bugatti

It really is. Granted, a lot can happen in a 5-6 month span, but an ACL tear used to be at least a one-year injury, and it never seemed like players were the same for a couple years post surgery. JQ was the youngest player in college basketball last year. Still only 17.

It was obvious Florida came out in the second half trying to "out Houston," Houston, but that soon went out the window when Florida was at five fouls a couple of minutes in.

I can't imagine reffing a Houston game. They foul almost every play and force the refs to adjust to the more physical style. When it gets out of hand, they try to overcorrect, and you get the inconsistency we saw last night.

That's how I remember the name! I watched maybe four minutes of ASU this season, so I can't give an eval, but looking at the stats, he seemed productive for a freshman (9.4 pts, 7.9 rebs) and was horrific from the FT line.

In fairness, they led for what, 39 minutes yesterday? Houston also had one of the top offenses in the country this season. Big games have a way of making players tense, especially college kids.

You definitely knew a run was in them with how they’ve responded most games this tournament. One thing about these overly-experienced teams, they don’t get rattled.

Clayton Jr. had about as clutch of a stretch as you will see in college. Even in his struggles this game he made several big plays including the last defensive stand to ice the game.

Silly tech on Florida. Gotta be better. Still hate you get two FT attempts in college on techs.

Right. But you are talking NBA salary vs. NIL. It will now be NBA Salary + Endorsements vs. NIL. My guess is he will be making 2 to 3 times more money next season. The only strategic move Flagg could make is that players can now pull their name out of the draft after the NBA draft lottery. Even at that, I would use the leverage to go where I want to play, not return to college.

That is awesome!

The batting % for this near annual tag line is .007.

It’s about getting to that second NBA contract. It’s foolish to stay.

The first role I remember Kilmer in that I would watch on repeat as a kid was Madmartigan in Willow. But yeah, hard to deny that Iceman and Doc Holliday are most synonymous with Kilmer. Loved him in Heat as well. RIP.

I was more so talking about the "won't be welcomed back" part.

I love thinking back to all the debates I would have regarding Russell Westbrook. My position was always that you will never win anything with him as your primary decision-maker. Granted, he is in a more limited role now, but last night he played some of the greatest hits. Early on Denver had a chance to run away with the game, building an early 16-point lead. Westbrook is inserted and the script is flipped almost immediately.

Didn't get to bed until 1:30 AM because I was so jacked after this game. The Joker was great. The numbers piled up early because he was foul-baiting and got to the line early and often. He took nearly as many FT attempts (24) as Anthony Edwards took shots (25). The Wolves do play Joker differently than most. They are much more concerned with him dishing out assists and hitting the boards than anything else. For him to only record 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a game he played 53 minutes is a win for Minnesota. And yes, the Wolves swept the season series, but the Nuggets still scare the crap out of me.

Can you provide more context with this?

In the Elite 8, the only team not in the top 8 of the KenPom rankings was Texas Tech. They were #9.

This will be interesting to monitor going forward. The four teams standing according to the KenPom rankings are all historically great (4 of the top 7 KP rankings of all-time). This year's Duke team is #1 all time, unseating the 2015 UK team. With the portal, NIL, etc. you have to wonder how it will continue shifting the metric.

I said this earlier in the season, but it is the irony of all ironies that the better part of the last 25 years, everyone has railed on "one and done" players and team-building philosophies. And that is literally the only thing college basketball is now.

Rooting for Houston, though! I have a lot of respect for what Sampson has been able to accomplish as a head coach. But if I am being honest, this is an incredibly likable Duke team.

They are in the Final Four and have dominated a series of teams with the "new model." To say that if they lose in a one-game scenario, in the Final Four, as evidence that their model can't work is oversimplifying things. If the two choices are Cooper Flagg or Jaxson Robinson (using him as an example, being a vet) for a final scholarship slot, and you pick the latter, as an AD I would terminate the coach on the spot. Generational talent is the key differentiator here. You don't bypass Anthony Davis, Zion, Wemby (if he were American), etc. I don't care what era of college basketball we are in. Yeah, winning it all with a touted freshman class, sans generational talent, will probably not happen. Of course, that's never really been the case despite several teams being on the cusp.

Broome with a tough fall. Looked like he hyperextended his elbow and came down funny on his leg. Damn.

It’s crazy how seldom this happens.

Some player’s form is jacked, but by and large I believe FTs are about mental toughness and muscle memory going awry.