NCAAM Final Game

[Nevadaref]

I stated in the chat room last night that Butler need to shoot 38% from 3pt range in order to win. They were 9/33 = 27%. Had they made four of those 3pt shots which they missed they would have been 13/33 = 39% and scored 12 more points. Guess what? They lost by 12.

So I was darn close. They would have needed to shoot a bit over 39% and that would have only gotten them even, so they would have also needed to make one of the several FTs which they missed. Overall, not a bad prediction.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I stated in the chat room last night that Butler need to shoot 38% from 3pt range in order to win. They were 9/33 = 27%. Had they made four of those 3pt shots which they missed they would have been 13/33 = 39% and scored 12 more points. Guess what? They lost by 12.

So I was darn close. They would have needed to shoot a bit over 39% and that would have only gotten them even, so they would have also needed to make one of the several FTs which they missed. Overall, not a bad prediction.

Although your math works out coincidentally, no team shooting 18.8% from the floor deserves to win, much less on that stage.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Although your math works out coincidentally, no team shooting 18.8% from the floor deserves to win, much less on that stage.

For that matter, neither team deserved to win last night...they both stunk it up.

I was hoping the AP pollsters would have the guts and not put UConn/Butler #1/#2....particularly Butler. One voter did and voted Ohio State #1 but the rest were mindless lemmings. That poll is basically a sham if anyone thinks Butler is the #2 team in the country......top 20 maybe, but no where near #2. There were a dozen teams in other corners of the brackets they didn't beat that were so obviously better. They got a few lucky breaks to get to be in the game and nothing more.

[rulesmaven]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

For that matter, neither team deserved to win last night...they both stunk it up.

It was not an aesthetically pleasing game. But I don't think Connecticut is getting enough credit for the defense it played. They closed out without fouling incredibly well.

[Judtech]

Originally Posted by rulesmaven

It was not an aesthetically pleasing game. But I don't think Connecticut is getting enough credit for the defense it played. They closed out without fouling incredibly well.

Really? I have the opposite opinion. I thought Butler did a great job playing defense the entire game, with exception to when they went zone. They forced 4 UCONN players to have a seat in the first half with 2 fouls each. They went zone, b/c, they had to do SOMETHING since they weren't making shots.
As for UCONN, I think it was more a case of Butler MISSING good and easy shots more then outstanding defense from UCONN.

[rulesmaven]

Originally Posted by Judtech

As for UCONN, I think it was more a case of Butler MISSING good and easy shots more then outstanding defense from UCONN.

Just don't see it. You don't go from being a 43 percent shooting team to a 16 percent shooting team randomly. The Butler coach said outside the locker room that it was the best close out team they had played all year, and it showed. Connecticut was long and athletic, and Butler had zero room to operate. By the end of the game, they were so spooked by the double digit blocked shots that they were putting up crazy shots even close in to try to avoid them. The game before, Connecticut held Kentucky to 33 percent shooting and their lowest point total of the year. Doesn't seem like a coincidence to me.

I can understand dumping on the game. It wasn't that fun to watch. But not to at least have someone write the story about CT's defense seems weird. Yes, Butler missed a couple of chippies late. (So did CT early.) But that doesn't tell the story.

[Jesse James]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

For that matter, neither team deserved to win last night...they both stunk it up.

I was hoping the AP pollsters would have the guts and not put UConn/Butler #1/#2....particularly Butler. One voter did and voted Ohio State #1 but the rest were mindless lemmings. That poll is basically a sham if anyone thinks Butler is the #2 team in the country......top 20 maybe, but no where near #2. There were a dozen teams in other corners of the brackets they didn't beat that were so obviously better. They got a few lucky breaks to get to be in the game and nothing more.

Yeah, they only beat a 1, 2, and 4 seed along their path. Unlike everyone else in the tournament, those lucky pikers from Butler should have to beat at least a dozen other teams with names we recognize before they deserve any credit at all.

They were lucky last year too.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Jesse James

Yeah, they only beat a 1, 2, and 4 seed along their path. Unlike everyone else in the tournament, those lucky pikers from Butler should have to beat at least a dozen other teams with names we recognize before they deserve any credit at all.

They were lucky last year too.

Having a lucky run coming through one of the easiest brackets with such an abysmal final performance doesn't mean you're good, just played above your head, had a few lucky breaks, and finally came back to earth. Anyone who claims they're the 2nd best team in the land is delusional. They're not even top 10.

If we were to use your arguments alone, there would be several teams equally deserving of the #2, if not more deserving.

What about a team that beat a #5, #2 and the overall #1 and only lost to the champion? (No I don't think they're 2nd best ether but more so than Butler).

What about another team that beat another #4 and a #1 and lost to UConn? They have a good argument too.

Butler was a lot better last year. They overachieved this year. There are many arguments that could be made for at least 4-5 teams that are more deserving..

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I stated in the chat room last night that Butler need to shoot 38% from 3pt range in order to win. They were 9/33 = 27%. Had they made four of those 3pt shots which they missed they would have been 13/33 = 39% and scored 12 more points. Guess what? They lost by 12.

So I was darn close. They would have needed to shoot a bit over 39% and that would have only gotten them even, so they would have also needed to make one of the several FTs which they missed. Overall, not a bad prediction.

Is this one of those predictions where you said a few dozen things, pick the one that was closest to being right in hindsight, and only mention that one?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Having a lucky run coming through one of the easiest brackets with such an abysmal final performance doesn't mean you're good, just played above your head, had a few lucky breaks, and finally came back to earth. Anyone who claims they're the 2nd best team in the land is delusional. They're not even top 10.

If we were to use your arguments alone, there would be several teams equally deserving of the #2, if not more deserving.

What about a team that beat a #5, #2 and the overall #1 and only lost to the champion? (No I don't think they're 2nd best ether but more so than Butler).

What about another team that beat another #4 and a #1 and lost to UConn? They have a good argument too.

Butler was a lot better last year. They overachieved this year. There are many arguments that could be made for at least 4-5 teams that are more deserving..

Camron, do you work for the BCS?

Butler proved it on the court. They won the darn games, until the final one. The other teams didn't. They are a deserving #2.

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Is this one of those predictions where you said a few dozen things, pick the one that was closest to being right in hindsight, and only mention that one?

Well, I'm not Liam's mum!

[canuckrefguy]

Regardless of the math, that was just the most awful championship game I've seen in years. I had other commitments and recorded it, all the while being careful not to hear any information on the game. Then I got home, watched it, and wanted the time back afterwards. Yuck.

[JRutledge]

After all the great Championship games in multiple years, it is about time there was one bad one every now and then.

Peace

[rulesmaven]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

After all the great Championship games in multiple years, it is about time there was one bad one every now and then.

Probably a function of the fact that this tournament was so good for the first four rounds. Cinderellas are fun, but when you have a 3, 4, 8 and 11 seed in the final four, a clunker is probably to be expected. I thought two of the three final four games were really good. The most memorable tournaments are ones that have Cinderellas early and chalk late.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rulesmaven

Probably a function of the fact that this tournament was so good for the first four rounds. Cinderellas are fun, but when you have a 3, 4, 8 and 11 seed in the final four, a clunker is probably to be expected. I thought two of the three final four games were really good. The most memorable tournaments are ones that have Cinderellas early and chalk late.

I do not think the championship had anything to do with a Cinderella making it. Butler was there last year and it was probably one of the best games in a long time and they had a chance to win without the last shot. Butler played bad that is all. And if you had all 1 and 2 seeds in the Final Four, I doubt that it would guarantee a good game either. If Kentucky played better in the semifinal, we might not have UConn as the champion.

Peace

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by canuckrefguy

I had other commitments and recorded it, all the while being careful not to hear any information on the game. Then I got home, watched it, and wanted the time back afterwards. Yuck.

My other commitment was SLEEP. But I DVR'd it and got up the next morning to watch - best part was I could Fast Forward through the commercials and it really didn't take too much time out of my life.