?      ;)

sure was.  tough for UNC without marshall and playing a road game as the 1 seed in the elite 8

Agree, but I must admit I'm a UNC homer. :)

they're all going to be UK home games from this point on

UNC would've won wish a healthy Marshall.   But I have no sympathy for the location. UNC has played 34 NCAA games in the state of North Carolina, including one year when they made the Final Four without leaving the state.

Posted by alblack56 on 3/25/2012 8:33:00 PM (view original):
UNC would've won wish a healthy Marshall.   But I have no sympathy for the location. UNC has played 34 NCAA games in the state of North Carolina, including one year when they made the Final Four without leaving the state.

just wanted to point it out when there was an across-the-arena Rock Chalk-Jay Hawk chant going on, since you told me 12 days ago that this wouldn't be a road atmosphere for the Heels.

And yeah, i know we get lots of home games in the early rounds. that didn't help us much tonight.

Posted by pjbrankin on 3/25/2012 8:21:00 PM (view original):
they're all going to be UK home games from this point on

also this. UK looks awesome right now.

I was at the games this weekend and it was about 2/3 Kansas fans on Friday (S16 game) and it was about 80% Kansas fans today, the place was absolutely loaded with KU fans.  UNC was severely under-represented.  We sat next to the designated UNC section and the loudest UNC fans were their band (extremely pathetic IMO).  Ohio fans were great on Friday.

UK fans will dominate at the Final Four. They'll travel anywhere..even the crowds at the Alaska Shootout is predominately Blue and White.   Kansas travels well, also.

Louisville has probably the smallest fanbase. Outside the city limits, the entire state is for UK.   Ohio State travels much better for football.

Posted by yanks250125 on 3/25/2012 7:16:00 PM (view original):
sure was.  tough for UNC without marshall and playing a road game as the 1 seed in the elite 8

I can see why they were matched up in St. Louis.   No. Carolina was the third #1 seed. With Kentucky and Syracuse getting the South and East slots, only Phoenix and St. Louis were left.  No. Carolina was given St. Louis since it was closer to home and Michigan State was sent to Phoenix.

With teams #5-#8, Kansas was the highest rated.  So they were sent to their closest site, St. Louis.  Duke was next and got the South.  Ohio State got the East and Missouri took the West.

Posted by alblack56 on 3/25/2012 8:33:00 PM (view original):
UNC would've won wish a healthy Marshall.   But I have no sympathy for the location. UNC has played 34 NCAA games in the state of North Carolina, including one year when they made the Final Four without leaving the state.

I sincerely doubt that.  White played an almost flawless game with 7 assists.  Where KU beat UNC was in rebounding (final was 50-47 but early in the 2nd half the margin was more like 13 boards) and defense (UNC: 28% FG).  Marshall might have made some difference in FG% but not enough to overcome the overpowering D of the Jayhawks.

A more important reason why UNC lost:  after the game, Roy was quizzed about the gimmick Triangle-and-Two Self used in the second half.  He hesitated, thought a minute, and said he didn't remember that but maybe for a possession or two.  Seriously?  He's the head coach of UNC and he didn't recognize that Self used the Triangle and Two FOR MOST OF THE SECOND HALF!?

That's all you need to know right there.  Marshall had nothing to do with it.  We at Kansas had 15 years of "no timeouts" Roy.  He doesn't scout and prepare like he should.  So much so that he didn't even notice what defense Ku was playing.

 

Do you really think that the best true PG in the country being out had "nothing to do with it?" 

Plus, White was just terrible in the final three minutes, when UNC was certailny still in the game.

Posted by isack24 on 3/26/2012 11:11:00 AM (view original):
Do you really think that the best true PG in the country being out had "nothing to do with it?" 

Plus, White was just terrible in the final three minutes, when UNC was certailny still in the game.

That was probably hyperbole on my part, but thinking that one player made more of a difference than the opponent's defense and rebounding is naive.

Maybe it would have helped if Roy knew what defense he was trying to attack.

One of UNC's own reporters agrees that this wasn't just because of Marshall's absence:  scottfowlerobs.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-unc-lost-and-it-wasnt-just-missing.html

No, I certainly agree the loss wasn't solely attributable to Marshall's absence.  But I think it's probably a different game if he's playing.

Frankly, assuming the accuracy of Roy Williams' cluelessness, Marshall would have made an even bigger difference as he would have been the one facilitating the offense.

Posted by isack24 on 3/26/2012 11:31:00 AM (view original):
No, I certainly agree the loss wasn't solely attributable to Marshall's absence.  But I think it's probably a different game if he's playing.

Frankly, assuming the accuracy of Roy Williams' cluelessness, Marshall would have made an even bigger difference as he would have been the one facilitating the offense.

He was sitting next to Roy.  Maybe Roy should have asked his PG :)

But that would have meant making adjustments.  Roy doesn't adjust to the other guy.