Gonzaga

[JTG]

I was listening on Indy radio to the color man for Gonzaga being interviewed about this weekend. They were sort of comparing the successes of non power 5 programs. This Zags guy says "I doubt any schools come close to the Zags in NCAA success" WTF, yeah they go every year because they play in a dog shit conference. And the kicker is, the interviewer didn't challenge the guy at all, and his station is the Butler flagship.
Oh, this guy also had the nerve to say all the other mid majors love us...meaning the Zags. What a delusional bunch of assholes. Hope we get a chance to pound their ass.

[xukeith]

I don't know a mid major program. I think most are irrelevant. Yawn,

[GoMuskies]

I cheer like hell for Gonzaga when they're playing anyone other than us. Beats the hell out of seeing most power conference assholes win.

[XUMIOH12]

I cheer like hell for Gonzaga when they're playing anyone other than us. Beats the hell out of seeing most power conference assholes win.

yep. No question about it.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Hell no F**k the Zags. Every year they get this inflated ranking then do well in a conference that is awful. Then comes tournament time they shit the bed. That program is a fraud and after we beat desert raccoon I hope we face them. For any of you who root for that fraudulent team you are either in your 70's or in college, F**K the Zags

[stammina0721]

You won't get the chance. WVU is going to win that game by 8-10 pts

[Xavier]

I think zags beat West Va. They do have a really good defense. For Xavier's case I hope that happens, WV press scares the crap out of me....but I'd rather be scared than at home.

[Lamont Sanford]

I think tHuggyBear's boys beat the Zags too.

[xufan2434]

All I know is Mark Few is a Grade A A**hole

And for my hot take this morning, I'm convinced the reason he never left Gonzaga is because he can't handle the spotlight. He loves being hidden up in the Northwest where no one really ever pays attention to them except to give em praise since they have so many wins. Then he finally gets in the spotlight in the tournament and they choke. Because of that, I do think WVA beats them. But yes, I would love nothing more than to not only beat them in the race to the Final 4, but to go through them to get there

[Wheelhouse]

America's darlings! Shaggy-haired scrappers, always scrapping harder than anyone else scraps in college basketball!

[X-ceptional]

But are they fun to watch?

[GoMuskies]

I hope Gonzaga beats WV by 100 tonight. Even if you don't like Gonzaga (fair enough), you do realize they're playing the devil tonight, right?

[atljar]

Fuck them. I still havent gotten over this.
http://media.jrn.com/images/20060323-061043-pic-676473613_5737023_ver1.0_640_480.jpg

[xubrew]

Hell no F**k the Zags. Every year they get this inflated ranking then do well in a conference that is awful. Then comes tournament time they shit the bed. That program is a fraud and after we beat desert raccoon I hope we face them. For any of you who root for that fraudulent team you are either in your 70's or in college, F**K the Zags

Why does everyone say this?

In their 18 consecutive years of making the NCAA Tournament, they've lost as the better seeded team five times, they've won as the better seeded team 14 times, they've won as lower (poorer) seeded team 12 times, and lost as the poorer seeded team (meaning they went as for or farther than their seeded predicted they would go) 13 times. That's not underachieving or shitting the bed. At the very least that's meeting expectations, and in most cases that's exceeding expectations.

I can recall two years where Gonzaga went out way earlier than expected. One of those years was to a Wichita State team that was in the midst of a forty game span where the only two games they lost was to eventual national champion Louisville in the Final Four by 3, and eventual runner up Kentucky on a missed last second shot in the round of 32. But, having said that, I can recall an early tournament exit for just about every program that regularly makes the tournament. Take Duke. In recent years they've lost in the Round of 64 to Lehigh and Mercer, and this year went down in the Round of 32. They also lost to VCU one year in the Round of 64. They've had twice as many surprising early exits as Gonzaga has.

Seriously, I get not liking Gonzaga, but you can't say they don't do well in the tournament. They do. They do as good or better than their seed way more often than not.

[xubrew]

I hope Gonzaga beats WV by 100 tonight. Even if you don't like Gonzaga (fair enough), you do realize they're playing the devil tonight, right?

I don't know.

Xavier has proven that they can beat Huggins and/or West Virginia, either in the tournament or otherwise. Not so much with Gonzaga. West Virginia has also shown that they are capable of self destructing (although they don't always do it, they do do it at times). I'd kinda rather play them.

[GoMuskies]

I don't know. I just don't like the idea of having to face that press with a single, freshman PG.

[xubrew]

I don't know. I just don't like the idea of having to face that press with a single, freshman PG.

I can't say that I do either.

Gonzaga scares/impresses me more than West Virginia. I wish I could feel that they were as overrated as everyone else seems to think, but I can't. Not this year. They beat Arizona away from home, and I know Zona wasn't at full strength, but at no point in that game was Gonzaga sweating. They also beat Florida rather handily, who was at full strength. They also blew Saint Mary's off the court three times, and that's the same SMC team that hung with Arizona and looked like they had it in them to pull the upset well into the second half.

They are...just...wow. REALLY good. Everyone seems to dismiss them as an overrated team who chokes in the tournament. I don't know how to respond to that other than to shrug. Gonzaga is good enough to win it all. They really are.

But, they've also not played a team that likes to pressure the way West Virginia does, or at the very least not played a team that pressures as well as West Virginia does, so they will be tested tonight.

[muskiefan82]

At this point, I will be happy to be playing Saturday and take my chances with this group of X players. Bring on whoever. Attack and Finish!!

[xubrew]

At this point, I will be happy to be playing Saturday and take my chances with this group of X players. Bring on whoever. Attack and Finish!!

Ultimately this is how I feel as well. If we win tonight, it matches the farthest we've ever been.

[kyxu]

Ultimately this is how I feel as well. If we win tonight, it matches the farthest we've ever been.

I'm refusing to let myself be nervous for tonight's game, considering we have made it as far as I was hoping, even before Ed went down and Myles left the team.

Then of course, if X builds a 7-10 lead in the second half, I will nerve-drink myself into oblivion.

[xubrew]

Hell no F**k the Zags. Every year they get this inflated ranking then do well in a conference that is awful. Then comes tournament time they shit the bed. That program is a fraud and after we beat desert raccoon I hope we face them. For any of you who root for that fraudulent team you are either in your 70's or in college, F**K the Zags


Why does everyone say this?

In their 18 consecutive years of making the NCAA Tournament, they've lost as the better seeded team five times, they've won as the better seeded team 14 times, they've won as lower (poorer) seeded team 12 times, and lost as the poorer seeded team (meaning they went as for or farther than their seeded predicted they would go) 13 times. That's not underachieving or shitting the bed. At the very least that's meeting expectations, and in most cases that's exceeding expectations.

I can recall two years where Gonzaga went out way earlier than expected. One of those years was to a Wichita State team that was in the midst of a forty game span where the only two games they lost was to eventual national champion Louisville in the Final Four by 3, and eventual runner up Kentucky on a missed last second shot in the round of 32. But, having said that, I can recall an early tournament exit for just about every program that regularly makes the tournament. Take Duke. In recent years they've lost in the Round of 64 to Lehigh and Mercer, and this year went down in the Round of 32. They also lost to VCU one year in the Round of 64. They've had twice as many surprising early exits as Gonzaga has.

Seriously, I get not liking Gonzaga, but you can't say they don't do well in the tournament. They do. They do as good or better than their seed way more often than not.

I should probably apologize.

I actually appreciate this kind of zealousness. It's just that I get superstitious. For years, I actually didn't use the shift key and typed in all lowercase letters mainly out of superstition. I know it's illogical, but what you logically think and what you emotionally feel don't always match up. At least that's how it is with me. I'm also a pessimist by nature (not just with basketball, but with everything). So, as a superstitious pessimist, I cringe whenever I see or hear someone talking about how much a team sucks and how we will have no trouble beating them. I was this way last year, and throughout much of the season this year, and throughout much of the last fifteen years or so (shit, has it been that long??) that I've posted in the Xavier Internet-o-sphere.

[Wheelhouse]

I'm refusing to let myself be nervous for tonight's game, considering we have made it as far as I was hoping, even before Ed went down and Myles left the team.

Then of course, if X builds a 7-10 lead in the second half, I will nerve-drink myself into oblivion.

I like this. I'm going to refuse to let myself be nervous as well. As for the drinking, I'm heading to a fundraiser in the city from 6-9 with free food and booze so the drinking part will take care of itself. It's actually a fundraiser for Bob Hurley Sr.'s school, St. Anthony's.

[Sonoran Desert Muskie]

What's not to like about Gonzaga? It's a fellow Jesuit school. It has a rabid fan base, which is rare out here in the West. And Mark Few runs a first-class program. There was an article at the beginning of the season about Few. Eventually he may leave the Zags, but he already has turned down many bigger opportunities because he loves the school, Spokane, and the outdoors. I wish some of XU's prior coaches had as much loyalty. Few is very low key when it comes to recruiting. He'll offer a kid, make an in-home visit, go to a game, and make a phone call or 2. That's it. He won't hound a kid, call the kid every week, and attend every game the kid plays. Simply put, he doesn't kiss the asses of star recruits like almost all coaches do. Few lets the recruit know that Gonzaga wants him, but won't wine and dine him. Few does this because he doesn't want any prima donnas on his team that have to be the center of attention. I like his approach and props to the Zags. If we don't make it to the Final Four out of our region, I hope the Zags do.

[kyxu]

What's not to like about Gonzaga? It's a fellow Jesuit school. It has a rabid fan base, which is rare out here in the West. And Mark Few runs a first-class program. There was an article at the beginning of the season about Few. Eventually he may leave the Zags, but he already has turned down many bigger opportunities because he loves the school, Spokane, and the outdoors. I wish some of XU's prior coaches had as much loyalty. Few is very low key when it comes to recruiting. He'll offer a kid, make an in-home visit, go to a game, and make a phone call or 2. That's it. He won't hound a kid, call the kid every week, and attend every game the kid plays. Simply put, he doesn't kiss the asses of star recruits like almost all coaches do. Few lets the recruit know that Gonzaga wants him, but won't wine and dine him. Few does this because he doesn't want any prima donnas on his team that have to be the center of attention. I like his approach and props to the Zags. If we don't make it to the Final Four out of our region, I hope the Zags do.

Though slightly annoyed, I was always fairly ambivalent to Gonzaga. The Adam Morrison thing soured me on them, and the year they came to Cintas (about a month or so after the brawl), I read some of their message boards, and they reminded me of a west coast Dayton. The pearl-clutching over our actions, and the cries to the school that Gonzaga should get heightened security because our players were dangerous -- I couldn't believe what I was reading. Thereafter, I shed no tears when Gonzaga loses.

[moosety2008]

I was listening on Indy radio to the color man for Gonzaga being interviewed about this weekend. They were sort of comparing the successes of non power 5 programs. This Zags guy says "I doubt any schools come close to the Zags in NCAA success" WTF, yeah they go every year because they play in a dog shit conference. And the kicker is, the interviewer didn't challenge the guy at all, and his station is the Butler flagship.
Oh, this guy also had the nerve to say all the other mid majors love us...meaning the Zags. What a delusional bunch of assholes. Hope we get a chance to pound their ass.

Hello all. Huge Arizona fan here, and my first time posting. First of all, let me take this opportunity to congratulate you on your current success given the adversity your team has faced this season. Obviously I'll be rooting for my Arizona team to win tonight. That said, I've always admired your basketball program, the success you've endured, and the string of Amazing coaches that seem like your program churns out like clockwork. I know as a school and program your resources may not be at the level of the big time programs; the likes of Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, Louisville - however, the notion that Xavier is even mentioned as a "Mid-Major" program, is idiotic. Xavier has achieved just as much tournament success over the past 20 seasons as any other program not named Kentucky, Carolina, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Michigan st, Uconn.

And you play in the Big East, which last time I checked is a power conference. Teams like Gonzaga, San Diego St, Wichita St, Butler(?), play in weak conferences, which no one can change. Here is another fun little fact - who is Gonzaga without Mark Few? Who is Whichita st without Greg Marshall? Who is San Diego st without Steve Fisher?

How many programs can have such major coaching changes and continue to be successful, like Xavier? Thad Matta, Sean Miller, Chris Mack? You have to be kidding me! I know of not a single program that can go through such amazing coaches, seemingly every 7-8 years, and continue success like Xavier!

I admit, I'm terrified at tonight's matchup with my Wildcats. I sincerely hope we pull off the win. It sucks it has to be against you guys, but it's been a long drought for us in the Final 4, and being that it is being held in ARIZONA this year, makes it that much more desirable for my team to finally crack that barrier.

To me Xavier is probably one of the top 3 teams in this tournament. Prior to the setback with your guards, you were a top 5 team! Now it seems like,you've been able to weather the chaos of injuries and player turnover, and are playing back at that high level that had you in the top5-10 earlier in the season.

Be as it may, good luck tonight, if you win, I'll be rooting hard for you to win the whole thing. But I really hope my Cats, bring their A+ game, because this will be one of the hardest games we'll have played all year.

[xubrew]

Well, we got 'em now.

[X-ceptional]

It's real.

[xu82]

I hope the Zags pull this off, and in a sick way I'm glad we got blown out rather than losing at the buzzer. All that "what if" just might kill me....

[Strange Brew]

I'm jealous and that's my own issue but I'd love the Zags to win so the Bilas' of the world have to deal with the fact that two non powder puff 5 teams won back to back 'ships!

[xu82]

I'm jealous and that's ny own issue but I'd love the Zags to win so the Bilas' of the world have to deal with the fact that two non powder puff 5 teams won back to back 'ships!

THAT is a very fine point! Bilas is just so........Bilas. Maybe the worst thing I can say about him!

(I enjoyed your city thoroughly last week, btw.)

[GIMMFD]

I'm jealous and that's ny own issue but I'd love the Zags to win so the Bilas' of the world have to deal with the fact that two non powder puff 5 teams won back to back 'ships!

I'd also like Oregon to beat UNC, kind of wanted South Carolina in the NC playing Oregon so all these experts that blow all the blue bloods would be in melt-down mode. At least Gonzaga is consistently ranked high ya know?

[JTG]

Normally I'm a big fan of the Final Four. Saw the last few minutes of game 1. Too bad those asshole from Spokane won. Have no interest in game 2. Oregon does not move the needle for me at all. Plus NC has taken academic fraud to levels never imagined by even UNLV. Probably just watch something on Netflix Monday nite.

[KabeX]

Do not be jealous. It serves no purpose. Do you really think Gonzaga is a better program than X? Well, yes - this year IF they win Monday night (and I will be rooting for them and not just so I can win lots of cash). They are who we are. We are who they are. Just stop all the BS. We can be there just as well. Screw the P5. We're better. So I'm sorry but I'm rooting really hard for the Zags Monday. Now, if it was Butler this might be a different conversation :)

[xu82]

Do not be jealous. It serves no purpose. Do you really think Gonzaga is a better program than X? Well, yes - this year IF they win Monday night (and I will be rooting for them and not just so I can win lots of cash). They are who we are. We are who they are. Just stop all the BS. We can be there just as well. Screw the P5. We're better. So I'm sorry but I'm rooting really hard for the Zags Monday. Now, if it was Butler this might be a different conversation :)

A serious tell of my devotion, I'd even back Butler. GO GONZAGA!!!

[GIMMFD]

A serious tell of my devotion, I'd even back Butler. GO GONZAGA!!!

Trust me I'm all in with Gonzaga on Monday, screw UNC, I'd love to see them falter again to another non-P5.

[Masterofreality]

Trust me I'm all in with Gonzaga on Monday, screw UNC, I'd love to see them falter again to another non-P5.

This. NC has gotten 2 free Championship games with the NCAA's *purposeful* inaction.
For clear long term academic fraud, NC should have been given the death penalty. Not happening to one of the "Blue Bloods" though.

[Masterofreality]

And this. As much as I think The NY Times is a biased fish wrap, they did publish this Friday...although they really only plagiarized the Raleigh News & Observer. This Final is ESPN's sex dream though.
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/sports/ncaabasketball/north-carolina-final-four-cheating-fake-classes.html?_r=0&referer=

[xubrew]

Go Zags!!

It actually would be rather historic. No team without football of any kind has won the national title since Marquette did it in 1977, and no team from outside a group of six conferences that we all know has won it all since 1990. So it's rather historic and noteworthy on two fronts.

[Ohionite_X]

I hope Gonzaga wins on a buzzer beater.

[GIMMFD]

This. NC has gotten 2 free Championship games with the NCAA's *purposeful* inaction.
For clear long term academic fraud, NC should have been given the death penalty. Not happening to one of the "Blue Bloods" though.

Or at least a damn tournament ban, instead they get to go to the final two years in a row and rack up all those units for the ACC. It's absolutely maddening. NCAA preaching about protecting their student athletes and how education is important, however they let UNC slide with all of this. Ridiculous really.

[xubrew]

Here is the problem in regards to the NCAA and UNC. There isn't really anything that the NCAA can do without violating due process. They came down on Penn State, and got sued, and lost. Due process allows an organization to have their own rules, but it also requires that they follow their own rules. What NCAA rules did North Carolina basketball violate? If you know the rule and the bylaw and can make an argument that will stick, then let them know because they do want to do something. Put the precedent lately has been that if they step outside the rulebook as they did with Penn State, they will get sued, and they will lose.

Fair or not, practical or not, that is the issue. It's more of a technicality than a practicality, but they really don't have a whole lot of jurisdiction when it comes to regulating how easy or how difficult a university's academic programs and classes are, nor can they really limit what a student-athlete is allowed to take. It's an accreditation issue and SACSCOC did go after them, but the NCAA has no stated rules that they are really able to enforce here.

All the more reason to root for Gonzaga.

[MADXSTER]

So you're saying that the NCAA (clearing house) can deem a kid ineligible for sports due to academic requirements for crap classes taken in high school (which doesn't fall under their jurisdiction) but the NCAA (national Collegiate athletic association) but cannot deem a kid ineligible for taking crap classes in college. Interesting. So it's more of a guideline than a rule. Hmmmm

[GoMuskies]

I think it's tricky because it's not really an athletics scandal. It was a complete breakdown of a whole academic department, and some of the athletes (and their advisors) noticed and took advantage of it. It's not as though this was a scheme thought up with benefitting the athletic department in mind.

[paulxu]

There must be some sort of teeth to the NCAA's bite.
They've given schools the death penalty, taken away games and rings.
How does all that work if they can't touch UNC?

[xubrew]

So you're saying that the NCAA (clearing house) can deem a kid ineligible for sports due to academic requirements for crap classes taken in high school (which doesn't fall under their jurisdiction) but the NCAA (national Collegiate athletic association) but cannot deem a kid ineligible for taking crap classes in college. Interesting. So it's more of a guideline than a rule. Hmmmm

If by "crap classes" taken in high school you mean any classes that are not categorized as core classes, then yes.

Basically, yeah. A college gets to dictate what classes do and do not count toward their degrees. If a college says a class counts then the NCAA can't do anything about it no matter how much of a joke the class is.

[xubrew]

There must be some sort of teeth to the NCAA's bite.
They've given schools the death penalty, taken away games and rings.
How does all that work if they can't touch UNC?

They can only do that when the school is breaking a rule that is spelled out in the compliance manual (the same manual that everyone says is too big and too confusing). There are rules against paying players. There are rules as to what you can and cannot do when recruiting. There is nothing in there about how rigorous a class needs to be.

[GIMMFD]

If by "crap classes" taken in high school you mean any classes that are not categorized as core classes, then yes.

Basically, yeah. A college gets to dictate what classes do and do not count toward their degrees. If a college says a class counts then the NCAA can't do anything about it no matter how much of a joke the class is.

So let me see if I'm kind of following, these "paper classes" from UNC are the equivalent of me taking newspaper as opposed to AP Chem in high school, doing jack shit, and getting a good grade from it. So because that's how the academic department that was running the scandal set up the system, it's a University of North Carolina thing, completely separated from athletics. The athletics department just caught wind of it, and "suggested" players should sign up for these classes?

[GoMuskies]

Yes. It was a fucked up academic department all on its own. It was a university thing, and tons of students took those "classes". It's not really an athletics scandal. It was quite a bit worse than that.

[X-band '01]

North Carolina was already punished by their accrediting agency (SACSCOC) - if they had committed violations while on probation with them, they would have been in jeopardy of losing their accreditation and subsequent federal funding. There was no rule in place that said that any school or institution currently on probation with their respective accreditation agency would be banned per APR rules, for example.

[xubrew]

So let me see if I'm kind of following, these "paper classes" from UNC are the equivalent of me taking newspaper as opposed to AP Chem in high school, doing jack shit, and getting a good grade from it. So because that's how the academic department that was running the scandal set up the system, it's a University of North Carolina thing, completely separated from athletics. The athletics department just caught wind of it, and "suggested" players should sign up for these classes?

Pretty much.

Initial eligibility is different than continuing eligibility. For initial eligibility you need (basically) to pass 16 core credits and make a certain score on the ACT/SAT depending on what your GPA was within those core credits.

To continue eligibility, you need to maintain the minimum required GPA for whatever degree your majoring in, and complete no less than 6 hours per semester and 18 hrs per academic year that count toward that degree (in other words, you can't major in Math and get eligible by taking History classes that don't count toward math), and you have to have a certain percentage of your degree done (20, 40, 60, 80) at the end of each year.

No where does it say how easy or how hard the classes need to be. There is virtually no way to enforce that, and academic department heads would lose their minds if they had to run everything by the NCAA in order to gain their approval. This was an academic scandal at UNC, not an athletic one. It's really outside their bounds. SACSCOC sanction the school. The sanctions effect their accreditation (or could), and it effects their ability to get federal funding and other types of grants (or could). That's who's handling it. Not the NCAA. They really can't do much of anything as Go has pointed out. Lots of students realized "Hey, these professors don't assign any work and just give out A's! They're sick of teaching and working, and just want the money, so they're just giving out A's!! Easy A's!!" There isn't really anything the NCAA can do about that.

[MADXSTER]

nm

[stammina0721]

Just gonna say go Zags tonight. Screw the cheating blue bloods. Yeah the Zags couldn't do it without a million transfers but the cheating Heels are way worse.

[GoMuskies]

What's wrong with transfers? Some of our best players over the years have been transfers.

[xu82]

I think it's tricky because it's not really an athletics scandal. It was a complete breakdown of a whole academic department, and some of the athletes (and their advisors) noticed and took advantage of it. It's not as though this was a scheme thought up with benefitting the athletic department in mind.

The LPGA would have them all beheaded.

Just ask Lexi Thompson.

[LA Muskie]

So you're saying that the NCAA (clearing house) can deem a kid ineligible for sports due to academic requirements for crap classes taken in high school (which doesn't fall under their jurisdiction) but the NCAA (national Collegiate athletic association) but cannot deem a kid ineligible for taking crap classes in college. Interesting. So it's more of a guideline than a rule. Hmmmm
No, it's not "more of a guideline than a rule." It's just a dumb rule. The NCAA has jurisdiction to throw out HS and Prep classes for purposes of establishing initial eligibility. But it does not have the same jurisdiction over coursework once the student is enrolled in an NCAA institution.

[LA Muskie]

There must be some sort of teeth to the NCAA's bite.
They've given schools the death penalty, taken away games and rings.
How does all that work if they can't touch UNC?
The schools "own" the NCAA. They control the extent and degree of its powers.

[ArizonaXUGrad]

I agree, that whole fake degree thing needs to be dealt with starting with another NC loss tonight.

[XUGRAD80]

I agree, that whole fake degree thing needs to be dealt with starting with another NC loss tonight.

You're talking about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs......they might talk about it, but in the end I'll bet nothing happens.

[paulxu]

The schools "own" the NCAA. They control the extent and degree of its powers.

I would think enough B1G schools and other conferences who have dealt with the NCAA sanctions would be pissed enough (if they "own" it) to not let the NCAA hammer them...and let UNC skate.

[xubrew]

I would think enough B1G schools and other conferences who have dealt with the NCAA sanctions would be pissed enough (if they "own" it) to not let the NCAA hammer them...and let UNC skate.

Hammer them for what? That is ultimately the problem.

The NCAA would love to hammer UNC. The problem is that if they hammer them for something that the div1 compliance manual doe not specifically forbid, then they will get sued for violation of due process, and they will lose. Penn State got hammered, but they really didn't after all their vacated wins were restored, all of their scholarship reductions were lifted, and they sued the NCAA and won. Penn State is now the complete opposite of hammered, and the NCAA is still trying to pull their pants up.

So, what can they hammer UNC for and not have the same thing happen to them again?? UNC's response to the allegations was basically "you don't have the authority to do anything to us." I think the NCAA is beginning to realize that they're right.

[xubrew]

Back to the Zags, the last school to win the national championship without playing football at any level was Marquette in 1977.

The last school who was both without football and currently outside the P5/BE conferences to do it was Loyola Chicago in 1963. So, it would be rather noteworthy (if not historic) if they won.

[LA Muskie]

Back to the Zags, the last school to win the national championship without playing football at any level was Marquette in 1977.

The last team who was currently outside the P5/BE conferences to do it was Loyola Chicago in 1963. So, it would be rather noteworthy (if not historic) if they won.

We heard you the first time. Now stop jinxing it!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[xubrew]

We heard you the first time. Now stop jinxing it!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The last time North Carolina lost in the NCAA Tournament to a team without a football team was George Mason in 2006.

I'm not sure if pointing that out jinxes it or un-jinxes it. I only mentioned it because I figured the latter.

[LA Muskie]

I think it helps, I think. Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[XfansinKy]

I don't think i can start threads but if somebody wants to, coach Mack is after Miami Oh transfer Michael Weathers. I watch all the local teams with X my favorite and watched him a few times. This dude can score in bunches and is definitely good enough as a sophomore for the Big East. Would be a great get. Guess he would have to sit out a year but thats ok because he is a scoring point t n combo guard.

[xu82]

I don't think i can start threads but if somebody wants to, coach Mack is after Miami Oh transfer Michael Weathers. I watch all the local teams with X my favorite and watched him a few times. This dude can score in bunches and is definitely good enough as a sophomore for the Big East. Would be a great get. Guess he would have to sit out a year but thats ok because he is a scoring point t n combo guard.

I'll trust the staff as always, but at 22% he's not the 3 point sharp shooter I was hoping for (for next season).

[xubrew]

Back to Gonzaga, I just saw a piece of trivia claiming that this is the first time since 1948 that a team has reached the championship game without facing a top ten team all season. I suppose that means that they didn't face anyone in the top ten at the time of the game since Arizona finished the regular season ranked 4th.

[xukeith]

Did not Georgetown win a National Championship game? Or Villanova last year?
No FB team.

[GoMuskies]

Did not Georgetown win a National Championship game? Or Villanova last year?
No FB team.

Georgetown and Villanova both have football teams.

[xu82]

Georgetown and Villanova both have football teams.

One of my kids friend played TE for GT. I didn't realize they had football until he went there though.

[LA Muskie]

Georgetown and Villanova both have football teams.

This is true. Georgetown plays football in the Patriot League which, until about 4 years ago, was the equivalent of Division III football because their programs were not permitted to offer football scholarships. The conference now permits 15 scholarship equivalents (which, for reference sake, is less than half what is permitted in Division II). Georgetown, however, remains a holdout -- despite being allowed to do so, Georgetown does not award athletic scholarships for its football program.

Villanova plays in the (technically separate and distinct) Colonial Athletic Association Football Conference, which allows schools to grant up to the FCS limit of 63 scholarship equivalents.

[xu82]

Go Gonzaga!!!!

[GIMMFD]

Yup let's go Zags tonight!

[Xville]

Although I'd have rather won one first, go zags. Fuck unc, seriously fuck them and all their blue blooded mistresses.

[GoMuskies]

Zags looking strong. They are HUGE.

[xu82]

They were quite large last week, too! I hope they win by the same margin!

[GoMuskies]

Should be running away. Missed two wide open 3s and then Karnowski passes to no one instead of shooting a three footer.

[Muskie]

I don't think i can start threads but if somebody wants to, coach Mack is after Miami Oh transfer Michael Weathers. I watch all the local teams with X my favorite and watched him a few times. This dude can score in bunches and is definitely good enough as a sophomore for the Big East. Would be a great get. Guess he would have to sit out a year but thats ok because he is a scoring point t n combo guard.

You should be able to start threads.


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[xu82]

You should be able to start threads.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I should be able to do SO many things......if I only knew how.

[GIMMFD]

Should be running away. Missed two wide open 3s and then Karnowski passes to no one instead of shooting a three footer.

If Karnowski wasn't playing like complete shit, and Nigel Williams-Goss was in rhythm a little more the Zags would be up 10. Goss should be posting up Joel Berry every single time he's on him.

[GoMuskies]

If Karnowski wasn't playing like complete shit, and Nigel Williams-Goss was in rhythm a little more the Zags would be up 10. Goss should be posting up Joel Berry every single time he's on him.

Yeah, Karnowski was fucking terrible. Maybe he's a second half guy like Trevon.

[xu82]

Yeah, Karnowski was fucking terrible. Maybe he's a second half guy like Trevon.

Let us hope! Maybe he shaved at halftime and playes like a whole new guy!

[GIMMFD]

Let us hope! Maybe he shaved at halftime and playes like a whole new guy!

They're lucky they got a huge 13 from Perkins in the first half...

[GoMuskies]

Few should take a TO and throw water on his players.

[GoMuskies]

What took Few so long to call the TO? It was obvious after two possessions his team needed one. These coaches and their timeouts...

[xudash]

NC game and they start the second half like that!

Pathetic.

[xu82]

Lots of time!

[GoMuskies]

I hope Collins comes back for another year. He'd be an absolute stud next year.

[GoMuskies]

Ref show

[XUMIOH12]

Ref show

yep. For some reason the refs decided to take control of the game in the second half so far.

[xudash]

Neither team could be accused of achieving poetry in motion

[X Factor]

This is one of the ugliest NC games I can remember...brick city. I know both of these teams are good defensively, but dang.

[GoMuskies]

Ft shooting contest.

Uconn v Butler was worse.

[Tardy Turtle]

I just picked up my fourth foul.

[GoMuskies]

Mark Smydra thinks Karnowski looks bad tonight.

[GreatWhiteNorth]

Karnowski could not finish around the basket. He missed so many easy layups.

[GIMMFD]

Karnowski could not finish around the basket. He missed so many easy layups.

Complete garbage, can do nothing tonight. This is so damn ugly to watch.

[xudash]

This is a hot mess.

[GoMuskies]

Flagrant on Karnowski? Fuck this white club.

[GoMuskies]

Ball don't lie

[GIMMFD]

Flagrant on Karnowski? Fuck this white club.

Ball never lies.

[Tardy Turtle]

Ball speaks no untruths.

[DWXU23]

Refs have ruined what was a very good game.

[xudash]

Now there is a novel idea: make it all the way to the national championship game and then make sure you make it look like you don't belong.

[GoMuskies]

If this game goes OT, the walkons may get in.

[xudash]

The refs have made a mess of this game, but the bad decision-making and poor shooting by both teams certainly has contributed to it as well.

[GoMuskies]

Danger time for Zags.

[GoMuskies]

Collins fouls out. Zags are hosed.

[GIMMFD]

Collins fouls out. Zags are hosed.

I don't have much faith in them either right now.. not with how Karnowski is playing.

[GoMuskies]

Ugly, terribly officiated game, but at least it's coming down to the wire.

[xu82]

Karnowski doesn't want to shoot, even with the advantage 2 feet from the hoop

[GoMuskies]

Karnowski doesn't want to shoot, even with the advantage 2 feet from the hoop

Watch, he'll hit a half court shot to win it.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Williams-Goss 4/8 from FT line. I think they said he was 88% on the year.

[GoMuskies]

Meeks was out of bounds on that jump ball. Can't believe they didn't review that.

[xu82]

F

[GoMuskies]

What an awful sequence to end the game.

[LA Muskie]

Gonzaga played some shitty minutes but the refs really ruined this game.


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[X Factor]

Glad that game is over...Gonzaga sucked it up in the second half. UNC wasn't much better, but just good enough.

[D-West & PO-Z]

What an awful sequence to end the game.

Only WVU beats that. Terrible.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Karnowski was really bad.

[GoMuskies]

Karnowski was really bad.

Bad is not nearly strong enough.

[whopper]

Random thoughts. Will watch one shining moment for Xavier moments on youtube. Raff saying "they should ride karnowski " at the end is laughable. Worst final I have ever seen and I go back to Don May. Zach Collins averages a foul every 2 minutes. Karnowski may have had worst game I have seen in finals esp because "Raff" kept yukking it up and emphasizing him. I knew the ankle sprain and Goss-Williams being a "warrior" would backfire as he lost confidence in teammates for good reason. French guy probably best game for Gonzaga inside guys. I will not watch Roy Williams saying nothing of substance. When North Carolina winning is a "Story" this is where I get off Maybe watch Bluietts shot against Butler on youtube. Eight months until meaningful basketball..ouch

[xudash]

Gonzaga completely melted down at the end. It was surreal.

Williams-Goss contesting Meeks was not a good idea.

[GoMuskies]

Worst final? You obviously missed UConn/Butler.

[GIMMFD]

Bad is not nearly strong enough.

UNC's MVP tonight.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Hoping we see either Malcolm throwing ball up or Tre and JP hugging against Zona in one shining moment.

[xu82]

Worst final? Silly talk. SERIOUSLY. Great game. I wish it had gone the other way.

[KabeX]

200/221

days til Musketeer Madness and meaningful basketball.

Sigh.

[KabeX]

Say what you will about Few but he's a helluva lot more gracious in defeat than a lot of them would be.

[KabeX]

Brayden Mack w. and early appearance in One Shining Moment

[D-West & PO-Z]

Brayden Mack w. and early appearance in One Shining Moment

Yeah and we got "the ball is tipped" showing Jones jumping and Tre and Jp side hugging! Well represented. Come back Tre!

[KabeX]

Yes, Tre please come back and help us bust down that Final 4 Door. And cement your legacy. No reason for anyone else to wear #5. Come back and it's hanging up for all to see - permanently.

[xubrew]

That sucked. I'm actually thankful all over again that Nova won it last year. Someone other than the teams that seemingly always win it broke through.

[Ohionite_X]

Yeah and we got "the ball is tipped" showing Jones jumping and Tre and Jp side hugging! Well represented. Come back Tre!

Was really hoping for a memorable play from the Arizona win.

[GIMMFD]

Worst final? Silly talk. SERIOUSLY. Great game. I wish it had gone the other way.

It was a good, competitive game, just bad shooting, bad decision making, awful officiating. But it was contested and interesting.

[Muskie]

Worst final? Silly talk. SERIOUSLY. Great game. I wish it had gone the other way. First Half was great. The Second half was bogged down by fouls and bad shooting.

[xufan2434]

It was a good, competitive game, just bad shooting, bad decision making, awful officiating. But it was contested and interesting.

I think I would have had to be strapped down to a chair if that was X and those officials were pulling that crap. I mean we saw it all year with college officials across the board pretty much. It's absolutely inexcusable to call the 1st half the way they did and then come out and call foul after foul in the 1st 4 minutes of the 2nd. If you're going to set the tone and standard for how the game is going to be called you do it from the tip and make them adjust. You can't just start doing it in the 2nd half with the fricken National Championship on the line. Felt bad for the kids on the court. UNC is one of most enjoyable teams to watch get up and down the floor and there was absolutely zero flow to the game cause there was a whistle every 30 seconds.

I thought the rule changes had made a difference at times and opened things up, but without any consistency from the officials then it makes the whole thing pointless.

[xu82]

First Half was great. The Second half was bogged down by fouls and bad shooting.

I may have been....."compromised" by the second half?