March Madness - Final Four is set

I think it's Arizona's to lose, but I'm pulling for UConn the rest of the way. I was in middle school in Connecticut back when they had their first success, the Tate George years, and always had fun memories from those days. Still miss CT to this day. Let's go Huskies!
I think, for the first time in my life, I have seen someone say they miss the state of Connecticut.

Also ugh UConn.

The success they have had in the last 30 years is insane. 20% of all the titles in that time period.
 
Sorry, y'all, but didn't Lorenzo Charles really give us the greatest shot? Here's why I say that:

1. First, the uniqueness of the play. We've all seen three point daggers at the buzzer. We've seen half court shots. I can't remember ever seeing a missed shot caught in midair and dunked home to beat the buzzer. Not any buzzer -- a halftime buzzer, even a shot clock buzzer. There have been great plays off rebounds, but the alley-oop aspect gives this one a signature.

2. The competition matters. One thing that MJ's shot has going for him is that it came against a loaded Georgetown team. But it wasn't in anyone's face, exactly. Lorenzo dunked on Hakeem Olajawon. One of the best centers in the history of the game. That should matter. Maybe not for the shot itself but for the drama.

3. The shot was an ultimate cinderella shot to cap off what was the ultimate cinderella run. State entered the tourney as a huge underdog. It kept winning games by tiny little margins, often after falling behind. Wasn't that the team called "the Cardiac Pack"? And then it faced the best team in the finals and somehow kept it close enough and then . . .

4. Valvano's reaction makes it excellent for a highlight reel. Not sure it directly affects how we should see the shot, but maybe it matters on the margins.
 
Sorry, y'all, but didn't Lorenzo Charles really give us the greatest shot? Here's why I say that:

1. First, the uniqueness of the play. We've all seen three point daggers at the buzzer. We've seen half court shots. I can't remember ever seeing a missed shot caught in midair and dunked home to beat the buzzer. Not any buzzer -- a halftime buzzer, even a shot clock buzzer. There have been great plays off rebounds, but the alley-oop aspect gives this one a signature.

2. The competition matters. One thing that MJ's shot has going for him is that it came against a loaded Georgetown team. But it wasn't in anyone's face, exactly. Lorenzo dunked on Hakeem Olajawon. One of the best centers in the history of the game. That should matter. Maybe not for the shot itself but for the drama.

3. The shot was an ultimate cinderella shot to cap off what was the ultimate cinderella run. State entered the tourney as a huge underdog. It kept winning games by tiny little margins, often after falling behind. Wasn't that the team called "the Cardiac Pack"? And then it faced the best team in the finals and somehow kept it close enough and then . . .

4. Valvano's reaction makes it excellent for a highlight reel. Not sure it directly affects how we should see the shot, but maybe it matters on the margins.
To me it’s Jenkins or Charles. The problem I have with Charles is that it was such an easy shot. The only challenge was dunking before the clock ran out. Of course, Jenkins had a pretty easy shot, too, since Hicks decided not to guard him.
 
As of today, Michigan is a slight favorite over Arizona at -122 (Arizona +101), while Illinois is favored against UConn at -130 to -143 (UConn +110 to +112) with spreads favoring favorites by 1.5 to 2.5 points.

Tight match-ups, should be a great FF.

I know it will be fun to watch, now that d00kie is on the couch.
 
Agree - I think like the poster above said...if UConn wins it all (doubt it, and sure hope not cause I loathe them and Hurley) then it DEFINITELY has more staying power. I guess the big shots we all see are for the title or teams that went to win the title. Likely also why Laettner 90 wasnt shown cause 2 games later was the 30 point drubbing.

Anyhow go anti-ICE Illinois or Arizona. Though I wont be watching.
Funny how things come full circle. In 1990, Duke beat UConn in the Elite Eight on a last second shot and just over a week later we had to be subjected to talk about a Hurley’s diarrhea. 36 years later, UConn beat Duke on a last second shot and over the course of the next we will be subjected to talk involving shit about a Hurley.
 
As of today, Michigan is a slight favorite over Arizona at -122 (Arizona +101), while Illinois is favored against UConn at -130 to -143 (UConn +110 to +112) with spreads favoring favorites by 1.5 to 2.5 points.

Tight match-ups, should be a great FF.

I know it will be fun to watch, now that d00kie is on the couch.
As a point of comparison, Michigan was a 7.5 pt favorite over Tennessee.
 
To me it’s Jenkins or Charles. The problem I have with Charles is that it was such an easy shot. The only challenge was dunking before the clock ran out. Of course, Jenkins had a pretty easy shot, too, since Hicks decided not to guard him.
Agreed, once he caught the ball. But getting the ball was no easy feat -- or at least it shouldn't have been, with the aerial abilities of the Houston team.

I suppose one could say that Charles was the best game winning offensive play, if not the best shot per se. Then we split the difference.
 
Sorry, y'all, but didn't Lorenzo Charles really give us the greatest shot? Here's why I say that:

1. First, the uniqueness of the play. We've all seen three point daggers at the buzzer. We've seen half court shots. I can't remember ever seeing a missed shot caught in midair and dunked home to beat the buzzer. Not any buzzer -- a halftime buzzer, even a shot clock buzzer. There have been great plays off rebounds, but the alley-oop aspect gives this one a signature.

2. The competition matters. One thing that MJ's shot has going for him is that it came against a loaded Georgetown team. But it wasn't in anyone's face, exactly. Lorenzo dunked on Hakeem Olajawon. One of the best centers in the history of the game. That should matter. Maybe not for the shot itself but for the drama.

3. The shot was an ultimate cinderella shot to cap off what was the ultimate cinderella run. State entered the tourney as a huge underdog. It kept winning games by tiny little margins, often after falling behind. Wasn't that the team called "the Cardiac Pack"? And then it faced the best team in the finals and somehow kept it close enough and then . . .

4. Valvano's reaction makes it excellent for a highlight reel. Not sure it directly affects how we should see the shot, but maybe it matters on the margins.
But it wasn't a great shot.
 
Re: the NC State shot. As aGDevil2k mentioned in a previous post, Jimmy V’s reaction is an iconic part of that last second victory. A similar reaction wouldn’t garner as much attention these days. But back then head coaches were generally pretty reserved. Valvano’s reaction was very unique for the time.
 
But it wasn't a great shot.
Well, not "great" in the sense of being highly skilled. But great in terms of its improbability considering the stakes. MJ's 82 shot was just an ordinary jumper. Not a great shot either. And halfcourt shots are mostly just heaves and prayers.
 
Well, not "great" in the sense of being highly skilled. But great in terms of its improbability considering the stakes. MJ's 82 shot was just an ordinary jumper. Not a great shot either. And halfcourt shots are mostly just heaves and prayers.
Monumental, crazy, once in a lifetime play, pretty basic actual shot.
 
Agreed, once he caught the ball. But getting the ball was no easy feat -- or at least it shouldn't have been, with the aerial abilities of the Houston team.

I suppose one could say that Charles was the best game winning offensive play, if not the best shot per se. Then we split the difference.
Now we are going to recreate the debate of shots vs. stills from the Budweiser Superbowl commercial.

In any event, I rank Mullin's shot as No. 3 behind those two and ahead of Laettner. I think Chalmers' shot has a good argument for No. 4, given the degree of difficulty and importance of the game (with a deduction for needing OT to get the win). I think all the round of 64 and 32 games just can't compete, no matter how improbable, because the stakes of those games just aren't very high.
 
Funny how things come full circle. In 1990, Duke beat UConn in the Elite Eight on a last second shot and just over a week later we had to be subjected to talk about a Hurley’s diarrhea. 36 years later, UConn beat Duke on a last second shot and over the course of the next we will be subjected to talk involving shit about a Hurley.
Honestly, if Arizona plays UConn, I wouldn't be shocked with a similar end score to the 1990 final.
 
As of today, Michigan is a slight favorite over Arizona at -122 (Arizona +101), while Illinois is favored against UConn at -130 to -143 (UConn +110 to +112) with spreads favoring favorites by 1.5 to 2.5 points.

Tight match-ups, should be a great FF.

I know it will be fun to watch, now that d00kie is on the couch.

Ahh, a relatively peaceful final 4. It’s been a while

While we can’t have UConn winning it, not as worried with them as clear underdogs

Think the Illini play their best game of the tourney and take them out anyways. Should be a fun one

Only right we get Arizona-Michigan. Go whatever result is likelier to get Carolina a coach
 
Back
Top