This is shaping up as a great match. They both are deep, athletic, have great veteran leadership. These have been the best teams this year, and have no obvious weaknesses. In fact the spread this morning is even. When the turney started I couldn't pick a winner between these two. In one I had Kansas, in the other I had Maryland. I still have a really hard time, but I am leaning one way just slightly. I think it will be Maryland and here's why: I think the inside guys of Maryland will hold there own against the Kansas guys. Neither team's inside guys will be able to get the ball in good position in crunch time. It will be a close game and a big shot be a guard will win it. For this Hinrich is good, but Dixon is the best in the land. I also think Maryland will be less likely to tighen up because of their more big game experience the last 2 years. So that's my call. I want Kansas to win because Roy seems like a nicer guy than Gary. But I think it will be Maryland. If Kansas can win it will be because of unconscious fresh making the difference--but I like Maryland to win this one by a hair and the NC game just a tad easier.
I like Maryland, too, and for the same reason: Juan Dixon. He's a true go-to-guy from the perimeter, and I don't see any of the Kansas guards in that same light. Seems like no matter what the game plan is, the last few minutes of the second half are generally dominated by guard play, and neither Hinrich, Boschee, or Miles can score in the way that Dixon can.
I'll make it 3 for Maryland, because of their talent on the perimeter. Slight advantage to Maryland. (Now watch Kansas win. )
i predict that i will not watch the game nor care who wins since texas is out...my vote goes to kansas.
This will be a ridiculously fun game to watch. Two teams who can play uptempo as well as half court. Should be one of the best games in years.
TheFreak: Baxter and Wilcox are pretty darn good too. Wilcox scored 29 against UConn. I think Maryland's going to win.
Their back-ups are good too, Holden and the other beefier one. Baxter and Maryland also have an uncanny ability to get the ball in a threat position. I love Gooden's game, but for whatever reason (his/lack of entry passes from his team's wings) good teams can make him get out of his comfort zone more so than Baxter. I think Marylands interior guys are good enough to make this game come down to guard play. And I like Dixon, Blake and Nicholas's shooting and decision making better than Hinrich, Boschee and the frosh. Kansas wild card is Miles though, if he plays unconsciousable they will be very difficult to beat.
I think Kansas will win. Not because their big men are better, I think that category is negated because both teams have great big men, but because I think Kansas is better at running the floor than Maryland. That will push them over the top.
I am with you TPL all the way. And yes, UConn was that good. They and OU are probably just below Maryland and Kansas as the teams with the least weaknesses. KU also had trouble with the Illini, including with getting it to Gooden and Collison in good position. It was Miles who bailed them out. (I do admit the Illini, on any given day at least, was nearly as tough as anyone outside the teams mentioned above.) Because of their depth in athletic, skilled and tall big men, and their flexible offense that can go inside (Baxter may be the best in college at getting the ball where he wants it) or outside (Dixon either stationary or off the dribble, but also Nicholas, Blake and even Holden) Maryland is the wrong team for Kansas to play. Of course Maryland is probaby the wrong team for any college basketball team to play
I agree with Major - Kansas, and big. Whether or not Hinrich et al can get him the ball, Gooden will create opportunities for himself. There's really not anyone you can say the same for on Maryland; they are reliant on their guards to get the ball inside. Experience and (or should this be in?) coaching are on Kansas' side too.
Have you watched Maryland play MF? I don't dispute Gooden will creat opportunities for himself, but for the most part all 10 of the players starting on the court can make that claim. As for experiance, I really don't understand how you give the advantage to Kansas there.... Hawkins is a Freshman, Hinrich is a Junior, Boschee is a Senior, and Gooden and Collison are Juniors. Maryland starts 3 seniors, a three year starting junior and a sophmore. All of whom have experiance getting this far in the NCAA tourny. So where exactly is the experiance advantage to Kansas? As for coaching, I think that's a toss up right now, 2 years back I would have easily given Roy the nod, but Gary has gotten more control and played his games a lot smarter than he has in the past. It's actually been really good seeing him develop as a head coach over time.
Kansas' big men don't need good inside position. They can score on the break, and both are excellent ballhandlers. I was amazed with Collison's ballhandling against Oregon.
Kansas and Gooden have had trouble getting the ball in good position in multiple games in recent memory. The tapes of the Illini and B12 final are far more indicative of how Maryland will play Gooden and Collison than the no-D Ducks. In fact Maryland may be the one team with even more athletic big people to throw at them than Oklahoma or Illinios did. Also, I think Baxter, bar none, has the best nack for getting where he wants to go on the floor and receiving the ball. Gooden will have to make do being father out on the wing with lesser position. Maryland is no slouch at getting up and down the court as well. There is no question the experience factor favors Maryland. Kansas will need Miles to play unconsciousnable. He might, Mike Bibby and Miles Simon certainly did in a similar situation. But all things equal I would rather take my chances with experience.
Maryland has 4 big guys that can ball: Lonny Baxter F 6-8 260 Chris Wilcox F 6-10 220 Tahj Holden F 6-10 247 Ryan Randle F 6-9 245 --these guys have drawn 465 fouls (228 by Baxter) and have committed 323 fouls though they are spread pretty even across Baxter 97, Wilcox 90 and Holden 86. Kansas has 3 big guys that can ball: Drew Gooden F 6-10 230 Nick Collison F 6-9 250 Wayne Simien F 6-8 245 --these guys have drawn 421 fouls (199 by Gooden) and have committed 247 though almost half are for Collison (105). If ever there was a team where the interior match-ups less than overwhelmingly favored Kansas this is it. It is also clear to me Collison really has to watch Baxter picking up cheap fouls on him--which Baxter is among the best in college at doing. Also, though Holden and Randle are by no means the equals of Baxter and Wilcox--if both teams get in foul trouble it is to Maryland's advantage because both of these guys are still pretty good college players. The 6'10" Holden can bring the other teams center out because he can nail 3s (5th on his team in attempts at 38 and #1 in made% at a whopping 44%) and Randle is an adequate banger/rebounder. The more I look at it, the more I like the Terps.
Well, there goes any chance of an all Big-12 Championship game. OU just got beat by the Hoosiers. I predict that this Jayhawks-Terps game will be fantastic, and Kansas will emerge victorious...barely. Kansas 87 Maryland 85
