Official NCAA Tournament Thread

[Lighthouse]

We have to look totally at the Auburn game at this point but, if we get by them I wouldn't mind playing Duke for the NC. After watching how they've got to this point by the skin of their teeth, I want the total pleasure of taking them down.

[Dwight Schrute]

I think Michigan State could get them tomorrow afternoon.

[40bill]

Duke is in a scary place right now....almost that team of destiny thing....ugghhhh....that we see teams running on. Maybe that was the Cats call last night.

[Joneslab]

Duke is in a scary place right now....almost that team of destiny thing....ugghhhh....that we see teams running on. Maybe that was the Cats call last night.

Yeah, I had this same thought.

But you can also say that Duke's playing with fire and that a better team might be able to get them.

I still think Duke is a terrible match-up for Kentucky and would rather not play them. Too many athletes for us. Kentucky would fare better against teams like Gonzaga I think.

Not sure about Virginia. Virginia has a knack of just squeezing games late and holding on for dear life. You don't want to play them in the tournament with the way Cal likes to grind. He'd be okay trying to win 31-30. I don't think you can beat Virginia if it's a really close game late because they don't panic.

[Matt Dillon]

We have to look totally at the Auburn game at this point but, if we get by them I wouldn't mind playing Duke for the NC. After watching how they've got to this point by the skin of their teeth, I want the total pleasure of taking them down.

You know what they say about being careful what you wish for, Lighthouse.

[Lighthouse]

A friend and fellow Louisville Official, Chris Hudson, is working the DII NC game today in Evansville.

[Blue Heaven]

Cal and the Cats press conference on CBS Sports Network right now.

[Blue Heaven]

LOL!!!, Cal was just referencing Sonny Smith and Charles Barkley. Cal said when they went to Auburn he peed on the statue of Charles. I about lost it there.

[teamchemistry15]

Any word on the injured Auburn player? I hope it wasn't as bad as it looked.

It just came out that he tore his ACL. It's terrible news but on somewhat of the bright side he has surgery scheduled next week which means he has a chance at being 100% for the beginning of next season.

Something I learned about ACL surgery: They often use a cadaver achilles. Because the achilles is bigger and stronger than an ACL people often feel they are healthy because it feels stronger, but it actually takes six-nine months before the achilles fully fuses/bonds. Until then it can actually be gummy inside the knee, which is why re-injuring a previously torn ACL is quite common. Maybe a doctor can confirm this if we have one on here?

[40bill]

I really do hate it for the kid, but he has a year to make it good.

He dominated the last game, but despite what some have said, his production was not PJ level.
Auburn is a team capable of running everybody left out of the gym if they are shooting 50, 60 percent from three on stretches like they have.

[teamchemistry15]

Regarding stall ball, I dislike it just as much as the next guy, but Cal has never lost a game at UK when up by double digits at the half.

[Joneslab]

Regarding stall ball, I dislike it just as much as the next guy, but Cal has never lost a game at UK when up by double digits at the half.

I don't think what we see with this team in those second-half fades is totally about Cal.

I think what it comes back to mostly is how inconsistent Hagans is. There's a major, monumental difference in this team when Hagans is playing well and when he's not.

What we see is a little about Cal's methodology of slowing them down but it's also Hagans not making the right play during those stretches and how much we depend on him being right.

[Blue Heaven]

I don't think what we see with this team in those second-half fades is totally about Cal.

I think what it comes back to mostly is how inconsistent Hagans is. There's a major, monumental difference in this team when Hagans is playing well and when he's not.

What we see is a little about Cal's methodology of slowing them down but it's also Hagans not making the right play during those stretches and how much we depend on him being right.

It comes down to our opponents experience vs our inexperience due to our youth. Makes the run Cal has been on all the more impressive.

[Blue Heaven]

Wow, Texas Tech with ridiculously good defense. These dudes are tough. Chris Beard is turning into a coaching star.

[teamchemistry15]

I don't think what we see with this team in those second-half fades is totally about Cal.

I think what it comes back to mostly is how inconsistent Hagans is. There's a major, monumental difference in this team when Hagans is playing well and when he's not.

What we see is a little about Cal's methodology of slowing them down but it's also Hagans not making the right play during those stretches and how much we depend on him being right.

No doubt and I wasn't saying that necessarily about Cal, just implying that he's probably playing the statistics and seems to know what he's doing. I know the stall ball has cost us some big games, but the vast majority of the time it works.