Here @ First Four public practices @ UD Arena, Dayton, OH

[RickinDayton]

St. Francis,Pa: Relativey small team with tallest player @ 6-8. Player from Spain. Seems pretty fluid in his game. Not alot of athleticism overall. A few decent outside shooters.

Alabama State: this SFU's matchup. Much bigger and more athletic is what I noticed watching them practice. Again a few decent outside shooters. Their pep band played during their practice. Nice sound.

San Diego State now practiing: Noticed immediately the difference in size, athleticism, skill. SDSU has six players 6'8 or taller. You can see the aggressive nature on the inside and defensively. Jumps out. They can get out and go when necessary. Very solid looking team. Crisp in practice, especially with the time change. SDSU players showing off some nice dunks for the fans. Seem loose.

UNC will practice last (after their flight was delayed). Lots OF UNC fans watching practices.

Will update them after they practice.

 

[RickinDayton]

St. Francis,Pa: Relativey small team with tallest player @ 6-8. Player from Spain. Seems pretty fluid in his game. Not alot of athleticism overall. A few decent outside shooters.

Alabama State: this SFU's matchup. Much bigger and more athletic is what I noticed watching them practice. Again a few decent outside shooters. Their pep band played during their practice. Nice sound.

San Diego State now practiing: Noticed immediately the difference in size, athleticism, skill. SDSU has six players 6'8 or taller. You can see the aggressive nature on the inside and defensively. Jumps out. They can get out and go when necessary. Very solid looking team. Crisp in practice, especially with the time change. SDSU players showing off some nice dunks for the fans. Seem loose.

UNC will practice last (after their flight was delayed). Lots OF UNC fans watching practices.

Will update them after they practice.

UC: Like SDSU, noticeable upgrade in size, skill, athleticism. Three leading scorers are guards. R.J. Davis looks smooth in all aspects. Big men are not very bulky, and looking @ their rebounding stats you can see they aren't a strength.
Will be interesting matchsup with SDSU who I think will be very aggressive. Both SDSU and UNC go eight deep.
UNC ran a quick 5 min full court scrimmage with 1's vs 2's. Didn't look real crip, of course their flight arrived late.

 

[RickinDayton]

UC: Like SDSU, noticeable upgrade in size, skill, athleticism. Three leading skiers are guards. rR.J. Davis looks smooth in all aspects. Big men are not very bulky, and looking @ their rebounding stats you can see they aren't a strength.
Will be interesting matchsup with SDSU who I think will be very aggressive. Both SDSU and UNC go eight deep.
UNC ran a quick 5 min full court scrimmage with 1's vs 2's. Didn't look real crip, of course their flight arrived late.

UNC guards lots of quickness on the break and off the dribble. Solid outside shooters. Can see in their scrimmage, they ae the core strength of the team. If SDSU contains th UNC guards it's game over for UNC, if not UNC will be competitive.

 

[87 Penn St8]

UNC guards lots of quickness on the break and off the dribble. Solid outside shooters. Can see in their scrimmage, they ae the core strength of the team. If SDSU contains th UNC guards it's game over for UNC, if not UNC will be competitive.

Which I think is the story of Carolina's season....most of America rooting for them to lose...not sure it is justified...but it gets clicks

 

[bison13]

I think SDSU can win this game plus at least one more

 

[bcspsu]

UNC guards lots of quickness on the break and off the dribble. Solid outside shooters. Can see in their scrimmage, they ae the core strength of the team. If SDSU contains th UNC guards it's game over for UNC, if not UNC will be competitive.

Other than their late season losses to Duke, UNC actually played pretty well towards the end of the season. They also played a very tough non-conference schedule. They’re no threat to do much in this tournament, but they’re also not a team without some merit.

 

[87 Penn St8]

I think SDSU can win this game plus at least one more

Haven't seen them this year. They had been covered a lot over last few years since Final 4 run.

Actually saw a lot of BYU in late games along with SoCal and UCLA on Big 10 Network.

Haven't seen Texas Tech either- and they are getting some love.

Will be winging my brackets....

Where are you on Terps? They lost 2 games vs Sparty and Wolves that would've changed so much for them.

Do they bounce back or fade....

 

[bcspsu]

Haven't seen them this year. They had been covered a lot over last few years since Final 4 run.

Actually saw a lot of BYU in late games along with SoCal and UCLA on Big 10 Network.

Haven't seen Texas Tech either- and they are getting some love.

Will be winging my brackets....

Where are you on Terps? They lost 2 games vs Sparty and Wolves that would've changed so much for them.

Do they bounce back or fade....

Hasn’t that been the issue both with Maryland football and basketball for most if not all of their Big 10 tenure? Their teams just never seem to achieve as much as they probably should. The Michigan game this past weekend was a prime example.

 

[87 Penn St8]

Hasn’t that been the issue both with Maryland football and basketball for most if not all of their Big 10 tenure? Their teams just never seem to achieve as much as they probably should. The Michigan game this past weekend was a prime example.

Julian Reese would be our best big guy in awhile- and he is a clear 2nd to Queen who many think is a Lottery pick.

Their other guys seem to alternate stepping up- which is good and bad as they are inconsistent.

My gut thinks they've got plenty of gas in the tank IF they get traction.

 

[RickinDayton]

Other than their late season losses to Duke, UNC actually played pretty well towards the end of the season. They also played a very tough non-conference schedule. They’re no threat to do much in this tournament, but they’re also not a team without some merit.

Agree.

 

[bcspsu]

Julian Reese would be our best big guy in awhile- and he is a clear 2nd to Queen who many think is a Lottery pick.

Their other guys seem to alternate stepping up- which is good and bad as they are inconsistent.

My gut thinks they've got plenty of gas in the tank IF they get traction.

I think that the only Big 10 team that would have much of a chance against one of the top SEC teams is MSU because of their Tournament mentality and pedigree, and even then I don’t think that it’s a good chance. I don’t think that this was a great Big 10 Conference this season, and hasn’t even been in the same league as the SEC and probably also the Big 12 this season.

I fully expect at least two SEC teams will make the Final Four, and I also like Houston. I am rooting for SJU; I’ve watched them a lot this season and really like their team. It’s funny how much a coach like Pitino means to a program; SJU took a chance on him when he was disgraced, and are reaping the rewards.

 

[bison13]

Haven't seen them this year. They had been covered a lot over last few years since Final 4 run.

Actually saw a lot of BYU in late games along with SoCal and UCLA on Big 10 Network.

Haven't seen Texas Tech either- and they are getting some love.

Will be winging my brackets....

Where are you on Terps? They lost 2 games vs Sparty and Wolves that would've changed so much for them.

Do they bounce back or fade....

I can not trust the terps at all. They should win 2+ games as Queen is very good and the guards are as well, but they always seem to revert back to being a jump shooting selfish team and lose a game they shouldnt

 

[87 Penn St8]

I can not trust the terps at all. They should win 2+ games as Queen is very good and the guards are as well, but they always seem to revert back to being a jump shooting selfish team and lose a game they shouldnt

I ended up going with 2 bizzaro bbrackets.one based purely on who I'd root for in each game ( with only a few big upsets) and another where I tried to be Lunardi or Bilas.

In the first pool Terps go to Final 4. In the 2nd lose in Sweet 16.

 

[ryoder1]

I think that the only Big 10 team that would have much of a chance against one of the top SEC teams is MSU because of their Tournament mentality and pedigree, and even then I don’t think that it’s a good chance. I don’t think that this was a great Big 10 Conference this season, and hasn’t even been in the same league as the SEC and probably also the Big 12 this season.

I fully expect at least two SEC teams will make the Final Four, and I also like Houston. I am rooting for SJU; I’ve watched them a lot this season and really like their team. It’s funny how much a coach like Pitino means to a program; SJU took a chance on him when he was disgraced, and are reaping the rewards.

Can't root for Pitino. Hoping they fall in a big upset.

 

[ryoder1]

I can not trust the terps at all. They should win 2+ games as Queen is very good and the guards are as well, but they always seem to revert back to being a jump shooting selfish team and lose a game they shouldnt

I'll pick Colorado St over the Terps.

 

[bison13]

I'll pick Colorado St over the Terps.

Ditto

 

[RickinDayton]

Ditto

I hesitantly picked Maryland. Expecting they will be focused after the Michigan loss, but then I have them losing to Florida.