NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (#3 Seed)

[Monk]

I like this concept, but this is a ridiculous way to do a bracket by academics.

Who Would Win the 2015 Men's NCAA Tournament Based on Academics? - Schooled in Sports - Education Week

 

[General Colon Bowel]

I like this concept, but this is a ridiculous way to do a bracket by academics.

Who Would Win the 2015 Men's NCAA Tournament Based on Academics? - Schooled in Sports - Education Week

If you look at the APR report that they use, we actually finished tied for sixth (with N Iowa & Duke) at a 995 APR rating. Only five teams (Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Belmont, and Louisville) finished with a perfect 1000. We also had the highest all-sport GSR, graduating 100% of our white b-ball players, 100% of our our african-american b-ball, and 99% of our athletes in all sports.

But I agree, the APR isn't a good measurement to use; it's based on progress and can reward teams for being less academically atrocious than before (Ex: Indiana. APR:1000, Men's Basketball GSR: 42%). Plus graduating from some schools is much easier then graduating from others, especially as a star athlete. Case in point, one of my very best friends from high school tutored one of the star players on UT's basketball team a few years ago. Said the guy could read at about a fourth grade level, but he still graduated.
If the bracket was really based on academics with a tiebreaker going to the higher seeded team, the final would be ND-Duke.

 

[Monk]

If you look at the APR report that they use, we actually finished tied for sixth (with N Iowa & Duke) at a 995 APR rating. Only five teams (Indiana, Texas, Kansas, Belmont, and Louisville) finished with a perfect 1000. We also had the highest all-sport GSR, graduating 100% of our white b-ball players, 100% of our our african-american b-ball, and 99% of our athletes in all sports.

But I agree, the APR isn't a good measurement to use; it's based on progress and can reward teams for being less academically atrocious than before (Ex: Indiana. APR:1000, Men's Basketball GSR: 42%). Plus graduating from some schools is much easier then graduating from others, especially as a star athlete. Case in point, one of my very best friends from high school tutored one of the star players on UT's basketball team a few years ago. Said the guy could read at about a fourth grade level, but he still graduated.
If the bracket was really based on academics with a tiebreaker going to the higher seeded team, the final would be ND-Duke.

This was my point. A schools APR does not reflect, at all, the level of education a school provides.

 

[irishfan]

For those curious, gkIrish has ND going to the Elite 8.

Really want to come out strong today. Even though we were doomed from the start against FSU in 2011, we looked sluggish against Akron in Round 1. Hope the confidence from last week can carry over.

 

[Cackalacky]

For those curious, gkIrish has ND going to the Elite 8.

Really want to come out strong today. Even though we were doomed from the start against FSU in 2011, we looked sluggish against Akron in Round 1. Hope the confidence from last week can carry over.

So do I. Lets go IRISH!!!!!

 

[irishfan]

As Iowa State showed, it could be much worse for ND.

 

[Ndaccountant]

As Iowa State showed, it could be much worse for ND.

Not sure what everyone was expecting w/r/t ND. Round 1 jitters and playing a team that plays together has not been kind to ND over the years. I am happy with the win to get one under the belt and looked for improved play Sat.

 

[irishfan]

Down goes Baylor! 13-0 run by GA State to win by 1!

 

[pkt77242]

3 seeds have played like shit today.

 

[IrishLax]

Soooo at least we aren't one of the other 3 seeds...

 

[greyhammer90]

Holy sh*t what an epic choke job

 

[Irishnuke]

I had ISU in my final 4. I should just stop filling out brackets. I get worse every year.

 

[NDgradstudent]

So it's ND vs. Butler for a spot in the Sweet 16. Thoughts?

 

[zelezo vlk]

My money would be on ND. I've not been a believer in Butler since Brad Stevens left.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

So it's ND vs. Butler for a spot in the Sweet 16. Thoughts?

Better matchup. Texas would have killed us on rebounds.

 

[connor_in]

I had ISU in my final 4. I should just stop filling out brackets. I get worse every year.

me too...but like i said, i did get lucky on GSU...but I have less potential points now

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Crazy finish to UCLA-SMU.

 

[Grahambo]

Crazy finish to UCLA-SMU.

Yeah. I saw it too. But it looked like a good call to me.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Looked like a BS call at first glance

 

[PerthDomer]

ball was below the rim. Horrible call

 

[Ignats]

Butler is a better matchup for ND than Texas and their huge rebounders. Grant vs Dunham is going to be great. ND will need the whole team, especially Pat, to rebound better and a little bit more perimeter offense to win.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

ball was below the rim. Horrible call

The aerial view makes it look a little more buyable, but I agree. Bad call.

 

[Irish#1]

Living in Indy, I've been able to watch almost all of their games. They are the type of team that other teams have a hard time playing if they don't see them all the time. They had some injuries late in the year but are healthy now. They also lost their coach at the start of the season, bit didn't let that effect them. They are a typical tough minded Butler team. They won't lose focus or get rattled. Dunham can shoot like Steve Alford. Roosevelt Jones is the most unorthodox offensive player you will ever see, but he knows how to score against the bigger players. Kameron Woods is a skinny rail that averages at 13-14 rebounds a game. Barlow is just a solid PG. Nothing fancy or quick, but knows how to run the team. If this game occurs, it will be interesting to see if the Irish can play their tempo. Butler typically keeps teams well under their average.

I see ND winning, but it will be like pulling teeth.

I saw Nova play Butler twice this year. They don't get rattled. They are legit.

Most teams are either in awe of making the tourney and get smoked, or they see the NCAA as a new beginning, a reason to ratchet it up a notch and focus more. Butler is the latter. I won't keep harping on Butler, but they do not let you play your game. Defense and avoiding TO's in the tournament are the biggest keys and they do both very well. Butler has a long history of beating ranked teams, long before their two back to back NCAACG appearances. Like I said, I'm not saying they will beat Texas or ND, but it won't surprise me if they do. It's their DNA. Shut down Dunham and Jones and you should win.

Better matchup. Texas would have killed us on rebounds.

See above. Butler won exactly how I said they would. Butler only had 5 TO's and actually extended their lead when Jones missed most of the second half. It looks like Jones sprained his leg enough that it is going to limit him. We'll have to take advantage of that.

If one hasn't been created, I'll start a new thread for the game.

 

[Grahambo]

ball was below the rim. Horrible call

The aerial view makes it look a little more buyable, but I agree. Bad call.

I didn't think so but I guess I shall stand alone.

The fact they couldn't review it is mind boggling to me though.

 

[PerthDomer]

is Roosevelt Jones gonna be 100% for the game?

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I didn't think so but I guess I shall stand alone.

The fact they couldn't review it is mind boggling to me though.

They just interviewed the NCAA coordinator of officiating (who by the way talked like someone who just got shot in the neck and filled the wound with a Lucky Strike). His take was goaltending was the right call, and Greg Anthony was arguing with him.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Well. I had ISU in the final. And already lost Baylor and SMU

 

[IrishLax]

Couple things...

1. The refs missed an OBVIOUS double dribble on the SMU player on the play where the UCLA player dribbled it off his foot. They were correct in not calling it a kicked ball.

2. I think the refs missed a travel on the UCLA player who fell down with the ball. It looked like he possession of the ball and a non-foot part of his leg hit the ground before he passed it.

3. The goaltending call wasn't just bad, it was atrocious. So bad that it makes me question if the ref was bought.
3A. He's not in position to make the call -- which is the cardinal sin of basketabll officiating -- and it's arguable whether it was in his zone at all.
3B. It's the wrong call, because you can't have goaltending on a ball that is past or away from the basket. Otherwise, you couldn't defend (or catch) an alley-oop. Without getting super-specific, basically you can grab a ball on a downward trajectory if it's 1) not above the cylinder 2) has no chance to go in the basket (i.e. is short, long, or wide of the hoop).

That to me is clearly an airball both wide and long, called by a ref 30ish feet away from the basket who can't possibly have depth perception on the shot.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Purdue bigs in foul trouble

 

[Grahambo]

They just interviewed the NCAA coordinator of officiating (who by the way talked like someone who just got shot in the neck and filled the wound with a Lucky Strike). His take was goaltending was the right call, and Greg Anthony was arguing with him.

After having read the letter of the rule, I changed my thinking. I thought the ball had to simply have a chance to touch the rim and it doesn't seem like thats the rule. Not a call you make in that situation though.

Still can't believe they couldn't review it.

Couple things...

1. The refs missed an OBVIOUS double dribble on the SMU player on the play where the UCLA player dribbled it off his foot. They were correct in not calling it a kicked ball.

2. I think the refs missed a travel on the UCLA player who fell down with the ball. It looked like he possession of the ball and a non-foot part of his leg hit the ground before he passed it.

3. The goaltending call wasn't just bad, it was atrocious. So bad that it makes me question if the ref was bought.
3A. He's not in position to make the call -- which is the cardinal sin of basketabll officiating -- and it's arguable whether it was in his zone at all.
3B. It's the wrong call, because you can't have goaltending on a ball that is past or away from the basket. Otherwise, you couldn't defend (or catch) an alley-oop. Without getting super-specific, basically you can grab a ball on a downward trajectory if it's 1) not above the cylinder 2) has no chance to go in the basket (i.e. is short, long, or wide of the hoop).

That to me is clearly an airball both wide and long, called by a ref 30ish feet away from the basket who can't possibly have depth perception on the shot.

UCLA got the ball back too as their forward had caught it. I was stunned.