NCAA Tournament Thread

[daHUPride]

ROLL PRIDE!!!
vs
Roll Tide

[JoeyBagODonuts1]

Hofstra alumnus Jon Cooper has done pretty well in that building for the past 13 years. Hopefully some of that Hofstra mojo is there for us!

[Wags]

Hofstra alumnus Jon Cooper has done pretty well in that building for the past 13 years. Hopefully some of that Hofstra mojo is there for us!

Maybe for some extra inspiration, he can get them to hang a Hofstra 2026 CAA Champions banner next to the Lightning's Stanley Cup banners, just for the weekend?

[HUSID74]

Two more from our wonderful local paper...clearly on the bandwagon now!

https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ ... n-wimc6lxn

https://www.newsday.com/sports/college/ ... m_term=sub

[Flying Dutchmen]

The reality is it’s the best matchup we could ask for in a 4/13 game.

We don’t want to run with Alabama which is a big advantage for us. Alabama also is not overly big, does not generate many turnovers and relies on the 3 even more than us.

We just have to play our game, stay out of the track meet. Use our gameplan vs W&M as a template.

[triplec2195]

Yeah agreed but lets be honest Alabama is a bit better then W&M. They have 6 players who average in double figures. They score 91.7 a game and give up 83.5. We score 75.6 and give up 66 so something is going to have to give here. If our D can hold them in the 60's lower 70's probably have a very good chance to win. I wonder what the probability of that happening!

[Wags]

https://x.com/CBSSportsCBB/status/2033338490004308268

[Wags]

something is going to have to give here.

Something is going to have to give.

Hofstra: 21-1 allowing under 70 pts, 3-9 otherwise
Alabama: 21-1 scoring scoring 89 pts or more, 2-8 otherwise (hasn't scored under 71 pts yet).

[EvanJ]

I am impressed that Newsday has https://newsday.sports.gracenote.com/ba ... stics/2396 with our statistics going back to 2014-2015.

On ESPN, we are the third least picked champion, albeit most teams are picked to be champion by a negligible percent of people. 10 seed Santa Clara is the least picked champion, and 14 seed Wright State is the second least picked champion. ESPN groups teams that play each other in the First Four together. 16 seed Long Island is the 26th most picked champion, meaning they would be a 7 seed if you seeded teams based on what percent of people picked them to be champion. That will change when more people make brackets, and I expect us to rise, and Long Island to fall. Some people make intentionally bad brackets. There was a name "This Bracket Will Lose." Duke is the most picked champion with 26.5 percent. Last year they were picked to win by 25 percent of brackets.

Excluding four teams that are new to Division I and ineligible, ESPN says that 38 Division I teams have never played in the NCAA Tournament. That includes Elon and William & Mary.

[Wags]

Touching:

https://x.com/KMaherNews12/status/2033167571793416505

[Hof_Judge99]

Alabama’s second leading scorer Aden Holloway was arrested this morning in Tuscaloosa. Not sure if it will impact his game status but worth watching.

https://x.com/_nickkelly/status/2033563 ... 16270?s=46


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Polito]

Been on cloud 9, this is just awesome, loving every minute - can only imagine the team and staff!

Look, there isn't an "easy" 4 seed, every team was going to be a battle... we heard possibilities of Purdue, Kansas, Texas Tech, Gonzaga, UVA, I mean it's the tournament, it's time to cowboy up! I love this matchup, and I love this location - frankly, we got a GREAT draw - pleasantly surprised! Some got screwed including our next door neighbors, we got rewarded - and that bracket is fully ripe for some chaos, another benefit for HU.

I have family connections to Bama, become a big fan, and we all rooted them on with Estrada - but they know very little of us, understandably, so it's time for our fellas to introduce themselves and put HU back on the map in a big way. Nate Oates is a good one, and he comes from a mid major (Buffalo), so he knows the mid major life and the underrated quality of it well.

His team is good, they have strong guard play, with some talented returners from an Elite 8 team - we need to bring our absolute A game, and we will need Cruz at top form - but all the pressure is on them, we are playing with free money, play loose, attack, and let it fly baby.

It will be a tough game, but they always are, that's what makes it great and the upsets so awesome - and there will be this year too, just a matter of us being one of them - and I fully believe that HU can win this game.

And this Roll Tide vs Roll Pride is just perfect - we have the chance to epitomize March - let's show 'em what we're made of!

[JoeyBagODonuts1]

Alabama’s second leading scorer Aden Holloway was arrested this morning in Tuscaloosa. Not sure if it will impact his game status but worth watching.

https://x.com/_nickkelly/status/2033563 ... 16270?s=46


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Full story from ESPN:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ana-charge

[cactus]

Its a felony drug charge which usually results in immediate suspension. But, its marijuana, and in many other places in the US, 1 lb is just a violation or misdemeanor. So interesting to see how this shakes out.

[Wags]

Well, THAT would certainly help Hofstra with getting the game down to more of a score that they'd like instead of where Alabama wants it. How can he not be more careful at a time like this? I wouldn't want to win that way. Rather beat Bama at full strength, but I'd still gladly take it if he's out and that would help Hofstra win!

[Hof_Judge99]

Its a felony drug charge which usually results in immediate suspension. But, its marijuana, and in many other places in the US, 1 lb is just a violation or misdemeanor. So interesting to see how this shakes out.

Report just says "more than one pound" so who knows how much more. Keep in mind Alabama had a player named Brandon Miller in 2023 who gave a firearm to a teammate that was used in a shooting and Oats (or anyone else for that matter) didn't suspend him. What that means for Friday no idea but obvs Speedy and the gang should prepare as if he's playing.

[Polito]

That would certainly be a helpful turn of events for us, although silly for the kid to be wrapped up in that stuff with a big career ahead... but remember, this is Alabama and the SEC. Stars have played plenty after committing FAR worse - let's see how it plays out. I love the south, but I also know that this is big time sports and much gets let go, especially in states where the university has heavy control over outcomes. Either way, won't impact HU's prep I'm sure - he's playing until he isn't. Our game plan will likely remain the same - score at least one more point than they do

[triplec2195]

They have a lot of kids getting minutes so even if he doesn't play it will be the next man up mentality and the next man up is averaging double figures and will get more minutes. It may be though if he does play his head might not be in the game and that could be an advantage for us. It definitely adds some drama to this game.

[Wags]

I like playing on Friday. I don't need the stress of Hofstra's first NCAAT game in 25 years right out of the gate. Can ease into the tournament on the first day, enjoy some of that first, and then see they do on Friday. Also, if they lose, it's nice to stay around until the second day, at least. Sucks for fans of teams that lose in the First Four or within the first couple of games on Thursday afternoon, and they're already done before we really start getting into the tournament. That said, let's also see how we do on Sunday!

[joeg1]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ana-charge