(03-23-2026 09:07 AM)kayak1 Wrote:  

(03-22-2026 09:27 PM)Nameless Wrote:  For real. The fact it was 9 fouls to 2 until 15 seconds left in the 2nd half was mind boggling. There were at least 4 plays with hard contact by Kansas that were uncalled. Plus some knick knack fouls on SJU.

5 point lead at the half despite a rough start and foul trouble. We can get it done! Jayden Ross is playing like a grown man tonight

I've gotta say no matter what happens it's been a pleasure watching Karaban represent the conference for 4 years.

Karaban certainly saved their bacon last night with his career high. And Reed with a double/double.

How crazy was that game? Who would think that UConn could win with Ball playing only 13 minutes?!! Especially on a night when Demary was not at full strength and was not playing his full minutes either. So, Ball and Demary combine to play 34 minutes, score 2 points, and shoot 0-7. Whaaatt?! If Bilodeau had been able to play for UCLA, UConn would have lost that game.

And how about Mick Cronin getting T’d up with less than 5 minutes to play and his team down by 9. Still time to come back from that deficit. Still anyone’s game. Instead Cronin hands UConn 2 points at a time in the game when every point mattered. From that point when the technical was called, UConn outscored UCLA 10-3, turning a contested game into a blow out.

Nice job,Mick! When are these coaches who try to act like tough guys by “working the refs” going to realize that they’re just making asses of themselves. Their job is to coach their players, not the refs. It’s someone else’s job to supervise the refs, to critique their performances, and to control their assignments.

To my eyes, the UConn-Michigan State game is too close to call. But I’m noting that it took an historic performance by Reed 2 games ago and a career night for Karaban last night to pull out wins. Unless Ball finds his shot or Demary suddenly gets healthy, I don’t have a lot of confidence in them right now.

Hope I'm just being paranoid, but the officiating was so horrendous over the weekend, I'm concerned it wasn't deliberate. TCU was clearly short changed in the Duke game, but the St. John's game was really head scratching. No goal tending was called on a shot coming off the backboard, Johnnies get called for an over and back on a ball that was clearly deflected, Kansas guy is clearly out of bounds when that save gave Kansas an easy bucket, when the correct call would have been close to sealing the game for St. John's. And finally a foul disparity of 10-2 in the second half. It really had the earmarks of the officials wanting Duke/Kansas in the next game, and a Peterson/ Boozer match up of top NBA picks. Just hope there's no monkey business in the Johnnie/Duke game where they want the Blue Devils in the Final Four. No more 8 against 5 games.

(03-23-2026 10:04 AM)Bill Marsh Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 09:07 AM)kayak1 Wrote:  

(03-22-2026 09:27 PM)Nameless Wrote:  For real. The fact it was 9 fouls to 2 until 15 seconds left in the 2nd half was mind boggling. There were at least 4 plays with hard contact by Kansas that were uncalled. Plus some knick knack fouls on SJU.

5 point lead at the half despite a rough start and foul trouble. We can get it done! Jayden Ross is playing like a grown man tonight

I've gotta say no matter what happens it's been a pleasure watching Karaban represent the conference for 4 years.

Karaban certainly saved their bacon last night with his career high. And Reed with a double/double.

How crazy was that game? Who would think that UConn could win with Ball playing only 13 minutes?!! Especially on a night when Demary was not at full strength and was not playing his full minutes either. So, Ball and Demary combine to play 34 minutes, score 2 points, and shoot 0-7. Whaaatt?! If Bilodeau had been able to play for UCLA, UConn would have lost that game.

And how about Mick Colin getting T’d up with less than 5 minutes to play and his team down by 9. Still time to come back from that deficit. Still anyone’s game. Instead Cronin hands UConn 2 points at a time in the game when every point mattered. From that point when the technical was called, UConn outscored UCLA 10-3, turning a contested game into a blow out.

Nice job,Mick! When are these coaches who try to act like tough guys by “working the refs” going to realize that they’re just making asses of themselves. Their job is to coach their players, not the refs. It’s someone else’s job to supervise the refs, to critique their performances, and to control their assignments.

To my eyes, the UConn-Michigan State game is too close to call. But I’m noting that it took an historic performance by Reed 2 games ago and a career night for Karaban last night to pull out wins. Unless Ball finds his shot or Demary suddenly gets healthy, I don’t have a lot of confidence in them right now.

First in response to kayak, it has indeed been a pleasure watching Karaban. He will be sorely missed once the season ends.

As far as Ball goes, he was atrocious the whole night. By far his worst game since he took over as a starter at the beginning of last season, and perhaps his entire career. We were up 12, he came in and UCLA immediately went on an 8-0 run to cut it to 4. He came out and we pushed it back to 9. He's such a bad defender that when his shot isn't falling he is almost always a negative when on the floor. I feel for him but idk how he can't defend with his length and athleticism so that's kind of on him.

Now as far as Bilodeau goes, I get where you're coming from but I don't think it's a guarantee they win with him on the floor. They did lose by 16, which is about 1 point shy of his season average. But more importantly Demary clearly wasn't himself last night and is still hampered by his ankle injury himself. Stewart was available but didn't play a minute. So I don't think it's fair to play the injury game without accounting for UConn's injuries as well. If both teams are at full strength I think we still win the game and I don't think it's really even that much closer.

Major props to Smith and Ross for stepping up BIG. Ross played like a grown man and I loved Smith's intensity. With Ball playing like crap we needed him to step up and to put Demary at the 2 alongside him more often than I would have liked. But he consistently delivered.

On to MSU, who we know we can beat. Hoping SJU pulls off the upset and we get the Elite Eight battle we have all been wanting since the bracket released.

(03-23-2026 09:21 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 05:44 AM)Nameless Wrote:  

(03-22-2026 08:17 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Congrats to Saint John's!!!!!

An epic coaching blunder by Bill Self and his assistants. They deploy a man to man defense and with their 6-10 man (No. 40) guarding his man at the three-point line? That's insane. Like the SJU big man is going to hit a 20-footer. The absolute LAST think Kansas could do was offer a defensive scheme that allowed for a layup. Yet that is what KU offered. Shocking.

Here is what coach Bill "Big Dance" Dazzle does if he is leading the Jayhawks. 1. I put my 6-10 man on the SJU man throwing in the ball. Tell him to jump and wave his arms. Be a distraction. 2. I assign my best perimeter defender to SJU's top three-point shooter. 3. I have a triangle zone, with one defender at the free-thrown line and two tall defenders on either block down low. I'm basically saying to SJU "Your best three point shooter is NOT going to beat us. And you are NOT going to get a layup." Then you hope SJU misses a shot of 10 feet or more.

I haven't heard how Self explained this. He's a Hall of Fame coach — and he allows such a breakdown to happen? He's a great coach. But this ... ?

In fairness they did force a guy who was 0/4 in the game to his off hand and made him hit an acrobatic layup to win it. I think you make valid points but I actually thought the real issue was his defender not guarding him as tightly as he could have because he didn't want to foul Darling and give him a 1+1.

Maybe one less foul to stop the clock would have been a better idea in hindsight?

That's a fair point. Maybe I was a bit harsh. I actually liked the timing of the intentional fouls. We'll never know.

Regardless, I'm glad Saint John's won. I want to see a program that has never won a national title so. So no Duke, UConn (sorry, just being honest, my man), Michigan State, Michigan, Zona ... My preference is 1. Tennessee. 2. Saint John's and 3. Houston.

I don't blame you. If I wasn't a fan of the Huskies I can almost guarantee I would be doing the same. I think most Big East fans outside of UConn fans will be pulling for SJU should they meet in the EE

(03-23-2026 11:45 AM)Nameless Wrote:  I think most Big East fans outside of UConn fans will be pulling for SJU should they meet in the EE

Truly torn on this one. Optics probably better for the conference to have teams other than uconn or nova make the final four, but it's more important imo to get the team with the best shot to win it all advance.

(03-23-2026 11:45 AM)Nameless Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 09:21 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 05:44 AM)Nameless Wrote:  

(03-22-2026 08:17 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Congrats to Saint John's!!!!!

An epic coaching blunder by Bill Self and his assistants. They deploy a man to man defense and with their 6-10 man (No. 40) guarding his man at the three-point line? That's insane. Like the SJU big man is going to hit a 20-footer. The absolute LAST think Kansas could do was offer a defensive scheme that allowed for a layup. Yet that is what KU offered. Shocking.

Here is what coach Bill "Big Dance" Dazzle does if he is leading the Jayhawks. 1. I put my 6-10 man on the SJU man throwing in the ball. Tell him to jump and wave his arms. Be a distraction. 2. I assign my best perimeter defender to SJU's top three-point shooter. 3. I have a triangle zone, with one defender at the free-thrown line and two tall defenders on either block down low. I'm basically saying to SJU "Your best three point shooter is NOT going to beat us. And you are NOT going to get a layup." Then you hope SJU misses a shot of 10 feet or more.

I haven't heard how Self explained this. He's a Hall of Fame coach — and he allows such a breakdown to happen? He's a great coach. But this ... ?

In fairness they did force a guy who was 0/4 in the game to his off hand and made him hit an acrobatic layup to win it. I think you make valid points but I actually thought the real issue was his defender not guarding him as tightly as he could have because he didn't want to foul Darling and give him a 1+1.

Maybe one less foul to stop the clock would have been a better idea in hindsight?

That's a fair point. Maybe I was a bit harsh. I actually liked the timing of the intentional fouls. We'll never know.

Regardless, I'm glad Saint John's won. I want to see a program that has never won a national title so. So no Duke, UConn (sorry, just being honest, my man), Michigan State, Michigan, Zona ... My preference is 1. Tennessee. 2. Saint John's and 3. Houston.

I don't blame you. If I wasn't a fan of the Huskies I can almost guarantee I would be doing the same. I think most Big East fans outside of UConn fans will be pulling for SJU should they meet in the EE

Yep. All fans of BE schools not named UConn should be rooting for SJU. The league has had two members win titles since its reinvention. For its perception, it needs a third.

(03-23-2026 12:58 PM)kayak1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 11:45 AM)Nameless Wrote:  I think most Big East fans outside of UConn fans will be pulling for SJU should they meet in the EE

Truly torn on this one. Optics probably better for the conference to have teams other than uconn or nova make the final four, but it's more important imo to get the team with the best shot to win it all advance.

Fair point. I was not looking at it this way.

Of course, I'm pulling for Tennessee to win so I'm the wrong man to ask.

I like this SJU team. Started slowly but never quit. Now ... one of the best teams in the country. I'm impressed.

(03-23-2026 12:58 PM)kayak1 Wrote:  

(03-23-2026 11:45 AM)Nameless Wrote:  I think most Big East fans outside of UConn fans will be pulling for SJU should they meet in the EE

Truly torn on this one. Optics probably better for the conference to have teams other than uconn or nova make the final four, but it's more important imo to get the team with the best shot to win it all advance.

I agree. Honestly though I'm not sure UConn has the better chance to win it all. Both teams were basically top 5 in the preseason, depending on the poll. SJU went 7-4 to start the season but finished incredibly strong. UConn started the season incredibly strong but finished 7-4, Huskies had better wins but only because their OOC was a guantlet and the conference had a down year. H2H, SJU had a 2-1 advantage but because the one loss was so bad UConn still has a better point differential against them.

Part of the reason I want a 4th game is I think it will be incredible cinema. I'm not sure either team is truly better than the other. It may come down to something like who shoots better, who gets a better whistle, etc. I really think SJU can take down Duke and I know UConn can handle MSU so I'm really hoping we get a chance to see a 4th matchup between the 2 teams this season.

I think regardless of who wins, if we get a team to the FF they have a real shot to win it all.

(03-23-2026 11:08 AM)Traderwill Wrote:  Hope I'm just being paranoid, but the officiating was so horrendous over the weekend, I'm concerned it wasn't deliberate. TCU was clearly short changed in the Duke game, but the St. John's game was really head scratching. No goal tending was called on a shot coming off the backboard, Johnnies get called for an over and back on a ball that was clearly deflected, Kansas guy is clearly out of bounds when that save gave Kansas an easy bucket, when the correct call would have been close to sealing the game for St. John's. And finally a foul disparity of 10-2 in the second half. It really had the earmarks of the officials wanting Duke/Kansas in the next game, and a Peterson/ Boozer match up of top NBA picks. Just hope there's no monkey business in the Johnnie/Duke game where they want the Blue Devils in the Final Four. No more 8 against 5 games.

My gut told me there was some funny business going on as well. So I don't think you're paranoid (then again, perhaps we are both paranoid lol)