RockRaines

Ucla is still the premier west coast program. The right coach could make it a monster.

Yeah but there is also something to having the team in red while the fans are mostly wearing red as well.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) I doubt Mitch leaves but what do I know. Maybe GR3 can go to Europe and do something cuz he won't in NBA. He can play on the same team as Laquinton Ross.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 06:49 PM) Etherington and Hollowell both to transfer. I won't miss the latter but I always thought Etherington provided a good spark every time he came in. Remember how good Hollowell was supposed to be? So hard to predict.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 04:49 PM) That would be fantastic, and would help lessen the blow of the seniors leaving. He's supposedly visiting Columbus this weekend.

QUOTE (Sonik22 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) LaQuinton just tweeted that he hasn't made a decision yet. Really hope he decides to stay, could use another year. He's not going to get more athletic and he has a daughter. Time for him to move to Europe.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 11:55 AM) Fred's going after Lee as well They are apparently the front runner.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 02:43 PM) Sports Illustrated ‏@SInow 13m Ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel applies to become president of the University of Akron He did that awhile ago and works there now. Word has leaked that he is the number one choice even though he doesn't have a doctorate.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 12:22 PM) Preseason rankings are A factor in tournament success, but not the only one. Seeds are earned based on performance and not on talent (which may be a flaw in the seeding system). The problem with ranking a team like WSU in either preseason, or at any point during, is that they were never really challenged because Top 25 teams are too chicken to play them. The advanced metrics like Pomeroy and BPI did have them as a Top 5 team despite their schedule. We will never know, but I strongly believe WSU would have handled any other team in the tournament seeded 5-8, and probably half of those seeded 1-4. Other than Kansas who else was offered a home and home with them? And although they MAY have beaten other teams we will never know, so its all theories which mean little to nothing at this point. Duke could have made a run too, but they didnt.

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 04:58 PM) Thanks guys for all of the detailed and extremely informative responses. You guys really put it into perspective for me. I never really thought about how many games of the 81 I'd actually go to. Let along partnering up with friends/trouble selling tickets that I wouldn't use. I guess my plan now would be to wait until next offeseason and to decide if it makes sense. There are some great perks, but not sure if it's enough to pull the trigger after having all of this info though. Thanks again, guys! I did a 27 game weekend plan for years, it was a great investment. Got me to the world series as well.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 11:43 AM) Nate Silver has found that preseason rankings a surprisingly good indicator of tournament success. The 2011 Butler team isn't nearly as good as the 2014 Kentucky team. That 2011 team didn't have Heyward. They beat a #1 and #4 and a #2 seed. Pretty good resume for your "all time greatest 8 seed". 1985 Villanova wants a shot at that title as well.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 11:39 AM) That's because in the last 5 years, none of the 8 seeds were the preseason #1. There was a lot of noise when the brackets came out about Kentucky and Louisville both being underseeded and both being in WSU's bracket, so yes, I think this particular 8 vs. 1 upset will be remembered more than most. Preseason is bulls***. In 2011, Butler was an 8 seed and made it to the title game. Are they better or worse than this year's kentucky?

Incredibly creative deal.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 11:23 AM) Not the best team ever, but a very good team can definitely lose in the round of 32, especially to what is probably the most talented 8-seed in the history of the tournament. There probably isn't another team seeded anywhere from 5-8 that could have beaten WSU--they were very unlucky to draw the one that could. Thats the thing. Who knows that since most of us cannot remember the 8 seeds from the last 5 years. I'm just saying it wont be remembered that way past this month.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 10:30 AM) I disagree, I'll remember who they got knocked out by and that they were a good team. The NCAA tournament is random by nature, as it is one and done. It's like the baseball playoffs. You just need to be in, and take a spin at the wheel. Wichita St isn't in the 17-32 range of teams this year, and even you know that, just don't want to admit it. Just like Duke isn't in the 33-64 range of teams, etc. It's all opinion, but to think you're taking ONLY the results of the NCAA tournament to determine how good a team is/was, is crazy talk. I know they are very good, but they wont be remembered like that, thats all I am saying. The result of the tournament tend to overshadow how good a team realistically was. A very good, possibly best team ever (the way they were almost marketed) simply cannot get knocked out in the round of 32. Nobody remembers how dominant the 2011 Buckeyes were, they only know they got knocked out in the sweet 16 and werent a title contender.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) It depends on where McDermott gets selected. I can't imagine any fanbase being upset by getting him if he is taken in the teens. Higher than that I could see people being upset though. McDermott is a future Dunleavy right?

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 10:22 AM) I have a hard time believing players like Embiid would drop too far even if he suddenly showed a stress fracture or something like that. How easy is it to predict a degenerative injury like that anyway?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) I dunno, they broke a record for the most wins in a season without a loss right? That'll be remembered. Wich St fans will remember the run. All i'm saying is when you look at this as a fan of basketball, you can respect Wich St.'s season and see how well they actually played. They were deserving of a #1 seed despite losing in the round of 32. I respect them totally, its really hard to go undefeated even in that conference. However going out that early will be all people remember about that team outside of Witchita fans. It sucks but its the way it is with a tournament like this.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 10:11 AM) Sandwiched around the Kansas State win, Kentucky had a 1 point loss to Florida and a 2 point win over Wichita State, so it's hard to say Wichita State isn't in the same class as Florida, and Florida is #1. Kentucky is a Top 5 team that has played like a barely-Top 25 team most of the season. But nobody will remember those specifics, they will only remember them going out in the round of 32 which just isnt that good, especially for a team that was vying to be one of the best teams of all time.

If I didnt just have a child I would be totally game, maybe later on.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 09:59 AM) All I said was they are championship caliber. That means one of the top 4-5 teams out there. And they proved that, despite losing. That was easily the highest-level of basketball so far in the tournament. Kentucky doesn't have the skill level/potential of an 8 seed, so its a bit unfair to use the round of 32 argument. s*** happens in a one and done format. Is Mercer really better than Duke? No. For 40 minutes on one occasion they were. They are officially from 16-32 so I do not consider them a contender or a top 4-5 team. I've had my team lose early and I thought the same but the fact is you cannot prove it when you lose so early. Thats the nature of the tournament and nobody will remember them as a championship caliber team nor will they care who they got knocked out by.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 08:44 AM) From Yahoo Sports: Scout's take – "Teams don't want to draft another Greg Oden. Embiid will be No. 1 if there is no back issue. There is only one player in the draft that's a potential franchise player, and that's Embiid. It's a deep draft. When I say franchise player, there are only eight or 10 of those in the league. Embiid has the potential to be one." Jerry West said this draft was overrated, and it appears this scout agrees. so teams dont want to draft a guy who has a freak knee injury? Must be a very good scout.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 09:09 AM) Vonleh declares, no shocker there. Anthony Lee, your table is ready! As well he should. Get out of there while you are healthy and your stock is high.

I'm not sure they had to improve their stock. The tournament is kind of meaningless in that sense anyway.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 06:40 PM) I don't buy that at all. Well then give out a regular season trophy instead.