NCAA Tournament Thread

[Lighthouse]

I wonder what HS recruits think when they realize kids like Juzang and so many others who have transferred and showed what their game really is.

[lilproUK98]

I wonder what HS recruits think when they realize kids like Juzang and so many others who have transferred and showed what their game really is.

When you talk about Juzang you have to remember that, as a freshman he averaged 12 minutes. And who was he going to play over? Maxey? Hagans? Quickley? Maybe he could've squeezed in 15 mins or so. The frustrating thing is, IF he had stayed would he have played over Boston? Nope. Clarke? Nope. Mintz? Nope. Askew? Maybe. Now, MIntz may not have come if Juzang is on the roster. So we have to wonder if Juzang would have played at all THIS year. Would he have played Allen minutes? Probably. BUT, Juzang's main reason for transferring was allegedly "homesickness" So it's hard to fault a kid for that. Cal didn't directly force him to leave. The whole issue is, he wasn't playing enough his freshman year to offset the homesickness, or maybe there was no helping that. The Juzang case isn't as simple as "well, Cal didn't play him so he got unhappy and transferred." IMO

[Catsrock]

First 1 seed to go down...Illinois. Time to call Antigua.

[40bill]

And the first number 1 goes down as Illinois loses to Loyola-Chicago.

[85 Fly]

Juzang also had over 20 pts in the play in game. Just frustrating.

Juzang gets lots of playing time and had 48 pts over 2 games as UCLA continues to dance

[85 Fly]

I have to admit I didn't think I would enjoy this years dance (since we are not in the mix), but to see all the unexpected parody going on in these early rounds is refreshing! A season that was anything but NORMAL.

[Dwight Schrute]

When you talk about Juzang you have to remember that, as a freshman he averaged 12 minutes. And who was he going to play over? Maxey? Hagans? Quickley? Maybe he could've squeezed in 15 mins or so. The frustrating thing is, IF he had stayed would he have played over Boston? Nope. Clarke? Nope. Mintz? Nope. Askew? Maybe. Now, MIntz may not have come if Juzang is on the roster. So we have to wonder if Juzang would have played at all THIS year. Would he have played Allen minutes? Probably. BUT, Juzang's main reason for transferring was allegedly "homesickness" So it's hard to fault a kid for that. Cal didn't directly force him to leave. The whole issue is, he wasn't playing enough his freshman year to offset the homesickness, or maybe there was no helping that. The Juzang case isn't as simple as "well, Cal didn't play him so he got unhappy and transferred." IMO

The reality is that Cal's system lends itself to the notion that if you don't excel your freshman year you are getting recruited over, so no wonder he viewed the longterm prospects as not great here.

And were Juzang an isolated case it wouldn't be a big deal, but Cal's whole tenure is littered with those types of incidents where a player comes in, doesn't immediately excel, and then gets recruited over so he transfers out and becomes a hell of a player.

[Joneslab]

Makes sense that Illinois-Chicago would have a solid program. Five of their top six players are from the Chicagoland area. And those are obviously not kids who are going to go to DePaul, Northwestern in the state it's in, or even Illinois. Big-time basketball talent there and Illinois-Chicago seems to be getting their share of the better players...and then coaching them up.

I was amazed a couple years ago at how well-coached they were. Same thing yesterday. Everything they run is to perfection. Out of timeouts he absolutely kills you. As others have said, that bunch should've never been in the 8/9 game.

[GOCAT15]

Makes sense that Illinois-Chicago would have a solid program. Five of their top six players are from the Chicagoland area. And those are obviously not kids who are going to go to DePaul, Northwestern in the state it's in, or even Illinois. Big-time basketball talent there and Illinois-Chicago seems to be getting their share of the better players...and then coaching them up.

I was amazed a couple years ago at how well-coached they were. Same thing yesterday. Everything they run is to perfection. Out of timeouts he absolutely kills you. As others have said, that bunch should've never been in the 8/9 game.

That team one a normal night would've beat this years squad by 30.

Although Illinois still should've been able to beat that team, it was an extreme slap in the face that they were an 8 seed. I hope they make another run this year.

[KCKUKFan]

The Big Ten having a brutal run so far. It will be interesting to see how Iowa fares today.

[George]

The Big Ten having a brutal run so far. It will be interesting to see how Iowa fares today.

Hopefully well. I picked them to win it all.

[Joneslab]

Makes sense that Illinois-Chicago would have a solid program. Five of their top six players are from the Chicagoland area. And those are obviously not kids who are going to go to DePaul, Northwestern in the state it's in, or even Illinois. Big-time basketball talent there and Illinois-Chicago seems to be getting their share of the better players...and then coaching them up.

I was amazed a couple years ago at how well-coached they were. Same thing yesterday. Everything they run is to perfection. Out of timeouts he absolutely kills you. As others have said, that bunch should've never been in the 8/9 game.

I mistyped. It's Loyola-Chicago obviously.

The University of Illinois-Chicago is a different school.

[Dwight Schrute]

I am not surprised Illinois lost - that it was to Loyola-Chicago was surprising, but that they went out is not. 1 seeds who've never been there before almost always fall short of the Final Four.

[Joneslab]

I am not surprised Illinois lost - that it was to Loyola-Chicago was surprising, but that they went out is not. 1 seeds who've never been there before almost always fall short of the Final Four.

Illinois has been on a lull for a few years but they did go to the championship game under Bruce Weber in 2005. The Fightin' Dee Browns.

[Dwight Schrute]

Illinois has been on a lull for a few years but they did go to the championship game under Bruce Weber in 2005. The Fightin' Dee Browns.

Yeah I know, but if you had a kid in 2005 they'd be able to drive now.