Non-Lady Vol Basketball News 2024-25

#19,626
#19,626
volnationnj said:
This was posted on another board. It seems that lower seeds get home court advantage quite frequently:
In 2019, Louisville was the #1 seed in Bridgeport. In the same regional, UConn was #2. Mississippi State was the #1 seed in Portland, with Oregon as #2. Baylor was the #1 seed in Greensboro with NC State at #3 and SC at #4.

In 2018, Notre Dame was the #1 seed in Spokane. In the same regional, Oregon was #2.

In 2017, Note Dame was the #1 seed in Lexington, KY (their closest regional), but they let Kentucky stay home as the #4 seed.

In 2016, Notre Dame was the #1 seed in Lexington, KY (their closest regional), but they let Kentucky stay home as the #3 seed.

Then, going back to 2000 and just looking at UConn's seeding/parings...

In 2014, UConn was the #1 seed in Lincoln, NE. In the same regional, Nebraska was the #4 and Oklahoma was the #10. Same year, South Carolina was the #1 seed ON STANFORD'S HOME FLOOR with Stanford as the #2 seed.

In 2010, UConn was the #1 seed in Dayton, OH. In the same regional, Ohio State was the #2 seed.

In 2007, UConn was the #1 seed in Fresno, CA. In the same regional, Stanford was the #2 seed.

In 2003, UConn was the #1 seed in Dayton, OH. In the same regional, Purdue (~3 hours from Dayton) was the #2 seed. Same, year, LSU was the #1 seed on Stanford's home floor with Stanford as the #3 seed.

In 2000, UConn was the #1 seed in Richmond, VA. In the same regional, Duke (~2 from Richmond) was the #2 seed.
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Thanks for posting this. I knew about a couple of these, but didn't realize it happened so frequently. Probably because UConn is rarely not a #1 seed, so it wasn't as noticeable when they were the "underdog" in Bridgeport or Albany.

I still think that the S-Curve should be done away with. Make it transparent: 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5. If you end up with a lower seed in a favorable region, so be it. But don't "gift" it to them.
 
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#19,627
#19,627
JBB1985 said:
Of course the NCAAW has to think about fan base ticket sales, fan-driven local/ regional media coverage, and TV ratings -- most years at the most 1-2 WCBB teams make money, including the two best ever WCBB programs. They have to look in the Northeast and react when dumpy Albany bids the most for Regional (and is 130 miles from UConn) or when dumpy B'port bids the most because the profit-making semi-professional leagues of the NCAA are in it for the money. Eastern Regionals way back when were in NJ or NYC or VA, but those places/ arenas don't bid squat for WCBB anymore. So if Albany or Bridgeport outbid South Bend, Chapel Hill, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, San Jose/ Palo Alto and other nearby cities or homes of top tier programs, NCAAW picks the money. If UConn is ranked nationally #1 or #2 and have a fan base that buys tickets, of course a Regional is geographically favored for them.. But they have won over 90% of games in CT and won over 90% of games outside of CT. Last NCAAWs outside of UConn's region was when they went to Lincoln, Nebraska. They still won and on to the FF. For decades Tenn had the same plusses with the usually very high ranking, a massive fan base, and superior media coverage. In her prime, how often did Pat Summitt teams play more than 150-180 miles away even in the more geographically dispersed southeast America? Pat won, she earned it. Typically, when Tara or Auriemma win big reg season, they earn preferred location early rounds in impoverished WCBB. NCAAW is so rich, yet in individual sports they pinch nickels and dimes like WCBB that doesn't make money. It is a curse of most female sports at college level, as well as pro levels, but NCAA is less involved at that level.
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This is why the sport will never grow. Because there aren't WCBB fans; they are all mostly fans of individual teams. I can't remember the year they last tried this, but they had the right idea when 1st/2nd rounds were held at neutral sites. Unfortunately, it was to empty arenas because "fans" don't go to the games unless "their" team is playing, and that's a crying shame.
 
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#19,628
#19,628
lvocd said:
I agree. I said months ago that the injuries to starters, IF everyone is back at least a couple weeks before the NCAA Tournament, will have served to make the team much better because most of the roster will have gotten the experience of playing bigger roles than they would have if Auriemma hadn't been forced into it.

Unfortunately, my prediction is coming true. Ugh. :confused:
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It may have been ugh from your perspective but it was also very perceptive. Injuries early in the season doesn't just allow time for recovery and it also allows the team time to compensate for the missing players. It gives other players the opportunity to step up which doesn't always happen overnight.

Injuries to key players late in the season can be devastating.
 
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#19,631
#19,631
stlvolsfan said:
Anyone else find it odd that Kim Mulkey hasn’t said a word about Brittney Griner? She has so much mouth but has zero to say about a player who she rode all the way to a Natty…
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That's just how she operates if you ask me and I wish she didn't but to some of these coaches its all about basketball, some don't truly care about them outside of what the player can do for them. Not saying she is one of them, but I definitely think she should've have said something by now.
 
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#19,632
#19,632
mlindsay said:
That's just how she operates if you ask me and I wish she didn't but to some of these coaches its all about basketball, some don't truly care about them outside of what the player can do for them. Not saying she is one of them, but I definitely think she should've have said something by now.
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IDK about Kim but the more stink raised about Griner now, the more political things become and right now, that may not be in Griners favor.
 
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#19,634
#19,634
I hope Brittney finds the help she needs to get out of that place. Sad that so many times Brittney seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She escaped the last one without injury hopefully she can get out of Russia. They are trying to give her a 10 year prison sentence.
 
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#19,638
#19,638
Rickster said:
IDK about Kim but the more stink raised about Griner now, the more political things become and right now, that may not be in Griners favor.
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Yeah, I agree. This has been kept secret for like a month, and it only hit the media because Russia decided to release it. BG's teammates in Russia knew, her family in the US knew, the WNBA knew...yet everyone kept quiet about it. They probably were trying to negotiate terms for her release discretely, but that's fallen by the wayside with the war.
 
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#19,641
#19,641
Amb3096 said:
Except it's not. Weed isn't legal in all states. I don't think it's legal in Tennessee. If someone was caught flying into Tennessee with a bag full of weed vape cartridges, I'm pretty sure they would have problems.
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You’re making the assumption that that report is true. Not saying it’s not, but wouldn’t be shocked if it wasn’t.
 
#19,642
#19,642
Amb3096 said:
Except it's not. Weed isn't legal in all states. I don't think it's legal in Tennessee. If someone was caught flying into Tennessee with a bag full of weed vape cartridges, I'm pretty sure they would have problems.
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Yes there was a basketball player that had some which was legal in California, but when he flew home to Texas he was caught and it was illegal there. Of course the severity of the penalty was a fine there and in Russia 10 years in jail. We all know why they did it and why she is not out of there already.
 
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#19,643
#19,643
stlvolsfan said:
You’re making the assumption that that report is true. Not saying it’s not, but wouldn’t be shocked if it wasn’t.
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I'm only speaking about the legality of weed vape cartridges in the USA. It's still illegal to transport in some states.

I wouldn't be shocked if Russia planted it, but I haven't seen anyone from her camp saying that she was falsely accused either...so I wouldn't be surprised if Brittany carelessly did try to bring it with her to Russia.
 
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#19,644
#19,644
Just to add, I was curious what the US state penalties are for marijuana possession. This is Alabama's:
  • Any amount for personal use: Up to 1 year in jail, $6,000 fine
  • Any amount for personal use (second or subsequent offense): 1-5 years in jail, up to $7,500 fine
  • Any amount for non-personal use: 1-10 years in jail, up to $15,000 fine
I bolded that last one, because I think that's what the charge against Brittany is. It was classified as "large scale", so she had more than just 1 vape pen that she was using. She probably had enough to last her until the end of the basketball season in late May. It's probable that if that happened in the US, they might downgrade to personal use given the circumstances and who she is, but I bet that the Russians will follow the letter of the law to the "T". This is gonna be really scary for her, and I don't know if she'll be able to get out of there anytime soon. This could draw out for years like with those Marines that are still there.
 
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#19,645
#19,645
Amb3096 said:
I'm only speaking about the legality of weed vape cartridges in the USA. It's still illegal to transport in some states.

I wouldn't be shocked if Russia planted it, but I haven't seen anyone from her camp saying that she was falsely accused either...so I wouldn't be surprised if Brittany carelessly did try to bring it with her to Russia.
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A couple of things - This happened weeks before the war started. IMO totally unrelated. What motive would they have to plant drugs on Griner? In the scheme of things she's not exactly a high visibility athlete. Her value as a bargaining chip is probably minimal.

The photos of her going through security were pretty clear. Apparently a dog sniffed her bag and she was busted. The problem now is because of the current political situation we have little leverage although I'm sure there is some behind the scenes stuff going on and since this is Russia some money quietly changing hands might get her released.
 
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#19,646
#19,646
brassie said:
A couple of things - This happened weeks before the war started. IMO totally unrelated. What motive would they have to plant drugs on Griner? In the scheme of things she's not exactly a high visibility athlete. Her value as a bargaining chip is probably minimal.

The photos of her going through security were pretty clear. Apparently a dog sniffed her bag and she was busted. The problem now is because of the current political situation we have little leverage although I'm sure there is some behind the scenes stuff going on and since this is Russia some money quietly changing hands might get her released.
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I agree with everything you said. No one knows anything conclusively, but if my life depended on it and I had to choose a scenario, I would say that Brittany did what she's accused of. The video that was posted looked just like what we see from TSA at airports in the USA every day. She didn't look visibly shocked when the agent pulled out the cartridges and she remained calm the entire time. The silence from her camp regarding her innocence is quite telling as well.

I don't entirely agree however that it might be as easy as paying some cash to get her out. If that was the case, the Marines would be out already. And yes, she's not a high visibility athlete as a WNBA player, but she is as a 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist from the USA. Putin himself will make sure he asks "top dollar" for her release, and the currency probably won't be US dollars.
 
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#19,648
#19,648
Amb3096 said:
I agree with everything you said. No one knows anything conclusively, but if my life depended on it and I had to choose a scenario, I would say that Brittany did what she's accused of. The video that was posted looked just like what we see from TSA at airports in the USA every day. She didn't look visibly shocked when the agent pulled out the cartridges and she remained calm the entire time. The silence from her camp regarding her innocence is quite telling as well.

I don't entirely agree however that it might be as easy as paying some cash to get her out. If that was the case, the Marines would be out already. And yes, she's not a high visibility athlete as a WNBA player, but she is as a 3-time Olympic Gold Medalist from the USA. Putin himself will make sure he asks "top dollar" for her release, and the currency probably won't be US dollars.
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Re the "Marines" being held in Russia. Both of them had served as Marines and I know the old saw about "once a Marine . . . " but neither of these guys are serving Marines. One of them (Reed) got sheetfaced drunk, the cops were called and he got into a punchup with them. He was convicted of assaulting a police officer and he got a stiff sentence. His girl friend said it wasn't true because he was so drunk he couldn't fight. He said he was so drunk he didn't remember anything except that he is innocent. Great defense. In the US he probably would have been sentenced to one week's probation.

The other guy is right where he belongs. He holds citizenship in 4 countries and received a bad conduct discharge from the Marines for theft, among other things. He was in Russia to attend a friend's wedding that he didn't attend. He was supposedly working some kind of security job for Borg Warner. When arrested he had $80,000 in cash on him and a thumb drive containing a list of employees at a classified Russian security agency.

So despite media making them out like some poor misunderstood military guys, they are probably both where they belong. The same might be true for Griner.
 
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