You know, I agree BOP. While certainly not perfect, it is noticeably better than what we’ve seen all season. Is a different set of officials?

A few of them haven't called much Sun Belt because they also call SEC. But for the most part it's the same guys...but the better ones.

(03-06-2023 10:33 AM)FrankyP Wrote:  You know, I agree BOP. While certainly not perfect, it is noticeably better than what we’ve seen all season. Is a different set of officials?

Yes, fewer high-end games means better officials.

Looking forward to a great game tonight….will be a tough one for us, no doubt.

(03-06-2023 10:24 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  This is going to be a rather unpopular opinion, especially on a fan board.

In my years covering the SBC, I've been as critical as anyone when it comes to the quality of officiating. Specifically, the difference in quality between Thursday and Saturday games.

So, ready for this?

I think this tournament has overall be very well officiated and pretty consistent.

Most of the time when fans complain, it's not about fouls that are called, it's fouls that AREN'T called.

College basketball is, and has been, an extremely physical game for some time now. Fouls (technically) are committed on nearly every possession (just like holding could be called on any play in football.) Remember the Big East in its heyday. The physicality of that league was pretty salty.

I have found in this tournament, the officials are letting the players play. And, I'm good with that. They are allowing a lot of contact inside and calling it tighter on the perimeter, which is normal in college basketball. And, the surprising thing to me is it's been that way every game. More often than not, that isn't the case.

They aren't perfect and I'm sure you can come up with a play or two they missed, especially if you look at it though the lenses of your team's school colors.

But this has been a well officiated tournament, even in the quarterfinals on Saturday, which was a concern of mine going in.

I have been very out spoken about the officiating in this league being subpar. With that being said, I 100% agree with you. I have watched almost all of the men's games and the officiating has been pretty good. A few questionable calls, but nothing blatant.

As to the finals, Imo the best overall team in the league made it (Louisiana) and the hottest team with legit talent made it (USA). I still don't like how the lower seeds get a days rest between games, but in the end two very deserving teams made it. Either one will be good representatives for the SBC!

(03-06-2023 08:38 AM)benny_t Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 08:27 AM)FrankyP Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 07:36 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 11:20 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  I'm taking off tomorrow in the gambling dep't ... this one could easily go either way ... I have to lean USA simply b/c I stated such after they whooped our arse (again) .. should be a great game to watch...

from the fwiw dept., the opening line is PK and 144.5...

Translation please for those of us that aren’t gamblers?

PK means it's a pick'em. 144.5 is the over/ under for the final score.

$$$ are coming in hard on UL and under … current numbers are UL -1.5 and 139 … I thought the original total was high … however, a -5.5 move is a monster swing…

I’m gonna talk myself into betting this game by tip …

(03-06-2023 01:41 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 08:38 AM)benny_t Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 08:27 AM)FrankyP Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 07:36 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-05-2023 11:20 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  I'm taking off tomorrow in the gambling dep't ... this one could easily go either way ... I have to lean USA simply b/c I stated such after they whooped our arse (again) .. should be a great game to watch...

from the fwiw dept., the opening line is PK and 144.5...

Translation please for those of us that aren’t gamblers?

PK means it's a pick'em. 144.5 is the over/ under for the final score.

$$$ are coming in hard on UL and under … current numbers are UL -1.5 and 139 … I thought the original total was high … however, a -5.5 move is a monster swing…

I’m gonna talk myself into betting this game by tip …

Betting for me is a whole other world that I know nothing about, and have no plans to do so. I have enough bad habits, thank you very much.



The same thing goes for coffee: never drank it and never will, so how to make it, the different kinds etc are just jibberish to me….and looks and feels like a cult to me, lol.

Everyone can say how physical it was and how the refs were letting them play and how fair it was. Whatever. I will never agree its good officiating when Hasse got fouled for standing still holding the ball slightly bent over and a USA guy ran into him. Cause apparently you can't hold the ball slightly bent over standing still. You can only stand straight up. I would love to the see the rule book on that foul. That one goes on my list of all time top 3 worst fouls.

I'm sure people will complain about the whining not noticing that they are whining about whining. But, no it wasn't a fair game.

Though I will say I thought the JMU/USA was a lot better. The refs called far more USA penalties due to the insane physical game USA plays. Hopefully the game tonight will be reffed fairly and eventually I hope we get AI reffing.

(03-06-2023 02:22 PM)Eagleyed Wrote:  Everyone can say how physical it was and how the refs were letting them play and how fair it was. Whatever. I will never agree its good officiating when Hasse got fouled for standing still holding the ball slightly bent over and a USA guy ran into him. Cause apparently you can't hold the ball slightly bent over standing still. You can only stand straight up. I would love to the see the rule book on that foul. That one goes on my list of all time top 3 worst fouls.

That's not actually what happened. Haase very obviously intentionally stuck his hip out to impede the progress of the South Al player. He did it again later, but was fortunate to not get called. The angle on TV might not have shown it, but I was in the arena on the front row maybe 20 feet from the play.

(03-06-2023 02:02 PM)FrankyP Wrote:  Betting for me is a whole other world that I know nothing about, and have no plans to do so. I have enough bad habits, thank you very much.



The same thing goes for coffee: never drank it and never will, so how to make it, the different kinds etc are just jibberish to me….and looks and feels like a cult to me, lol.

Man I spend like half my free time sitting at this computer drinking coffee and betting games. It's literally what I've been doing the last 2ish hours. You're, like, the anti-me...


Just wanted to point out that for all the crying and complaining in this thread about the format of this tourney and how it doesn't do enough to protect top seeds, etc. that the #2 seed in a 14-team tournament took home the trophy. Furthermore, UL's seeding won't be worse than USM's would've been if you look at the metrics. Louisiana actually has the better RPI, Kenpom, Sagarin, Massey, and BPI ratings. And just 2 spots lower in the NET.

I actually think the format of this tourney is fine other than there is some credence to the thought that the teams playing their first game of the tourney in the quarterfinals do seem to struggle vs. teams that have won a game or two already. I don't know what you do to correct that. Seems you have to find a way to get those teams some practice time on the court, but there's just no time with the women's teams playing 4 games the day before. By the semis everything seems to equal out and the advantage clearly goes to the higher seeds. Our legs were gone by Sunday playing our 4th game in 6 days. it's damn near impossible to win this thing if you play a 1st round game.

(03-09-2023 10:48 PM)_x_ Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 02:02 PM)FrankyP Wrote:  Betting for me is a whole other world that I know nothing about, and have no plans to do so. I have enough bad habits, thank you very much.



The same thing goes for coffee: never drank it and never will, so how to make it, the different kinds etc are just jibberish to me….and looks and feels like a cult to me, lol.

Man I spend like half my free time sitting at this computer drinking coffee and betting games. It's literally what I've been doing the last 2ish hours. You're, like, the anti-me...


Just wanted to point out that for all the crying and complaining in this thread about the format of this tourney and how it doesn't do enough to protect top seeds, etc. that the #2 seed in a 14-team tournament took home the trophy. Furthermore, UL's seeding won't be worse than USM's would've been if you look at the metrics. Louisiana actually has the better RPI, Kenpom, Sagarin, Massey, and BPI ratings. And just 2 spots lower in the NET.

I actually think the format of this tourney is fine other than there is some credence to the thought that the teams playing their first game of the tourney in the quarterfinals do seem to struggle vs. teams that have won a game or two already. I don't know what you do to correct that. Seems you have to find a way to get those teams some practice time on the court, but there's just no time with the women's teams playing 4 games the day before. By the semis everything seems to equal out and the advantage clearly goes to the higher seeds. Our legs were gone by Sunday playing our 4th game in 6 days. it's damn near impossible to win this thing if you play a 1st round game.

Ha I too love coffee and gambling, I was thinking the same when FrankyP said that.

On the format though, I still think the struggle of double bye teams is being way over blown. Between the men's and women's 8 quarterfinal games we literally had one big surprise of an upset and that was TXST over Marshall. USA is a team that everyone knew was dangerous coming in, who recently smoked USM in the regular season, and who was only a one point underdog. JMU and Louisiana won their quarterfinal games. The women's semis were 1, 2, 3, 5. There was one surprise in 8 games and everyone freaks out that the double bye was a disadvantage.

(03-09-2023 10:57 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(03-09-2023 10:48 PM)_x_ Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 02:02 PM)FrankyP Wrote:  Betting for me is a whole other world that I know nothing about, and have no plans to do so. I have enough bad habits, thank you very much.



The same thing goes for coffee: never drank it and never will, so how to make it, the different kinds etc are just jibberish to me….and looks and feels like a cult to me, lol.

Man I spend like half my free time sitting at this computer drinking coffee and betting games. It's literally what I've been doing the last 2ish hours. You're, like, the anti-me...


Just wanted to point out that for all the crying and complaining in this thread about the format of this tourney and how it doesn't do enough to protect top seeds, etc. that the #2 seed in a 14-team tournament took home the trophy. Furthermore, UL's seeding won't be worse than USM's would've been if you look at the metrics. Louisiana actually has the better RPI, Kenpom, Sagarin, Massey, and BPI ratings. And just 2 spots lower in the NET.

I actually think the format of this tourney is fine other than there is some credence to the thought that the teams playing their first game of the tourney in the quarterfinals do seem to struggle vs. teams that have won a game or two already. I don't know what you do to correct that. Seems you have to find a way to get those teams some practice time on the court, but there's just no time with the women's teams playing 4 games the day before. By the semis everything seems to equal out and the advantage clearly goes to the higher seeds. Our legs were gone by Sunday playing our 4th game in 6 days. it's damn near impossible to win this thing if you play a 1st round game.

Ha I too love coffee and gambling, I was thinking the same when FrankyP said that.

On the format though, I still think the struggle of double bye teams is being way over blown. Between the men's and women's 8 quarterfinal games we literally had one big surprise of an upset and that was TXST over Marshall. USA is a team that everyone knew was dangerous coming in, who recently smoked USM in the regular season, and who was only a one point underdog. JMU and Louisiana won their quarterfinal games. The women's semis were 1, 2, 3, 5. There was one surprise in 8 games and everyone freaks out that the double bye was a disadvantage.

I'm curious boys ... why don't either of yaz participate in the gambling thread?

#scared?

(03-10-2023 08:32 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-09-2023 10:57 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(03-09-2023 10:48 PM)_x_ Wrote:  

(03-06-2023 02:02 PM)FrankyP Wrote:  Betting for me is a whole other world that I know nothing about, and have no plans to do so. I have enough bad habits, thank you very much.



The same thing goes for coffee: never drank it and never will, so how to make it, the different kinds etc are just jibberish to me….and looks and feels like a cult to me, lol.

Man I spend like half my free time sitting at this computer drinking coffee and betting games. It's literally what I've been doing the last 2ish hours. You're, like, the anti-me...


Just wanted to point out that for all the crying and complaining in this thread about the format of this tourney and how it doesn't do enough to protect top seeds, etc. that the #2 seed in a 14-team tournament took home the trophy. Furthermore, UL's seeding won't be worse than USM's would've been if you look at the metrics. Louisiana actually has the better RPI, Kenpom, Sagarin, Massey, and BPI ratings. And just 2 spots lower in the NET.

I actually think the format of this tourney is fine other than there is some credence to the thought that the teams playing their first game of the tourney in the quarterfinals do seem to struggle vs. teams that have won a game or two already. I don't know what you do to correct that. Seems you have to find a way to get those teams some practice time on the court, but there's just no time with the women's teams playing 4 games the day before. By the semis everything seems to equal out and the advantage clearly goes to the higher seeds. Our legs were gone by Sunday playing our 4th game in 6 days. it's damn near impossible to win this thing if you play a 1st round game.

Ha I too love coffee and gambling, I was thinking the same when FrankyP said that.

On the format though, I still think the struggle of double bye teams is being way over blown. Between the men's and women's 8 quarterfinal games we literally had one big surprise of an upset and that was TXST over Marshall. USA is a team that everyone knew was dangerous coming in, who recently smoked USM in the regular season, and who was only a one point underdog. JMU and Louisiana won their quarterfinal games. The women's semis were 1, 2, 3, 5. There was one surprise in 8 games and everyone freaks out that the double bye was a disadvantage.

I'm curious boys ... why don't either of yaz participate in the gambling thread?

#scared?

Haha I love it, but I haven't done much of it in the past year or so. March Madness used to be my big moneymaker when I was younger and had more time to put in to watching tons and tons of basketball. I might have to start putting down some small amounts this year just to get back to the fun of it and knock the rust off. I do enjoy seeing what you guys are betting on though and cheering you on when possible.

I made a post in there last weekend about a failed future to win the SBC tourney I made. Thanks a lot JMU...