Final 4

[SBCatMan]

Don't really care one way or the other who wins. Pretty stark the difference in talent between the FF teams and UK's roster this year. Even with everyone healthy and 100%, I don't see how UK makes the FF this year. Not enough shooters, below average defensively (especially the wings) and, frankly, not basketball smart enough, imo.

Pope has a big job ahead of him in the next several weeks to build a roster that has a chance of a deep NCAA run. Talent evaluation is critical this offseason. He just HAS to get it right or he may be gone.

Watching the Regional finals and the first two games of the Finals shows me just how BIG of a job Pope faces. We are not even close. Even if all the stars aligned and we paid off the refs, we still would have had no chance. It is astonishing how we have fallen so far behind so quickly.

[WeWant9]

I think it mostly comes down to recruiting the needed talent to compete at this level. It was kind of interesting to look at this year's FF teams and how they did last year.

Arizona, last year was a 4 seed. 22-12. Lost in S16
Michigan, 5 seed. 25-9. Lost in S16
Illinois, 6 seed. 21-12. Lost 2nd rd
UConn, 8 seed, 23-10. Lost 2nd rd

Without doing a deep dive into rosters, I would say they all enhanced their overall talent either through hs recruiting, portal, or overseas; they also retained a few pieces to blend in with the new talent.

[EKYCat]

Since I don't have cable, I didn't watch any of the games last night nor will I be able to watch the championship game. I would certainly think that airing those games on TBS/Tru/HBO Max would severely limit the potential audience and, by extension, ad revenue. But, so little of 'college' sports makes any sense to me anymore that this is just one more thing.

Greatly surprised that MI stomped AZ. I thought AZ had the best team in the FF and were solid in every area. MI just kicked that butt up and down the court.

Don't really care one way or the other who wins. Pretty stark the difference in talent between the FF teams and UK's roster this year. Even with everyone healthy and 100%, I don't see how UK makes the FF this year. Not enough shooters, below average defensively (especially the wings) and, frankly, not basketball smart enough, imo.

Pope has a big job ahead of him in the next several weeks to build a roster that has a chance of a deep NCAA run. Talent evaluation is critical this offseason. He just HAS to get it right or he may be gone.

Pope said he had the keys to a Ferari before this year started. What a statement.

[Pobilly]

So Michigan starting 5 is all transfers playing together in their first year. I am guessing May is much better at judging talent than Pope. Maybe Pope can learn something from what they have done this year. It will not have to be a starting 5 but will likely be 4 plus MM.

[PadCatFan]

Point guards are crucial.

[PadCatFan]

Refs have swallowed their whistles starting at the 2nd half 10 minute mark. I'm not a fan of that. Call it by the rules the whole game, not the latest trend.

[Pobilly]

Refs have swallowed their whistles starting at the 2nd half 10 minute mark. I'm not a fan of that. Call it by the rules the whole game, not the latest trend.

This kind of refs cause injuries for players. Also causes tons of tension by coaches and players. Just not good for the sport. I do not want every foul called but man you got to call some of these fouls.

[Pobilly]

This year if SEC means more. Then the BIG10 means everything. Football NC, Womens basketball NC, Mens basketball NC. SEC got a lot of work to do this off season.

[Pobilly]

AT LEAST UCONN LOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

[Tomcats1990]

So Michigan starting 5 is all transfers playing together in their first year. I am guessing May is much better at judging talent than Pope. Maybe Pope can learn something from what they have done this year. It will not have to be a starting 5 but will likely be 4 plus MM.

Not making excuses for Pope but he had his projected starting 5 for 16 minutes the entire season. We don’t know how the season plays out if guys aren’t injured.

[Pobilly]

Not making excuses for Pope but he had his projected starting 5 for 16 minutes the entire season. We don’t know how the season plays out if guys aren’t injured.

I get it but if we believe on line reports we passed on Yaxel Lenanborg (SP). We took JQ with his injury. (Major miss with hindsight but it takes some risk analysis to begin the process). We also gave up on the higher dollar PG's out there. But again we could have taken Thomas of LSU and ended up in the same boat. I just think Pope has had to have learned a ton this year.

Let's hope for the magic Michigan had in the portal this year coming up. Along with making the correct choices on whom to keep on the roster. GO BIG BLUE.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Congrats To Michigan...They won with all 5 players being tranfers

Im so glad UCONN lost

[Tomcats1990]

Michigan and May just showed the new blueprint to follow.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Michigan and May just showed the new blueprint to follow.

For this year, anyway.