Re: 2009 NCAA Tournament thread

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bob Wenzel really seems to have ratcheted up the dumb since the last Mizzou game.

[Guest]

Is it just me, or have there been very few exciting games so far this year. I'm barely even watching today

 

I think the problem is people always remember the couple great, close games each year and think every year is like that. But in reality with 48 games in four days, you're going to get a ton of bad games, with a good chance that there are going to be a couple complete blocks of games that don't have a close one.

 

 

Friday night it seemed like every game went down to the wire, or OT.

 

And yet only two of the four games did - Michigan State and Cleveland State both won by 15 in games that they controlled the entire way.

 

But the two I saw did. I was just illustrating how which games you get color your perception of the whole thing.

 

Definitely. You're going to remember those couple games over the two bad games you didn't see. And since CBS switches to any game that is close at the end, the viewer is going to see the ending of every close game, but won't see much of a blowout if it's not the featured game in their area (unless they're watching MMOD and have an eye on every game). All of that adds to the perception that there are more close games than there really are.

 

It's just like how retired athletes in any sport remember the game being so much better back when they played because they remember all the good things since they've told stories about them for so long.

[CubColtPacer]

I think the fact we think this tournament is slightly boring partially because we had a couple great tournaments in the middle of the decade and now pretty much everything is compared to those.

 

For example, I randomly pulled up the 2004 tournament.

 

In the 1st round, 10 of the 32 games were 6 point victories or less

In the 2nd round, 9 of 16 games.

In the Sweet 16, 2 of 8

In the Elite 8, 2 of 4.

In the Final 4, 2 of 2.

0 of 1 in the Championship game

Total: 25 out of 63

So far this year:

9 out of 32

3 out of 13 so far (3 left)

So far: 12 out of 45

 

So to match that year's tournament, you'd have to have 13 of the final 18 games be tight games. That would be pretty unlikely.

 

Here's 2003's numbers:

 

15 out of 32

3 out of 16

6 out of 8

1 out of 4

0 out of 2

1 out of 1

Total: 26 out of 63

 

This years tournament is hardly unusual but it isn't going to match up to tournaments like that. And especially since we got those 2 years in a row we subconsciously think every tournament should be like that.

[Andy]

Alright, Mizzou, me likey.

 

Michigan State, me likey a little less.

[Slugger_16]

You suck Marquette.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Can't really be any happier with how we played that half. They need to cut down on the fouls though.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Can't really be any happier with how we played that half. They need to cut down on the fouls though.

 

Yep, FTs are keeping them in it. The good news is that no one is in foul trouble, so hopefully they can step on the gas like they typically do in the second half and put Marquette away.

[Prior4CyYoung]

Hopefully Marquette can turn it around an pull out the victory.

[Flames24Rulz]

I've never seen a team miss as many bunnies as Marquette has. Wow.

[SouthSideRyan]

What the hell are you doing Sparty?

[SouthSideRyan]

Gus cracking himself up and laughing like a mad man.

[Prior4CyYoung]

Marquette stop missing wide open 2 foot shots k thanks.

[Butterscup1679666578]

That's two awful calls on Kim English on the last two trips.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This foul and FT disparity is getting ridiculous. They're just throwing themselves at whoever is in the paint and and getting bailed out with free throws.

[Butterscup1679666578]

And I'm officially nervous.

[NonProfitCow]

This foul and FT disparity is getting ridiculous. They're just throwing themselves at whoever is in the paint and and getting bailed out with free throws.

++

[Butterscup1679666578]

I really wish we we'd get bailed out as well. This is garbage.

[Guest]

Well, as of now, I'm getting exactly what I wanted from the USC-Mich St game. Hopefully it continues for another eight minutes.

[hawkeyecub]

Mike Anderson is pretty impressive. To make the jump he did in year 3 is one thing. To do it without an abundance of great talent is another. But to have a team play as fast as they do, press the way they do without giving up a bunch of easy baskets and turn it over as infrequently as they do takes it up another level.

[hawkeyecub]

And thank God we got that Syracuse/Arizona State game in it's own timeslot. Wouldn't have wanted any of the Pitt, Missouri, Michigan State or even Louisville games on at the same time so they could switch.

[SouthSideRyan]

This foul and FT disparity is getting ridiculous. They're just throwing themselves at whoever is in the paint and and getting bailed out with free throws.

 

Careful, Truffle might have to come yell at you.

[Butterscup1679666578]

These really aren't fouls. This is putrid officiating.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

IF YOU RUN INTO SOMEONE AND INITIATE CONTACT IT IS NOT A BLOCKING FOUL

[NonProfitCow]

These really aren't fouls. This is putrid officiating.

++

 

This is just awful.

[hawkeyecub]

Mizzou getting hosed