2016 NCAA Tournament...Lions in tournament?

[slblions08]

Anybody wants to talk about the NCAA tourney...or even the NIT we can do this here.

By the way our starting 5 almost made it to the NCAAs


PG Kyron Cartwright is part of the one of the best backcourts at Providence along with future lottery pick Kris Dunn. Basically, with Dunn and Cartwright the Friars play a two PG attack. Dunn is obviously the surefire star there and the reason they are in the tourney, but you'll catch our PG tossing alley-oops to the big men.

SF Elijah Stewart is a key piece on the USC Trojan basketball resurgence. USC beat UCLA 3 times this year, and was still a bubble team which a testament to the rise of to the Pac 12 in basketball this season. These guys are finally playing like Andy Enfield wanted. Not quite Dunk City, but they are high flying.

Of course, fate would have it that Providence plays USC in the opening round. I'm sure it will be on locally, so if you want to see what our sophomore backcourt would have looked like...well watch the tourney.

Additionally...

C Patson Siame's Florida Gulf Coast team got into the tourney after a nailbiting win in the Atlantic Sun conference. But since he is a transfer, he is just watching from the bench.

Also...

PF Gabe Levin and SG Evan Payne...Levin who sat out last year and would be in his junior year at LMU, is instead the starting PF/C at Long Beach State, and boy did Levin play well for the 49ers, also coached by Myke Scholl. The Niners beat UC Irvine (mentioned in another thread) but lost to Hawaii the regular season champ in the Big West. Hats off to the Rainbows. Long Beach State will not be in the tourney, maybe they get an NIT invite, but more likely something like the CBI or CIT.


Another fun fact

FGCU also employs Tom Abatemarco and Senque Carey as assistants. By the way, 3 former Abatemarco teams in Tulsa, Colorado and FGCU are in the tourney this year.


Well anyhoo, writing this all down, I can't help but hope that the recent hike in LMU tuition will be used to buy on Dunlap's contract next year!!! The people hyping up Dunlap's recruiting should probably watch the last regime's players on TV.

Speaking of our Lions...we actually DID make it on the CBS tourney show for a split second when the head of the NCAA selection committee trashed St. Mary's for playing a weak schedule and having no top 50 wins except for Gonzaga. Apparently we were St. Mary's best road win of the year?...that is if we are indeed "Loyola" as the guy called us.

[lmulionsroar]

Long Beach State is playing in the NIT against Washington.

[golions1444]

John Montgomery is an assistant at hawaii also.

[lmulionsroar]

Max Heller is a walk on at Oregon.

[LIONS90045]

Fun link = good points slb!

I watched the Hawaii-Long Beach State game and Hawaii had too many tools vs State. Levin is a tough dude and fun to watch. State will be a force next season with Payne active.

Cartright and Stewart landed well and are probably happy for their new situations.

And I wondered where Siame went - thanks for the find. Let's see if he can control his "muggery" instincts next season.

[LIONS90045]

BYU, Saint Mary’s and Long Beach State are all in the NIT.

BYU and Saint Mary’s are both #2 seeds in their bracket.

Valparaiso is #1 in the Gaels’ bracket and Saint Bonaventure is #1 in the Cougars’ bracket.

State is #8 in their bracket – all three teams are in different brackets.

BYU plays UAB Wednesday at 7 pm on ESPNU, the Gaels play New Mexico State Tuesday at 8 pm on ESPN2, and State plays Washington also on Tuesday at 6 pm on ESPN2.

San Diego State is also in the field.

Overall, the field looks pretty strong. Should be interesting to see how the WCC fares.

www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-03-13/2016-nit-schedule

[slblions08]

You're right Lions, the NIT field was pretty strong because there was some tourney worthy teams in there that were better than some of the 68!

St. Mary's won on a stupid ending. NM State tied it and then a guy fouled Rahon in the backcourt with 2 seconds left.

Long Beach state lost to Washington in a game where both teams scored above 100

[lmulionsroar]

Here is a story from the LA TIMES:

www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-providence-usc-20160316-story.html

[lmu2015]

Anyone else think it is interesting that both saint Mary's and byu are 2 seeds in the NIT?

[LIONS90045]

Nice article roar - thanks.

The NIT is definitely not the NCAAs - home court and seeding are important in the NIT for sure. I think that was one factor in the 49ers loss to Washington.

And it helped the Gaels to a win. After dominating almost the entire game, the Gaels showed weakness late and almost blew it last night. Kudos to New Mexico State for their grit to come back as they did and negative-kudos for their stupid last second foul which cost them the game.

Go WCC!

BYU has home court advantage tonight.

[slblions08]

Great game between Providence and USC. Stewart missed a late FT so did others . He shot great. Wish we had a 3 point shooter on our team . Meanwhile Cartwright got into foul trouble but played well and showed great handles.

Sera Sera...

[lmu2015]

Gonzaga was fortunate that seton hall had such an off night on offense, but the Zags did play great defense and showed incredible patience on offense.

[LIONS90045]

I thought the Zags and Seton Hall played a very physical game and the refs let them play. Both teams tired a bit in the first half but the Zags wore them down in the second, which wasn't as physical. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured during the contest - there was a lot of banging.

Re USC, they blew it. Providence had too many opportunties at the end of the geame and FTs didn't fall for the Trojans. USC is lucky they didn't lose by 5 or 6 given the end game I saw.

[slblions08]

Gonzaga has a favorable matchup tonight against Utah if they hit outside shots and continue to play D. Sabonis vs Poetl will be fun. Wiltjer can take over but he's been inconsistent . With Michigan St out, the winner has a good shot to advance to the Elite 8.

Locally USC and Bako lost and there are no California teams left.

[lmu2015]

Gonzaga looked good, i expect them to be able to beat both Cuse and MTSU for a chance at the elite 8.