CMJ

Man, I really am starting to hate Connecticut, but they are second to none, no question.

Credit to Alabama - they gave Connecticut a great game (the final score isn't really representative). Purdue was actually more impressive yesterday. I still thank UCONN is the favorite tomorrow, but I give the Boilers a decent shot now.

They lost the O'Bannon suit so they started the NIL thing. When when they try to put regulations on it, they still lose. https://www.si.com/college/2024/02/23/federal-judge-grants-injunction-preventing-ncaa-from-enforcing-nil-rules

Who would have picked NC State? They were an 11 seed. Last year's Final Four was a total cluster. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it's more chalk.

I also doubt we could have beaten that ISU squad.

The NCAA fought the NIL. Problem is they lost. The NCAA was made toothless by the courts.

I usually give credit to the team that comes back, and Seton Hall deserves credit. I gotta say though, Indiana State played pretty stupid the last 3 minutes and gave it away.

Great first half in the NIT Final.

I mean....that's not true though. Titles in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014....they were winning them about every five years until having a nearly ten year gap. And now they're likely to go back to back and have more titles than both Duke and Kansas, tying UNC. They're gonna catch Kentucky soon at this rate.

I honestly don't get why Connecticut has flown under the radar for most. They've won more titles the last 30 years than anyone.

Okay, but George Mason made the tournament twice more withing five years of their Final Four run. VCU is still a quality program. Butler fell off when Stevens left, but they still parlayed their name into Big East membership. Loyola Chicago is still a dangerous team.

St. Joes had SHU dead to rights. I wonder if they'd have gotten rid of the Prates, if perhaps we may have had a run to Indy. St. Joes and UNLV would have been tough, but beatable. Oh, the what ifs.

Connecticut. They are a machine. My hope for a champion is probably Purdue. They have a storied history but have yet to win a title. NC State would also be great given the run they're on - though up until the mid 80s, they were arguably at "blue blood adjacent" level. Alabama has won enough in football recently, they don't need to run the basketball world too. Connecticut is quickly moving up the list of all time titles won, so I'd prefer they don't get another right now.

Indiana State looks like they have about 95% of the fans and Hinkle is rocking. It's gonna be tough for Utah or whoever they may face in the NIT Final on Thursday to beat them there.

Yeah and we lost about ten more games this season than last, so I'd say it's a really positive sign.

Even after seeing his name written correctly and you still can't spell it right. And we wonder why he is leaving.

Any time I see/hear someone say "If I had an XX number of dollars, this is what comes to mind." Given all the kids at all the various schools, a billion dollars probably wouldn't last that long.

As I said a couple of weeks ago, having a former coach from the JUCO ranks should help us navigate this current environment well. Not sure if that ever entered into the hire at all, but JUCO coaches constantly have to rework their rosters since kids never stay longer than a couple of years, and sometimes not even that long.

Rubin has graduated right? Trying out somewhere else with his extra year sucks, but we got the full four years out of him. It's only because of covid that he even has this.

I'm not sure what the connective tissue is. I feel like the teams have all been constructed differently.

Since its first title in 1999, Connecticut has won five title (looking like six, but we'll see) Amazingly they've also missed the tournament nine times since then. So they've won five titles in the 15 tourneys its played in, with three different coaches. 3 First-Round losses 4 Second-Round losses 2 Elite Eight losses 7 Final Fours (5 wins...and counting) Basically if they get to the Sweet 16, they have a better than even chance of cutting down the nets. It's remarkable. People may hate Kentucky, Duke, or UNC, or Kansas or pick your blue blood, etc. for their consistent greatness -- but most everyone has slept of the Huskies as they continue to own the the sport for the last generation plus. Best stretch of dominance since UCLA. It should be noted that I really have never liked UCONN much. Calhoun always rubbed me the wrong way and the feeling has never left how I view the program.