Well, I watched the espn broadcast today of Tuesday night's game. Jay Bilas made the ridiculous statement that (paraphrase) "Not one of this year's Top-5 would be good enough to be in last year's Top-5. Yes, he made the unprovable statement. Of course, we all know who was crowned last year...
Did Bilas Really say ?
- Thread starter ChapelHeeled
- Start date
He is probably right. Duke UK and Kentucky were pretty dominant. Who else was in the top 5? I'd def say he is right through the top 3 at least.
I meant to say Wisconsin.
UVA and Arizona weren't more dominant than any team this year though.
Uva with Justin Anderson was pretty great, and Arizona was loaded with talent. I think his statement is really directed at the incoming freshman class and its perceived inferiority to last years. That being said, as wide open as this year is, I see Kentucky and UNC as early favorites. Kentucky on talent, UNC on experience and having a bonafide superstar in M.P.
Ridiculous statement seeing as how virtually UNC's same team as last year almost took out Wisconsin in the tournament. Given an extra year of experience to almost every key position, I would say they would be at a minimum on par with a team that played in the championship last year.
Of course that doesn't guarantee us anything but we can be very hopeful and enjoy a really fun season of watching this TEAM.
Of course that doesn't guarantee us anything but we can be very hopeful and enjoy a really fun season of watching this TEAM.
It's not that ridiculous of a statement, and it doesn't mean we couldn't beat one of those teams this year or last year. Those teams were all really good and clearly better than everyone else on 9/10 days. That's his point. There is no one this year in the top 10 that couldn't beat us one 1/3 games probably.
I'd say he's right about no team in the country right now being as good as the top 5 from the end of last year.
However, come March - I could see a couple teams being every bit as good as those teams were at the end of least year. Long season for potential growth/improvement ahead.
However, come March - I could see a couple teams being every bit as good as those teams were at the end of least year. Long season for potential growth/improvement ahead.
I think I agree with Bilas. It's not that our Heels or any other team couldn't beat those top 5 teams from last year. It's that night in and night out, there's not a team this year that's as consistently good as the top 5 teams from last year. And like I said, I think I agree with that. But, we may show throughout this season that we are consistently good. So we should revisit this topic in March. We might think differently then. But even then, I think there would only be 2 teams that could possibly reach the consistency of the teams that were ranked in the top 5 last year - us and UK.
I think a lot of people are overlooking MSU. I'm sure they'll lose some games but right now they seem to playing some mighty fine ball. IMO they are playing much better than Kentucky, dook, or us up to the Maryland game.
I think people are reading a bit too much into the comment. Granted, I've re-watched the game twice now.....I liked it that much.
He hedged pretty hard - his exact language was: " I'm not sure if I'd say any team this year, I would put in the top 5 of last year".... he made this comment without listing the top 5 last year, or going into some deep team by team comparative analysis. I'd put Maryland and UNC this year in the top 4-5 last year, FWIW,.... but...
Bilas' overall point is one that I think everyone could agree on. He said we don't have a load of lotto picks like we did in the past ('05, '09)... but we have a good complement of smart talented kids that play together and have a lot of experience and leadership. We have the pieces we need to win it all this year. They said Maryland does too.
His other major point was that you don't have to be the greatest team across multiple years to win it all. You just have to be good enough, (talent + leadership + health + some luck) to win 6 games in March against THIS YEAR'S field. He's just saying the top of this year's field is weaker than last year's, and we're good enough to have as good a chance as anyone to come out on top of THIS YEAR's field.
That's not a slight or a shot at us. I believe Bilas would've said exactly the same thing about how teams in 2006 weren't as good as UNC or Illinois or Arizona in 2005; and nobody in 2010 was close to our 2009 team.
Last thing - if I had my TV wish, I'd have Shulman and Bilas doEVERY Heels TV game. No gimmicks, no hysteria, no cheap shots, no worn out 30 years old schtick, no school / conference bias..... Just smart, witty, enjoyable, insightful commentary - "easy listening". They are great, I think. most everyone else sucks, in comparison (except at tourney time - Kevin Harlan).
Fair enough, but I'll put this team on the floor vs any of those that ended up in last season's Final 4 ---
--- our December 2015 team vs their December 2014 team --- and I'll just say I like our chances.
Good point. I'll add that too many of the top Frosh decided to go and play for crappy programs: Simmons to LSU is a waste of talent, Zimmerman will lose a lot of games at Utah while Brown and Rabb will do the same at California.
Put some of those guys into better programs and you get better/ more dominant teams.
Other top 20 ranked players aren't quite having the same impact as previous classes too.
All makes for a flatter playing field, not necessarily worse, just no really dominant teams yet.
I watched a bit of that game. I think one problem with Kentucky and the one and done era teams is the complacency some of the younger players have against inferior competition. You will never see that with teams with 3 and 4 year players because the older guys know the value of each game and each opportunity. imo
We were a dominant team in 09 and we still lost to a mid major and by 30 to fsu i think.
Your thinking might be a problem here... The 08-09 team finished 34-4! Only one loss was over three points. That was a mere seven point loss. As for comparisons between this year and last year, UNC had Dook twice. However, since those two teams will not play this season there is not any way to forecast who would win the hypothetical game (even though it would probably be UNC). Again, Bilas made an unprovable statement as far as any reasonable person would conclude. Hope the link below helps you iamajerko. The stats are all there for 2008-2009. Your statement is flat wrong and a bit ridiculous as well...
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/north-carolina/2009.html
2011-2012 was the season. Lost by 10 to UNLV. Lost by 33 to FSU. Lost by 13 to KU in the tourney after Marshall broke his wrist.
We were considered dominant that year as well as UK.
We were considered dominant that year as well as UK.
I am not sure if you are not like understanding the English language, but I clearly said I was wrong when I said "Yeah I am thinking of a different year. Maybe 2011? 2009 was the year we were 0-2 in ACC play.".
Like, is there any point to trying to be an ass here?
Check your facts next time. That way you will not have to end up admitting that you were wrong to begin with. Incorrect facts are unnecessary facts and they always will be...
Not sure what the cause of the hostility towards imajericho is. He was referencing something that did happen (the big loss to FSU) he just mixed up the year it happened in. And his underlying message was that we can look bad in a game or two - and still be one of the best teams in the country.
Maybe. He justifiably called you an ass after you unjustifiably jumped down his throat for being off a couple years on a fairly meaningless comment. Seems like a non-issue to me.
I asked what the purpose of being an ass to me was. To be more specific. That said, not worried about it. If he wants to be a hostile person, so be it.
Any more updates on Alkins or Robinson?
Any more updates on Alkins or Robinson?
I respect your opinion but completely disagree.
I think UNC is the best team so far, even with a loss. I think Mich St is a close second. But it's early and I think by the end of the year we'll be as good as anyone.
As far as this years UNC's team being better than UK, Duke, or Wisconsin teams last year in December, I completely disagree with you. And I really thought about what you said and don't understand how you could believe that.
I don't understand why people just can't enjoy their team year to year without having to judge them against previous teams. Last year is gone. It's done.
UNC to me, is the team to beat as of now with Mich St. I have no problem in saying that.
But we'll see by the end of the season.
He might be right. Wisconsin and Arizona are the only teams I could make an argurment that UNC is a better team this year than those two teams last year.
Well, I'm only comparing because of the narrative out there among the media types that there are no "dominant" teams this season. Mich State is already better than they were last season, and so are we.... and this lineup has only been on the floor twice. So yeah, we'll watch and see.I respect your opinion but completely disagree.
I think UNC is the best team so far, even with a loss. I think Mich St is a close second. But it's early and I think by the end of the year we'll be as good as anyone.
As far as this years UNC's team being better than UK, Duke, or Wisconsin teams last year in December, I completely disagree with you. And I really thought about what you said and don't understand how you could believe that.
I don't understand why people just can't enjoy their team year to year without having to judge them against previous teams. Last year is gone. It's done.
UNC to me, is the team to beat as of now with Mich St. I have no problem in saying that.
But we'll see by the end of the season.
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