Agreed
. But I think UT actually playing to potential is all that stands between Zona and the FF.So Who Is Your Final Four?
- Thread starter jedwar
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. But I think UT actually playing to potential is all that stands between Zona and the FF.
There are several team in the tournament THIS year with a worse defensive ranking. And we’re not top 10. We’re 27.
Size doesn't mean speed. And even in the debacle that was UT - Oscar seems to have figured out how to use his speed against lumbering size. If it weren't for fouls, he'd probably have had 25 and 20, even with two 7' goons slobbering on his scalp.
I don't buy Purdue based on what I've seen on TV and on paper. They are burly, slow, and yes while they shoot the 3 well, that's about it. Won't be anything new for our Cats.
I'm amazed so many have KU since we beat them so bad but they are playing their best ball at the right time so I can see it. Duke, Nova, UK and KU.
I was talking about pre-tournament. You posted the final KenPom. Look back a few days and you'll see at end of season we were top 10.
I also clarified my mistake on quoting the ESPN article above. It was "high major" teams, not all teams.
I still stand by my belief that there's not much to worry about with Purdue. Will I still be a mess come game time if that's who we see? Sure. But I think we'll be fine.
What’s your point? We are what we are. Look, I hope with every fiber of my being that we win the whole damned thing but we’re just not playing well right now. I hope that changes next week, but we’ll just have to see. I’m not very confident based on the past 2-3 weeks. Now is not the time to be playing poorly.
Kentucky is 27th in AdjD----Purdue has played 3 teams better defensively----Indiana(2x's) and Villanova...
Purdue also has a dude that could possibly be the #1 Pick, and a NPOY type of talent in Jaden Ivey.
They are bad defensively---but its not like they haven't played against "better" defensive teams...
UK is 27th.....This according to KP...
I absolutely HATE Purdue. But overlooking them is a huge, huge mistake....they can score in bunches, have shooters everywhere, a Top 5 pick in Jaden Ivey, and two bigs who if they played elsewhere and didn't have to split time, would probably be 1st/2nd team AA.
Purdue is a scary match-up...THey have the size to really give Oscar issues..
If this happened and uk didn't win it all I'm committing Hari Kari. I suggest you all do the same.
Gonzaga
UCLA (Juzang lights up UK in Elite 8)
Kansas
Tennessee
Gonzaga over Tennessee in the final
UCLA (Juzang lights up UK in Elite 8)
Kansas
Tennessee
Gonzaga over Tennessee in the final
They were better at the time they played them, or better today? Huge difference.
We had won 5 of 6 before losing to quite possibly the hottest team in the country by 7.
The reason I think UK is going to turn it on in the NCAAs is because we have played a top schedule since mid Jan with most of the tougher games away from Rupp(winning some and playing competitive in others and that with our guards and a forward constantly hurt) and we are finally getting healthy.
I see a few different kinds of posters in this thread:
Other teams' fans.
Our "fans" that either are thin skinned or want UK to fail due to their disdain for Calipari.
The UK fans that have some optimism with what is Cal's best and most mature team in quite some time (read: not a 1-and-done squad).
The UK fans that are skeptical because of being burned too often thanks to Cal's 1-and-done experiments.
I get it - I've been critical of Cal over the last few years, mainly around what I also saw to be a failed 1-and-done experiment. But this year is different. Cal went out and got what we've been asking for for years. And they are a solid, good group that can win this entire thing. And, we caught the best bracket we've had in years.
Let's get positive here - so tired of the negativity and pessimism.
Other teams' fans.
Our "fans" that either are thin skinned or want UK to fail due to their disdain for Calipari.
The UK fans that have some optimism with what is Cal's best and most mature team in quite some time (read: not a 1-and-done squad).
The UK fans that are skeptical because of being burned too often thanks to Cal's 1-and-done experiments.
I get it - I've been critical of Cal over the last few years, mainly around what I also saw to be a failed 1-and-done experiment. But this year is different. Cal went out and got what we've been asking for for years. And they are a solid, good group that can win this entire thing. And, we caught the best bracket we've had in years.
Let's get positive here - so tired of the negativity and pessimism.
Indiana has hovered around and inside the Top 20 defensively all year... AS has Nova. I know you guys hate Indiana, but they are very, very good defensively.
My realistic picks
Texas Tech
UK
Arizona
Wisconsin (this brackets hard to pick)
who I want
Georgia St
UK
Jacksonville state
Delaware
Texas Tech
UK
Arizona
Wisconsin (this brackets hard to pick)
who I want
Georgia St
UK
Jacksonville state
Delaware
I have the same first 3 as you, but haven't yet deduced the forth. Not Auburn, lol.
Purdue beat Nova way back on Nov 21. I don't have a KenPom subscription to see how strong their defense was ranked back then.
Purdue won vs IU (at Purdue) on 3/5. Yes, today IU appears to be ranked 21 in AdjD on KenPom, but I can't see what they were ranked at the time of their win over Purdue. Score was 69-67 Purdue.
Purdue lost at IU 68-65 back on January 20.
IU is 20-13 and is a 12 seed in the play-in game.
You are a bit high on your Hoosiers given your entire argument is how tough they were in your game (no idea why you bring up Villanova, frankly). I'm also not understanding why an IU fan is on a UK board defending, of all schools, Purdue. It's the equivalent of a UK fan being on a Duke board defending Louisville.
We will see about that. Juju got a long way to go before even facing up.
I hope you’re right but even in those wins we haven’t looked very good. Something has just been off. Here’s the main problem I have with a Purdue matchup. Anyone that has paid attention this year knows our biggest strength, by far, has been our rebounding, especially our offensive rebounding. Purdue‘s size could really neutralize that and if so we’re in trouble unless we’re really hot from the perimeter and we certainly haven’t been lately. Maybe Purdue has an off game offensively. Who knows. I’m just worried about the potential matchup, but I’m in no way saying we can’t beat them. We can but certain things have to go our way.
UT put two, TWO 7' dudes on Oscar. And he was out for at least 14 minutes of the game due to "fouls". Yet he still got 14 boards. FOURTEEN!
And yet another (20 in a row) double double. In just ~26 mins or so with two (I say again, TWO!) 7' dudes slobbering on his head!
What's Purdue got? A fast 7-footer? I just don't see the worry.
I don’t want to go there but my money would be on Purdue in our region.
Having said that we’re UK get it done. I’m sick of this **** it’s time UK started winning and ended the excuses that have plagued us lately. No excuses. Title or meh, final four or bust.
Having said that we’re UK get it done. I’m sick of this **** it’s time UK started winning and ended the excuses that have plagued us lately. No excuses. Title or meh, final four or bust.
I'm not defending Purdue...I hate them. But a spade is a spade, brother. Match-ups, match-ups, match-ups....Purdue is nasty offensively, very explosive....But the biggest issue they pose for UK, is they have TWO guys who can make life tough on Oscar. Edey and Williams are pretty damn good----And big. Its not about defending anyone---Its simply understanding the match-ups.. Which is why I like IU's chances vs Wyoming and St.Mary's----we match up veery well with both.
NOt sure what IU being 20-13 and a 12 seed has to do with how good they are defensively----Defense wasn't our issue----scoring was. Indiana's defense keeps them in games, and their offense is good enough to give them a chance. And look, Of Indiana's 13 losses, 7 of them were by 5 points or less. Only had 4 losses of 9 points or more, and one of those was in OT.
I just like to talk hoops, bro....I've seen Purdue a lot. Overlooking them is a mistake.. Their length/height, shooting ability and the fact they have a consensus Top 5 pick, makes it silly to brush them off....
FTR----If UK meets Purdue, I hope you beat those mutherfukers by 900.....
There’s just no discussing things rationally with some people. They present some matchup issues. I’ll leave it at that. Conversely, we present some matchup issues for them too. Overlook them if you want to. In the end what we think makes no difference anyway.
100 in D is 100 in D. Wheeler will run circles around them and eventually find Ty Ty and Grady for a floater over their bigs.
Very possible....Just as PU presents issuses for UK, UK presents issues for Purdue.
And yes, 100 in D is 100 in D.....Just like 3rd in Offense is 3rd in offense....
Overlook them if ya want....But they'll be a handful.
Again, what defenses have they played against? You gave me Nova from Nov 21, and of course IU (who split 2 and 3 point wins). We can go on and on with this debate, but you've yet to show me how Purdue can be trouble for UK. If you were talking speedy guards, I'd be right there agreeing with you. But so far you've presented nothing that convinces me that Purdue's "big dudes" and their offense/defense disparity will cause any issues for the Cats should they meet in the 2nd round.
I know----And? I was asked a question, bro----I asnwered the question, bro.....Sorry it involved IU, bro...
Good luck in the NCAA's, bro.....
Go Cats/Hoosiers.
Bro....
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