. NIL $ won't touch NBA $ (with endorsements, and getting one year closer to the next big contract).
“One year closer to the next big contract” I’ll concede but Flagg is making big time endorsement $$$$ already. (No, not as much as he’d get in the NBA.)
 

Moogy

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Probably Washington will have the best odds. But with NIL it is not a foregone conclusion that Flagg is NBA bound. While he was out injured he sat on the bench with a necklace that to my untrained eye looked to cost $75k minimum.
The first pick last year signed a deal for more than $57M over 4 years. Then tack on endorsements, which will be flowing in for a marketable guy like Flagg. And then the "real" money kicks in after those 4 years.

He'll want to get that clock running as quickly as possible, not sit in college hoops.

With Lebron aging out soon, and Victor on the shelf indefinitely, they have a chance at making Cooper the face of the future of the NBA ... so his endorsements could be absolutely unreal once he goes pro. He needs to jump on it.
 
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LionJim

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You have to say that we’ve seen a lot of talented players who have length and great fundamentals. Players are becoming better shooters every year. (It’s a matter of practice. I’m deaf and had a hard time making friends while in school so I’d end shooting three hours every day. People would watch me practice by myself on the North Hall courts, I’d always put on a show, bank shots from 25 feet.)
 

LionJim

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Bumping the schedule.


Kentucky-Tennessee is the big game, at least for me. While I was in grad school I saw Tennessee beat Kentucky three straight years in Knoxville. Dale Ellis, quite a player. I had Maryland-Tennessee in my final, not sure why or how, might have been solely for sentimental reasons but I normally don’t feel that way about either team.
 
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bdgan

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You have to say that we’ve seen a lot of talented players who have length and great fundamentals. Players are becoming better shooters every year. (It’s a matter of practice. I’m deaf and had a hard time making friends while in school so I’d end shooting three hours every day. People would watch me practice by myself on the North Hall courts, I’d always put on a show, bank shots from 25 feet.)
I agree that shooters are getting better. The game really changed (especially in the NBA) when 6'10" players became a threat from 3pt range. Overall athleticism is also better.

I don't agree with your generalization about fundamentals. Things like getting back on defense, fighting through screens, playing defense with your feet, blocking out, and getting on the floor for loose balls seem to have taken a step back.
 

LionJim

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I agree that shooters ste getting better. The game really changed (especially in the NBA) when 6'10" players became a threat from 3pt range.

I don't agree with your generalization about fundamentals. Things like getting back on defense, fighting through screens, playing defense with your feet, blocking out, and getting on the floor for loose balls seem to have taken a step back.
Transition defense is pretty stout these days. Nobody gets fast breaks anymore.

I’ll disagree with you about loose balls. I saw the players throwing themselves to the floor with reckless abandon. Alabama yesterday played ferociously, not a moment’s let-up. An experienced team. Your criticisms fit both BYU and Maryland, I will say that.
 
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BobPSU92

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tennessee is wiping their a$$es with kentucky late in the 1st half.

Odafe Oweh’s brother plays for kentucky.
 

Nothing Special

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Auburn looks sloppy. Sure not impressive as #1 overall seed.
Thought they were the most vulnerable #1 seed with the way they were playing coming into the tournament. 2nd half was pretty impressive tonight. Wore Michigan down with depth, length and quickness.