NCAA Tournament Thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

To start off the madness for you betting folk, Gene Wojciechowski has a column about the odds of a 16 seed winning the whole tournament.

 

If I put $2 down on 16th-seeded Southern to win it all, and the Jaguars pull off a string of upsets that would make Villanova's 1985 title win over Georgetown look like a pick-up game, I'd get $10 trillion. That would cover the United States' $8.3 trillion worth of national debt and leave me with a little walking-around money.

[Mike Aller]

Almost worth blowing $2. :D

[bukie]

Bracket breakdown by efficiency: Ken Pomeroy

 

Every single expert bracket has UConn in the Final Four. Every last one.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oral Roberts is the 16 seed I think has the best chance at an upset. Weird that they have the longest odds.

[illiniguy]

Bracket breakdown by efficiency: Ken Pomeroy

 

Every single expert bracket has UConn in the Final Four. Every last one.

Yep and every single bracket a few years ago had the machine that was UNLV winning it all, sadly they took the money and threw the game to Duke. I love the tournament. The fact that anyone can knock off anyone is just awesome. UCONN could have to go through Kentucky, Illinois, and MSU/UNC that ain't no cakewalk.

[bukie]

To me, I hope the mid-major teams have a good showing (except Air Force...sorry boys). I think the teams with the best shot of advancing to the sweet 16 are San Diego State (IU probably overseeded at 6, and Gonzaga has looked vulnerable for weeks), Wichita State (Seton Hall one of the weakest profiles of teams in the bracket, and Tennessee is the weakest 2 seed), Nevada (hey, they are a 5 seed! playing the weakest 12 seed, and a BC team that was considered inconsistent until they played a good ACC tournament) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (shaky Oklahoma, and has Florida ever played up to their seed?)

[goonys evil twin]

All the whining that goes on in the selection of this tournament pretty much eliminates the notion that a playoff would solve anything in football. And I'm somebody who wishes they would have a playoff (a very small one, not a bloated one like basketball). I realize it's nice that some lesser teams get a chance to get the spotlight by shocking bigger schools. But people have to learn something about perspective when they go nuts talking about teams being left out of a 65 team tournament. Shut up already. All this talk of "8-8 should be good enough to make it" should be embarrassing. And what's with all the complaints about seeding and regions. If you're a 3rd, 4th or 5th seed in a 4 region tournament, you're the 9th-20th team in the country and should just be thankful you're sport allows so many teams into their tourny.

 

I'm not trying to pretend this isn't a fun tournament, but come on people. Think of something worthwhile to freak out about.

[illiniguy]

All the whining that goes on in the selection of this tournament pretty much eliminates the notion that a playoff would solve anything in football. And I'm somebody who wishes they would have a playoff (a very small one, not a bloated one like basketball). I realize it's nice that some lesser teams get a chance to get the spotlight by shocking bigger schools. But people have to learn something about perspective when they go nuts talking about teams being left out of a 65 team tournament. Shut up already. All this talk of "8-8 should be good enough to make it" should be embarrassing. And what's with all the complaints about seeding and regions. If you're a 3rd, 4th or 5th seed in a 4 region tournament, you're the 9th-20th team in the country and should just be thankful you're sport allows so many teams into their tourny.

 

I'm not trying to pretend this isn't a fun tournament, but come on people. Think of something worthwhile to freak out about.

Interesting theory, but if you are a top ten team all year you shouldn't have to play a number 1 seed as quickly as Illinois or GW has too. If you don't agree with that logic you are crazy.

[goonys evil twin]

Interesting theory, but if you are a top ten team all year you shouldn't have to play a number 1 seed as quickly as Illinois or GW has too. If you don't agree with that logic you are crazy.

 

Who cares what you were ranked earlier in the season? The goal is to win the championship, if you lose to a #1 early or late, you're still not a champ.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

To me, I hope the mid-major teams have a good showing (except Air Force...sorry boys). I think the teams with the best shot of advancing to the sweet 16 are San Diego State (IU probably overseeded at 6, and Gonzaga has looked vulnerable for weeks), Wichita State (Seton Hall one of the weakest profiles of teams in the bracket, and Tennessee is the weakest 2 seed), Nevada (hey, they are a 5 seed! playing the weakest 12 seed, and a BC team that was considered inconsistent until they played a good ACC tournament) and Wisconsin-Milwaukee (shaky Oklahoma, and has Florida ever played up to their seed?)

 

I think Montana takes Nevada.

[rawaction]

Tourney predictions:

 

At least 1 double digit seed goes to the Elite 8.

Lamarcus Aldridge shows why he will be the best pro in college basketball.

3 Big East teams in Final 4.

Michigan St. will return to the Elite 8.

Villanova will win the title.

[Andy]

My 12 was Utah State over Washington...

 

My double-digit seeded Sweet 16 team is Wisconsin-Milwaukee...

 

And my surprise Final Four team is West Virginia.

 

I wholeheartedly expect none of these three to work out.

[rawaction]

My 12 was Utah State over Washington...

 

My double-digit seeded Sweet 16 team is Wisconsin-Milwaukee...

 

And my surprise Final Four team is West Virginia.

 

I wholeheartedly expect none of these three to work out.

 

WVU is a great final 4 pick. There last year, and brought back the same team. I don't know why they've struggled to end the year, but they are dangerous if the 3's fall. I picked them in the Final 4 in one of my brackets.

[Mizzou]

I picked Oral Roberts to win it all.

 

No, seriously I picked Duke to beat Carolina.

[dalgreen]

All the whining that goes on in the selection of this tournament pretty much eliminates the notion that a playoff would solve anything in football. And I'm somebody who wishes they would have a playoff (a very small one, not a bloated one like basketball). I realize it's nice that some lesser teams get a chance to get the spotlight by shocking bigger schools. But people have to learn something about perspective when they go nuts talking about teams being left out of a 65 team tournament. Shut up already. All this talk of "8-8 should be good enough to make it" should be embarrassing. And what's with all the complaints about seeding and regions. If you're a 3rd, 4th or 5th seed in a 4 region tournament, you're the 9th-20th team in the country and should just be thankful you're sport allows so many teams into their tourny.

 

I'm not trying to pretend this isn't a fun tournament, but come on people. Think of something worthwhile to freak out about.

 

I agree with you to a point. The "whining" you hear is unwarranted for the most part. The analysts have to fill time so I think that's part of it, and then you know fans somehow think that the higher the seed, somehow that automatically makes you a final four candidate. People seem to forget that just about every year, only 10 or so teams have a realistic chance of winning the national championship. I guess it comes down to who would you rather give the 1 in 100,000 chance to, Northern Iowa or Cincinnati. In my opinion, give the little guys a shot.

 

As for college football, yeah, you'd hear whining from people as to why the ninth team didn't get in (on an 8-team tourney). But I, too, would still like to see one.

[bukie]

I have 2 sets of picks: rooting interests and reality check.

 

Rooting interest final four: Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State

Reality check final four: Texas, Kansas, UConn, Ohio State

 

If UConn were to lose before the final four, it would screw up a ton of brackets. So...go Albany!

[Andy]

I picked Oral Roberts to win it all.

 

No, seriously I picked Duke to beat Carolina.

There's a better than decent chance that this would be the most anticipated, watched and heated national title game ever if it actually came to fruition.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

My elite 8:

Duke

Texas

Pitt

Gonzaga

UConn

UNC

Boston College

Georgetown

 

Final Four:

Duke

Pitt

UConn

Boston College

 

UConn over Duke in the final: 67-61

[rawaction]

4 elite 8 from the Big East, and no Villanova? No West Virginia, who was in the FF last year? No, Syracuse who just romped thru the conf tourney?

 

There's nobody that's gonna beat Villanova. UConn and Nova in the semis. Nova takes the season series 2-1 with a win, and go on to take the title.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

4 elite 8 from the Big East, and no Villanova? No West Virginia, who was in the FF last year? No, Syracuse who just romped thru the conf tourney?

 

There's nobody that's gonna beat Villanova. UConn and Nova in the semis. Nova takes the season series 2-1 with a win, and go on to take the title.

 

He's only got 3 from the Big East, BC is in the ACC. I think UConn takes the third round meeting myself, and I think Villanova's more prone to be upset with their lack of an inside scoring option. I still put them in the Final 4, but I'm stupid and half pick my bracket on contingencies like that.

[Andy]

Also, WV was not in the FF last year. They should've been, but blew a 20-point lead to Louisville in the Elite Eight.

[SouthSideRyan]

I picked Oral Roberts to win it all.

 

No, seriously I picked Duke to beat Carolina.

There's a better than decent chance that this would be the most anticipated, watched and heated national title game ever if it actually came to fruition.

 

If Bobby Frasor didn't go to my high school, I don't think I'd even watch that game.

[hawkeyecub]

West Virginia has a tough road and relies too much on the 3. They could easily be bounced on Friday by SIU, then have to likely play Iowa, Texas and Duke.

 

I think Atlanta is the toughest region and Oakland is the weakest.

[Jon]

After last night's Colbert Report, I'd put all of my money on Oral Roberts. There's just no way they can lose.

 

Of course, I'm not a betting man.

 

http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/videos/most_recent/index.jhtml

 

Click on the Rock and Roll HOF link. It also includes a mention of the Cubs.

[rawaction]

4 elite 8 from the Big East, and no Villanova? No West Virginia, who was in the FF last year? No, Syracuse who just romped thru the conf tourney?

 

There's nobody that's gonna beat Villanova. UConn and Nova in the semis. Nova takes the season series 2-1 with a win, and go on to take the title.

 

He's only got 3 from the Big East, BC is in the ACC. I think UConn takes the third round meeting myself, and I think Villanova's more prone to be upset with their lack of an inside scoring option. I still put them in the Final 4, but I'm stupid and half pick my bracket on contingencies like that.

 

Ah, forgot about BC being in the ACC. And yeah, WVU was in the Elite 8.