Elite 8 thread
- Thread starter Halldan
- Start date
I’m feeling Purdue over Arizona but do feel Purdue are just not talented enough compared to their Edey teams. I got to see more of Arizona. I am impressed how they handily beat Arkansas but I did not like how they handled Utah state but I see the merit.
I wish huskers won and wish cougars, but I feel more warmed up to Illinois.
considering they handily beat the runners up last year and have ridiculous size with great guard play from wagler and Pejas son, I feel they are arguably best bet with UCONN to knock off the one seeds.
I feel can wake up to Iowa too so if they beat Illinois I can warm up to them against Duke.
They have shown they can beat a number one and stirtz/folguerias combo might be that lethal.
I think I’ll ride Illinois. I feel this team has the confidence and momentum the past recent teams haven’t had.
And their depth just seems really great with the euro bigs espeoclaly the mirkovic who seems like a real NBA prospect with wagler.
for Sunday games,I’ve never had beef with UConn so for BE probably go for them though out of recent Duke teams, I actually like this team more cause they seem to play more as a team and aren’t reliant on a Zion or Flagg. I really like that Evans kid and honestly like not just cam but Cayden boozer.
And i feel volunteers could be my team with either Illinois or possibly UConn.
I feel Rick Barnes and Tennessee feels like Bo Ryan with Wisconsin in 2013-2015. I feel talent is there and feel like Illinois, have solid depth and while not as big as Illinois have nice size that can compete with anyone. My worry is they do seem turnover prone and don’t know if they will do good when game is tight against a team like Michigan. Still if Gillespie and ament kid are effective scoring wise and don’t turn the ball over, I think they can pull the upset against Michigan.
I wish huskers won and wish cougars, but I feel more warmed up to Illinois.
considering they handily beat the runners up last year and have ridiculous size with great guard play from wagler and Pejas son, I feel they are arguably best bet with UCONN to knock off the one seeds.
I feel can wake up to Iowa too so if they beat Illinois I can warm up to them against Duke.
They have shown they can beat a number one and stirtz/folguerias combo might be that lethal.
I think I’ll ride Illinois. I feel this team has the confidence and momentum the past recent teams haven’t had.
And their depth just seems really great with the euro bigs espeoclaly the mirkovic who seems like a real NBA prospect with wagler.
for Sunday games,I’ve never had beef with UConn so for BE probably go for them though out of recent Duke teams, I actually like this team more cause they seem to play more as a team and aren’t reliant on a Zion or Flagg. I really like that Evans kid and honestly like not just cam but Cayden boozer.
And i feel volunteers could be my team with either Illinois or possibly UConn.
I feel Rick Barnes and Tennessee feels like Bo Ryan with Wisconsin in 2013-2015. I feel talent is there and feel like Illinois, have solid depth and while not as big as Illinois have nice size that can compete with anyone. My worry is they do seem turnover prone and don’t know if they will do good when game is tight against a team like Michigan. Still if Gillespie and ament kid are effective scoring wise and don’t turn the ball over, I think they can pull the upset against Michigan.
I like Zona, Michigan and Illinois. I think the Duke vs. UConn game could go either way. Give Duke slight edge but Danny and UConn know how to win big games in tournament. Pulling for Tennessee, just think Michigan is too good though.
Illinois Fighting Illini (27-8)
-6.5
O/U 139.5
Arizona Wildcats (35-2)
-5.5
O/U 153.5
Michigan Wolverines (34-3)
-7.5
O/U 146.5
Duke Blue Devils (35-2)
-5.5
O/U 133.5
-6.5
O/U 139.5
Arizona Wildcats (35-2)
-5.5
O/U 153.5
Michigan Wolverines (34-3)
-7.5
O/U 146.5
Duke Blue Devils (35-2)
-5.5
O/U 133.5
How Arizona beat Purdue and Illinois defeated Iowa in Saturday's Elite Eight
How Arizona beat Purdue and Illinois defeated Iowa in Saturday's Elite Eight
The Wildcats and Fighting Illini are Final Four bound. Here's how they punched their tickets to Indianapolis.
www.espn.com
Fascinated to watch the game within the game in the Duke Uconn matchup.
Is Duke going to start Brown and Boozer together -- which I think they typically do -- and have Brown be the one chasing Karaban around all those screens and movement?
Are they going to leave Boozer to guard Reed one on one, without help? The only SJU/Uconn game I watched every minute of was the Big East final, and SJU's strategy was to let Zuby guard Reed without help, so as not to leave 3 point shooters, despite Reed having a size advantage. Pitino said after the game they were only going to bring a double/dig if a player was guarding another Uconn player below the FT line in the same vicinity, which rarely happened. Obviously the strategy worked, but Zuby was an absolute monster defensively that game. Will Duke do the same?
If Reed starts going off, or even when Duke brings in their "biggest" guy, does that mean they are going to have Boozer chase Karaban around screens?
Or does Duke simply scrap man-to-man altogether at first and go with that zone to negate Uconn's constant movement and intricate motion action?
Conversely, I think Uconn needs to follow the SJU approach of trying to win the 3-point line. Uconn certainly has better personnel to do that, although SJU executed it and it almost worked for them. Can Reed avoid foul trouble having to deal with that Duke size?
I think this is a game where we see Ross and/or Stewart play bigger roles for Uconn over either Mullins or Ball, to combat Duke's size? Both those kids are good reserves and there is continuity there, so I think they can definitely help the cause.
Is Duke going to start Brown and Boozer together -- which I think they typically do -- and have Brown be the one chasing Karaban around all those screens and movement?
Are they going to leave Boozer to guard Reed one on one, without help? The only SJU/Uconn game I watched every minute of was the Big East final, and SJU's strategy was to let Zuby guard Reed without help, so as not to leave 3 point shooters, despite Reed having a size advantage. Pitino said after the game they were only going to bring a double/dig if a player was guarding another Uconn player below the FT line in the same vicinity, which rarely happened. Obviously the strategy worked, but Zuby was an absolute monster defensively that game. Will Duke do the same?
If Reed starts going off, or even when Duke brings in their "biggest" guy, does that mean they are going to have Boozer chase Karaban around screens?
Or does Duke simply scrap man-to-man altogether at first and go with that zone to negate Uconn's constant movement and intricate motion action?
Conversely, I think Uconn needs to follow the SJU approach of trying to win the 3-point line. Uconn certainly has better personnel to do that, although SJU executed it and it almost worked for them. Can Reed avoid foul trouble having to deal with that Duke size?
I think this is a game where we see Ross and/or Stewart play bigger roles for Uconn over either Mullins or Ball, to combat Duke's size? Both those kids are good reserves and there is continuity there, so I think they can definitely help the cause.
He did, but in fairness he really shouldn't have been there anyway because they don't beat Iowa State with Jefferson healthy.
I'm not going to lose sleep UCONN losing. I think it's ridiculous a conference being out before other conference validates a conference. I wonder what SEC will say when their lone team left choked terribly against Michigan and in the past 10 yeas, literally Flroida last year have been their national Champion. Big East have had 4 in the past 10 years. Add Bog 12 which has basically just been Kansas and Baylor. The whole crusade to exterminate our conference has been BS from the start.
Hot take: I Hope Duke beat Michigan or Arizona if they beat Illinois. I actually think they are more than capable beating both those teams media are forcing as historic. I think this Duke team seem more likable than the Zion or Flagg teams. They actually seem to play more as a team. Only annoying thing is the cringe Boozer twin commercials, but I think both kids will be good NBA players. IDK if Cam can live up to hype, but you see tonight his offensive potential and I think he can be a great rebounding big.
Duke just look more small though, but I feel their athleticism and defense is very capable and possibly even better than Arizona and Michigan.
I hope Illinois do the same as well. If UCONN come back, I hope same, but I don't know they have the talent like in 2023 and 2024 to win a natty tbh.
Duke just look more small though, but I feel their athleticism and defense is very capable and possibly even better than Arizona and Michigan.
I hope Illinois do the same as well. If UCONN come back, I hope same, but I don't know they have the talent like in 2023 and 2024 to win a natty tbh.
Stupid play by Boozer. Hold the ball make them foul you.
Wow what a finish. Can't help but loving to see Duke go down to a Big East team.
Karaban and Mullins hadn't made shots all day and both hit huge 3s in the last minute.
Duke needs to make them foul...uconn so fortunate as they missed a front end and then two guards missed free throws down the stretch
Duke getting up 18 or more against a BE team is curtains for them
It was looking like 3 out of 4 from 1989 until that choke job by Duke.
And duke was given 2 points on the worst call of the tourney
Duke has had abysmal blown leads the last two years in the tournament...really have not seen something like this since arizona in 2004 and 2005
You want to go full circle...20 years ago same venue elite 8 uconn needed a 3 and missed...they got it this time oh and bill raftery was the color commentator for cbs both times
Tarris Reed and Boozer went shot for shot most of the game. Impressive performances, both are so strong. But 3s are the great equalizer.
When Karaban made that 3 to go down one, I assume I wasnt the only one reminded of a comeback against Uconn this year by another BE team who came back, fueled by guts.
My daughter Marisa and I saw the Laettner shot in Philadelphia and this one comes damn close.I almost hit my head on the ceiling when Mullins hit that shot. Great for the Big East.
Feel some empathy for the Duke players but not for Duke. Danny has a culture at UCONN. They just kept coming at Duke all 2nd half.