My worst nightmare (NCAA hoops)

[Anrhydeddu]

It's seems that the trendy pick is Kentucky over Syracuse for the finals. Not only has that happened before (unfortunately) but why does it have to be UK? [side rant]Of all of the places I have lived, living in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky was the worst. Although a very pretty area, it was the people and worse, the extreme psychosis about anything dealing with UK sports, esp. hoops. It seems that more backwards and ignorant that state, the more they clutch onto successful college sports. And in no place (from Syracuse to Carolina to SoCal to Indiana (briefly)) is this more true than Kentucky.[/end rant] If SU is going to the finals, please let it be someone else besides UK. PLEASE?

:)

[Ksyrup]

I thought for sure Eddie Vedder was singing the National Anthem at one of the games being televised in your region.

[Marmel]

You don't even watch basketball, A! *insert appropriate smiley here*

[illinifan999]

I have Illinois beating Syracuse. Of course a few big upsets happen to set this up. ;)

[ColtCrazy]

I live in Southern Indiana and I agree. It's almost absurd how they treat UK basketball in the media, but they are just as bad about Louisville as well. You really don't hear that from IU or Purdue, even on this side.
They don't have professional teams in Kentucky, that's all they have is UK and UofL. Kentucky's kind of in its own little world when it comes to sports. Now that Kentucky is a number one, we'll see endless news broadcasts from Nashville talking about what Cats fans are wearing, having drunken idiots screaming "I love UK, I paint all my farm animals blue at tourney time" into the camera. Please, for my sanity, let someone beat UK.

If we go to war with Iraq, someone tell me, I may not hear otherwise.

[Radii]

I have Kentucky beating Texas, if it makes you feel any better ;)

I do have Texas beating Syracuse in the final four.

[Anrhydeddu]

Marm, does all of these people picking the Orange scare you? There cannot be anything good coming out of high expectations and hype.

[kcchief19]

You guys have Kentucky getting past Missouri? Yeah, right. :)

[Aylmar]

I don't think that Texas beats Florida, either. Texas (as demonstrated by Oklahoma State earlier in the year) is vulnerable to a solid perimeter game. Of course, Florida has to make it there, first. I haven't filled out my bracket yet, so I can't tell you if I think they will or not. :)

[Marmel]

I don't even pay much attention to the guys on TV picking teams.

[wrigleyfield]

what is a good bracket web site. i want to know all the trends, the stats, the tidbits. ESPN and Co. dont cut it.

anyone know of a real good one, thanks!


Penn over Olk St. first round

[sterlingice]

I hate picking Syracuse to come out of that 6-11-3-14-7-10-2-15 section because while they are home games, the Orangemen aren't that great of a team. And what's up with giving them all those home games in the first place. Does Jim Boeheim have blackmail pictures of that idiot who they were interviewing yesterday on the selection show (who was clearly lying with every word he said)? Anyways- I need help coming up with someone to come out of that bracket and Wake, Syracuse, and Okie State just don't cut it. Someone has to win that, doesn't it?

what is a good bracket web site. i want to know all the trends, the stats, the tidbits. ESPN and Co. dont cut it.

anyone know of a real good one, thanks!

It tends to bounce around from year to year depending on who wants to actually put forth some effort in the process. Typically cbs is the site to watch but they don't have much up yet. They may still be writing it as we speak. As of right now, CNNSI has the best little individual team bubbles that I've seen.

SI



SI

[Marmel]

sterling, in defense of Syracuse here. They have been shipped out west or some other far away place the last 5 or 6 years. We had to play Michigan St. in the Palace, Duke down in Greensboro, UMass in Boston, just to name a few......it is about time we catch a break, expecially considering our RPI had us closer to a 2 seed than a 3. I think they dropped us 1 spot, but gave favorable locations.

Oklahoma and Wake got pretty nice gifts with a 1 and 2 seed respectavely, and to give them a favorable location in addition to a pretty generous seed, well that would be even more unfair.

Besides, Manhattan is closer to Boston than Syracuse, by a good deal (relatively), so they have the home court for the first round.

[BishopMVP]

Originally posted by sterlingice
Anyways- I need help coming up with someone to come out of that bracket and Wake, Syracuse, and Okie State just don't cut it. Someone has to win that, doesn't it?

I was flipping back and forth between Syracuse and Mississippi State early on, and went with Syracuse but now that I see so many people picking them I may change back. MSU was a preseason Top-10 team who sucked early on but turned it up lately, especially in the SEC Tourney, when they got to the final and were tied w/UK with about a minute to go. Zimmerman and Bowers up top with Mario Austin down low are a good combination. They have Butler 1st round, and a lot of people think Butler is very good, but I think they're weaker than last year. Either way, that's a pick that not too many will have, and they've got as good a chance as any of the WF/Syr/OU trio.

[wahoomac]

I, for one, wish I could live closer to the Bluegrass state (in Lexington where most of my relatives live). Thought about going to UK, but decided to stay in-state at UF. Now I have the best of both worlds...UF has become somewhat of a basketball school, with Billy Donovan taking over, and I still get to cheer for UK in basketball. Went to the UK-UF game two Saturday's ago, and made $60 in the process (sold my two $10 tickets for $80 and the guy threw in a better ticket/seat than I had previously).

I am wondering: how many of you have Arizona making it to the Final Four (or winning it all)? I am wavering between them and Kansas (the West bracket seems like the toughest one out there).


Originally posted by Anrhydeddu
It's seems that the trendy pick is Kentucky over Syracuse for the finals. Not only has that happened before (unfortunately) but why does it have to be UK? [side rant]Of all of the places I have lived, living in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky was the worst. Although a very pretty area, it was the people and worse, the extreme psychosis about anything dealing with UK sports, esp. hoops. It seems that more backwards and ignorant that state, the more they clutch onto successful college sports. And in no place (from Syracuse to Carolina to SoCal to Indiana (briefly)) is this more true than Kentucky.[/end rant] If SU is going to the finals, please let it be someone else besides UK. PLEASE?

:)

[Thomkal]

As a native New Yorker, I think the most intriguing game in the first round is Syracuse/Manhattan. Syracuse has long been seen as the Top Dog in the state, and I think that gives Manhattan even more incentive to play well and could possibly beat them. Kind of like when a MAC team beats a Big 10 program in their state. I think Syracuse is very vulnerable in this game. (Sorry Marm)

Now watch them win by 40.

[Marmel]

Obviously any lower seeded team can win, including Manhattan, however I liken Manhattan to a team like WVU....not a great amount of size, and Syracuse has had the easiest time beating WVU twice this year in complete blowouts.

Who knows?

[Samdari]

Sterling, just curious, why do you say the Orangemen aren't that great of a team? Have you even seen them play? They not only have the best player in college basketball, but another player who is projected to be eventually selected in the top 10 of the draft. Is there anyone else in college basketball who has two players which project to ever be top 10 NBA picks?

That said, I would not be shocked to see them lose to Manhattan, who is a very good team. They are easily better right now than either Penn or Oklahoma St. Before all the Big 12 fans get all uppity, I know it is a great conference, especially the South "not called a" division. But, OK State has not played very well down the stretch, and not only has trouble scoring points lately, but does not defend as well as one would expect from an Eddie Sutton team.