NCAA Tournament 2021

[Deleted User 863]

The two best teams played for the national championship. That doesn't always happen.

Agreed.

Not sure about that. Gonzaga had not played a really good team in a very long time.

Craziness. Gonzaga was a great team. They lost 1 game in a single elimination tournament to another great team.

Clearly best 2 teams.

[NewtonHawk11]

UCLA was a true case of a team that was just on fire. Same that we saw with VCU, UConn with Kemba and Shabazz Napier.

You had a 20 something percent mid range shooter going 5-7 from mid range, you had that #3 just going off, that PG was all over the place.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Agreed.

Not sure about that. Gonzaga had not played a really good team in a very long time.

It is 100% true that Gonzaga and Baylor were the best teams. Gonzaga thoroughly beat every team they played. Kansas, Iowa, West Va, BYU, OU, Creighton and USC. Every game by double digits except maybe 1.

Unlike the national CBB media, I won't crown a team greatest evar! after running through a bad conference and before all the games are played. It's just narrative.

Sure looks like there is a good argument that Gonzaga would have finished 2nd in the Big 12 this year. Narrative is way different then.

I do recall you and I getting excoriated in February for suggesting Baylor was a better team than Gonzaga.

[NewtonHawk11]

Not sure about that. Gonzaga had not played a really good team in a very long time.

It is 100% true that Gonzaga and Baylor were the best teams. Gonzaga thoroughly beat every team they played. Kansas, Iowa, West Va, BYU, OU, Creighton and USC. Every game by double digits except maybe 1.

Unlike the national CBB media, I won't crown a team greatest evar! after running through a bad conference and before all the games are played. It's just narrative.

Sure looks like there is a good argument that Gonzaga would have finished 2nd in the Big 12 this year. Narrative is way different then.

I do recall you and I getting excoriated in February for suggesting Baylor was a better team than Gonzaga.

Yes. I still think the same. I didn't comment on series thing or whatever, but I think Baylor wins 4 out of 7. I mean, if Gonzaga hit any shots, it's a close game. But you can attribute a lot of that to Baylor's defense, which was underrated all year.

[PhDhawk]

Agreed.

Not sure about that. Gonzaga had not played a really good team in a very long time.

USC was a really good team.
UCLA who beat 2 seed Bama and 1 seed Michigan.
Baylor beat an injured Nova squad, the 2nd place team in the SEC Arkansas and Houston.

Were any of those teams really good?

Yes. The Pac12 was really really good.

[jfish26]

It is 100% true that Gonzaga and Baylor were the best teams. Gonzaga thoroughly beat every team they played. Kansas, Iowa, West Va, BYU, OU, Creighton and USC. Every game by double digits except maybe 1.

Unlike the national CBB media, I won't crown a team greatest evar! after running through a bad conference and before all the games are played. It's just narrative.

Sure looks like there is a good argument that Gonzaga would have finished 2nd in the Big 12 this year. Narrative is way different then.

I do recall you and I getting excoriated in February for suggesting Baylor was a better team than Gonzaga.

Yes. I still think the same. I didn't comment on series thing or whatever, but I think Baylor wins 4 out of 7. I mean, if Gonzaga hit any shots, it's a close game. But you can attribute a lot of that to Baylor's defense, which was underrated all year.

I think Gonzaga is clearly hurt by their schedule. It's just different to spend January-March playing Long Beach State.

[NewtonHawk11]

Unlike the national CBB media, I won't crown a team greatest evar! after running through a bad conference and before all the games are played. It's just narrative.

Sure looks like there is a good argument that Gonzaga would have finished 2nd in the Big 12 this year. Narrative is way different then.

I do recall you and I getting excoriated in February for suggesting Baylor was a better team than Gonzaga.

Yes. I still think the same. I didn't comment on series thing or whatever, but I think Baylor wins 4 out of 7. I mean, if Gonzaga hit any shots, it's a close game. But you can attribute a lot of that to Baylor's defense, which was underrated all year.

I think Gonzaga is clearly hurt by their schedule. It's just different to spend January-March playing Long Beach State.

Hence why they scheduled Kansas and Texas.

[jfish26]

Yes. I still think the same. I didn't comment on series thing or whatever, but I think Baylor wins 4 out of 7. I mean, if Gonzaga hit any shots, it's a close game. But you can attribute a lot of that to Baylor's defense, which was underrated all year.

I think Gonzaga is clearly hurt by their schedule. It's just different to spend January-March playing Long Beach State.

Hence why they scheduled Kansas and Texas.

Totally. They usually schedule a bear of a non-con. But that just isn't the same thing as playing a high-major schedule from January-March.

[NewtonHawk11]

They play exactly 2 decent teams during January-March. BYU and St. Mary's. Everyone else is whack.

[pdub]

Gonzaga has as many NCAA tournament wins as KU since 2010.

[NewtonHawk11]

Helps being a 1 seed EVERY SINGLE YEAR because they play a weak conference schedule.

They are always like 27-2 entering the tournament.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Helps being a 1 seed EVERY SINGLE YEAR because they play a weak conference schedule.

They are always like 27-2 entering the tournament.

And in the West, which is most often the weakest bracket.

[Deleted User 865]

Helps being a 1 seed EVERY SINGLE YEAR because they play a weak conference schedule.

They are always like 27-2 entering the tournament.

I was about to correct you, but then I looked it up, and they were an 1 seed four of the last 8 tourneys.

The last 21 seasons (since Few) Zags have a total of 31 losses in conference (less than 1.5 losses per season). That's crazy.

[pdub]

Yet we've lost to easier opponents in that time period than Gonzaga has.
I just don't see good backing behind this argument that Gonzaga struggles because of their schedule.
They've been to two title games in 5 years.

[NewtonHawk11]

Yet we've lost to easier opponents in that time period than Gonzaga has.
I just don't see good backing behind this argument that Gonzaga struggles because of their schedule.
They've been to two title games in 5 years.

They've been incredible over last 5 years. But there was also a stretch they couldn't get out of 1st weekend no matter the seed. For like 5 years straight. But they finally have gotten some dudes and they're really good now.

[Deleted User 89]

and both can be true...that they had a great team this year, but were also not as battle tested due to their relatively easier conference schedule

[CrimsonNBlue]

I get the urge to put them preseason #1, but I don't think Chet is going to make up for the big loss in Suggs. They take a step back next season.

Hard to tell this offseason who will be good because of the free year. I wouldn't think Bama loses too much. Big 10 schools will lose players to the Draft. So does Big 12 and Pac-12. UK is going to be waaay better, especially if they add Carr.

[Deleted User 89]

fwiw...SI

https://www.si.com/college/2021/04/06/n ... a-michigan

1. zags
2. michigan
3. puke
4. tOSU
5. ucla
6. the fightin’ dough boy[s]
7. the fightin’ drews
8. purdue
9. bama
10. fsu
11. KANSAS

Bill Self was open about needing to add more talent this spring after a blowout NCAA tournament loss to USC, and the Jayhawks are set to do just that. In addition to strong returners like Jalen Wilson and David McCormack, Self has already signed three four-star recruits, a top-10 JUCO recruit and top D-II transfer Cam Martin. Sophomore point guard Dajuan Harris has a critical offseason ahead of him to develop as the top playmaker for the Jayhawks, and Self may have a bit of a logjam on his hands with several different options up front. One big draft decision to track: Ochai Agbaji, the team’s leading scorer this season and a projected second-round pick.

[pdub]

Sallis.
Chet.
Timme would need to come back.

They should be in contention for a 1 seed again.
And their non con is no joke: Duke, Texas Tech, Texas, Zona, Washington.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Ayo just committed to Draft. But, if Cockburn comes back and TyTy is an immediate impact at Illinois, another Top 10 year.