Comments on: Reflections on the Semifinals http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/ The part of the knee that, you know, means something. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:46:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: WiscHoosier http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1536 WiscHoosier Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:31:34 +0000 http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1536 Reflections without ACL's: I think UCLA's problem was not coaching or system but committment to defense and team speed & quickness. UCLA could not find an efficient or productive way to get the ball into the front court scoring position. Further on offense UCLA's front court was trying to get a blow from trying to stay with Memphis's offense. As for UNC-KU, the game was over in the first 5 minutes as UNC notoriously has had slow starts this year and they had to use so much emotional and physical energy even getting back into reach of the game score that the final 5 minutes they had little left in the tank.... As for coaching hmmm....I consider all these coaches great stable masters, but Calipari appears to have gotten his players to buy-in to the total defense and the ole' chip on the shoulder---Dangerfield--- get no R-E-S-P-E-C-T.' Predict....the disrespected team earns its respect because afterall the best player on the court is a kid from Chicago wearing 23.... Reflections without ACL’s:

I think UCLA’s problem was not coaching or system but committment to defense and team speed & quickness. UCLA could not find an efficient or productive way to get the ball into the front court scoring position. Further on offense UCLA’s front court was trying to get a blow from trying to stay with Memphis’s offense.
As for UNC-KU, the game was over in the first 5 minutes as UNC notoriously has had slow starts this year and they had to use so much emotional and physical energy even getting back into reach of the game score that the final 5 minutes they had little left in the tank….

As for coaching hmmm….I consider all these coaches great stable masters, but Calipari appears to have gotten his players to buy-in to the total defense and the ole’ chip on the shoulder—Dangerfield— get no R-E-S-P-E-C-T.’

Predict….the disrespected team earns its respect because afterall the best player on the court is a kid from Chicago wearing 23….

]]> By: Thermocaster http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1534 Thermocaster Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:45:44 +0000 http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1534 Incidentally, word on the street is that Koufos is leaving Ohio State. Incidentally, word on the street is that Koufos is leaving Ohio State.

]]> By: spikedlee http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1533 spikedlee Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:35:38 +0000 http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1533 Agreed on Lesson 2 - how many final fours for Roy and how many titles? Wonder if Kansas will shoot free throws better than what they show in the 'ship game 5 years ago. Agreed on Lesson 2 - how many final fours for Roy and how many titles?

Wonder if Kansas will shoot free throws better than what they show in the ’ship game 5 years ago.

]]> By: Ink Jet http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1531 Ink Jet Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:39:50 +0000 http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1531 I'm still rooting for Cleveland State. I’m still rooting for Cleveland State.

]]> By: TK http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1530 TK Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:25:12 +0000 http://www.thermocaster.com/2008/04/06/reflections-on-the-semifinals/#comment-1530 Solid post... unlike UNC yesterday! Quick pts: -- Memphis, Calipari's recruiting and underground economy notwithstanding, deserves this on the court... More athletic, basketball talent, and what is crucial in modern hoops, big guards who can handle, organize, shoot, drive, and perceivably pass. If they can get to the big guy's head so he can have a party with the Kansas bigs who are now much more confident than when this thing started, we could be confirmed. -- Lesson 2: Applaud in agreement re: Coach Roy's ability to handle big games, what an embarrassment yesterday, truly reflected teams' preparation. If anyone feels that UNC was well prepared for this game, well... it sure didn't show at any point, incl the "allow back" phase of the game. As for the 2005 title in St. Louis, well, let's also attribute this to another outstanding coach, Bruce Weber, who just was not able to get the most talented team to pull it off... Roy didn't really win that one for them, and Sean May had his moment in time too... Too bad for him in the NBA w/ the injuries... but we are digressing! Re: Kansas, if anyone watched the Davidson game, it became evident that both teams deserved to lose that game, only Davidson deserved to lose more... The Kansas point guard almost cost them the Final Four, and if it wasn't for Sasha Kuhn they wouldn't have made it... Now how the heck did they walk into this UNC game so pumped up... I don't know... Awesome job by Self preparing them defensively, from the sounds of it in the locker room they were focused and calm, and anyway, the way they played made me think they might have been on the same substances the Greek national weight-lifting team is and has been for the past few years (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/04/04/greek.weightlifting.doping.ap/index.html) Sidenote: If I hear another thing about what a great coach Larry Brown is I'll press the magic button (mute)... He was duly embarrassed and taken to school in the Olympics, the real coaching test. And the way he handled it in Athens was a disgrace for all American coaches. I think we all need to look toward the new rising talent in coaching, yeap, Danny Manning! Still remember watching his 88 run sometime in the wee hours overseas! -- Lesson 3: Give the kid a break! What a show he's been putting on so far, gotta give it to him... Sad for him, as is the whole state of MO. Oh well, the NBA is waiting, though, the Q is where does he end up (unless he pulls off another miracle and decides to do what no other underclassman this year would fathom, come back... if so, I want UNC to play Koufos -- assuming he stays too -- and Ohio St. in the final next year, it would be the battle of Titans!) Even though I think the comparison to MJ's intensity and hustle at UNC was somewhat perturbing (I think that was brought up in the Elite Eight), he's definitely one of the greatest hustlers I've seen in about 25 years. -- Lesson 4: Excellent pt... and the Utes should have won that one:( Oh well Majerus will NOT get another chance with St. Lou:) I really don't see how Memphis will lose, and Calipari is not Roy, he'll find a way to deal with Kansas D and he has the guards to lead them through. Regardless of what is going on around the program and any issues that may come up recruiting-wise, what we see on the floor is that they should win this. Hopefully Kansas will keep it a decent game. Enjoy! Solid post… unlike UNC yesterday!
Quick pts:
– Memphis, Calipari’s recruiting and underground economy notwithstanding, deserves this on the court… More athletic, basketball talent, and what is crucial in modern hoops, big guards who can handle, organize, shoot, drive, and perceivably pass. If they can get to the big guy’s head so he can have a party with the Kansas bigs who are now much more confident than when this thing started, we could be confirmed.
– Lesson 2:
Applaud in agreement re: Coach Roy’s ability to handle big games, what an embarrassment yesterday, truly reflected teams’ preparation. If anyone feels that UNC was well prepared for this game, well… it sure didn’t show at any point, incl the “allow back” phase of the game.
As for the 2005 title in St. Louis, well, let’s also attribute this to another outstanding coach, Bruce Weber, who just was not able to get the most talented team to pull it off… Roy didn’t really win that one for them, and Sean May had his moment in time too… Too bad for him in the NBA w/ the injuries… but we are digressing!
Re: Kansas, if anyone watched the Davidson game, it became evident that both teams deserved to lose that game, only Davidson deserved to lose more… The Kansas point guard almost cost them the Final Four, and if it wasn’t for Sasha Kuhn they wouldn’t have made it… Now how the heck did they walk into this UNC game so pumped up… I don’t know… Awesome job by Self preparing them defensively, from the sounds of it in the locker room they were focused and calm, and anyway, the way they played made me think they might have been on the same substances the Greek national weight-lifting team is and has been for the past few years (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/04/04/greek.weightlifting.doping.ap/index.html)
Sidenote: If I hear another thing about what a great coach Larry Brown is I’ll press the magic button (mute)… He was duly embarrassed and taken to school in the Olympics, the real coaching test. And the way he handled it in Athens was a disgrace for all American coaches.
I think we all need to look toward the new rising talent in coaching, yeap, Danny Manning! Still remember watching his 88 run sometime in the wee hours overseas!
– Lesson 3:
Give the kid a break! What a show he’s been putting on so far, gotta give it to him… Sad for him, as is the whole state of MO. Oh well, the NBA is waiting, though, the Q is where does he end up (unless he pulls off another miracle and decides to do what no other underclassman this year would fathom, come back… if so, I want UNC to play Koufos — assuming he stays too — and Ohio St. in the final next year, it would be the battle of Titans!)
Even though I think the comparison to MJ’s intensity and hustle at UNC was somewhat perturbing (I think that was brought up in the Elite Eight), he’s definitely one of the greatest hustlers I’ve seen in about 25 years.
– Lesson 4:
Excellent pt… and the Utes should have won that one:( Oh well Majerus will NOT get another chance with St. Lou:)
I really don’t see how Memphis will lose, and Calipari is not Roy, he’ll find a way to deal with Kansas D and he has the guards to lead them through. Regardless of what is going on around the program and any issues that may come up recruiting-wise, what we see on the floor is that they should win this. Hopefully Kansas will keep it a decent game. Enjoy!

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