bch@unc.UUCP (12/28/83)
I haven't seen any traffic in this newsgroup in a while. As an ardent (college) basketball fan, I guess this disappoints me. I realize the net top 20 poll was doomed to failure, given the number of upsets early in the season, but things seem to be settled out now. Clearly we have two excellent teams (North Carolina, Kentucky) a number of very good teams (Georgetown, Maryland, DePaul (!), St. Johns, Wake Forest, UTEP(!) UCLA and LSU) and then things trail off fairly badly. Anyone have any opinions on the quick recension of the automatic two-shot foul rule (the "Valvano" rule) by the NCAA rules committee. A purist at heart, I was glad to see the rule go, but then I don't like three-point shots and shot clock either -- it turns a good game into a game where defense is discouraged. I am, however, in favor of an automatic turnover on a five-second call or a held ball (those things that used to be called "jump" balls, mutter mutter.) Chaminade strikes again! I think that Louisville and Denny Crum are about to lose the good graces of the sportswriters and the coaches. Watch for them to drop completely out of the top 20. Houston is looking suspect as well, once they get beyond beating up on wimp teams they don't look nearly as adept at the razzle-dazzle as their press clippings would make them out to be. As for Carolina, the big test comes Thursday night against St. Johns. While I think the 'Heels have as good a chance as anybody to take it all this year, I never put anything beyond a good coach like Carnesecca. His team may not have Carolina's talent, but a crafty coach has a good many tricks up his sleeve. -- Byron Howes UNC - Chapel Hill (decvax!duke!unc!bch)
jimph@ihuxv.UUCP (12/29/83)
I was wondering why you said that there were clearly TWO great teams in college basketball. Then I noticed that you were from UNC. I would tend to agree with your assessment of the college scene except for that. I don't think UNC is clearly above some of their closest rivals. For that matter, Kentucky isn't clearly head and shoulders above UNC or Georgetown. I am a big DePaul fan but I still think Georgetown is better. DePaul barely beat them AT DePaul and Georgetown was in control early before DePaul got redhot and snuck away with a win. There is nothing I would like to see more than a DePaul championship in Ray Meyer's last year, especially since I played for his son, Tom, in high school. I would like to see more activity in this newsgroup also!!!!!!
stanwyck@ihuxr.UUCP (12/29/83)
Anyone who talks about UCLA (post Wooden) and not Oregon State is ignorant of the facts of the PAC-10!!!!!!! GO BEAVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -- ________ ( ) Don Stanwyck @( o o )@ 312-979-3062 ( || ) Cornet-367-3062 ( \__/ ) ihnp4!ihuxr!stanwyck (______) Bell Labs @ Naperville, IL
tischler@ihuxv.UUCP (Mark D. Tischler) (01/05/84)
Anyone who thinks Oregon State has a chance at any title must be an alumnus of the school. As much as I dislike UCLA, the fact is that UCLA in one way or another, every year, always seems to upstage the Beavers. That is for one reason only: UCLA doesn't know the word "choke", while the Beavers swear by it. UCLA will always manage to make it into the NCAA tournament whether they're expected to or not. Oregon State, on the other hand, is often touted at the beginning of the season as a potential national champion, and they usually show it until tournament time. However, at least the Beavers don't play a disgustingly easy schedule and believe they're Number 1 like DePaul does every year. Biscayne and Creighton are real tough opponents, I tell you. DePaul also worships the word "choke" come tournament time. Even though, Ralph Miller and Ray Meyer have garnered numerous wins, they will never stand tall in my book. The mark of a good coach is making something out of nothing, not making nothing out of something.