#8/7 Irish @ #16/16 Connecticut 2 PM EST

[johnnykillz]

Well, may the Northern nights force the ladies to snuggle you a little closer, feller. And may the sand and salt saturated windshields of the icehole 18 wheeler drivers never wash clean...

 

[InKellyITrust]

Kemba Walker is ridiculously good. I can't believe the way he can go at full speed on a fast break then just stop on a dime and drain a jumper. As a ND fan, I'm thinking it's time for him to go pro.

 

[Irish Man3]

Kemba Walker is ridiculously good. I can't believe the way he can go at full speed on a fast break then just stop on a dime and drain a jumper. As a ND fan, I'm thinking it's time for him to go pro.

My guess is that it will happen. They honored him today with the seniors. Most have him going in the first round. If I were a gambler, I would say he is gone. UConn is a very young team so hopefully for my sake, they can have success the following year.

 

[johnnykillz]

Hey, are you a UConn alumnus?

 

[Irish Man3]

Hey, are you a UConn alumnus?

I attended UConn but I didn't graduate from the university no. Why?

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

Johnny, I lost 12 mil, not 2. I thought I hit on the over, but i didnt.

 

[johnnykillz]

I attended UConn but I didn't graduate from the university no. Why?

Curiosity. That is all my friend. You wanna go? What's up?

Johnny, I lost 12 mil, not 2. I thought I hit on the over, but i didnt.

Damn. You done got broke fool. Ouch. You rich bastage.

 

[Irish Man3]

Curiosity. That is all my friend. You wanna go? What's up?



Damn. You done got broke fool. Ouch. You rich bastage.

Haha no. Just curious as to why you may have asked.

 

[IrishLax]

My guess is that it will happen. They honored him today with the seniors. Most have him going in the first round. If I were a gambler, I would say he is gone. UConn is a very young team so hopefully for my sake, they can have success the following year.

They said in the broadcast that he is graduating early in May, so I think it is a good bet he heads to the pros.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

Everybody is killing Brey about putting Ben back in at the 8 minute mark, or close to it...I don't mind the move. Like he said in the interview after the game, 5th year senior needs to be smarter than that. You should be able to play basketball without fouling for 8 minutes. I'm mean if Ben is going to do that, whats the difference if he kept him out until the 4 minute mark he goes in and makes the same play-its on Ben. I coach basketball and I'd use the same philosophy. Not saying everyone has to agree with it, but its a gamble on the road...really not that much to lose in a hostile environment, and guess what-If anything I'd say a pretty big coaching/learning point for the rest of the year. Bet it doesn't happen again.
Bottom lines:
1. Ben needs to be smarter.
2. Officials were not consistent, UConn clearly benefited from the inconsistency. As IrishMan would point out they are Big East officials, but that doesn't change the fact they called the game in UConn's favor.
3. ND needs to clean up their zone. Even though it produced missed shots, many were uncontested. UConn was simply screening the perimeter and ND did not have a post player stepping out to contest shots(point in case the last 3 by Walker-wide open). That NEEDS to be fixed.
4. ND fought through all of that and still won the game.
5. Walker is amazing, but in the end did they win? Everyone else stands around and watches as he takes them on his back. Last few possessions-kids got nothing left and nobody else can do anything but stand and watch him brick shots. Is this UConn's downfall? The thing I like about ND is as hot as Ben gets, it always seems like the others are involved!

Another question, and maybe its just me... but how to you have such a love for a team in football yet be able to love another team just as much if not more in basketball? I'm not bashing ya IrishMan just a honest question...and what do others think about this?? I just have a hard time grasping that idea!

All in all, just my observations...not trying to make enemies! Go Irish, hoping like hell to see them in Chi-town!

 

[Kingbish01]

Great game...Kemba would be crazy not to go pro, he is NBA ready right now.

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

Another question, and maybe its just me... but how to you have such a love for a team in football yet be able to love another team just as much if not more in basketball? I'm not bashing ya IrishMan just a honest question...and what do others think about this?? I just have a hard time grasping that idea!

Because I grew up loving ND football. I never watched ND basketball. i didnt go to the school.

My 1st grade teachers son, Steve Pikiell (Stony Brook head coach), played for UCONN and i used to go to the games for free and be able to walk on the floor with the players. My brother ( 10 years older ) continued to root for them and fostered my support for them.


Just because you like one college doesnt mean you like every sport.

 

[Irish Man3]

Everybody is killing Brey about putting Ben back in at the 8 minute mark, or close to it...I don't mind the move. Like he said in the interview after the game, 5th year senior needs to be smarter than that. You should be able to play basketball without fouling for 8 minutes. I'm mean if Ben is going to do that, whats the difference if he kept him out until the 4 minute mark he goes in and makes the same play-its on Ben. I coach basketball and I'd use the same philosophy. Not saying everyone has to agree with it, but its a gamble on the road...really not that much to lose in a hostile environment, and guess what-If anything I'd say a pretty big coaching/learning point for the rest of the year. Bet it doesn't happen again.
Bottom lines:
1. Ben needs to be smarter.
2. Officials were not consistent, UConn clearly benefited from the inconsistency. As IrishMan would point out they are Big East officials, but that doesn't change the fact they called the game in UConn's favor.
3. ND needs to clean up their zone. Even though it produced missed shots, many were uncontested. UConn was simply screening the perimeter and ND did not have a post player stepping out to contest shots(point in case the last 3 by Walker-wide open). That NEEDS to be fixed.
4. ND fought through all of that and still won the game.
5. Walker is amazing, but guess what in the end did they win? While everyone else stands around and watches he takes them on his back. Last few possessions-kids got nothing left and nobody else can do anything but stand and watch him brick shots. Is this UConn's downfall? The thing I like about ND is as hot as Ben gets, it always seems like the others are involved!

Another question, and maybe its just me... but how to you have such a love for a team in football yet be able to love another team just as much if not more in basketball? I'm not bashing ya IrishMan just a honest question...and what do others think about this?? I just have a hard time grasping that idea!

All in all, just my observations...not trying to make enemies! Go Irish, hoping like hell to see them in Chi-town!

Explain to me how UConn benefited from the officiating please? Because a group of Notre Dame basketball fans didn't like two fouls called on their star player? That's pretty natural. Other than that, what is your gripe?

As for my love for UConn basketball, I went to the university. Ive played with some of the schools best in recent history. It's something I will never forget and that's what my attraction is.

I've been a ND football fan ever since I was five years old and saw my first football game. Notre Dame vs Boston College. That's my attraction to ND football. ND football is nationally televised, not ND basketball. I also love ND basketball so don't get that confused. It's a game twice a year that I love to watch because I have such a deep interest in both teams.

Also, I'm not the only Husky bball fan/irish ftball fan in this community my man.

 

[dshans]

Well, may the Northern nights force the ladies to snuggle you a little closer, feller. And may the sand and salt saturated windshields of the icehole 18 wheeler drivers never wash clean...

I thank you for your kind wishes. However, the ladies don't know where I am – my wallet and I are hiding.

It's not the 18 wheeler's that tend to be the problem, so may their windshields always be clear! It's the putzes in SUV's and big ol' picks-em-ups.

 

[Veer option]

Great game Irish!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Hansbrough is the POY in the BE. Period. Kemba will be a better pro but Ben was the most important player on one of the best teams in the nation.

 

[Irish Man3]

Hansbrough is the POY in the BE. Period. Kemba will be a better pro but Ben was the most important player on one of the best teams in the nation.

How do you figure? Not bashing you at all, Im just asking how you think it is such an open and close case?

 

[Irish Man3]

I just want to throw this out there for comparison and debate:

Kemba Walker

Points: 22.8
Assists: 4.4
3 Point %- 36%
Rebounds- 5.1
Steals- 1.8

Ben Hansbrough

Points- 18.4
Assists- 4.2
3 Point %- 44%
Rebounds- 3.8
Steals- 1.3

 

[Kingbish01]

Uconn- 21-8 (9-8 In big east)

ND- 25-5 (14-4 in Big East)

 

[Irish Man3]

Uconn- 21-8 (9-8 In big east)

ND- 25-5 (14-4 in Big East)

PLAYER of the year. PLAYER.

If UConn was last in the Big East and Notre Dame was first, you may have an arguement. UConn is not a bad team at all. Not only that but UConn has the youngest team in the Big East. Notre Dame is loaded with juniors and seniors.

If it were just based on team records than the kid from Providence would not even be in the running. So I'm not sure what point your trying to prove by posting team records.

 

[KPENN]

Uconn- 21-8 (9-8 In big east)

ND- 25-5 (14-4 in Big East)

So by your theory the NPOY should come from the #1 overall team

 

[Kingbish01]

No, but by your theory you are saying Marshon Brooks should get it....RIGHT?

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

No, but by your theory you are saying Marshon Brooks should get it....RIGHT?

Maybe he should....

 

[johnnykillz]

Kemba Walker was the best player in college I've watched play all year today. I don't watch a ton of college basketball, but his gameplay was stellar. Without that kid, we would have ran away with the game.

It did seem like Hansbrough was stealing the show until he left though. He left because of poor self control / bad calls. That being said, after he left, it was the Kemba Walker show. Before Hansbrough left, it was a good competitive duel, with Hansbrough leading the fight, IMHO.

Tough to say who wins it; statistically speaking, it's Walker. But, if you factor the player in with his team, I thing ND's gameplay intensifies with Ben in. Whereas, I can't say with Walker.

Two great players, from the best conference in CB this year.

 

[Kingbish01]

So by your theory the NPOY should come from the #1 overall team

Evan Turner-Ohio St
Blake Griffin-Okla
Tyler Hansbrough-UNC
Kevin Durant-Texas
J.J. Redick-Duke

All top teams...So ya, pretty much!

 

[JayRock]

Look at the numbers over big east play....that is what most coaches consider when voting for POTY

 

[Kingbish01]

Maybe he should....

I agree, even though he probably won't.

 

[Irish Man3]

I agree, even though he probably won't.

Being at the bottom of the barrel in the Big East won't help his arguement. I'm not saying the team the potential POY plays on has to be elite, but being in the top 25 would certainly help.

I think the finalists are

Kemba Walker
Ben Hansbrough
Dwight Hardy
Marshon Brooks

Had Ashton Gibbs not suffered an injury that kept him out of numerous games, he would be right there in the mix.

 

[Kingbish01]

Being at the bottom of the barrel in the Big East won't help his arguement. I'm not saying the team the potential POY plays on has to be elite, but being in the top 25 would certainly help.

I think the finalists are

Kemba Walker
Ben Hansbrough
Dwight Hardy
Marshon Brooks

Had Ashton Gibbs not suffered an injury that kept him out of numerous games, he would be right there in the mix.

Yep, you nailed it. I think Ben will get it....He has been great and ND is the better team.

 

[IrishLax]

Marshon Brooks put up some pretty ridiculous numbers with no supporting cast. Ben Hansbrough scored the most efficiently and consistently put his team on his back (besides today) to pull out some big Ws that don't show up in the stat book (especially the win @Pittsburgh).

Kemba Walker? Blend of the two. Great scorer, not a great supporting cast and had some pretty insane performances when it mattered. I do think it hurts him that UConn lost as many games as they did in conference because conference games are what the coaches focus on. For instance, in today's game he had a couple shots in the last minute to give UConn the lead but missed them.

I don't know how you really decide between Brooks, Walker and Hansbrough but I think Hardy is not on that level. He's getting a lot of hype for a couple good games down the stretch whereas the other three (especially Walker) have been lighting it up from the first game of the season.