tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post1065509077354820017..comments2023-09-01T06:51:04.030-04:00Comments on Basketball Predictions: Heading Into Sunday: Where The Bubble StandsJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12767101715737129123noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-82664024131817502032010-03-14T11:31:48.658-04:002010-03-14T11:31:48.658-04:00Yeah, I didn't say it is likely, just possible...Yeah, I didn't say it is <i>likely</i>, just possible. Depth has been much less of a problem for Duke since Brian Zoubek has figured out how to stay on the floor for 20 minutes without fouling out.<br /><br />But yes, as you said, it's foul trouble in the front court that makes them thin just because they don't have extra guards. Other teams go with three guard lineups when a big man or two gets in foul trouble, but Duke can't do that.<br /><br /><br />But of the three BCS championship games I think Duke is the <i>least</i> likely to get upset. Ohio State is most likely, followed by Kentucky.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12767101715737129123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-39443011207837128812010-03-14T04:18:59.083-04:002010-03-14T04:18:59.083-04:00"Georgia Tech is athletic enough that they ca..."Georgia Tech is athletic enough that they can potentially get the Duke big men in foul trouble, and Duke can become a very thin team when they get into foul trouble."<br /><br />Well, yes, but not in the way that you mean it. Duke has 4 big men playing fairly equal minutes, so fouls aren't an issue at all for them up front. I actually can't recall any other Duke team since the 80s with this much front court depth. Their front line hasn't had a problem with foul trouble yet this season.<br /><br />Duke is very thin in their back court, so foul trouble there could be a real problem. Again, though, it hasn't happened all season.DMoorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-17384249522829459962010-03-14T01:20:42.453-05:002010-03-14T01:20:42.453-05:00Well right now I think both teams are in the Tourn...Well right now I think both teams are in the Tournament. But UTEP's resume is better because of the way that they ran through clearly superior conference. Going 15-1 in Conference USA is just far more impressive than 14-2 in the WAC. Utah State has that win over BYU, but I can't throw them ahead just because of one game.<br /><br />Entering today's games UTEP has a Sagarin ELO_CHESS of 28th, and Utah State's was 45th. Utah State lost to a slightly stronger opponent, but there's still going to be a huge gap. It's very, very rare for a team with an ELO_CHESS higher than 35th (which UTEP should end up) to miss the NCAA Tournament. In fact, I can't recall the last time it happened. Utah State is going to be dangerously close to 50th, and we average only about one team per year outside the ELO_CHESS Top 50 getting in (a big reason why I'm not putting Illinois in my bracket right now is because their ELO_CHESS is near 60th, which would be a pretty unprecedented position for an at-large bid).<br /><br />New Mexico State is a good team, but they could end up with a very tough first round opponent. They will probably be a 13 seed, and that could mean an opponent like Georgetown or Wisconsin that will eat NMSU alive. If they can draw Butler, though, then that would be a potential upset.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12767101715737129123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-39667725011725369892010-03-14T01:04:31.245-05:002010-03-14T01:04:31.245-05:00why is UTEP safe if USU isn't? I think USU has...why is UTEP safe if USU isn't? I think USU has an equal profile. (P.S., I still think NMSU is a dangerous team that has a good shot at pulling a firstround upset. Glad to see they made it in.csuramsfannoreply@blogger.com