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okgusto OP t1_jchqu2g wrote

>For just the 11th time in NCAA March Madness history, a 15-seed has upset a 2-seed as Princeton knocked off Arizona 59-55 on the opening day of the tournament. > >This is the third straight year a 15-seed topped a 2: Saint Peter's topped Kentucky last year, and Oral Roberts defeated Ohio State in 2021.

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ShadyCrow t1_jchrgt2 wrote

Arizona didn't score in the last 4:43 of the game. They played lazy, arrogant and stupid throughout. Their talent still almost won out, but props to Princeton's defensive gameplan and effort.

There's real reasons we see big upsets more often now: there's talent, size and athleticism everywhere, the whole world is getting recruited better, and it's hard to give the most effort all the time. It's hard to compare the passion future NBA guys have for this tournament to what future car salesman do. I'm not saying they don't care or that they all don't try, but there's no way to remove the mindset of the future.

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rmxme t1_jchu1o7 wrote

All 4 of my brackets are now ruined

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Buckscience t1_jchvzli wrote

I have watched exactly one college his game this season. It was the Ivy League final. And I said at that very moment that Princeton is my team this year. Good start to the tournament for my teamemote:free_emotes_pack:joy

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all2neat t1_jchxbpb wrote

What a game to watch. It busted my bracket but I enjoyed the upset.

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friedcajun t1_jchyf39 wrote

Tucsonan here: Everyone at work right now is PISSED lol (I’m not a U of A fan)

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ShadyCrow t1_jchyh0r wrote

Replying to FruitSnackEater (#2,248,818)

You're definitely right. As is pointed out often, the top schools are getting younger and the lower seeds are getting older.

And it's not like this is a super-recent problem, but so many of these players are sheltered and not challenged as soon as they get the right attention -- they play AAU on a team with D1 guys against teams of NAIA guys and they don't realize how good every D1 player is.

The margins are so small at the highest levels. The only reason a lot of the small-school guys aren't at a bigger place can just be a few inches of height or a few notches of athleticism. It might keep them out of the pros but they can beat you in any random game.

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triggerpuller666 t1_jci21kt wrote

Absolutely terrible ball control on Arizona. I called this out when they beat UCLA last week. Barely eked out a win in that game after giving up easy steals that were converted for points. Today was even worse. Didn't play like they needed to win.

As a guy who grew up in Tucson, this was par for the course.

First college team to ever lose twice as a 2 seed to 15 seeds. Congratulations guys, you earned it. At least you have Tucson to look forward to going back to 🤣🤣🤣

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LiberalAspergers t1_jci3gtk wrote

Replying to ShadyCrow (#2,248,852)

And, if you are smart enough to KNOW you are a little too short or too slow for the NBA, a Princeton education can take you a lot farther in life than a Arizona degree. They know how to recruit the players who get that.

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LiberalAspergers t1_jci3hd0 wrote

Replying to ShadyCrow (#2,248,852)

And, if you are smart enough to KNOW you are a little too short or too slow for the NBA, a Princeton education can take you a lot farther in life than a Arizona degree. They know how to recruit the players who get that.

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fbibmacklin t1_jciaiu2 wrote

This isn’t Princeton’s first time being giant killers. I always expect them to upset big teams.

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fbibmacklin t1_jciapjg wrote

Fun fact: Actor David Duchovny played a season of basketball at Princeton.

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houstonyoureaproblem t1_jcibol5 wrote

Virginia lost because they slow the game down and limit the total number of possessions.

Princeton won because they slow the game down and limit the total number of possessions.

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Byebyeyoutoo t1_jcidy3i wrote

Had my 3yr old daughter fill a bracket out and it’s going pretty horribly BUT she picked Princeton and Furman lol

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Penguigo t1_jcif5ia wrote

I actually had this in my bracket, which was chosen in the most chaotic possible way!

Unfortunately I also had Iowa winning it all (and Kansas losing in round 1.)

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noldyp t1_jcih6hv wrote

I had Princeton and Furman today!

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mynameisrainer t1_jcii0w0 wrote

Replying to okgusto (#2,248,380)

Arizona has lost the 2 15 match up twice while Princeton has won the 2 15 match up twice.

edit: Take all my upvotes away. Princeton was a 13 seed when they beat UCLA. I apologize for the very wrong info I thought I knew. Arizona still chokes in March

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obiwan_kenober t1_jcij5nl wrote

Never pick Arizona. Santa Clara still hurts. They always find a way to waste it (other than their title in the late 90s).

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OPsDaddy t1_jcijjya wrote

Good for those Princeton kids! Glad they finally caught a break!

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obeygoosey87 t1_jcin657 wrote

Let downs are a part of AZ sports culture. Lol. Not surprised.

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DerBrownNote t1_jcinefw wrote

I had Arizona to the finals in my bracket. To whoever at work wins my buy-in, enjoy it. Next year Im throwing darts for the first round

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AcrossFromWhere t1_jcirqm6 wrote

Replying to OPsDaddy (#2,249,998)

This coming on the heels of Ryan Reynolds making $300 million selling his business. So nice to see folks who have never caught a break get their moment in the sun. Good for you, future hedge fund managers and Vice-Presidents of companies named after their grandpas!

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SharkAttache t1_jciszwg wrote

Well this is a glorious day for anyone that likes America

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wildadragon t1_jciwyev wrote

Awww just like my life... who gives a shit?

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DumbassTexan t1_jcj2jho wrote

Not me having Arizona losing to Houston in the National Championship. Goodbye chances at money

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philkid3 t1_jcj43q1 wrote

So my winning percentage in my bracket today was terrible.

But also I didn’t lose a sweet 16 team so I’ll take it!

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Downtown_Skill t1_jcjahbo wrote

Replying to ShadyCrow (#2,248,852)

My high school coach used to say this. We were a team who had 8 players go to NAIA schools, D3 or played for a community college including myself (although I'm far from D1 talent). My coach used to tell us, for encouragement, the difference between a D3 player and a D1 player is usually 3 or 4 inches for every position. The skill is still the same.

Maybe it's not entirely true but there is some truth to it. There's also usually a big difference in athleticism but he didn't mention that haha.

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robonsTHEhood t1_jcjatz3 wrote

I don’t know why but I always root for the Ivy League schools — I guess it’s because their academic standards are so much higher for their student athletes it puts them at a clear disadvantage

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ingmarsvenson t1_jcjkhds wrote

Replying to friedcajun (#2,248,847)

I teach at the University. Class today started fucking right after the game ended. It was a dismal mood. My students were asking me to cancel class and I was deeply tempted to because of my own despair.

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TopRamenBinLaden t1_jcjmkee wrote

Replying to Busman84 (#2,250,878)

I was born and raised there, and I never have even heard T-loc before. Saying that you were from TooStoned AZ I heard a million times, though. Tuc Town or T Town, as well. Me and my friends just called it Northern Mexico.

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jack_spankin t1_jcjphy3 wrote

Replying to Downtown_Skill (#2,251,292)

It’s absolutely true. I spent years in higher education from BIG10 and Big12 down to naia. Of those 1/2 were spent in athletics focused residential halls.

But there is also huge small school bias or bias against states not known for producing high level talent at that sport.

But your point is spot on. Coaches are often obsessed with height. Hell you’ll see absolute trash players get recruited with zero skill because they hover at near 7’

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loupr738 t1_jck8len wrote

I should’ve set my brackets on fire before I fill them, I would’ve had a better chance because in all of them I had AZ going to the final four lol

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justgarcia31 t1_jckareu wrote

I’ve followed Arizona basketball for a majority of this season and could see this L coming in the first round. If not, definitely would’ve been done in the second round.

Team always played down to their opponents’ levels (look at Stanford/Washington/Oregon losses). They could never close out games late (look at ASU upset on 02/25). Play was sloppy/inconsistent; if the defense was on, the offense wasn’t and vice versa (Princeton game yesterday). Lloyd’s game management and use of timeouts was questionable (e.g. making adjustments, managing final seconds/minutes, shutting down momentum swings, etc.).

It goes beyond saying/making excuses that the team was gassed from the Pac-12 tournament, or that Krissa (one of UA’s best shooters) was hurt, or how Ballo/Tubelas were slumping.

Wildcats just never looked ready for the big dance IMO. I like Tommy Lloyd much better than Sean Miller and do believe he is the right man for the job. However, talent-wise, Arizona just never had any depth beyond their regular 3-5 starters. I mean, they barely pulled off that win against an injury-riddled UCLA in the Pac-12 championship last week.

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Sir_Noobs t1_jckd5c2 wrote

Absolutely love to see it. Go Devils!

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franker t1_jckh8wg wrote

Replying to AcrossFromWhere (#2,250,450)

It's like when People magazine finds a rich and beautiful celebrity who went a whole six months being single while in-between relationships, and proclaims on the cover, "How I Finally Found Happiness".

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OJimmy t1_jckjn4s wrote

My UA friend went to the game and was so bummed out.

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RasixF13 t1_jcko811 wrote

New coach, same March results.

2 years in a row that we’ve looked completely lost in the tournament. Sure we can put this one down due to injuries, but that does excuse the team playing brain-dead sloppy basketball, blowing defensive assignments, and Tubelis once again playing like a timid idiot.

I want to scream.

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Bob_the_peasant t1_jckx5tm wrote

I swear they seed UofA so high every year just to get an upset like this on purpose. The last time they deserved to be in the tournament was 2005

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patchymoose t1_jcl0u0v wrote

Replying to OPsDaddy (#2,249,998)

Real question: are the basketball players at Princeton going there on a basketball scholarship like other schools (and thus maybe not as privileged as the typical student population), or do they just take players from their general student population?

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notataco007 t1_jcl4ks7 wrote

Idk a goddam thing about basketball and picked Furman and Princeton AMA

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GreyPanther t1_jcl78e2 wrote

My Wife wins her law firm pool almost every year by choosing her favorite colors and mascots.

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Merpninja t1_jclbyvw wrote

Replying to patchymoose (#2,254,602)

They don't get athletic scholarships but are still recruited to play basketball. Most of them came to Princeton for basketball. They are like "preferred walk-ons" in football.

Ivies typically only give scholarships that are need-based.

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littlesymphonicdispl t1_jcledi6 wrote

Replying to jack_spankin (#2,251,820)

Guy i played high school football with got recruited by Pitt to play LT, because in high school he was 6'6 and 300lbs or so.

He was also absolute dogshit and never played in college. I was a backup linebacker and during our practices I'd line up at Defensive End against him specifically because I knew it'd increase my chances of playing, because I'd burn him off the snap every. Single. Play.

You can't coach size, so coaches go nuts for it, but having size doesn't mean they'll ever be able to coach you into becoming a decent player

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Unlikely_Ad7194 t1_jcn1sox wrote

Picked Princeton to be in my Final Four! Let’s go boys!

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