College basketball thread...

Yeah. I don't think he's going to have a choice but to move Jasper back to the point. I still think he knows Jasper needs to be the primary ball-handler, but the injury just won't allow him.

Of course, that's just an outsider's perspective. I can't see a coach looking at Bradley and saying, 'I want that guy to be my point guard.'

 

UCLA just pounded a good ASU team tonight, and I don't think it was ASU's poor play that led to the whipping.

UCLA is that good.

On defense, they play man-to-man better than almost any team I can recall. On offense, they are so unselfish. Constantly moving the ball around like a hot potato. It is impressive and refreshing to watch. When you are strong at defense, rebounding and passing, everything else just falls into place. Those three show up every night.

Plus, they have, IMHO, the best player in the country in Love. At least he is the best freshman. You can have the K State kid for one game, but in the tourney, give me Love. He is the smartest, savvyest player I have seen in the last 30 years. Yes, that does include Bird. I cannot see Bird having the same presence at the same age. Hell, at the same age, Bird was picking up trash in French Lick.

Love's decision making is outstanding. his body positioning is amazing. His ability to know when to just try and alter a shot instead of trying to block it or when to take a charge instead of leaving his feet is without peer. And not even getting into his passing, rebounding, three-point shooting or post play.

What really sucks is I think Love will be the for three more years. He is Wooden's last player. I know Howland is the coach, but Wooden is the mentor.

 

You're cherry-picking an example from 25 years ago.

I just don't think free-throw percentages during the regular season mean much in a one-and-done tournament. It's totally different to stand up there and shoot them when your season is on the line. It becomes much less about skill and more about mental toughness. Every year, you'll see a bunch of 80% free throw shooters choke in the tournament because the pressure gets to them.

 

Only thing is, I'm starting wonder just how good they are. They had that weak non-conference schedule, which won't help them come March if they continue to slide in the Pac-10.

 

They are an 11 seed or a good NIT team right now.

They have some nice young players, and Herb is a great coach. ASU moves the ball on offense and plays nice defense. Harden is a very good player.

They were totally outclassed last night, and it was due to the execution of UCLA. The Bruins play an almost perfect style of basketball.

Let's see how they handle Arizona tomorrow.

 

Again, you're trivializing.

As much of a scumbucket as Calipari is, wasn't it he and Memphis who lost out on a tournament bid one year because he had a kid who couldn't hit a single free throws given two shots after the final buzzer one year?

I can pull more examples. Cherry-picking was done because we're posting on a message board, not trying to write a long-form piece ...

 

Seems like Memphis was down 2, kid got fouled on a 3-pointer, hit the first then missed two straight.

 

Perhaps that scenario is more accurate. But still ... he had room for error. The kid didn't need to hit all of them to force OT or the win.

 

Memphis is damn good, but free-throw shooting will get them bounced long before they get a shot at the Final Four.

 

I effing love this little guy. He might be 6-feet tall. Maybe.

 

I know I am mancrushing on this kid, but I cannot remember seeing a player do this.

 

Perhaps that scenario is more accurate. But still ... he had room for error. The kid didn't need to hit all of them to force OT or the win.

The player was Darius Washington. He was amazing that day, I remember as it was that bizarro 11:30 a.m. EST start for the CUSA final on the Super Saturday of championship week.

A little research says he was a 73 percent FT shooter that season for the Tigers, who went 19-15 and into the NIT. Trailing by two, Washington hit the first, then missed the second two in nearly identical fashion. It was stunning and awful. I've rarely felt bad for college players I watch on TV, but this was an exception to the rule.

The team that beat them was Louisville, which (I find after a little more research) went on to the Final Four winning 22 of 23 games before its semifinals loss to Illinois. the one loss -- memphis. At home. When Memphis hit 28 of 39 free throws (71.8 percent).

It's not Calipari. It's not Memphis. It's just this group of kids. next year, they might lead the NCAA in free throw shooting. Florida State, which couldn't hit the broad side of a barn from the line 2 years ago, now shoots free throws as well as anyone in the country.

So don't cherry-pick. And don't trivialize. Yeah it's just a message board, but at least make it an informed one. [/soapbox]