March Madness Thread

[CuseCubFan69]

The coverage ASU was getting in the local Phoenix news was ridiculous - main news story on every local news station and the lead story of their newspaper. They didn't belong compared to Arizona and Oregon though they did have a case compared to a few of the teams that did get in (Baylor). Sucks that that over-the-back call against USC came back to haunt them.

 

 

i mean, maybe they got screwed, but they'd lose in the first or second round anyway. that's why i really don't feel too bad for bubble teams that don't get in.

 

which is why two bubble teams should have to play the tuesday play-in game to get in as the 12 seed or something

 

Yeah, they just said that on Mike and Mike.

 

What do you guys think about Bobby Knights idea of having 128 teams? It is just one more game.

 

It won't work out with TV. CBS will not push the Masters back as that event is a cash cow for them.

 

The Masters is on a Tuesday?

[Derwood]

The coverage ASU was getting in the local Phoenix news was ridiculous - main news story on every local news station and the lead story of their newspaper. They didn't belong compared to Arizona and Oregon though they did have a case compared to a few of the teams that did get in (Baylor). Sucks that that over-the-back call against USC came back to haunt them.

 

 

i mean, maybe they got screwed, but they'd lose in the first or second round anyway. that's why i really don't feel too bad for bubble teams that don't get in.

 

which is why two bubble teams should have to play the tuesday play-in game to get in as the 12 seed or something

 

Yeah, they just said that on Mike and Mike.

 

What do you guys think about Bobby Knights idea of having 128 teams? It is just one more game.

 

It won't work out with TV. CBS will not push the Masters back as that event is a cash cow for them.

 

The Masters is on a Tuesday?

 

he was referring to adding another layer of games (128 teams)

[snoodmonger]

The coverage ASU was getting in the local Phoenix news was ridiculous - main news story on every local news station and the lead story of their newspaper. They didn't belong compared to Arizona and Oregon though they did have a case compared to a few of the teams that did get in (Baylor). Sucks that that over-the-back call against USC came back to haunt them.

 

 

i mean, maybe they got screwed, but they'd lose in the first or second round anyway. that's why i really don't feel too bad for bubble teams that don't get in.

 

which is why two bubble teams should have to play the tuesday play-in game to get in as the 12 seed or something

 

Yeah, they just said that on Mike and Mike.

 

What do you guys think about Bobby Knights idea of having 128 teams? It is just one more game.

 

It won't work out with TV. CBS will not push the Masters back as that event is a cash cow for them.

 

The Masters is on a Tuesday?

 

A tradition unlike any other.

[chuckywang]

The coverage ASU was getting in the local Phoenix news was ridiculous - main news story on every local news station and the lead story of their newspaper. They didn't belong compared to Arizona and Oregon though they did have a case compared to a few of the teams that did get in (Baylor). Sucks that that over-the-back call against USC came back to haunt them.

 

 

i mean, maybe they got screwed, but they'd lose in the first or second round anyway. that's why i really don't feel too bad for bubble teams that don't get in.

 

which is why two bubble teams should have to play the tuesday play-in game to get in as the 12 seed or something

 

Yeah, they just said that on Mike and Mike.

 

What do you guys think about Bobby Knights idea of having 128 teams? It is just one more game.

 

It won't work out with TV. CBS will not push the Masters back as that event is a cash cow for them.

 

The Masters is on a Tuesday?

 

If you propose to have 64 games on the Tuesday two days after Selection Sunday, then you are facing a logistical nightmare.

[CuseCubFan69]

What do you guys think about Bobby Knights idea of having 128 teams? It is just one more game.

 

It won't work out with TV. CBS will not push the Masters back as that event is a cash cow for them.

 

The Masters is on a Tuesday?

 

A tradition unlike any other.

 

Aye, yes it is indeed.

[TruffleShuffle]

yes PLEASE, it's about time we let in 64 more teams who have no chance to win a title.

[Guest]

Now what we all really care about...where will Gus be? Denver!

 

CBS wasted no time getting this information to me, so I figured I would pass it on to you just as fast. I'm sure you're all wondering who won the Gus lottery and the luck Region is the (drum roll) South! Those of you who are watching teams in Denver (Temple, MSU, Oral Roberts, PITT, Winthrop, Washington State, George Mason, and Notre Dame) congratulations!!!

 

Thursday Games:

 

(12) Temple (21-12) vs (5) Michigan State (25-8) 12:20 PM South (Denver): Gus Johnson and Len Elmore

(14) Georgia (17-16) vs (3) Xavier (27-6) 12:20 PM West (Washington, DC): Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel

(16) Portland State (23-9) vs (1) Kansas (31-3) 12:25 PM Midwest (Omaha): Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner

(11) Kentucky (18-12) vs (6) Marquette (24-9) 2:30 PM South (Anaheim): Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas

(11) Baylor (21-10) vs (6) Purdue (24-8) 2:50 PM West (Washington, DC): Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel

(9) Kent State (28-6) vs (8) UNLV (26-7) 2:55 PM Midwest (Omaha): Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner

(13) Oral Roberts (24-8) vs (4) Pittsburgh (26-9) 3:00 PM South (Denver): Gus Johnson and Len Elmore

(14) Cornell (22-5) vs (3) Stanford (26-7) 4:55 PM South (Anaheim): Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas

(11) Kansas State (20-11) vs (6) USC (21-11) 7:10 PM Midwest (Omaha): Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner

(15) Belmont (25-8) vs (2) Duke (27-5) 7:10 PM West (Washington, DC): Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel

(13) Winthrop (22-11) vs (4) Washington State (24-8) 7:20 PM East (Denver): Gus Johnson and Len Elmore

(9) Texas A&M (24-10) vs (8) BYU (27-7) 7:25 PM West (Anaheim): Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas

(14) Cal State Fullerton (24-8) vs (3) Wisconsin (29-4) 9:40 PM Midwest (Omaha): Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner

(12) George Mason (23-10) vs (5) Notre Dame (24-7) 9:50 PM East (Denver): Gus Johnson and Len Elmore

(16) Mississippi Valley State (17-15) vs (1) UCLA (31-3) 9:50 PM West (Anaheim): Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn and Jay Bilas

(10) Arizona (19-14) vs (7) West Virginia (24-10) 9:50 PM West (Washington, DC): Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel

 

Friday Games:

 

(15) American (21-11) vs (2) Tennessee (29-4) 12:15 PM East (Birmingham): Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery

(10) Davidson (26-6) vs (7) Gonzaga (25-7) 12:25 PM Midwest (Raleigh): Jim Nantz and Billy Packer

(10) St. Mary's (CA) (25-6) vs (7) Miami (FL) (22-10) 12:30 PM South (Little Rock): Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel

(12) Western Kentucky (27-6) vs (5) Drake (28-4) 12:30 PM West (Tampa): Tim Brando and Mike Gminski

(10) South Alabama (26-6) vs (7) Butler (29-3) 2:45 PM East (Birmingham): Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery

(15) UMBC (24-8) vs (2) Georgetown (27-5) 2:55 PM Midwest (Raleigh): Jim Nantz and Billy Packer

(13) San Diego (21-13) vs (4) UConn (24-8) 3:00 PM West (Tampa): Tim Brando and Mike Gminski

(15) Austin Peay (24-10) vs (2) Texas (28-6) 5:00 PM South (Little Rock): Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel

(16) Play-In Winner (TBD) vs (1) North Carolina (32-2) 7:10 PM East (Raleigh): Jim Nantz and Billy Packer

(11) St. Joseph's (21-12) vs (6) Oklahoma (22-11) 7:10 PM East (Birmingham): Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery

(13) Siena (22-10) vs (4) Vanderbilt (26-7) 7:20 PM Midwest (Tampa): Tim Brando and Mike Gminski

(9) Oregon (18-13) vs (8) Mississippi State (22-10) 7:25 PM South (Little Rock): Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel

(9) Arkansas (22-11) vs (8) Indiana (25-7) 9:50 PM East (Raleigh): Jim Nantz and Billy Packer

(14) Boise State (25-8) vs (3) Louisville (24-8) 9:50 PM East (Birmingham): Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery

(12) Villanova (20-12) vs (5) Clemson (24-9) 9:50 PM Midwest (Tampa): Tim Brando and Mike Gminski

(16) UT Arlington (21-11) vs (1) Memphis (33-1) 9:55 PM South (Little Rock): Ian Eagle and Jim Spanarkel

 

http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/03/your-ncaa-announcing-schedule-round-one.html

[TruffleShuffle]

verne lundquist and bill raftery were great during the sec title game. especially raftery, i know some people don't like him, but i think he's a lot of fun to listen to. billy packer is lousy; unfortunately he tends to do a lot of games that end up televised nationally.

[snoodmonger]

verne lundquist and bill raftery were great during the sec title game. especially raftery, i know some people don't like him, but i think he's a lot of fun to listen to. billy packer is lousy; unfortunately he tends to do a lot of games that end up televised nationally.

 

I like Raftery. KU got Harlan/Bonner, which I'm happy with. If Packer weren't such a ####, he wouldn't be a bad announcer. He generally knows what he's talking about, and he provides way better analysis than a lot of the ESPN clowns (VITALE). He's just an insufferable #####.

 

Edited to remove language.

 

 

Seriously guys, these rules have been in place for years. Watch the language.

[Derwood]

i'm sorta tired of Lundquist and Raftery, if only because they do the play-by-play on College Hoops 2k6.

 

/"the kiss..."

[dew1679666265]

i'm sorta tired of Lundquist and Raftery, if only because they do the play-by-play on College Hoops 2k6.

 

/"the kiss..."

 

Dear Lord, I hate Verne Lundquist. He does every major SEC college football and basketball game and he sucks - badly.

 

Even if the Vols didn't get Gus Johnson, I was hoping like heck we'd avoid Verne... ](*,)

[Andy]

As if I wasn't excited enough already, ND gets Gus Johnson.

 

Thursday can't possibly arrive soon enough.

[OleMissCub]

OH LORD... on ESPN2 right now, UNC-Ash. has a guy that is 7-7, 330 pounds!..... :shock:

[Guest]

Coverage Maps for Thursday (warning: PDF files):

 

12 pm ET: http://www.muscoop.com/pickem/320-1-prelim.map.pdf

2:30 pm ET: http://www.muscoop.com/pickem/320-2-prelim.map.pdf

4:40 pm ET: http://www.muscoop.com/pickem/320-2a-prelim.map.pdf

7:10 pm ET: http://www.muscoop.com/pickem/320-3-prelim.map.pdf

9:30 pm ET: http://www.muscoop.com/pickem/320-4-prelim.map.pdf

[snoodmonger]

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=252

 

Ken Pomeroy gives KU a 60% chance to go to the Final Four, a 50% chance to go to the final game, and a 37% chance to win the whole deal.

 

He's surprisingly high on Wiscy, surprisingly down on UNC.

[Exile on Waveland]

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=252

 

Ken Pomeroy gives KU a 60% chance to go to the Final Four, a 50% chance to go to the final game, and a 37% chance to win the whole deal.

 

He's surprisingly high on Wiscy, surprisingly down on UNC.

 

I like Wisconsin, but don't think they have the best chance to beat Kansas in that region at all -- it has to be Georgetown. I can't see Wisconsin beating Georgetown. I understand it's not that simple, as he's high on Davidson which is partly why Georgetown has less a chance to advance.

 

I think this also lends credence to Indiana fan's complaints that they're under-seeded. I like Butler's chances against Tennessee; regardless, I like Louisville-UNC in the elite eight.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

And let's give everyone a chance to look smart right now. What's your biggest surprise/upset pick? Mine seems to be concentrated in the West, San Diego to the Sweet 16, and Xavier to the Final 4.

[Andy]

Did those PDFs not work for anyone else?

 

And let's give everyone a chance to look smart right now. What's your biggest surprise/upset pick? Mine seems to be concentrated in the West, San Diego to the Sweet 16, and Xavier to the Final 4.

This is my least gutsy bracket that I've ever filled out. West Virginia to the Sweet 16, Michigan State to the Elite 8 and Stanford to the title game are the only picks on mine that remotely resemble gutsy.

[snoodmonger]

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=252

 

Ken Pomeroy gives KU a 60% chance to go to the Final Four, a 50% chance to go to the final game, and a 37% chance to win the whole deal.

 

He's surprisingly high on Wiscy, surprisingly down on UNC.

 

I like Wisconsin, but don't think they have the best chance to beat Kansas in that region at all -- it has to be Georgetown. I can't see Wisconsin beating Georgetown. I understand it's not that simple, as he's high on Davidson which is partly why Georgetown has less a chance to advance.

 

I think this also lends credence to Indiana fan's complaints that they're under-seeded. I like Butler's chances against Tennessee; regardless, I like Louisville-UNC in the elite eight.

 

Georgetown could definitely beat us, but Wiscy has the grind it out system that causes problems for KU, too.

 

I think UNC bows out to Louisville.

[JimSorgi]

And let's give everyone a chance to look smart right now. What's your biggest surprise/upset pick? Mine seems to be concentrated in the West, San Diego to the Sweet 16, and Xavier to the Final 4.

My Final Four is UNC, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, and Xavier. I have Temple beating Michigan State. West Virginia over Duke. Butler over Tennessee. I also picked Davidson over Georgetown.

[Exile on Waveland]

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=252

 

Ken Pomeroy gives KU a 60% chance to go to the Final Four, a 50% chance to go to the final game, and a 37% chance to win the whole deal.

 

He's surprisingly high on Wiscy, surprisingly down on UNC.

 

I like Wisconsin, but don't think they have the best chance to beat Kansas in that region at all -- it has to be Georgetown. I can't see Wisconsin beating Georgetown. I understand it's not that simple, as he's high on Davidson which is partly why Georgetown has less a chance to advance.

 

I think this also lends credence to Indiana fan's complaints that they're under-seeded. I like Butler's chances against Tennessee; regardless, I like Louisville-UNC in the elite eight.

 

Georgetown could definitely beat us, but Wiscy has the grind it out system that causes problems for KU, too.

 

I think UNC bows out to Louisville.

 

I really want to pick Louisville over UNC, which was my initial thought. I have been growing more reluctant -- OK, chicken -- as the game will be played in Charlotte. I'm generally not conservative in brackets, so I'll probably settle on Louisville.

 

I would be very surprised if Wisconsin beats Georgetown, much less Kansas. That said, I love Bo Ryan and the way they play. I'll also be rooting for them.

[Mizzou]

I'm really struggling with UNLV-Kent State. Can someone persuade me one way or the other so that I can make this pick and move on?

[Exile on Waveland]

I'm really struggling with UNLV-Kent State. Can someone persuade me one way or the other so that I can make this pick and move on?

 

If you're looking for hard-hitting match-up analysis, I don't have it. I've watched a bit of both teams, but not much at all. So, this is a guess.

 

I'm taking Kent State. Lon Kruger's pretty much doing it with smoke and mirrors this year. UNLV lost four starters from last year's team, then lost two big guys as transfers and a backup guard to a DUI. (Plus, Beas Hamga was ruled ineligible.) Kruger's a very good coach, and for the Rebels to be in the dance as an 8-seed is a testament to that. That, and I've liked Kent State a lot when I watched them.

[Guest]

I'm beginning to get the feeling I'm a Pac-10 homer since I went with USC over Wisconsin in the second round.

[bukie]

I'm beginning to get the feeling I'm a Pac-10 homer since I went with USC over Wisconsin in the second round.

 

Wisconsin is a very good, consistent team, and could be very dangerous if they make it to Detroit especially. According to efficiency ratings, USC is worse than their first round opponent, Kansas State, although KSU is extremely inconsistent.

 

I'd be hard pressed to see USC winning 2 games.