College Basketball 2009-10

[Andy]

Early upset picks?

 

I took Siena over Purdue (2nd-guessing my original pick because I wanted to pick a 13 - it was down to Murray and Siena) and Cornell over Temple. But so far I have all the 1's and 2's in the sweet 16.

[Guest]

Oh, and Illinois got hosed by the committee. We had the best resume of any bubble team and we got left out.

 

But, we take care of business in Vegas and we're 21-12 and in the tourney. We get shots off at the end of regulation or overtime yesterday and we get in the tourney. We beat Minny at home and we're in the tourney. Nobody to blame but ourselves.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

So Illinois fans, a legit question. Is the seat getting hot now?

 

As an outsider, I am starting to wonder myself. The big argument against him is that his best teams in his tenure weren't his guys. I've been hearing about all the awesome recruiting classes Illinois was getting and I have yet to see the results. I know next year you are supposed to be getting a good class coming in so I'd probably reserve judgement for at least a season or two.

 

He whiffed for 3 of 4 years. 05, 06, and 08 yielded nothing. Lack of depth and turnover within the program has plagued the last few years. Freshmen were not going to lead us to the promised land this year.

[SouthSideRyan]

I am not making any money on brackets this year. I'm not happy with any of my picks. Final 4 of Ohio St, West Virginia, Villanova, and Butler (WTF?)

 

Upsets: Cornell over Temple. Wofford over Wisconsin. Minnesota over Xavier San Diego State over Tennessee

[Andy]

I have OSU, KSU, WV and Nova (seriously, the South bracket is a mess...why am I picking Nova to go anywhere?). I hate these picks.

[JimSorgi]

My Final Four is OSU, Nova, Wisconsin, and BYU. I don't know why I put BYU in there, but I did.

[SouthSideRyan]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

[radarluv1]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

good luck getting them motivated for that game, bruce

[SouthSideRyan]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

good luck getting them motivated for that game, bruce

 

Good thing Stony Brooks sucks

[Irrelevant Dude]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

It looks like Cirque Du Soleil is at Assembly Hall from 3/17-3/21. I predict a first round Illini loss.

[UMFan83]

Oh, and Illinois got hosed by the committee. We had the best resume of any bubble team and we got left out.

 

But, we take care of business in Vegas and we're 21-12 and in the tourney. We get shots off at the end of regulation or overtime yesterday and we get in the tourney. We beat Minny at home and we're in the tourney. Nobody to blame but ourselves.

 

I agree that Illinois is one of the bigger snubs, but with a 79 RPI it's hard to say that they are definitively the best resume of any team not in the tourney.

[TruffleShuffle]

I have OSU, KSU, WV and Nova (seriously, the South bracket is a mess...why am I picking Nova to go anywhere?). I hate these picks.

 

yeah agreed on the south, i have nova in the final four and they've been playing like crap for a month. but that bracket is pretty bad; duke will have their usual problems with quick, athletic teams.

[bukie]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

It looks like Cirque Du Soleil is at Assembly Hall from 3/17-3/21. I predict a first round Illini loss.

Nah, they've played much better on the road for the last month.

[NeifiIsMyHomeBoy]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

It looks like Cirque Du Soleil is at Assembly Hall from 3/17-3/21. I predict a first round Illini loss.

Nah, they've played much better on the road for the last month.

 

Who cares? The real question is do we hang a banner if we win this thing? I've already emailed Saint Ron Guenther in opposition to any recognition of this teams post season achievements.

[UMFan83]

Illinois road to MSG could include getting past Kent State/Tulsa, Dayton/Illinois State, and/or Cincinnat/Weber State.

[CubInOK]

I got Kansas, Syracuse, WVU and Duke in my Final 4, but I hate my bracket. It feels too chalky.

 

Also, I don't understand why Pomeroy loves Wisconsin. I don't understand it, but I went with it.

Edited March 15, 2010 by CubInOK

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh, and Illinois got hosed by the committee. We had the best resume of any bubble team and we got left out.

 

But, we take care of business in Vegas and we're 21-12 and in the tourney. We get shots off at the end of regulation or overtime yesterday and we get in the tourney. We beat Minny at home and we're in the tourney. Nobody to blame but ourselves.

 

I agree that Illinois is one of the bigger snubs, but with a 79 RPI it's hard to say that they are definitively the best resume of any team not in the tourney.

 

RPI is garbage

[bukie]

For those that are still paying attention, and care about the NIT:

 

Illinois Bracket

#1 Illinois vs. #8 Stony Brook -- Since Illinois scheduled the circus in Memorial Hall, they will not play home games.

#4 Kent State vs. #5 Tulsa

#2 Cincinnati vs. #7 Weber State

#3 Dayton vs. #6 Illinois State

 

Arizona State bracket

#1 Arizona State vs. #8 Jacksonville

#4 Seton Hall vs. #5 Texas Tech

#2 Ole Miss vs. #7 Troy

#3 Memphis vs. #6 St. John's

 

Virginia Tech bracket

#1 Virginia Tech vs. #8 Quinnipiac

#4 UConn vs. #5 Northeastern

#2 Rhode Island vs. #7 Northwestern

#3 Wichita State vs. #6 Nevada

 

Mississippi State bracket

#1 Mississippi State vs. #8 Jackson State

#4 UNC vs. #5 William and Mary

#2 UAB vs. #7 Coastal Carolina

#3 South Florida vs. #6 NC State

 

EDIT: And yes, Illinois was the #1 overall seed at the NIT.

[illiniguy]

So Illinois fans, a legit question. Is the seat getting hot now?

 

As an outsider, I am starting to wonder myself. The big argument against him is that his best teams in his tenure weren't his guys. I've been hearing about all the awesome recruiting classes Illinois was getting and I have yet to see the results. I know next year you are supposed to be getting a good class coming in so I'd probably reserve judgement for at least a season or two.

 

He whiffed for 3 of 4 years. 05, 06, and 08 yielded nothing. Lack of depth and turnover within the program has plagued the last few years. Freshmen were not going to lead us to the promised land this year.

Yeah the big classes were '09, 10, '11. Only one has made it to campus. He needs to keep adding talent to the '11 class though. If he starts to slow down on that front he really will need to go.

[illiniguy]

Illinois opens the NIT on the road due to a scheduling conflict. (@Stony Brook) Why couldn't they schedule it for a different night?

It looks like Cirque Du Soleil is at Assembly Hall from 3/17-3/21. I predict a first round Illini loss.

Nah, they've played much better on the road for the last month.

 

Who cares? The real question is do we hang a banner if we win this thing? I've already emailed Saint Ron Guenther in opposition to any recognition of this teams post season achievements.

He had better not hang anything. No need to celebrate this, at all.

[Magnetic Curses]

this will be just as satisfying as winning that championship trophy in that purdue guy's sig picture.

[Guest]

Boy, the East/South half of the bracket is such a mess, I can't find a Final 4 team I like from either region. First run I came up with Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Baylor.

[Derwood]

this will be just as satisfying as winning that championship trophy in that purdue guy's sig picture.

 

Can you live up to the legacy of the 2009 Nittany Lions?

[illiniguy]

this will be just as satisfying as winning that championship trophy in that purdue guy's sig picture.

 

Can you live up to the legacy of the 2009 Nittany Lions?

Prolly not.

[hawkeyecub]

Bilas really loves Cornell.