St. John's is in as probably a #9 / #10 seed and only a fool with an ax to grind would claim they're not deserving of a tournament bid at this stage. Tonight, the greatest 'pure' rivalry in collegiate sports is on display up in Cambridge as Tommy Amaker's Harvard Crimson (20-6; 10-2 Ivy) square off against their archrivals, the Yale Bulldogs (21-8; 10-2 Ivy) with an NCAA birth at stake.
Outside of New York how much Cuse stuff do you see? Nobody outside of alums care about Syracuse. They might be a top program but they aren't a huge money maker for the NCAA. Notice how they "botched" the investigation against The U? Per State was hit hard and had it removed to a slap on the wrist. And Syracuse might get off much easier than Hawaii who has their day coming soon and Hawaii didn't do anything this bad. We'll see when Hawaii gets nailed how the penalties compare.
Villanova 269 - St. John's 68. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — St. John’s already undermanned, went with the safe approach, opting to rest ailing forward Chris Obekpa (left ankle strain) and guard Jamal Branch (groin strain) ahead of next week’s Big East Tournament. You’re not going to hang with fourth-ranked Villanova that way, let alone beat the Wildcats. Even had SJU been at full strength (and despite being up 10 in the 1st half and within 58-54 in the 2nd), they're not hanging with what could very well end up a #1 seed in Villanova…..certainly not this stripped down version against this good a Wildcat team, that's for sure. SJU 2015: "skeleton crew" Dayton East. Tonight: Duke @ UNC UVA @ UL.
UL picks off UVA opening the door for UNC to grab a higher seed position (and double bye) in the New York Life ACC basketball tournament. In the Ivy, Yale (22-9) chokes their brains out vs. Dartmouth (14-14) setting up a 1-game playoff against Harvard. Eli's could've secured their first trip to the Big Dance since the early 60's. UNC-Duke (at UNC): Coach K's 1,000 wins acknowledged along with the hokey P.A. announcer's "he showed 'respect' to us" (ref. to Dean Smith's passing) followed by some more hokey, provincial "greatest rivalry in college athletics" (vs. 'greatest rivalry in college basketball') chest puffing, followed by what was quite possibly the hokiest "lights!…camera!…action!" UNC starting lineup announcement imaginable. That 'pre-game' was so embarrassingly tacky that no less a poised individual than Coach K even wanted to 'skulk' his way off the court. edit: Duke sweeps UNC 84-77 Louisville tops UVA 59-57 UK beats Florida to finish regular season 31-0 Belmont first team in after stunning Murray St.
Even with the Refs helping Roy's boys, Duke sweeps UNC! Duke's bench won this game for them. With Okafor, Winslow, and Tyus Jones on the bench, the Blue Devils took the lead and never trailed again. Go Duke!!
I wonder if Murray State gets an at large, 25 straight wins, top 25 but loses on a last 2nd 3 to Belmont who is one of the best coached teams year in and year out. History is not on their side, Toledo won 27 games last year as did Southern Miss and La Tech and all 3 were left at home. Drexel, Stephen F Austin and Oral Roberts won 27 the year before and were also left out.
You're seriously suggesting that the refs helped UNC? Why would any ACC refs want to 'help' UNC over Duke (or any other ACC team for that matter)? In the Southland Conference (going into their tournament), Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston St. have 27 and 24 wins respectively. Assuming Stephen F. Austin (with a double bye) gets to the final but loses to Sam Houston St., you'd be looking at a 28-win team dependent on receiving an at-large bid.
Stephen F Austin was not selected in 2013 after winning 27, the team with the most wins to not make the tourney is Coastal Carolina in 2011 who went 28-5 and lost in the Big South Tournament.
Murray State was ranked 25th, they'll be dropped I'm pretty sure they don't make it. A lot of teams ahead of them in line for an at large bid.
SJU was up 16-5 on Nova. It was within 5 back and forth with about 12 minutes left. They lost by almost 40. Oy Vey.
Sometimes it's those '4 point swings' that change the course of a game.....looks like there were a lot of 4-pt. swings in this one....
8 players is more than enough especially w/ the talented 8 they have. 8 is what a team really should be playing and K rarely plays more than 8 anyway. he never develops a bench, this has kind of forced him to. Carolina lost that game when Winslow, Okafor and Jones were out and instead of extending lead they had they allowed duke to take lead. duke is just better this year, Carolina had their chances and couldn't take advantage. St. John's should be on the bubble at best after that embarrassment over the weekend.
what are you talking about? Winslow should have been kicked out of the game w/ that karate chop, Okafor fouls nonstop and NEVER gets called- in 2 games against Carolina 1 foul against him. Jones is a GREAT player that is being ruined by K, he gets to the line by selling non calls. Enjoy the win, stop being foolish.
Syracuse isn't on a UNC, UK type of level but they are a top 10 program of all time and one of the marquee programs in the Nation. They cheated badly, Boeheim had been caught a long time ago too and while the NCAA was investigating from a decade ago they were still cheating. They may have gotten off light w/ what they actually did and it is comical for anyone to compare what went on at Carolina to what SU was doing. those folks are 100% clueless.
Duke - UNC!!!!.....again...... "Asking?" *smirk* ..... er, sorry if my observation about that mawkish pre-game was too lampooning in spirit for your tender, non-metriculated ' Tar Heel' sensibilities and which triggered that arbitrary-at-best, reactionary opinion of yours. Since that apparently is the case, my sincerest apologies uncjunc, I clearly didn't mean to step on yours or any of the other 'local's' toes. annual scenario: mid-season: "UNC @ Duke - ACC 1st place at stake!!!" 3 weeks later: "Duke @ UNC - ACC 1st place at stake!!!" 2 weeks later: "Duke vs. UNC - ACC tourney win at stake!!!" 48 hours later: "Duke and UNC - annual 'fait accompli' admission to the big dance....be it as ACC tourney winner or ACC at-large entry..." Comes a point when 'frequency' dissolves into "watered-down," the 8-mile provincial passions aside. Instead, settle for the more realistic and reasonable "best rivalry in college basketball" tag- no need to be so 'GOAT-status' obssessed about it. Just calm down....maybe go out and have yourself a North Carolina bagel and an egg cream for breakfast or a thin-crust North Carolina pizza for lunch or something... Your non-New York mileage may vary. Me? There are many rivalries out there that are great in their own right along with Duke-UNC. Certainly not any that I would feel compelled to harbor a need to declare "greatest!" - I mean, that's flat out silly/wierd. A ticket to one of 3-4 potential games between the ACC standard bearer Duke vs. UNC (even at the more fun-spirited Cameron Stadium) or, for example, a one-game "winner take all" Auburn - Alabama on a beautiful fall afternoon? Iron Bowl. And that's my "NY-mileage" (no dog in this fight) talking. One game....for all the bragging rights marbles....
I am sorry, I didn't realize I had to run it by joe to declare who I thought was the greatest rivalry. a big 'Bama-Auburn game is up there, the problem is Auburn has been mostly down for a long time until recently and pre Saban 'Bama was down for 15 years. No rivalry has consistently produced great games, players, coaches, moments, teams, etc... like this rivalry has.
Has anyone actually dug into UNC's resume this season? 4-9 against the RPI Top 50 Best non conference win.. Davidson?!?! Losses include Pittsburgh, a blowlout loss at home against NC State and an "awful" Big Eat Butler team. Shouldn't they be on the bubble?
