NCAA Men's Tourney 2022

[bluetrain4]

Silly to play the NCAA Elite Eight in a northern city in May. You'd think the NCAA would know this. It's supposed to be an outdoor tourney and now we've got some of the quarters and now all of the men's semis indoors, which simply is not ideal. Uggh.

They've played indoors when it was in Athens, GA and other cities in the South, and also when they played in Palo Alto out West. It's not raining in Champaign because it's "northern." Rain has been a factor, with some matches having to be played indoors, more often than not in the recent past. If the NCAA wants to avoid rain to guarantee that the tournament will be entirely outdoors (or at least as close to a guarantee as is possible), it pretty much has to play NCAAs in So Cal or Phoenix - relatively arid areas that have facilities big enough to host. Maybe there's a few other places, but those are the places that jump out.

I agree, it's much better outdoors, but it technically is not the NCAA Outdoor Tennis Championships - unlike track and field which really does have official indoor and outdoor championships. ITA Team Indoors isn't an NCAA championship.

 

[mikej]

UK doing what they need to do at 2,3,4 but it may not be enough

 

[mikej]

Lapadat has been a dominant #5 for UK this year, but currently losing the battle of kids from Ontario

 

[mikej]

UK starting to get their teeth into this

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

I am amazed at the Hurrion beatdown of JJ Tracy. Coming into the NCAA tourney, TRACY was 17-0 in dual matches.
Hurrion had a great win against TCU and was even more impressive today.

 

[bluetrain4]

The doubles point maybe didn't provide the necessary momentum for OSU. Kentucky coming up big, so far, in singles.

 

[Nostradamus]

They've played indoors when it was in Athens, GA and other cities in the South, and also when they played in Palo Alto out West. It's not raining in Champaign because it's "northern." Rain has been a factor, with some matches having to be played indoors, more often than not in the recent past. If the NCAA wants to avoid rain to guarantee that the tournament will be entirely outdoors (or at least as close to a guarantee as is possible), it pretty much has to play NCAAs in So Cal or Phoenix - relatively arid areas that have facilities big enough to host. Maybe there's a few other places, but those are the places that jump out.

I agree, it's much better outdoors, but it technically is not the NCAA Outdoor Tennis Championships - unlike track and field which really does have official indoor and outdoor championships. ITA Team Indoors isn't an NCAA championship.

LOL,, OSU choking again... they just can't get good coaching at all from this dude. #1 some guy named Drexel, we nobody have heard of is winning..........LOL

 

[bluetrain4]

Random idea:

1. Two doubles matches (8 game pro sets), thus four players per team, to start the match, followed by

2. Five singles matches

Still a seven point match, and need one less player, thus the 4.5 scholarship limit isn't as penal.

I thought of that after Clark and few others were talking about the format changes over the years.

 

[Nostradamus]

Random idea:

1. Two doubles matches (8 game pro sets), thus four players per team, to start the match, followed by

2. Five singles matches

Still a seven point match, and need one less player, thus the 4.5 scholarship limit isn't as penal.

I thought of that after Clark and few others were talking about the format changes over the years.

this Kingley dude, wasn't he supposed to be one of the top recruits ? supposed to be real talent, but he looks suck. what's wrong with him ?

 

[bluetrain4]

OSU really needs this tiebreak at No. 4.

 

[Nostradamus]

what's wrong with this Boulais dude, just watched the passing shot go up the line by lapadat. pass was so slow, even girl could have gotten that. it was as though he was wishing it was out

 

[bluetrain4]

It's about as over as it can be without being over. OSU had to get that No. 4 slot into the third (and even then it would have been an uphill battle). Poor OSU.

 

[Nostradamus]

It's about as over as it can be without being over. OSU had to get that No. 4 slot into the third (and even then it would have been an uphill battle). Poor OSU.

So are they finally going to fire Ty Tucker now ?? this is ridiculous performance. OSU indoor team, who had destroyed Kentucky this season already, now in the Semis of NCAA playing Indoors, chokes..............??????????

 

[Nostradamus]

OSU really needs this tiebreak at No. 4.

Also this Kentucky team is bunch of Ganstas and goons. Constant Taunting and showing off against OSU players. they should be fined or something........

 

[bluetrain4]

So are they finally going to fire Ty Tucker now ?? this is ridiculous performance. OSU indoor team, who had destroyed Kentucky this season already, now in the Semis of NCAA playing Indoors, chokes..............??????????

I know you're joking (I think), but they're not gonna fire Ty Tucker. He's way too successful despite no championship. And I highly doubt the administration or the athletic department really cares in light of this much success. The freakin' facility is named after him.

 

[mikej]

Great performance from UK

they were never the 8th best team in the country

if they hadn’t been slightly overshadowed by UF and Tenn in their own conference, folks would have realized they were a title contender all season long

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

LOL,, OSU choking again... they just can't get good coaching at all from this dude. #1 some guy named Drexel, we nobody have heard of is winning..........LOL

just go away, you troll
Ty Tucker players actually improve........unlike the players at Stanford

 

[mikej]

Also this Kentucky team is bunch of Ganstas and goons. Constant Taunting and showing off against OSU players. they should be fined or something........

it’s not my favorite either (see my posts from SEC semis where Draxl was acting crazy and attempting to cheat Shelton)

but, frankly, sometimes you need a big chip on your shoulder to defeat TCU and OSU back to back

and defeat is maybe a gentle word for today, that match was headed towards a singles sweep

they throttled the buckeyes for the last 60 minutes of play

 

[Nostradamus]

I know you're joking (I think), but they're not gonna fire Ty Tucker. He's way too successful despite no championship. And I highly doubt the administration or the athletic department really cares in light of this much success. The freakin' facility is named after him.

if OSU wants a championship, i would immediately replace ty with John whitlinger, he would have won 5 championships by now if he had this much talent on the team.

 

[Nostradamus]

just go away, you troll
Ty Tucker players actually improve........unlike the players at Stanford

All i can say is ZERO championship with TON of talent on the team. for many years OSU arguably had the best talents on the team in NCAA tennis

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

it’s not my favorite either (see my posts from SEC semis where Draxl was acting crazy and attempting to cheat Shelton)

but, frankly, sometimes you need a big chip on your shoulder to defeat TCU and OSU back to back

and defeat is maybe a gentle word for today, that match was headed towards a singles sweep

they throttled the buckeyes for the last 60 minutes of play

truly a great performance ...1 thru 6........Hurrion and Musitelli are my co-MVP's so far this tourney.

 

[bluetrain4]

Great performance from UK

they were never the 8th best team in the country

if they hadn’t been slightly overshadowed by UF and Tenn in their own conference, folks would have realized they were a title contender all season long

Yet I think their No. 8 seeding was probably accurate. They generally lost to Big Dogs - twice to Florida, one time each to OSU, Baylor, and UVA - all seeded above UK in the tourney. Throw in the two losses to South Carolina - close and to a good team, but still. So, agreed, there was potential to do big things there, but I don't think they were underseeded. Not that you were saying that. Just an observation.

 

[mikej]

Yet I think their No. 8 seeding was probably accurate. They generally lost to Big Dogs - twice to Florida, one time each to OSU, Baylor, and UVA - all seeded above UK in the tourney. Throw in the two losses to South Carolina - close and to a good team, but still. So, agreed, there was potential to do big things there, but I don't think they were underseeded. Not that you were saying that. Just an observation.

yeah that’s fair

not saying they were underseeded so much as saying there wasn’t much difference between 1 and 8 this year, and UK was every bit a contender from the moment they arrived in Illinois

I guess the same sense that led me to say in post 14 of this thread that anyone could win the remaining matches from quarters on

 

[Nostradamus]

who got the advantage ? indoors. Virginia or Tenessesse. didn't virginia win ton of indoor tournaments in the past ?

 

[mikej]

who got the advantage ? indoors. Virginia or Tenessesse. didn't virginia win ton of indoor tournaments in the past ?

i think indoors helps UVA at 1 singles

and probably 4 singles

leaning UVA in this matchup

 

[rastapasta]

yeah that’s fair

not saying they were underseeded so much as saying there wasn’t much difference between 1 and 8 this year, and UK was every bit a contender from the moment they arrived in Illinois

I guess the same sense that led me to say in post 14 of this thread that anyone could win the remaining matches from quarters on

This was the deepest year of college tennis in recent memory. Typically, I've seen 4 maybe 5 teams tops have a shot at winning the national championship, but I thought all 8 top seeds were capable of it this year.

 

[mikej]

This was the deepest year of college tennis in recent memory. Typically, I've seen 4 maybe 5 teams tops have a shot at winning the national championship, but I thought all 8 top seeds were capable of it this year.

probably had a lot to do with the 5th year Covid players

when you have five classes worth of players / more 5th year grad transfers than usual / etc…a lot of elite players to go around

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

Great performance from UK

they were never the 8th best team in the country

if they hadn’t been slightly overshadowed by UF and Tenn in their own conference, folks would have realized they were a title contender all season long

I have to laugh at the supposed Holy Trinity of tennis experts (podcasters Alex Gruskin, Matt the crack Stachowiak and the professor Chris Halioris)

all year long, Matt the crack and the professor....have been trashing Kentucky...and saying that they are not a title contender

at the beginning of the year, the holy trinity had both Stanford and Arizona ranked ahead of Kentucky. They had Stanford at 5 or 6...and Arizona at 9....and KY at 10.

Gruskin, to his credit....stood up for Kentucky....against the 2 self appointed experts

and one argument...against Blue train 4's very good post....I think that one of KY's 2 losses to SC.....was at the indoors...and Draxl was hurt and not available to play in that match up. As we all know, South Carolina dominated Nostradamus's team at the indoors.

Musitelli has really stepped up in Champaign. When KY went to SC in the regular season, Musitelli lost 2 and 2 to Lamblding. TCU and OSU's number 4....are both stronger than Lambdling and Musitelli came up huge against both....... in Champaign.

 

[mikej]

Looks like UVA rolling in doubles

and I think there’s a slim chance of Diaz beating Ross at 5

that doesn’t leave much room for error for Tennessee

 

[armchair]

They've played indoors when it was in Athens, GA and other cities in the South, and also when they played in Palo Alto out West. It's not raining in Champaign because it's "northern." Rain has been a factor, with some matches having to be played indoors, more often than not in the recent past. If the NCAA wants to avoid rain to guarantee that the tournament will be entirely outdoors (or at least as close to a guarantee as is possible), it pretty much has to play NCAAs in So Cal or Phoenix - relatively arid areas that have facilities big enough to host. Maybe there's a few other places, but those are the places that jump out.

I agree, it's much better outdoors, but it technically is not the NCAA Outdoor Tennis Championships - unlike track and field which really does have official indoor and outdoor championships. ITA Team Indoors isn't an NCAA championship.

All good points--I just don't like seeing the NCAA finals indoors, with the usual noise, bad acoustics, etc. Hey, it is what it is....it's just better outside.

 

[armchair]

It's going to be very hard for Tennessee now, having lost doubles. Virginia played very well in doubles, to their credit, and having beaten Florida, they are full of confidence.

 

[Nostradamus]

i think indoors helps UVA at 1 singles

and probably 4 singles

leaning UVA in this matchup

With the doubles point now, Virginia is sure lock to win and get to the final. and tomorrow, unfortunately kentucky thugs will win the NCAA

 

[mikej]

With the doubles point now, Virginia is sure lock to win and get to the final. and tomorrow, unfortunately kentucky thugs will win the NCAA

if UVA can get a comfortable win today and not battle for the next three hours, it’s a dead heat tomorrow

UK would love to see Tennessee drag this thing out (or even come back to win)

 

[Nostradamus]

if UVA can get a comfortable win today and not battle for the next three hours, it’s a dead heat tomorrow

UK would love to see Tennessee drag this thing out (or even come back to win)

Tomorrow will be outdoors, very very windy according to weather forecast. Kentucky plays better in the wind

 

[JAJ]

Thoroughly enjoyed the first men's semifinal, and as much as I might be tempted to credit TennisOne for getting its act together, I'm reminded that functioning audio, video, and scoring is pretty much the minimum standard for viewable tennis at any level; and that less than 24 hours ago TennisOne completely disavowed any accountability for any of the problems that rendered Thursday's matches unwatchable. If they had nothing to do with the problems, they deserve no credit for fixing them either.

On the good side of things, while I've developed kind of a preference for watching college tennis without commentary, Alex and Mike are doing a great job. College tennis commentary requires a different skill set than regular tournament tennis due to all the concurrent moving parts, and these guys manage the nuances of scoring updates and court to court transitions really well. And unlike what I've seen in the past on TC, these two assume their audience doesn't need an explanation of the scoring metrics that are unique to college tennis. Just hoping my feed holds together...

 

[mikej]

Looks like UVA rolling in doubles

and I think there’s a slim chance of Diaz beating Ross at 5

that doesn’t leave much room for error for Tennessee

Ross takes a quick 6-1 first set

Tennessee will need some magic in the next 30-45 minutes if they want to keep this competitive (edit - and they’re getting a bit of it as they battle back on courts 1-2)

 

[ClarkC]

All six first sets to UVA; two in tiebreakers and three by 7-5 scores.

 

[ClarkC]

4-0 UVA, but it was not total domination. Adam Walton won the second set at #1 singles.

 

[mikej]

Wow

5-0 UVA

very nearly 6-0

in a format where it’s hardly possible to win bigger than 4-0

let’s say this team is peaking at the right time

 

[mikej]

but it was not total domination

Liar

 

[bluetrain4]

All good points--I just don't like seeing the NCAA finals indoors, with the usual noise, bad acoustics, etc. Hey, it is what it is....it's just better outside.

Agreed

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

With the doubles point now, Virginia is sure lock to win and get to the final. and tomorrow, unfortunately kentucky thugs will win the NCAA

the 2 teams played in Lexington on March 29......Virginia won 4-2 at Kentucky

 

[dak95_00]

In addition, How do you explain to a new fan a unfinished tennis match. what other sport has this? golf?

Baseball. The run rule or a team not batting in the bottom of the last inning if they already have the lead.

 

[ClarkC]

Baseball. The run rule or a team not batting in the bottom of the last inning if they already have the lead.

But what about the individual baseball statistics that they don't get a chance to improve? Whoop-de-do.

 

[ClarkC]

Trivia: UVA played a brutal early season road schedule against top 5 teams, and stood at 5-5. Now 27-5.

EDIT: Meanwhile, Stanford started out 7-0. Paths diverged after that.

 

[mikej]

Trivia: UVA played a brutal early season road schedule against top 5 teams, and stood at 5-5. Now 27-5.

and UF opened with away matches at TCU and Texas, both top 5 at the time

and UK scheduled out of conference battles against UVA and Ohio State in February

Stanford played their first top 5 opponent in their final match of the season (true story -https://gostanford.com/sports/mens-tennis/schedule)

two very different types of programs

edit - funny, I responded before I saw your edit, both of us were thinking the same thing - there’s a reason Stanford players don’t develop

 

[dak95_00]

But what about the individual baseball statistics that they don't get a chance to improve? Whoop-de-do.

It’s a team sport. Individual stats are for fans. There’s only one stat line that matters; Ws and/or Ls.

 

[silentkman]

Baseball. The run rule or a team not batting in the bottom of the last inning if they already have the lead.

in softball they the ten run or something. In baseball it's always nine innings unless it's bad weather,

 

[collegetennisisthebest]

Bar Botzer played on Wake Forest national championship team.
Can he help Virginia win a national championship?

Has any other player played for 2 different national championship teams?

somewhat related.....college tennis should be a sport....for 18 to 23 year old athletes
Bar Botzer is 28 years old....and he will be eligible to play again next year .....for Virginia when he is 29 years old.
18 year old freshman....should not have to compete against a 28 year old MAN.

 

[Collegetennisrules]

I heard stories about this over the years. Doesn't seem fair and why would any coaches recruit Americans when they can get a man? Seems like things are off here with college tennis.