Upon Returning From The Monumental FAU v. UL-Monroe Tilt...

#1

hatvol96

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#1
some observations on a wild day in college hoops:

1. Kudos to Va. Tech. No team has had worse luck, on and off the floor, the last two years. Those guys deserve all the good fortune flowing their way right now.
2. Tennessee is very close to being an elite team. A little more experience for Ramar Smith, coupled with better depth inside will make Tennessee a top 10 team.
3. Today was the first in what will be a run of epic USC-UCLA games. With OJ Mayo and Kevin Love joining the fray next year, this rivalry will quickly become the West Coast's best.
4. The PAC 10 is incredibly deep. There are eight possible NCAA teams in that league.
5. The Sun Belt Conference is terrible. UL-Monroe came in today leading the league and they're no better than Longwood.
6. Santa Clara v. Gonzaga will be very interesting tonight. Winner gets a leg up in the WCC.
7. Mississippi State will beat at least one of the SEC frontrunners before the year is over.
8. Pittsburgh plays really, really ugly games.
9. So does Wisconsin.
10. Michigan is a fraud yet again. Why does anyone think Tommy Ammaker can coach?
 
#4
#4
If Lofton returns, do you guys think Tennessee could make a nice run in the tourney next year?
 
#8
#8
For the same reason people think Matt Doherty and Steve Alford can coach.
At least those two have gotten to the NCAA tournament at multiple locations. Alford has been to a Sweet Sixteen. Ammaker has done absolutely zero at Seton Hall and Michigan. I wouldn't hire him to coach at Wofford. In closing, let me say this post is in now way intended as a defense of Alford and Doherty. They are both mediocre to bad coaches.
 
#9
#9
Do we really see a scenario where Lofton might leave after this year?

I dare say the Vols will miss Bradshaw next year... but at the same time the experience Crews, Chism, R. Smith, and Tabb gain thisyear plus whatever Freshmen are brought in can make up for him.
 
#10
#10
Coming from a big time basketball guy, and a guy who it is very clear isn't a homer, that gets me excited. :dance2:
I think next year's team will bear a striking resemblence to the Illinois team that ran all the way to the finals two years ago.
 
#11
#11
Do we really see a scenario where Lofton might leave after this year?

I dare say the Vols will miss Bradshaw next year... but at the same time the experience Crews, Chism, R. Smith, and Tabb gain thisyear plus whatever Freshmen are brought in can make up for him.
Lets hope for another good class.
 
#12
#12
Hat. after watching the Monarchs just destroy Drexel and seeing that they are getting hot at the right time (conference play), can the Monarchs do anything to get into the NCAA's w/ an auto birth? or do they still have to win the CAA?
 
#13
#13
Do we really see a scenario where Lofton might leave after this year?

I dare say the Vols will miss Bradshaw next year... but at the same time the experience Crews, Chism, R. Smith, and Tabb gain thisyear plus whatever Freshmen are brought in can make up for him.
I will say this about Lofton and the NBA; I could envision him leaving simply because I don't see his stock rising that much. He's not going to get bigger and he's not going to get the chance to play point guard at UT, which is where he would have to play in the NBA. That said, I'd be shocked if he left.

I think Tabb will evolve into a quicker, more athletic version of Bradshaw.
 
#14
#14
Hat. after watching the Monarchs just destroy Drexel and seeing that they are getting hot at the right time (conference play), can the Monarchs do anything to get into the NCAA's w/ an auto birth? or do they still have to win the CAA?
They'd have to run up an awfully good conference regular season record to get an at large bid. The CAA is looking like a one bid league right now.
 
#15
#15
I think VCU looks pretty good and I'm not counting out Hofstra either. and i'm starting to believe in my Monarchs. I've watched more CAA ball this year than anything else (going to ODU games for free helps so does CSS carrying a lot of CAA games) and I think a handful of teams look really good.
 
#16
#16
10. Michigan is a fraud yet again. Why does anyone think Tommy Ammaker can coach?

Because Vitale said he could. :)

Ammaker to me is definitely on the hot seat. If Michigan doesn't make the NCAA tourney, he has to be gone, doesn't he? I mean, they haven't had a single tourney appearance since he's been at the helm have they?

What about in the SEC? I think that both Kevin Stallings and Dave Odom have to be on the hot seat as well.

Jeff Lebo probably isn't on the hot seat yet, but they've only won 4 SEC games the past 2 years. How long do you think they will give him to turn it around?
 
#17
#17
Because Vitale said he could. :)

Ammaker to me is definitely on the hot seat. If Michigan doesn't make the NCAA tourney, he has to be gone, doesn't he? I mean, they haven't had a single tourney appearance since he's been at the helm have they?

What about in the SEC? I think that both Kevin Stallings and Dave Odom have to be on the hot seat as well.

Jeff Lebo probably isn't on the hot seat yet, but they've only won 4 SEC games the past 2 years. How long do you think they will give him to turn it around?
No, Michigan has not appeared in the NCAA tournament under Ammaker. I agree that Stallings and Odom should be on the hot seat. However, unless my memory has gone haywire, I think Odom signed an extension the other day. Lebo had better put a competitive product on the floor next year or his time on the Plains may come to an end.
 
#18
#18
some observations on a wild day in college hoops:

1. Kudos to Va. Tech. No team has had worse luck, on and off the floor, the last two years. Those guys deserve all the good fortune flowing their way right now.
2. Tennessee is very close to being an elite team. A little more experience for Ramar Smith, coupled with better depth inside will make Tennessee a top 10 team.
3. Today was the first in what will be a run of epic USC-UCLA games. With OJ Mayo and Kevin Love joining the fray next year, this rivalry will quickly become the West Coast's best.
4. The PAC 10 is incredibly deep. There are eight possible NCAA teams in that league.
5. The Sun Belt Conference is terrible. UL-Monroe came in today leading the league and they're no better than Longwood.
6. Santa Clara v. Gonzaga will be very interesting tonight. Winner gets a leg up in the WCC.
7. Mississippi State will beat at least one of the SEC frontrunners before the year is over.
8. Pittsburgh plays really, really ugly games.
9. So does Wisconsin.
10. Michigan is a fraud yet again. Why does anyone think Tommy Ammaker can coach?
The Big 10 seems to be lacking this year.
 
#21
#21
That does mean UT is pretty good then.I thought UF killed Ohio State earlier down there.
I think the effort UT had today would have beaten at least 305 of the 320 or so teams in D-I. If they carry that level of play into the SEC, they'l be just fine. Florida did win that game by a large margin, but that's a little misleading for two reasons. One, Oden had only played a handful of games. Two, the game was actually close with about 10 minutes left and the Gators just played lights out down the stretch. I certainly don't think they would blow the Buckeyes out in Columbus.
 
#22
#22
I think the effort UT had today would have beaten at least 305 of the 320 or so teams in D-I. If they carry that level of play into the SEC, they'l be just fine. Florida did win that game by a large margin, but that's a little misleading for two reasons. One, Oden had only played a handful of games. Two, the game was actually close with about 10 minutes left and the Gators just played lights out down the stretch. I certainly don't think they would blow the Buckeyes out in Columbus.
Do you think coach Pearl is here to stay for a while?Today I can honestly say it has been a while since I have seen a UT team play anything like that.These guys are young as well.Impressive coaching.
 
#23
#23
Do you think coach Pearl is here to stay for a while?Today I can honestly say it has been a while since I have seen a UT team play anything like that.These guys are young as well.Impressive coaching.
I can't see any college jobs coming open that would interest him. The NBA would be a possibilty, but I don't really think he'd be interested in completely changing his style of play to accomodate coaching in the League. I think Bruce will be here for a good long time, provided that he gets the support from the fans and administration that he deserves.
 
#24
#24
Had a chance to see some Patterson and Mayo highlights on local TV. Mayo is unbelievable, Patterson is pretty darn good. Huntington played Lex Catholic today. They walked over LC, but will face a stiffer test later this month against Scott County. I think I will make my way over to Memorial for that contest.
 
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