NCAA early lines

[frame11]

Woke up this morning and delighted to see Syracuse only giving 2.5 to Louisville. As of late I think louisville has been a little overrated and I believe them beating West Virginia was a huge upset even though they were only 3.5 dogs. My theory is big upset little letdown. Although this could be a trap play I like Syracuse and there inside presence to win by 10 also I like Kansas State at home tonite they are a great home team and as a dog at home getting 4 I lik them even better.

Syracuse -2.5
Kansas State +4
Ytd 1-2

[Louie]

Hey there Frame...Good luck with ur plays tonight & ...

I like KState play...love the inter-conference home puppies...

I'll be watching this Cuse/Louisville game as I am into big east hoops. I want to offer some toughts on this one.

Warning to Frame (and others): I may rant a little bit here in your thread (frame) if you don't mind (and offer some dissenting opinion to your play)...

I do hope you're not from Syracuse (as you dont have a location) listed in your profile. If you're on the iphone app, you can should be able to edit your profile if you click on the main menu. Still working on a new version for the iphone app.

Anyway, I already see the line moving in the Cuse game by a full point from 2 to 3...

The public agrees with you Frame (or Vegas may think the Cuse action is gonna get worse).

For what it's worth, I think Louisville can really ball (somehow I think they're underrated) and will be a threat in the big dance come March....I tend to lean their way here at first glance, and think they're a steal if you can get 4 at home...(but that obviously may be pushing it as I don't think the public will fall that much in love with Cuse tonight). They might be a good team to tease with another team (getting Louisville at like +7)

The reason I hate betting on Syracuse (unless they're playing a smaller team that also can't shoot at all) is the utterly rediucous 2-3 Zone. It's Cuse does on D. No 3/4 court press, no 1-3-1 traps, nothing to confuse defense, nothing force opponents to use timeouts, etd. It's just plain 2-3 and stretched 2-3

The 2-3 (any form of the 2-3...it's still a 2-3) leaves the defense vulnerable to backdoor cuts & uncontested shots at the elbow (if the defense stretchs the zone). When they don't stretch the zone, it's vulnerable to open three pointers.

It's this simple....Boehiem either counts on his opponents to....

(a) ....not be able to to beat them with the three ball (where he will pack the zone (he'll do this with smaller squads). If the opponent starts hitting the threes, he stretches it the defense leaving the moddle of the zone open for elbow jumpers and backdoors.

(b) .... not be able to hit the elbow jumpers or make the backdoor passes (or finish them). not He sometimes starts with the stretched 2-3 zone. There, he is counting on them to make bad passes or hig big guys to block the layups on the backdoor cuts. He stretch the 2-3 more often when he has a more sizable athletic squad (with an advantage over the team hes playing).

He'll probably stretch the 2-3 all night as this year he has some big guys down low to stop the backdoor cuts. But Louisville can play with the best in the land.

Either way...It's sill a 2-3 ZONE for crying out loud and there are lots of ways to beat it (you just have to penetrate and split the zone)! Louisville has players that can do this.

The 2-3 is how coaches teach PeeWee players to play defense (because PeeWee and grade school layers can't hit three pointers; and clearly don't know how to make back door cuts (unless they have a good coach).

Even thought I'm 5-7, basketball (and a little golf) was my main sport in high sohool. I was a point guard (a pretty good one too). I went hoop camps at Nova, Syracuse, Temple, St, Joes. Anyway..as a point guard, the 2-3 was the first thing they tought you how to beat (by penetation and backdoor cuts).

Keys....

Like any Syracuse game, this is going to come down to whether Patino's Cardinals can make the backdoor cuts and HIT THEIR THREES at a decent rate. There's always open three-point opportunities against Cuse.

But, if cuse is forced to sretch the zone because Louisville is banging home some threes, Patino must adjust and look to the top of the foul line (gettin inside to zone) for open jumpers and backdoors passes; were his guys must go up strong as Cuse has a nice frontline (but this is usually where the crowd inspires players to play tough in the pain)......

One thing for sure, the crowd will be behind Louisville tonight with a white out (Patino breaks out the White suit) and I think Patino may have them prepared. Both team may be a little jittery....but the total is set a little low already. Hostile environment.

But, don't take me 100% at my word too much here...why?....

Because truthfully, I am a big Jim Boehiem hater (at the same time I really like Rick Pitino a lot)......

I think Syracuse University made Jim Boehiem what he is today (and not the other way around). I think Jim BayWHINE "under coaches" his talent and gets by on his legacy more then anything....

At the same time I think Rick Patino is a great motivator (not the best X's and O's guy...but good enough for college ball) and will have his guys amped for tonight (just wonder if he'll have a good game plan of his own defense to sop cuse's depth and force more outside shots).

Jim Boehiem's lack of preperation for different styles is exactly why they get often beat in the second round of the tournament (by shity squads like Vermont that can shoot) more often then they go to the final four or the elite 8. He'll never win a title (or make a run to the final forum) when he has lesser talent (because is system is all basics that is only useful when you have the athletic advantage).

Yea, I just don't like whiney Jim Boehiem in the least.
1. I despise the stupid shrug (with his palms up) that he displays when a call doesn't go his way.
2. I can't stand when they show his wife 10 times a game (who is a 6 or maybe a 7 at best for he age), and I can't stand how the refs stop to listen to every single complaint he makes.
3. Most of all, I can't stand how digger phelps, doug gottlieb, jay bilas, and the ESPN crew talk about him like hes a god.
4. 2-3 Zone ALL THE TIME? Really?
5. Finally, he's dishonest and pompous. He lied to the national media when he said he knew nothing about the police investigation regarding the assistant coach.

I'll also say this; my sister (who played high school ball) can teach a 2-3 zone (so can my freshman basketball coach). They can also teach the "2-3 zone with man to man principles" as Bill Raftry will say at the start of the game for two reasons

(1) to kiss up to Jim B. and make him look smarter then he really is....2-3 zone is 2-3 zone..."man-to-man principles is made up
AND
(2) so Bill Raftry can act like a tool and get off to a start with his cheesy catch phrases. Yes, I am guessing I'll be watching this one on mute if Bill Raftry or Dickie V is doing the game (Raftry is the worst).

I am sorry, but telling a group of 5-star athletes "we're gonna play 2-3 zone all the time" is not coaching to me. It makes your guys unprepared for the unexpected. When someone has your zone beat or they hit the skid...what now...He never had a solution.

Cuse lost to Notre Dame because Notre Dame hit their shot and made the backdoor cuts (I expect to see that tonight from Louisville). I am starting to get excited to watch this game; even though I don't know where I am leaning....I think and over play (138) may be a good mov as I see 72-70 or 76-74 (and maybe OT)

I'll post all my picks for today shortly....Got some NBA plays that I love too...

[NattyBumpo]

I love this rant.

I used to have a similar diatribe when John Robinson came to coach at UNLV. People here thought we were on our way. Really I said???

Hes now a high school coach I think. Never seen a coach more overated. Actually I thought he stunk. Even with USC.

[Louie]

Tough day Frame...better ones ahead brother...