2020-21 College Basketball thread

Sparty putting a pretty good butt whumpin' on K. That Hauser guy looks like the Hollywood casting idea of the Fundamentally Sound Hard Working White Forward.

 

Well, Tom Izz0 got one in Cameron. And that regional final a couple of years ago.

Good news: Because of Stephen F. Austin's win in Cameron last season, no one will get to discuss the ending of some long non-conference home streak - it had gone on for 19 years before the loss to the Lumberjacks - and if an asterisk should be put on this because of the pandemic.

Bad news: Because it was such a different atmosphere, we can count on no fans in Cameron being a storyline. Most of the more noted (notorious? Depends on POV, of course) places could/will be affected by lack of fans.

 

Cameron, Allen Fieldhouse, a few other places ... but Cameron will be the flashpoint. Furthermore, by Duke's recent standards, this is not a vintage roster in the first place. The Blue Devils already struggled with Coppin State in their opener. Between that and losing the most impactful home-court advantage in college basketball, it wouldn't surprise me if Duke has a dud year. It would not be to the degree of Chapel Hill last season, but palpable nonetheless, with the Blue Devils settling as a fringe top-25 team that is seeded in the 7-to-9 range.

 

It's all a possibility. The last word of the previous sentence is not an attempt to dismiss, but it's too early. If there are two coaches who have proven they can build during a season, it's those two ... and Bill Self and Mark Few.

Duke should be and is better than Coppin State, but I also factor in that Coppin State isn't a typical MEAC program and that Juan Dixon has done strong work with the program. (I do wonder what it will take to get bigger programs to look at him, but that has long been a question also asked in regards to LeVelle Moton at N.C. Central ... the other school in Durham.)

Not sure what constitutes a vintage Duke roster anymore ... the key component missing that used to be a Duke stalwart is shooting. Bring in 3-4 one-and-dones, a couple of guys who were supposed to be but stayed because of injury that affected their draft status, a couple of other McDonald's All-Americans not necessarily lottery picks and a few walk-ons who work like mad during practices and rarely leave their warmups during games. Usually, Duke just wants someone who can serve as a point guard and primary ballhandler, someone who can serve as a post presence - doesn't have to be a back-to-the-basket power forward or center - but someone who goes down low on a key half court possession late in the second half ... and fill in the rest with drivers, slashers and shooters.

 

Nails meet chalkboard.

 

“Jimmy V Classic presented by Corona” seems a little too on the mark in 2020.

 

Looking forward to Tech-VMI hoops tomorrow because Virginia Tech is a basketball school now.

 

They are kind of interesting. They have won six of their past 10 vs. AP Top 5 teams. Gonna guess very few teams have a winning record in their past 10 vs. Top 5 opponents.
This includes at least one such win in each of the past six seasons.
On the other hand, the wins haven't amounted to much in March.

 

The win last year against Michigan State was a mirage. I loved it, but it was a total fluke. They had no size and no depth. They seem to have a little of both this year, and Mike Young can coach. I was excited when he was hired, and that excitement hasn't waned. He's legit. And he loves the school and the area.

Because of my friends in Richmond, my No. 2 team is VCU, so I watched all of tonight's game against Penn State. Should be a fun one in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge next week.

 

From the start of the 2015-16 to the present, the Hokies are 7-6 (.538) vs. Top 5 opponents. Of those with ≥ 8 such games in that span, only Kansas (8-4), has a better record nationally.