I think part of it is that Clingan is also far more aggressive as a shot blocker - he will sell out for a block (see his first one tonight) that Edey would not ever go for. Edey really doesn't move much, just walls up most of the time and gets 7'4" blocks.
Games Thread - The National Championship
Don't really want to see either team win. I like Painter but I am tired of some of his players. Flip flop Fletcher, FrankenEdey, and the overrated go to sleep Smith. We'll see how Smith does next year without a 7'4 paint monster to toss it up to for half of his assists. On the other side Hurley has to be one of the most annoying and unlikeable coaches in college basketball. I want to see them both lose. 🫤
I think this is spot on.
We have to deal with the Purdue fan base constantly.
We rarely deal with UCONN’s.
There is no conference pride. Down with Purdue.
I only care about the B1G finally winning a Natty if it’s Illinois that does it.
We rarely deal with UCONN’s.
There is no conference pride. Down with Purdue.
I only care about the B1G finally winning a Natty if it’s Illinois that does it.
Boy is this fascinating... A generational team vs a generational mismatch. If there’s a formula to beat UConn, it’s the Purdue formula: Edey wins in the post while the backcourt of Smith, Jones, Loyer & Gillis hit 3’s. They must execute this to win.
Spoiler: Edey is going to overmatch DC because at the college level there’s simply not an opponent he doesn’t overmatch, which is why he’s an all-timer.
But the huskies ultimately prevail because everybody else in the white & gray > black & gold
Spoiler: Edey is going to overmatch DC because at the college level there’s simply not an opponent he doesn’t overmatch, which is why he’s an all-timer.
But the huskies ultimately prevail because everybody else in the white & gray > black & gold
Edey basically jogs up and down the court. Clingan and Johnson, for big men, are like gazelles blazing up and down the court. I think that is part of UConn’s strategy to wear teams down.
Ryllini
- Lombard
UCONN will systematically destroy Purdue. They have a way to make their 2's feel like 3's and 3's feel like 4's. I give Bama a lot of credit, they made Uconn play their style and yet Uconn still rolled. I do hope it is a good game, but Uconn is too much. They have great players and they make you guard bull!!!!, and you know it is bull!!!!, but you can't help yourself. Their playbook might be deeper than Purdue's.
I think Hurley is by far the best coach in the game. They run the best sets and are as fundamentally sound that a team can be. Tonight they had 20 assists and only 4 turnovers for the game. UConn feels like a team where it’s the coaching getting the most out of the talent, than some other great teams where it’s just 1 guy dominating a game 1 v 1
Goillinikobd
- Southeastern US
Edey, for all the hysteria his blocked shots and rebounds generate among the network play by play is not that athletic. He rarely elevates for blocks or rebounds because he doesn’t have to.
KenSWburbs
- SWburbs
So, it's not just me catching that vibe!
I mean it's hard to argue with that since he's likely going to win back to back titles but I wouldn't say anyone is by far the best coaches.
A lot of coaches are running similar sets and schemes it's the player that separate them. He obviously also built the roster so hats off to him but the thing that makes UCONN so dominant is Clingan. Without Clingan that defense is no better than Illinois with Castle being the only plus perimeter defender. Clingan allows them to pressure defensively and erases dribble penetration.
No offense to Hurley but I think you would see similar results with that talent from other great coaches like Oats, Drew, Self, or even Brad(!!!! Josh Schertz impressed me a ton in the NIT). Honestly, imagine Fran with a defensive player like Clingan.
I think its the same for Jay Wright. The two NBA guys that only pay attention to college BB for three weeks a year never shut up. Last night, after Barkley and Smith talked nonsense for 10 minutes, Ernie Johnson (another NBA guy) asked Wright about the second game. Finally given a chance to speak, Wright gave a cogent analysis of the first half of the first game. I don't think it was because he misheard the question.
I don't care what anyone says, I like Hurley and I love watching UConn play. I haven't seen a team execute this well since Knight was in his prime - they are an absolute pleasure to watch
I haven't followed the tourney much since the beloved lost, and I had a gig last night so didn't get home until about 1 to find that UCONN and Purdue are in the final. I have to pull for Purdue, because I win the Loyalty challenge if they win. I did have two brackets, and this was the one that didn't have the beloved winning.
And I just can't pull for a team coached by Hurley . . .
And I just can't pull for a team coached by Hurley . . .
Bluemountain gets it.
With plenty of reasons to like and dislike both teams, I'm ambivalent to who wins. Just want to see a great game.
Not sure how anyone can like Edey. He’s arrogant as hell. He gets the most favorable whistle in the ncaa. His style of play is horrible to watch.
No thanks.
No thanks.
We've been beat by both. Both teams are better than what we had THIS year. I'd argue Hurley is one of the best given what they've accomplished.
