2009 NCAA Tournament Thread

[panerd]

Um.. go Big East?

SI

Not sure how this has anything to do with conferences anymore. So was it KU or the Big 12 responsible for their championship run last year? Were the Big 12 and C-USA the top two conferences last spring? Of course not. The Big East did just fine and so did the big 12. I have no idea how this somehow vindicates the Big 10 for getting waaayyy too many teams into the tournament. MSU is good, we have known that all along. We also knew the rest of the conference sucked.

[Schmidty]

State will be counted out as they have EVERY SINGLE TIME, but I like it. Even though State's at "home", UNC is the one with the pressure.

I feel good about this, just like I have this entire tournament.

[sterlingice]

Good luck to State, Schmidty. Always liked Izzo as a coach for scheduling up, MSU won me a bracket contest in 2000, and a friend of mine went to grad school there. Good luck to them on Monday.

SI

[MizzouRah]

Well, if Missouri can't be in the Championship, I'm glad it's UNC... although I won't be upset if MSU wins.. I do like their team as well.

[Radii]

State will be counted out as they have EVERY SINGLE TIME, but I like it. Even though State's at "home", UNC is the one with the pressure.

By my estimation Michigan State going into the tournament was the 2nd best 2 seed(behind Memphis) and thus the #6 team in the nation. If they win the tournament they'll have beaten the #1, #2, and #3 teams in the nation.

Anyone counting out the #6 team in the nation is a moron, they absolutely can win. But, they should absolutely have been the underdogs going into all 3. We'll see what happens Monday!

[Peregrine]

Really glad to see UNC play so well - it's going to be a good game on Monday - definitely either team could win, but if UNC continues to play like they have I think they will be able to take it.

[sterlingice]

Well, the bookies have the line at 7 1/2 so they're betting a lot of people have counted Michigan State out

SI

[Wolfpack]

We're the Green-and-White from State
And we know we are the best
Hands behind our backs,
We can take on all the rest
GO TO HELL, CAROLINA!
Everyone else stand in line,
For the Green-and-White of Michigan State!

Go State!

(Schmidty will be confused, but Radii will get this... :D)

[Radii]

(Schmidty will be confused, but Radii will get this... :D)

:D

We have a very close family friend who is from Michigan, roots for Michigan State and became an NC State fan in the 1970s when she moved to Wake Forest. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to speak to her this week.

[MrBug708]

Schmidty should be allowed to post on IC. That whole site is full of dooshbaggery

[Swaggs]

...and there goes Courtney Paris' scholarship.

[Groundhog]

I actually think, offensively, Michigan State should have an easier time of it against UNC than they did against UCONN. They just plain couldn't get the ball in to the key against the Huskies, but that's not going to be such a problem against UNC. The biggest worry is UNC's shooting. If Michigan state defend the perimeter they have a real chance, but if they fall behind by 10 or more, it's over. I think you'd rather have Hansbrough get 20-10 on you inside the paint than have Green, Lawson and Ellington bombing threes.

[terpkristin]

I just realized that the Terps beat both teams in the final this season. Not that it matters, just something funny to notice.

/tk

[JonInMiddleGA]

...and there goes Courtney Paris' scholarship.

Or at least her first year WNBA salary. Enjoyed watching that a great deal.

I just wish that I might have the same happy outcome in the next semifinal but I'm not what you'd call hopeful. But a Stanford win over UConn would be a great way to finish off the weekend.

[Groundhog]

Or at least her first year WNBA salary. Enjoyed watching that a great deal.


Folks on wiki are quick:

Paris has announced that if Oklahoma does not win the NCAA championship in 2009, her final year, she will repay her scholarship--worth about $60,000 in out-of-state tuition--to the university.She lost so she better live up to it and pay it back. She says that without a championship, "I don’t feel like I’ve earned it.”<SUP class=reference id=cite_ref-6>[7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtney_Paris#cite_note-6)</SUP>

[Lathum]

the school will never make her pay it back.

I can see her starting a scholarship or something though

[Swaggs]

Yeah, I suspect she will just make a donation to the school.

[Karlifornia]

What Stanford needs in the 2nd half in order to make it a game:

-Cut down the turnovers
-Shoot an exceptional percentage
-Put something in Uconn's vitamin water

[JonInMiddleGA]

Must have put the wrong thing in the vitamin water as UConn extends the lead to 29.

[Butter]

UNC wins by 25 tonight.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Noticed that the National Association of Basketball Coaches handed out their awards. John Calipari and Mike Anderson were named co-coach of the year. Congrats to both of them, though it may be somewhat bittersweet for Memphis fans.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Let's go, SPARTY!!!

http://www.houstonspartans.com/JohnnyS.jpg

[Dr. Sak]

I have my picture with that guy! Johnny Spartan!

[Honolulu_Blue]

I have my picture with that guy! Johnny Spartan!

You must be very proud. And it's Johnny Spirit, not Spartan.

[Dr. Sak]

You must be very proud. And it's Johnny Spirit, not Spartan.

I knew it began with an S...but in my defense I had about 15 beers before the game.

[sterlingice]

Yeah, this guy is John Spartan (on the left):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Demolition_man.jpg

SI

[SportsDino]

STATE FTW!

For UNC's sake, they better not come out cocky tonight. The last two number one seeds Izzo came out and punched them in the nose right at the start of the game throwing them slightly off kilter.

Even when UCONN pulled out a run in the first half, they did the great bulk of it against the BENCH! I was a little scared at the time, but it made sense once the starters were put back in. We made them play an up tempo game too long and it showed, especially when we denied them their powerful post game with our defense (Suton may have sucked in shooting, but his quick hands were giving Thabeet and the rest trouble all night, and he was rarely pushed off his mark).

This is not the same team that UNC faced early in the year, they are very young overall, and hungry. Beating the toughest teams possible on the way to this game will work in State's favor as well, they've had to work for each win so I don't think the Spartans will come out soft. Expect the first ten minutes to be very high energy, maybe not in terms of the scoreboard ticking off lots of points, but lots of hustling for the ball and getting into spots on defense. If anything I think a low score but highly phsyical game early on will indicate a very bad day for UNC. UCONN obviously had more muscle (look how easily we piled on fouls inside for instance), but Izzo teaches his players to take the beating and keep on playing hard.

[Radii]

Expect the first ten minutes to be very high energy, maybe not in terms of the scoreboard ticking off lots of points, but lots of hustling for the ball and getting into spots on defense. If anything I think a low score but highly phsyical game early on will indicate a very bad day for UNC.


The first 10 minutes will be critical for both sides. UNC needs to score early and keep the crowd out of it as much as possible, while MSU cannot afford to let Carolina's explosive offense get on track and play from behind. getting behind early for either team could be fatal.

If its low scoring then I'll be worried for sure, UNC has come out strong in every game of the tournament and they need to do it one last time here. Physical would be fine with me. Lawson and Green are tough and there are 4 big men to throw around as needed, and if the refs let them play UNC will be able to generate more turnovers and Lawson will find a way to get out ahead of everyone for fast break baskets.


I really hope there isn't any issue with Carolina coming out cocky because of the big win back in December. The Heels would do well to remember the first half of the Kansas game in the final four last year and use that for motivation instead of anything at all regarding the first contest with michigan state. :D

6 1/2 hours seems like a long long ways away, I'm pumped.

[Kodos]

GO MSU!

[spleen1015]

GO MSU!

+1

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

These reports about MSU being the bearer of the hope of Michigan during the recession and economic downturn are getting a bit old.

Let's stick to the real reason why everyone is backing MSU........they're playing North Carolina. I hope they stick it to Huckleberry Hound and his team.

[Radii]

Let's stick to the real reason why everyone is backing MSU........they're playing North Carolina. I hope they stick it to Huckleberry Hound and his team.

The Mizzou hate for Carolina makes me smile so. I'm meeting a good buddy that's a mizzou fan in Atlantic City in a couple weeks, maybe I ought to pick up a UNC jersey to wear around him. what stings more? Hansbrough or Larry Drew's kid in Chapel Hill? :D

[spleen1015]

Seth Davis says MSU is a team of destiny. That's why they'll win.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The Mizzou hate for Carolina makes me smile so. I'm meeting a good buddy that's a mizzou fan in Atlantic City in a couple weeks, maybe I ought to pick up a UNC jersey to wear around him. what stings more? Hansbrough or Larry Drew's kid in Chapel Hill? :D

Neither. The hatred for Huckleberry Hound outweighs them by a vast distance.

[Schmidty]

I'm already getting nervous.

[spleen1015]

I'm already getting nervous.

Enjoy it man! I miss that feeling.

[Dr. Sak]

I'm already getting nervous.

GO GREEN!!

[Logan]

Let's stick to the real reason why everyone is backing MSU........they're playing North Carolina. I hope they stick it to Huckleberry Hound and his team.

Up in my area, no one really hates UNC...nothing like Duke at least.

[path12]

I get $400 from my brothers pool if UNC wins. So......GO TARHEELS!!!!!

[sterlingice]

The Heels would do well to remember the first half of the Kansas game in the final four last year and use that for motivation instead of anything at all regarding the first contest with michigan state. :D

Yeah, that game was fun :D

SI

[Swaggs]

Seth Davis and Greg Anthony both pick Michigan State to win.

[Dr. Sak]

There is nothing i would like more than to see Hansbrough cry in defeat!

[Radii]

so so nervous. GO HEELS!

[ColtCrazy]

Let's go Sparty!!!!

Has a team every beat 3 number ones to win a championship? I may have to look that up.

[Radii]

Let's go Sparty!!!!

Has a team every beat 3 number ones to win a championship? I may have to look that up.


Arizona 97, beat Kansas, Carolina and Kentucky in that order I believe.

[ColtCrazy]

Arizona 97, beat Kansas, Carolina and Kentucky in that order I believe.

Yep, just looked it up. Forgot how good of a run they had that year. Thanks!

[adubroff]

Better keep this one in shooting range if you're Izzo and company, otherwise I think the pressure from NC's offense is gonna be way, way too much.

[Eaglesfan27]

Looks like is going to get ugly early. :(

[ColtCrazy]

Well, wonder what else is on TV tonight...*sigh*

[Karlifornia]

NC came to play. They've got more talent. MSU needs to stay calm, though.

[Schmidty]

Well, this is ugly. I'm Tivoing it, pausing for a bit, and then fast-forwarding through UNC's possessions.

[Karlifornia]

Well, this is ugly. I'm Tivoing it, pausing for a bit, and then fast-forwarding through UNC's possessions.

:confused:

[adubroff]

Well, this is ugly. I'm Tivoing it, pausing for a bit, and then fast-forwarding through UNC's possessions.

You must be good with the DVR, I can't stop that quick.

[Schmidty]

:confused:

It's easier for me to see it in fast motion, instead of listening to the announcers. Yeah, I know it's weird.

[Schmidty]

You must be good with the DVR, I can't stop that quick.

Yeah, I go with the slowest fast foward, and just hit pause when I need to. If it was faster, it would be hard.

[Dr. Sak]

Yeah, I go with the slowest fast foward, and just hit pause when I need to. If it was faster, it would be hard.

That's what she said.

[Schmidty]

That's what she said.

lol

[Schmidty]

It's going to be a monumental task to come back from this.

[DaddyTorgo]

29-11?

yikes. guess there's no need to watch this game.

was talking to my brother earlier - i said UNC by 12, he said UNC by 20

[Karlifornia]

I knew it would be hard to top last year's title game, but come on!

[adubroff]

Paging Billy Packer.....

[mauchow]

Well, he's got the 20 so far.

Hopefully UNC doesn't lose by 40+. That would be really, really, really bad.

[sterlingice]

I knew it would be hard to top last year's title game, but come on!

They're just setting up for the exciting Spartan comeback ;)

SI

[DeToxRox]

My riot barometer is rising.

[MrBug708]

Im actually annoyed that Big Bang theory wont be on today

[Karlifornia]

Well, he's got the 20 so far.

Hopefully UNC doesn't lose by 40+. That would be really, really, really bad.

Yeah, it would take a 61-point swing. That would be hard for them live down.

[Dr. Sak]

Im actually annoyed that Big Bang theory wont be on today

It was on earlier...on the east coast :)

[Karlifornia]

Im actually annoyed that Big Bang theory wont be on today

This game is already funnier than any episode of the Big Bang Theory

[mauchow]

Yeah, it would take a 61-point swing. That would be hard for them live down.

Heheh, oops. I meant MSU.

Oh, and UNC has looked incredible so far. Can they keep it up? Most likely.

[Swaggs]

Im actually annoyed that Big Bang theory wont be on today

It was a rerun (as was HIMYM).

[Radii]

oh man that looked painful with an already broken nose, poor Morgan.

[Schmidty]

You know? I'm not even mad or anything. It's like this weird peace has come over me. I guess I'm just proud of them getting this far. :)

[DaddyTorgo]

i think it's just a total mismatch in terms of ability.

UNC is playing the best basketball of any college team all year right now, and they have been for most of the year. They can just run 6-7 guys at you with the ability to score and you can't defend all of them. It's like men against boys.

[mauchow]

Can MSU hit 60% threes to stay in the game?

[DaddyTorgo]

kudos to MSU though

[JonInMiddleGA]

Public props from me to my 10 year old are now due I believe. He cleaned my everlovin' clock in brackets we did head to head on espn.com

His rank was 96.3 percentile before tonight, and he had UNC to win it all. Pretty damned good for a kid who has only done brackets for three years and only did a single bracket this season.

Alas, I was at 64.8 and had neither of tonight's finalists in that bracket.

[miami_fan]

I am sure it has been said before but Ty Lawson is unbelievably fast.

[DaddyTorgo]

lawson is more important to UNC than tyler

[Big Fo]

Unless a major comeback happens six out of the last eight basketball or football D1 champions will have come from the Southeast. Awesome.

[Radii]

I am sure it has been said before but Ty Lawson is unbelievably fast.

I'm not going back through 37 pages and counting but I would guess that as many as 40% of my posts in here have the word lawson in them. I think 4 or 5 of them are just some form me "LAWSON!!!" and nothing else.

[JonInMiddleGA]

lawson is more important to UNC than tyler

Has there been any doubt about that for at least a year now?

[DaddyTorgo]

Has there been any doubt about that for at least a year now?

idk has there? :confused:

[Peregrine]

I'm not going back through 37 pages and counting but I would guess that as many as 40% of my posts in here have the word lawson in them. I think 4 or 5 of them are just some form me "LAWSON!!!" and nothing else.

Yeah that's pretty much the way it is when I watch the games too - half the time you just have to yell out his name when he makes some amazing play.

[Samdari]

idk has there? :confused:

No. Lawson was ACC player of the year.

[Radii]

Has there been any doubt about that for at least a year now?

hah no not at all. It was similar in 2005, McCants got most of the press(and Sean May during the 2005 tournament) but Ray Felton was the one guy that *had* to be on the floor for UNC to win. Frasor and Drew are better than Felton's backup Quinten Thomas who was a Reggie Ball level of worthlessness(yeah, I went there), but without Lawson they're nowhere close to this.


And looking ahead, I feel for Larry Drew, having to follow 3 years of Felton and 3 years of Lawson. I can't see him possibly living up to these past 6 years of PG play.

[sterlingice]

Unless a major comeback happens six out of the last eight basketball or football D1 champions will have come from the Southeast. Awesome.

Hey, we did our part last year. We can't do it all ;)

SI

[MizzouRah]

I gave someone MSU and 11 points.. thought I was nuts.. but so far it's genius!

[JonInMiddleGA]

I kind of wondered whether we might get something resembling the GT-UConn finish from a few years back. Jackets trailed by 25 in the second half but cut it to 7 with a late flurry before losing by 9.

[Radii]

MSU really should have this down well below10, lots of missed free throws and open shots.

[Peregrine]

Yeah UNC hasn't been shooting well all second half. but MSU hasn't been able to take advantage - throwing up a lot of ugly 3s as well.

[sterlingice]

Congrats to Carolina. Man, they have just been good all tourney long

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

see now this starts to irritate me - you're 15 pts down with 1:35 left and you're fouling to make UNC shoot FT's? What's the point? Really? Let the game end.

[Radii]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


:)

[Noop]

ACC Pride!!!!!

[Danny]

Nice! Not as happy as Im sure NC fans are, but I rooted for them throughout the tournament.

[Swaggs]

Ellington wins Tourney MVP.

His shooting really did open things up for Carolina's offense. Even though you would expect Lawson or Hansborough to get the nod, he was pretty deserving.

[Schmidty]

Congrats to UNC and Radii. :)

[Danny]

Think I would have given it to Lawson, but Ellington is a fine choice too.

[Radii]

In 2005 Sean May became one of my favorite tar heels of all time with a number of ridiculous performances against duke and in the NCAA Touranment. Lawson has long been my favorite player on this team, his performance in the final Duke game and in this tournament will easily make him one of my favorite college players ever the same way May's run in 2005 did.

[Radii]

Congrats to UNC and Radii. :)


tough game schmidty, hell of a season for MSU nonetheless.

[kingnebwsu]

UNC was lights out the best team in the tournament. Congrats.

[EagleFan]

Thus ends one of the worst tournaments I can remember. Too many one sided games and very little drama.

Though it was fun to watch Duke get their butts handed to them.

[Danny]

I don't remember if they said, but when was the last time a team won the tournament by winning each game by at least 12.

[EagleFan]

lol, one question that always gets asked in these situations... "Tell me how you're feeling right now?" Is there honestly one person out there who is waiting to hear the answer to that, someone expecting the person to not be feeling great?

[EagleFan]

dola: grats to the NC students, alumni and fans.

[LloydLungs]

Thus ends one of the worst tournaments I can remember. Too many one sided games and very little drama.

Horrible tournament. Dull games with few exceptions (Vill-Pitt was great), and once it was obvious how dialed in Carolina was, the ultimate result was a foregone conclusion several rounds ago. Plus, over the course of the whole year, UNO being terrible and Marquette being great -- both torturous to me personally. 2008-09: Worst. Season. Ever.

On the other hand, it had me anticipating baseball more than I ever have. So there's that.

[sterlingice]

Thus ends one of the worst tournaments I can remember. Too many one sided games and very little drama.

Yeah- that is very true. No really good upsets or even that many good games except for that first Friday night, last set of games (Siena/Ohio St, Wisc/FSU, and Clev St over Wake).

SI

[Radii]

I know its corny as all hell but to me there is no more enjoyable presentation in any sport than One Shining Moment in the year that the team you love wins the national title.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And I have to point out that "no really good upsets" is just another way of saying the selection committee did a good job of seeding the tournament.
And for the second year in a row I might add.

[Peregrine]

All I can say is Heels, baby, Heels!

[Kodos]

Congrats to the Heels. I was rooting for MSU, but it just wasn't their night. UNC has a real good team there.

[digamma]

Only one shot of Tyler Hansborough's dad and none of his sister.
http://begojohnson.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/jennifer-wilbanks.jpg

[Pumpy Tudors]

There's nothing new I have to say about tonight's game or the tournament (I agree wholeheartedly with LloydLungs, by the way) except for one thing:

I'm glad this is over so I don't have to see that damn under-the-basket camera angle when someone goes in on a fast break anymore. I hate that camera angle. I hate it. It makes me angry.

[Karlifornia]

Congratulations to UNC and Radii (and any other Heels fans on FOFC).

It's pretty neat that the whole starting lineup came back after the disappointment of losing to KU in last year's Final Four, and wound up achieving their dream. It would have been pretty torturous for UNC and their fans to not get a title out of this great collection of talent.

I can't wait until next years tourney!

[Balldog]

Yeah- that is very true. No really good upsets or even that many good games except for that first Friday night, last set of games (Siena/Ohio St, Wisc/FSU, and Clev St over Wake).

SI

How do you guys measure good games? Buzzer beaters only?

There were plenty of good games, a lot of high quality games. You mean to tell me that Kansas-Michigan State game wasn't a good game? Not to mention you missed Nova-Pitt, Pitt-Xavier, Mizzou-Marquette, Michigan State-USC, Oklahoma State-Tennessee, Marquette-Utah State, Kansas-ND State, LSU-Butler, UCLA-VCU, and WKU-Illinois. All of these games were high quality basketball down to the last couple minutes and I left out Clemson-Michigan because it was high quality basketball.

Seems like a lot of good games to mean but if the only measurable is buzzer beaters or overtime games then I can't imagine you guys would ever be happy.

[RainMaker]

I actually think the tournament was a little "blah" because college basketball wasn't really that great this year. There were really no great teams besides UNC. We always like parity in sports, but sometimes it eliminates those epic matchups that make the tournament special. This one just didn't have those epic matchups that we're used to.

The gameplay was also kind of shakey. Lot of bad shooting, turnovers, and poor fundamentals. UConn shot 63% from the free throw line in a Final Four game. The runner-up Michigan State had 21 turnovers in the championship game. The most exciting game in the tournament (OSU-Siena) had both teams shooting in the thirties. There just weren't a lot of stars shining in this tournament outside of the guys at UNC (who really didn't play one exciting game all tournament).

[sterlingice]

How do you guys measure good games? Buzzer beaters only?

There were plenty of good games, a lot of high quality games. You mean to tell me that Kansas-Michigan State game wasn't a good game? Not to mention you missed Nova-Pitt, Pitt-Xavier, Mizzou-Marquette, Michigan State-USC, Oklahoma State-Tennessee, Marquette-Utah State, Kansas-ND State, LSU-Butler, UCLA-VCU, and WKU-Illinois. All of these games were high quality basketball down to the last couple minutes and I left out Clemson-Michigan because it was high quality basketball.

Seems like a lot of good games to mean but if the only measurable is buzzer beaters or overtime games then I can't imagine you guys would ever be happy.

You're stretching it a lot with some of those. Kansas-North Dakota State was vaguely close but KU never was behind the entire second half. Mizzou was up something like 12 before almost choking the lead away against Marquette. Kansas-Michigan State was an ugly game. I'm not sure I'd call it a good game- both teams shot maybe 45% but it was close. But it looked great next to Pitt-Xavier where I don't think either team broke 35% shooting- that was just ugly as sin. It was just boring and no one could hit a shot. And that's off the top of my head.

Nova-Pitt was a good game. UCLA-VCU was a good game, tho, honestly most of the game it felt like UCLA had it in hand. Hell, American-Villanova was really fun... for a half. Some of those others were good games. But the percentage was quite low. There were 63 games played- some of those are going to be close. But not very many of them were this year. And a lot of the ones that were are of the "ugly" variety where neither team could hit the barn.

I don't need buzzer beaters but I want something so that when there are 3 and 4 games on at once, there's a game worth CBS flipping to and frequently, there was not a close game or if there was, it was something where one team was just putting another out of their misery and it was a foregone conclusion. The lack of mid majors and cinderellas didn't help as all because the upsets were silly ones that "everyone predicted". Underachieving Arizona knocking off Utah, Western Kentucky beating overseeded Illinois, and Cleveland State- the only real upset- were the only games outside of 8/9 and 7/10. And once you got to the Sweet 16- all 4 1/2/3s (along with 4/4/5/12)- that's the formula for the office secretary winning the pool.

SI

[Ksyrup]

Thus ends one of the worst tournaments I can remember. Too many one sided games and very little drama.

Though it was fun to watch Duke get their butts handed to them.

Yep.

Here's a question from my wife, shortly after the messed up tip-off...what would happen if they accidentally lined up wrong for the second tip and were inadvertently scoring baskets on themselves for the entire first half (or at least until someone picked up on the mistake)? I told her I assumed those baskets would have to count against the teams, and you'd have to reverse the score of the game. And even if that had happened, UNC probably still would have won by 5...:D

But seriously, there's no other way to reconcile that error, is there? The coaches might agree on the fair way to score the game, but officially, could those baskets be anything other than scored against their own team? How awesome would that have been?

[albionmoonlight]

Yep.

Here's a question from my wife, shortly after the messed up tip-off...what would happen if they accidentally lined up wrong for the second tip and were inadvertently scoring baskets on themselves for the entire first half (or at least until someone picked up on the mistake)? I told her I assumed those baskets would have to count against the teams, and you'd have to reverse the score of the game. And even if that had happened, UNC probably still would have won by 5...:D

But seriously, there's no other way to reconcile that error, is there? The coaches might agree on the fair way to score the game, but officially, could those baskets be anything other than scored against their own team? How awesome would that have been?

I'm thinking that, after the first basket made that way, the refs would have to have the team that just scored the basket do the inbounds pass. If the refs did not do that, then I don't think that anything could count, because then it would not just be a player error, it would be an error by the officials.

[Ksyrup]

But officials' errors happen all the time. What are they allowed to change?

I'm just playing devil's advocate, but stsill kinda interested in how they would work through something like that.

[JonInMiddleGA]

And once you got to the Sweet 16- all 4 1/2/3s (along with 4/4/5/12)- that's the formula for the office secretary winning the pool.

It's also exactly how it's supposed to work if the committee does its' job properly.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The gameplay was also kind of shakey. Lot of bad shooting, turnovers, and poor fundamentals. UConn shot 63% from the free throw line in a Final Four game. The runner-up Michigan State had 21 turnovers in the championship game. The most exciting game in the tournament (OSU-Siena) had both teams shooting in the thirties. There just weren't a lot of stars shining in this tournament outside of the guys at UNC (who really didn't play one exciting game all tournament).

Perhaps I look at it a different way that you do. Outside of the free throw numbers that you mentioned were a bit iffy in some games, I see a much greater emphasis by many college teams to incorporate strong team defense into their games since many of the stars that might have previously stayed for 4 years are now quickly moving on. You say that MSU played poorly in the final with 21 turnovers. I saw a well-coached NC defense.

I know that Mizzou spends 75% of their practice working on defense. KU runs about 60% defense in Bill Self's practices. Oklahoma State is another 'offense off of defensive pressure' team who gets a lot of shots while sacrificing shooting percentage. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for. I just don't buy the theory that since offensive numbers were down that there weren't good games. It was a defensive buffet from where I was watching.

[sterlingice]

It's also exactly how it's supposed to work if the committee does its' job properly.

So if more 11s, 12s, and 13s win, it's the tourney committee doing a bad job rather than bad matchups (i.e. guard oriented teams vs back court)? Who gets in is based on how well a team did during the season. How the tourney plays out is based on how teams match up. It's two different things. I just don't buy the "if it's chalk, the committee did its job". It just means that college hoops was top-heavy this year.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

I just don't buy the "if it's chalk, the committee did its job".

No more than I buy the "it's only good if teams nobody gives a damn about win 10 games" line of reasoning.

[albionmoonlight]

In order for upsets to be upsets, you need to have some years where the chalk wins out.

[RainMaker]

I really hate how the word chalk has gotten so popular this year.

[Ksyrup]

I really hate how the word chalk has gotten so popular this year.

I ranted about this a number of pages back.

[albionmoonlight]

Is "favorites" the preferred term?

[albionmoonlight]

dola--I have no love or hate for the term chalk, FWIW. Just seems like the term that is now used to describe the tournament going to form. Nice to have a word for that, I guess. But I certainly didn't mean to step into a debate about it.

[Ksyrup]

I don't necessarily hate the term so much as I hate the fact that everyone uses it now. After that first weekend, it seemed like everything I read or heard about the tournament used "chalk" as shorthand for the favorites winning. I agree it's nice to have that, but I just can't stand how it suddenly has become the in fashion term to be thrown around by every sports pundit.

[Swaggs]

I had never heard the term "chalk" used before this tournament.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I had never heard the term "chalk" used before this tournament.
Me neither. Hell, until I finally figured out what people meant (sometime around when the Elite Eight games were being played), I thought everyone was just really liking Kansas.

[Ksyrup]

That's the problem - it went from unknown to chic in a matter of weeks. Now it just gets on my nerves. It's like the Boo-ya of 2009.

[RainMaker]

Cheering Fans, Thrilling NCAA Tournament Disgust BCS Officials | The Onion - America's Finest News Source (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/cheering_fans_thrilling_ncaa)

[SportsDino]

:(

Spartans came out and tried to match the offense of UNC, I think we should have ground away at them with our normal attack. So many turnovers from zipping down the floor for no reason (this basically helped to dig the giant hole of no escape).

Oh well, MSU is a young team, I'm sure they'll make another run at it next year. Making it to the championship alone is something a few hundred other teams would have liked to do after all!

[Butter]

Yeah, I didn't understand why Izzo seemed to have his kids just charging down the floor every time. Thought they should play more methodical, like what took down Louisville. Thought that was a pretty obviously egregious coaching error by Izzo.

[terpkristin]

As expected: Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione: We don't want Courtney Paris' payback - ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/ncaatourney09/news/story?id=4050875)

/tk

[miami_fan]

Perfect Season for Uconn again. Unbelievable performance by Geno's team

[Swaggs]

I wonder if there is any chance in hell that, if Calhoun decided to retire, Geno would consider coaching the men's team. Ridiculous stretch, I know, but it would sure be interesting.

[Logan]

I think the only way it would happen is if Geno did it only to try to stick it to Calhoun. They hate each other.

[mauchow]

Yeah, I didn't understand why Izzo seemed to have his kids just charging down the floor every time. Thought they should play more methodical, like what took down Louisville. Thought that was a pretty obviously egregious coaching error by Izzo.

They bring it up the floor quickly on every possession against almost every team. They want to maximize their offensive possession by not walking it up for a full five seconds. That's five extra seconds of offense they can run if needed. They just turned it over way too much. Just young kids making mistakes is what we saw last night.

[RedKingGold]

I was in Detroit to watch the 'Nova-North Carolina game, and it was clear that the Heels clearly outclassed Nova. Best team, by far, in the tourney.

One of the things that really surprised me about Saturday was that there was nary a UConn fan to be found in Detroit. Perhaps they went into hiding with the deluge of Michigan State fans that descended upon the city, but even the cheering section at the game seemed quite small.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Saw that JT Tiller had surgery on the torn ligaments in his wrist yesterday for the injury he aggrevated during the Marquette game. I think we can safely put away any further notion of a faked injury at the end of that game. He was playing with the ligament damage for over a month. That's one tough SOB. Glad Mizzou has him back next year.

Tiller to have wrist surgery | Courtside View (http://www.columbiatribune.com/weblogs/courtside-view/2009/apr/07/tiller-to-have-wrist-surgery/)