Kentucky and Syracuse should pack their conference tournaments in

halfcentman

These teams both have one loss, and are guaranteed a 1-seed in the big tourney regardless of what happens. Hence, these tournaments serve no purpose to them as far as risking injuries to key players.

The other consideration that also needs to be considered is they have one loss already and are not chasing an undefeated season.

Your thoughts,

Greg

Estil

I was just thinking about that myself. Here's the scary thing: since the undefeated 1976 Hoosiers, not ONE team with zero or one loss (that's combined regular season and conference tournament) has hoisted the big gold trophy. Yes, even the 1996 Wildcats (the Untouchables) who I would consider one of the greatest teams in history (no that's not being partisan) had two losses (second game of the season against MA, and the SEC Tournament Final against Mississippi State which let's just say we didn't really try all that hard on that one for obvious reasons).

So yes I agree. If we happen to win the conference tournament, great. But don't waste their energy on the tournament final if they don't really need to. Let's just say there's a reason only Final Four banners are hung in Rupp Arena and we only acknowledge conference tournament championships at Memorial Colossium (I think there's now one at Rupp too but it's just one banner with all the years).

PS: I think the hearbreaker at Assembly Hall was definitely a blessing in disguise. Let's capture the gold trophy this year, and THEN, and ONLY then should they try to run the table in 2013.

halfcentman

I agree with you about the Indiana game.

I think the UConn women's team that had one loss did not play their starters in a 1st round tournament game and still won.

I wouldn't start the starters if I were Kentucky or Syracuse.

---------------

Now, the fact that you are a UK fan - the 1994 comback at LSU was the most amazing thing I saw. They were down 68-37 with about 15 minutes to go and went on a 62-27 run to end the game. I did a psychological study of this game when I was in college called "chokes/comebacks."

When Kentucky cut the lead below 20, you can LSU was starting to get nervous. When it got down to single digits, I was more than 50% sure that UK was going to win. You see teams expel too much emotion when things run well, and get too down when they don't. In essence, that's the anatomy of a choke.

I consider this game to be a choke even though scoring 27 points in 15 minutes is not horrible since it extrapolates to 36 points scored in a half.

In the ACC tournament, Miami had a 53-34 lead on UNC with a bit less than 10 minutes remaining. They got very overconfident. When UNC got four, 3-pointers in 90 seconds, they imploded, got outscore 27-6 over that time, and the only lead that UNC had the entire game was Zeller's hoop with one second remaining.

frankhardy

I just watched highlights of that LSU/Kentucky game on youtube not too long ago. That was amazing.

I think this is the kicker for Kentucky - just like Calipari says - they just need to improve and get better every game. That is the reason you play like you have all year. Sure, if they get up comfortably, then sit the starters. You don't want them getting stagnant.

Brick

Not sure I agree with not playing the starters. You want to remain sharp. I would rotate players more to play the starters fewer minutes. In the second half when the game is not in doubt I would take the starters out a little sooner. I've seen superior teams that rested players lose to teams that were on top of their game.

Estil

<< <i>Not sure I agree with not playing the starters. You want to remain sharp. I would rotate players more to play the starters fewer minutes. In the second half when the game is not in doubt I would take the starters out a little sooner. I've seen superior teams that rested players lose to teams that were on top of their game. >>



It's more along the lines of making sure your bench gets as much experience as possible so your starters stay fresh and so the players overall play unselfish team ball. Those things were absolutely essential during our 1996-98 era where we just barely missed making a three-peat.

Estil

<< <i>
Now, the fact that you are a UK fan - the 1994 comback at LSU was the most amazing thing I saw. They were down 68-37 with about 15 minutes to go and went on a 62-27 run to end the game. I did a psychological study of this game when I was in college called "chokes/comebacks."

When Kentucky cut the lead below 20, you can LSU was starting to get nervous. When it got down to single digits, I was more than 50% sure that UK was going to win. You see teams expel too much emotion when things run well, and get too down when they don't. In essence, that's the anatomy of a choke.

I consider this game to be a choke even though scoring 27 points in 15 minutes is not horrible since it extrapolates to 36 points scored in a half.

In the ACC tournament, Miami had a 53-34 lead on UNC with a bit less than 10 minutes remaining. They got very overconfident. When UNC got four, 3-pointers in 90 seconds, they imploded, got outscore 27-6 over that time, and the only lead that UNC had the entire game was Zeller's hoop with one second remaining. >>



Well, I see your 1994 comeback, and raise you our comeback from 1998. IMO, our comeback against those blasted Duke boys (start at 8:30 if you wanna cut to the chase, then go to parts 6-7) was just as if not more magical. You see, everyone hypes up that 1992 game, but IMO the 1998 Duke/Kentucky game was the REAL greatest game ever. Just like in 1992, we were a two seed versus a one, who was ranked first in the country (though they weren't the defending champs like in 1992) so we were considerable underdogs, and we looked it being down 17 points with around 9:30 or so left. But we also came back to win that one (because Coach K goofed and burned all his timeouts early and the brilliant Tubby Smith used that fact to make sure the Duke boys couldn't regroup, and also made sure this time to have someone on the inbounds passer on the final play. And one of my teachers at the time (who inspired me to go to Kentucky) brought a tape (tape, those were the days...) of the game and just loved how much those Duke boys CHOKED! What I loved most about that game was our local newspaper did a poster of Scott Padgett making a key basket, and you wanna take a guess who was in the background at the Duke bench on his knees? And what makes it even more special was that this game was on the same day as my 18th birthday (no joke!).

We do of course have to be very careful about not getting over-confident ourselves. Just like with 1978 and 1996, expectations are high and the fans are starving for a title so we really, REALLY don't want to blow this one.

halfcentman

I forgot about that Duke game where they were down 17 with 9:30 to go.

With regards to the topic in the original thread, I agree with the poster that they should rotate their starters in retrospect. I am a big fan of giving bench players some decent minutes at that stage of the season if you are in those two teams positions and/or you've got a blowout on their hands.

AkbarClone

1974--UNC versus Duke.

UNC down by 8 points with 17 SECONDS LEFT.

UNC scored those 8 points in 17 seconds to force overtime (and that was before there were 3 Point shots), and UNC then won game in OT.

Most Difficult and Amazing Comeback Ever (in my opinion).

Estil

<< <i>1974--UNC versus Duke.

UNC down by 8 points with 17 SECONDS LEFT.

UNC scored those 8 points in 17 seconds to force overtime (and that was before there were 3 Point shots), and UNC then won game in OT.

Most Difficult and Amazing Comeback Ever (in my opinion). >>



I don't suppose that's on YouTube is it?

AkbarClone

I went and did a quick search. Here is the first video I saw. It is part of a documentary on the rivalry, and they were discussing that game and showed some video clips from the end of the game.

Youtube video

The breakdown of events. At the 17 second mark, down by 8, UNC player (Bobby Jones) had ball and was fouled.

Hits both free throws to cut it to 6.

UNC steals inbound pass and quick layup cuts it to 4.

UNC defense causes dook to have turnover on their next inbound attempt. UNC inbounds and quickly scores to cut it to 2.

UNC immediately fouls dook player on next inbound. The dook player misses the front end of 1 and 1, and UNC gets rebound, calls timeout with 3 seconds left.

Mitch Kupchak heaves inbound to freshman Walter Davis who banks in a long shot to tie the game.

In overtime, UNC completes victory.

halfcentman

<< <i>

<< <i>1974--UNC versus Duke.

UNC down by 8 points with 17 SECONDS LEFT.

UNC scored those 8 points in 17 seconds to force overtime (and that was before there were 3 Point shots), and UNC then won game in OT.

Most Difficult and Amazing Comeback Ever (in my opinion). >>



I don't suppose that's on YouTube is it? >>



I have seen that numerous times, and I was eight years old when the game was played. My grandfather watched the game and told me all about it. I had been watching sports two years before that.