March Madness picks thread

[dalakhani]

I guess Duke gets continuation calls now.

[declansharbor]

If Duke loses this game, that's an ALL TIME blunder there with the missed layup. He better PRAY that this lead holds

[philcski]

FOCK DUKE... what an epic game, much love to the Butler Bulldogs for playing for all the little guys...

[VOL JACK]

Wow, Heyward almost made that shot.
Watching the replay, I don't see how the ball didn't go in.

[philcski]

I really wanted to take Butler tonight but couldn't talk myself into it because it felt like an emotional selection... on power numbers, Duke -7 was the right number. Was a great CBB season and I'm already looking forward to next year. This game is why college hoops is my favorite team sport.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by philcski

I really wanted to take Butler tonight but couldn't talk myself into it because it felt like an emotional selection... on power numbers, Duke -7 was the right number. Was a great CBB season and I'm already looking forward to next year. This game is why college hoops is my favorite team sport.

I also almost took the points, but didn't want to jinx Butler.

Wrote this on twitter, but one thing that's lost in all of this is that as long as Hayward doesn't declare, Butler only loses Veasley and Jukes from this team. They'll be a force next year too. Still, what a heartbreaker. And it had to be against Duke.

I'll be writing a tournament postmortem in the next few days if anyone's interested.

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by GPK

Possibly the worst charging call ever. Unreal...

I love the fight that Butler has showed up with tonight. Easily could have played scared, but these kids are showing some serious heart.

The did beat one-third of the sweet 16 teams going into tonight....Ohio State, Xavier, Syracuse, Kansas State, Michigan State. Why would Duke scare them?? I think scared is not really in that team's vocabulary.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I also almost took the points, but didn't want to jinx Butler.

Wrote this on twitter, but one thing that's lost in all of this is that as long as Hayward doesn't declare, Butler only loses Veasley and Jukes from this team. They'll be a force next year too. Still, what a heartbreaker. And it had to be against Duke.

I'll be writing a tournament postmortem in the next few days if anyone's interested.

I cant see Hayward going pro this year. He isnt a lottery pick and really needs a lot of work. Playing in the Horizon cant help him much but he really looked lost in the 2nd half of the MSU game and was clearly outplayed by Singler tonight.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I cant see Hayward going pro this year. He isnt a lottery pick and really needs a lot of work. Playing in the Horizon cant help him much but he really looked lost in the 2nd half of the MSU game and was clearly outplayed by Singler tonight.

I agree that he should stay. He's got a ton of skills, but he has to get a little stronger and improve his shot. Plus that team has Final Four potential again in 2010-11 and he's become the face of Butler basketball.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I agree that he should stay. He's got a ton of skills, but he has to get a little stronger and improve his shot. Plus that team has Final Four potential again in 2010-11 and he's become the face of Butler basketball.

The only thing that might make him think about going pro is that he simply isnt going to get much of a chance to work on things playing 20+ games against subpar competition. Sure he can get stronger, work on his shooting, try to develop a bit of a post game to take advantage of mismatches, etc. I would think he is a mid 20's pick now but he may be a mid 20's pick again next year unless he really improves. Is it worth the risk of staying if your ceiling to move up is only 8 or 9 picks? And what kind of one and doners are coming in next year that will take up lottery positions in the 2011 draft?

Like I said before just taking the situation at face value I would advise him to stay, make another run at the title, get stronger, shoot better and maybe he gets in the lottery. If he doesnt he will still probably be a 1st round pick.....and maybe take out an insurance policy as well

[dalakhani]

He is not much of a shot maker. He is athletic, smart and he has skills but he really needs to work on his shot both from the set and off the dribble.

His defensive versatility is very impressive.

[GPK]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

He is not much of a shot maker. He is athletic, smart and he has skills but he really needs to work on his shot both from the set and off the dribble.

His defensive versatility is very impressive.

I guess this would fall under being smart, but I think he has great court awareness.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

He is not much of a shot maker. He is athletic, smart and he has skills but he really needs to work on his shot both from the set and off the dribble.

His defensive versatility is very impressive.

Against non NBA players like he has been playing against maybe but he is going to have major issues guarding athletic wings and is simply too weak to have a prayer in the post. I think the biggest problem with him is he isnt strong or quick. Not sure how you get around that. But he seems cagey enough and has enough skills especially if he shoots better to have a career as a 7th-8th man,

[horseofcourse]

Gordon Hayward. The only important thing to consider in this discussion...is he better than Adam Morrison?

[rpncaine]

Maybe at Tennis. He needs another year, maybe two.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Against non NBA players like he has been playing against maybe but he is going to have major issues guarding athletic wings and is simply too weak to have a prayer in the post. I think the biggest problem with him is he isnt strong or quick. Not sure how you get around that. But he seems cagey enough and has enough skills especially if he shoots better to have a career as a 7th-8th man,

I agree with this. I really like his game but it doesn't project that well to the next level because of the quickness.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

Gordon Hayward. The only important thing to consider in this discussion...is he better than Adam Morrison?

He can pass and attempts to play defense so yes he is better than Morrison. Plus he didnt cry like a 6 year old girl after they lost.

[Cannon Shell]

I think that the Mike Dunleavy comparisons are pretty close. If he improves he can be similar to Detlef Schrempf.

Schrempf really improved his offensive game especially his outside shooting and went from a 8th man in the rotation to the best 6th man in the NBA and eventually became a starter. He was a guy that did whatever his team needed him to. Playing for Indiana he was more of a inside player who rebounded yet was usually 2nd behind the pg in assists. When he went to Seattle they already had a strong post game and he became more of an outside player and during his 2nd season he shot 51.4% on three point shots (93 for 181) which is astounding considering he never made more than 23 with Indiana.

I have no idea why anyone would be interested in that but I think Heyward could have a similar career, especially if he played another year. In Dunleavys case he was overdrafted at #3 but had he left after his Sophmore season he would not have been a lottery pick (he left after his junior year). I think this guy should play one more year, maybe play himself into the lottery.

[horseofcourse]

It will be hard to envision him not staying. They'll be top 5 in every pre-season poll with what they have coming back.

[philcski]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2...ory?id=5064967

Nice job finding the one-n-dones, Calipari.