Best team in College Basketball - Walter's Football Site

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Best team in College Basketball

Walter · Status: Offline

I think it's Connecticut. They definitely have the most talent. I'm not picking Duke because it has a freshman point guard. I don't see the Blue Devils getting into the championship game. I wouldn't sleep on West Virginia. Right now, I have them going to the Final Four. They have everything it takes to win in the tournament: outstanding guard play; imposing big men; excellent 3-point shooting; senior leadership; and a great defense.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Yes! I'm a UConn fan. And they are doing it without Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon, both the best players on the 2003-04 NC Team.

Yeah I wouldn't sleep on WV too. They are undefeated in perhaps the best conference of all College Hoops.

Walter · Status: Offline

I agree with your assessment on the Big East. It's definitely the best conference in college hoops. Even South Florida, the worst team in the Big East, has played teams tough this season.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Yeah and ND is in the same boat as USF. In fact, ND remind me of Clemson football. They play a lot of opponents tough. The Irish lost to Pitt, DePaul, Syracuse, Marquette (who shocked the nation in early January by defeating Conneticut), Georgetown (who defeated 1 loss Duke in Mid January), Nova, West Virginia, and Louisville by 3, 6, 6, 2, 3, 2, 1, and 3 chronologically and respectively. I wouldn't be shocked if that conference brings in 7, 8, even 9 teams in the less than a month long NCAA Tournamnet.

Walter · Status: Offline

Barring a Vikings-like collapse these teams are already in: Villanova, West Virginia, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Georgetown. That's five.

Seton Hall and Marquette are really close. They need one or two more wins to guarantee a spot for themselves in the Big Dance. That's seven.

Cincinnati is 5-5 conference play, but look at its remaining schedule: at Pitt, at Syracuse, vs. Providence (only guaranteed win), vs. Villanova, at Seton Hall, vs. West Virginia. I don't think they make it.

Syrcause is 4-5 in conference play, but unlike Cincy, they have a pretty easy schedule. They should be able to reach eight wins. That'll get them in. That's eight teams.

Louisville (3-7) has an average schedule but they have the talent to get in.

Right now, it looks like eight teams. But you never know, some team (Louisville?) could catch fire and win the Big East tournament. That'd make nine.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Well, WV finally lost a game in the BE. It was bound to happen It's such a deep and physical, and tough conference.

Walter · Status: Offline

That game was a fluke. Kevin Pittsnoggle's wife just gave birth. He was distracted and scored ZERO points. Let me put it this way: West Virginia's best player scored zero because he was distracted and tired, and yet they only lost by four on the road at Pitt.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Wow. Tell Pittsnogle he had a game.

Bucknell is inb the Top 25 for the 1st time. I wouldn't be surprised if they spring an upset this year like they recently do.

How big was Gonzaga's win Saturday against the Cardinal?

Walter · Status: Offline

I'm not a big fan of Gonzaga; I think they bow out before the Sweet 16.

I think Bucknell may advance further than the Zags.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

So much for UConn being the best. Villanova beat them.

even worse, Duke might become #1 again.

Walter · Status: Offline

I still think UConn is the best team. They lost on the road to the No. 4 team in the country. These two teams meet soon and I think the Huskies will win the rematch. Connecticut lost that game because they went under the screen instead of going over. As a result, Allen Ray torched them all night.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Yes Huskies win! And UNC pulls away WF in the 2nd half.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

How good is the MVC conference?

I wouldn't be surpised if Creighton, Missouri State, SIU, Wichita State, even UNI whip up a couple of upsets in the NCAA's.

Walter · Status: Offline

This might sound a little crazy, but I would argue that the top seven teams in the MVC (Wich. St., N. Iowa, Creighton, S. Illinois, Bradley, SMS and Indiana State) are better than the top seven teams in the SEC and PAC-10. If I were to rank the top conferences, it would look like this:

Big East; ACC; Big Ten; Big XII; MVC; SEC; PAC-10.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

It took more than 40 minutes for UConn to knock off ND.

That was a close call. Notre Dame is competitive.

Walter · Status: Offline

It was a must-win for Notre Dame, and I don't think Connecticut was too concerned about a weak Fighting Irish team because they play Villanova this weekend.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

In other words, you weren't surprised UConn got taken to OT by ND.

We were looking for revenge against Nova, who gave us our latest loss on the road.

Walter · Status: Offline

I wasn't surprised at all that the UConn-Notre Dame game was close. I think Sunday's game will tell a lot about the two teams. UConn must adjust its defense to go around the screens. If Villanova wins and sweeps the season series, they have to be ranked No. 1.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

UConn will get revenge!

Let's go Huskies! Let's Go Huskies!

Wildcats suck!

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Oh yeah! I called it baby!

UConn smothers Nova!

Walter · Status: Offline

I was very impressed by UConn's performance yesterday. Villanova played really hard but the Huskies were too big and too talented. I will probably be picking UConn to win the NCAA Tournament when the brackets come out, unless they suffer a major injury.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

If UConn keeps playing like thay did vs Villanova in their 2nd meeting, sure they will win the NCAA championship 2 in the last 3.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Hey walt, you're right about the Pitt win over WV a fluke. 13-4 Mountaineers!

Walter · Status: Offline

It was a good game, but West Virginia remains as one of the best teams in college hoops. I still think they can get to the Final Four. The Elite Eight is almost definite.

Conference tournaments start tomorrow for the OVC and the Horizon League. I love watching the mid-major conference tournies because every team is fighting just to get into the NCAAs.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

I'm with you. I'm also intrested for who will win the tourney and who can become the cinderella team of 2006.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Who let the dogs out?

Florida state did! and they beat Duke!

Walter · Status: Offline

I'm really not surprised. Duke was looking ahead to the North Carolina matchup, while Florida State needed this win to get off the bubble and into the tournament. In my opinion, they've done that.

That said, I don't know if a rematch would net a different result. Like I've been saying the past month, I'm not confident in point guard Greg Paulus. He's shaky when he plays on the road. That will cost the Blue Devils in the tournament.

Pennington2Coles05 · Status: Offline

Florida State has to get to the NCAA Tourney, or they got the Duke win for nothing.

UConn is definently the best in the US, but UNC has to be at least honerable mention. They are a very dangerous team.

Walter · Status: Offline

I was asked tonight who my Final Four teams are. I responded with UConn, Villanova, West Virginia and Ohio State. But, I immediately remembered North Carolina. All five of those teams will be competing for the Final Four. I think it's safe to say that Duke, Texas, Memphis and Gonzaga will not be involved.