See Red

That was a really good game that didn't feel like it because there was no crowd.  Bummer because the actual play feels better than the XFL (imo, anyway) and the broadcasts are better but the empty stadiums just kill my interest. 

The AAF would've called it a sellout. They were awful about exaggerating attendance.  Ahhh... I do miss the AAF. 

So far, while I don't like the hub city structure they use and will struggle to really get into games played in empty stadiums, the USFL feels like a step-up from the XFL to me.  The presentation,  at least.  But then, anything would be an upgrade over ESPN's XFL coverage with their second- tier CFB commentators and constant talk about spreads and over/unders. 

4 hours ago, TrueYankee26 said:

And the Rays are the 1st team to start...

 

8-0 for the 1st time since 2003 Royals

8-0 while winning those games by 4 or more runs for the 1st time since the 1939 Yankees who did it in their first 10 games

8-0 with a run differential of 46 for the 1st time since the 1884 St. Louis Gothams (+68) and New York Gothams (+48)

 

 

Tack on an 11-0 win over Oakland just now to this. Through nine games, more homeruns than runs allowed.  Their HR pace is insane right now.  57 run differential.  9-0 and not a single save opportunity. 

It would be a compelling argument if UConn was eking out wins against Arkansas, SDSU, Miami, etc. Not when they're trouncing them the way they did.

1 hour ago, Unocal said:

 

UConn may be better, but they won't have the luck of avoiding top 2 seeds and getting to face THREE 5 seeds and an 8

Maybe the teams that couldn't beat the teams that couldn't beat UConn would have beaten UConn.

They were undefeated in non-conference play winning, everyone of those games by double digits, all but one by 15+, and by an average of 25 pts. They won all of their tournament games by 13+ and by an average of, like, 20 pts. They had walk-ons playing garbage time during every single tournament game.

They were clearly the best team in the country. 

6 hours ago, crashcarson15 said:

Yeah, like, this UConn team was very comfortably the best team in the country outside of the like, four weeks in the middle of the season where they entirely forgot what they were doing

The problem was they got into conference play where the opponents are more familiar with them and figured out that if you sag off of Jackson and use his guy to double Sanogo, Jackson's too poor of a shooter to make you pay for it.  Hurley figured out he had to be more creative with Jackson as a cutter and screener which turned Jackson into a far more effective player and made Sanogo impossible to defend without opening up the rest of the offense.

Pretty good chance UConn will be better next year, too.  Sanogo falls into that dominant college player that doesn't  have great NBA prospects category, so he may come back (although he can't make NIL, so maybe not), and Jackson said he's coming back. Hawkins will enter the draft, though. 

1 minute ago, Unocal said:

Dan Hurley might be the most random coach to win a national title since Jim Harrick

That would be Kevin Ollie, who won with Calhoun's guys and proceeded to run the program into irrelevance .

Dan Hurley built this buzzsaw.  Nothing random about it.

UConn had zero titles 25 years ago. About to win #5. 

What a dominant tourney run!

4 minutes ago, Unocal said:

 

Does KenPom measure UConn's terrible record in close games?

The mood must be real somber in UConn's locker room right now knowing they don't win close games.

43 minutes ago, Dynasty said:

I don't even remember UConn being that great in the regular season. They tended to hover between like 15-25 in rankings and lost a couple of games where they were (or should've been) the better team.

 

They got hot at the perfect time so good for them. This tournament was still pretty fun.

 

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Sure, SDSU has a shot at beating them but you know, they won't.

 

UConn was probably the best team in the country save for a 3 week stretch in January where they lost 6 of 8 to start Big East play.  They started 14-0, hit their rough spot, made adjustments and then won 9 of 11.  KenPom was always high on them, though.

Didn't watch the game but Orlando looked a lot better the last few weeks with Dormady at QB, so while it's still surprising they beat DC, I figured they were going to catch somebody one of these weeks.

Really feel for FAU, but that was an awesome game!

Yeah, this guy shouldn't get to be an umpire anymore. 

Texas choked but I didn't agree with that pivotal foul on the rebound. Think it should've gone against Miami. 

This second half is hard to watch with all the whistles. 

There are no "bull:censored: title runs" in college basketball.

Speaking of UConn... they're  up by 25 on Gonzaga after winning their first three games by 24, 15, and 23.  Outside of one terrible month this season, they were probably the best team in college basketball.  Impressive run so far.

Edit: up 31. UConn's an absolute buzzsaw

FAU was ranked above K-State in Ken-Pom coming into this game. Saw a lot of people say they were underseeded going into the tourney. Guess they were right!

14 minutes ago, Cujo said:

 

Would the needle move if Jeff Fisher, who just bailed the USFL, joined up the St. Louis Battlehawks? And what would their record be?

No and 4-6 since that's like the 10-game equivalent of 7-9?  Or maybe his thing isn't going 7-9, but just winning 7 games. In which case, he'd go 7-3 every year. 

1 hour ago, MJWalker45 said:

So maybe Shane Matthews should be head coach next year? Would that make a difference? I know plenty of people in San Antonio would be happy to see the backside of Hines Ward already, but the biggest issue last week was Sinnett was moving the ball, then he broke his foot. I'm actually surprised Jawon Pass hadn't made an appearance yet this year. 

Yeah, I don't know. He'd been OC for one of the Gainesville High Schools so that would be a pretty big leap. Plus his playcalling hasn't been impressive for the Guardians so far. 

It does seem like they tried to draw some interest off of the CFB programs with a former Seminole in Buckley and Matthews calling plays. It's just neither of them are any good and Buckley is unlikable to boot.  The Spurrier thing's almost impossible to replicate.   Legendary player and coach of the local college's team in a college football crazy state. He left the program near his peak on good terms, is still associated with the school, and was one of the all-time great coaches. 

17 minutes ago, McCall said:

Tim Tebow , Head Coach - Orlando Guardians

I stand corrected... Florida fans would show up for Tebow. He just doesn't come with the guarantee that the team will be well-coached. 

It helped that Orlando's AAF team was coached by Steve Spurrier.  His involvement alone generated interest among Florida fans, and there's a lot of them in Central Florida.  The AAF is the only spring league I've really gotten into and it's owed entirely to his involvement.

9 minutes ago, TrueYankee26 said:

And today will not go upset-less. Florida Atlantic beats Tennessee

Can beating Rick Barnes in the tournament even be considered an upset?  Terrible coach once the tournament rolls around. 

UConn looks like a buzzsaw right now. 

It's been 20 years?!

What an awesome game!  Japan walks it off!

This doesn't make sense to me. Feel like he could've gotten a lot more.