penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
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03-22-18 09:27 PM - Post#254178
In response to bradley
They also shoot the ball extremely well and consistently find ways to make acrobatic layups against taller opponents.
Ivy teams don't have that combination.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
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03-22-18 09:36 PM - Post#254179
In response to penn nation
Sister Jean is trending on Twitter.
I think the end of the road is near, however, unless K State upsets Kentucky. Kentucky can't shoot, but they have way, way too much size and athleticism for Loyola.
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 75
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-22-18 09:41 PM - Post#254180
In response to penn nation
Closet team to having Loyola's athletic ability is probability Aiken, Towns and Lewis but Amaker does have his own style of play that seems different than Loyola and certainly Nevada. I am sure that it is a possible to win with his style but could be challenging after watching the really good mid major teams -- they just play so intense.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
Postdoc
Posts: 2703
Loc: New Jersey
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03-22-18 10:07 PM - Post#254183
In response to bradley
Harvard played like that when it had the athleticism of Chambers, Curry, Casey and Zena - 2013-14. Must have depth and PG's to run all game. Harvard has been short on PG's since then, except for possibly last year with Siyani and Bryce. Siyani was returning from knee injury and Bryce was a bit out of control so I think Tommy wanted to slow them down.
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Quakers03
Professor
Posts: 12533
Reg: 12-07-04
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03-22-18 10:13 PM - Post#254184
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
Have any other mid-major runs resulted in conferences being lifted up? I know sometimes the team flees, but improving conferences? Did Cornell's run really help anyone else?
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 75
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-22-18 10:18 PM - Post#254186
In response to HARVARDDADGRAD
I agree that they played different than the past two years but the 2012-2014 Crimson teams did not play with the intensity of Loyola and Nevada as they have exhibited in the last three games. The 2012-14 Harvard group was very good but these guys play at a different level. I am not sure how Donahue did it at Cornell.
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HARVARDDADGRAD
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Loc: New Jersey
Reg: 01-21-14
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03-22-18 10:22 PM - Post#254187
In response to bradley
Yes, Amaker prefers to play a different style. I don't believe you will see an Ivy with such athleticism and depth to play with this intensity. Nevertheless, the more conservative approach can beat teams that need to play at this faster pace. That's how Harvard beat New Mexico and Cincinnati and almost beat UNC. Can't beat some teams at their own game so make them play yours.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
Reg: 12-02-04
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03-22-18 10:25 PM - Post#254188
In response to bradley
Donahue had a very good shooting team and a lights out shooter (Wittman) as good as, if not better than, anyone on Nevada or Loyola.
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Go Green
PhD Student
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03-23-18 06:13 AM - Post#254191
In response to bradley
After watching the game, I remain perplexed as to why IL supporters in a one bid league do not want to send their best team to fight the good fight at the Big Dance but it is what it is.
Florida Gulf Coast says hi.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32947
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-23-18 08:03 AM - Post#254194
In response to penn nation
Kansas State beat Kentucky.
Sister Jean in the Final Four?
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
Reg: 12-02-04
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Attendance for Abomination Finally Revealed 03-23-18 08:35 AM - Post#254198
In response to palestra38
At least they have a shot.
Kentucky would have been a horrible matchup. K state had 3 guys foul out and nearly 2 others. Against Loyola it would have been worse than that. Loyola doesn’t have a ton of weaknesses but lack of size is definitely one.
Edited by penn nation on 03-23-18 08:35 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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SRP
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03-23-18 01:13 PM - Post#254212
In response to penn nation
Loyola hit more reverse layups against Nevada than I've ever seen in a game.
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palestra38
Professor
Posts: 32947
Reg: 11-21-04
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03-23-18 01:19 PM - Post#254213
In response to SRP
It did indeed seem as if Nevada never before saw a driving player go to the other side of the basket.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
Reg: 12-02-04
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03-23-18 02:03 PM - Post#254216
In response to SRP
I've seen a number of their games this year and it was not an aberration.
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 75
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-24-18 08:34 AM - Post#254250
In response to penn nation
You are correct that it is a very tough combination to have but their athleticism is impressive for a 11 seed as it gives them a chance to compete, especially on defense. It will be very tough to get to the semis and their time in the spotlight will dim but their performance will certainly help their programs for the upcoming years.
Somehow, an Ivy League team needs to find a magical year but you need the players, coach and a style of play to win. Even Loyola is a #11 seed and not a #13-16 seed which is basically a death knell with the rarest of circumstances.
An Ivy team could have the advantage of having a junior/senior laden team that can shoot but do they have the athleticism and relentlessness to reach a final 8 or even 16. Right now, probably not but it is possible. Needless to say, IvyMadness has nothing to do with it.
There is also hope and it would be a great story to cover by the national media and a very good thing for the league.
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JadwinGeorge
Senior
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Age: 75
Reg: 12-04-15
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03-24-18 05:29 PM - Post#254255
In response to bradley
If your goal is to compete in the NCAA tournament you should not hitch your wagon to an Ivy League team. "TWO BID" will happen if the best team loses our tourney, if then. Reaching the tournament is a nice reward for a good season. As long as money runs the show the Ivy league is just another afterthought.
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 75
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-24-18 09:37 PM - Post#254260
In response to JadwinGeorge
On the Loyola broadcast, color guy mentioned that Pete Carril would be smiling after a backdoor cut. Princeton offense gets a lot of play still even though the Tigers did not use it much this year. Hopefully, Jaelin was listening.
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penn nation
Professor
Posts: 21340
Reg: 12-02-04
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03-24-18 10:09 PM - Post#254262
In response to bradley
I saw more backdoor cuts from the Quakers this year than from Princeton.
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bradley
PhD Student
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Age: 75
Reg: 01-15-16
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03-25-18 09:48 AM - Post#254271
In response to Go Green
We can all identify a singular event to support a position, i.e. Loyola. Loyola was clearly the best team in the Missouri Valley Conference this year but they almost got knocked off in the 1st round of the MVC championship by the 9th seed in their opening game, 54-50.
Rather than citing singular events which will be dominated by the Loyola vs. Florida Gulf examples of the world, logic/statistics clearly supports the advantage of sending your best team year on a yearly basis. The second ranked team in the MVC, Southern Illinois, was good but certainly not Loyola based on rpi, statistical rankings.
It almost seems like IvyMadness is a quick fix for a number of schools in the IL as getting to the big dance rather than doing what Cornell and Penn have done in hiring a good coach, Donahue, and find recruits/players that fit into your system.
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Old Bear
Postdoc
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Reg: 11-23-04
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03-25-18 01:50 PM - Post#254282
In response to bradley
So, Vermont should have gone, instead of UMBC.
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