Throwdowns > Closed

Rudedog: Thankful said 10/09, 12:05 AM
You will defend these picks, brah. This time, we'll start with Duke-MSU because I don't feel like looking up what I typed and you let die last time.

Duke-MSU

FACT. MSU is a slow-starting team every year that gets their act together in time for the Big Dance
FACT. Duke lost a lot of production last year
FACT. Duke is replacing that with a ton of talent.

Duke's starting 5 this year will resemble something like...

PG - Quinn Cook - biggest strength is creating shots for teammates
SG - Austin Rivers - only the #1 recruit
SF - Seth Curry - sniper from long range with a better all around game
PF - Ryan Kelly - only a 6'11 big man with 3-point range
C - Mason Plumlee - only a super athletic 6'10 big man.

Duke's biggest problems the last couple years? No size. This year they can trot out 5 guys 6'9 or over.

Duke's biggest problems in the last couple years? No one who can get to the basket. They bring in Cook and Rivers.

Add in the MSG factor, which you were TOTALLY wrong about as MSG is basically Duke's second home and they play extremely well there, and you have a win by Duke, and probably a blowout.

Rudedog: Thankful said 10/09, 02:41 PM
Ya know, you can just admit you were wrong and it's obvious Kentucky would beat Kansas. Don't have to make excuses

And I told you this in the other TD. Tell me WHY MSU will beat Duke. You did NOTHING but list players. I can list players too. But that tells me or the voters nothing.

You also don't acknowledge a single person on either of the teams I listed. What about Duke with 2 freshman in their biggest game to date at that point? There's an argument for ya.

Duke is a fast starting team. The last 3 years, they are 34-2 in the months of November and December. MSU is just 29-9 over the same 3-year stretch in Nov. and Dec.

Also, MSU lost a ton of leadership in Kalin Lucas and Durrell Summers. They don't have a lot of height and also don't have the wing players they've had in the past. In the end, Duke is simply going to have too many weapons for them to keep up with.

As for OSU-UF, way to not mention that OSU is returning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year in Sullinger. Or the fact they do have a lot of talent coming to the team this year as well as a dominant front court.

I'm waiting for the arguments, Sparky

Rudedog: Thankful said 10/09, 09:22 PM
Ya know, outside of the freshman, all those "inexperienced" upperclassmen, which is what Curry, Kelly, and Plumlee are as they are all juniors, have championship rings. They probably don't have a clue what they're doing out there.

And the "experience" MSU has is a sophomore?

Let's talk Florida-OSU

Florida lost Chandler Parsons (former SEC POY), Vernon Macklin, and Alex Tyus. In total, that's 42 ppg (58%), 19.4 rpg (52%), and 5.4 apg (38%). That's a lot of production lost. And this early into the year, Florida will be trying to figure out how to replace those guys. Losing your top 2 big men isn't going to be easy to replace.

Then considering the fact Florida is facing the best big man in the country, and you expect them to win? On what basis, Sparky? They may have a talented back court, but it's the battle down low that wins you games. And OSU CERTAINLY has a better front court that UF. It'll be a physical game OSU wins

In the end, you made a bunch of predictions that had no basis and you didn't give reasoning. Sometimes, you gotta admit you don't know what you're talking about. You can't list stats in TDs and expect people to be woo'ed by them.

DJRoxalot said 10/10, 01:12 PM
Kelly and Plumlee were major contributors when they won?

Smith and Singler were on the 2009-10 title team. Oh, and Jon Scheyer. Plumlee averaged 3.7ppg in 14mpg and Kelly averaged 1.2ppg in 6.5mpg. Curry didn't play.

Both coaches are excellent at what they do, but Tom Izzo gets more out of less. Typically, Duke always has a better recruiting class. I am not saying Izzo doesn't get good players, but he has to work much harder than coach K does.

The Ohio State front court is better, point taken. But they don't dribble the ball upcourt by themselves. They need guards to get them the ball. And the Gators have a huge advantage there. The experience is right there for all to see.

Florida lost a lot.

Enter Rosario. The guy was an excellent freshman for Rutgers and will step in and give them 3 excellent and experienced players in a 3 guard lineup. I don't think it's much of a stretch for him to average 17-18ppg with better talent around him than he had at Rutgers.

The Gators return a lot more talent to a team that made it to the Elite 8 while OSU lost in the Sweet 16. Gators win a great game between 2 excellent teams.