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cthskzfn
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 12851 Location: In a world where a PSYCHOpath like Trump isn't potus.
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Posted: 02/07/20 7:39 am ::: Predict the 2020 Final Four |
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The reg. season ends in less than a month. Seems to me, 3 teams have separated from the pack:
Baylor
Oregon
S. Carolina
Who's the 4th?
_________________ Silly, stupid white people might be waking up.
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PRballer
Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 2559
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Posted: 02/07/20 9:44 am ::: |
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Stanford, especially if some of the injured return.
Louisville seems to have problems - which can be addressed, but who knows.
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PUmatty
Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 16379 Location: Chicago
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Posted: 02/07/20 11:25 am ::: Re: Predict the 2020 Final Four |
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cthskzfn wrote: |
The reg. season ends in less than a month. Seems to me, 3 teams have separated from the pack:
Baylor
Oregon
S. Carolina
Who's the 4th? |
I agree those three are the most likely, but this seems to me like a year when we could actually have some surprises.
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 63875
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Posted: 02/07/20 11:31 am ::: |
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Maryland has a lot of talent, and if they could consistently fire on all cylinders, they could be a Final Four level team. But they struggle to be consistent for some reason.
_________________ Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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FrozenLVFan
Joined: 08 Jul 2014 Posts: 3518
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Posted: 02/07/20 2:37 pm ::: |
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Baylor, SoCar, Oregon, and somebody that lucks out with a favorable seed in an "easy" bracket.
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summertime blues
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 7863 Location: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted: 02/07/20 3:27 pm ::: |
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Shades wrote: |
Maryland has a lot of talent, and if they could consistently fire on all cylinders, they could be a Final Four level team. But they struggle to be consistent for some reason. |
Maryland has just about as bad a turnover problem as Tennessee.
_________________ Don't take life so serious. It ain't nohows permanent.
It takes 3 years to build a team and 7 to build a program.--Conventional Wisdom
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32341
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Posted: 02/07/20 3:42 pm ::: |
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summertime blues wrote: |
Shades wrote: |
Maryland has a lot of talent, and if they could consistently fire on all cylinders, they could be a Final Four level team. But they struggle to be consistent for some reason. |
Maryland has just about as bad a turnover problem as Tennessee. |
I will be surprised if Maryland makes the elite 8.
_________________ For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
- Amanda Gorman
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32341
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Posted: 02/07/20 3:49 pm ::: |
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FrozenLVFan wrote: |
Baylor, SoCar, Oregon, and somebody that lucks out with a favorable seed in an "easy" bracket. |
yeah, there are quite a few possibilities for that 4th place. Louisville, Stanford, OrSU, NCState, UConn are the most likely but it could be someone else who simply makes a run at the right time. And while I would say it's highly likely the first three will make it, as we have seen, none of them are invulnerable so it could be a fun time.
Being a homer I'll say Stanford but we'll need some luck. It doesn't look like we'll be getting either Carrington or Dodson back this year, which is quite the bummer since Carrington was supposed to be our best player and Dodson our first post off the bench. Watch out next year though...
_________________ For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
- Amanda Gorman
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linkster
Joined: 27 Jul 2012 Posts: 5424
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Posted: 02/07/20 5:23 pm ::: |
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Whoever is the 4th 1 seed. Oregon, Baylor and S Carolina seem to be above everyone else. If Oregon St stays out of the Baylor & S Carolina region I like them. Rueck has done more with less for a few years.
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snlMINAJ
Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 1228
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Posted: 02/08/20 2:09 pm ::: |
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i predict that of the 3 favorites, south carolina will not make FF.
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PickledGinger
Joined: 04 Oct 2013 Posts: 1375
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Posted: 02/09/20 2:33 pm ::: |
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snlMINAJ wrote: |
i predict that of the 3 favorites, south carolina will not make FF. |
Agreed. Three freshman starters doesn’t necessarily bode well for them come late March.
I predict that Oregon will win it all. Everything else up till that point might be a giant cluster F, which I would love.
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 63875
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Posted: 02/09/20 2:36 pm ::: |
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Maryland was at #3 RPI and #8 SOS, before they destroyed Rutgers today.
_________________ Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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NFL1
Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 144 Location: Ithaca, NY
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Posted: 02/09/20 4:00 pm ::: |
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I have been more impressed with SoCar this year more than any other - they have offense not just defense. I seem to remember a young Maryland team in 2006 who won it all with two freshmen in Marisa Coleman and Kristi Toliver.
I have no idea who that 4th team will be...this year has been so much fun!
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NFL1
Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 144 Location: Ithaca, NY
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Posted: 02/09/20 4:59 pm ::: |
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Take that back...the 4th should be another Pac12 team...whether Stanford or OR State/Arizona...the day in day out competition outweighs the W-L stats this year.
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summertime blues
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 7863 Location: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted: 02/09/20 5:40 pm ::: |
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Oregon and Baylor.....and the other two are a mystery.
_________________ Don't take life so serious. It ain't nohows permanent.
It takes 3 years to build a team and 7 to build a program.--Conventional Wisdom
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geeceem
Joined: 10 Mar 2014 Posts: 123
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Posted: 02/09/20 7:39 pm ::: |
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Shades wrote: |
Maryland was at #3 RPI and #8 SOS, before they destroyed Rutgers today. |
Maryland has struggled a lot in the paint against teams with front court size/skills, e.g., SC’s Aliyah Boston and NC State’s Elissa Cunane. And today, Shakira fouled out of a game that her team won by 29 pts., which doesn’t give me much confidence in her savvy in the post.
Terps’ 3pt. shooting has picked up, and any team that is hitting from 3pt. range will give their opponents fits. But depending largely on a hot hand at threes doesn’t sound to me like a strategy based on excellence of execution. (Their defense is, however, getting it done.)
I’ll be pleased if they get to the round of 16.
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WNBA 09
Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 12579 Location: Dallas , Texas
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Posted: 02/09/20 11:37 pm ::: |
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Seeing Maryland in contention for a #1 seed is laughable.
_________________ 3-Time WNBA Champion-3-Time National Champion-4-Time Olympic Champion....And Yes DT "We Got Confeti" lol
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SDHoops
Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 1183
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Posted: 02/09/20 11:51 pm ::: |
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summertime blues wrote: |
Oregon and Baylor.....and the other two are a mystery. |
You don't think South Carolina is a lock? They have looked darn good this year! I know we fight about my Huskies, but I'll call it a win if we make the Elite 8 this year.
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calbearman76
Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 5167 Location: Carson City
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Posted: 02/10/20 3:57 am ::: |
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Barring something very strange Oregon will be in Portland, Baylor will be in Dallas and South Carolina will be in Greenville. All will have strong site advantages. The Fort Wayne region is open for the 4th #1 seed. There are several teams that could get there, including North Carolina St, Louisville, Maryland, Connecticut (with a win over South Carolina) or even Stanford or UCLA with a Pac12 tournament win. These teams would all be in contention for the overall number 5 slot as well, but if that team is from the Pac 12 it would likely go to Dallas. More likely the 3rd seed in this region will come from the Pac 12 and the 4th seed should come from the Big 10 if Maryland is not the 1 seed. I see the ACC winner (Louisville or North Carolina St) as the probable 1 seed with Maryland the 2, Arizona or UCLA as the 3 and Indiana as the 4. Any of them could get to the final 4.
South Carolina seem the most vulnerable of the top 3 as the 2 seed could be North Carolina St, limiting their site benefit. Carolina also has some freshman that may not respond to tournament pressure. Baylor look superior to any team that could be shipped to Dallas, but the #2 team out of the Pac 12 will likely get the 2 seed in Dallas unless they get the 1 seed in in Fort Wayne. Mississippi St could also find their way to Dallas. Oregon could get a rematch with UConn in Portland. Another thing to watch for is whether the Committee could put a 4 or 5 seed Oregon St in Portland also as the 5th team out of the Pac 12. Despite already playing twice that would be an amazing Sweet 16 game.
So going out on a limb I will take Oregon, Baylor, Maryland and Louisville, as long as 1 of them is in Greenville.
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taropatch
Joined: 24 Feb 2009 Posts: 814 Location: Kau Rubbish Dump
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Posted: 02/10/20 4:11 am ::: |
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Fourth spot goes to NC State
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myrtle
Joined: 02 May 2008 Posts: 32341
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J-Spoon
Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 6827
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Posted: 02/10/20 11:17 pm ::: |
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obviously it has to be someone who is not in the bracket with Oregon, Baylor, or SC, so probably anyone in the fourth region if Conn ends up as the 2 in that region they have a chance, or whatever Pac team ends up in that region UCLA, OrS, Stanford
for a completely random suggestions I will go with Florida State
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ucbart
Joined: 21 Nov 2004 Posts: 2825 Location: New York
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Posted: 02/11/20 10:17 am ::: |
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Has there ever been a season where the overall #1 seed is more important than this one? There are clearly 3 teams heads and shoulders above the rest and 2 of those teams will have to play in one Final Four. The other will blow out the team they play in the other semifinal.
How do we see this playing out?
**Baylor won't lose another game because the B12 stinks. That will hurt them for the overall #1 because their OOC schedule, outside of UCONN and South Carolina, was cupcake city as usual.
**Oregon plays the most good teams and the Pac-12 is the best conference, but I think all of those teams are bad match-ups playing a team like Oregon. I think you need toughness to beat them and nobody in the Pac-12 has that. UCLA maybe, but they don't have the offense to keep up with Oregon. Oregon can out smart and out skill and out shoot everyone in WCBB. They will only have trouble with a physical defensive team, like SC or Baylor.
**South Carolina looks good, really good, but they rely a lot on freshman. They had some lapses last night that a team who can shoot the ball would've exploited. When you rely so much on freshman, even good ones, and get a game away from home or on a neutral court against a team with great guards, like Mississippi State, they could be in trouble. The SEC is relatively weak this year, so they'll probably run the table, but they're the team most likely to lose, IMO.
Thoughts?
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summertime blues
Joined: 16 Apr 2013 Posts: 7863 Location: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted: 02/11/20 11:59 am ::: |
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ucbart wrote: |
Has there ever been a season where the overall #1 seed is more important than this one? There are clearly 3 teams heads and shoulders above the rest and 2 of those teams will have to play in one Final Four. The other will blow out the team they play in the other semifinal.
How do we see this playing out?
**Baylor won't lose another game because the B12 stinks. That will hurt them for the overall #1 because their OOC schedule, outside of UCONN and South Carolina, was cupcake city as usual.
**Oregon plays the most good teams and the Pac-12 is the best conference, but I think all of those teams are bad match-ups playing a team like Oregon. I think you need toughness to beat them and nobody in the Pac-12 has that. UCLA maybe, but they don't have the offense to keep up with Oregon. Oregon can out smart and out skill and out shoot everyone in WCBB. They will only have trouble with a physical defensive team, like SC or Baylor.
**South Carolina looks good, really good, but they rely a lot on freshman. They had some lapses last night that a team who can shoot the ball would've exploited. When you rely so much on freshman, even good ones, and get a game away from home or on a neutral court against a team with great guards, like Mississippi State, they could be in trouble. The SEC is relatively weak this year, so they'll probably run the table, but they're the team most likely to lose, IMO.
Thoughts? |
!. Baylor ALWAYS has a cupcake OOC schedule. Always. Kim does that to pad their resume. Regardless, they are well-disciplined and pretty dang deep. Cox is, for my money, one of the best in the game and a sure 1 to 3 pick in the draft, depending on the needs of a team. Richardson is right up there with her. I love Moon Ursin coming off the bench. I expect them to be in the championship game.
2. Oregon. Yikes. They just keep getting better. Barring injury, I don't see any problems. Ionescu is guardable though she's getting better at that. Maybe someone really physical and *quick* can get her, but beyond that....*shrug*
3. South Carolina. They have some weaknesses, but relying on freshmen isn't one of them. Freshmen aren't necessarily weak. They might be young, but can still be pretty mature. They're physical and are led by experienced players, and they can hurt you in a lot of ways.
4. The #4 team is still a mystery to me and I think will depend on placement more than anything. Right now I could look at NC State as much as anyone. I don't think Maryland, their bad hands could doom them.
_________________ Don't take life so serious. It ain't nohows permanent.
It takes 3 years to build a team and 7 to build a program.--Conventional Wisdom
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 63875
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Posted: 02/11/20 12:13 pm ::: |
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NCSU had a more cupcake OOC schedule than Baylor, according to SOS data.
Their conference this year is just as bad if not worse than the Big 12.
Nothing really supports NCSU as a top team.
_________________ Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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