NCAAT- Houston vs Villanova 3/26/22

[billyjack]

One other point of emphasis... (unofficial, from memory, maybe Stever can research)...

From 1997, til plotting to destroy the Big East after 2013 (out of desperation, frustration, insane amounts of envy)... during those 17 seasons, Coach K and Duke were 2-8 vs Big East teams in the NCAA's..

Considering Duke won championships in 2001 and 2010... that means Duke was bounced in 15 of those 17 years..

This means, from 1997 thru 2013, that 8 of the 15 bouncings of Duke were done by Big East teams.

So in 53% of the times we witnessed Duke players whimpering on the bench to close out their season, they were looking at a Big East team on the court between their teardrops.

Also, in Duke's two runs to the National Championship during this time, they met one one Big East team along their path-- 2001 Seton Hall, an upstart which was finally recovering from the relatively recent Carlesimo departure. In 2010, Duke faced no Big East opposition.

Do you realize how unbelievable this stretch is for Duke vs the Big East?

Please check my number though Stever... i woke up in the middle of the night and i'm kinda going from memory.
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[billyjack]

We all know this, but with Villanova, we're witnessing the most amazing school and program of our era.

Super ball control, nearly flawless decision making, consistency, perfect teamwork, historic free throw shooting, great workmanlike, business-like attitudes, no clowning, no laughing, no taunting, nothing but outstanding basketball.

I know i've just babbled in my last two posts in some general history, but i'll do it again...

Jay Wright is from the Rollie Massimino coaching tree-- these current Villanova teams match the 1980's Villanova teams, as far as smarts, teamwork, decision making, clutch play, playing with massive stones, and winning.

Back in the 80's, like today, every VU player had a role, knew what it was, made great decisions, and won in the NCAA's behind a genius coach.

And this is another repeat comment of mine, but the reputation of the early Big East, 1980 thru 1985, was built by Georgetown, VILLANOVA, St John's and Boston College.

Syracuse choked every year til 87, after Pearl Washington was gone, and after other schools had built up our BE conference credibility.

Also...

Although the general narrative has been that 1985 Villanova was a fluke, etc, that is not true, and has probably been pushed recently by Syracuse Communications Majors at ESPN.

Villanova made Elite-8's in 1982, 1983, 1985+, and 1988. In 1986 they were the only BE team to show any balls in the BE NCAA disaster year.

Those years include incredible NCAA wins

1981:
- w Houston... tight loss to #5 Virginia.

1982:
- w Northeastern (Calhoun) in 3 OT's (Pinone tip-in game).
- w #9 Memphis State in OT.

1983: w Iowa (Lute Olson's final game at Iowa).

1985:
- w Dayton (at Dayton)
- w #2 Michigan.
- w Maryland.
- w #7 UNC.

1986
- close loss vs #6 Georgia Tech.

1988:
- w Arkansas.
- w #16 Illinois.
- w #6 Kentucky.
- close loss vs #4 Oklahoma.
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ok i'll stop talking.
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[anXUfan]

Villanova is so impressive. Prayers for Moore.

[Xuperman]

No sir billyjack, please do go on......best post I've read in a long time!

IDK if it can be argued any longer that Coach Wright is not at the very pinnacle of his profession. What we all witnessed yesterday was absolutely Houdini-esque. To the point that known words of praise, do it no justice.....may have to resort to ancient parables or hieroglyphics at this point.

But hey, with Gilly gone, along with Samuel, Daniels and Slater, the rest of us can surely give GQJ some wedgies to his designer underwear, right?

Pardon me while I excuse myself.

[billyjack]

No sir billyjack, please do go on......best post I've read in a long time!

IDK if it can be argued any longer that Coach Wright is not at the very pinnacle of his profession. What we all witnessed yesterday was absolutely Houdini-esque. To the point that known words of praise, do it no justice.....may have to resort to ancient parables or hieroglyphics at this point.

But hey, with Gilly gone, along with Samuel, Daniels and Slater, the rest of us can surely give GQJ some wedgies to his designer underwear, right?

Pardon me while I excuse myself.

Like, last minute yesterday, yes Houston could have won, but it was going to take a series of very unlikely events, and even that wouldn't necessarily help them...

Houston actually got two crazy plays-- the inbounds play to bat the ball of Daniels's thigh... and the really unfortunate injury play with Moore.

But Villanova was not going to freak out or make unforced errors.

Also, wild swings in 3-point shooting thiese past few days are mainly due to suffocating defense...

- PC drilled a dozen 3's vs Richmond cuz the Spiders were giving our shooters a ton of space. The Friars sucked til late shooting vs Kansas cuz the Jayhawk defense was fantastic til the last 10 minutes when they were probably getting tired.

- Houston was 1 for 20 or whatever cuz of Villanova. It isnt like Kansas or VU was lucky.

[stever20]

game was won when Houston got it back within 2 and Jay called the timeout. Gillespie got that next basket and then Houston missed their next 5 shots. Nova scored another 2 points and that was that- 6 point lead.

thought this was interesting- “It was like playing against our own selves. They were just as physical as we were,” Daniels said. “It was a literal street fight, every possession trying to get a rebound.”

[stever20]

so looks like for all the titles for Duke- then Big East competition-
'91- they beat UConn and St John's
'92- they beat Seton Hall
'01- none
'10- they beat West Virginia(wasn't that the game that the player from WVU got injured during the game?)
'15- none

in the Big East Era- 7 have knocked them out....
85 Boston College
89 Seton Hall
97 Providence
99 UConn
04 UConn
09 Villanova
13 Louisville

34 tournaments so 29 times didn't win tournament. So almost 1/4 of their tourney losses have come to the Big East thru the years.

[kayako]

Although the general narrative has been that 1985 Villanova was a fluke, etc, that is not true

That team probably gets better than an 8 seed with todays seeding standards.

[stever20]

Although the general narrative has been that 1985 Villanova was a fluke, etc, that is not true

That team probably gets better than an 8 seed with todays seeding standards.

not really sure. 19-10 regular season. Looks like would have had 3 Q1 wins- Temple, Syracuse, and Boston College- maybe going like 3-9 in Q1 games. Scoring Margin in regular season of 4.69 which would have been .1 lower than Providence who only got a 4 seed at 4.8 with a 25-5 record. Seems like a 8 seed type to me now in days.

[kayako]

But hey, with Gilly gone, along with Samuel, Daniels and Slater, the rest of us can surely give GQJ some wedgies to his designer underwear, right?

Daniels and Slater may decide to come back.