LTrain23 wrote: I love the "midwestern" style of basketball. I think that's one of the reasons I loved the Reggie Miller 30 for 30 documentary. It really gave you a sense of "Midwest" vs New York..

Ohioans love the "Midwestern" (or Big Ten) style of basketball because of its physicality, making you swear that at sometimes it is in fact football

ts1227 wrote:

LTrain23 wrote: I love the "midwestern" style of basketball. I think that's one of the reasons I loved the Reggie Miller 30 for 30 documentary. It really gave you a sense of "Midwest" vs New York..

Ohioans love the "Midwestern" (or Big Ten) style of basketball because of its physicality, making you swear that at sometimes it is in fact football

No doubt about it. I know when we played on the playgrounds we gave some hard fouls.. and still do! haha..

Same way during high school as well, though our school has always played at quick pace because of the athletes we produce.. We still have physical man-to-man elements on defense.. Though, you can't be as physical anymore

As much as a I love Butler's style of play and Indiana basketball's in general, I, for the record, want it to be clear that I prefer the Paul Westhead approach to basketball. It's not really realistic to play like that anymore (that was a different time, and very few teams could do that), but teams like Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina have implemented a lighter, more defensive-principled approach to the push-the-court system over the years. Most notably North Carolina under Roy and Kentucky under Pitino. Nothing is more beautiful.

Westhead is probably a bad example, as he was a mad scientist, in the same vein that former Denver Nugget head coach Doug Moe was. But it sure was fun to watch, and, had Hank Gathers not fallen in '90, Loyola may have won the whole thing.

Basketball under Roy wasn't so pretty this year, at least until now. Very impressed with the Heels during the NIT, but it doesn't compare AT ALL to the NCAA tourney.

Nothing makes me sicker than watching Duke advance this deep for the first time since 1754. (or so it seems )

Especially since one of my best friends is a die hard Duke fan.. I gave him an ear full last April, so I'm hoping he can't return that favor this year.

But yea, I kind of agree with you. We ran the fast break system when I played in HS, in fact, our HS has always ran that type of system for the most part and we have our own label for it. Though we've been down the last few years... so...yeah..

UNC under Roy is night and day compared to Deans 4 corners lol.. Though, you can't complain with results

I love watching teams push the ball, but also play some nasty man-to-man defense.

On the other hand, I HATE watching a system like the Warriors or current Knicks employ, where it seems it's jsut a wide open sprint to get the ball up and shot up as quick as possible and then play no defense.

Azubuike24 wrote: Here's to hoping the Volunteers continue their run and cut down the nets.

I wouldn't mind seeing WVU, Butler or Baylor win it all either though.

WVU with Huggins would be a great story.
Butler as a mid-major would be amazing for the sport.
Baylor after where that program was a decade ago would be amazing.

If Bruce Pearl and the Vols were to cut down the nets, it would be a story for the ages after what happened on New Year's Day.

SEC chest thumper........

Alright, that's it, I'm popping in Hoosiers. Reading the Bill Simmons running diary of it made me want to watch it, but now you guys have put me over the top. Such a great movie. Thanks, guys.

Have no problem with Tenn winning it all. I have always like Pearl. That being said...I will be rooting for WVU to win as it will make me some big $$ in pool I am in! I won't be heart broken if Butler wins it though. Would be one of the greatest stories in college basketball history if the Bulldogs can win it in Indy.