NCAA Tournament Thread

[Andy]

I went from 12th percentile on ESPN.com to 68th in one round thanks to my Final Four picks. If UCLA can win the title I shall be a rich man.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

And to be honest, UCLA has enough championships. :wink:

 

WRONG.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The McDonalds All-America game is tomorrow...one more chance to see Kevin Love before he hits campus in September. :)

[snoodmonger]

The McDonalds All-America game is tomorrow...one more chance to see Kevin Love before he hits campus in September. :)

 

Al reports are that KU signee Cole Aldrich has abused him the first 2 days. :wink:

 

http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1954

 

 

Day 1 Breakdown

 

Kevin Love, 6’10, 255 lbs, PF/C, Signed with UCLA

 

Love played his atypical game in the practice session, throwing outstanding outlet passes and being a downright bull inside. He was outstanding rebounding the ball and starting the break, while also knocking down a few perimeter jump shots. Kevin struggled a bit defensively on Cole Aldrich, who was absolutely on fire. Nothing new came out of Love Sunday, although he did look even trimmer then the last time we saw him play last month, versus Kyle Singler.

Cole Aldrich, 6’11, 250 lbs., C, Signed with Kansas

 

Aldrich was one of the bigger surprises on day one, seemingly converting at least 80% of the shots that he put up from the field. He boasts a soft touch inside, while also knocking down multiple 15-18 foot jump shots on the day. The Minnesota native finished some surprisingly athletic conversions inside, given his immense size. If he is able to continue playing like this, he will certainly be able to help the Jayhawks out next year as a freshman, given the possibility of them losing Julian Wright and/or Darrell Arthur to the NBA.

 

 

Day 2 Breakdown

Kevin Love, 6’9, 255 lbs, PF/C, Signed with UCLA

 

Love was able to start at least 10 fast breaks on the day through his abnormal ability to throw a perfect outlet pass. He made things so much easier for Derrick Rose by getting him the ball at half court from a defensive rebound, that the Lake Oswego stud didn’t even have to run into the backcourt half of the time. He showed outstanding shooting ability from the perimeter, leaving open the possibility that he could be used in some “pick and pop” sets in once he hits Westwood. Cole Aldrich did get the best of Kevin on the defensive end today, as Aldrich has been absolutely unconscious from the field shooting the ball and has consistently made contested shots that most 6’11 guys just aren’t supposed to make. It wasn’t so much that Love played bad defense, as he did force Aldrich into some tough shots, but rather the fact that Cole just seemed to make everything he put up out there on the floor.

 

Cole Aldrich, 6’11, 250 lbs, C, Signed with Kansas

 

Aldrich continued his hot streak from day one, as nearly everything he put up somehow managed to find its way through the net. He hit two three pointers, leaving Kevin Love openly shaking his head in disbelief. The Minnesota prep star ran the floor well and finished well inside, playing with a passion that was non-existent for so many stretches of time on the AAU circuit. It will be interesting to see if Cole is able to keep it up for the remainder of the week and continue to live up to the outstanding potential that he has.

 

Sounds like we could've used Cole last Sunday. :cry:

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I saw some of those patented Kevin Love outlet passes when Lake Oswego played Santa Ana Mater Dei - my goodness, I can't wait to see him throwing those babies out to Collison, Shipp and Westbrook next season.

 

Aldrich sounds very interesting.

[soccer10k]

I saw some of those patented Kevin Love outlet passes when Lake Oswego played Santa Ana Mater Dei - my goodness, I can't wait to see him throwing those babies out to Collison, Shipp and Westbrook next season.

 

Aldrich sounds very interesting.

 

Speaking of Mater Dei, I saw them a replay on TV of their D-II state title game against Archbishop Mitty and my god did they have some ridiculous height. I can't believe (after looking online) that Love had 36 points in that game.

[TruffleShuffle]

Oh man, I worked this morning for the first time since the Elite 8 games, and found out that I have three ways to win the pool at work. If UCLA wins it all, I win no matter what, and even if Ohio State wins it all, if they beat UCLA, I still win. So UCLA's game against Florida is at least a $60 game for me and could be worth $250 if they go on to win it all. I'm probably the second-biggest UCLA fan on this board now :D

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I saw some of those patented Kevin Love outlet passes when Lake Oswego played Santa Ana Mater Dei - my goodness, I can't wait to see him throwing those babies out to Collison, Shipp and Westbrook next season.

 

Aldrich sounds very interesting.

 

Speaking of Mater Dei, I saw them a replay on TV of their D-II state title game against Archbishop Mitty and my god did they have some ridiculous height. I can't believe (after looking online) that Love had 36 points in that game.

 

Love did it with a 102-degree fever. :)

 

Mater Dei has the size (with the Wear twins), but they don't have much muscle up front.

[soccer10k]

I saw some of those patented Kevin Love outlet passes when Lake Oswego played Santa Ana Mater Dei - my goodness, I can't wait to see him throwing those babies out to Collison, Shipp and Westbrook next season.

 

Aldrich sounds very interesting.

 

Speaking of Mater Dei, I saw them a replay on TV of their D-II state title game against Archbishop Mitty and my god did they have some ridiculous height. I can't believe (after looking online) that Love had 36 points in that game.

 

Love did it with a 102-degree fever. :)

 

Mater Dei has the size (with the Wear twins), but they don't have much muscle up front.

 

They also had 7'0 Alex Jacobson going to Arizona, 6'8 Taylor King going to Duke, and 6'8 Andy Brown (sophomore). But like you said, they didn't appear to have much muscle. Jacobson was pretty skinny, the Wear twins are sophomores and King was more of a SG/SF than a big man. They looked big but I couldn't believe how big until I looked up their roster on maxpreps. Kevin Love looks much stronger than any of the Mater Dei guys did.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Oh, I forgot about Jacobson.

 

Taylor King is definitely a 3 as you said, he's not going to guard Love.

 

Howland is pretty high on the Wear twins - it'll be interesting to see if they can pack a little meat on their soon-to-be 7-foot frames.

[illiniguy]

Oh, I forgot about Jacobson.

 

Taylor King is definitely a 3 as you said, he's not going to guard Love.

 

Howland is pretty high on the Wear twins - it'll be interesting to see if they can pack a little meat on their soon-to-be 7-foot frames.

Kevin Love is good.

That is all.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Beasley looked good at the McDonalds game. I liked Singler too - wish we could have gotten him.

 

Can't wait for Kevin Love next season. :D

[illiniguy]

Beasley looked good at the McDonalds game. I liked Singler too - wish we could have gotten him.

 

Can't wait for Kevin Love next season. :D

I heard that Beasley dominated and Gordon looked like crap. Can't say that hurts my feelings.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jrue Holiday - one of the top recruits for 2008, with UCLA, UNC and Washington as his likely top 3 schools - will be at the Final Four along with his good friend (and UCLA 08 commit) Jerime Anderson.

[Derwood]

Since I have to work during the Final Four games (:x) I hope each one is a 40 point blowout and the good game is saved for Monday

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute's dad was supposed to fly in from Cameroon to see his son play organized basketball for the first time - but instead, had eye problems and had to have surgery in Geneva. :|

[FloridaCubbie]

ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FloridaCubbie]

ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Derwood]

ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

i can't cheer for any college team that has orange as one of their colors (with all due respect to the UofI, Syracuse, etc. fans out there)

[tadowdaddy]

Beasley looked good at the McDonalds game. I liked Singler too - wish we could have gotten him.

 

Can't wait for Kevin Love next season. :D

 

I can't wait to see Beasley in the purple next season!!! Beasley + Walker + Hoskins will be very nice! :)

[Andy]

Fine time for my CBS affiliate to stop broadcasting

[soccer10k]

GO HOYAS!!!

 

Oden has two fouls already.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Oden in foul trouble very early on?

 

Inconceivable!

[Derwood]

Hoyas please. That is all

[soccer10k]

Georgetown can't buy a layup early on. Much different from the Carolina game.