Worst Final Four ever…

[MidseasonTweak]

This is a great FF. All of these teams play basketball well as a team. It has been fun to watch well-coached teams compete.

 

[MidseasonTweak]

I understand, but based on how they played today, I just don't think they have enough offense to win. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

I mean, a lot of people thought Creighton would win because they had a stout offense that they thought would overcome SDSU's, but SDSU's defense kept them in check.

 

[UKUGA]

 

[LmdCat]

I mean, a lot of people thought Creighton would win because they had a stout offense that they thought would overcome SDSU's, but SDSU's defense kept them in check.

I thought both teams were allowed to get away with a lot of fouling which is why I was surprised by the last foul call. It was a pretty tough call to make at that point in the game considering they were allowing just about anything short of murder before then.

 

[LmdCat]

Larranaga is a great coach.

He is a great coach. I am familiar with his coaching days at George Mason University. I like his coaching style. He said that he prepares his players prior to games and then during the game he trust that they will play like they were prepared to play. He doesn't believe that constantly yelling at his players is productive.

 

[akaukswoosh]

I'll watch and root against UConn with all my being

This!

 

[Lazlo7]

In 1 Bracket group I am in with almost 100 people, the winner has been determined as not 1 person has a final 4 team left. I wonder how many other brackets are done. Crazy

 

[TeoJ]

No way Villanova can beat Georgetown with Patrick Ewing.

 

[seccats04]

At least Cal and his fat pockets get to add to the viewership. Not like he's doing anything else.

I think Little House on the Prairie might be on at that time.

 

[akaukswoosh]

 

[VAWildcat15]

He is a great coach. I am familiar with his coaching days at George Mason University. I like his coaching style. He said that he prepares his players prior to games and then during the game he trust that they will play like they were prepared to play. He doesn't believe that constantly yelling at his players is productive.

I love Jim Larranaga, I’m so happy to see him back in the Final Four. I’m from Fairfax and George Mason’s campus is closer to my parent’s house than the high school I attended. That run was so crazy to experience as a local.

 

[26MichaelUK]

I love Jim Larranaga, I’m so happy to see him back in the Final Four. I’m from Fairfax and George Mason’s campus is closer to my parent’s house than the high school I attended. That run was so crazy to experience as a local.

Didn't realize he coached that team till I read your post.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

I mean, yeah, the final four is in Houston so I’m sure it would’ve been better for them to have made it. None of these teams have big fan bases but considering this is a once in a lifetime event for three of these schools, maybe they flood the city.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Remember who Jim Larranaga’s George Mason beat in the elite 8 to go to the final four?

UConn

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

First hope: FAU
If they get beat by SDSU, then go Aztecs
Hope UConn goes down to Miami, who will lose in the finals.

 

[KentuckyFlyer]

FF will be great basketball because these teams are NOT blueblood's. They have a chip in their shoulder, They are there for the first time and will play their hearts out for the team the coach and the SCHOOL. These teams are throwbacks to UK in 78, 96 and 98 in terms of loyalty. I picked those year because of the championships but All UK teams of that era and before played for team coach and school. I hope FAU wins it all. Hate California so SDSU is out and Miami is part of Cuba.

 

[kl40504_rivals]

Just sayin’

UConn is very good. I predict they will win it all.

 

[Kingslayer07]

Final 4 tickets will be pretty damn cheap compared to last year! One top 16 team?? What a joke of a final 4 imo..

 

[Kingslayer07]

Well here it is lol, I just said this.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

This Final Four is the shape of things to come. The portal and to a slightly lesser extent NIL, are going to make it possible for the FAU's and SDSU's of the college basketball world to compete with the traditional powers.
The days of the importance of having a Top 5 recruiting class are coming to an end too. Give me experienced, mature players who have been through the wars for a few seasons versus unproven burger boys any day.
This FF will be seen as the beginning of a sea change for college basketball.

 

[Blueworld_3.0]

Pretty much. I once defended college ball in a thread comparing it to the NBA. Yeah I can’t do that now. College ball is just awful right now.

That's nonsense. Most of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games have been fantastic, highly competitive with guys hitting clutch 3 pointers and making pressure packed free throws.
There's been 10x the drama in this tournament versus the entitled, drama-queen packed NBA.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Why are some of you so upset about non traditional programs making it to the final four? These are legit teams. God forbid we get get champs who actually had to earn it instead of just being placed in the semis and championship by votes and human bias like football has done.

SD State outplayed Bama the supposed best team in the country.

FAU beat Tennessee and K-State who had the best player in the postseason thus far.

Miami beat the No. 1 (Houston) and No. 2 seeds (Texas) in their region.

This has been super fun to me.

 

[Fancatstik]

I'll watch it.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Disagree. Kudos to the teams that had what it took to make it. Inspiring to see some teams that play for the name on the front of the jersey instead of just biding their time til the draft.

 

[UKUGA]

I mean, yeah, the final four is in Houston so I’m sure it would’ve been better for them to have made it. None of these teams have big fan bases but considering this is a once in a lifetime event for three of these schools, maybe they flood the city.

It takes actual people to “flood” the city.

Tickets were plentiful in 2011, even with Kentucky in the mix.

 

[buster3.0]

That's nonsense. Most of the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games have been fantastic, highly competitive with guys hitting clutch 3 pointers and making pressure packed free throws.
There's been 10x the drama in this tournament versus the entitled, drama-queen packed NBA.

Why are some of you so upset about non traditional programs making it to the final four? These are legit teams. God forbid we get get champs who actually had to earn it instead of just being placed in the semis and championship by votes and human bias like football has done.

SD State outplayed Bama the supposed best team in the country.

FAU beat Tennessee and K-State who had the best player in the postseason thus far.

Miami beat the No. 1 (Houston) and No. 2 seeds (Texas) in their region.

This has been super fun to me.

I disagree. They didn't earn it. They just got hot at the right time, and caught some breaks in this 3 week long one and done tournament. What happened in the college basketball regular season from November-March is absolutely pointless. College basketball has the worst method of any sport to determine who their champion should be. At least in football you have to earn your shot at the prize by excelling every single game during the regular season. It's not who is hot right this second but who has shown greatness over the long haul.

I agree with the above posters. The ratings on this final four will be one of the worst ever. Not a huge number of people care to see this.

 

[Dore95]

Not only have the games been competitive, they've also been, for the most part, high scoring games with lots of offense. This is way better than recent final fours involving Michigan St., Wisconsin, Virginia, etc. where the coaches try to control every single possession and keep the game in the 50's. I don't really understand the complaints.

 

[Dore95]

I disagree. They didn't earn it. They just got hot at the right time, and caught some breaks in this 3 week long one and done tournament. What happened in the college basketball regular season from November-March is absolutely pointless. College basketball has the worst method of any sport to determine who their champion should be. At least in football you have to earn your shot at the prize by excelling every single game during the regular season. It's not who is hot right this second but who has shown greatness over the long haul.

I agree with the above posters. The ratings on this final four will be one of the worst ever. Not a huge number of people care to see this.

This makes no sense. Each of these 4 teams were very good all season long. They didn't just get "hot at the right time". Miami won the ACC regular season. UConn was highly ranked all season. FAU and SDSU both had great seasons, won their conferences, etc.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Hair]

Cal pissing down his leg has ended in 2 Uconn titles (2011, 2014) and you could argue 2 Duke titles (2010, 2015). Unbelievable that Uconn will soon have 5 titles in 24 years

I think you could probably replace IU with UConn as a blue blood program. If they win it this year it will be 5 titles with 3 coaches unlike IU who only has their titles with Bobby Knight.

 

[Dore95]

I think you could probably replace IU with UConn as a blue blood program. If they win it this year it will be 5 titles with 3 coaches unlike IU who only has their titles with Bobby Knight.

Branch McCracken won 2 NCAA titles at Indiana.

 

[Ryan Lemonds Hair]

Branch McCracken won 2 NCAA titles at Indiana.

True but it was in 1940 & 1953 which further proves my point that UConn has replaced them as a blue blood because they have done nothing since Knight was forced out.

 

[JonathanW_rivals]

I disagree with the OP. Creighton /SD St was a great game. All 4 teams are good to watch. Of course I’d rather see my Cats. But that’s only happened 9 times in the 40 years I’ve been watching the Saturday games, and 5 in 40 of the Monday game. So after those, this I think may be in the top half of Final Fours.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

I disagree. They didn't earn it. They just got hot at the right time, and caught some breaks in this 3 week long one and done tournament. What happened in the college basketball regular season from November-March is absolutely pointless. College basketball has the worst method of any sport to determine who their champion should be. At least in football you have to earn your shot at the prize by excelling every single game during the regular season. It's not who is hot right this second but who has shown greatness over the long haul.

I agree with the above posters. The ratings on this final four will be one of the worst ever. Not a huge number of people care to see this.

How did a school like FAU not earn it? They’ve only lost three games this whole season?

Would you claim the nfl playoffs are the worst way to decide a champ if a 5 or 6 seed won it all?

 

[KFuqua]

Other than the Cats crapping the bed, it's been a great tournament with a lot of close, exciting games. I personally look forward to the final four. Those teams have earned their spot there.

 

[JDHoss]

Cal pissing down his leg has ended in 2 Uconn titles (2011, 2014) and you could argue 2 Duke titles (2010, 2015). Unbelievable that Uconn will soon have 5 titles in 24 years

In two losses Final Four losses to UConn that totaled 7 points, UK shot 17-36 from the line while UConn was 19-21. Cal pissed down his leg? Sometimes it just comes down to guys making routine plays like hitting a decent percentage of your FT. If Terrence Jones manages to shoot 2-5 instead of 0-5, we win a title. If we manage 25-36 (69%), we win 2 titles.

 

[Trinity45]

Just sayin’

Why because no big conference teams are in it, I think it might be more entertaining that seeing the same old teams over and over.

 

[Urolex]

In two losses Final Four losses to UConn that totaled 7 points, UK shot 17-36 from the line while UConn was 19-21. Cal pissed down his leg? Sometimes it just comes down to guys making routine plays like hitting a decent percentage of your FT. If Terrence Jones manages to shoot 2-5 instead of 0-5, we win a title. If we manage 25-36 (69%), we win 2 titles.

Let me know when you notice the trend, we’ll wait. It’s almost like the guy who doesn’t stress FT shooting and continues to recruit non shooters has a role in it. Weird.

 

[JDHoss]

Let me know when you notice the trend, we’ll wait. It’s almost like the guy who doesn’t stress FT shooting and continues to recruit non shooters has a role in it. Weird.

As a player, it's your job to work on FT shooting. If Nazr shoots 1-6 instead of 0-6, we have another title. Wayne Turner was a below average FT shooter. Was that on Pitino? No, that's on Naz and Turner. Again, guys have to make routine plays like hitting FT.

 

[thebluestripes]

Actually the worst final 4 would include both carolina schools louisville and kansas, but no kentucky. Hopefully that scenerio never comes to pass.

 

[Urolex]

As a player, it's your job to work on FT shooting. If Nazr shoots 1-6 instead of 0-6, we have another title. Wayne Turner was a below average FT shooter. Was that on Pitino? No, that's on Naz and Turner. Again, guys have to make routine plays like hitting FT.

So….Cal recruits a disproportionately high number of players who don’t work in FTs. Got it.

The players change, but the coach is the one constant. A certain point, you have to acknowledge the problem.