East Region 2008

bedir than average · 03-16-2008, 06:12 PM

#1 UNC
MtStMary's/CoppinSt

8 Indiana
9 Arkansas

5 Notre Dame
12 George Mason

4 Wash St
13 Winthrop

6 Oklahoma
11 St Joe's

3 Louisville
14 Boise St

7 Butler
10 South Alabama

2 Tennessee
15 American

dlb · 03-16-2008, 07:01 PM

As a Tar Heel fan, I'm happy with this one. I don't see anyone that should keep us out of the regional final, and I'd be happy to take on the Vols for a trip to the Final Four. L'ville makes me worry a little, but we are good enough to take them out.

djwhokid · 03-16-2008, 07:02 PM

This looks pretty good for UNC. I would expect them to be in the elight 8 against Tennessee or Louisville.

UNC is pretty good, but Tennessee is no cake walk.

Prediction: UNC.

bedir than average · 03-16-2008, 07:03 PM

The eventual game against Washington St will be intriguing. the Cougars are well coached and play the typical Bennet slow down and grind it out game.

They were once 4th as well.

dlb · 03-16-2008, 07:14 PM

A slowdown team will offer a real contrast in styles, as the 'Heels do like to run. How do the Cougars stand up to defensive pressure? That's probably Carolina's greatest strength this year.

bedir than average · 03-16-2008, 07:18 PM

Inconsistent

They were once 4th, now they are the lowest 4th seed.

CaptiveCoyote · 03-16-2008, 08:24 PM

I think that North Carolina will get through the hurdles and advance.

I think Louisville would provide the better match-up against the Tar Heels. The Vols are explosive but their organization on defense is suspect.

jowcol · 03-18-2008, 01:21 PM

Our hometown Butler got rear ended in the draw. Maybe a #6 but a #7???.
Prediction: A first round win and down go the Vols on Sunday.
They played (with both teams basically intact) a year ago in the pre-season NIT @ NYC and the 'Dawgs hung a double digit loss on 'em...and they've added super-frosh F-C Matt Howard adding muscle/finesse in the low-post to an already dangerous multi-trey barrage and great team defense...

Then....Louisville? Bring 'em on...here's a team that doesn't seem to have a Plan B when their offense starts struggling...

Dawgs run will end in the N.C. elite-8 game.

bedir than average · 03-22-2008, 08:22 PM

So now that you've seen Washington State with their slug it out slow down game, how do you feel about that upcoming UNC matchup?

djwhokid · 03-22-2008, 11:33 PM

They will lose.

WSU proven they cannot beat elite competition (0-5 against Stanford and UCLA).

They have no answer for Tyler Hansbrough.

dlb · 03-23-2008, 09:49 AM

If WSU has two or three active big men, they can contain Hansbrough. Many teams have accomplished that this year.

That, however, is not particularly important. These Tar Heels have quite a few options on offense. To beat Carolina, you have to be able to beat our defense.

So, if WSU is capable of exceptional offensive execution and is very good at beating traps, and can play good defense themselves, they have a shot. This is not a flash & glitz Tar Heel team. It's a lunch pail crowd that can, if permitted, pull a gourmet meal out of the lunch pail.

dlb · 03-23-2008, 09:27 PM

L'ville is looking scary good.

dlb · 03-24-2008, 12:47 PM

This is interesting: Sagarin rates WSU as better than L'ville, though not by much. I would have thought the Cougars would come in much lower than the Cards.

bedir than average · 03-24-2008, 06:20 PM

I was going to talk about schedules and records and conferences and stuff, but it is amazing how close those two are.

Especially considering that WSU has a worse record v top 30 teams, but is somehow higher.

dlb · 03-27-2008, 08:48 PM

I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but so far the NC - WSU game has been typical of what the 'Heels have done to their opponents this season. It's a lot like watching a master play an expert at chess. The master just keeps the pressure on, playing at a high level, keeping the game complicated, keeping his options open. For a good bit of the game, it doesn't look like the master has much of an advantage.

Then, the expert just cracks. He's worn down. He has too many things to think about. It starts with something small like a weak square or losing control of an open file, and then everything seems to fall apart underneath him.

ACC teams, who have to prepare to play the Tar Heels at least twice, tend to last longer than teams that have never faced us before (two even beat us this year). But it's just tough to break through. It's like you play as well as you can to stay close or get a small lead, then you just have to dial it back a notch, and the 'Heels don't.

Still, Louisville scares me. I'm hoping for about a sextuple overtime bloodbath in tonight's late game.

03-16-2008, 06:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	East Region 2008 #1 UNC MtStMary's/CoppinSt 8 Indiana 9 Arkansas 5 Notre Dame 12 George Mason 4 Wash St 13 Winthrop 6 Oklahoma 11 St Joe's 3 Louisville 14 Boise St 7 Butler 10 South Alabama 2 Tennessee 15 American __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-16-2008, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	The eventual game against Washington St will be intriguing. the Cougars are well coached and play the typical Bennet slow down and grind it out game. They were once 4th as well. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-16-2008, 07:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Inconsistent They were once 4th, now they are the lowest 4th seed. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-22-2008, 08:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	So now that you've seen Washington State with their slug it out slow down game, how do you feel about that upcoming UNC matchup? __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-24-2008, 06:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	I was going to talk about schedules and records and conferences and stuff, but it is amazing how close those two are. Especially considering that WSU has a worse record v top 30 teams, but is somehow higher. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

03-16-2008, 07:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	As a Tar Heel fan, I'm happy with this one. I don't see anyone that should keep us out of the regional final, and I'd be happy to take on the Vols for a trip to the Final Four. L'ville makes me worry a little, but we are good enough to take them out.

03-16-2008, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	A slowdown team will offer a real contrast in styles, as the 'Heels do like to run. How do the Cougars stand up to defensive pressure? That's probably Carolina's greatest strength this year.

03-16-2008, 08:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
CaptiveCoyote Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 150	I think that North Carolina will get through the hurdles and advance. I think Louisville would provide the better match-up against the Tar Heels. The Vols are explosive but their organization on defense is suspect.

03-18-2008, 01:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
jowcol Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 43	Our hometown Butler got rear ended in the draw. Maybe a #6 but a #7???. Prediction: A first round win and down go the Vols on Sunday. They played (with both teams basically intact) a year ago in the pre-season NIT @ NYC and the 'Dawgs hung a double digit loss on 'em...and they've added super-frosh F-C Matt Howard adding muscle/finesse in the low-post to an already dangerous multi-trey barrage and great team defense... Then....Louisville? Bring 'em on...here's a team that doesn't seem to have a Plan B when their offense starts struggling... Dawgs run will end in the N.C. elite-8 game.

03-23-2008, 09:49 AM	#11 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	If WSU has two or three active big men, they can contain Hansbrough. Many teams have accomplished that this year. That, however, is not particularly important. These Tar Heels have quite a few options on offense. To beat Carolina, you have to be able to beat our defense. So, if WSU is capable of exceptional offensive execution and is very good at beating traps, and can play good defense themselves, they have a shot. This is not a flash & glitz Tar Heel team. It's a lunch pail crowd that can, if permitted, pull a gourmet meal out of the lunch pail.

03-23-2008, 09:27 PM	#12 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	L'ville is looking scary good.

03-24-2008, 12:47 PM	#13 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	This is interesting: Sagarin rates WSU as better than L'ville, though not by much. I would have thought the Cougars would come in much lower than the Cards.

03-27-2008, 08:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
dlb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,250	I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but so far the NC - WSU game has been typical of what the 'Heels have done to their opponents this season. It's a lot like watching a master play an expert at chess. The master just keeps the pressure on, playing at a high level, keeping the game complicated, keeping his options open. For a good bit of the game, it doesn't look like the master has much of an advantage. Then, the expert just cracks. He's worn down. He has too many things to think about. It starts with something small like a weak square or losing control of an open file, and then everything seems to fall apart underneath him. ACC teams, who have to prepare to play the Tar Heels at least twice, tend to last longer than teams that have never faced us before (two even beat us this year). But it's just tough to break through. It's like you play as well as you can to stay close or get a small lead, then you just have to dial it back a notch, and the 'Heels don't. Still, Louisville scares me. I'm hoping for about a sextuple overtime bloodbath in tonight's late game.