College Basketball

[GeorgesGoons]

Dude couldn't buy a 3 point shot. crazy how great he has been from beyond the arc and his inability to make a shot this game

[GeorgesGoons]

All time leader in 3 pointers made is 0-11 this game so far. Watch him hit the last shot from 3 to win the game for Wofford

0-12.... this one is going to really sting for Wofford

100% agree. who would have seen this happening 3 hours ago

[wdoupis]

Well, so far today I have had LSU -2.5 and Wofford +5.5

I’ve never been so bummed about watching two great games

[GeorgesGoons]

Looking forward to seeing Ja Morant play a team that is physical and has size. So far he looks fantastic.

[GeorgesGoons]

Murray State does not play good team defense. And from these last two games Ja Morant definitely does not play defense at all. He is out of position 90% of the time it seems. But his offensive game is unreal. I still think he will have the best career out of the freshman coming out this year (yes I know he is a sophomore)

[wdoupis]

He gambles a ton of defense but I think he just knows his team is a bunch of scrubs and he tries to make home run plays. I don’t think defense will be a weakness for him in the league

[shel311]

TIL... Villanova has won 2 of the last 3 national titles.

[Seeitsaveit13]

TIL... Villanova has won 2 of the last 3 national titles.

Now 2 of 4. They gone.

[wdoupis]

Never a doubt

[wdoupis]

COME ON UCF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DRWebs]

That attempted put back

[wdoupis]

UCF had that 2 on 1 and dude just bobbled the easy pass on the lob that he converts 99% of the time. That would have put them up 6 with 90 seconds left. After that it felt like a crazy Duke win was coming

[DRiccio21]

That was a brilliant game plan and takes a ton of balls by Dawkins. He basically played a shadow matchup on Zion and RJ, left 2 dudes alone and then let Tacko roam. When you’re clearly under manned it takes a game plan like that which could absolutely blow up in your face if those others hit shots but gives you a tiny window of hope if they don’t. Then you get a game of your life from Dawkins. I’m sick for UCF, 4 unreal bad breaks in 90 seconds w 1) missed alley oop turning into a transition 3 pointer 2) Tacko fouling out by contesting a 2 point shot w a 3 point lead (can’t turn a 2 possesion game into a 1 possession play there, better off just letting him score) 3) not getting the rebound on the missed ft 4) missing a wide open bunny put back

I love good coaching and I don’t even think Dawkins is that good of a coach but that was the moment of a lifetime and it slipped from him and his son, heartbreaking

[shel311]

Poor UCF

[wdoupis]

Agreed on Dawkins and just a heartbreaking loss. That is actually the recipe to beat Duke though. If you can pack the paint to contain RJ and Zion and make Tre Jones and the others beat you from outside they are beatable. If Duke is drilling 3s I really don’t see them losing. I know they lost twice but I would actually favor Virginia to beat Duke for this reason. When they played in Charlottesville Duke shot lights out from 3 and I would not expect another shooting performance like that.

Anyways, hope VA doesn’t get the chance because they lose to Vols in elite 8.

[Weasel]

A question I was asking as it was happening... Right before Zion and 1, why not foul? Up 3 with the shot clock off? Isn't that the move there?

[DRiccio21]

A question I was asking as it was happening... Right before Zion and 1, why not foul? Up 3 with the shot clock off? Isn't that the move there?

yes its definitely one way to play it. i probably let em score somewhat uncontested once they enter the paint rather than risk that because you can fuck up the foul or let up an offensive rebound on a ft attempt.

i want the ball back in my best ft shooters hand and i want the ball as far away from their hoop as possible even if that means you allow it to become a 1 pt game.

i can't remember a non-UConn game effecting me like that one in a while. i'm still sick for Dawkins

[dakshdar]

Agreed on Dawkins and just a heartbreaking loss. That is actually the recipe to beat Duke though. If you can pack the paint to contain RJ and Zion and make Tre Jones and the others beat you from outside they are beatable. If Duke is drilling 3s I really don’t see them losing. I know they lost twice but I would actually favor Virginia to beat Duke for this reason. When they played in Charlottesville Duke shot lights out from 3 and I would not expect another shooting performance like that.

Anyways, hope VA doesn’t get the chance because they lose to Vols in elite 8.

It's unclear if you can use that strategy without one of the tallest living humans on the planet sitting in the paint.

It did feel like this could be one of those games though where one opposing player (Dawkins) has the game of his life and wills the underdog to the upset in the biggest game he's every played.

It was curious they wanted the ball in Armstrong's hands for the last shot. The put-back attempt by Dawkins looked incredibly hard based on how extended he was and how fast he was moving through the lane. There was a lot of online griping about the FT-rebound-score by Duke only happening because of a shove - the announcers didn't really seem to bring it up (and when is there not contact on a FT rebound?). The did-it or didn't-it touch-the-rim play a minute earlier was a big deal as well. One of those inconclusive/can't over-turn, but can't find any evidence in the replays that it touched the rim.

You can always count on Duke to play close games in the tournament (it feels like at least) when they're the "overwhelming favorite".

[DRiccio21]

agreed on the fact they maximized Tacko value by employing that strategy with him back there.

the push in the back wasn't blatant enough that i think its a big deal... don't think there is much of a gripe there of a missed call as much as its a 5%-10% likelihood type scenario that played out following a series of 5-10% type scenarios.

every team seems to have a game like that in a tourney that they need to survive. UConn's last title run they were down 3 in the first round to St Joes with like 20 seconds left.

[wdoupis]

The reason the shove didn’t bother me is there really wasn’t a box out attempt either. It was a tough loss to swallow I am sure but I think UCF can really only put this one on themselves. I was actually shocked the refs didn’t go with Duke on the shot clock play prior to that. David Stern does not approve