M-Borg vs. THE Flavortown U Thread, Orig. by Buckeye Paul, absconded w/by talent.

[Dr. Strangelove]

From what I understand, Tom Crean has the dirt on that Michigan asst. coach. Maybe the entire Michigan program! Fear Crean!

[hack]

When I get done fearing my team's own coach I'll worry about the others.

[lineygoblue]

If Tom Crean is anything more than a sebaceous cyst on the buttocks of his miserable life, then he needs to spill whatever "dirt" he has on Michigan's assistant, or shut his pie hole forever.

But he probably enjoys being the sebaceous cyst. His smirk after the confrontation says everything you need to know about him.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Crean is a douchebag.

[Hannibal]

Thad just about has a job for life as far as I'm concerned. Winning the NCAA is about luck and being hot as much as anything...winning the B1G consistently is not. If he keeps us around the top of the conf (and I see no reason why he won't) he should break through eventually.

He has been to a NC game and another final four on top of that. IMHO Final Fours is a lot better metric than either conference titles or national titles. It's kind of like winning a BCS bowl.

[iam416]

And he won the NIT!!!!! Kosta Koufas, BABY!!!

[iam416]

Not sure how I feel about OSU. They're still vulernable to long stretches of offensive offense. I have a glimmer of optimism with Craft finishing at the rim much better and LQR continuing to grow as a player.

Iowa State is a team that could give them fits. If they have a stretch where they hit 3 or 4 3s in short order, OSU could be playing from behind all game.

I'd like to think Dayton is advantage, but in reality they've sucked their. Last time they were there, they lost to Siena (8/9 game) when PJ Hill didn't foul at the end of regulation with OSU up 3. In 2006, they scraped by the 2/15 game and then were destroyed by Georgetown. In 1991 as a #1 seed, they were unimpressive in the opening round and then barely survived GT in the 2nd round.

On the intangibles plus side, the last time they beat Wisky in the United Center for the B10 title they went to the title game. Of course, they don't have Greg Oden.

On the whole, if they can get to the S16, I like their chances. Getting to the S16 is always the angst-ridden part of the journey.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Iowa State is a good team. They should have beat KU in Ames...they got royally fucked....and played them tight at The Phog. They do have some bad losses though...Texas Tech, Texas and slaughtered by OU in Norman. But I have them upsetting the Buckeyes...they are very athletic...and if it turns into a track meet tOSU is in trouble. If tOSU can slow the game down they win in ugly fashion though.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Of course...the Clones have to beat Notre Dame first...in a very intriguing 10-7 matchup.

[hack]

Good luck. I would really like to hate this OSU team, but watching them makes that hard. They play the right way. Thomas is a respectable craftsman and scouts are sleeping on him. Craft is special. The pieces fit. Whole is greater than the sum. Fuck you.

[Dr. Strangelove]

May still be the most important win in Matta's career? Was definitely a colossal shot in the arm to the program.

[youtube]BlZnGQgKPw8[/youtube]

[Optimus Prime]

DSL, you remind me of a one-armed violinist. Not the sweetest music to the ear but sure entertaining to watch.

[hack]

Fuck you and the organisational clarity you benefit from. Evil geniuses down there. Evil cheating geniuses. Pretty sure you guys are the SEC snitch in the Big Ten. Fuck you times a million.

[iam416]

That was such an improbable win. Setting aside the fact that Illinois was undefeated, they were also up by 8 or 10 with 2-3 minutes left. The play Matta drew up was brilliant. My favorite part of it is watching T-Dials break from the double pick with Sylvester and just plow two Illinois defenders away.

I think Oden, Conley and Cook were coming regardless, but at the time it was a huge battle between OSU and Wake for Oden and Conley. Conley, I think, ultimately preferred Matta and OSU.

I thought the job he did in the season right before Oden and Conley was brilliant. 26-6 with a team lead by Jekel Foster. Their total void of an inside game was exposed by Georgetown in the tourney, but that team had no business winning 20 games, let alone 26 and the B10.

Ohio State football is bigger than any coach and will continue to be so (unless they manage to colossally fuck up a hire...heh). Ohio State basketball is Thad Matta. When he goes, they'll be hard-pressed to continue his level of success absent a tremendous hire. And that's rub -- it will have to come from a smaller school b/c OSU Hoops, unlike OSU Football, means you can't walk into any school and credibly make an offer for the coach.

[iam416]

Oh, and Gus Johnson calling that game (with Rafferty on color) -- perfect.