March Madness Thread

[Sosa21MVP]

Damn that Big Ten sucks.......

 

Man Indiana sure played well in the tournament.

 

And the fifth and sixth place teams, Ohio State and Minnesota, had good showings as well. Oh wait......

 

Yes, Indiana was awful. But they did lose their coach right at the end of the season. Ohio State probably, or at least arguably, should've been in the tournament.

 

Still, for a conference that is supposed to be horrendous, 5-2 with two Sweet 16 teams isn't too shabby.

 

I ragged on the conference all year, but I said I wouldn't have been surprised if Wisconsin and/or MSU make it just because they're two of the best-coached teams in the land. Both of those teams always find a way to get things done come March.

 

I don't think anyone is going to claim the Big Ten is a great conference this year. It just didn't deserve the crap it caught -- which is pretty typical, for whatever reason.

 

Well, here's my reasoning for why it wasn't a great conference. It didn't have one team that stood above and beyond the others as one of the better teams in the nation. The Big East had Georgetown, the ACC had Carolina, the Big 12 had Kansas/Texas, the SEC had Tennessee, the Pac-10 had UCLA. The best team in the Big 10, this year, was a Wisconsin team that really won the conference by great coaching. I don't think you can say Wisconsin has the most talent in the conference (not that it's a bad thing since they're obviously doing quite well for themselves).

 

They had four teams that didn't really show anything special throughout the year. Ohio State was a bubble team that didn't beat anybody and the next best team, Minnesota, wasn't all that great either. The bottom half of the conference was extremely terrible. You can't tell me you'd take Penn State, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, and Michigan over the bottom half of the other major conferences. Conferences should be judged by quality of depth...something the Big 10 really didn't have much of this year.

 

I mostly agree but I still think Wisconsin gets shortchanged. They are 31-4 and they did beat Texas in Austin. I'd say they deserve to be mentioned as a special team in the same regard as those other conference champions that you mentioned. The only weird thing is them getting swept by Purdue who finished second place in the conference but still....they had a special season.

[Exile on Waveland]

Damn that Big Ten sucks.......

 

Man Indiana sure played well in the tournament.

 

And the fifth and sixth place teams, Ohio State and Minnesota, had good showings as well. Oh wait......

 

Yes, Indiana was awful. But they did lose their coach right at the end of the season. Ohio State probably, or at least arguably, should've been in the tournament.

 

Still, for a conference that is supposed to be horrendous, 5-2 with two Sweet 16 teams isn't too shabby.

 

They still only had four teams in the tournament. Of course a conferences odds of looking good and having a good record are going to improve if they only have their best teams.

 

If the Pac-10 only had four teams in, they'd be 6-1 with three Sweet 16 teams. Instead, Arizona and Oregon both got in, lost in the first round and dropped the overall record down.

 

The Big 10 was down this year and was only better than the SEC. I don't see why some Big 10 homers (I'm looking at Keener, not you) continue to say the Big 10 was good this year when it clearly wasn't.

 

There's no doubt the Big Ten was down this year. There's also very little doubt the Big East, ACC and Pac 10 are superior. The Big 12 has acquitted itself very well in the tournament too -- better than I thought they would. However, the SEC deserved to be chided all year over the Big Ten. They got six teams in, the Big Ten four (I understand the Georgia situation).

 

Still, the Big Ten was supposed to be 4-3 at this point and is 5-2. That's not bad; not great, but not bad. The Pac 10 was supposed to be 5-3 at this point but is only 4-3. That's by my count, I could be mistaken. Not that the Pac 10 isn't better, of course.

 

Edit: I obviously muscounted as UCLA, Stanford and Wazzou are in the Sweet 16 already. I think I meant 7-3 and 6-3, but I wouldn't trust me. I'm not smart.

[snoodmonger]

I don't get why people get so defensive about their conference sucking. It's not like it's a permanent critique.

[Guest]

There's no doubt the Big Ten was down this year. There's also very little doubt the Big East, ACC and Pac 10 are superior. The Big 12 has acquitted itself very well in the tournament too -- better than I thought they would. However, the SEC deserved to be chided all year over the Big Ten. They got six teams in, the Big Ten four (I understand the Georgia situation).

 

Still, the Big Ten was supposed to be 4-3 at this point and is 5-2. That's not bad; not great, but not bad. The Pac 10 was supposed to be 5-3 at this point but is only 4-3. That's by my count, I could be mistaken. Not that the Pac 10 isn't better, of course.

 

Completely agree on the SEC being worse.

 

As for the records, much like the 8-9 matchups, I consider the 4-5 matchups to be tossups as well so I don't really consider MSU beating Pitt to be a big shock. I personally thought Pitt would win but it wasn't a sure thing. The Big 10 performed as expected as did the Pac-10 with the exception of USC. Everyone else in the conference did as expected.

 

And I'd even say that the USC game was a tossup as well because of how inconsistent both teams were this year.

[Keener98]

Damn that Big Ten sucks.......

 

Man Indiana sure played well in the tournament.

 

And the fifth and sixth place teams, Ohio State and Minnesota, had good showings as well. Oh wait......

 

Yes, Indiana was awful. But they did lose their coach right at the end of the season. Ohio State probably, or at least arguably, should've been in the tournament.

 

Still, for a conference that is supposed to be horrendous, 5-2 with two Sweet 16 teams isn't too shabby.

 

They still only had four teams in the tournament. Of course a conferences odds of looking good and having a good record are going to improve if they only have their best teams.

 

If the Pac-10 only had four teams in, they'd be 6-1 with three Sweet 16 teams. Instead, Arizona and Oregon both got in, lost in the first round and dropped the overall record down.

 

The Big 10 was down this year and was only better than the SEC. I don't see why some Big 10 homers (I'm looking at Keener, not you) continue to say the Big 10 was good this year when it clearly wasn't.

 

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

[Keener98]

But oh well, congrats to Wisconsin and Michigan State for helping my bracket. The only Sweet 16 teams Ive lost is friggin ND and Drake.

[Guest]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

[bukie]

So, after all that, the only game I lost today was Stanford/Marquette. Stupid Brock Lopez.

 

EDIT: Wait, Duke too, but I consider Duke a moral victory.

[Keener98]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

 

 

Funny you said all that about football, but forgot to mention how the 2nd/3rd best team in the Big Ten beat mighty Gators. Oh well, Big Ten basketball and football is on its way up so Im not concerned.

[Guest]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

 

 

Funny you said all that about football, but forgot to mention how the 2nd/3rd best team in the Big Ten beat mighty Gators. Oh well, Big Ten basketball and football is on its way up so Im not concerned.

 

I don't give a damn about Florida and not once have did I refer to their 2007 team as mighty. They didn't have a defense this year and clearly weren't as good of a team as they were when they won the title.

[Vanilla Ice]

Going to watch Arkansas practice at my school tomorrow.

[Outshined_One]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

 

 

Funny you said all that about football, but forgot to mention how the 2nd/3rd best team in the Big Ten beat mighty Gators. Oh well, Big Ten basketball and football is on its way up so Im not concerned.

 

I don't give a damn about Florida and not once have did I refer to their 2007 team as mighty. They didn't have a defense this year and clearly weren't as good of a team as they were when they won the title.

 

Considering he who shall not be named was recently launched from this board, the rampant Gator/SEC homerism around these parts has been ratcheted down a few notches.

[snoodmonger]

There is no possible way there wasn't a foul on somebody there.

 

I'll take it though.

 

 

UCLA was getting away with murder down low all night. That last play looked clean though.

 

I stand corrected.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/snoodmonger1/532752.jpg

[Keener98]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

 

 

Funny you said all that about football, but forgot to mention how the 2nd/3rd best team in the Big Ten beat mighty Gators. Oh well, Big Ten basketball and football is on its way up so Im not concerned.

 

I don't give a damn about Florida and not once have did I refer to their 2007 team as mighty. They didn't have a defense this year and clearly weren't as good of a team as they were when they won the title.

 

My point still stands that in your comment you talked about Ohio State losing in its bowl, then Illinois, but then never said what Michigan did in their bowl, but instead choose to talk about them losing at home to a 1-AA school and Oregon. Like Ive said the Big Ten is down and its on its way right back up, but for as much Big Ten homer talk that there suppsosedly is, there is just as much Big Ten bashing for no reason.

[Exile on Waveland]

For one, with as much crap as the Big Ten caught this year about them being horrible, and people have said that being the best in the Big Ten is like who has the ugliest mother, I think its fair to give them props. I have said all year that the Big Ten was down, I have never said they werent. But they didnt deserve all the crap they got, because the other leagues arent that much superior to them.

 

Im just sick and tired of the crap that gets spewed about the Big Ten being terrible, since we had to hear about it in football also. And when push came to shove, Big Ten football didnt look to damn bad in the bowls, and the basketball teams arent looking too damn bad either.

 

It's fair to give the Big 10 props for playing to the seed (read previous post about 4-5 matchups as tossups)?

 

And yes, Pac-10, Big East and ACC are easily superior to the Big 10 and the Big 12 is a bit better. The only conference the Big 10 is better than is the SEC.

 

The Big 10 didn't get unfairly criticized for anything this year. They were down in both football and basketball and that's what was said about them. In football the best team got killed in the title game after not playing anybody in the regular season (though I know they ususally do) second best team got annihilated by USC in the Rose Bowl and the third best team lost to a I-AA team at home and then got embarrassed by Oregon at home. That came after they got the crap kicked out of them in the Rose Bowl last year as well. I don't see where this criticism was undeserved.

 

I don't disagree with anything you have said. However, I believe Big Ten fans feel, rightly or wrongly, their failings are brought to attention far more often than other conferences. Schadenfreude seems to run rampant among other conference fans and the media. This may be a biased opinion, I'll readily admit.

 

However, before the bowl season you heard people on here saying there was no way the Big Ten could win a game against the SEC. They went 1-2 and Wisconsin easily could've won. Then the Big Ten was laughed at in basketball, and has yet again acquitted themselves nicely in the tournament. Besides the fact that I think Ohio State had a legitimate grip over a couple of the teams that got in the field (e.g., Baylor). The Big Ten hasn't been great in either sport recently, but it hasn't been as bad as some would like to believe.

 

Assuming Indiana doesn't botch their coaching decision, the Big Ten is going to be loaded with really, really good basketball coaches. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the league was the best in the nation very soon.

[CoolHandLuke]

 

Considering he who shall not be named was recently launched from this board, the rampant Gator/SEC homerism around these parts has been ratcheted down a few notches.

 

I did not know this! What happened?!

[Exile on Waveland]

 

Considering he who shall not be named was recently launched from this board, the rampant Gator/SEC homerism around these parts has been ratcheted down a few notches.

 

I did not know this! What happened?!

 

I was wondering the same thing.

[Keener98]

I believe it was found out he was behind the site that wont be named, but I may be wrong.

[Andy]

I believe it was found out he was behind the site that wont be named, but I may be wrong.

Derwood made a post that said "long story short, it was him, he's gone, let's all move on."

[imb]

There is no possible way there wasn't a foul on somebody there.

 

I'll take it though.

 

 

UCLA was getting away with murder down low all night. That last play looked clean though.

 

I stand corrected.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/snoodmonger1/532752.jpg

 

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-03/37063269.jpg

[OleMissCub]

 

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-03/37063269.jpg

 

WOW. That's like a classic Duke non-call.

[snoodmonger]

I thought UCLA got a ton of calls, but aTm didn't play smart toward the end. They didn't even have the seven-footer in the game at the end to block shots. And the way they were shooting FTs, who knows if they would've made 2 there. Still, you like to see better officiating across the board. The KU game was terrible, too, though in a different way. Fouls left and right.

[snoodmonger]

WVU players rip the Dukies in the post-game. Classy? No. Awesome? You better believe it.

 

As a reporter was leaving, the reserve Cam Thoroughman asked if Duke point guard Greg Paulus was one of the eight McDonald’s all-Americans. When told yes, Thoroughman said: “Oh my God. Are you kidding?”

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23duke.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[C.C.]

its tough to root for thuggins but i'd love a duke loss here.

 

i cant put my finger on who alexander looks like. mose schrute maybe?

 

I bet Cincy would love to have him back.

[Jon]

It looks like the primary games for Chicago today are Butler vs. Tennessee and Arkansas vs. UNC.

 

I was hoping for Davidson vs. Georgetown...