2009 NCAA Tournament Thread

[Karlifornia]

LOL..I think Tennessee should change their nickname to CSUN's "Matadors" after they vacated the lane like that.

[Dr. Sak]

Wow back to back clutch shots in the UT/OK St game.

[Lathum]

Go Tennessee!

Go Utah St!!

I need the total opposite :p

[Lathum]

LOL..I think Tennessee should change their nickname to CSUN's "Matadors" after they vacated the lane like that.

nice

[miami_fan]

Unbelievable drive

[JonInMiddleGA]

And that was the Vols best defender (Tabb) he blew past.

[Lathum]

Marquette is celebrating a bit to early

[spleen1015]

Damn it. I'm gonna lose both of those games. SOB!

[Karlifornia]

Come on, Utah State...don't do this to me.

[Lathum]

OK state FTW!

[spleen1015]

BANK FOR THREE! ROFL!

Fuck you Tennessee!

[Karlifornia]

Thank god for the glass.

[Noop]

Good lawd there have been some great games today. I am freaking nervous watching these games. Cmon Utah State!!!

[Dr. Sak]

It was so bad...it's good

[Dr. Sak]

I've almost yelled 3 or 4 times at my desk watching these games.

[Lathum]

Jesus, Marquette with a less then attractive inbounds pass

[spleen1015]

Well, I had OSU in all but oen of my money brackets... I have Utah St. in all of them though. Marquette is supposed to suck without Dominic James dammit!

[JonInMiddleGA]

And the poorly conceived possession puts an appropriate end to the Vols misery. One of the most frustrating teams I've ever followed, every bit on par with any GT team that's ever caused hair pulling.

Lowest fracking collective basketball IQ of any group I've seen at the high school level or higher, worst collective concentration of any group I've seen since elementary school. I believe the gross underachievement calls the coaching skill (not the recruiting skill) of Bruce Pearl into legitimate question and even moreso calls into question his ability to recruit basketball players instead of athletes that need to be coached up, which he clearly isn't capable of doing with the current staff. Another season like this one & the bloom will be entirely off of him in Knoxville, and he might actually be smart to take any equivalent offers he might get in the off-season.

He desperately needs to find some players who are interested in leading the lead in something other than tattoos and are willing to work at basketball to earn their free ride instead of playing at it like they're back on the block.

[Karlifornia]

shit...Wilkinson had the look.

[spleen1015]

Sigh..

Exciting to watch. That's what matters.

[Noop]

I suck with the seeds 7-10... I have gotten everyone of them wrong.

[Lathum]

make a F'n free throw!!

[Karlifornia]

You're down 4 points with 5 seconds left. You can't inbound it to a guy standing right in front of you. You need to throw it at least to mid-court....

[RainMaker]

Still no real upsets this year.

[gstelmack]

Sigh, tried for the NDST upset bid over Kansas, but I got the other 2 right.

[Radii]

great start to the day, too bad NDSU and Utah State couldn't pull it out in the end.

[spleen1015]

There is someone in my office pool 20 for 20 right now. Bastard.

3 others at 19 for 20.

[Lathum]

For those of you who haven't seen any of Arizona state this year try and catch some oh this game. They have 2 fantastic players in Jeff Pendergraph and James Harden.

[spleen1015]

For those of you who haven't seen any of Arizona state this year try and catch some oh this game. They have 2 fantastic players in Jeff Pendergraph and James Harden.

But they're going to lose, right?

:D

[Lathum]

There is someone in my office pool 20 for 20 right now. Bastard.

3 others at 19 for 20.

I'm 19/20 in the gotti pool and 18/20 and in the lead at my wifes office pool

[Lathum]

But they're going to lose, right?

:D

It's actualy a tough matchup, Christmas is a great player

[bronconick]

The lack of 1st round upsets last tournament and so far this tournament is really starting to suck. The only lower seeds that win are mediocre major conference teams anyway. Not exactly Cinderella material.

[PilotMan]

I went to NDSU, so needless to say, I was on edge today. A good game, the team played well, just not deep or well rounded enough today. Still, they shouldnt be upset about the final score of the game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Still no real upsets this year.

I'd say WKU over Illinois is a solid upset, just not a spectacular one. And still bigger than Utah State over Marquette would have been.

One of the problems with trying to find upsets this year is that while the higher seeds may not be as good as they've been in the past, neither are some of the lower seeds.

[Karlifornia]

The lack of upsets makes for better games later on, if you want to look at it optimistically.

[molson]

The lack of upsets makes for better games later on, if you want to look at it optimistically.

It also provides more opportunities for upsets later, like 4/5 v. 1,

[Lathum]

The lack of upsets makes for better games later on, if you want to look at it optimistically.

my exact thoughts

[Philliesfan980]

Let's go Temple! Christmas might be one of the best spot up shooters in College basketball. He should have a nice NBA career off the bench.

[SnDvls]

Let's go Temple! Christmas might be one of the best spot up shooters in College basketball. He should have a nice NBA career off the bench.

Sorry but I hope ASU cancels Christmas this year :p

[JonInMiddleGA]

Of course the lack of upsets tends to support the seeding job done by selection committee and Lord only knows we can't have that happening.

[Young Drachma]

The lack of 1st round upsets last tournament and so far this tournament is really starting to suck. The only lower seeds that win are mediocre major conference teams anyway. Not exactly Cinderella material.

This isn't an accident. The NCAA has to keep the machine fed.

[Lathum]

I have a feeling Dayton will be the first upset of the day

[Radii]

After the conversation on seeding and the pod system and teams closer to home I looked through 15 years of tournament history just out of curiosity to see if there were way less upsets since the pod system went into place etc. Looking over the tourneys from 1992 to 1998 and 2002(when the pod system started) to 2008, the numbers were strikingly similar.

In an average year there are right about 5 teams seeded 10 or lower that win first round games. If you don't consider 10 vs 7 games as noteworthy upsets, then we're down to a little under 4 11 seeded or lower upsets per year. In some years there were as many as 8(usually in those years 3 10 seeds win + an extra 12 or whatever) and in two years there were only 3 upsets in the first round, one in the 90s, one this decade, each of them including at least one 10 seed in that count.

So yeah, a 12 seed and a 10 seed winning on day one and that's it might be a little boring, but its just about average.

And of course, we're talking about 24 games in question(10-15 seeds, since 16v1 isn't happening). The difference between 3/24 and 5/24 in any given year is, to put it mildly, not even close to statistically noteworthy. Boring, yes, but not noteworthy IMO :)


... just trying to head off conspiracy theories with a little reason!

[RainMaker]

I'd say WKU over Illinois is a solid upset, just not a spectacular one. And still bigger than Utah State over Marquette would have been.

One of the problems with trying to find upsets this year is that while the higher seeds may not be as good as they've been in the past, neither are some of the lower seeds.

I watch a lot of Big 10 and Illinois was not that good. Plus they were missing Frazier which essentially turned them into a NIT squad. I don't think it was much of an upset.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I watch a lot of Big 10 and Illinois was not that good. Plus they were missing Frazier which essentially turned them into a NIT squad. I don't think it was much of an upset.

I'd say it's still an upset, just one that's less surprising under the circumstances.

But I'm not sure what else you're going to get this year. I mean, do you really expect Binghamton to beat Duke?

[sterlingice]

There is someone in my office pool 20 for 20 right now. Bastard.

3 others at 19 for 20.

It's a fairly chalky year. Anyone worked up about their bracket on day 1 or 2 hasn't done this too often. Once you start losing E8 teams, call me :)

SI

[RainMaker]

I'd say it's still an upset, just one that's less surprising under the circumstances.

But I'm not sure what else you're going to get this year. I mean, do you really expect Binghamton to beat Duke?

I guess it just feels light on upsets because most brackets are still well intact. Seems every year we lose an Elite 8 or Final Four team in the first round. I haven't even lost a Sweet 16 school yet.

[RainMaker]

Cornell up on Mizzou and ETSU hanging with Pitt near the half. Maybe it was just saving up for this afternoon.

[Lathum]

If I was a college basketball coach I would make my whole team run 10 laps everytime a player of mine fouled someone going to the rim and the opposing player makes the basket.

[Radii]

I've got Dayton on TV and Mizzou on mmod... has anyone been watching the Pitt game? What's going on there?

[Lathum]

I've got Dayton on TV and Mizzou on mmod... has anyone been watching the Pitt game? What's going on there?

Pitt is playing very sloppy and with no urgencey.

I expect Dixon is giving them a good reaming in the locker room

[Lathum]

Arizona St. needs to do a much better job of protecting the ball.

[Lathum]

If I have to hear one more Christmas pun I am going to jump off my balcony

[SnDvls]

If I have to hear one more Christmas pun I am going to jump off my balcony

you mean like the rest of the team is on holiday?

[Karlifornia]

ASU should hang on to this one. Just need to protect that ball, as Lathum said.

[Karlifornia]

If I have to hear one more Christmas pun I am going to jump off my balcony

Temple needs to avoid having him foul out. They rely on his presents.

[SnDvls]

it'd be nice if Harden could hit a shot...he's 18 pts under his average right now.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I really hope that no one is getting excited about a Cornell upset. If Mizzou is tied or just ahead at halftime, it's all but over. I don't believe that Mizzou has lost a second half this season. The games they lose are when they're down by double digits at halftime. Even then, they usually put on a massive 2nd half rally and lose by two or something like that.

[Lathum]

you mean like the rest of the team is on holiday?

been nice knowing you

[Lathum]

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/5989/128820544745938520.jpg (http://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=128820544745938520.jpg)

[duckman]

Go Cornell!

[miami_fan]

If I was a college basketball coach I would make my whole team run 10 laps everytime a player of mine fouled someone going to the rim and the opposing player makes the basket.

I would be more upset with all the fouls that I am seeing 40 feet from the basket especially on pick and rolls.

[Lathum]

I would be more upset with all the fouls that I am seeing 40 feet from the basket especially on pick and rolls.

my point was that if you are going to foul a guy around the basket make sure it's hard enough so he doesn't make the shot

[Lathum]

I keep waiting for Pitt and WVU runs.

[miami_fan]

my point was that if you are going to foul a guy around the basket make sure it's hard enough so he doesn't make the shot

Given the way basketball is called in general nowadays, you might have half your team sitting on the bench due to intentional fouls.

[RainMaker]

If Pitt doesn't get a run real soon, that crowd will really start to become a factor against them. The scary thing is that ETSU would be winning if they weren't so horrible from the line today.

[Lathum]

Given the way basketball is called in general nowadays, you might have half your team sitting on the bench due to intentional fouls.

true

[Lathum]

Arizona St has to be pretty happy they won despite Harden having a dreadful day

[Noop]

Bob Huggins strikes again.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Per the usual, Cornell is suddenly wearing cement shoes.

[SnDvls]

Arizona St has to be pretty happy they won despite Harden having a dreadful day

very true....although Pendergraph and Glasser have been playing great as of late so it's nice to have other's step up when he's down.

[Mustang]

ETSU hanging around...

[Noop]

ETSU hanging around...

Makes me regret not putting Florida State over them in the Sweet 16

[larrymcg421]

Okay, I'm not watching the game, but the state line looks crazy.

Pitt is winning shooting .372-.281, free throws .667-.500, and rebounds 36-23. So what am I missing? What has kept ETSU in the game?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Okay, I'm not watching the game, but the state line looks crazy.

Pitt is winning shooting .372-.281, free throws .667-.500, and rebounds 36-23. So what am I missing? What has kept ETSU in the game?

Equal number of made baskets. ETSU shooting like crap but has taken 17 more shots than Pitt thanks to 17 offensive rebounds and 16 Pitt turnovers.

edit to add: And the total rebounding margin is 36-33, not 36-23.

[RainMaker]

Regardless of the outcome, Pitt looks horrible. Not bad shooting night horrible, but just turnovers and bad teamwork.

[larrymcg421]

Equal number of made baskets. ETSU shooting like crap but has taken 17 more shots than Pitt thanks to 17 offensive rebounds and 16 Pitt turnovers.

edit to add: And the total rebounding margin is 36-33, not 36-23.

Okay that makes sense. Yahoo has the rebounding totals incorrect.

[Karlifornia]

Annoying trend: Calling timeout after a made shot.

[Dr. Sak]

You can't spell upset without ETSU!

[RainMaker]

Horrible no-call on an ETSU 3-point attempt.

[GoldenEagle]

Come on ETSU!

[GoldenEagle]

I don't think they will have enough.

[RainMaker]

No way they can win this. They just aren't talented enough offensively. Pitt is starting to find its rhythm on offense too.

[Lathum]

holy crap

[RainMaker]

Holy shit!! Within 2!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Pitt looks extremely sloppy. Or sleepy.

And ETSU turns it back into a game again with a 5 point trip that included two offensive rebounds, a Pitt foul, and now a Pitt turnover.

[GoldenEagle]

Jamie Dixon looks nervous as a cat.

[Karlifornia]

This Tiggs guy for ETSU and his ballhoggery are driving me nuts.

[GoldenEagle]

How was that not a foul?

[RainMaker]

If ETSU shoots better from the line, they are winning. They are under 50% from the free throw line.

[miami_fan]

WVU has had its chances to take this game over.

[Galaxy]

I wish they would switch over from Cornell-Missouri to the other close games.

[Karlifornia]

Ha...That Buffalo Wild Wings commercial is pretty funny.

[Noop]

Note to self never ever pick a Bob Huggins coached team.

[Karlifornia]

Oh, great. ETSU's 42% FT shooter to the line

[Lathum]

Quality shot by Fields there, what a stupid team Pitt is

[kingfc22]

Screw you WVU!

[miami_fan]

Tough call against the Mountaineers right there

[Young Drachma]

One of these days, the right coach is going to end up with the right micro-major conference basketball team, slip into Cinderella's chair as the #16 and topple one of these #1s. It's all about building a team that can get here and has the horses to do this...but man, that takes a lot of foresight, luck and well...luck.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's all about building a team that can get here and has the horses to do this...but man, that takes a lot of foresight, luck and well...luck.

But if you're that team then you seem likely to be a 15 instead of a 16 because of the really mediocre 16's that get in with the auto bids.

edit to add: Maybe a team that played poorly without an injured star for the first half of the season, got that player back & got in with a .500ish record by making a conference tourney run with their improved lineup?

[Lathum]

just took a reaming with WVU, had them in the Sweet 16 in most pools and elite 8 in one

[kingfc22]

just took a reaming with WVU, had them in the Sweet 16 in most pools and elite 8 in one

Had them in the elite 8 in my biggest pool:banghead:

[Lathum]

One of these days, the right coach is going to end up with the right micro-major conference basketball team, slip into Cinderella's chair as the #16 and topple one of these #1s. It's all about building a team that can get here and has the horses to do this...but man, that takes a lot of foresight, luck and well...luck.

I think it would take a perfect storm. Like a 16 seed who lost their best player for the year and got him back just in time for the conference tournament and a 1 seed who has a dominate Blake Griffen type player who loses their best player in the final of their conference tournament.

Even so, the 16 seed would have to play a perfect game.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Had them in the elite 8 in my biggest pool:banghead:

Yep. I'm toast.

[Young Drachma]

But if you're that team then you seem likely to be a 15 instead of a 16 because of the really mediocre 16's that get in with the auto bids.

edit to add: Maybe a team that played poorly without an injured star for the first half of the season, got that player back & got in with a .500ish record by making a conference tourney run with their improved lineup?

Not if you're the champion of the Atlantic Sun or something. Though I get your point.

[timmynausea]

That's why I was scared of Dayton. Ruoff and Butler really let WVU down today. They pressed the entire final month or so of the season and made tons of mental mistakes, while the freshmen stepped up (just like today with Truck and Ebanks) to keep us in games.

WVU will be a better team next year, though, especially if Ebanks stays.

[Young Drachma]

I think it would take a perfect storm. Like a 16 seed who lost their best player for the year and got him back just in time for the conference tournament and a 1 seed who has a dominate Blake Griffen type player who loses their best player in the final of their conference tournament.

Even so, the 16 seed would have to play a perfect game.

My idea is that they need horses and a deeper bench. These other teams lose because the #1 seeds struggle, but the #16 just hangs around. My #16 seed would be a team that had some conference loses due to coach tinkering with the system on purpose to figure out what his guys were made of.

Use the regular season as a sandbox, then use the last 10-12 games to perfect the system. If you figure that you recruit with that mindset, setup a pipeline or have a well to draw from and mix your squad up with the right mix of players -- young horses and JuCO vets who wanna win -- I think you could surprise some people.

But the perfect storm wouldn't even be on the court. It'd be having the right school to allow you to make it happen and the right team to recruit the right guys.

[sterlingice]

WVU screws up a few brackets. I admit, I had them in the S16. But I want some chaos tonight. Cleveland State or Portland State- it's time to win some crazy games. And Utah-Arizona and USC-BC games that ends with a buzzer beater. That's what I want!

SI

[Noop]

The reach I have is Arizona who I have in the Sweet 16 other then that my Bracket has taken minor hits.

[RainMaker]

I don't think it'll happen in my lifetime. Especially with the pod system that has most of these guys playing home games. Pittsburgh was the best shot for a loss. Ohio State has to be licking their chops after seeing that game.

[Lathum]

I don't think it'll happen in my lifetime. Especially with the pod system that has most of these guys playing home games. Pittsburgh was the best shot for a loss. Ohio State has to be licking their chops after seeing that game.

Oklahoma State?

[Lathum]

Watch out for Portland St tonight. Xavier has laid some eggs this season

[Thomkal]

went perfect on my afternoon slate of games, sweet :)

[lungs]

Wicked. I had Dayton beating WVU.

But I also had Clemson in the S16 :/

[Young Drachma]

I don't think it'll happen in my lifetime. Especially with the pod system that has most of these guys playing home games. Pittsburgh was the best shot for a loss. Ohio State has to be licking their chops after seeing that game.

True. And soon, it won't be 1 v. 16 seeds, it'll be 1 v. 32 seeds. ;)

[RainMaker]

5-2-1 so far in this tournament. Have the following this evening:

Louisville -21.5
Boston College +2

Tempted to pull the trigger on Portland State +10.5

[Danny]

Wicked. I had Dayton beating WVU.

But I also had Clemson in the S16 :/

I originally had Dayton and then switched to WVU and WVY winning up to 3 games in one bracket, booo.

[Karlifornia]

This is ridiculous. I live in California, and I'm getting Louisville/Morehead State instead of Arizona/Utah

[Lathum]

This is ridiculous. I live in California, and I'm getting Louisville/Morehead State instead of Arizona/Utah

that is pretty silly, we are getting the Arizona game here

[RainMaker]

This is ridiculous. I live in California, and I'm getting Louisville/Morehead State instead of Arizona/Utah
They probably gave you the national game till the USC one starts.

[Danny]

This is ridiculous. I live in California, and I'm getting Louisville/Morehead State instead of Arizona/Utah

We get USC/BC

[Butter]

Chris Wright with 27 points for the Flyers. I was hoping the Flyers' athleticism would surprise WVU a little. More likely was just UD was beneficiaries of bad fouls by Ruoff. I was afraid all game that WVU would start hitting 3's, but UD's defense kept them off balance all game. Great win for UD, first tourney win in 19 years... just what this town needed. Something to get excited about!

[Karlifornia]

They probably gave you the national game till the USC one starts.

You were exactly right.

[miami_fan]

They are letting them play in the USC-BC game. Hopefully they continue that way.

[Butter]

Portland State is just bombs away against Xavier. 75% of their shots are 3's.

[Butter]

Luke Nevill's 2 early fouls for Utah seals my fate in the Top Gun game. Utah is going down.

[miami_fan]

Utah seems a little confused by Arizona's press. Very tentative.

[RainMaker]

How is Morehead State within 2 at the half?

[LoneStarGirl]

All four of these games on right now are pretty close games. I have Louisville going to the final four but I would love to see them lose to Morehead!


**I know its not going to happen, but a girl can dream!

[LoneStarGirl]

Because Louisville defense is sucking it up. Everytime I switch over to the game they are giving up a dunk or a perimeter shot

[LoneStarGirl]

And I have seen USC miss about 4 dunks because of BC's great defense. I dont like the University of Spoiled Children, GO Boston College!

[Butter]

Because Louisville defense is sucking it up. Everytime I switch over to the game they are giving up a dunk or a perimeter shot

Definitely. One Morehead basket was a guy dribbling slowly from the right side to down below the basket, then backing his man out from the baseline and laying it up and in. The kind of play that my first grader could stop. Louisville's help defense is non-existent.

[RainMaker]

Sometimes I don't get why teams like Louisville continue to press. They are way more talented than Morehead and I highly doubt that Morehead can keep up with them in a half court game. So why not pull back the press since Morehead is beating it consistently?

[LoneStarGirl]

I am finding it amusing (and sorry if i am sounding too much like GoldenEagle) amusing that when Memphis struggled with a low seeded team, everybody was shouting that they were exposed and didn't deserve a number 2 seed.

But when Pitt and now Louisville are strugglin with 16 seeds I am hearing the announcers say they are hanging tough and playing hard!

[sterlingice]

Anyone worried about a seed who "struggles" just misses the whole point of the tournament. The cliche "survive and advance" is right. It's one thing if you show some fundamental flaws in your game that are exploited, but odds are unless you had a recent injury- there's a "book" out on your team from the first 35 games of the season- and, to paraphrase DG, they are what we thought they were.

American couldn't miss until about 10 minutes left in the game and that's why they were leading Nova. Pitt and Memphis just kindof sleep walked through their games- anyone think that's their A game or that they aren't capable of being better?

To the highest seeds, all the first weekend is about is hoping some of your harder roadblocks get knocked out by an upstart team since they don't have the huge talent advantage you have over your opponents. Oh, and don't stumble in that second game, looking ahead to next week. You're better than the teams facing you but at least one of you (1/2 seed) loses in that second game and you don't want it to be you.

SI

[miami_fan]

Sometimes I don't get why teams like Louisville continue to press. They are way more talented than Morehead and I highly doubt that Morehead can keep up with them in a half court game. So why not pull back the press since Morehead is beating it consistently?

I think Louisville gives away the advantage that they have if they don't press. The Cardinals are a better team when they are pressing. If the Cardinals cant execute the press correctly against Morehead State, they deserve to lose.

[LoneStarGirl]

Looks like its a moot point now... Louisville is pulling away. I really want to watch the Arizona/Utah game but Little Rock has to watch USC vs BC

[RainMaker]

While I love college hoops and the tournament, this has to be one of the poorest played tournaments I've ever seen. Just a lot of bad teams in it. Not necessarily players, but teams. So many teams shooting under 40%, laying bricks left and right. Lack of ball movement in almost every case.

Teams like Louisville and Memphis have a lot of great athletes, and probably future NBA players, but they play nothing like a team. Just a lot of bad basketball by the supposed elite teams in the country.

[Young Drachma]

While I love college hoops and the tournament, this has to be one of the poorest played tournaments I've ever seen. Just a lot of bad teams in it. Not necessarily players, but teams. So many teams shooting under 40%, laying bricks left and right. Lack of ball movement in almost every case.


+1

More reason that mid-majors with better RPIs and records, should've been allowed in. Would've made this a lot more interesting than it's been otherwise.

[DaddyTorgo]

fuck - BC's not gonna get it done. Our guys are just too small, particularly the guards. suckass

[LoneStarGirl]

Good God...I am sucking it up in my bracket tonight. Utah and BC just could not get it done

[DaddyTorgo]

:( :rant::banghead:

[Karlifornia]

Go PAC-10, baby! 5-1 so far.

[miami_fan]

If you just look at the seed numbers, there are quite a few upsets.

[Swaggs]

That's why I was scared of Dayton. Ruoff and Butler really let WVU down today. They pressed the entire final month or so of the season and made tons of mental mistakes, while the freshmen stepped up (just like today with Truck and Ebanks) to keep us in games.

WVU will be a better team next year, though, especially if Ebanks stays.

I cannot believe how poorly Ruoff and Butler played today. It is kind of depressing to see how much better the three freshmen have gotten over the course of the season, while Ruoff and Butler seem to have actually regressed -- making stupid fouls (Ruoff reaching in 35-feet from the basket w/ 3 fouls on him already and Butler pushing a guy, without contesting the shot in any manner, while he is dunking), terrible turnovers, and missing important free throws. I really believe that, if Ruoff makes those two free throws, we would have won the game.

I appreciate what Ruoff has done for the team and how far he has come, as a relatively unheralded recruit. Ditto Butler, although he was a little more highly regarded coming out of HS. But, those two guys should realistically be more of 3rd and 4th scoring options on a very good team. Hopefully, Butler can return to a less demanding role next season, as he is really more of a put-back and catch-and-jump shooter, rather than the all-around scorer that he was trying to be during the last half of the year. I hope (and think) Ebanks, Jones, Bryant, and hopefully the incoming Juco guard will develop to be more reliable offensive players next season.

[adubroff]

Is Mouse Davis playing for Cleveland St. tonight?

[RainMaker]

If you just look at the seed numbers, there are quite a few upsets.

So much parity in college hoops these days. Literally in the 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, and 8-9 games, hardly anything can be considered a major upset these days.

[RainMaker]

Bill Raftery is unbearable. Every other word is some dramatic catchphrase of his. I used to like him but he's trying way too hard.

[Swaggs]

Chris Wright with 27 points for the Flyers. I was hoping the Flyers' athleticism would surprise WVU a little. More likely was just UD was beneficiaries of bad fouls by Ruoff. I was afraid all game that WVU would start hitting 3's, but UD's defense kept them off balance all game. Great win for UD, first tourney win in 19 years... just what this town needed. Something to get excited about!

Dayton's defense was really tough -- I was definitely impressed. Ruoff was really shutdown and barely had any good looks from the outside. You guys also rebounded as well as any team we have played this season.

I said it before, but I really think Dayton got seeded poorly -- they should have been more like a 7 or 8 w/ their resume. Of all the 11s we could have played, Dayton was the worst possible matchup for us. We essentially have the same style of play, but you guys have a more veteran team and a much deeper bench. It would not surprise me to see Dayton knock off Kansas on Sunday.

[JonInMiddleGA]

A couple of postscript notes from today's UT loss and why I said it seemed so familiar.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/mar/20/strange-game-and-season-almosts/?partner=RSS

The Vols ranked last of the 65-team tournament field on 3-point shooting percentage – and yet 33 of their 56 attempts against Oklahoma State were behind the arc. They made 11.

Their inability to defend penetrating guards rose up to bite them one last time. Oklahoma State shot 56.6 percent from the field. Eaton, the Cowboys’ hero, was 70 percent (7-of-10).

Maybe this game was lost when the Vols were downgraded to a No. 9 seed on Selection Sunday. The 8-9 game is, by definition, supposed to be a nail-biter.

Nail-biters have been another of UT’s issues. Since Maze’s game-winner at Arkansas on Feb. 4, the Vols are 0-4 in games decided by three or fewer points.

[RainMaker]

A couple of postscript notes from today's UT loss and why I said it seemed so familiar.
http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/mar/20/strange-game-and-season-almosts/?partner=RSS

The Vols ranked last of the 65-team tournament field on 3-point shooting percentage – and yet 33 of their 56 attempts against Oklahoma State were behind the arc. They made 11.

Their inability to defend penetrating guards rose up to bite them one last time. Oklahoma State shot 56.6 percent from the field. Eaton, the Cowboys’ hero, was 70 percent (7-of-10).

Maybe this game was lost when the Vols were downgraded to a No. 9 seed on Selection Sunday. The 8-9 game is, by definition, supposed to be a nail-biter.

Nail-biters have been another of UT’s issues. Since Maze’s game-winner at Arkansas on Feb. 4, the Vols are 0-4 in games decided by three or fewer points.

I know Pearl has had success wherever he's gone, but it just seems like with that talent, Tennessee should be much better. His system doesn't seem to benefit good players. I think he's better off at either a mid-major or lower tier power conference school that can't land blue chippers.

[sterlingice]

Wake clawing back into their game with Cleveland State- they ended the half on a 9-2 run but are still down 39-30.

SI

[Noop]

I need Wake to win and Florida State to apply the throttle in the second half.

[sterlingice]

Oh, and with that little look-in on Wisconsin, I'm reminded how ugly mediocre Big 10 basketball can be. Good Big 10 basketball is fine but that's just ugly- 19 points at the half.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

I know Pearl has had success wherever he's gone, but it just seems like with that talent, Tennessee should be much better. His system doesn't seem to benefit good players. I think he's better off at either a mid-major or lower tier power conference school that can't land blue chippers.

He probably only has 2, possibly three, legit blue chip sort of players right now. Tyler Smith is a quality player at this level, Chism can be (minus his shot selection & taking the occasional trip off), and Cameron Tatum appears on his way to turning into one.

Beyond that, Tabb is a role player, Maze too often looks like a joke as a power conference PG, Prince is an Idunnowhat but whiny bitch with zero court sense and a sense of entitlement comes to mind, Hopson there's still some hope for but I'm neither entirely sold on him nor ready to give up on him. The rest are role players at best.

What most had in common were good press clippings coming in but there's not much evidence that there as good as advertised. There's a good bit of general athleticism but the almost complete lack of court sense is downright disturbing, it'd be hard to recruit a group that appears to have a lower basketball IQ if you tried. And I believe there's still some character issues on the roster, if not in terms of criminal behavior at least in terms of work ethic.

What has me concerned is whether Pearl actually has the ability to coach players up to the next level, or to coax them into performing in spite of whatever flaws they have. If he doesn't then he needs to recruit players without so many of those flaws but I'm not sure his ego will allow for that, although if it doesn't then his fate is already sealed short of finding assistants who can cover those shortcomings. He's been awfully good for the UT basketball program, something I don't think there's any denying but the question that's becoming pretty obvious is whether there's any more growth forthcoming or if he's essentially already reached the peak of what he'll accomplish there and is actually already starting down the other side of the slope.

[miami_fan]

He probably only has 2, possibly three, legit blue chip sort of players right now. Tyler Smith is a quality player at this level, Chism can be (minus his shot selection & taking the occasional trip off), and Cameron Tatum appears on his way to turning into one.

Beyond that, Tabb is a role player, Maze too often looks like a joke as a power conference PG, Prince is an Idunnowhat but whiny bitch with zero court sense and a sense of entitlement comes to mind, Hopson there's still some hope for but I'm neither entirely sold on him nor ready to give up on him. The rest are role players at best.

What most had in common were good press clippings coming in but there's not much evidence that there as good as advertised. There's a good bit of general athleticism but the almost complete lack of court sense is downright disturbing, it'd be hard to recruit a group that appears to have a lower basketball IQ if you tried. And I believe there's still some character issues on the roster, if not in terms of criminal behavior at least in terms of work ethic.

What has me concerned is whether Pearl actually has the ability to coach players up to the next level, or to coax them into performing in spite of whatever flaws they have. If he doesn't then he needs to recruit players without so many of those flaws but I'm not sure his ego will allow for that, although if it doesn't then his fate is already sealed short of finding assistants who can cover those shortcomings. He's been awfully good for the UT basketball program, something I don't think there's any denying but the question that's becoming pretty obvious is whether there's any more growth forthcoming or if he's essentially already reached the peak of what he'll accomplish there and is actually already starting down the other side of the slope.

Maybe there is hope. The team you described above sounds exactly like the Florida Gators teams from 2001 til they won back to back titles.

[Thomkal]

well after going perfect in the afternoon slate of games, the evening games are looking pretty ugly for my picks. :(

[RainMaker]

He probably only has 2, possibly three, legit blue chip sort of players right now. Tyler Smith is a quality player at this level, Chism can be (minus his shot selection & taking the occasional trip off), and Cameron Tatum appears on his way to turning into one.

Beyond that, Tabb is a role player, Maze too often looks like a joke as a power conference PG, Prince is an Idunnowhat but whiny bitch with zero court sense and a sense of entitlement comes to mind, Hopson there's still some hope for but I'm neither entirely sold on him nor ready to give up on him. The rest are role players at best.

What most had in common were good press clippings coming in but there's not much evidence that there as good as advertised. There's a good bit of general athleticism but the almost complete lack of court sense is downright disturbing, it'd be hard to recruit a group that appears to have a lower basketball IQ if you tried. And I believe there's still some character issues on the roster, if not in terms of criminal behavior at least in terms of work ethic.

What has me concerned is whether Pearl actually has the ability to coach players up to the next level, or to coax them into performing in spite of whatever flaws they have. If he doesn't then he needs to recruit players without so many of those flaws but I'm not sure his ego will allow for that, although if it doesn't then his fate is already sealed short of finding assistants who can cover those shortcomings. He's been awfully good for the UT basketball program, something I don't think there's any denying but the question that's becoming pretty obvious is whether there's any more growth forthcoming or if he's essentially already reached the peak of what he'll accomplish there and is actually already starting down the other side of the slope.

While I agree with your assesment on those players, I still think it's weird he keeps missing with guys who everyone praises.

Hopson and Negedu were both blue chippers I believe. I know Hopson was a McDonalds' All-American and probably the best SF coming out of high school. I know they are both young and raw, but they just don't seem to have improved. I just wonder if Hopson had ended up with a real good coach if we'd be talking about him being one of the best freshman in the country.

And I don't follow them enough, but it seems like every year there is talk about the talent he has acquired. it just never seems like that talent develops into a great college basketball player.

I think Pearl will always be a guy who can get you to the tournament and win a game here and there. But I just don't think he'll ever be the kind of coach to get to a Final Four. I guess that's a decision Tennessee will have to make some day. Are they content with being a consistently good team, or do they have aspirations to take a risk at being great?

[Radii]

Wake Forest is looking so sloppy. I count 5 turnovers in the 2nd half already. Cleveland State has a 17-0 edge in points off turnovers. Just terrible. Teague looks completely out of control

[mauchow]

8-0 run for the Badgers to start the 2nd half. Thank goodness.

[mauchow]

Hell yeah. 13-0 run to start the half.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Hopson and Negedu were both blue chippers I believe. I know Hopson was a McDonalds' All-American and probably the best SF coming out of high school. I know they are both young and raw, but they just don't seem to have improved. I just wonder if Hopson had ended up with a real good coach if we'd be talking about him being one of the best freshman in the country

Hopson's shooting is inconsistent, in part because his shot selection is questionable. Only 1 game in double figures in their final seven, but 6 of the 8 prior to that. I think he was overrated coming in but there's still room for hope.

Negedu is a different matter, with a number of people wondering why he didn't see more time, didn't reach double digit minutes in a game after the first week of February and only 3 times in the new year. Whether he was in the doghouse for some reason or if there was something else going on I really don't know. He seems like a good energy guy off the bench & one that could get better as opposed to Brian Williams who, bless his heart, is a good story for the massive weight loss but just isn't much of an athlete beyond taking up space.

Are they content with being a consistently good team, or do they have aspirations to take a risk at being great?

I'd say that's pretty on target. I don't question the desire to being great but there's definitely starting to be questions raised about whether Pearl is capable of getting a program to that level. It takes more than getting the fan base interested or being a very good p.r. guy for the program (and himself) and it remains to be seen whether he's got that capability.

[sterlingice]

That was nice of Wisconsin to show up for the second half of their game.

I have that one on the computer while Wake-Cleveland St is on tv.

It's a nice pair of games to close out the evening

SI

[sterlingice]

Oh wow. And I hadn't seen but Siena made a run and that's now a 2 point game

SI

[Radii]

jesus christ Cleveland State... amazing.

[sterlingice]

Time out, Wake! Cleveland State on an 11-2 run and now up 15 with barely 7 to go

SI

[sterlingice]

Damn, they took me to Ohio State-Siena. So the computer is now having Wake-Cleveland State. Bye, Florida State-Wisconsin.

SI

[MrBug708]

So Arizona might be gift wrapped the Sweet 16, wonderful

[sterlingice]

Wake's almost to that "you have to play almost perfect from the 4 minute mark on and hope for a little luck to get back in" point

SI

[sterlingice]

Siena has life!

(Wake, not so much- down 15, don't have the ball, and the 4 minute tv timeout just hit)

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sienna refuses to go quietly.

[sterlingice]

I could go for some overtime. I'm not tired yet and I have to be up and moving some servers tomorrow at midnight so, yeah, OT would work.

SI

[MrBug708]

Scottie Reynolds has a lot to prove in the matchup with Collison after struggling in the Big East Tourney and against American.

However, the key is going to be Cunningham and Anderson. Based on what I've read and what I saw last night, the UCLA interior is just not that good.

However, if both settle for jumpers (as they did in the first half last night) instead of driving to the basket (as they did in the second), UCLA could blow Nova out.

Collison still has the lingering affect of a bruised tailbone. As for the the interior, we have probably one of the most physical post players in Aboya, he's just not very skilled. Can hit a jump shot to keep defenses honest, but somewhat limited offensively. Great defensive presence though. Our PF spot is meh. Keefe can rebound and shoot the three, but just too slow. Drago is a great outside shooter and is underrated downlow, but probably the worst defender out of the main 8 in the rotation IMO

That being said, I cant imagine UCLA will hang for the whole game. Just too much inconsistency

[Thomkal]

Go Siena, salvage one of my picks at least!

[sterlingice]

So Arizona might be gift wrapped the Sweet 16, wonderful

What it really means is that Louisville is being gifted a trip to the Elite 8

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Anyone see the usher just yank the John 3:16 sign out of some guy's hand behind the Siena bench at the end of regulation? Looked a little harsh.


Good game though, sloppy, but good game. I'd like to see the Big Ten do well, but I'm hoping Wisconsin comes back so I can take OSU losing! :)

[Thomkal]

Oooh looks like Wisconsin has come back against Florida State-another of my picks might be saved

[Young Drachma]

Kudos to Siena and Cleveland State for keeping the night interesting, finally.

[ColtCrazy]

Wake will be my first Sweet Sixteen team out. Oh well. Saw some guy on the ESPN brackets has been perfect so far, but has Wake in the Final Four....that would suck.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Anybody noticing Wisconsin just down 1 with 1:29 left?

[sterlingice]

Anybody noticing Wisconsin just down 1 with 1:29 left?

Maybe it's time to put that game on my computer. Cleveland State is up comfortably with only 2 to go.

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Anybody noticing Wisconsin just down 1 with 1:29 left?

I've watched it. Seems like FSU gets a little lead and I think it's over and Wisconsin just keeps coming back. Good for them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Make that Wisconsin by 2 under a minute

[sterlingice]

Holy crap, Wisconsin!

SI

[sterlingice]

The mmod delay is about 15 seconds behind. I turned it on just in time to see a guy hit a 25 foot shot with 1 left on the shot clock to take the lead for Wisconsin.

That's the highlight shot of the tourney so far

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Okay, what just happened in the Wisconsin game? Can't be cbssports to come up!!!

nevermind...thanks si

[Young Drachma]

You'd think these coaches of these damn plucky underdogs would watch tape of teams in previous years.

That said, Siena is not doing the "OMG, we're down, shoot a 3 way too early" model so far...so...good on them for sticking to the gameplan.

[Radii]

that 3 for wisconsin to go ahead was a heartbreaker after 35 seconds of great half court defense.

[Young Drachma]

Dear CBS, don't be so transparent. We know you love the big schools, but relax. It'll be okay. They'll win in the end.

[sterlingice]

Two overtimes!

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Hey, who said Big Ten basketball was bad. Finally getting to see two good games. Hope they win at least one.

[sterlingice]

What ever happened to the split screen? CBS used to do that about 10 years ago, especially with situations like these

SI

[Radii]

great end to the first round, this is awesome!

[sterlingice]

Hey, who said Big Ten basketball was bad. Finally getting to see two good games. Hope they win at least one.

I didn't say it was bad- but I did say how much I hated ugly Big 10 basketball like what we saw from Wisconsin in the first half.

SI

[sterlingice]

Wake is out- our first big upset of the tourney!

I watched that game most of the night and Cleveland State was just in control all the way. Arizona shouldn't expect a pushover game or they're going to see the same fate as Wake.

SI

[Scoobz0202]

Jesus christ... Whoever hits the button to switch games needs to calm the fuck down.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What ever happened to the split screen? CBS used to do that about 10 years ago, especially with situations like these


I was missing that earlier myself, but split screen doesn't sell ads the way MMOD does.

[sterlingice]

Nevermind! Shot of the night!

SI

[ColtCrazy]

I didn't say it was bad- but I did say how much I hated ugly Big 10 basketball like what we saw from Wisconsin in the first half.

SI

True. Went to the IU-Wisconsin game. Wisconsin played one great half, and one damn ugly half.

Still, love to see them pull this off. Give the Big Ten some love, and give the ACC a 3-4 record in the tourney.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Hmm ... maybe they'll put up six OT's between 'em.

[ColtCrazy]

SIENA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Young Drachma]

Double OT.

[RainMaker]

Hey, who said Big Ten basketball was bad. Finally getting to see two good games. Hope they win at least one.

Close games. I don't know if you can call shooting under 40% good games. It's just really bad basketball that is close and in a high drama game.

[Young Drachma]

That was so clutch, man. Way to go Siena to hang in there.

[Danny]

Good to see some exciting end of game and overtime basketball.

[Radii]

True. Went to the IU-Wisconsin game. Wisconsin played one great half, and one damn ugly half.

Still, love to see them pull this off. Give the Big Ten some love, and give the ACC a 3-4 record in the tourney.

The rest of the ACC continues year after year to prove that it is little more than UNC, Duke and a bunch of shit since Maryland won their title. I'm rooting for any of these teams to step up and take a step foward and year after year they all fail, no one can put together anything decent for more than 1 year at a time as far as postseason performance. Its very frustrating as someone who has loved the ACC for 30 years.

[sterlingice]

Finally, this last slate of games has started to save a weak 1st round.

We get our first real upset with Cleveland State demolishing Wake. And now an OT and 2OT game, both with awesome 3 pointers in the last minute.

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Close games. I don't know if you can call shooting under 40% good games. It's just really bad basketball that is close and in a high drama game.

I'll give you that. This OSU-Siena game has been very sloppy in stretches, but that OT was pretty good. Talk about a clutch shot.

CBS is killing me going back and forth.

Too bad whoever wins this one will be spent for a fast Louisville team.

[ColtCrazy]

The rest of the ACC continues year after year to prove that it is little more than UNC, Duke and a bunch of shit since Maryland won their title. I'm rooting for any of these teams to step up and take a step foward and year after year they all fail, no one can put together anything decent for more than 1 year at a time as far as postseason performance. Its very frustrating as someone who has loved the ACC for 30 years.

FSU would be a big surprise if they lost to what is really a subpar Wisconsin team. They looked like the best of the rest from that conference.

Speaking of second tier teams though, I've been impressed by the Pac-10 teams, especially since they weren't expected to do much.

[JonInMiddleGA]

FSU would be a big surprise if they lost to what is really a subpar Wisconsin team.

Wouldn't have surprised me in the least. Every bracket I did had Wisconsin and it wasn't because I thought the Badgers were a great team.

[ColtCrazy]

I hate it when coaches overthink things. 7 seconds left, Ryan should have let his guys do something.

[Young Drachma]

He had enough control to push it back into the court.

[cmp]

I hate it when coaches overthink things. 7 seconds left, Ryan should have let his guys do something.

Looks like a good decision now.

[RainMaker]

Why can't CBS do split-screens? They used to do that and it solves the problem.

[mauchow]

FUCK YEAH! FUCK YOU DOUGLAS!!

YANKING ON HUGHES' JERSEY AT THE END ! BOOM !!! AND ONE!!

[Young Drachma]

Win or lose, Siena has played a very impressive game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Question: Anybody here that would have dared to miss that FT intentionally?

[ColtCrazy]

Looks like a good decision now.

LOL Did that guy even see the basket???? What a shot. Finally, the last 30 minutes is why I like the opening round of the tourney.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Siena FT's are hurting them, that's a couple of big misses in crunch time, makes it even harder for the underdogs when that happens.

[Young Drachma]

Looked like a foul to me, I'm surprised they called it. He was moving his arms a lot.

[sterlingice]

Question: Anybody here that would have dared to miss that FT intentionally?

Not as useful since Ohio State had a timeout

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Question: Anybody here that would have dared to miss that FT intentionally?


As a coach, I would have. With 2 seconds, it's a 3 they'll have to shoot so you'd lose either way if they hit it. I'd have missed it deliberately.

[mauchow]

BOOM MOTHERFUCKERS!!! WISCONSIN ADVANCES!

[Noop]

Disappointed

[Galaxy]

Not as useful since Ohio State had a timeout

SI

I think he meant the Florida State game.

[sterlingice]

That was ballsy- trying to trap there

SI

[ColtCrazy]

Go Badgers!!!!! Great win.

[Galaxy]

WOW!

[sterlingice]

I think he meant the Florida State game.

That's what I meant

SI

[sterlingice]

Siena again!

SI

[mauchow]

SIENNA< HOLY SHIT!

[cmp]

Wow. Great shot.

[Noop]

Siena is your Cindy team this year.

[Karlifornia]

HOLY SHIT!!! SIENA AGAIN! SAME GUY!!!!

[Young Drachma]

I'm all for ACC teams losing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Not as useful since Ohio State had a timeout


Good point, although I like taking away the ability to move on the inbound plus you've always got a chance to get the rebound yourself or at least tip it around & run off more clock.

[ColtCrazy]

It's like each game is trying to one up the other. Amazing shot by Siena.

[Young Drachma]

Ronald Moore is no joke.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm all for ACC teams losing.

Normally I'm not but my bracket needed all the help it could get (as usual).

[sterlingice]

Still not over yet

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Plenty of time for Ohio State here though.

[Radii]

Just completely embarrassing for Florida State. You get a Wisconsin team that couldn't even break 60 points while losing 3 of their last 5 games, hold them to 19 points in the first half and take what should be an insurmountable lead against such a shitty offensive team, and fall all over yourselves getting them back into it in 5 minutes in the 2nd half.

[sterlingice]

I have to say it again- finally, this is what March madness is all about!

SI

[Young Drachma]

Way to go Siena.

[RainMaker]

Gutsy game by Siena. Winning on the road and hitting some huge shots. I love it!

[ColtCrazy]

Okay, if the Big Ten had to lose one and win one in these last two, at least they got the teams right. :)

Listen how quiet that stadium is. I hope Siena gives Louisville a run for their money.

[Radii]

also, so much for "home court advantage" for Ohio State. Great finish to the night and great win for Siena.

[Young Drachma]

And gotta love the 12 v. 13 game, even if it is an undeserving Arizona squad that got in with that seed in the first place, a win says they at least made it worthwhile.

[mauchow]

Okay. I'm going to be up all night.

Great game from Douglas. Wow, he was fun to watch. Frustrating as a Badger fan as we don't have a player like him this year. Great game and I'm so happy right now.

[Thomkal]

woohoo, thank you Siena and Wisconsin! :)