Haven’t seen him but briefly but think he is similar to Giorgi playing in a lesser conference. Don’t understand why anyone thinks he is a Kofi replacement. Much rather have an athletic rim protector without offensive skills.
NCAA Tournament
I think an OSU matchup with Cade vs Ayo on display could do wonders for Ayo’s draft stock.
It looked to me like he took a couple nasty shots to the face yesterday. I thought that might have been why his shot/game was a little off, but I was waiting for someone to ask him about it or bring it up in the postgame. Though that quickly became a secondary story to all the celebration and NCAA talk. Would be curious how his nose is doing.
I thought so too. He seemed more tentative to me. Still great.
I am scared of every game, it is one of the 1,000 reasons I watch and would never have been useful on the court. Of course my lack of skill would probably have been the first reason!
haasi
- New York
Unpopular opinion I haven’t seen expressed much in light of our obviously awesome BTT title. I was a little concerned with Ayo’s decision making late. Seemed to settle for stagnant possessions with late, difficult shots. Not attacking, not playmaking for others, not keeping OSU on its heels. That’s what brought us to this point. Possible it was just fatigue, but felt very out of character. Assume that’s one of the kinks he was talking about us working out this week.
Deleted member 747903
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Curbelo needs to be running the show late in games. Earlier in the year I didn't want him anywhere near the floor in crunch time because of the turnovers but he has 1 turnover in his last two games total.
He is the only one on the team that can consistently create off the dribble.
haasi
- New York
I think we prob want a mix. Have them both on the floor and force the D to respect multiple creators. But the ball has to move and we can’t just burn 20 seconds of clock. That just lets the D rest and reduces our chances of getting good look.
Deleted member 747903
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Fair. I also thought Ayo was really trying to force the issue in terms of driving into the paint. I thought multiple times he could have done his signature one-dribble pull up. Especially on the last possession when he had Musa Jallow on him he could have taken two hard dribbles right or left and then taken a jumpshot.
Pass the Orange Kool-Aid this way please.
Liberty might give them fits as they are a balanced and experienced. They have won on this stage in 19 so they wont be intimidated. I was thinking long and hard about picking them to beat OSU. If Tennessee is healthy, they could beat OSU also. OSU has a very hard path.
I agree. After the initial surge, in general, they played much slower and less aggressive on both offense and defense. Maybe they were a little tight. They let OSU dictate the pace of the game. Fortunately, they overcame it all.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
sacraig
- The desert
I am not sure what games you are watching, but last time I checked, we had a hell of a future NBAer who creates off the dribble constantly. He even had two triple doubles this year, setting a school record. I know he is easy to overlook, what, with all the praise heaped on Luka Garza, but some even suggest he deserves NPOY over Garza! Many people describe him as the best closer in college basketball. Crazy, right?
Remember when the Yankees decided to demote Mariano Rivera to set-up man in favor of an up and comer? Me either.
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I was hoping Belo would haven ran the last play as he is a much elusive driver. Plus it might have thrown OSU off a bit as they was expecting Ayo. Ayo was fatigued and I wish we would have rolled Kofi off the ball screen and it would have given Belo options. But since we aren’t playing back to back games anymore, we will be more rested and Ayo will be ready. Not that I am questioning Brad or Ayo.
Deleted member 747903
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If teams load up on Ayo's right hand then it makes it extremely tough for him to get to the basket without really just putting his head down and forcing it. Sometimes the defense makes a mistake and lets him go right in which case he makes the play 99% of the time (see 3 pt play late vs OSU in regular season finale).
Curbelo is a bit more unpredictable for defenses right now which is why I prefer him running the show late. Nobody said he should be the one ultimately taking the shot. I think right now he is the better guy to initiate the offense and put Ayo in a position where he does not have to force it.
One thing I noticed and OSU benefitted from it as they rotated guys who rarely play into the game for a few minutes here and there which kept the main players a bit fresher. We stuck with the 8 man rotation and it looks like BU is not going to roll 9 unless he has to. We do not have an extra guard who can play minutes if we need to rest a player. BU gave rests as much as he could but Ayo still got 32, 38 and 41 minutes for the three days. Plus one more thing, OSU played zone off and on and that is less tiring than playing man.
haasi
- New York
Wasn’t expecting Hawkins to get so little time over the BTT. Not sure if that’s a matchup thing, if he hasn’t been playing well in practice, or if it’s a tightening of the rotation going into the tourney.
Also was surprised to see Verdonk instead of Hamlin backing up Kofi and Giorgi at center. He did pretty well filling in defensively. Not sure why Brad went with him rather than Hamlin.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
What are people thinking for our bracket? Plenty of potential storylines, lol. These guys are really clicking at the right time and feeling it, so there is certainly a part of me that says bring on anyone. However, I tend to be a very nervous fan, haha ... so this is what I would prefer, and this all obviously assumes we take care of our own business:
1) Loyola loses to Georgia Tech. For one, I don't want to have any competition (however small) for my fellow Chicagoans' rooting interests, specifically the more casual fans. Also, they will likely be REALLY pumped for that one. Again, we should beat them handily, but I'd just assume avoid it.
2) I REALLY hope Oklahoma State loses before the Sweet Sixteen. I think we're better than them (hell, I am picking us as the National Champ, I think we're better than everybody!!), but I want no part of that team. Even looking past the revenge angle Oklahoma State will be going for because of Underwood, they also feel (rightfully) screwed over by the Committee, and they will have a chip on their shoulder. Additionally, they're one of the few teams who has at least one guard who I feel can REALLY give ours trouble and throw us off our game. No thanks! However, obviously, if it's them ... bring it.
3) I would MUCH rather get a piece of Houston than West Virginia. First of all, I just don't buy that they're going to be able to win their fourth Tournament game in a row vs. a battle-tested 1-seed from this year's Big Ten like us. Second of all, I want nothing more than for the Illini - on a national Elite Eight stage - to absolutely pummel Kelvin Sampson and have the boos rain down on him in front of a partisan Illini crowd.
4) It would obviously be nice to not face Baylor again, but honestly ... Purdue and Ohio State would be just as nerve wracking in the Final Four. OSU is so tough when they're hitting shots, and I did not want to play ONE more second vs. that team, haha. Additionally, Purdue is one of the few teams with centers that can try to contain Kofi effectively, and their (young) team is really coming along. I would love to face the 3-seed Arkansas out of that group. Even though they're hot right now, I just don't think the SEC is going to prepare teams for this gauntlet like the Big Ten and Big XII have.
5) For that Championship Game, if we make it, I don't want the Zags. I can't make up my mind if they're a paper tiger who will fold against elite competition, a team that really IS that good or somewhere in between ... but the way their offense can move, I'd rather just not find out. Part of me can't believe I am saying this, but I would love to face either Iowa or Michigan in the title game. I firmly believe we are better than both, it would be great for an all-Big Ten title game and I think our guys' game that they feel the best playing really punches those two teams in the mouth. After the BTT Semifinal win against Iowa, I honestly would feel the best winning our first NC vs. those bastards!
Of course, this would make for a HORRIBLY nervous Fighter of the Nightman, given my friend group hails mostly from Iowa City.
Can't wait to start our journey Friday! No overlooking, just come in, take care of business with energy/focus and move on.
1) Loyola loses to Georgia Tech. For one, I don't want to have any competition (however small) for my fellow Chicagoans' rooting interests, specifically the more casual fans. Also, they will likely be REALLY pumped for that one. Again, we should beat them handily, but I'd just assume avoid it.
2) I REALLY hope Oklahoma State loses before the Sweet Sixteen. I think we're better than them (hell, I am picking us as the National Champ, I think we're better than everybody!!), but I want no part of that team. Even looking past the revenge angle Oklahoma State will be going for because of Underwood, they also feel (rightfully) screwed over by the Committee, and they will have a chip on their shoulder. Additionally, they're one of the few teams who has at least one guard who I feel can REALLY give ours trouble and throw us off our game. No thanks! However, obviously, if it's them ... bring it.
3) I would MUCH rather get a piece of Houston than West Virginia. First of all, I just don't buy that they're going to be able to win their fourth Tournament game in a row vs. a battle-tested 1-seed from this year's Big Ten like us. Second of all, I want nothing more than for the Illini - on a national Elite Eight stage - to absolutely pummel Kelvin Sampson and have the boos rain down on him in front of a partisan Illini crowd.
4) It would obviously be nice to not face Baylor again, but honestly ... Purdue and Ohio State would be just as nerve wracking in the Final Four. OSU is so tough when they're hitting shots, and I did not want to play ONE more second vs. that team, haha. Additionally, Purdue is one of the few teams with centers that can try to contain Kofi effectively, and their (young) team is really coming along. I would love to face the 3-seed Arkansas out of that group. Even though they're hot right now, I just don't think the SEC is going to prepare teams for this gauntlet like the Big Ten and Big XII have.
5) For that Championship Game, if we make it, I don't want the Zags. I can't make up my mind if they're a paper tiger who will fold against elite competition, a team that really IS that good or somewhere in between ... but the way their offense can move, I'd rather just not find out. Part of me can't believe I am saying this, but I would love to face either Iowa or Michigan in the title game. I firmly believe we are better than both, it would be great for an all-Big Ten title game and I think our guys' game that they feel the best playing really punches those two teams in the mouth. After the BTT Semifinal win against Iowa, I honestly would feel the best winning our first NC vs. those bastards!
Of course, this would make for a HORRIBLY nervous Fighter of the Nightman, given my friend group hails mostly from Iowa City.Can't wait to start our journey Friday! No overlooking, just come in, take care of business with energy/focus and move on.
eMitch
- Quincy, IL
I think Underwood suggested that. Then all the players in the huddle just stood up and looked around. Then he looked at Ago and Ayo said, "I'll make it".
Tacomallini
- Washington State
How do yins think Iowa matches up against Gonzaga? Asking for a friend (who may or may not be stuck picking this game in their bracket).
