NCAA Tournament Thread

[TruffleShuffle]

I love this - with a ton of experts picking Winthrop (except apparently Hubert Davis, who agreed with me and put ND in his Elite 8), there's no way we'll come even close to taking the Eagles lightly. :D

 

BTW, schedules are now up on Sportsline if you want to see when your favorite team (or biggest upset pick) is playing in the 1st round.

 

I always like to see people in my pools picking with their heart

[Flames24Rulz]

i have wright st. in the sweet sixteen, but then losing to ucla.

 

it's so crazy it just might work.

 

I might put them over Pitt in the first round.

 

I have Albany going to the Sweet 16.

[CubColtPacer]

Alright, that's two entries!

 

Who wants a chance to beat 1908 and I? :D

 

I will be on my honeymoon the next 2 weeks so that way I dont want to know how bad I will do this year! Last year was brutal...

 

 

 

 

 

Stupid George Mason!

 

i had the same thing happen to me in 2002. i was in tahiti for IU/Maryland. from what i understand, i didn't miss much.

 

Wow-that was either a win-win for me that year or a lose-lose. I had Maryland picked in 2 nice pools, so I either won a pretty good amount of money or watched my team win the national title. I've never been so upset to get money before-Coverdale's ankle was just not good enough to match up with Dixon that night.

[SeldomSeen]

Weird, this is the first time I can remember not picking a handful of upsets. I do think that Texas could ride Durant to the Final Four, though.

[Mark_R]

Weird, this is the first time I can remember not picking a handful of upsets. I do think that Texas could ride Durant to the Final Four, though.

 

I feel it too.

[CubsInNC]

There's really no one in the Midwest that I want to put in the Final 4. I really didn't want to pick anyone in the sweet 16 matchups either, I was half tempted to have Old Dominion pull off this year's George Mason.

 

I hear ya. Really the midwest bracket sucks, because none of those teams is really that dominant, consistantly. Some are pretty hot now though. So UNLV is my George Mason.

[bhogg]

i'm struggling with this bracket.

 

My brain says Florida is the top team. However, I've watched them play and I think they're beatable. That and winning 2 titles in a row is dang near impossible.

 

Kansas doesn't do anything for me. I can see them losing early.

 

Ohio State is scary, but they just don't look "right" sitting in the final 4 --- I know, that's some major bracketological reasoning on my part :)

 

I keep coming back to G'Town. Everywhich way I do my brackets, they are the team that I keep putting on top. I just don't know if a team goes from 2 sweet 16's in 15 years to winning it all.

 

 

I think UCLA has a fairly easy route to the final 4. They're record against the top 25 is top notch. They have a very well balanced team. They make sense. . . . . but I don't have them winning it all.

 

 

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[Mark_R]

Ohio State over UCLA in the title game after Mbah a Moute shuts down Durant in the final four and pushes himself back into the lottery.

[bhogg]

i finally went with G'Town over Florida in the finals.

 

 

This will be the first year that all of my various bracket groups will have the same bracket.

 

I'm in one group where multiple brackets are allowed so I may go with all favorites in that one. . who knows.

[Exile on Waveland]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

 

While I think Illinois is not very good, I think it's very possible they win two games. They match-up pretty well with Va Tech (a very inconsistent team) as well they would So. Illinois.

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

 

While I think Illinois is not very good, I think it's very possible they win two games. They match-up pretty well with Va Tech (a very inconsistent team) as well they would So. Illinois.

 

Nothing from this year's Illini team makes me feel like they can win two games in a row against two solid teams. Heck, they've had trouble winning just one game in a row against a solid team.

 

I saw our game against VT, way back in November. They are obviously beatable, but Illinois' guards better guard Dowdell and their other guard, or else they're going to be in for a long night. The key for Illinois to winning that game will be for Pruitt to stay out of foul trouble. I do have Illinois winning that game (I'll admit, more of a heart pick than a head pick), but it's not going to be an easy game, by any stretch.

[soccer10k]

Ohio State over UCLA in the title game after Mbah a Moute shuts down Durant in the final four and pushes himself back into the lottery.

 

UCLA can't play Texas until the National Title game.

[BigSlick]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

Well I would like to see it cause we made it that far extending our 25 win season streak. But, I think they will destroy us. I wish we could have gotten that game two years ago. You know the kids Bill left playing against him.

 

Self couldn't make it out of the first round in 2005.

 

Hard to meet your old team when you can't get up and beat a 13 seed or something.

:lol:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a rematch of the National Title game of...Football for me. This time I have the Buckeyes taking it.

[snoodmonger]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

Well I would like to see it cause we made it that far extending our 25 win season streak. But, I think they will destroy us. I wish we could have gotten that game two years ago. You know the kids Bill left playing against him.

 

Self couldn't make it out of the first round in 2005.

 

Hard to meet your old team when you can't get up and beat a 13 seed or something.

:lol:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a rematch of the National Title game of...Football for me. This time I have the Buckeyes taking it.

 

Not sure how 2005 is relevant to this year. There isn't one remaining player from that season. I'd say 06 is pretty irrelevant, too. We were basically all freshman.

[BigSlick]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

Well I would like to see it cause we made it that far extending our 25 win season streak. But, I think they will destroy us. I wish we could have gotten that game two years ago. You know the kids Bill left playing against him.

 

Self couldn't make it out of the first round in 2005.

 

Hard to meet your old team when you can't get up and beat a 13 seed or something.

:lol:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a rematch of the National Title game of...Football for me. This time I have the Buckeyes taking it.

 

Not sure how 2005 is relevant to this year. There isn't one remaining player from that season. I'd say 06 is pretty irrelevant, too. We were basically all freshman.

 

I'm pretty sure I responding to someone talking about Illinois and Kansas meeting in 2005. Yea. So thats how its relevant. In response. To what that guy said.

[snoodmonger]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

Well I would like to see it cause we made it that far extending our 25 win season streak. But, I think they will destroy us. I wish we could have gotten that game two years ago. You know the kids Bill left playing against him.

 

Self couldn't make it out of the first round in 2005.

 

Hard to meet your old team when you can't get up and beat a 13 seed or something.

:lol:

 

I'm pretty sure I have a rematch of the National Title game of...Football for me. This time I have the Buckeyes taking it.

 

Not sure how 2005 is relevant to this year. There isn't one remaining player from that season. I'd say 06 is pretty irrelevant, too. We were basically all freshman.

 

I'm pretty sure I responding to someone talking about Illinois and Kansas meeting in 2005. Yea. So thats how its relevant. In response. To what that guy said.

 

 

ahhh. reading comprehension is awesome. I probably should've read all the quote boxes to understand the context.

[Exile on Waveland]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

 

While I think Illinois is not very good, I think it's very possible they win two games. They match-up pretty well with Va Tech (a very inconsistent team) as well they would So. Illinois.

 

Nothing from this year's Illini team makes me feel like they can win two games in a row against two solid teams. Heck, they've had trouble winning just one game in a row against a solid team.

 

I saw our game against VT, way back in November. They are obviously beatable, but Illinois' guards better guard Dowdell and their other guard, or else they're going to be in for a long night. The key for Illinois to winning that game will be for Pruitt to stay out of foul trouble. I do have Illinois winning that game (I'll admit, more of a heart pick than a head pick), but it's not going to be an easy game, by any stretch.

 

Trust me when I tell you my bias isn't for Illinois -- my allegiance is easily discernible by looking at my location. However, Va Tech is not a very good shooting or rebounding team. Nor are they terribly big. Illinois will almost certainly ugly this game up, giving them a chance to win. If they move on, they'll likely play another halfcourt, defensive team in SIU. Illinois will again have a size advantage. I'm not saying I expect to watch the Illini in the sweet sixteen, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/bige/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mu-michst.pdf

[Exile on Waveland]

I filled out my two brackets in the two NSBB Yahoo Pick Em' tournaments. I chose different outcomes in the early games, but I just couldnt' get away from a UCLA vs. Georgetown final

 

I filled one in pretty quick last night, and that was the final I had too. Big problem for me is that Georgetown has crazy matchups to get there. Getting through Washington State, UNC, and aTm is not an easy task.

 

Disagree to a point. Georgetown has an extremely easy path to the elite eight. They should easily handle their first two games. Once in the sweet sixteen, Washington State is a weak 3-seed. Wazzou's non-conference SOS was 322 and overall only 107 even after playing in a strong Pac-10 (ESPN's InsideRPI), and their big wins are against Gonzaga, Arizona twice and USC twice. They lost both games against UCLA and Oregon (though all four were competitive). They are not a strong 3-seed. They also don't rebound particularly well, which could spell doom against a big, athletic frontline like the Hoyas.

 

Honestly, I'm not sure it'll even be Wazzou -- and that's from possibly the weakest four-team mini-bracket (Vandy, GW, Wazzou and Oral Roberts). Any of those teams in the sweet sixteen wouldn't surprise me, and I'm even thinking of picking Oral Roberts.

 

Of course, I agree that after that, North Carolina (maybe Texas) and then Ohio State/Memphis/Texas A&M is a tough path, but every path is tough once you make it that far.

[Exile on Waveland]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/bige/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mu-michst.pdf

 

Ready for the possible UCLA-Indiana second round match-up? Sixteen total titles wouldn't be bad for such an early game. Hell, seven teams in the west have won the title, though.

[Andy]

I love this - with a ton of experts picking Winthrop (except apparently Hubert Davis, who agreed with me and put ND in his Elite 8), there's no way we'll come even close to taking the Eagles lightly. :D

 

BTW, schedules are now up on Sportsline if you want to see when your favorite team (or biggest upset pick) is playing in the 1st round.

 

I always like to see people in my pools picking with their heart

I have yet to incorrectly predict any bracket game that ND's been involved in, so I've got that going for me.

 

Really, I'm just so excited. Finally, the Irish are back in the tourney, and for the first time since I've followed the hoops team they're playing their best ball at the end of the season. I think that Gtown Big East semifinal opened a lot of eyes.

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

 

While I think Illinois is not very good, I think it's very possible they win two games. They match-up pretty well with Va Tech (a very inconsistent team) as well they would So. Illinois.

 

Nothing from this year's Illini team makes me feel like they can win two games in a row against two solid teams. Heck, they've had trouble winning just one game in a row against a solid team.

 

I saw our game against VT, way back in November. They are obviously beatable, but Illinois' guards better guard Dowdell and their other guard, or else they're going to be in for a long night. The key for Illinois to winning that game will be for Pruitt to stay out of foul trouble. I do have Illinois winning that game (I'll admit, more of a heart pick than a head pick), but it's not going to be an easy game, by any stretch.

 

Trust me when I tell you my bias isn't for Illinois -- my allegiance is easily discernible by looking at my location. However, Va Tech is not a very good shooting or rebounding team. Nor are they terribly big. Illinois will almost certainly ugly this game up, giving them a chance to win. If they move on, they'll likely play another halfcourt, defensive team in SIU. Illinois will again have a size advantage. I'm not saying I expect to watch the Illini in the sweet sixteen, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

 

i agree. i think illinois has a very favorable path to the sweet 16. they don't match up very well with KU. though, they would if two KU players were actually playing for the team they should be playing for.

 

but i guess losing early in the tourney is a great way to attract recruits.

[Exile on Waveland]

I love this - with a ton of experts picking Winthrop (except apparently Hubert Davis, who agreed with me and put ND in his Elite 8), there's no way we'll come even close to taking the Eagles lightly. :D

 

BTW, schedules are now up on Sportsline if you want to see when your favorite team (or biggest upset pick) is playing in the 1st round.

 

I always like to see people in my pools picking with their heart

I have yet to incorrectly predict any bracket game that ND's been involved in, so I've got that going for me.

 

Really, I'm just so excited. Finally, the Irish are back in the tourney, and for the first time since I've followed the hoops team they're playing their best ball at the end of the season. I think that Gtown Big East semifinal opened a lot of eyes.

 

Here I go again, commenting positively on a team I don't much like. I don't think Notre Dame in the elite eight is picking with blue and gold glasses at all. I expect Notre Dame or Oregon will make it that far -- though I'd lean to Oregon (not that that really amounts to much). Wisconsin is a completely different team without Butch, and, frankly, not terribly impressive. I think the Badgers could be in a world of trouble against UNLV or GA Tech. As for Wintrhop, a team I actually picked over Tennessee last year (damn Chris Lofton!), I'm not sure Notre Dame is who they wanted to see.

 

 

 

PS Luke Harangody should be at Indiana.

[Exile on Waveland]

I'm dying to see the Illinois - Kansas matchup in the sweet 16, though I doubt Illinois gets there.

 

While I think Illinois is not very good, I think it's very possible they win two games. They match-up pretty well with Va Tech (a very inconsistent team) as well they would So. Illinois.

 

Nothing from this year's Illini team makes me feel like they can win two games in a row against two solid teams. Heck, they've had trouble winning just one game in a row against a solid team.

 

I saw our game against VT, way back in November. They are obviously beatable, but Illinois' guards better guard Dowdell and their other guard, or else they're going to be in for a long night. The key for Illinois to winning that game will be for Pruitt to stay out of foul trouble. I do have Illinois winning that game (I'll admit, more of a heart pick than a head pick), but it's not going to be an easy game, by any stretch.

 

Trust me when I tell you my bias isn't for Illinois -- my allegiance is easily discernible by looking at my location. However, Va Tech is not a very good shooting or rebounding team. Nor are they terribly big. Illinois will almost certainly ugly this game up, giving them a chance to win. If they move on, they'll likely play another halfcourt, defensive team in SIU. Illinois will again have a size advantage. I'm not saying I expect to watch the Illini in the sweet sixteen, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

 

i agree. i think illinois has a very favorable path to the sweet 16. they don't match up very well with KU. though, they would if two KU players were actually playing for the team they should be playing for.

 

but i guess losing early in the tourney is a great way to attract recruits.

 

Don't get me started on players not playing for the team they should be.

 

 

Edited: Oh wait, I already did above. Oops.

[bukie]

Ken Pomeroy has a good writeup on log5 odds to advance in the Midwest and West brackets today:

 

http://www.kenpom.com/blog/

 

Some things that jump out at me:

- Maybe ND and GT are better than I give them credit for.

- Maybe taking Illinois to the sweet 16 isn't as crazy an idea as I initially thought.