Notre Dame-UCLA pregame thread

[przmets]

He's obviously caught up in the jersey and the coach. Nobody that has watched UCLA this year can think they are a final four team.

 

[Swift456]

Who has Notre Dame beaten? The only "quality win" I see is Texas by one in the Maui. Georgetown at home can maybe be considered.

For what it's worth they had Louisville beaten in Louisville, but Lousiville just prounced them in OT..........I think ND has been through some real tough games , I just think it's too many points, 11 is alot.........

 

[SundayTiger]

UCLA has been crushing teams at home, but this is no Cal, Stanford, or USC.

Also this ND game is sandwiched right in b/w two huge Pac-10 games for UCLA.

 

[Cougfan]

For what it's worth they had Louisville beaten in Louisville, but Lousiville just prounced them in OT..........I think ND has been through some real tough games , I just think it's too many points, 11 is alot.........

The thing is that the last 3 games UCLA has been double digit favorites, the public has been on the underdog, and UCLA has covered easily each game. I do think 11 is a lot, but if I had to play this game it would be UCLA.

 

[Cougfan]

And Sunday, UCLA might not have the same caliber of wins but I think they have gotten much better since the beginning of the year and would not be surprised if they won out the rest of the regular season. I don't think they'll make it to the Final Four, but Sweet 16 definitely.

 

[pandaburr]

Big East is on a different level than Pac-10 hoops. My concern for ND here is they always wear down because of lack of depth.

i may do notre dame 1st half here. they really need this game.

 

[TKE683]

UCLA is really coming on and it has nothing to do with the schedule. How did you not thing they would struggle at times this year especially early. Holliday is finally playing more aggressive and every game he plays Gordon gets more and more impressive and Collison is looking to score more.
The Pac-10 is not that good, but how good is every other conference than the Big East. The ACC, Wake and Duke proved how overrated they were the other night, road games or not you can not play that bad and expect to be taken seriously and UNC blows teams out and then loses or barely gets by other teams, very inconsistent. The SEC stinks and the Big 12, decent but certainly not that much better than the Pac-10 and the Big 10, give me a break. So, yes the Pac-10 is not that good, but who is.
ND does not play any D and they will get choked by the Bruin D and yes maybe it is non-conference and the Irish need a win, but UCLA does not take games off and they need a win as well, seeding is a serious issue and they need to make a run to get at least a two seed.

 

[-Chase-]

Well apparently Chase thinks they are a final four team, but yet he can not name two quality wins UCLA has this season.

Ok, I'll be nicer. Can just name ONE quality win. Please???

what does quality wins really have to do with evaluating talent?

st marys really doesn't have a quality win. they are still the best in the wcc and would have been a major player in the tourney with mills healthy.

ucla destroys everyone in the pac 10. the pac 10 is MUCH better than the sec and big 12.

ucla had a slow start because they lost some players, but right now there is not a team playing better in the nation.

also, beating nd wouldn't be a quality win anyways, not even close. they have at least 5 or 6 wins this year that i would consider much more quality than beating notre dame.

usc is much better than nd. ucla, usc, az st, cali and washington ALL have the ability to make the sweet 16. ucla is the only big player for the final four though.

 

[-Chase-]

UCLA has been crushing teams at home, but this is no Cal, Stanford, or USC.

Also this ND game is sandwiched right in b/w two huge Pac-10 games for UCLA.

What? USC and Cal are both much better than Notre Dame. Stanford sucks, they aren't a tournament caliber team, just like Notre Dame isn't.

No clue why people think this ND team is good. It's not even like they have tons of talent and just underachieve, they have shitty players other than gody. As a whole Notre Dame is a VERY bad team.

I'll just keep fading them and collecting.

 

[Cougfan]

To add to your list Chase, I also think Arizona is better than they've shown and could make a run in the tourney.

 

[krk1030]

no, they will just get abused in a completely different way if they try to run up and down with ucla, or if they try and do a half court game with them either.

ucla should really kick their ass tomorrow. shouldn't even be close, but not a great situational spot for them.

ucla has better scoring options, better coaching, plays MUCH better defense, and has big home court adv. just don't see how notre dame keeps it close. they are awful

ok...........

 

[homedawg]

I just am not sold on ND packing it in just yet. They are full of seniors who can play, but obviously went through a really really bad stretch of games. They have lost 6 straight games, 5 of which have been to top 20 teams in the country. They still have an outside chance of making the Tournament if they win 8 out of their last 9 (which seems unlikely), but to do that they HAVE to win at UCLA. I think they can win this game straight up.

These out of conference games in the middle of conference play really do not mean much to the teams, but that is not the case for Notre Dame tomorrow. To me this is a meaningless game for UCLA. They are going to make the tournament whether they win or lose this game. I would rather my money be on the team that is more desperate. If they lose tomorrow their season is over.

UCLA on the other hand has only played 2 ranked teams all season, and are 0-2 against those ranked teams, Texas and Az St. I have watched a lot of Pac-10 games this season and the league is less than impressive. Big East teams are so much more talented than Pac-10 teams this season.

Bottom line is ND is way more battle tested and needs the game a lot more than UCLA.

Notre Dame +11...GOY type play
Notre Dame ML +(TBD)

Anyone see this one different?

i agree 100%. while ND has been toughened up fighting through the Big East, UCLA has cruised through the Pac 10. UCLA isn't the type of team to go out and hang 80 something on you like some of these Big East teams will. That is just not how Howland wins games. I can see ND scoring some points as well. UCLA has no answer for Harangody, as most teams don't. McAlraney gives the Irish good balance, and it should keep Howland from sending double team after triple team down at Gody in the post. They also won't get abused on the boards like some B.E. teams have the potential to do. Regardless of their record ND is no slouch. There is a reason they were picked in the pre season top 10, I believe ahead of UCLA? I have a feeling we are going to see some fight from the Irish tomorrow with a good shot at the upset.

GL tomorrow

 

[IrishTim]

I mean ND certainly has the potential to win this game. Up by 5 at half @Pitt, down 1 at half to UConn, down 3 at half vs. Marquette (led this game in 2nd half), had the last shot in a tied game vs. Louisville...

This is certainly a good team but they can't seem to put it together for 40 minutes. Hopefully tomorrow is the day.

 

[18677]

Most bettors will take the points due to same reasoning above but IMO UCLA wins this game pretty easily. UCLA doesn't try to run their opponents off the court like UNC but they play very sound defense and are very efficient on offense. UCLA players who average more than 10 minutes a game have combined to shoot 51%. While ND players are 43%. Using offensive and defensive efficiency is one of the best tools in handicapping CBB and UCLA is more efficient in offense and much more efficient on defense. UCLA 88 ND 70. Over 149.5 is good bet too. But IMO best games on the board tomorrow are UAB -1.5, George Mason -4, and Idaho +2.5.

GL

 

[SundayTiger]

I am seeing the public is all over ND. Never a good sign. I might buy some back closer to game time if the line drops anymore. I hate being on the side of the most public heavy team on the board, in a nationally televised game none the less.

 

[hcskip]

Can't see myself on either side of this game. I'd be leaning against ND, though.

 

[2PLAYSMAX]

I'm looking at the 1st H Over...but the start time is what has got me hesitant.

 

[Garnatt]

How bout the total at 150-doesnt that seem high. I was thinking a 75-65 type game. Any thoughts.

 

[Trajedy]

Has everyone been watching the same notre dame team i have been watching????


they are horrendous, this team cant do anything right away from home. They only way they score is either the 3 or they get it inside to harrengody. Harrengody always gets his (i have no idea how but my hats off to him, i think he is terrible for the nba but this is college and the kid can ball) and he will get his this game but the 3 has no chance of going in with that ucla D.

I dont think ucla is that good either but they are far better then notre dame especially at home and especially how they are playing (bnot sure how many they have won in a row)

Now this could be a flat spot for UCLA but if you think Notre dame is "tested" or they are just having a bad run, youre way off. The team is puke.

UCLA should cover with defense alone but i have been wrong before

UCLA minus whatever points you get in this i think

 

[JackRyan]

Irish have the same problem in Football and Hoops..they get "Figured Out"! They get off to decent start...someone figures out their achilles heel...then the route is on for the rest of the season. In football, you just wait for Charlie to sit on his lead and give the MO back to you...in Hoops...you shut down
McAlarney and then watch Harangody try to do it all and Fail.

I think they right the ship (Player off the Bench?) and get competitive again...but not necessarily on the road vs UCLA.