#16 UNC Asheville # 9 Purdue #5 UConn #7 Michigan St. #3 Syracuse The road could not have been any easier for Texas. It depresses me to look at that schedule. Yeah, we will bring everyone back next year, and yeah Syracuse was hot, but there are so many variables that returning to the Final Four isn't a guarantee. Oh well 364 more days.
Did you bother to read my entire post or just deliberately decide to focus on some miniscule portion? Both Texas andKansas made it entirely to easy for SU by missing their Free Throws. In both games, SU looked terrible when the game was close. Or did you not see how SU shot FT's in the final 2 minutes tonight? In my mind, there are two teams who don't deserve to be Final 4 Champs...whatever those chumps were called that lucked out on an airball vs Phi Slamma Jamma and tonights winner. I'll probably get over this one, but I'll never forgt the robbery by the North Carolina State Worthless Pack.
I wasn't trying to argue with you. If Texas hits its Free Throws they definitely have a chance to win. But the same can be said about Buckman fouling out, that was more key IMO. Kansas definitely wins if they hit just 60% of their free throws. I don't think I've ever seen a college team shoot so badly from the foul line.
That is if we can get to San Antonio. I'm not trying to take away from a great season in which Texas surpassed expectations and made history, but look at that schedule If that didn't spell national championship I don't know what could.
What are you talking about. I guarantee you that the UConn team we beat will be a pre-season top 3 team.
Considering Texas could have won a national title w/o playing a #1 seed and got to the final 4 w/o playing a 4 or lower seed it is hard to argue their path could be any easier. Texas will have a shot next year. But I doubt they will be any more dominant than Kentucky and Arizona were this year and look where those teams ended up. Point being you need to seize your chances to win the NC when things go your way or you never know if you will get back. Things went Texas's way and they didn't seize it, maybe they get a 2nd or maybe even 3rd chance to win the NC--but the odds are against them--just ask Hollis, Quannas, Luke, Jason, Keith and now add on Kirk and Nick--who all expected to leave being on top and did not.
The saying is to win a championship you have to be good and lucky. UT was good. UT was lucky. Wasted opportunity is all I'm saying. There is no guarantee we will be back next year. There are so many variables. They were in our favor this year.
It's a little different though. Texas gets every starter back. OU lost McGee and Kansas lost Gooden and Boshi. OU and KU just weren't as good as they were last year, while Texas should be better. It's not like Arizona didn't have a favorable road either-- they still got a #1 seed, and played a team they had blown out earlier in the year in Kansas. They just didn't take care of business. While I agree that Texas missed a golden opportunity (not really missed, they went to the F4 for pretty much the first time ever), I think they should be better next year, unlike OU and KU were this year as compared to last.
Aside from the free throws, UT just ran into a team playing amazing ball. Of course, the national champions wouldn't have been had either team made their free throws. The refs sucked too, but that's not why we lost. However, that block call on T.J. where Carmelo jumped over him and used his arm for elevation was horrendous (also changed the momentum of the game).
Once you get into the tournament, it's all about who's hot at the time. You want gimmee's? How about Oklahoma. They had the easiest road of all - save Syracuse. I'll bet that UConn team wouldve beaten Oklahoma. Yes, we had our chances but very few teams will capitalize on their first real opportunity - good or otherwise. "This" team may not win it all but theyve laid the foundation for all those kids who will stay in-state. Just look at all the players who left Texas in the last few years - Bracey Wright, Chris Bosh, Okafur, Horton. And this year's top in-state recruit going to Arizona - Ndubi Ebi. Without this team's success, Juniors like Daniel Gibson and LaMarcus Aldridge wouldve skipped right over us. This UT team may not win it next year but I guarantee you that if we do win a Nat'l Championship in the next 10 years it'll be because of this team's success. Tradition has to begin somewhere.
First, Syracuse beat big teams all season long. They had something about them this year - chemestry, or whatever. Second, the Texas game was never really close...SU was always in control and that was without their defense working very well. Third, the Kansas game would not have gotten that close had Anthony been healthy. The guy could barely get down the court and, towards the end, was mostly a team liability. Fourth, of course Kansas would play better towards the end in "pressure time" - most of the top Syracuse players were in high school (any other player of worth is only a year more advanced) last year. Kansas is a "veteran" team. Fifth, Free throws: SU: 24-31, 77% UT: 20-32, 62% SU shot well, but only got 4 more points from FT's. Also, UT would have had to have made all of their FT's to win the game (SU won by 11). Not going to happen. SU: 10-17, 58% KU: 12-30, 40% Both teams shot poorly and KU actually made more. So, "if only Syracuse had made their free throws, the game would not have been so close." In both games Syracuse lead 99% of the time...that should be convincing and shows that they deserved it. Hell, they were getting their defensive zone set up before Kansas's break (the best breaking team in the country) even got there.
For one thing, at least 5 of our missed free throws were on the front ends of one and ones, so that's 10 possible points right there. That, and the 11 point lead didn't come until about 20 seconds left when they got 2-3 fastbreak dunks. Had we made our free throws, the game would've been much closer in the end.
I think the free throws have been overstated. UT shot 72% for the year, and apparently 62% in the game. If they shoot their average, they make 2 extra free throws. Not enough of a difference.
True, but you have to look at the fact that many of the misses were on the front ends. Plus, it was a close ball game 'til the end, where an extra one or two free throws would've really altered the game going into the last minute (we had the ball down four).
That may be true but their regular season final RPI was #9 compared to Kansas at #8 and UT at #3. In both games, Syracuse was gettinfg spotted points. The big boys laying out the big bucks didn't think they had the "chemistry" for either game. Excuse me? That must have some sort of digital interference in my receiver. I could have sworn UT had the lead before the started 0-ferring the front end of the bonus, taking off the pressure and allowing SU to eat clock statrting at around 5:30. Maybe. But during the final 6 to 8 minutes, the whole SU team sucked which is and has been my point. SU was fine in both games as long as they had a nearly double digit lead. If either UT or KU would have made FT'S, the entire SU team would have folded like a cheap tent. In which case, all of the bandwagon SU fans here would be in here b****i*' about "yea, we'd have won if Carmelo didn't get hurt"... The announcers said he hurt it running into James Thomas, but my suspicion is he hurt it climbing up Royal Ivey's back and not getting called. I'm not sure why you have this in here. It justifies...? Again, my position was and has been - I'm not impressed with SU...they got on a roll and to some degree lucked out. Would you bet your home equity that if KU & SU played 9 more times than SU would have a double digit lead at the half in all 9 games? I hope not. Your arithmetic on the UT game is flawed. First, the 11 point margin was really 9 - the 11 was from piling in points at the end. Secondly, UT was 13 for 22 in the second half during which time they held a lead. Not only did UT shoot a horrible second half %, they missed at least 3 front ends of 1 pluses. Had UT shot equal to SU in the second half, they would have created enough pressure for a largely inexperienced SU to fold. What should have been clear to any impartial observer is that SU played well when the game was not close, but played poorly when the game was tight. Or was this really your point in #4? What kind of weird logic is "KU made more". They shot 40 freaking %...they shot themselves in the foot right at the FT line. If both teams would have made 100%, KU would have had a 13 point advantage at the line. Gimme a break. Even if you think Boeheim is a Prophet and Anthony walks on water, KU flatout sucked at the FT line and that had nothing to do with SU. KU is going to shoot 40% how often in a season? As I mentioned at the very beginning - in both games the Big Boys with the Big Bucks had SU getting points. The guys that do it for a living and are willing to put their money where their mouthes are did not expect SU to ever lead KU by as much as they did at the half. That was a flat out fluke. SU got on a roll, they won it, and it's history that can't be altered. As far as if they could repeat it...I doubt it. Here's hoping both TJ and Anthony stay for another year!
Texas-Syracuse was neck and neck the whole game and was never under control by either team until the last minute. Cuse was in control of Kansas because of their amazing first half. After the first half Anthony was the only Orangeman who could do anything--he was in pain but it did not reflect in his game. Further my mid 2nd half the KU-Cuse game was not under control (maybe 3 point spread) and missed FTs probably kept KU from getting the lead and who knows who would have won if Kansas got the lead. Let not forget Hinrich's tying 3 with like 10 seconds left rimmed out. Cuse probably wins in OT if not a last shot--but you never know. Basically it all went well for the Cuse. They had their best 3 halfs of offense when they absolutely needed it (Texas game through 1st half of KU)--they have a mediocre half in that stretch and the party is happening in Austin or Lawrence right now. Take nothing away from Cuse--they earned the title--but as far as I can tell up to 4 other teams could have easily won-- UK (w/o Bogan's injury and w/o Wade's remarkable stretch), UA (slow start versus Kansas doomed them in a game they should have won), Kansas (a few different bounces and FTs versus Cuse) and Texas (same as Kansas). This year is Cuse's year not unlike Ohio State in football, they should be partying because a lot of improbably events played into the ultimate outcome. Doesn't mean either team doesn't deserve it though.
