The Great iBoldin

You can, it's just no team really wants to challenge Jimmer out there. If you continually throw junk defenses at him, I'll take my chances with a few those from almost center and make him frustrated. The Gators have the length and defensive players to handle Jimmer, but they need to go to a match-up zone or tri 2 to contain him.

I think Florida would be wise to play some type of match-up zone or triangle and 2 action to effectively limit Fredette. A match-up zone would enable a longer defender like Parsons to aggressively guard Fredette but still have all of the normal zone backings behind him. It's not a bad idea at all, make Jimmer give the ball up and keep him around 18-22 points. A match-up zone would absolutely wear down Fredette and BYU has no one that can take over the game as a result. A triangle and 2 or 1-1-3 match-up zone would be game over for BYU.

Nice inbound Dudley, way to get it done.

Hook up a link?

Boston is playing really well against Kansas, but I'm expecting the Jayhawks to pull away at the start of the 2nd half. They keep playing a scrappy zone and hitting 3's. Good game so far.

http://www.otrbasketball.com/forums/public/style_images/clean/team_reps/raptors.png Like the exact replicas? either use those of go to sportslogos.net

Terrible rotation and block out on Howard, just scragged in there for the rebound. As Charles Barkley would say, "just turrible."

Agreed. I just don't think they're that good. This is a team that lost to Colorado three times in a row and play a plucky 12 seed. I like Utah State because they play awesome defense and slow things down on offense and get great looks. I'm not too worried about who they've played because the played both BYU and Georgetown well enough to give me hope they can beat the Wildcats. The WAC is awful, but at the same time the Aggies absolutely decimated it. It all goes back to stingy defense, if they can contain Pullen they probably win by 8-10 points. I obviously agree with the Johnnies, they're a great team that's battle tested and plays solid defense to accompany that. I just don't think we should discount Gonzaga just yet. They're a good team as well.

This is probably the closest I've ever followed college basketball this season, so I want to post some thoughts on seeding, teams, etc. Sort of like I do with football. Agree to disagree or agree with me, maybe it'll stir up some conversation. - While I'm in agreement that some of the seeds don't make sense, I don't think there should be too many gripes with teams getting left out or in. Anytime you've got a situation like the bubble was this year, you're going to have teams left out, which leads to hurt feelings, rage, controversy, everything under the sun. While I do think VT, 'Bama and Colorado (amongst a couple of others) have legitimate gripes, these teams put themselves in the situation to begin with. The Buffs are in the 300's for non-conference schedules. A ranking of over 300? How do you honestly put yourself in that position on the bubble and expect to really get in? One of the selection committee's favorite things to do is go after teams that have shitty non-conference schedules and take them out right away. I think Alabama has some gripes. They won their SEC division, beat Georgia and played generally well at the end of the year. I really did expect them to get in, but that's the way it goes. They're certainly built a better resume then Colorado in my opinion. VT may be a little disappointed, but the history of them not making it is there, and there really is nothing to suggest why the selection committee should break that trend. I thought Duke was a great win, but Duke generally has a couple of those per season, as does every elite team in the NCAA. I can see why there was anger, but I also see why the NCAA left them out. - On the in side of the bubble, I loved VCU getting in. What a scrappy team, and I think the CAA was the best of the mid major divisions this year and deserved 3 bids. That may be a lot for a mid major conference but it really was a quality conference this season. While USC is peaking seemingly at the right time, I don't think VCU should be taken for granted and will end up either losing by 2 or 3 or winning. I think that play-in game will be a lot better then some of the snoozers this year (ie: Texas A&M and FSU) - I'm really going to be rooting hard for Old Dominion this year. They're a mirror image of my high school team, where we worked so hard, played incredible defense and wiped up both offensive and defensive boards. It's a kryptonite to some of the high scoring, up tempo teams like St. John's or Kentucky this year. I don't expect Butler to keep up with them at all and Pitt is either going to be upset or they're going to be in for a ruthless game. I have ODU going to the Elite 8 as my Cinderella team. - Other upsets possibilities include Wofford, Belmont, Richmond, Missouri (11 v. 6 constitutes upset), Utah State, and 'Zaga. - Meh, Kansas State doesn't scare me and I don't think they go as far as people are predicting. I think they're going to have trouble with any of those teams they could potentially face. Do people really seeing them surviving a gauntlet of something such as Utah State - Wisconsin - Pitt? Or Utah State - Belmont - ODU? Maybe the second one, but certainly not the first in my mind. Let's not forget how shitty this team was early in the season. They weren't even in many bracketologies at that point. - DJ Kennedy lost for St. John's could be huge. Do they have the interior presence to beat the Zags? They've got the 7-footer Sacre from Vancouver who is just phenomenal in the post and he could be a potential X-Factor. I'll be posting more later.

Well this gives BB a perfectly good reason to send this guy packing. An awful year combined with legal issues? Time to find a new team, bro.

I agree, especially if they pulled Clowney out of USC. I have no doubt in my mind there's dirty stuff going on there, but Clowney would be the breaking point for a LOT of people.

Oregon always had the necessary talent, but Chip Kelly and his innovative schemes put that team over the top (well, almost). It's not like guys like LaMichael James and Jeff Maehl were THAT highly recruited out of high school. And we all know about the QB situation (Masoli out of CC and Darron Thomas).

Strong source.

Ohio State Texas Kansas BYU (I suppose) I am so undecided about the number one seeds. I don't think any of those teams besides Texas has a really really good chance of either going to the Final Four or winning the entire thing. BYU is overrated. Any very solid defensive team that can contain Fredette is going to beat the Cougars by 20. They have no one besides Jimmer and they're not good enough inside to do any real damage. Two and out I think for BYU, unless Jimmer goes off for 40 in every game. They don't have the depth or scoring prowess to overcome any potential Jimmer lapse. I worry about Kansas just because I don't think they have the mentality to beat 3 or 4 very good teams in a row. I just don't like their vibe this year. But I don't get that from a lot of teams either. OSU is overrated and don't have the depth to contend. Sullinger is lazy and isn't experienced enough to take them anywhere. Texas is great inside and out, but if Balbos doesn't play consistent minutes they're out by the Elite Eight. He's the catalyst of that team, but I probably think they have the best chance. I look at teams like Purdue, Wisconsin, Louisville, St. Johns, Georgetown, UConn, and Missouri to really play well. I want to see how Florida plays because I think they can be a tough out especially if they play the way they did against Georgia earlier in the year. Scrappy, tough team.

lolol.. this is iBoldin, not DBF. And that was meant as a trolling post. Here are my actual thoughts on Golden State. I do believe it will get better, but not for a year or two more. Years and years of mis-managed players - free agents, draft picks and roster players alike - have contributed to the continual mediocrity of the franchise. They were marred by a dumbass as the Owner and the stupidity reign from the top down. I like Keith Smart, and I like the re-emphasis on the defensive approach. You're never going to get much D from players like David Lee but if you can drill the simple fundamentals into them, brand them into a little less run n' gun and a little more halfcourt, this could be a team to watch for. Specifically, how have David Lee and Biedrins played? I've watched a bit of Golden State, around six or seven games, and I haven't been impressed, but they've been average I assume. And what about Ekpe Udoh?

http://cdn1.knowyourmeme.com/i/30403/original/YouMad.jpg

You always strive to go as far as you can, whether you have a young or old team. You look at some of the younger teams that have established young talent and grab and 8 seed, it's about building your franchise so when you are in a better position you know what it takes to win in the Playoffs. The difference between 13/14 and 15/16 isn't much anyways.

ECN, do you make your bets online? The betting thing here doesn't do parlay bets so I'm looking for an online alternative.

He needs to rethink whether he wants to be a part of the league that kept his franchise afloat during the pinnacle of their mediocrity? Atta guy Mario. Whatever. Mario's always been a whiner, it doesn't surprise me that this came from him.

Hopefully our injuries aren't too severe to our back end. We bring in two of the most dependable guys you can have in Hamhuis and Ballard and they are both gone indefinitely right now. And Edler (our number one d-man) is likely out until the year with a back injury.

True, but what I'm saying is that the Canucks are I believe 6 points up on Philadelphia after tonight and beat them 6-2, I think they are a better team right now. I'm with you though, I'd enjoy a 7-game series, especially for the Stanley Cup.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/boxscore.htm?id=2010020544 I don't know if we're the best team or not, but we're easily top-three. Both Luongo and Schneider have been fantastic all year, our scoring is dominant and Mike Gillis has done an exceptional job in bringing in both defensive and bottom-six depth. That's why we lost to Chicago last year and he went out and improved it. They show it almost every night - Luongo hasn't lost in regulation since December 5th. Over two months without a regulation loss? We've beaten pretty much every team there is to beat this year, dominated Philadelphia. Most likely will pump Boston when they come to town too (a good team coming to Vancouver on HNIC? Give me Vancouver). I don't know. I've tried to keep myself honest in the expectations of this team, but I think if we don't at least reach the Stanley Cup it'll be a colossal disappointment. Will be a 11-point lead over Detroit when we beat Calgary in the next few minutes.

What an embarrassment for some of the Islanders players, specifically Martin and Gillies. Absolute sucker punch (or attempted) and then a dirt hit followed by punching a defenseless player and then taunting him while he's laying injured on the ice. What a buffoon. We don't need players like that in the NHL. That's total bush league and I'd be extremely disappointed if Gillies wasn't gone for 15 games. Godard should get the same for coming off the bench as well, what a [expletive]in' moron that guy is as well. I'd come down hard on the Islanders coach and organization as well, this is the third time it's happened this SEASON. It happened against Montreal in the pre-season and twice against the Pens. It's ridiculous that this is continuing.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a177/schwartzo/blakckid.gif

Really, really good game that I loved watching. Which is what Super Bowls should be about. Some key points: - Green Bay did a great job scheming for that cover 2 shell with the seam routes. Even with Greg Jennings running it, it was run to perfection more then enough and that really allowed them to move the ball in chunks at times. I think if Jermichael Finley was able to play it'd be even worse, as I thought he'd be one of the x-factors that Green Bay just couldn't play without. They proved me wrong, but Finley is still one of my favorite tight ends. - Packers were able to generate scoring drives off turnovers, main reason they won. - Chris Kemoateau was complete [expletive] all game, he never pulled well and he had trouble containing a great Packer defensive line. Howard Green, BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins all played great games and I thought controlled the line of scrimmage. - Disappointed in the Packers abandonment of the run game, I think they ended up with 11 carries. Surprising considering they were having moderate success. I think they found something in James Starks, he was over 5 YPC; Pair him with Ryan Grant, John Kuhn and Brandon Jackson next year and you have a very solid stable of running backs. - Aaron Rodgers won the quarterback battle, and I loved the way he played all game. I thought he might of gone out of his element and get swooped up with the hype of Super Bowl week, and it looked like it during the first few drives. He was just a tad off. But once he settled in, he preyed on a weak Steelers secondary. - Pittsburgh may want to take a look at Nnamdi Asomugha. William Gay, Bryant McFadden and the rest of the Steelers corners not named Ike Taylor are complete trash and were abused all game. - I said it earlier but I didn't think Jordy Nelson would play that big of a part as he did. To think if he didn't drop those three catchable balls throughout the night, he probably would've gone 13-215-2 TD. That's IMPRESSIVE. Ten catches is nothing to sneeze at, and even James Jones stepped up in the absence of Donald Driver. Overall, both these teams will be in the mix once again next year. The Packers got to look at the incredible depth at their skill positions (guys like Quarless, Crabtree, Starks, Nelson) throughout the year and fulfill every teams' main objective; Win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. As a Packer admirer, I'm happy for them. Congrats to Lkr, Flash, Jenneral and all the other Packer fans who can bask in the glory of this win. You put together a suffocating defense and high-flying offense and simply were the best team. Also: Do you think Green Bay will trade Matt Flynn? He could fetch up to a second-round pick. I know the Cardinals (Larry Fitzgerald I should say) want either Kevin Kolb or Matt Flynn, but I'd rather Flynn. Is it worth it trading him? His development has been fantastic and he didn't look stirred when New England threw their best stuff at him. Could be very good.