NCAA Tourney Thread

[Wonderstruck]

How'd you submit a comment with only four characters? Could I have used spaces this whole time to eat up the remaining characters??

Whiting out periods. They show up white in the quote.

[Joneslab]

How'd you submit a comment with only four characters? Could I have used spaces this whole time to eat up the remaining characters??

I typed "Why?," then I changed the font to white and typed twenty or so periods.

[Joneslab]

"In virtually every office around the country, the bulk of what will be finished today is busywork that will be dashed off during garbage time of a blowout."

[Wonderstruck]

People said the same thing about Calipari before he was hired.

That's a bit of a red herring, don't you think?

Would you really want Sean Miller coach of your favorite school? Why?

[Wonderstruck]

Um, MTSU is up 15-2 on Michigan State right now.

[Joneslab]

Would you really want Sean Miller coach of your favorite school? Why?

Because he's a heck of a coach.

Miller's had six NCAA Tournament appearances at Arizona. (And four at Xavier.) Two of the last three years he's been knocked out by Wisconsin twice, a team that Kentucky fans are well aware how tough they are. This year he was veritably gutted by departures, and like Coach K has done a couple of times recently, like Bill Self has done, they paid for it with a first-round loss.

The most important thing about him, the absolutely crucial thing, is that he can recruit at the highest levels. You take a guy like a Gregg Marshall--terrific coach, no question. But zero history of being able to lure top-flight players in to a program.

I'm not saying I wouldn't support Marshall or anything, I'm just saying you run a gamble when you go after somebody like Marshall or one of these other up-and-comers.

All that said, Sean Miller hasn't lit the world on fire at Arizona or anything, but not many have. This is still a sport that's dominated by the same three or four names in coaching every year, and we're lucky right now to have one of those guys.

[Matt Dillon]

Um, MTSU is up 15-2 on Michigan State right now.

20-10 MTSU. I still think MSU comes back for the win. Izzo's too good of a coach for them not to, in my opinion.

[Wonderstruck]

All that said, Sean Miller hasn't lit the world on fire at Arizona or anything, but not many have. This is still a sport that's dominated by the same three or four names in coaching every year, and we're lucky right now to have one of those guys.

We're either going to have to get an up-and-comer who is rising rapidly through the coaching ranks, or a guy who can at least prove he can get his team beyond the Elite 8. I honestly care very little about how good of a coach he is if his teams can't get to the final weekend. And Miller isn't there (yet). I have to see the success to believe the hype. That may eliminate a lot of folks, but it is what it is.

[Wonderstruck]

20-10 MTSU. I still think MSU comes back for the win. Izzo's too good of a coach for them not to, in my opinion.

That was fun while it lasted. 25-22 MTSU.

[Wonderstruck]

Because he's a heck of a coach.

Also, they said the same thing about Gillispie.

Now that's a red herring.

[Joneslab]

We're either going to have to get an up-and-comer who is rising rapidly through the coaching ranks, or a guy who can at least prove he can get his team beyond the Elite 8. I honestly care very little about how good of a coach he is if his teams can't get to the final weekend. And Miller isn't there (yet). I have to see the success to believe the hype. That may eliminate a lot of folks, but it is what it is.

It eliminates like 90% of them.

These first-round losses happen to everybody. We hired Tubby Smith from Georgia after a first-round loss. Georgia was a #3 seed that year and got beat. (We actually hired Cal off of a second-round loss.)

I'm just not sure what the criticism is, exactly. Arizona didn't have a great team. Last year with Stanley Johnson and those guys, yes, that's a Final Four team. Should've beaten Wisconsin. But Kentucky should've, too.

[Joneslab]

Also, they said the same thing about Gillispie.

Now that's a red herring.

Gillispie was a heck of a coach.

I sat in Memorial and watched him run a few practices once. Have never seen anybody run practices like that. Calipari's practices look like middle school compared to the stuff Gillispie was doing.

The problem as we all know was that Gillispie was crazy. Probably an alcoholic as well. But the guy could absolutely coach the game.

It's just hard to succeed in anything in life, let alone something as immense as Kentucky basketball, if you're nuts.

[Joneslab]

Middle Tennessee clings to a 6-point lead at the half. Would be one of the bigger upsets in the history of the tournament if they hold on considering how Michigan St. has played recently.

[catfaninin]

So lets fast forward 8 years. UK coach Sean Miller is at the podium. "In y 4 years here we have been to 2 Sweet 16's and 2 Elite 8's. I think I am doing a great job. And if you don't think so then to hell with you go root for Louisville." Imagine how well that would be received.

[Joneslab]

Also, VCU is about to beat Oregon State. The Pac-12 struggling.