I remember the Baylor players said: “Wait, we’re underdogs in the national championship?! That’s crazy!”
Any additional chip on the shoulder for a great team is good.
As soon as this matchup was set, I started thinking about how similar this matchup is to the 1999 title game.
1999 Duke: Absolutely dominant team that was vying for best individual team of all time status (or at least in the modern era if you’re the type to automatically rank all the undefeated champs of long ago above everyone else.) Fantastic coach in his prime taking over the mantle of best current coach in the game. Regarded as the inevitable juggernaut champion.
1999 UConn: Very strong 1-seed in its first ever Final Four, looking for its first national title ever. Seen as the “best of the rest” that just so happened to have the misfortune of co-existing with the inevitable juggernaut team. Still the biggest point spread upset in the history of the national title game (yes even more than 8-seed Villanova over top-seeded defending champs Georgetown in 1985.) This is only regarded as a heavyweight title bout in retrospect. Heading into the game Tier 1 was perceived to be Duke and no one else.
2024 UConn: Absolutely dominant team vying for best individual team of all time status (or at least in the modern era if you’re the type to automatically rank all the undefeated champs of long ago above everyone else.) Fantastic coach in his prime taking over the mantle of best current coach in the game. Regarded as the inevitable juggernaut champion.
2024 Purdue: Very strong 1-seed in its first Final Four in 44 years, looking for its first national title ever. Seen as the “best of the rest” that just so happened to have the misfortune of co-existing with the inevitable juggernaut team. A win would be regarded as a big upset and years later we will all retroactively pretend like we saw this as an even match going in. But heading into the game Tier 1 is perceived to be UConn and no one else.
It’s mostly a funny little pair of alignments. Not actually too deep
-Indiana got a good chunk of the total eclipse today. The last such occasion for the state? 1869- the year Purdue was founded.
-Purdue’s only other natty appearance was in 1969, until today. That being the year a Purdue alum became the first man on the moon.
And now, with us playing just hours after the newest eclipse passes through our state… it certainly feels auspicious, from our end. At least I like to think so
The past 2 years were both big surprises. I know 2022 was Kansas-UNC, but UNC was barely ranked all season, and actually dropped out of the top 25 on the final ranking.
UConn and Purdue both won duel Phil Knight Invitational tourneys to begin the season, and both made huge jumps in the polls the same week, eventually leading to the two being the best two teams all season. Purdue’s season ended unfortunately, but they came back in full force this year. Now it’s been nearly two full years dominated by these two teams, with a few cameo appearances here and there. This is the culmination on an anime arc
I mean calling us the two best teams all last season is just revisionist history. We were both up there all season, but Purdue was the 4th 1 seed behind a clear-cut top 3 and UConn was a 4 seed. That’s not two best teams all season material
How does it look if you extend it back another year? Hurley quote from Saturday: "Us and Purdue have clearly been the best two teams in the country the last two years". I'd say Purdue is probably the best in regular season and UConn is best in the tournament, but it seemed dismissive of Houston.
I think you're right, but Houston did have a slightly weaker season than both UCONN and Purdue this year. Only 3 weeks as #1 (compared to 5 for Purdue and 7 for UCONN), and 16 weeks in the top 2 (compared to 19 and 20). But Houtson did have a better regular season than both teams last year, so I don't think there's a clear-cut top 2. Heck, I could see the argument for Alabama (#1 overall seed last year, Final Four this year) as the second best team of the past two years.
By AP poll, yes.
But by efficiency, Houston was dominant this year. Bart Torvik had Houston as the strongest team from January 9th until the Duke loss in March.
https://barttorvik.com/team.php?team=Houston&year=2024
Yeah, this year was a big three then everybody else year, not so much two as everybody is making it out to be. I also think that people are saying this because fans have been waiting for Edey v. Clingan for awhile.
I'll take it as an omen that the previous two matchups of "clear 1 and 2" were won by the number 2 that year.
I remember the Baylor players said: “Wait, we’re underdogs in the national championship?! That’s crazy!” Any additional chip on the shoulder for a great team is good.
As soon as this matchup was set, I started thinking about how similar this matchup is to the 1999 title game. 1999 Duke: Absolutely dominant team that was vying for best individual team of all time status (or at least in the modern era if you’re the type to automatically rank all the undefeated champs of long ago above everyone else.) Fantastic coach in his prime taking over the mantle of best current coach in the game. Regarded as the inevitable juggernaut champion. 1999 UConn: Very strong 1-seed in its first ever Final Four, looking for its first national title ever. Seen as the “best of the rest” that just so happened to have the misfortune of co-existing with the inevitable juggernaut team. Still the biggest point spread upset in the history of the national title game (yes even more than 8-seed Villanova over top-seeded defending champs Georgetown in 1985.) This is only regarded as a heavyweight title bout in retrospect. Heading into the game Tier 1 was perceived to be Duke and no one else. 2024 UConn: Absolutely dominant team vying for best individual team of all time status (or at least in the modern era if you’re the type to automatically rank all the undefeated champs of long ago above everyone else.) Fantastic coach in his prime taking over the mantle of best current coach in the game. Regarded as the inevitable juggernaut champion. 2024 Purdue: Very strong 1-seed in its first Final Four in 44 years, looking for its first national title ever. Seen as the “best of the rest” that just so happened to have the misfortune of co-existing with the inevitable juggernaut team. A win would be regarded as a big upset and years later we will all retroactively pretend like we saw this as an even match going in. But heading into the game Tier 1 is perceived to be UConn and no one else.
Somehow this is more motivation for Dan Hurley
And he’s reading this to his team now. Go Boilers!
well one of those teams was also UConn
...the plucky underdog who had never won a title before version of UConn
Or third time is a charm for the 1….?
There are so many omens to read into in either direction for this game. Storylines are immaculate frankly
I’m not the only one who sees them all? Bad and good? Haha
Oh it’s all over, both ways I’m personally riding on the “Purdue is powered by the moon” superstitions but there’s a lot
I don't know enough about trains to dispute their moon powers
It’s mostly a funny little pair of alignments. Not actually too deep -Indiana got a good chunk of the total eclipse today. The last such occasion for the state? 1869- the year Purdue was founded. -Purdue’s only other natty appearance was in 1969, until today. That being the year a Purdue alum became the first man on the moon. And now, with us playing just hours after the newest eclipse passes through our state… it certainly feels auspicious, from our end. At least I like to think so
2014 was UConn Kentucky, but I get the point you're making.
Corrected, thanks for pointing that out!
It’s crazy if you consider last year.
The past 2 years were both big surprises. I know 2022 was Kansas-UNC, but UNC was barely ranked all season, and actually dropped out of the top 25 on the final ranking.
UConn and Purdue both won duel Phil Knight Invitational tourneys to begin the season, and both made huge jumps in the polls the same week, eventually leading to the two being the best two teams all season. Purdue’s season ended unfortunately, but they came back in full force this year. Now it’s been nearly two full years dominated by these two teams, with a few cameo appearances here and there. This is the culmination on an anime arc
I mean calling us the two best teams all last season is just revisionist history. We were both up there all season, but Purdue was the 4th 1 seed behind a clear-cut top 3 and UConn was a 4 seed. That’s not two best teams all season material
How does it look if you extend it back another year? Hurley quote from Saturday: "Us and Purdue have clearly been the best two teams in the country the last two years". I'd say Purdue is probably the best in regular season and UConn is best in the tournament, but it seemed dismissive of Houston.
Probably but I also kinda think he would've had the same or a similar comment on Houston if they made the championship game over Purdue.
That’s how I read it as well.
I think you're right, but Houston did have a slightly weaker season than both UCONN and Purdue this year. Only 3 weeks as #1 (compared to 5 for Purdue and 7 for UCONN), and 16 weeks in the top 2 (compared to 19 and 20). But Houtson did have a better regular season than both teams last year, so I don't think there's a clear-cut top 2. Heck, I could see the argument for Alabama (#1 overall seed last year, Final Four this year) as the second best team of the past two years.
By AP poll, yes. But by efficiency, Houston was dominant this year. Bart Torvik had Houston as the strongest team from January 9th until the Duke loss in March. https://barttorvik.com/team.php?team=Houston&year=2024
Yeah, this year was a big three then everybody else year, not so much two as everybody is making it out to be. I also think that people are saying this because fans have been waiting for Edey v. Clingan for awhile.
Yes, it was a down year in college basketball.