Final 4 Picks
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With Hunter out for Virginia I find it hard to see them surviving their region. He was very important to their rotation. I’ve seen some articles trying to downplay the loss due to Bennett’s system but he was the premiere athlete on their team that allowed them position flexibility they no longer have. Hunter could guard a teams 5 at 6’7 and he was a great rebounder with his bounce and wingspan.
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I just saw a list on Yahoo ranking all 68 teams. Virginia (list was made before Hunters injury) and Nova were their top 2 then Duke, MSU, and us! It’s the 2nd very similar list I’ve seen. I’m really glad we’re not on the 2 line in this region as that would be a super tough region. But having to play either Duke or MSU is a bit of a break. I don’t think we overlook them like maybe we overlooked our elite 9 opponents the last two years. I think we play that game (and we really should get there) with laser sharp focus. That’s why I’ve got KU in the final four, and of course winning it.
@Texas-Hawk-10 Although I don’t like Cincy, I agree with your other picks.
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@wissox The east was the hardest region to pick for me. Virginia has a habit of flaming out early under Bennett (only 1 Elite 8 appearance) so picking them to lose early is betting on history. Kentucky is an insanely young team and I don’t think they can beat Arizona. I think Arizona’s offense is also going to be too much for Virginia to overcome.
I also have Cincinnati/Tennessee in the other Sweet 16 game. That’s gonna be a street fight and Cincy is playing as good as anybody in the country right now.
The east region is the one I’m least certain about along with KU over Sparty given Self’s historic struggles in the Elite 8 and against Izzo. I’d honestly feel better if we played Duke in the Elite 8.
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Anyone think TT will go very far, if healed?
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@Texas-Hawk-10 A key player for UVA just broke their wrist if you didn’t see that.
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@Texas-Hawk-10 You know what burns me every year in my picks? I undervalue the SEC and then they go and put 3 in the elite 8 when I might have 1 get that far, and I, of course, over value the big12 and big 10. I’ve done the same again. Got all 4 big 10 teams getting to the Sweet 16 which realistically could happen, and I’m gleefully eliminating SEC teams.
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@wissox SEC teams almost always have great athletes. I think that’s the crux of it. I have UK in the FF and Florida in the EE. I won’t be tricked again.
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@BShark I know, still didn’t think they were advancing past Arizona before that.
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BShark said:
@wissox SEC teams almost always have great athletes. I think that’s the crux of it. I have UK in the FF and Florida in the EE. I won’t be tricked again.
That comment irks me a bit. Great athletes abound in all our major conferences. If I had a dollar for every time I heard the comment Wisconsin wins despite not being very athletic. These kids are elite athletes! They’re fast, can jump, have great ball skills, they’re tremendous! That’s all, rant over! Carry on!
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@Crimsonorblue22 If Evans is 100% They can make the elite eight, maybe the final four. If Evans is less than 100% it’ll be tough for them to advance in my opinion.
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@wissox It’s all relative. I would agree though Wisconsin typically has lots of athletic combo forwards. Mitch actually reminds me of a Wisconsin player.
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@wissox if it makes you feel any better KU doesn’t have any elite athletes this year either. Only good athletes, no freak athletes since Josh Jackson, Embiid, and Wiggins. There have been other less skilled freak athletes play for KU too like Kenny Gregory and Keith Freeze (I love Keith, but he wasn’t quiet skilled enough for the nba). Obviously I left a ton out, but my point isn’t history so much as the present- no elite athletes on this years squad and it’s not an insult.
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@dylans I think all DI athletes are elite. I really do. If you compared them to the general population especially, then I think they’re elite. Now I know there’s some degrees of elite, but in general there’s no difference. They’re all athletic enough to run and jump out of the gym, short, tall, makes no difference.
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wissox said:
@dylans I think all DI athletes are elite. I really do. If you compared them to the general population especially, then I think they’re elite. Now I know there’s some degrees of elite, but in general there’s no difference. They’re all athletic enough to run and jump out of the gym, short, tall, makes no difference.
That’s our key difference then. When I talk about athleticism I only mean in context to other D1 or P5 players. Lucas and Silvio for example, not comparable!
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@wissox Then how do you differentiate between them? Measure of skill and personality? If all athletes are elite at even the NCAA level Michael Jordan is only a 6’5” basketball player with an average outside shot.
So I’m saying the top 5% most athletic are elite at each level of play. Like Kenny Gregory who set the combine record for vertical jump - elite athlete, not elitely skilled.
Or at the NBA level an athlete like Blake Griffin (in his healthy prime) is obviously more athletic than most of the other players in the NBA. While they are all great athletes compared to the general populace there is a measure of separation between them in their peer group.
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My Final 4: Virginia, UNC, WVU, KU. I believe we get to beat Roy in the Finals! I really believe the Big 12 was the best basketball conference this year. I am sold on WVU being a great team. If Keenan Edwards for TT is healthy, i can see them making a run at the Elite Eight and play WVU. My pick of Virginia was before the injury. However, i still think they are the best team in the South.
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I have the Big 12 opening 4-3. Texas, OU and KSU being the losers. No Big 12 teams in the S16. I don’t see the NBA talent on these Big 12 teams which matter in March.
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@dylans IDK! Hows that for an answer! I think you nailed it when you said the skills are varied, more than ability to run, jump, etc.
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I have KU, Nova, UNC and Cincy. KU over Roy’s Boys in the final. I always pick with my heart so i never win these brackets.
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If you are looking at just athletes independently of basketball, Vick and Cunliffe are generally thought to meet the elite athlete criteria.
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JayHawkFanToo said:
If you are looking at just athletes independently of basketball, Vick and Cunliffe are generally thought to meet the elite athlete criteria.
Agree about both of those guys. Seeing those guys in person, they can fly. Vick floats like a bird, and Sam is an amped up freak of nature.
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X, VA, Nova, KU
I fear the east coast bias will get us again and nova will punk us.
X over Nova. I know not popular but i think the east thing in real and hard to overcome.
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@BShark So you have KU losing to Seton Hall or N.C. state?
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3 Nike, one non Nike.
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Most of the ESPN talking heads have the champion coming out of the Midwest bracket.
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@betterfireE Correct.
