Interesting topic...give me your contenders and pretenders from the top 25, plus a couple teams you think are contenders that aren't in there right now.
Pretenders (in order of ranking):
Duke Tennessee Georgetown Indiana Wisconsin Drake Texas A&M Notre Dame Vanderbilt Washington State Saint Mary's Kansas State Purdue
Louisville Arkansas Mississippi State BYU Arizona USC
Don't forget, this is ALL opinions, so don't bash people just cause they think some teams have what it takes and others don't...just ask why. Obviously I have some interesting selections (like Tennessee as a pretender, Stanford and Michigan State as contenders), but that's just my personal opinion.
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To remove first post, remove entire topic.
Interesting topic...give me your contenders and pretenders from the top 25, plus a couple teams you think are contenders that aren't in there right now.
Pretenders (in order of ranking):
Duke Tennessee Georgetown Indiana Wisconsin Drake Texas A&M Notre Dame Vanderbilt Washington State Saint Mary's Kansas State Purdue
Louisville Arkansas Mississippi State BYU Arizona USC
Don't forget, this is ALL opinions, so don't bash people just cause they think some teams have what it takes and others don't...just ask why. Obviously I have some interesting selections (like Tennessee as a pretender, Stanford and Michigan State as contenders), but that's just my personal opinion.
It should be noted that pretenders are teams who I think will disappoint compared to what is expected of them, and contenders will either live up to their billing or surprise compared to what is expected of them.
For example, I wouldn't be surprised at all if both Tennessee and Marquette lost in the Sweet 16. But, that makes UT more of a pretender considering their expectations, and Marquette more of a contender considering their expectations.
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It should be noted that pretenders are teams who I think will disappoint compared to what is expected of them, and contenders will either live up to their billing or surprise compared to what is expected of them.
For example, I wouldn't be surprised at all if both Tennessee and Marquette lost in the Sweet 16. But, that makes UT more of a pretender considering their expectations, and Marquette more of a contender considering their expectations.
tennessee is better this year than they were last year when they lost the eventual national runner up, and no one is as strong as last years florida team...
Tennessee could beat every single team on that whole list....any given night in the tourney...see george mason
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tennessee is better this year than they were last year when they lost the eventual national runner up, and no one is as strong as last years florida team...
Tennessee could beat every single team on that whole list....any given night in the tourney...see george mason
imo i would move unc down quite a few rankings on ur list......i know ty is out, but they just don't play enough defense to go anywhere imo......also i'm happy to see u got my uconn huskies on ur contender list. Also, imo i think louisville should make the contender list, and not just b/c they beat georgetown.....this team has been rolling on all cylinders the past few weeks and i see this team making a deep run into the big tournament
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imo i would move unc down quite a few rankings on ur list......i know ty is out, but they just don't play enough defense to go anywhere imo......also i'm happy to see u got my uconn huskies on ur contender list. Also, imo i think louisville should make the contender list, and not just b/c they beat georgetown.....this team has been rolling on all cylinders the past few weeks and i see this team making a deep run into the big tournament
but i 100% agree with u on duke....sure when they r hot they can beat any team in the nation, but what will happen when that team is playing a great team and their 3 pointers aren't falling...they sure can't rely on their inside game....and when they run into teams w/great post play in the tournament, i see them falling
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but i 100% agree with u on duke....sure when they r hot they can beat any team in the nation, but what will happen when that team is playing a great team and their 3 pointers aren't falling...they sure can't rely on their inside game....and when they run into teams w/great post play in the tournament, i see them falling
Glad to see you agree on most of those. Thing I like about UNC is, I know I can trust them to win tough games. IMO, they've been battle-tested. The wins @ Clemson, @ Georgia Tech, @ Florida State, and hosting Clemson were all very impressive to me, as nearly any other team in the country would've probably dropped at least 1-2 of those. They find ways to win games, have an unbelievable post presence, are great from the line, and obviously have a ton of talent. They definitely look like a team to sell right now, but I'm not convinced they need to be playing great basketball in mid-February as long as they are in early March when Lawson is back and healthy. Right now, this team is one of my frontrunners to win it all, although it's hard to see it with their defense.
Coverditty -
Gonna be hard to make you think otherwise because you're obviously biased, but Tennessee will get beat up by a team that can bang down low and bear down on them defensively. They're gonna go through the next month (and the last two months of their season) with only one really tough game, and the rest against very mediocre teams in the SEC.
It's going to be a rude awakening when they run into a physical 3 or 4 seed in the tournament who can give them fits like UK and LSU did. Another concern of mine for the Vols is I'm not a believer in their PG play at all, which I think they really need if they are going to dodge all those bullets on the way to the Final Four.
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Miamiheat -
Glad to see you agree on most of those. Thing I like about UNC is, I know I can trust them to win tough games. IMO, they've been battle-tested. The wins @ Clemson, @ Georgia Tech, @ Florida State, and hosting Clemson were all very impressive to me, as nearly any other team in the country would've probably dropped at least 1-2 of those. They find ways to win games, have an unbelievable post presence, are great from the line, and obviously have a ton of talent. They definitely look like a team to sell right now, but I'm not convinced they need to be playing great basketball in mid-February as long as they are in early March when Lawson is back and healthy. Right now, this team is one of my frontrunners to win it all, although it's hard to see it with their defense.
Coverditty -
Gonna be hard to make you think otherwise because you're obviously biased, but Tennessee will get beat up by a team that can bang down low and bear down on them defensively. They're gonna go through the next month (and the last two months of their season) with only one really tough game, and the rest against very mediocre teams in the SEC.
It's going to be a rude awakening when they run into a physical 3 or 4 seed in the tournament who can give them fits like UK and LSU did. Another concern of mine for the Vols is I'm not a believer in their PG play at all, which I think they really need if they are going to dodge all those bullets on the way to the Final Four.
Ive seen the vols go into the tourney with 4 and 5 seeds and know they were not going to make it past the first weekend...this team has just really caught my interest for the fact they are very intense and seem to get stronger when other teams begin to fade...
Most the teams that like to bang are going to get run out of the gym when they play the vols, ill have my full list for ya tomorrow...but I just don't see why ur not a believer in the orange...what do they have to do? if they beat memphis that will make them 2-1 against your contenders..would that give them some cred?
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Its not biased...
Ive seen the vols go into the tourney with 4 and 5 seeds and know they were not going to make it past the first weekend...this team has just really caught my interest for the fact they are very intense and seem to get stronger when other teams begin to fade...
Most the teams that like to bang are going to get run out of the gym when they play the vols, ill have my full list for ya tomorrow...but I just don't see why ur not a believer in the orange...what do they have to do? if they beat memphis that will make them 2-1 against your contenders..would that give them some cred?
The one thing I seriously think they need is to lose in the SEC tourney. If they cruise through regular season play (only losing to Memphis), and cruise through the tournament, I think they're fucked. They are gonna need a wake-up call either in the last game or two of the regular season or the conference tournament, just like Florida had last year when they lost 3 of 4 a week or two before the SECT started.
That is the one thing that could get me to envision a run, is if they run into a little bit of a rut right before postseason play starts...
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But they won't beat Memphis...
The one thing I seriously think they need is to lose in the SEC tourney. If they cruise through regular season play (only losing to Memphis), and cruise through the tournament, I think they're fucked. They are gonna need a wake-up call either in the last game or two of the regular season or the conference tournament, just like Florida had last year when they lost 3 of 4 a week or two before the SECT started.
That is the one thing that could get me to envision a run, is if they run into a little bit of a rut right before postseason play starts...
But, just to clarify, even if that does happen, that still doesn't mean I think they will make a run. I'm just saying that's the only way I could envision them making a run. You won't see them in my Final Four brackets regardless.
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But, just to clarify, even if that does happen, that still doesn't mean I think they will make a run. I'm just saying that's the only way I could envision them making a run. You won't see them in my Final Four brackets regardless.
sorry man, saw Marquette as a contender and Duke as a pretender and that just lost all validity in my eyes. No way in hell Duke is more of a pretender then marquette
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sorry man, saw Marquette as a contender and Duke as a pretender and that just lost all validity in my eyes. No way in hell Duke is more of a pretender then marquette
Never too early to talk about the NCAAs My thoughts ...
Pretenders: Memphis - No they won't win it all Duke - Another early exit for Duke when those threes stop falling UNC - Just can't have them in my Final Four this season Michigan State - Don't like this team, and Nietzel is overrated IMO Indiana - What are the expectations for this team now? What more than an NCAA berth? Wisconsin - Not a bad team, but will defo be one of my upset specials in the first round Drake - Not prentenders because they had a great season. Still, they could fall to a #10 or #11 seed easy UConn - Everyone's in love with U-Conn right now but I'm just not sure about them being that good. Texas A&M - Their early season road woes have shown this team has nothing to do with last year's Vanderbilt - So soft Saint Mary's - Gaels travel East and go home early Marquette - Over-over-over-rated squad Texas - For some reason I just don't see them strong enough to reach Elite Eight.
Contenders: Kansas - Balanced, depth, athleticism. Don't think they'll win it all but ... Tennessee - Last year, they were that close of beating Ohio State. This year, with Prince and Smith #3, they're way better. Final FOur contender UCLA - 2008 NCAA champs Georgetown - I love the fact that everyone is burying them. Yes, they've been soft most of the time, but man, is that team impressive, balanced, and deep on paper. Butler - Depends where the bar is set. I expect them to upset a big name team, or at least scare the sh** out of it, as they did to the Gators last year. Xavier - Not much or a surprise package, but any Top 25 team (we're not talking VMI here) with 6 scorers at 10+ pts will be a danger come tourney time. Pittsburgh (with a healthy Fields) - Pitt has been plagued by injuries but could be an under-the-radar team for the Big Dance. Washington State - Cougars are my surprise package #2 for the tourney. Everyone is willing to bury them after they lost 3 times in a row at home. Still, I believe they're capable of a good run. Kansas State - Beasley, what else Purdue - Baby Boilers could be a very interesting team to follow in the next couple of years. They beat Arizona last years while some were claiming their NCAA berth was a fluke. They can reach Sweet 16 this year. Notre Dame - Notre Dame lives and dies with 3's because Harangody produces no matter the opposition. If McAlarney and Co get hot behind the arc, this Irish team will be really dangerous.
Teams I think are threats outside the top 25: Louisville - With their injuried big bodies back, Louisville is as impressive on paper as any team oustide the top 5. Arizona - Bayless and Budinger rarely play their A game at the same time, but if that happens, Wildcats could go very very far. Clemson - Tigers have outplayed UNC twice only to let their bad nerves take over and throw the games away. Still, I'm very impressed with this team since Day 1 and see the Tigers as a possible Final Four candidate (can't believe I've said that ).
And a Watchout for: Davidson, South Alabama and Oral Roberts for cinderella stories
And yes, I didn't mention Stanford because I really don't know what to make of them ...
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Never too early to talk about the NCAAs My thoughts ...
Pretenders: Memphis - No they won't win it all Duke - Another early exit for Duke when those threes stop falling UNC - Just can't have them in my Final Four this season Michigan State - Don't like this team, and Nietzel is overrated IMO Indiana - What are the expectations for this team now? What more than an NCAA berth? Wisconsin - Not a bad team, but will defo be one of my upset specials in the first round Drake - Not prentenders because they had a great season. Still, they could fall to a #10 or #11 seed easy UConn - Everyone's in love with U-Conn right now but I'm just not sure about them being that good. Texas A&M - Their early season road woes have shown this team has nothing to do with last year's Vanderbilt - So soft Saint Mary's - Gaels travel East and go home early Marquette - Over-over-over-rated squad Texas - For some reason I just don't see them strong enough to reach Elite Eight.
Contenders: Kansas - Balanced, depth, athleticism. Don't think they'll win it all but ... Tennessee - Last year, they were that close of beating Ohio State. This year, with Prince and Smith #3, they're way better. Final FOur contender UCLA - 2008 NCAA champs Georgetown - I love the fact that everyone is burying them. Yes, they've been soft most of the time, but man, is that team impressive, balanced, and deep on paper. Butler - Depends where the bar is set. I expect them to upset a big name team, or at least scare the sh** out of it, as they did to the Gators last year. Xavier - Not much or a surprise package, but any Top 25 team (we're not talking VMI here) with 6 scorers at 10+ pts will be a danger come tourney time. Pittsburgh (with a healthy Fields) - Pitt has been plagued by injuries but could be an under-the-radar team for the Big Dance. Washington State - Cougars are my surprise package #2 for the tourney. Everyone is willing to bury them after they lost 3 times in a row at home. Still, I believe they're capable of a good run. Kansas State - Beasley, what else Purdue - Baby Boilers could be a very interesting team to follow in the next couple of years. They beat Arizona last years while some were claiming their NCAA berth was a fluke. They can reach Sweet 16 this year. Notre Dame - Notre Dame lives and dies with 3's because Harangody produces no matter the opposition. If McAlarney and Co get hot behind the arc, this Irish team will be really dangerous.
Teams I think are threats outside the top 25: Louisville - With their injuried big bodies back, Louisville is as impressive on paper as any team oustide the top 5. Arizona - Bayless and Budinger rarely play their A game at the same time, but if that happens, Wildcats could go very very far. Clemson - Tigers have outplayed UNC twice only to let their bad nerves take over and throw the games away. Still, I'm very impressed with this team since Day 1 and see the Tigers as a possible Final Four candidate (can't believe I've said that ).
And a Watchout for: Davidson, South Alabama and Oral Roberts for cinderella stories
And yes, I didn't mention Stanford because I really don't know what to make of them ...
No Terps??? Wow, little credibility without them. They are not Top 25 but are playing like a Top 10 team. Gotta be on the "watchout list"......they are just a TAD BIT better than South Alabama and Oral Roberts.
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No Terps??? Wow, little credibility without them. They are not Top 25 but are playing like a Top 10 team. Gotta be on the "watchout list"......they are just a TAD BIT better than South Alabama and Oral Roberts.
UNC is a pretender - check the FG% against. they play zero defense and the ACC is not good this year
i love the big east (yes im a homer) but if they dont kill each other in the big east tourney (they usually do) and the seedings line up how do teams like gtown, lville, uconn, nd. pitt, marquette not win 2 games in the tournament?
teams i always like to grab come tourney time have a few things in common:
-veteran guard play -a big time NBA prospect (at least 6'8") -excellent half court defense -high FT %
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UNC is a pretender - check the FG% against. they play zero defense and the ACC is not good this year
i love the big east (yes im a homer) but if they dont kill each other in the big east tourney (they usually do) and the seedings line up how do teams like gtown, lville, uconn, nd. pitt, marquette not win 2 games in the tournament?
teams i always like to grab come tourney time have a few things in common:
-veteran guard play -a big time NBA prospect (at least 6'8") -excellent half court defense -high FT %
It's hard for me to explain my faith in UNC, but I just like this team for some reason...I feel like at end of games, I can trust them to pull it out like they have in some tough roadies so far. I like the fact they can shoot FT's, have a great PG, a great post presence, and great coaching. I know they play no defense and they haven't been great lately, but like I already said earlier, this isn't the right time to peak. I see them being a factor in March.
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It's hard for me to explain my faith in UNC, but I just like this team for some reason...I feel like at end of games, I can trust them to pull it out like they have in some tough roadies so far. I like the fact they can shoot FT's, have a great PG, a great post presence, and great coaching. I know they play no defense and they haven't been great lately, but like I already said earlier, this isn't the right time to peak. I see them being a factor in March.
dont forget about gonzaga unlike past years there going to be quietly in the tournament and i think this team is improving and i like this years team more then last years team
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dont forget about gonzaga unlike past years there going to be quietly in the tournament and i think this team is improving and i like this years team more then last years team
Interesting topic: I will disagree with most I think Duke is a contender they play great defense, all are great ball handlers and are deadly from 3. I understand they lack a formidable inside presence but I think it is clear they can allow a player like Hansbrough to get his touches and points and still win by double digits I am not a Duke lover but think this may be one of coach rat faces better teams in the past few years combined with the recent early March madness exits... I think they get to the Final Four.
Kansas- is the perenial favorite balanced and loaded with depth. However, Self has continually come up short as a coach.... They may make it to the Final Four but still will come up short in my estimation somewhere.
UCLA- Any team that plays defense like they do will go deep again in the tournament. Howland has gotten this team to return to back to back Final Fours. PAC 10 is arguably one of the better deeper basketball conferences this year with the likes of Stanford, USC, Wash St., Arizona etc.
Tenn- This team can go on incredible spurts with their pressing style, but will need to make some improvement aside from Lofton at the FT line if they are going to be able to close out against tough competition.
Memphis- ? Think I will have a better feel for this team after they play Tennessee.
Pretenders that will be overvalued IMO
Florida
Vanderbilt
Wash St.
UNC
Texas
Saint Mary's
Wisconsin
Indiana
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Interesting topic: I will disagree with most I think Duke is a contender they play great defense, all are great ball handlers and are deadly from 3. I understand they lack a formidable inside presence but I think it is clear they can allow a player like Hansbrough to get his touches and points and still win by double digits I am not a Duke lover but think this may be one of coach rat faces better teams in the past few years combined with the recent early March madness exits... I think they get to the Final Four.
Kansas- is the perenial favorite balanced and loaded with depth. However, Self has continually come up short as a coach.... They may make it to the Final Four but still will come up short in my estimation somewhere.
UCLA- Any team that plays defense like they do will go deep again in the tournament. Howland has gotten this team to return to back to back Final Fours. PAC 10 is arguably one of the better deeper basketball conferences this year with the likes of Stanford, USC, Wash St., Arizona etc.
Tenn- This team can go on incredible spurts with their pressing style, but will need to make some improvement aside from Lofton at the FT line if they are going to be able to close out against tough competition.
Memphis- ? Think I will have a better feel for this team after they play Tennessee.
Vandy has one good game and they're supposed to be in the discussion? Take them out of Memorial Gym and they aren't worth shit. The same team they just beat by 40+ at home beat them on the road. What does that say?
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Quote Originally Posted by ZonaCats:
I disagree with most.
Where is Vandy and Marq is garbage.
Vandy has one good game and they're supposed to be in the discussion? Take them out of Memorial Gym and they aren't worth shit. The same team they just beat by 40+ at home beat them on the road. What does that say?
well you have no credibility left after Tenn a pretender kicked the shit out of Arkansas. You have Arkansas as a team out of the top 25 with a chance. hahahah good call moron
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well you have no credibility left after Tenn a pretender kicked the shit out of Arkansas. You have Arkansas as a team out of the top 25 with a chance. hahahah good call moron
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I am not a Duke lover but think this may be one of coach rat faces better teams in the past few years combined with the recent early March madness exits... I think they get to the Final Four.
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