NCAA Tournament LATE NIGHT Thread
Here's the schedule:
| 7:30 PM | (11) Belmont vs (6) Arizona* | TNT |
| 7:45 PM | (12) California vs (5) UNLV* | tru TV |
| TIME (ET) | MATCHUP | TV |
| 9:34 PM | (9) Missouri vs (8) Colorado State* | TBS |
| 9:45 PM | (12) Akron vs (5) Virginia Commonwealth* | CBS |
| 9:50 PM | (14) Harvard vs (3) New Mexico* | TNT |
| 9:57 PM | (13) Montana vs (4) Syracuse* | tru TV |
March 21st, 2013 at 10:05 PM ^
Right now I'm just hoping Akron makes this game semi competitive and wears down VCU.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
was thinking the same thing.
number 1 for the zips is excellent. he's their only hope.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
Screw you UNLV...
March 21st, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
I've noticed that some refs really don't pay attention when teams foul...they obviously fouled but didn't call it and 4 seconds went off the clock. Game's over now.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
Alright...now I have Montana over Syracuse. Please happen.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:09 PM ^
i think verne lundquist only knows "beautiful" as an adjective for a good basketball play
March 21st, 2013 at 10:10 PM ^
wish michigan had as much energy as the vcu guys on defense
March 21st, 2013 at 10:16 PM ^
Not the best end game strategy or execution by Cal, but they still get the W.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:11 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:12 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:17 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^
The VCU press will do that to ya.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:14 PM ^
Why do 12 seeds beat the 5 so often? It's bizzare.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^
I think what it shows is that there is just a lot of parity. From the #5 seeds through the #12s, not all that much separates them. Oregon went 26-8 in the regular season and got a #12 seed.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
Stronger mid majors/horribly under valued majors against weaker majors and mid majors with shiny records that didn't play anyone. Historically, anyway.
This year it looks more like the committee dramatically under valued the PAC-12.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
Akron's starting to chip away. It may yet be a game.
EDIT: Or it may not.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
vcu press ok but louisville press is outcold
March 21st, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
ok.. i've seen enough of the VCU game.. just hoping that its because akron is not that good
March 21st, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
They're calling it really tight early in NM/Har. Seems strange there is a difference even within the tournament crew-to-crew.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:26 PM ^
Well if you think about it, the crews calling the tournament are coming from all over. Some of our "favorite" guys we're used to are in the tourney.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^
We rarely turn the ball over. We'll be fine.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:28 PM ^
This is the first time I've seen VCU this year. Color me impressed. #30 is a sniper, and VCU is very good at attacking the rim. I think we'll get plenty of easy looks in transition, but VCU seems like a team that won't go away easily.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:30 PM ^
Keep in mind, Akron has three guys sick with the flu.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:34 PM ^
we haven't played a team like VCU this year. VCU will strip any player not named Burke all day and twice on Sunday if they aren't as sharp as they they've been all year.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
Actually we have. Arkansas also brings a lot of fullcourt pressure. Our turnover rate for that game (18.8%) was a higher than usual for us, but much lower than what VCU forces (28.7%).
March 21st, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
What does Arkansas usually force? Is it close to VCU?
March 21st, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
They're pretty good - they force turnovers on 24.1% of opponents' possessions, against a tougher schedule than what VCU faced.
http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/stat/opponent-turnovers-per…
March 21st, 2013 at 10:46 PM ^
Arkansas forces TOs on 24.1% of possessions, which is 14th in the country. VCU is #1.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:16 PM ^
VCU does a lot of things that fit right into what we have struggled with - penetration to the hoop and crashing the boards. Take off your Maize and Blue glasses for a minute.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:27 PM ^
You're only looking at one side of the coin. We're a bad matchup for them. Every time teams have kept their turnover rate under 22% (IIRC), VCU has lost. We have the lowest turnover rate in the country (9.4%). Not to mention that they give up a lot of transition baskets, and we thrive in the open court.
Also, John Beilein is familiar with Smart's press - it's based on what Oliver Purnell used at Clemson, whom we faced in the 2009 tourney. If you recall, we beat that press easily despite having walk-ons at PG.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:20 PM ^
Also New Mexico also has a fat pasty ginger. Sadly he is not as bad as SDSU's
March 21st, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:21 PM ^
does the tournament setting hurt a defense like VCU.. the quick turnaround.. only one day of rest between the games?
March 21st, 2013 at 10:25 PM ^
They play 12 guys, so it's not like they're all out on the floor for 30+ minutes... I think they'll keep the intensity up just fine, just gotta have Burke stay calm under pressure and I could see us running away with it.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:41 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:45 PM ^
If I'm not mistaken, they also were in the play in game when they made their deep tourney run and seemed to overcome rest issues then. Granted that was not the same group of players, but their style of play and depth is essentially the same.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:22 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:25 PM ^
Akron is playing awful. No composure whatsoever.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
What game is everyone watching? The VCU game looks less than competitive.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:39 PM ^
I started off watching that one but have moved on to New Mexico/Harvard. Needing a New Mexico win to get my bracket back on track.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:14 PM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
Who else wants to see a game between VCU and Wisconsin? Just thinking about it blows my mind.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:29 PM ^
Sure. But not this year.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
Bo Ryan would find a way to suck the life out of that match up. He would purposefully take 9.5 seconds to get past half court against the press, then milk the next 25.45 seconds before resorting to a Frank Kaminksy shot clock special.
March 21st, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
When is Shaka Smart going to get a job at a big school? And if you are the Northwestern AD or another power conference AD, would you be dangling millions at him?