Re: March Madness: The Thread

[CubInOK]

I started the Sweet 16 in last place, but if Dook wins it all, I win my pool. I'll probably finish within the 90th percentile on Yahoo too. \:D/

[CubInOK]

The tempo of this game is pretty clearly in Tennessee's favor right now. Izzo doesn't seem like a coach who favors up-and-down play.

[Productive Outs]

If you're interested in batcrap crazy, find your way over to Catspause and check out Rupp's Rafters. It's just funny how insane that part of the Wildcat fanbase can be.

 

really? i could see a Tennessee fan doing that if the Vols were out of the tournament, but you're playing for a trip to the final four. i would think you would be on your own rivals site talking about your team's chances. i don't understand why fans of opposing teams do this. i have never been to Tennessee's rivals site.

[woodchip2153]

Is it just me or is Verne cheering for Tennessee?

[Careless]

They just said that Enberg was retiring from Tournament games

[Derwood]

Never bet against Tom Izzo

[Flames24Rulz]

Morgan got away with at least four steps on that last sequence.

[NonProfitCow]

Wow that was a stupid foul.

[Garwilly]

With 1.8, they are only getting a 3 off anyway. Miss free throw #2.

[chuckywang]

With 1.8, they are only getting a 3 off anyway. Miss free throw #2.

 

Christian Laettner, or Blake Hoffarber

[Garwilly]

With 1.8, they are only getting a 3 off anyway. Miss free throw #2.

 

Christian Laettner, or Blake Hoffarber

 

Yeah, and being up 1 or 2 won't matter.

[JimSorgi]

Tom Izzo is pretty great, you guys.

[Careless]

The two top brackets on ESPN going into today had Tennessee losing the title game.

[SpongeWorthy]

I didn't really see much of a foul on Morgan. I guess the way the guy jumped wildly in the air they were gonna call something but he got all ball.

[Guest]

I didn't really see much of a foul on Morgan. I guess the way the guy jumped wildly in the air they were gonna call something but he got all ball.

 

I think he probably got him, but the flying limbs made it look worse. The other guy seemed to get him on the body too. He got both people moving with a pump fake, so it was a pretty easy call.

[Guest]

Never bet against Tom Izzo

 

Is there a coach that gets his teams to overperform in the tournament more often than Izzo?

 

2010: No. 5, makes Final Four, beating a No. 4 and No. 6

2009: No. 2, makes title game and knocks off two No. 1's and a No. 3.

2008: No. 5, makes Sweet 16, knocks off No. 4 and loses to No. 1.

2007: No. 9, makes second round, loses to No. 1.

2006: No. 6, lost to George Mason in first round.

2005: No. 5, makes Final Four and beats a No. 1 and No. 2 along the way.

2004: No. 7, loses in first round.

2003: No. 7, makes Elite 8, beats No. 2 and No. 6 before losing to No. 1.

2002: No. 10, loses in first round

2001: No. 1, makes Final Four

2000: No. 1, wins National Title

1999: No. 1, makes Final Four

1998: No. 4, makes Sweet 16, loses to No. 1.

 

So he's made the Final Four all three times MSU has been a No. 1 seed and twice when they've been a No. 5 seed. MSU also made the title game once as a No. 2 seed after beating a pair of No. 1's. By my count, they've overperformed their seed six times and played it even another five times. One of the two times they didn't make it as far as expected, they lost to George Mason in the first round, who made the final four that year.

[NonProfitCow]

6 Final Fours in 12 years. Izzo is the man.

[Guest]

If Kansas State wins they have had an interesting run of not having to play a major conference team to get to the Final Four. I wonder if that's happened before?

 

I was looking up stuff on Michigan State and saw in 2001 they beat No. 16 Alabama State, No. 9 Fresno State, No. 12 Gonzaga and No. 11 Temple on the way to the Final Four.

[Derwood]

I'm just putting msu in the final four every year from now on, regardless of seed

[Terp]

Hopefully Butler is able to beat Michigan St. I don't think I could handle the title game if it ends up Michigan State/Duke.

[chuckywang]

Never bet against Tom Izzo

 

Is there a coach that gets his teams to overperform in the tournament more often than Izzo?

 

I'd say Coach K in the lates 80s, early 90s. 6 Final Fours in 7 seasons.

[Guest]

Never bet against Tom Izzo

 

Is there a coach that gets his teams to overperform in the tournament more often than Izzo?

 

I'd say Coach K in the lates 80s, early 90s. 6 Final Fours in 7 seasons.

 

Duke was a 1 or a 2 in five of those years and a 3 in the other, though.

[snoodmonger]

I'm not trying to knock Izzo because he's a great coach. But it's kind of a myth he does less with more. This team has a ton of talent. Most of his teams do.

 

The bottom line is he has his teams ready to play when it counts. That's all that really matters. But they're not overperforming, imo. They were a preseason 2 for a reason. I think, from a talent perspective, he usually has one of the top teams in the country.

 

Here's his top 9's scout rankings. Hardly the kids from Hickory.

 

Lucas 4* (#5 PG)

Morgan 4* (#11 SF)

Allen 4* (#13 SG)

Roe 5* (#4 PF)

Summers 5* (#4 SG)

Green 4* (#26 PF)

Lucious 4* (#7 PG)

Sherman 4* (#18 C)

Nix 4* (#11 C)

 

ETA: To be clear, I think Izzo is probably the best coach in the country. But he does it with Xs and Os AND elite level talent.

[SpongeWorthy]

A WVU/Mich St/Baylor/Butler Final 4 is going to be a ratings flop. Duke would help a bit.

 

I bet ESPN is hoping for bad ratings so the NCAA will feel compelled to opt out of its contract and they can swoop in and grab the tournament.

[Andy]

A WVU/Mich St/Baylor/Butler Final 4 is going to be a ratings flop. Duke would help a bit.

 

I bet ESPN is hoping for bad ratings so the NCAA will feel compelled to opt out of its contract and they can swoop in and grab the tournament.

If anything bad ratings would make the NCAA less likely to opt out of an already lucrative deal.