NCAA Tournament Thread

[Outshined_One]

While losing Butch hurts Wisconsin, they're a team built for the tournament. They have one of the best coaches in college basketball with Bo Ryan. Most teams they'll be facing have not come across a defense quite like Wisconsin, which can grind things to a halt (hint: bet the under on any given Wisconsin game). Wisconsin has had two weaknesses in the past. The first is with teams like MSU, where a guy can catch fire and drain threes even though he gets bad looks. Drew Neitzel drove me nuts this year because Wisconsin would cover him well, but he would still manage to hit tough shots when he caught fire. The second is with teams like UNC last season, where the opposing team is clearly more talented than Wisconsin. UNC demolished the Badgers last year because they simply had too many guys who were taller, stronger, and faster. Wisconsin can keep it close with those teams, but usually they'll tire or start making mistakes.

 

The United Center will be raucous and full of Badgers fans, which is a huge advantage to Wisconsin. I'm not too worried about UNLV (interesting matchup, but I'm not feeling it) or Georgia Tech (too inconsistent and a terrible road record).

 

Oregon and Florida, on the other hand, scare the crap out of me.

[SouthSideRyan]

I love the potential for #1s losing in the 2nd round with the exception of OSU.(Who happens to be my only 1 in the Final 4.) Arizona has incredible talent, and if they could ever get it together they should take down Florida. If Reynolds gets hot, they can take down Kansas, and if Neitzel gets hot, NC's going down.

[Flames24Rulz]

While losing Butch hurts Wisconsin, they're a team built for the tournament. They have one of the best coaches in college basketball with Bo Ryan. Most teams they'll be facing have not come across a defense quite like Wisconsin, which can grind things to a halt (hint: bet the under on any given Wisconsin game). Wisconsin has had two weaknesses in the past. The first is with teams like MSU, where a guy can catch fire and drain threes even though he gets bad looks. Drew Neitzel drove me nuts this year because Wisconsin would cover him well, but he would still manage to hit tough shots when he caught fire. The second is with teams like UNC last season, where the opposing team is clearly more talented than Wisconsin. UNC demolished the Badgers last year because they simply had too many guys who were taller, stronger, and faster. Wisconsin can keep it close with those teams, but usually they'll tire or start making mistakes.

 

The United Center will be raucous and full of Badgers fans, which is a huge advantage to Wisconsin. I'm not too worried about UNLV (interesting matchup, but I'm not feeling it) or Georgia Tech (too inconsistent and a terrible road record).

 

Oregon and Florida, on the other hand, scare the crap out of me.

 

Wisconsin should breeze to the Sweet 16. If they play Oregon in the Sweet 16, that will be one of the best games in the tournament.

[Flames24Rulz]

I love the potential for #1s losing in the 2nd round with the exception of OSU.(Who happens to be my only 1 in the Final 4.) Arizona has incredible talent, and if they could ever get it together they should take down Florida. If Reynolds gets hot, they can take down Kansas, and if Neitzel gets hot, NC's going down.

 

Yep, the only #1 I have in the Final Four is also tOSU. I have UNC advancing to the Sweet 16 before losing to the Texas Durants.

[Exile on Waveland]

Wow, kinda surprised with the UCLA love - esp. against teams with athletic frontlines like Florida and Georgetown.

 

Yeah, I don't see it. While UCLA is very likely to go deep in the tournament (elite eight) much more may be pushing it. They simply don't have much of an answer for an athletic frontline which they are bound to see at some point. I've thought all year UCLA was to be a predictable tournament team -- avoid upsets, advance far, then lose to first really talented team (especially one with athletic bigs) they play.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow, kinda surprised with the UCLA love - esp. against teams with athletic frontlines like Florida and Georgetown.

 

Yeah, I don't see it. While UCLA is very likely to go deep in the tournament (elite eight) much more may be pushing it. They simply don't have much of an answer for an athletic frontline which they are bound to see at some point. I've thought all year UCLA was to be a predictable tournament team -- avoid upsets, advance far, then lose to first really talented team (especially one with athletic bigs) they play.

 

On the other hand, there's what, 2 athletic frontlines on that side of the bracket? Kansas and Florida, and that's about it. Not quite the UNC, Texas, OSU, aTm, Georgetown, Memphis half of the bracket in that aspect.

[dew1679666265]

I love the potential for #1s losing in the 2nd round with the exception of OSU.(Who happens to be my only 1 in the Final 4.) Arizona has incredible talent, and if they could ever get it together they should take down Florida. If Reynolds gets hot, they can take down Kansas, and if Neitzel gets hot, NC's going down.

 

Yep, the only #1 I have in the Final Four is also tOSU. I have UNC advancing to the Sweet 16 before losing to the Texas Durants.

 

I, too, have only on #1 in my final four - Florida. Much as I wanted to knock them out, there just doesn't seem to be a team that will do it.

My final four consists of Florida, Pitt, Texas and Memphis. Texas tops Florida in the championship.

[NCCubFan]

IU lost to Illinois therefore they are crappy.

They also beat Illinois, so if they're crappy then Illinois should be utterly humiliated for losing to a crappy team. :D

[reggiemiller rules]

I dont know if it is a good thing but I have the exact same final 4 as Doug Gottlieb. We both had Fla, UCLA, UNC and aTm. He also had UNLV in the Elite 8 while I have them in the Sweet 16. I hope we are both right.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I dont know if it is a good thing but I have the exact same final 4 as Doug Gottlieb. We both had Fla, UCLA, UNC and aTm.

 

I just had that Final 4 in a money pool I entered.

[Butterscup1679666578]

My final four is Oregon, UCLA, Georgetown, and OSU, with Georgetown over UCLA in the Finals.

 

This means the Final Four will be Duke, Kansas, Wazzou, and A&M.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

DC will play:

 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- UCLA point guard Darren Collison deemed himself ready for the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday and hit the practice floor at nearly full speed, a day after spraining his left ankle.

 

"It's nothing severe," said Collison, who sat out a game last month at West Virginia with a shoulder injury. "I'm all right. I just rolled it on somebody's foot. It's just a normal, routine injury that everybody has when you're playing ball. I've been playing with this injury throughout my whole career."

 

The second-seeded Bruins (26-5), two-time defending Pac-10 champions, open against No. 15-seed Weber State on Thursday at Arco Arena -- the team's first game since a surprising 76-69 overtime loss to California in the quarterfinals of the Pac-10 tournament last week.

 

Collison, who has been receiving treatment on the ankle that he hurt in practice Tuesday, is a sophomore averaging 12.6 points, 6.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game.

 

Coach Ben Howland held Collison out of a shootaround earlier Wednesday as a precaution.

 

"We expect him to play," Howland said. "He's tough. He has the heart of a lion."

 

I won't be around much tomorrow so...GO UCLA!! :D

[Handlebar McSkullet]

While losing Butch hurts Wisconsin, they're a team built for the tournament. They have one of the best coaches in college basketball with Bo Ryan. Most teams they'll be facing have not come across a defense quite like Wisconsin, which can grind things to a halt (hint: bet the under on any given Wisconsin game). Wisconsin has had two weaknesses in the past. The first is with teams like MSU, where a guy can catch fire and drain threes even though he gets bad looks. Drew Neitzel drove me nuts this year because Wisconsin would cover him well, but he would still manage to hit tough shots when he caught fire. The second is with teams like UNC last season, where the opposing team is clearly more talented than Wisconsin. UNC demolished the Badgers last year because they simply had too many guys who were taller, stronger, and faster. Wisconsin can keep it close with those teams, but usually they'll tire or start making mistakes.

 

The United Center will be raucous and full of Badgers fans, which is a huge advantage to Wisconsin. I'm not too worried about UNLV (interesting matchup, but I'm not feeling it) or Georgia Tech (too inconsistent and a terrible road record).

 

Oregon and Florida, on the other hand, scare the crap out of me.

 

THIS IS ABOUT AS DEAD ON AS IT GETS ABOUT WISCONSIN, good work outshined!!! P.S.... Butch is practicing with the team. :)

 

I personally think UNC will fall first only because of their draw, all the great teams in their bracket.

[snoodmonger]

I've got FLA, KU, aTm, Gtown with KU over Gtown.

 

Homer city, and not ashamed. I'll never pick against my team. Must be why I never win.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I've got FLA, KU, aTm, Gtown with KU over Gtown.

 

Homer city, and not ashamed. I'll never pick against my team. Must be why I never win.

 

You're going to be so sad when my bracket becomes the "Perfect Bracket" and KU gets dropped by Kentucky in the 2nd round. :D

[TruffleShuffle]

A friend from work is headed out to Vegas and is placing some bets for me tomorrow... thoughts?

 

Purdue +2.5

Oregon -8.5

Holy Cross +7.5 (hey, I have to)

Purdue-Arizona: Under 138

Gonzaga-Indiana: Under 142

 

I also wanted BC -3 and Butler -1.5, but he won't be out there in time to bet those.

[CubColtPacer]

A friend from work is headed out to Vegas and is placing some bets for me tomorrow... thoughts?

 

Purdue +2.5

Oregon -8.5

Holy Cross +7.5 (hey, I have to)

Purdue-Arizona: Under 138

Gonzaga-Indiana: Under 142

 

I also wanted BC -3 and Butler -1.5, but he won't be out there in time to bet those.

 

For this one, it really depends on who you think will win the game. If IU can slow it down sufficiently, that may be possible. I will let you know-with similar offensive strategies last year from both squads, those 2 teams combined for 170 points last year. I'm leaning to the two teams having more than 142 tonight, but I'm not completely sure.

[Mark_R]

I love all those plays except the Purdue +2.5.

 

You should win some coin.

[cubweiser03]

Im going to watch more basketball today than i have the whole year.

Hurray for March Madness.

[Exile on Waveland]

Wow, kinda surprised with the UCLA love - esp. against teams with athletic frontlines like Florida and Georgetown.

 

Yeah, I don't see it. While UCLA is very likely to go deep in the tournament (elite eight) much more may be pushing it. They simply don't have much of an answer for an athletic frontline which they are bound to see at some point. I've thought all year UCLA was to be a predictable tournament team -- avoid upsets, advance far, then lose to first really talented team (especially one with athletic bigs) they play.

 

On the other hand, there's what, 2 athletic frontlines on that side of the bracket? Kansas and Florida, and that's about it. Not quite the UNC, Texas, OSU, aTm, Georgetown, Memphis half of the bracket in that aspect.

 

Agreed. UCLA got a good draw in that the teams they don't match-up well with are almost all on the other side. Kansas and Florida are the clear exceptions.

[bukie]

Every single expert has Florida in the Final Four. Here are the 22 "expert" picks, courtesy of Ken Pomeroy:

 

West: UCLA 11, Kansas 10, Virginia Tech 1

South: Texas A&M 11, Ohio St. 8, Memphis 2, Virginia 1

East: Georgetown 11, UNC 9, Texas 2

Midwest: Florida 22

 

Oddly enough, Florida is statistically (via log5) the least likely 1 seed to make the Final Four, and yet they are the only favored 1 seed among the experts.

 

My picks depend on the day, but for now I have Maryland, UCLA, Texas, and Ohio State, with UCLA beating Ohio State for the championship.

[Andy]

The first 1 seed to go down will be Kansas, to Villanova. Somewhat regrettably, I have all of the remaining 1 seeds in the Elite 8, two of them in the Final Four.

[radarluv1]

A friend from work is headed out to Vegas and is placing some bets for me tomorrow... thoughts?

 

Purdue +2.5

Oregon -8.5

Holy Cross +7.5 (hey, I have to)

Purdue-Arizona: Under 138

Gonzaga-Indiana: Under 142

 

I also wanted BC -3 and Butler -1.5, but he won't be out there in time to bet those.

 

For this one, it really depends on who you think will win the game. If IU can slow it down sufficiently, that may be possible. I will let you know-with similar offensive strategies last year from both squads, those 2 teams combined for 170 points last year. I'm leaning to the two teams having more than 142 tonight, but I'm not completely sure.

 

i'm leaving for vegas tonite. last year, i was 8/8. i havent watched as much this year, but hopefully i have similar luck this time.

[Magnetic Curses]

A friend from work is headed out to Vegas and is placing some bets for me tomorrow... thoughts?

 

Purdue +2.5

Oregon -8.5

Holy Cross +7.5 (hey, I have to)

Purdue-Arizona: Under 138

Gonzaga-Indiana: Under 142

 

I also wanted BC -3 and Butler -1.5, but he won't be out there in time to bet those.

 

For this one, it really depends on who you think will win the game. If IU can slow it down sufficiently, that may be possible. I will let you know-with similar offensive strategies last year from both squads, those 2 teams combined for 170 points last year. I'm leaning to the two teams having more than 142 tonight, but I'm not completely sure.

 

i'm leaving for vegas tonite. last year, i was 8/8. i havent watched as much this year, but hopefully i have similar luck this time.

 

i leave for vegas tomorrow.

[CubColtPacer]

Anybody want to get in line for MMOD and tell me what the next admission says? I'm not sure if my page is responding correctly because it's past the time when they were supposed to start letting people in, but I don't want to refresh it and possibly lose my place in line.