Final Four Open Thread: National Semi Finals
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 5:19 PM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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Only three more college basketball games left this season. Two this afternoon and the title game on Monday night.
Use this as your open thread.
No. 11 seed Virginia Commonwealth vs. No. 8 seed Butler
5:09 pm CBS
No. 4 seed Kentucky vs. vs. No. 3 seed Connecticut
7:49 pm CBS
If you look at my bracket and knew about my bets recently, you'd know that my predictions about this NCAA tournament have rarely come true. I'll take Butler and Kentucky in close ones.
Who you got?
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VCU VCU VCU!
I’m having difficulty deciding who I want them to beat on Monday.
[signature under repair]
Butler
Settling down now but started game in same manner that Kansas did. Not going to beat VCU going up and down.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 5:31 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I like the Huskies.
Kemba is the best player in college basketball and he’s getting enough help from the rest of the team to win the next two games.
A quick crowd shot
and it looked like all Kentucky blue. Is it sectioned off by school?
Steve Kerr
Nice decision by CBS to go w three person crew. I like Kerr a ton more than Kellogg.
Clark is busy rooting for Big 10 and Nantz will try to wax poetic while Kerr comments on the actual game.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 5:40 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Without the tournament expanding from 65 to 68...
…would VCU even be here today?
by Hopkins Horn on Apr 2, 2011 5:43 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Not necessarily
One of those four teams would have made it. I just don’t know which one it would have been.
by Hopkins Horn on Apr 2, 2011 5:47 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Good point
I’m guessing it would have been Clemson, as the other 3 were all fairly controversial
Mack
Playing as well as Ive ever seen. Solid, under control, and knocking down open jumpers.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 5:51 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
It's probably a good thing CBS got rid of Billy Packer a couple of years ago
Having to call a national semifinal with two mid-majors might have made his head explode.
On second thought, maybe that wouldn’t have been such a bad thing…
by Hopkins Horn on Apr 2, 2011 5:52 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Good point
He was generally intolerable. Him calling this game might have caused me to use the mute button.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 5:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
In terms of Xs and Os...
…I always thought he was OK. I just never liked spending my free time watching a sporting event listening to someone who sounded like he hated everything.
by Hopkins Horn on Apr 2, 2011 6:01 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree with this.
He understands basketball. He just believes he, and the general public, should only have to watch about 8 main teams.
Billy Packard
Aside from his apparent hatred of basketball, he also had a lot of strange ideas. Always wanted teams to switch to zone; even teams like Duke that never played one.
I don’t miss him at all.
by Reggieball on Apr 2, 2011 6:10 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I happen to think
VCU is gonna win it all. Is that stupid? I think they can pull it off. Though the championship game is going to be very difficult, to say the least. But if UConn or Kentucky has a sense of entitlement then they could be vulnerable.
"Hey, don't y'all think that's beautiful right there? That crystal is SO beautiful. And it's coming home to Texas." - Vince Young
I think this might be VCU's tougher game
Playing the youth of Kentucky or UConn could be a real benefit.
So far, it's looking like you're right.
Yikes.
"Hey, don't y'all think that's beautiful right there? That crystal is SO beautiful. And it's coming home to Texas." - Vince Young
Butler Half
The first few minutes were all VCU but it’s been Butler’s game since.
Bulldogs controlling tempo, dominating off glass, and really playing solid halfcourt defense.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 6:06 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
The defense is the key
VCU is going to lose the rebounding battle regardless. But if you keep them off the scoreboard then you keep them from doing what they want to do.
Stephens’ comments were interesting because I think VCU would like them to attack their press as well.
Stevens' comments
Butler did have some pretty good looks against the press in those first few minutes that they didn’t convert. Butler has so much trouble scoring, so I guess I can see where Stevens is coming from.
If Butler keeps defending the three point line, they should be able to hold on.
by Reggieball on Apr 2, 2011 6:13 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not saying Stephens is wrong
but I think VCU would rather you attack it than anything else. They want this game in the 90s, which doesn’t look like it’s going to get there.
I agree with you
VCU wants an up and down game. If Butler starts taking a lot of transition threes, that probably favors VCU.
But if Butler can get to the rim against the press and get some easy buckets, I think Stevens will take that.
by Reggieball on Apr 2, 2011 6:23 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
If I'm Butler
I keep doing what I’m doing. Slow the pace when you can. Pound the backboard and grab rebounds. Guard the three point line.
Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!
VCU finding the boards this half
Frankly, didn’t think it was in them.
Nice start by VCU
Attacking rim and buckets allowing them to press. Quick 7-0 run and the lead.
This is going to be a good one.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 6:35 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Watching Skeen
You see the talent that got him a schollie to Wake Forest. Dude has a quality inside/outside game. VCU is so lucky to have him.
Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!
Agreed
Not sure VCU can put him on the bench regardless of fouls the rest of the game.
gotta keep him in there
trust him to stay foul free.
Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!
by TexasGarcia37 on Apr 2, 2011 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions
not so fast my friend
Skeen again doing man’s work
Who are you?!
I'm Kick Ass!
by TexasGarcia37 on Apr 2, 2011 7:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Not what I predicted, but...
You gotta be happy for whichever team advances. I think Butler can win it all.
"Hey, don't y'all think that's beautiful right there? That crystal is SO beautiful. And it's coming home to Texas." - Vince Young
Greatest Coaching Accomplishment in History of Tourney
Going back to back finals with Butler is the single greatest feat in the tourney history. Congratulations and well done.
Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen
by realmccoy on Apr 2, 2011 7:28 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Andrew Smith
played like crap on offense (he looked really tight). But his height really seemed to bother Skeen down the stretch. Skeen did make a couple of 3’s in the second half, but he wasn’t really a factor in the post once Smith started guarding him.
Why Kentucky
Butler wins either way, either they win or Calipari and Kentucky have to vacate title.
by IUTex on Apr 2, 2011 8:13 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I don't see Kentucky being able to keep making the outside shots like they did against UNC.
They have thrown up a number of bricks so far.
I'm still deciding between UK and UConn
I really don’t care for either team.
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine had clearly never tasted Scotch.
by LonghornEm on Apr 2, 2011 8:23 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
You're probably right
I just can’t decide whether I’m happy about that or not. As long as whoever it is loses to Butler on Monday.
Whoever said laughter is the best medicine had clearly never tasted Scotch.
I guess I'm rooting for UConn
we barely lost to them in OT and they hit some key lucky threes (one it turns out didn’t even beat the shot clock). Other than that, I don’t really have any ill-will for them.
I would hate it if Calipari’s “one-and-done” recruiting classes ever won a championship. Then again, it would be all the sweeter if a championship gets taken a way in the future due to the inevitable NCAA violation.
by goingforthecorner on Apr 2, 2011 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Knight
Just hit Napier in the man parts.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 9:48 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Knight should buy him dinner first
by Reggieball on Apr 2, 2011 9:49 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Not sure
That I’ve ever seen that. Under 8 timeout comes w 2:09 left in game.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 9:59 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Pretty horrid game for Knight offensively
took him 22 shots just to score 14 points. Not the best way to go out.
by goingforthecorner on Apr 2, 2011 10:16 PM CDT reply actions
Calipari's team burned at the FT line again
lose by 1 point, an awful 4/12 from the FT line
by goingforthecorner on Apr 2, 2011 10:24 PM CDT reply actions
Yup
Ft line killed them tonight.
--AW--
by awiggo on Apr 2, 2011 10:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
What is wierd is that UK was actually pretty good from the line this year
They actually shot almost 72% from the line in the regular season.
Just a terrible shooting night overall for Kentucky.
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