The Official 2006 NCAA Tournament thread

[Young Drachma]

George Mason isn't in their rhythm yet. If Florida can keep them playing this way, while making shots, then the game will be in the bag. But if Mason can adapt and figure out how to play their game -- namely forcing turnovers and making shots -- then this one will go to the wire and Mason could pull it off.

Their coach won't let them play tight for too long. So, they'll snap out of it hopefully.

[Desnudo]

Billy Packer is a size queen. Length, length, length. Doesn't thickness count for something?

[Vince]

George Mason plays like my college intramural team did -- we were always smaller, but quicker. We played great defense and usually worked the ball around patiently to get a good shot on offense, and had a bunch of fast break points. These last few possessions have looked MUCH better for GMU.

[Vince]

If I never hear the word 'long' again, it'll be too soon, and it's not even the end of the first half yet.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Vince

If I never hear the word 'long' again, it'll be too soon, and it's not even the end of the first half yet.

I'd suggest never watching the NBA draft, then.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Billy Packer is a size queen. Length, length, length. Doesn't thickness count for something?

He wants to talk about Florida as much as possible.

[Young Drachma]

At least it's close at the half. I feared it would get out of hand at one point there.

[Karlifornia]

Interesting half. A couple of mistakes in the final minute could have really hurt Mason, but UF didn't take advantage. Long way from being decided.

[Desnudo]

I generally consider myself an open minded person, but Noah's ponytail irritates me a great deal.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

I generally consider myself an open minded person, but Noah's ponytail irritates me a great deal.

Agreed.

[st.cronin]

I feel very confident that George Mason will win this game. This is very similiar to the UNC game so far.

[Desnudo]

If they hadn't missed some wide-open shots, they'd be ahead right now.

[Young Drachma]

Geez Morrison, what's with the scowl?

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I feel very confident that George Mason will win this game. This is very similiar to the UNC game so far.

Also somewhat similar to UConn -- in that Mason had a couple of stretches in the first half that made you think they were going to get embarrassed, yet they are still in the game at halftime. Plus, GMU could be playing a lot better. They've had some good looks from three that they missed badly. Skinn missed an uncontested layup. They've just plain dropped two rebounds out of bounds unforced.

However, Florida is a little bit better right now than UNC and even UConn. I think the Pats will get held off this time.

[hoopsguy]

I'm calling game with about 16 to go.

[Karlifornia]

The Mason big guys are running out of steam, and Florida's playing great defense off of screens. Mason isn't get many easy shots, and the ones they getting, they're missing.

[Desnudo]

Damn, looks like my interest in this tournament is drying up. Too bad.

[Desnudo]

I can't believe the shots GM is missing.

[DaddyTorgo]

game. very very surprisingly game.

[Vince]

GM's digging themselves too big a hole...

[LloydLungs]

Man, Florida is playing one hell of a second half. If they don't walk away with the title I'm going to be really surprised. This is not about GMU not being worthy. Florida has been in the zone the whole tournament. I have to say I really respect Georgetown right now.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

Man, Florida is playing one hell of a second half. If they don't walk away with the title I'm going to be really surprised. This is not about GMU not being worthy. Florida has been in the zone the whole tournament. I have to say I really respect Georgetown right now.

I don't know about that -- GM has been missing wide open shots, turning the ball over foolishly, etc. Florida's still playing a better game, but GM isn't making it any easier on themselves.

[kingfc22]

Seems like GM just can't get things going this half.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Vince

I don't know about that -- GM has been missing wide open shots, turning the ball over foolishly, etc. Florida's still playing a better game, but GM isn't making it any easier on themselves.

GMU is definitely not playing well. But if even they were, I think they'd still get beat in this one.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by Vince

I don't know about that -- GM has been missing wide open shots, turning the ball over foolishly, etc. Florida's still playing a better game, but GM isn't making it any easier on themselves.

I agree. GM had some wide-open 3s and easy lay-ups they missed. Floriday hit some crazy 3s too.

[Vince]

It's like NBA Jam -- Florida's "on fire."

[hoopsguy]

GM has put a couple of pretty punk hits on Brewer since he threw down the dunk two minutes ago.

I'm sure they are really frustrated that Humphrey is kicking their butts from behind the arc, but how about guarding him instead of going for the cheap foul? And it isn't even Skinn commmitting those fouls

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Damn, looks like my interest in this tournament is drying up. Too bad.

Same here. George Mason was the last team I was rooting for.

To change the subject, Jim Boeheim came out the other day saying they needed to expand the field, since he says that if it weren't for the logistical issues, that they would've a long time ago.

So, I think that after the NIT contract runs out with MSG in a couple years, that they ought to eliminate that tournament and create a 96-team field.

The top 8 seeds in each bracket would get byes, too, which would make coaches in those brackets happy, as well as create all the parity that keeps us all interested in the tournament to begin with.

To host the games, you could easily do it instead with 4 games in 4 cities. So, the play-in day would be the actual start of the tournament. ESPN, ESPN2 and all its channels could broadcast the games.

Call that sucker the opening round and then, the teams that win would go in as the 13-16 seeds in the tournament.

Another thing is, you guarantee each conference at least 2 bids. That's 62 bids. That would leave 34 at-large bids. It would especially fair to smaller conferences if you did this.

I think not only would it make for an even more interesting tournament, but it would eliminate a lot of the drama we hear now when teams get shafted out of the tournament.

[Desnudo]

Damn it. They keep pulling me back in.

[hoopsguy]

Yo, George Mason, whenever you want to guard the one-trick pony who has five threes ... that would be a good idea.

[kingfc22]

The clock is closing in on midnight.

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by LloydLungs

GMU is definitely not playing well. But if even they were, I think they'd still get beat in this one.

The only difference in this game is that Florida hit their 3s and GM didn't. Other things equal GM is actually ahead. I don't think Florida will continue to be that hot from the 3-point area in the next game.

[Vince]

I think that three-pointers aside, it's offensive rebounds that have killed GM.

[Desnudo]

I think they go hand in hand. A lot of Florida's 3s came from second chance shots.

[LloydLungs]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

The only difference in this game is that Florida hit their 3s and GM didn't. Other things equal GM is actually ahead. I don't think Florida will continue to be that hot from the 3-point area in the next game.

Yeah, but I think you have to give Florida some credit for that. Their perimeter defense has been pretty good, and conversely, GMU has made no attempt at all to guard Humphrey, which is their fault. The Pats have missed some good looks, but for the most part the Gators' defense has snuffed them out, as they did to South Alabama, Milwaukee, G'Town, and Villanova.

[Desnudo]

I think Florida played ok defense, but GM missed some wide, wide open layups and jump shots, especially early in the game. I agree about the guarding the perimeter though.

[kingfc22]

This is the longest possession ever.

[kingfc22]

Somebody tell those UCLA fans to shutup.

[LloydLungs]

Throughout this tournament, teams who have played Florida keep saying "we played terrible" after the game. All I'm saying is there is a pattern. I have no fondness for the Gators, believe me. I don't want that moron with the hair to be happy, but get ready. I have a feeling they're going to have LSU or UCLA fans saying "we played terrible" on Monday.

[Young Drachma]

So is Noah gonna declare for the draft after this thing?

[hoopsguy]

I think I've now seen UCLA play 9 times this year and every game except for the Gonzaga game they have jumped out to an early ten point lead.

In just about every one of those games they proceeded to win by around ten - failing to put the foot on the throat but playing good enough defense to hold off serious runs by their opponent.

For the UCLA fans out there - have I just seen a weird sample set of games or is that how they usually play?

[Easy Mac]

LSU doesn't look to have the pure athletic talent over UCLA than they did over Duke

Big baby getting tired.

[kingfc22]

This game is putting me to sleep.

[kingfc22]

Ugh. The two teams that I was rooting for are not having a good day. George Mason already lost and LSU is looking baaaaad.

UCLA is controlling every aspect of this 1st half.

[kingfc22]

Too bad these 2 final four games didn't live up to the rest of the tourney.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Too bad these 2 final four games didn't live up to the rest of the tourney.

Aye, two brutal games. George Mason couldn't finish inside and Florida wouldn't miss from the perimeter, while LSU just played terribly... I stopped watching 5 minutes in to the second half.

[st.cronin]

Isn't that pretty typical? The actual Final Four is usually awful. I can think of many more memorable 1st and 2nd round games over the years.

[sterlingice]

Reminds me of the year Kansas went and cleaned Marquette's clock to the tune of something like 30 points in their Final Four game a couple of years ago.

SI

[MrBug708]

Ben Howland vs Billy Donovan. Oh man....

[Tigercat]

What a bad game we played. Hopefully Tyrus Thomas realizes he could use another year to refine his game so he can get NBA experience right away out of college.

If Tyrus returns, we will be better next year. Just hope we didn't blow our best chance at a title.... Regardless, heck of a run.