March Madness

gsp

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I feel I have to write this. Yesterday's Vandy game emphasizes my point. With 9 min to go Vandy was in control with a 9 point lead. 2 min later they were down by 2 and got down 7. If they had got the 10 sec call on Downy at the end of the game they might have pulled it out. They shouldn't have been in that situation to start with. Kevin Stallings is an advocate of what I call the Dean Smith school of coaching. He believes in the platoon system. He's not by himself, most modern day coaches have bought into that. They want depth but they want it for all the wrong reasons. They think if they keep running their players in and out the other team will be wore out by the end of the game and they can beat them. The three best coaches I can remember all agreed on one thing. That would be John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, and Al McGuire and they agreed that you take your five best players and play them as much as you can. Woodens teams full court pressed the entire game and he said that if a kid couldn't play 40 mins he couldn't play for UCLA. When Bill Walton was asked who the best center was that he had played against, his answer was the guy he practiced against everyday. Very few people knew who that was because they very seldom got to see him. Yesterday Vandy got beat because they were out of sync for 7 and half out of the last 9 both offense and defense. By the way, Downey didn't look the least bit tired at the end of the game and he played 39 mins. On the other hand, Dean Smith had the best talent in the country for 20 years and only won 2 Championships. The second was his final year of coaching when he did something no body seemed to notice. He threw the platoon system out and went with 7 players all the way.

My reason for writing this at this time is because I made it through the NCAA tourn without losing a bet last year. I don't play a lot of games just to have a play but here's the way I approach them. 60% coaching, 20% talent matchups, the rest is lines and line movement. It sure helps if you know at least one of the teams in the game. A lot of you are going to look at the talent first and the lines second and then maybe the coach. If you are old enough you might have witnessed the greatest coaching ever done in the tourn. That would be Jimmy Valvano coaching NCST to the championship. I was lucky enough to get to see every game. I don't remember them being a fav in any game yet they won it all on his coaching moves. I remember the game against Hou who had Olajuwon, Drexler, and Mahorn and were picked to win it all. They were terrible foul shooters and I do mean terrible. At the 10 min mark of the second half Hou had a pretty good lead and Valvano started fouling them everytime down the floor. The anouncers all thought this was the craziest move he could make. He was going to foul his whole team out. It was too soon to start fouling. He fouled several out but came back because Hou could'nt hit a foul shot and won the game on a last second layup by Charles.

Hope this helps some of you and good luck in the Big Dance.
 

eeeerock

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You have to be the quietest of the great cappers here,but when you speak you speak loud.You make your points and give reasons when you feel necessary,need to get your discipline.Thanks for your info again.
 

Oliver's Army

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GSP I appreciate the insight and I do remember the Valvano game very well, but you say one thing that makes me say "REALLY?????" and that is....

"My reason for writing this at this time is because I made it through the NCAA tourn without losing a bet last year."


really?????????:shrug: how many games did you win?
just askin'
 

gjn23

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rick mahorn was on the 1983 houston cougars?

apparently you do focus on coaching matchups only.

:)
 

eeeerock

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GSP I appreciate the insight and I do remember the Valvano game very well, but you say one thing that makes me say "REALLY?????" and that is....

"My reason for writing this at this time is because I made it through the NCAA tourn without losing a bet last year."


really?????????:shrug: how many games did you win?
just askin'

Remember it isn't how many you win but how few you lose.Avoid those losers.
 

gjn23

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Remember it isn't how many you win but how few you lose.Avoid those losers.

true....but it's a valid question

1-0 = going undefeated in the entire 2009 tournament.....which doesnt mean much.
 

Mr. Poon

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good post gsp. You post the most beneficial information that deals with the x-factors or intangibles of anyone on this site imo. Always read your posts and like what you offer up.
 

oceanguy

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yep...watched em all too...remember where I was when Wittenberg's (Lowe's) shot fell short and charles put it back for the W...jimmy v couldn't find anybody to grab after the game so he just ran around the court like a freed pow afterwards

:00hour :00hour jimmy v:00hour :00hour
 

wareagle

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good post joe

didnt what memphis did in '08 defy everything you posted above

they had the most talent, bad coaching, and couldnt hit free throws, yet they rolled their way to the finals covering all but one game on their way there. would they just be an anomaly?
 

rrc

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Nice call out to Swen Nater, Walton's back-up.

Never started a game at UCLA and ended up having an 11 yr ABA/NBA career..pretty cool.

Thanks for sharing your insight Joe.
 

BadAngel

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joe I had NC St most of the games too. I am Italian so I was rooting for him. Made some good cash. I loved the put back. I know I am old enough to remember. haha

Bases coming Joe, get ready.

BA
 

eeeerock

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true....but it's a valid question

1-0 = going undefeated in the entire 2009 tournament.....which doesnt mean much.

And we both know that he didn't go just 1-0.He has atleast one play everyday so we both know that is not the case.
 

gsp

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Sorry about saying that Mahorn played for Hou. He played for Hampton. Shit like that happens when you are operating off your memory 27 years later. I can't remember who the power forward was but I believe he also went to the NBA. Olujawon went out to block Whittenburg's shot and left Charles wide open under the basket. The shot went wide, Charles grabbed it and dunked it. NCST was behind in the final min in 7 out of their last 9 wins. That line isn't from memory but I knew they came from behind in almost every game in the tourn.

I only bet 13 games and didn't have a bet on the finals.

Again, good luck everyone
 

genosays

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Larry (Mr Mean) Michaux was the Houston Cougar power forward you are thinking about I believe .... saw Houston play in the NCAA regional that year in KC and they were very talented, figured at the time they were a lock to win it all, but we all know what happened
 

maverick2112

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rick mahorn was on the 1983 houston cougars?

apparently you do focus on coaching matchups only.

:)

No he was not...............

starting five

alvin franklin or maybe reid gettys???
clyde drexler
akeem ......not yet Hakeem
Larry Micheaux
micheal young....................lefty
 
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