Everyone knows your record vs teams during the regular season doesn't matter.
Grading teams for the 2018-19 season
- Thread starter GE Nole
- Start date
Everyone knows your record vs teams during the regular season doesn't matter.
Pretty much. And I would absolutely accept a C grade for the tournament. But the author states, "Without further ado, here are our final grades for the 2018–19 college basketball season."
Y'all beat the shit out of UK. It was the least I could do for you.
I'm obviously kidding. I still think Duke was the best team this year despite not making the Final Four. UVA is your champion (which again is all that really matters given how college basketball is set up) but I don't think we were the best team, unless you equate best with most consistent.
UVA was deserving of the title. I would agree that they were the most consistent team. The tournament really is full of madness. Take Auburn, for example. New Mexico State had a guy who air-balled a wide open three-pointer for the win against Auburn in the 1st Round. If that shot goes in, Auburn's season can be labeled as a disappointment. But they won - and later advanced to the Final Four. So one shot (or missed shot) can make or break your season, and be the difference between another flame-out or the best postseason run ever.
Duke was lucky in its own right just to make it to the Elite 8. But we also had tough losses in the Elite 8 last year (Grayson shot rimmed-out) and the 1-point stinger this year where we were outscored 5-1 in the final 80 seconds to lose by 1 point... UVA obviously had some close calls too, but they won. And that's all that matters. The magic in the tournament is the single-elimination format. Wouldn't change that for the world.
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Totally agree. I wouldn’t change the tourney, but at the same time, solely judging a team based on the tourney isn’t an accurate picture of what that team accomplished that season. Has to be some combo of regular season accomplishments and the Dance.
Frankly, my biggest criticism of K this year is how he didn’t develop his bench enough during early season blowouts. I think it really hurt Duke’s ability to adjust once injuries set in. (And injuries should be an expected part of the game).
Both Zion and MBIII didn’t come to Duke late, it was only MBIII. As much as you study Duke, you should know that.
I would give Duke a D. 3 of the top 5 recruits in the country, 4 of the top 10 including the best prospect since Lebron. Coach K couldn't figure out how to build a competent roster around them. Very little player development amongst the freshman with only maybe RJ showing some improvement over the course of the season. Barely got out of the 2nd round of the tournament and then barely got out of the 3rd round. A D is generous to be honest. Anything less than a national championship should be considered a failure for Coach K with the deck stacked as much as it was.
Bench hasn't been developed a whole lot the over last two years. I can easily concede that. Team looked better in November-January. Too many guys standing in the corner waiting for Zion and RJ to do their thing. I agree that this team desperately needed outside shooters. Gameplan for opposing teams was simple: pack it inside and let them beat you from deep. Everyone has known that for sometime... but not everybody was able to slow down RJ & Zion.
I'm not sure how a D grade is being generous, though? I mean, seriously, 29-3 with Zion in the lineup, all three losses could have been won in the final minute of regulation, and we were 3-0 against Texas Tech/UVA. A 1 point loss in the Elite 8. Not exactly a dumpster fire. A grade of a C or D is fine if you're making your evaluation based on the tournament alone. But this Duke team did a lot over the course of the season. 9 wins over Sweet 16 teams is crazy. Pretty sure no one else in the NCAAs can match that number.
Because UL sucked.
Auburn got hot in five games. That is it. To get an A you must stay hot.
Plus Auburn lost the important game. Sure they beat UK. Then their season was over, they did what they were coached to do. Then they did not show up.
Geeze! Follow the SEC and find out how the SEC teams operate.
hmmm the year before Iowa had the 16th youngest team and was crucified. sorry but stop with the excuses.
I think you missed the part about “relative to expectations coming into the season.”
Zion was a late addition to duke. No one, including duke fans, thought Zion was committing to you guys.
Let's be frank. Their season ended due to a really lame call that would not be called 90% of the time or more.
What's your grade for Kentucky?
B+. It is hard to beat a good team three times. Auburn got the best of UK the third time.
yup so STFU and enjoy the win, as that win was the difference between a 5th place finish and a 6th place finish, that would have happened.
can't handle it can you? you are the typical dish it out but can't take it, go crawl back into what ever hole you crawled out of.
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