2024-25 College Basketball Thread

[qtlaw]

After Gonzaga ran over Georgia yesterday, Vandy is getting some SEC revenge today against Saint Mary's. Commodores up 12 early in the second half, and the Gaels' star point guard is on the bench with four fouls.

St. Mary's is the classic disciplined, well-coached, stiff team. The lack of athleticism is stark when tournament time comes around. Their lack of offense is also shown by the fact that they're running their sets 35 feet from the basket. You've got to do more than that if you want to make a serious run in the tournament. I just watched a Vandy guy with the ball at the elbow go 1 on 1 and get fouled. SMC has no one who can (or has permission) do that.

 

[Roscablo]

Haven't seen anything more about him going to Minnesota, but I don't think Minnesota has hired anyone yet.

CSU fans are pretty sure he's gone. Especially with some of the other under-the-table coaching moves. Maybe he'll change his mind, but it seems a given. That said, happy for this run to continue.

He has been fantastic. Seven years at CSU now as a head coach (six as an assistant before that, which included two other NCAA appearances). He has gone to the tourney three of the past four years. The year before that was one of the first teams out and went to the NIT semifinals (not that that matters). The talent has been unreal -- a first round NBA pick, another who is on a two-way in the NBA, Nique Clifford will likely be a first round pick, and John Tonje is the Big Ten player of the year.

He also set foundations at Furman and Drake (can't say Drake's current success is because of him and he's been gone a long time, but he quickly turned around a bad program at the time).

I don't know if Minnesota can win even with him, but best of luck to him if he goes there. He is from Minnesota and went to school there, so not surprising if it happens.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Even with 22 teams in the tournament total (1/3 of the field) and 20 of the 37 at-large berths, the Big 18 and the SEC did not have one game against each other in the first round. And only three possible matchups in the second round.

Gotta get those units to the big boys.

 

[dixiehack]

UNC is not beating the allegations.

 

[Roscablo]

OK, I'll stop now, but I'll share this.

 

[I Should Coco]

St. Mary's is the classic disciplined, well-coached, stiff team. The lack of athleticism is stark when tournament time comes around. Their lack of offense is also shown by the fact that they're running their sets 35 feet from the basket. You've got to do more than that if you want to make a serious run in the tournament. I just watched a Vandy guy with the ball at the elbow go 1 on 1 and get fouled. SMC has no one who can (or has permission) do that.

Good point. And Gonzaga — at least lately — has a couple of bigs and a guard who can go 1-on-1 to get points.

Having said all that, the Gaels have fought their way back into the game.

 

[MileHigh]

CSU fans are pretty sure he's gone. Especially with some of the other under-the-table coaching moves. Maybe he'll change his mind, but it seems a given. That said, happy for this run to continue.

He has been fantastic. Seven years at CSU now as a head coach (six as an assistant before that, which included two other NCAA appearances). He has gone to the tourney three of the past four years. The year before that was one of the first teams out and went to the NIT semifinals (not that that matters). The talent has been unreal -- a first round NBA pick, another who is on a two-way in the NBA, Nique Clifford will likely be a first round pick, and John Tonje is the Big Ten player of the year.

He also set foundations at Furman and Drake (can't say Drake's current success is because of him and he's been gone a long time, but he quickly turned around a bad program at the time).

I don't know if Minnesota can win even with him, but best of luck to him if he goes there. He is from Minnesota and went to school there, so not surprising if it happens.

He's done a great job -- and certainly has produced better results than the team 45 miles to the south. It would make sense for him to go, but yeah, would be cool if he stayed.

 

[HanSenSE]

Feel like "getting the 5 seed and not only being an underdog to the 12 seed, but losing to the 12 seed" is about the ceiling for Penny as a coach. Seven seasons with one NCAA tournament win is a fireable offense at just about any program that's worth a damn.

Memphis is one of those schools where the fanbase thinks they're better than they are.

 

[HanSenSE]

Good point. And Gonzaga — at least lately — has a couple of bigs and a guard who can go 1-on-1 to get points.

Having said all that, the Gaels have fought their way back into the game.

Still, begin the 40s at this stars is no the Gaels' game.

 

[I Should Coco]

Game of Thrones flashback … every time I hear them say the name of Vandy's Hogard I think "Hodoor, hodoor, hodoor …"

 

[HanSenSE]

If you're Vandy: Quick 3 and foul?

 

[MileHigh]

Gaels!