2010 NCAA Tournament (and NIT) Thread

[sterlingice]

It looks like we've had a separate tournament thread the last couple of years so why change what works.

Here's the season thread:
http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=75058

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just a reminder that you can stream all games at the On Demand site........

2010 NCAA March Madness on Demand - NCAA.com (http://mmod.ncaa.com/)

[wade moore]

The wife and I will be driving to watch the W&M @ UNC game on Tuesday night.

It will be a tough game for sure on their "homecourt" (I use "" because the game is not at the Dean Dome, but at Carmichael) where we'll be lucky to have 200 Tribe fans.

I'm hoping for the best, but at this point happy that we made a post-season tournament for the 2nd time ever.

[wade moore]

My rants may not end this college basketball season.

Apparently UNC may give as few as 100 tickets to the W&M Ticket Office.

This slap in the face may have just become a punch to the groin.

[gstelmack]

Wow, that's annoying of them. Any word on why? Did W&M have trouble guaranteeing the tickets they'd sell?

[wade moore]

Wow, that's annoying of them. Any word on why? Did W&M have trouble guaranteeing the tickets they'd sell?

I doubt it, but I suppose it's plausible. Considering the head of the ticket office gave every impression that he expects to turn people down for tickets though, I doubt it.

It could be because they are going from a (i think) 17,000 seat arena to a 7,000 seat arena and want to appease as many "Rams Club" members as they can.

Either way, it's a "crime" imo. Sure, they have every right to do it, but doesn't it go against some sort of etiquette?

[MacroGuru]

I am not liking the fact that some of the press out there are picking BYU to the 16 or 8, they have done nothing to prove that to me...they have yet to get out of the 1st round in a long time.

It is a chance though for the MWC to make some noise in the tourney with having 4 teams in.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I seem to remember that there's a couple of Clemson fans on this board. Any reason why Oliver Purnell is 0-5 in the NCAA tournament? That's seems to be more than just a random occurrance.

Also, does anyone know of a site that lists a coach's record against other coaches?

[Radii]

I seem to remember that there's a couple of Clemson fans on this board. Any reason why Oliver Purnell is 0-5 in the NCAA tournament? That's seems to be more than just a random occurrance.


Not a Clemson fan obviously but Wolfpack and I were talking about this when Clemson bombed out of the ACC tourney. Clemson seems to peak in December/early January. It really feels like Clemson is playing their worst basketball in March every year. Perhaps just bad luck/bad matchups, I dunno, but I expect Mizzou to win easily.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just saw a couple of betting lines that looked like easy money. A&M only giving away three points to Utah State. Also, saw an over/under number of 137 for the Mizzou/Clemson game. There's no way that game stays under 137.

[Chubby]

Not a Clemson fan obviously but Wolfpack and I were talking about this when Clemson bombed out of the ACC tourney. Clemson seems to peak in December/early January. It really feels like Clemson is playing their worst basketball in March every year. Perhaps just bad luck/bad matchups, I dunno, but I expect Mizzou to win easily.


For the sake of this board I hope you are wrong...

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

For the sake of this board I hope you are wrong...

What's going to happen if MU does win? Do tell.

[Jon]

Just a reminder that you can stream all games at the On Demand site........

2010 NCAA March Madness on Demand - NCAA.com (http://mmod.ncaa.com/)

I also saw a press release that announced that XM subscribers will have access to the radio broadcasts this year on xm radio.

[Lathum]

I can fix everyting for Clemson by betting on Mizzou, worked wonders for Nebraska.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I can fix everyting for Clemson by betting on Mizzou, worked wonders for Nebraska.

Uh oh..........

[sooner333]

That is a slap in the face to the Tribe. For a team that probably shouldn't even be in the NIT with a .500 record, let alone a team worthy of hosting a first-round game, they shouldn't be being asses about things.

I'm pretty excited about going to the Oklahoma City Subregional this year. Haven't been to a sub since 2006 Dallas, and they are always fun to go to. Was a little underwhelmed by the "undercard" matchups of BYU/Florida and UNLV/Northern Iowa (although the latter should be an interesting match-up of styles). But KU and KSU should bring a big crowd and it will be fun to be there. The only downside is not getting to see the other 12 games that day, but you might get to see a great moment in sports in person.

[panerd]

I doubt it, but I suppose it's plausible. Considering the head of the ticket office gave every impression that he expects to turn people down for tickets though, I doubt it.

It could be because they are going from a (i think) 17,000 seat arena to a 7,000 seat arena and want to appease as many "Rams Club" members as they can.

Either way, it's a "crime" imo. Sure, they have every right to do it, but doesn't it go against some sort of etiquette?


I hate to break this to you but UNC won a national title last year. The Rams Club members are not going to be jumping all over each other for tickets to see a first round NIT game.

My guess is something along the lines of... "Donate 3 canned goods to a local Chapel Hill food pantry and we will give a kid from the local boy's club a ticket to the NIT game".

[sooner333]

I hate to break this to you but UNC won a national title last year. The Rams Club members are not going to be jumping all over each other for tickets to see a first round NIT game.

My guess is something along the lines of... "Donate 3 canned goods to a local Chapel Hill food pantry and we will give a kid from the local boy's club a ticket to the NIT game".

Well, they are charging $40 per ticket. Seems like there may be some demand.

[panerd]

Well, they are charging $40 per ticket. Seems like there may be some demand.


Only in North Carolina... I can remember one year when I was at Mizzou (and we were pretty good under Norm but definitely not even close to North Carolina) and we walked up to the door for the Mizzou game (I think it was against Alabama) and they let us in with our student ID for free! (I don't remember the weather being bad or anything, just wanted to fill the arena)

[gstelmack]

Only in North Carolina... I can remember one year when I was at Mizzou (and we were pretty good under Norm but definitely not even close to North Carolina) and we walked up to the door for the Mizzou game (I think it was against Alabama) and they let us in with our student ID for free! (I don't remember the weather being bad or anything, just wanted to fill the arena)

College basketball is the local religion. Don't let all the churches fool you, college basketball is king around here.

[wade moore]

Well, they are charging $40 per ticket. Seems like there may be some demand.

Well, NIT rules require them to charge based on their normal regular season ticket pricing policy.

[TargetPractice6]

The circumstances were a bit different, but Kentucky's home NIT game last season was actually a fairly popular event. I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar with UNC. They might not be in the tournament they want, but I bet they still want to win it.

[wade moore]

Well, after my initial bitching, I should post this:

College's ticket sales brisk for NIT appearance | Flat Hat News (http://flathatnews.com/blog/39/press-box/72989)

Excerpt:

The College received an initial allotment of 100 tickets per NIT and NCAA rules, a mark that was quickly blown past by a lengthy wait list. However, as of 3 p.m. Monday, North Carolina had released an additional 300 tickets to the visiting Tribe due to slow ticket sales, according to Director of Ticket Operations Spencer Milne.

and...

UNC also cut its ticket prices from $40 to $20 Monday afternoon, and could release more tickets to the College if sales do not pick up. The College has not indicated if they plan to similarly reduce prices from $40.

[Radii]

The circumstances were a bit different, but Kentucky's home NIT game last season was actually a fairly popular event. I wouldn't be surprised to see something similar with UNC. They might not be in the tournament they want, but I bet they still want to win it.


I was talking to Wade about this earlier, but I really doubt it. I mean, the players will play their best and try to win, but the fans are a pretty entitled bunch. Anyone at UNC who isn't a freshman had a chance to attend games on the way to a national title just last season. The fans in general have seen two national titles in the last 5 years and another final four 6 years ago. Why is anyone going to get excited about the NIT?

[TargetPractice6]

That's a good point. I think "excitement" might be stretching it, but UK fans seemed to adopt the attitude of "we're in it so we might as well win it." Nobody was particularly disappointed when they didn't though. It's more a sentiment of supporting your team when its down than being thrilled with missing the tournament.

[Butter]

I seem to remember that there's a couple of Clemson fans on this board. Any reason why Oliver Purnell is 0-5 in the NCAA tournament? That's seems to be more than just a random occurrance.

Also, does anyone know of a site that lists a coach's record against other coaches?

Purnell's teams just play tight in tourney games. It's a function of his coaching for sure, because he had the same problem at Dayton.

[BishopMVP]

Well, NIT rules require them to charge based on their normal regular season ticket pricing policy.Yeah, UMass let students with id's in free to every sporting event except NIT games and postseason home games where the NCAA required them to charge everyone. Sounds like the NIT is the same way.

[TargetPractice6]

Radii, I just read that UNC's NIT game will be played in Carmichael Auditorium. Do you think that will affect the attitude of UNC fans towards the game at all? Last year UK's NIT game was played in Memorial Coliseum, which hadn't hosted a men's basketball game since 1975. It gave a lot of people that were too young to ever get the chance to take in a game there the opportunity to experience part of the program's history. It seems like there could be a similar opportunity for UNC fans this season.

[Lathum]

Just did a couple of brackets and it is really hard to not pick the chalk. The 3-6 teams just don't seem very strong.

[Wolfpack]

In spite of my distate for UNC, all this kvetching about who would do what in the other team's conference means I'll have to stand with the ACC and...uh...well...um...go Heels? (Ack. It's not right. There's no "to Hell" in that sentence.)

Oh, and Wade, don't cheer too loudly or heckle a Carolina player who's attempting free throws. Ol' Roy might have to throw you out of the gym if you do. :D

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just did a couple of brackets and it is really hard to not pick the chalk. The 3-6 teams just don't seem very strong.

Largely agree.

[wade moore]

In spite of my distate for UNC, all this kvetching about who would do what in the other team's conference means I'll have to stand with the ACC and...uh...well...um...go Heels? (Ack. It's not right. There's no "to Hell" in that sentence.)

Oh, and Wade, don't cheer too loudly or heckle a Carolina player who's attempting free throws. Ol' Roy might have to throw you out of the gym if you do. :D

Someone alluded to this on the W&M message boards - and I don't get the reference.

Someone care to explain?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Someone alluded to this on the W&M message boards - and I don't get the reference.

Someone care to explain?

Roy Williams kicks out heckling fan at the Dean Dome - The Dagger - NCAAB Blog - Yahoo! Sports (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Roy-Williams-kicks-out-heckling-fan-at-the-Dean-?urn=ncaab,208335)

[wade moore]

Roy Williams kicks out heckling fan at the Dean Dome - The Dagger - NCAAB Blog - Yahoo! Sports (http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Roy-Williams-kicks-out-heckling-fan-at-the-Dean-?urn=ncaab,208335)


That's nuts.

Our rowdy bunch of now at least 400 might all get kicked out! ;)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

This morning, I happened to hear the trumpet fanfare that CBS plays for the intro to their telecasts and games during the tournament. I got a bit giddy thinking about the fact that the tournament is only 48 hours away (excluding play-in game of course).

[DataKing]

So, just out of curiosity, who here usually watches the "play-in game"? I do, because it's nice to see two teams play that you normally would never get a chance to watch outside of the tournament, plus it acts as a nice little primer for all of the basketball goodness to come in the next few weeks. Anybody else watching tonight?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Evil little app I just noticed on the iPhone store. March Madness on Demand for $10. You can watch all 63 games on your iPhone. This will come in handy in a few years when my kids have school events during the tournament.

[Lathum]

Evil little app I just noticed on the iPhone store. March Madness on Demand for $10. You can watch all 63 games on your iPhone. This will come in handy in a few years when my kids have school events during the tournament.

hmmm, we have birthing class Saturday, wonder what the odds of my wife being a single parent are if I get this?

[Thomkal]

Was looking at the TV listings to see when and where the Coastal/UAB game was going to be on...and its the only one of the six NIT games NOT to be on TV tonight. That sucks.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Anyone know a good place online to find TV listings for the first round games? I want to watch my Gauchos do their worst to the Buckeyes on Friday.

[DataKing]

Anyone know a good place online to find TV listings for the first round games? I want to watch my Gauchos do their worst to the Buckeyes on Friday.

It'll be hit-or-miss no matter what time the game is, since CBS does so much bouncing around with 4 games going on at once. Your best bet will be to watch it online at cbssports.

[Lathum]

It'll be hit-or-miss no matter what time the game is, since CBS does so much bouncing around with 4 games going on at once. Your best bet will be to watch it online at cbssports.

which is free

[sterlingice]

So, just out of curiosity, who here usually watches the "play-in game"? I do, because it's nice to see two teams play that you normally would never get a chance to watch outside of the tournament, plus it acts as a nice little primer for all of the basketball goodness to come in the next few weeks. Anybody else watching tonight?

I don't out of protest since they ruined the mathematical purity of the 64 team bracket. Oh, that and disinterest.

SI

[DataKing]

I don't out of protest since they ruined the mathematical purity of the 64 team bracket.

Nice to know some things never change. :)

[wade moore]

Was looking at the TV listings to see when and where the Coastal/UAB game was going to be on...and its the only one of the six NIT games NOT to be on TV tonight. That sucks.
Should at least be on 360, right?

[sooner333]

Was looking at the TV listings to see when and where the Coastal/UAB game was going to be on...and its the only one of the six NIT games NOT to be on TV tonight. That sucks.

According to the UAB Game Notes it's on CBS College Sports. Of course I don't get that channel.

[JonInMiddleGA]

For those who are Facebook active, here's the CBS bracket app for FB
Incompatible Browser | Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/cbssports/brackets)

[wade moore]

Packing up the car to head to Chapel Hill.

GO TRIBE!

Anyone interested, ESPN, 9:30PM EDT.

[Thomkal]

According to the UAB Game Notes it's on CBS College Sports. Of course I don't get that channel.

I do get that channel, which I did not know until today. However according to the guide, its showing NAIA basketball in the time slot that the Coastal game would be showing. The local paper does not list it as being on TV at all in the area, so I think I'm outta luck.

[lynchjm24]

Well, NIT rules require them to charge based on their normal regular season ticket pricing policy.

Connecticut sold their tickets for $10 at Gampel tonight.

[Thomkal]

And now I'm glad I can't see the Coastal game...ugh

[Lathum]

This play in game is really a load of crap. It completely cheats the losing team out of the NCAA tournament experience.

[gstelmack]

Oh man, just realised NC State is playing South Florida in the NIT, unfortunately in Tampa. Sigh, I remember when I could walk to the Sun Dome for a game...

[Logan]

Herb Pope of Seton Hall got ejected from their NIT game against Texas Tech for punching a Tech guy in the balls...twice, on alternating possessions.

That program is a complete fuckin mess.

[B & B]

HARRRRRRRRRR!

[mauchow]

W&M has been pretty fun to watch .. hopefully they can pull it off against UNC.

[Scoobz0202]

Has UNC always had the strip of color around their belt region? At first I thought they were just wearing really short shirts...

[sooner333]

Has UNC always had the strip of color around their belt region? At first I thought they were just wearing really short shirts...

It looks like they wore some kind of throw-backs for their game at Carmichael.

[mauchow]

Turnovers late are killing W&M and some bad 3-point shots..

Ah, well.

They should start calling this the Big 10 Tourney.. I think the Big 10 has won this tourney 3 years in a row now. It will be a little tougher this year though; I'm not sure Illilois will be able to win that many games in a row. Northwestern surely won't be able to carry the torch either.

[jbergey22]

Surprised to see the Hall get torched. Perhaps the Big 12 is the conference to beat. Tech has been a solid team all year other than in conference play.

Just going by tonights results the Big East wasnt very impressive. UConn by 2, USF lost at home, Seton Hall lost at home. Its worth noting for you finalizing your brackets.

[digamma]

That ended up working out really well for the NIT. Fun game to watch in Carmichael with the throw-back unis on UNC. Looked like the atmosphere even gave UNC a little desire to play.

Sorry to wade, bu hopefully you had a good time. It seemed like a great game to witness.

[Lathum]

I think a lot of teams under perform in the NIT because it is a mental letdown for the players. Especially those from a big conference

[jbergey22]

I think a lot of teams under perform in the NIT because it is a mental letdown for the players. Especially those from a big conference

True

It does seem like the team that usually wins this has a lot of good juniors on their team and use this as a building block to a strong season the following year. Often times it seems like the NIT winner has a strong season the following year.

North Carolina seems like a perfect team to win this. Not because of the juniors but because they will have a lot of returning starters and this would be a perfect building block for them to have a great season next year.

[sooner333]

Perhaps the Big 12 is the conference to beat. Tech has been a solid team all year other than in conference play.


We'll see. I didn't watch the whole game, but I think that Pope being out due to his breaking the man code had to hurt Seton Hall. A lot of good teams in the Big 12 though and TTU was clearly in the lower tier.

[BishopMVP]

Herb Pope of Seton Hall got ejected from their NIT game against Texas Tech for punching a Tech guy in the balls...twice, on alternating possessions.Wasn't the only one tonight. Chris Paul was just ahead of the curve.

[JonInMiddleGA]

It looks like they wore some kind of throw-backs for their game at Carmichael.

From the wire copy

The Tar Heels even got into the nostalgic spirit, donning the throwback uniforms from the 1957 national championship campaign that they had worn occasionally as part of a yearlong celebration of the program's centennial season.

[MrBug708]

Radii, is Drew coming back next year? People are speculating that he's gonna follow Alex back home and UCLA, USC, and Pepperdine are possible destinations

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just going by tonights results the Big East wasnt very impressive. UConn by 2, USF lost at home, Seton Hall lost at home. Its worth noting for you finalizing your brackets.

My primary bracket really hopes that isn't foreshadowing ;)

(I've got five BE teams in the Elite Eight)

[jbergey22]

Arizona State falls to Jacksonville at home.

I hate to put too much stock into these NIT games but with the crazy Big East tourny and tonights lackluster performance I am a little hesitent to pick a Big East team in a game as I see close.

This Pac-10 result confirms my thoughts on the Pac-10 this year.

I changed my Final Four tonight which is probably a huge mistake
Original:Kansas, Syracuse, West Virginia, Duke
Revised:Kanas, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Duke

[jbergey22]

My primary bracket really hopes that isn't foreshadowing ;)

(I've got five BE teams in the Elite Eight)

I have Syracuse, West Virginia, Georgetown. Who else do you have? Nova? and?

[JeeberD]

And now I'm glad I can't see the Coastal game...ugh

Sorry Thomkal, but...woohoo! Go CUSA!

[BishopMVP]

I hate the people that say anytime a big-conference team loses a game to a smaller conference one that they weren't "up for it" and didn't care.... but if there's one place in college sports that fits that bill, it's the NIT. (And possibly the CIT.) Go ahead and think that Seton Hall's 2nd best player punching an opponent in the nuts or UConn not getting up for Northeastern has any bearing on Syracuse or WV, but I sincerely doubt it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I have Syracuse, West Virginia, Georgetown. Who else do you have? Nova? and?

Pitt (along with Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke)

[jbergey22]

I hate the people that say anytime a big-conference team loses a game to a smaller conference one that they weren't "up for it" and didn't care.... but if there's one place in college sports that fits that bill, it's the NIT. (And possibly the CIT.) Go ahead and think that Seton Hall's 2nd best player punching an opponent in the nuts or UConn not getting up for Northeastern has any bearing on Syracuse or WV, but I sincerely doubt it.

Since there is very little to judge teams on outside of the conference you have to take all the resources you have available.

If you go through Syracuse who have they beat outside of conference games? I think the cuse is going to do fine but in a game in which I could flip a coin(Syracuse, Kansas State) I might as well take the information tonight and use it.

The same Seton Hall team that lost to Texas Tech by 15+ tonight has beaten Notre Dame, Pitt, and Louisville on their home floor.

The same Texas Tech team that beat Seton Hall on their home court got pounded by Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma State on the road. The games werent even close.

I dont think even Pope or not caring can make a 30+ point difference.

Texas Tech has also beaten UTEP and Washington. Since they finished 4-12(Big 12) perhaps the Big 12 is just loaded with good teams.

[B & B]

Ive been saying that Big 12 is underrated and Big East is overrated and getting shit on all year (reg season)

Going all the way up unto saying CUSE was overrated right up until the week they became #1. Then.........


I bet Lville ML to win outright.

I bet G'town to beat them in the tourney.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This means nothing (now, I got paid)

I know that.

Also, know that I watch more basketball than anyone in my yearly tournament pool of around 50. Most likely more than anyone in this forum. Still.

Havent won the bracket championship in over a decade.

[jbergey22]

I need to pay better attention to your comments. Any bets you like for the first round?

I like UTEP plus the points. I also like the Gophers. Anytime an 11 seed is favored over a 6 seed something fishy is going on.

[B & B]

I make more 2h bets than full game ones to see whats happening.


Really like ODU to win over ND, as long as its fairly officiated.

(Note: it will be fair or totally Irish sided)

[BishopMVP]

I dont think even Pope or not caring can make a 30+ point difference.Was it entirely losing Pope? No - Seton Hall also shot 5-26 from 3. Plus, sometimes shit happens in NCAA ball even when teams do care. Seton Hall beat Pitt then lost by 25 less than 2 weeks later. Texas Tech beat Ok St a month after losing by 29. I've watched less college bball this year than any I can remember, but I can guarantee a game between also-rans says nothing about which conference's top teams are better. If you're changing Final Four picks based off that, you had absolutely no conviction in the first place - but its the NCAA tournament. Pick a fair amount of chalk and then just names out of a hat - like B&B said, knowledge /=/ winning NCAA pools.

[jbergey22]

You are right. It is impossible to know how the top teams compare against each other based on conference results. You cant tell if Syracuse is better than Kansas State because they havent played the same teams.

What you can tell is who has played better competition as the results come in. The fact is the 9th,10th, and 11th best teams in the Big East all struggled tonight while the 10th best team in the Big 12 tonight dominated the 10th best team in the Big East on the road.

You can make a case that UConn wasnt up for todays game(doesnt make sense in my mind as they just got destroyed the last time out), Seton Hall had a guy kicked out or South Florida played a hot team. Its not simply these 3 events that sent the alarm bells ringing. If you watched any of the Big East tournament you would know it was the crazy. Three teams most of us considered threats to win it all lost their opening game. Lets just say that I think the Big East results in the postseason have been shocking. And there have been too many of them to simply ignore it.

[Butter]

What I hate is how this perpetuates the BCS schools are better crap. If UNC and UConn were put on the road, as they realistically should have been in the first round, they both lose last night. The home court advantage gave them both just enough push to win.

One of the MANY things I really hate about the "new" NIT selection process.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Interesting information I heard this morning about seeding. The NCAA selection committee was in contact with Mizzou regarding Justin Safford's injury this past weekend. I don't think it mattered all that much as far as where Mizzou would have been seeded before the injury (judging from the other B12 teams, Mizzou would have probably been a 7 instead of a 10, so they still would have faced a similar 2nd opponent if they won), but it does make a lot more sense why Coach Anderson dragged out the conversation of whether Safford would play in the NCAA tournament. On Monday, he clearly stated that Safford was out for the rest of the season while refusing to do that previous to the selection show.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What I hate is how this perpetuates the BCS schools are better crap. If UNC and UConn were put on the road, as they realistically should have been in the first round, they both lose last night. The home court advantage gave them both just enough push to win.

http://www.walkoffwalk.com/pics/bs-0401.gif

[Samdari]

If you go through Syracuse who have they beat outside of conference games?

UNC (a day after they beat Ohio St. handily) Cal, Florida, Memphis and Cornell.

At least some of those seemed impressive at the time.

It was good enough to give them the #3 non conference RPI.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

UNC (a day after they beat Ohio St. handily) Cal, Florida, Memphis and Cornell.

At least some of those seemed impressive at the time.

It was good enough to give them the #3 non conference RPI.

Interesting. I obviously need to look again at the resume of some of these Big East teams and go over my bracket.

[Samdari]

Interesting information I heard this morning about seeding. The NCAA selection committee was in contact with Mizzou regarding Justin Safford's injury this past weekend. I don't think it mattered all that much as far as where Mizzou would have been seeded before the injury (judging from the other B12 teams, Mizzou would have probably been a 7 instead of a 10, so they still would have faced a similar 2nd opponent if they won), but it does make a lot more sense why Coach Anderson dragged out the conversation of whether Safford would play in the NCAA tournament. On Monday, he clearly stated that Safford was out for the rest of the season while refusing to do that previous to the selection show.

I think Syracuse did this with Onuaku.

On Friday, they issed a sunny side up press release, that was vague as to the nature and duration of his injury, but that he was expected at practice on Monday. Sunday night, after the bracket was announced, Boeheim said that he was doubtful to practice all week, and for the weekend's games, and that their hope was he'd be ready for the second weekend.

[Marmel]

Final Coaches poll with how each coach voted week to week.

Top 25 coaches' poll: Every coach, every ballot from 2009-10 season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-mens-coaches-poll-database.htm)

Pretty cool to look at, but seriously, Fran McCaffrey should never be given another vote again.

[Lathum]

Final Coaches poll with how each coach voted week to week.

Top 25 coaches' poll: Every coach, every ballot from 2009-10 season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-mens-coaches-poll-database.htm)

Pretty cool to look at, but seriously, Fran McCaffrey should never be given another vote again.

I think the coaches poll is so stupid in both BB and FB. I bet 70% of us see more teams than the coaches do. They are focused on who is in front of them. How many times has McCaffrey seen New Mexico or Butler play?

[lynchjm24]

My primary bracket really hopes that isn't foreshadowing ;)

(I've got five BE teams in the Elite Eight)

Luckily for the BE teams in the NCAA, Seton Hall and UConn stink and aren't a reflection on their programs.

[jbergey22]

Luckily for the BE teams in the NCAA, Seton Hall and UConn stink and aren't a reflection on their programs.

The two teams you refer to as "stink" have beaten Pitt, West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame and Louisville this year.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

The two teams you refer to as "stink" have beaten Pitt, West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame and Louisville this year.

Which is why some are questioning how good those teams really are. But no need to speculate very long. We'll know a lot more by Sunday evening. That's the beauty of college basketball.

[Atocep]

Both teams were capable of beating anyone in the conference and both were capable of losing to anyone.

Seton Hall has serious issues in their program and it's shown in their inconsistent play. Bobby Gonzalez ended up benching their best player at one point because he got sick of his bullshit and as we saw last night Pope has his own issues. This was a team that was fully capable of imploding the way it did. I don't think it was a shock to any Big East fan.

UConn beat Texas, WVU, and Notre Dame. However, they also lost to Michigan, Providence, Saint John's, and Cincy twice. This was a poorly coached UConn team and Calhoun's time away from the team probably had a lot to do with it. They had lost 4 in a row heading into last night's game and looked awful against Saint John's in the BET.

[Radii]

North Carolina seems like a perfect team to win this. Not because of the juniors but because they will have a lot of returning starters and this would be a perfect building block for them to have a great season next year.

Assuming Ed Davis goes pro they'll only be returning 2 starters. Before Davis' injury they started Drew/Ginyard/Graves/Davis/Thompson. Henson and Zeller got more minutes when Davis went down so that probably helped.


Radii, is Drew coming back next year? People are speculating that he's gonna follow Alex back home and UCLA, USC, and Pepperdine are possible destinations

I don't read a much local rumor type stuff, but I do listen to a fair amount of local talk sports radio and I have never heard this discussed.

If Drew transferred UNC would only be returning one starter.

[Samdari]

Which is why some are questioning how good those teams really are. But no need to speculate very long. We'll know a lot more by Sunday evening. That's the beauty of college basketball.


Some people are conveniently forgetting the Big East running roughshod over the nonconference portion of the schedule.

[JeeberD]

Final Coaches poll with how each coach voted week to week.

Top 25 coaches' poll: Every coach, every ballot from 2009-10 season - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2010-mens-coaches-poll-database.htm)

Pretty cool to look at, but seriously, Fran McCaffrey should never be given another vote again.

What are you talking about? I LOVE the way that guy votes!

[jbergey22]

Some people are conveniently forgetting the Big East running roughshod over the nonconference portion of the schedule.

This is what I was just looking at actually(tourny teams games against top 9 seeds)
Syracuse
beat Cal 95-73

West Virginia
beat Texas A&M 73-66
beat Ohio State 71-65
Lost Purdue 62-77

Villanova
beat Maryland 95-86
lost Temple 65-75

Pitt
Lost Texas 62-78

Marquette
beat Xavier 71-61
Lost Florida St 56-57
Lost Wisconsin 63-72

Louisville
Lost UNLV 71-76
Lost Kentucky 62-71

Georgetown
beat Temple 46-45
beat Butler 72-65
beat Duke 89-77

Notre Dame
N/A

8-7 vs teams seeded 9th or higher.

[Thomkal]

Sorry Thomkal, but...woohoo! Go CUSA!

cheer all you want Jeebs, UAB certainly deserved to win that game. Coastal really needs to get more physical if they want to take it to the next level.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Some people are conveniently forgetting the Big East running roughshod over the nonconference portion of the schedule.

Just for the record, the Big 12 had the top record against the other power conferences (28-12) and the ACC is second (24-21). The Big East was third.

[BishopMVP]

The two teams you refer to as "stink" have beaten Pitt, West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame and Louisville this year.Nice - we can throw Kentucky and Duke out too since they lost to South Carolina and NC St respectively. Among top Big 12 teams Baylor's got losses to Alabama and Colorado and Kansas St lost to Iowa St last week. Shit happens, particularly if you're playing extremely talented headcases like SH and UConn are full of - exactly the type to pack it in during the NIT.

[jbergey22]

Nice - we can throw Kentucky and Duke out too since they lost to South Carolina and NC St respectively. Among top Big 12 teams Baylor's got losses to Alabama and Colorado and Kansas St lost to Iowa St last week. Shit happens, particularly if you're playing extremely talented headcases like SH and UConn are full of - exactly the type to pack it in during the NIT.

Relax

This is for people interested which obviousy you arent interested in comparing conferences. Basically it sounds like you dont agree Seton Hall and UConn stink so why are you giving me shit about it?

[Lathum]

I don't think you can use the transitive property when discussing college basketball. Just because team A beat team B and Team B beat team C it doesn't mean team A is better than C. When dealing with 18-20 year old kids there are a lot of other factors involved.

[Samdari]

8-6 vs teams seeded 9th or higher.

You do realize that is good, right ? Having a winning record vs teams that collectively won 75-80% of their games is not exactly easy.

The other would be best conference, the Big 12:
Kansas 2-1
K St. 2-0
T A&M 1-2
Baylor 1-0
Mizz 0-2
Texas 2-0
OK St. No games

The Big 12 was 8-5 in non-conference games against the top 9 seeds, not exactly a crushing margin. I don't have time to do all the conferences, but saying that a conference "only" has a 8-6 record against the best 36 teams in the country is misleading. It implies that somehow a power conference would have done much better, but that is simply not the case - the top 9 seeds are that because they won most of their games.

You also seem to be using the losses of the bottom 3 to extrapolate that the top 5 have no shot of going to the final four. Those 5 teams went 7-3 against top 9 seeds.

Also, why cut it off at 9? That seems to be some cherry picking (like I did above by exlcluding Marquette and Louisville). Make it the top 11 for example, and you get SU's win vs Florida and Texas A&M's loss to Washington, thus flipflopping the half game difference between the two.

[jbergey22]

You do realize that is good, right ? Having a winning record vs teams that collectively won 75-80% of their games is not exactly easy.



Yes I thought they did fairly well.

It basically told me what I figured out a lot from the BET.

Pitt, Marquette and Villanova are a tad overrated.

[jbergey22]

Also, why cut it off at 9? That seems to be some cherry picking (like I did above by exlcluding Marquette and Louisville). Make it the top 11 for example, and you get SU's win vs Florida and Texas A&M's loss to Washington, thus flipflopping the half game difference between the two.

I chose 9 because I figured them were the only teams realistically with a chance to beat them. I thought about going to 11 but it wouldnt have matter much. One team beat and 11 seed and lost to an 11 seed.

Georgetown lost to 11 seeded ODU.
I also forgot to include West Virginia's losing to Purdue.

[Chief Rum]

Just for the record, the Big 12 had the top record against the other power conferences (28-12) and the ACC is second (24-21). The Big East was third.

To be fair, a good amount of that nonconference schedule is the 10-game series with the Pac 10, and we sucked big time this year.

[JeeberD]

cheer all you want Jeebs, UAB certainly deserved to win that game. Coastal really needs to get more physical if they want to take it to the next level.

UAB is a very good team. We may have swept them, but if they had made one more basket each game, they would have swept us. I don't think there's any dishonor in losing to them...

[Samdari]

It basically told me ....

Villanova are a tad overrated.

Really? Two games out of 30, (really one, since I am assuming the win did not tell you they are overrated) told you all you needed to know about Villanova?

Not arguing for Villanova here, just surprised you would draw so much from that particular sample. If they had beaten Temple, would that have convinced you they were awesome.

[jbergey22]

Really? Two games out of 30, (really one, since I am assuming the win did not tell you they are overrated) told you all you needed to know about Villanova?

Not arguing for Villanova here, just surprised you would draw so much from that particular sample. If they had beaten Temple, would that have convinced you they were awesome.

You really want me to reply to something in which you took out a key piece of information from my quote?

It basically told me what I figured out a lot from the BET.

I've also seen nova play a few times this year and I thought their defense was very average and they depend too much on 1 player.

[Samdari]

You really want me to reply to something in which you took out a key piece of information from my quote?

It basically told me what I figured out a lot from the BET.

I've also seen nova play a few times this year and I thought their defense was very average and they depend too much on 1 player.

Villanova played 1 game in the BE tourney. That and the Temple loss tells you all you need to know about a team?

[sterlingice]

What are you talking about? I LOVE the way that guy votes!

I can see you saying this with a giant smile on your face :D

SI

[jbergey22]

Villanova played 1 game in the BE tourney. That and the Temple loss tells you all you need to know about a team?

What is your point exactly?

They are a 2 seed that has lost 5 of 7 games. They showed flaws in the Big East tournament and a loss to Temple in the non conference doesnt make things look any better.

I am not sure if you are arguing that Villanova is the team to beat or what?

[SportsDino]

I'll be watching my Spartans, with great trepidation.

MSU has been less than stellar at many points in the season, and always seems to fall flat in the big games, but the team has all the pieces (other than a dominating center perhaps) to crush just about anyone.

Biggest problem I keep seeing over and over is shooting, sometimes we just get on ugly shooting streaks where NOTHING will go in the damn hoop. Including point blank layups. Really distressing, particularly when the defense keeps making long stops and steals, but can't cash in unless its on the break.

I think ironically we'll beat Kansas only to lose to Georgetown/Ohio St.

Beating New Mexico State should be pretty solid, we chew up teams that think the game is all offense pretty consistently.

Maryland is a matchup that works in our favor, they are a good team but their weaknesses line up with our strengths.

Kansas is the crazy prediction I'll make, but we beat them last year and though the team is more dangerous I think we'll have a scheme that gives them fits.

However, if we do win that game I think we'll probably not have our heads in the right spot to win against the winner out of the other half of the regional. I'd prefer to face Georgetown, Ohio State is a terrible matchup for us, and I've seen little to give me hope from the game I did catch. Georgetown on the other hand is one of those teams we can knock out of their game and pull out the win.

All that said, this is a head case team this year... they could lose or win at any point and in any way.

[Logan]

Herb Pope of Seton Hall got ejected from their NIT game against Texas Tech for punching a Tech guy in the balls...twice, on alternating possessions.

That program is a complete fuckin mess.

Gonzalez fired. (http://www.nj.com/setonhall/index.ssf/2010/03/bobby_gonzalez_fired_by_seton.html)

[sterlingice]

I don't think you can use the transitive property when discussing college basketball. Just because team A beat team B and Team B beat team C it doesn't mean team A is better than C. When dealing with 18-20 year old kids there are a lot of other factors involved.

Man, I wish more people thought this way when talking college hoops. Again, it's one thing in college football where you have such a small sample size. But this is college basketball where everyone has blemishes on the record and it's about who is best built to handle the most different types of teams and situations.

(It's actually what "survival of the fittest" is truly about and not the twisted, warped version people believe today. It's not about the strongest and the biggest, but the most versatile. It's about the creature that's can withstand the most situations that it gets through. It's not, say, the tallest giraffes that can reach the tallest leaves because how often do you run across a tree that only the tallest giraffe can reach but the second tallest can't and thus dies? It's the one that is tall enough to eat from most trees, can withstand, say, a flash flood, is not necessarily the fastest but is faster than the slowest giraffe so it doesn't get eaten by predators, etc)

SI

[jbergey22]

Man, I wish more people thought this way when talking college hoops. Again, it's one thing in college football where you have such a small sample size. But this is college basketball where everyone has blemishes on the record and it's about who is best built to handle the most different types of teams and situations.

(It's actually what "survival of the fittest" is truly about and not the twisted, warped version people believe today. It's not about the strongest and the biggest, but the most versatile. It's about the creature that's can withstand the most situations that it gets through. It's not, say, the tallest giraffes that can reach the tallest leaves because how often do you run across a tree that only the tallest giraffe can reach but the second tallest can't and thus dies? It's the one that is tall enough to eat from most trees, can withstand, say, a flash flood, is not necessarily the fastest but is faster than the slowest giraffe so it doesn't get eaten by predators, etc)

SI

Indeed! Figuring out how the conferences compare is a huge part of solving this equation.

[JPhillips]

Flood proof giraffes?

[BishopMVP]

This is for people interested which obviousy you arent interested in comparing conferences. Basically it sounds like you dont agree Seton Hall and UConn stink so why are you giving me shit about it?Seton Hall and UConn have talent, but UConn obviously quit at the end of the season and Seton Hall was so dysfunctional that their most prominent player cock-punching an opponent twice wasn't an aberration, but a pattern of behavior that got the coach fired. The entire point is that Seton Hall's loss to Texas Tech has no more relevance to the comparison of B12 tournament teams to BE tournament teams than UConn's win over Texas did. Seton Hall's big wins were over ND (an over seeded 6 thats 50th in RPI) Louisville (a team no one has going Elite 8, 37th in RPI) and Pitt (not even close to Pitt's worst loss). They lost all their games to Syracuse, Nova, Marquette and WV (and the rematch vs. ND).

[sterlingice]

Flood proof giraffes?

Sorry, I don't really know my giraffe habitats so it's possible they never have to worry about such a thing. But the metaphor was working so good up to that point ;)

So to bring this all back, uh, a flood proof giraffe is like, um, uh, BYU! Yeah, that's it. They live in the desert and are tall and pale? :D

SI

[Dr. Sak]

Yeah Pitt's worse loss has to be to Indiana.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

In case anyone wants them, good location for tourney coverage maps for those of you that don't get more than one channel during the tourney (Thank you Time Warner).

Nothing found for News 2010 Cbs-ncaa-tournament-coverage-map-central #Friday (http://www.hdsportsguide.com/news/2010/cbs-ncaa-tournament-coverage-map-central/#Friday)

[jbergey22]

Im not disagreeing with you all that much.

Didnt UConn beating Texas kind of foreshadow the end of the season for Texas though?

I agree you cant gain much information from one game but you take information from a lot of different games and gain information.

Texas Tech beating Seton Hall does not mean every team in the Big East is overated but it could mean(combined with other knowledge) that the Big 12 has played tougher competition than the Big East. This is all I am trying to figure out. The Big East lost a lot of great players from last year however it had seemed like they were still doing fine this year. I am simply trying to figure out in my own head if the Big East is as strong as people seem to think.

[Samdari]

Louisville (a team no one has going Elite 8,

Again, what people will come up with for evidence when trying to justify their preconceived notions is amazing.

Nobody picking Louisville to the elite 8 is not a piece of data. Noone picks any of the 8/9's to the elite 8, primarily because most people pick the 1's to win brackets.

Which of the 8/9 seeds are people commonly picking to the elite eight?

[dacman]

I always have 2-4 teams seeded 8-12 making deep runs in my picks.

This year I have Louisville in the Final Four. So do 1.6% of Yahoo brackets.

[panerd]

I always have 2-4 teams seeded 8-12 making deep runs in my picks.

This year I have Louisville in the Final Four. So do 1.6% of Yahoo brackets.

Honest question... Do you win very often? It seems like it's always 1's and 2's in the final four. And in the years where George Mason makes it it doesn't seem possible any non-alumni would have them going that far.

[dacman]

Not usually, but people who pick too much chalk don't usually either unless its one of those rare tournaments that is mostly chalk. If you pick the right winner, having an upset or two picked correctly makes a huge difference. In the end, it's really more for fun / water cooler talk / bragging rights than anything. I did have GMU in the sweet sixteen that year (see it's started already!).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Rumors coming out of Connecticut that Calhoun will step down at the end of the season and that Mark Turgeon is the primary target and will be offered a very lucrative offer.

[Samdari]

Rumors coming out of Connecticut that Calhoun will step down at the end of the season and that Mark Turgeon is the primary target and will be offered a very lucrative offer.

This is after he signed an extension, and very loudly, publicly announced he was returning on Friday?

[molson]

Not usually, but people who pick too much chalk don't usually either unless its one of those rare tournaments that is mostly chalk. If you pick the right winner, having an upset or two picked correctly makes a huge difference. In the end, it's really more for fun / water cooler talk / bragging rights than anything. I did have GMU in the sweet sixteen that year (see it's started already!).

It depends on the size of the pool. If the pool is small, picking the higher seeded team in every matchup (I refuse to say "chalk") gives you a decent chance to win. If you get cute and pick some upsets, odds are that you'll miss that upset, and miss another upset that actually happens.

Of course, if you submit a bracket to ESPN.com, you might as well be wacky, because the only way to win is basically to have a perfect bracket.

I wish there were more pools out there that rewarded picking upsets. Something like getting 1 point for picking a #1 seed, 16 points for picking a #16 seed, etc. I don't know how the math holds up if you did the rest of the pool like that (or if it would ever make sense to pick the favorite in that setup), but it's a start

But ya, regardless of the size of the pool, you have to pick some upsets, because reminding everyone that you picked GMU to get far is way more fun that actually winnning.

[molson]

This is after he signed an extension, and very loudly, publicly announced he was returning on Friday?

The rate at which this board gets its college coaching/conference movement rumors correct is somewhere right around 0% (give or take 1%)

[Lathum]

Honest question... Do you win very often? It seems like it's always 1's and 2's in the final four. And in the years where George Mason makes it it doesn't seem possible any non-alumni would have them going that far.

Colin Cowherd puts it perfectly when he says he picks the chalk every year, they are the chalk for a reason

[JonInMiddleGA]

The rate at which this board gets its college coaching/conference movement rumors correct is somewhere right around 0% (give or take 1%)

I'm betting that Seton Hall will have a new coach before next season.
You heard it here first.


;)

[Lathum]

Man, I wish more people thought this way when talking college hoops. Again, it's one thing in college football where you have such a small sample size. But this is college basketball where everyone has blemishes on the record and it's about who is best built to handle the most different types of teams and situations.

(It's actually what "survival of the fittest" is truly about and not the twisted, warped version people believe today. It's not about the strongest and the biggest, but the most versatile. It's about the creature that's can withstand the most situations that it gets through. It's not, say, the tallest giraffes that can reach the tallest leaves because how often do you run across a tree that only the tallest giraffe can reach but the second tallest can't and thus dies? It's the one that is tall enough to eat from most trees, can withstand, say, a flash flood, is not necessarily the fastest but is faster than the slowest giraffe so it doesn't get eaten by predators, etc)

SI

I would have gone with the tallest giraffe would not be the most optimal because it can be spotted easily by predators, but point well taken.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

This is after he signed an extension, and very loudly, publicly announced he was returning on Friday?

I had heard that health may still be a consideration and that nothing is firm. I'm not sure the extension confirms anything.

[Samdari]

I had heard that health may still be a consideration and that nothing is firm. I'm not sure the extension confirms anything.


Its not just the extension, its the accompanying press release from Calhoun that says in no uncertain terms he expects to be back for next year and beyond. It is quite strongly worded. What is the point of issuing that weeks before you resign but months before next signing day? Any recruits you bamboozle now will be gone once you leave, and any you sign in the spring will be allowed to go elsewhere, a la the Memphis class.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Its not just the extension, its the accompanying press release from Calhoun that says in no uncertain terms he expects to be back for next year and beyond. It is quite strongly worded. What is the point of issuing that weeks before you resign but months before next signing day?

Y'know, there is always the possibility that doctors give someone new information that causes a change in plans. Or family members for that matter.

I hope none of that isn't the case but that was actually what came to my mind first, not any sort of recruiting related subterfuge.

[Matthean]

I'll be watching my Spartans, with great trepidation.

If not for Izzo, they would have been my lock of a pick for the 5-12 upset. Local Lansing paper said it's a team that even the fans know how flawed it is. I just don't see an Izzo team being knocked out of the first round when this team has talent. I think they are the type of team that you either believe in, or you don't and that is summed up by picking them to win the 5-12 matchup, or not. If Kansas wasn't there as a Sweet 16 matchup, I think they start to make waves, but I think Kansas will be too tough of an out for them.

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[Logan]

Y'know, there is always the possibility that doctors give someone new information that causes a change in plans. Or family members for that matter.

I hope none of that isn't the case but that was actually what came to my mind first, not any sort of recruiting related subterfuge.

Yes, but it also came along with him bitching about how his health was being used against him in recruiting (which to me is valid when the coach has legit issues and has missed a good amount of time, comparitively) and he had heard from a bunch of players that they were no longer considering UConn because of the uncertainty over his future.

Sounds like the truth hurt.

[wade moore]

Turnovers late are killing W&M and some bad 3-point shots..

Ah, well.


Yup, we played our game well for the most part, but the pressure got to us with 2 starters out (one missed the entire game, which when I saw our 2nd best player was out I knew we were in trouble, the other fouled out). If Kitts is in there instead of Hess, the killer late turnover probably doesn't happen.

That being said, I think anyone that watched the game knows our team belonged there. No big messages to take out of the game as far as overrated/underrated/whatever - two teams played well and duked it out, UNC won.

That ended up working out really well for the NIT. Fun game to watch in Carmichael with the throw-back unis on UNC. Looked like the atmosphere even gave UNC a little desire to play.

Sorry to wade, bu hopefully you had a good time. It seemed like a great game to witness.

It was a GREAT game to watch. My wife and I left the game saying exactly that. It sucked to lose, but it was an amazing sporting experience. In a weird way, the UNC crowd seemed to feed off of the small, but energized W&M crowd. It definitely wasn't what I hear of UNC crowds being - they were very into it, vocal, etc, etc. One of my top live sporting experiences, probably my top in which "my team" lost.

[Wolfpack]

It was a GREAT game to watch. My wife and I left the game saying exactly that. It sucked to lose, but it was an amazing sporting experience. In a weird way, the UNC crowd seemed to feed off of the small, but energized W&M crowd. It definitely wasn't what I hear of UNC crowds being - they were very into it, vocal, etc, etc. One of my top live sporting experiences, probably my top in which "my team" lost.

Most likely because it was in Carmichael and therefore the wine-and-cheesers were not nearly as prevalent in the crowd. It's very noticeable when they play at the Smith Center unless they're up for a really big team like Duke. I remember several years ago when UNC was playing Maryland the night after the big snowstorm hit the area (2000, I just looked up). The inability for most of the big wheels to get into Chapel Hill for the game resulted in the arena staff letting anybody who could get there sit wherever they liked. This resulted in the students getting most of the courtside seats. The Heels fed off the crowd to rally from a huge deficit to win. It actually motivated some gradual shifting of seats in the Smith Center to getting better seats for students, though still nothing on the order of what the students get at State, Duke, and Maryland.

One of the few things that NC State has gotten right compared to UNC over the years is that when they moved into the RBC Center, they kept the courtside seats for the students. It actually works out well since the courtside seats in the RBC Center are the temporary ones removed for hockey, so the major donors still get their good seats a few rows up (above the wall where the rink would be located) and not have to worry about students blocking much of the view.

[sterlingice]

If not for Izzo, they would have been my lock of a pick for the 5-12 upset. Local Lansing paper said it's a team that even the fans know how flawed it is. I just don't see an Izzo team being knocked out of the first round when this team has talent. I think they are the type of team that you either believe in, or you don't and that is summed up by picking them to win the 5-12 matchup, or not. If Kansas wasn't there as a Sweet 16 matchup, I think they start to make waves, but I think Kansas will be too tough of an out for them.

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I hope you're right because Kansas is a bit worried about Michigan State looming there for us in the Sweet 16 precisely because of Izzo. If you can take all aspects of the college coaching that don't include recruiting, he's the best in the business and it may not even be close. His teams always play above their talent level, are always prepared, and is a good gameday coach. Of course, recruiting is part of the total coaching package in college and he's not on the level of some of the elite recruiters but he's one hell of a coach.

SI

[sterlingice]

Every year it seems I have about 5 games I'd like a crystal ball for because I think they will have a couple of round implications.

Marquette-Washington: Here's a pretty simple one to get us started. The winner beats New Mexico to get to the Sweet 16. Tho they almost certainly have the pleasure of then losing the next game to West Virginia.

Kansas State-BYU: This assumes BYU gets past Florida and KSU over North Texas, but I think both are a fairly reasonable bet. I think whoever wins that game also wins the next one, be it against Pitt, Xavier, or even Minnesota. I think either team even has a chance against Syracuse to make it to the Final Four.

Richmond-St Mary's: Two excellent squads and I think the winner has a really legit chance of knocking off Villanova. But, just like everything in the region, this is a mess and I think whoever loses to Baylor but I don't have much confidence in that pick either. Hell, if there was anything of substance in the entire South, I'd have them knocking off Duke. But as that doesn't appear to be the case, I reluctantly have to put the Blue Devils to Indy.

Kentucky-Wisconsin: I don't like Kentucky as they're just too young to me but I'm just not that excited about Wisconsin, either. But, man, do the computers love the Badgers and I don't understand why. The winner of this game has the "pleasure" of facing WVU and that three team, two game "playoff" will determine who beats Duke (or whatever filth comes from the South) and gets to the national title game.

I guess it's just 4 this year but, again, if I had those answers, I would feel really confident about my bracket.

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

4 hours to go........

****mouth watering****

[sterlingice]

I can't wait :D

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

***trumpet fanfare sounds***

***camera pans up to desk***

"Hi, I'm Greg Gumbel. Welcome to the 2010 NCAA Basketball Championship coverage on CBS."

***MBBF giggles like a school girl***

[henry296]

For the first time, I have the March Madness package on DirecTV, so I can watch all of the games.

[sterlingice]

"It is our Xth year of broadcasting the tournament here on CBS. (Now about a million commercials and then we'll get you to the first games)"

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

"It is our Xth year of broadcasting the tournament here on CBS. (Now about a million commercials and then we'll get you to the first games)"

SI

I like the part where they send the telecast to the first game starting at that time bracket followed by the caviat that those fans waiting for Game B, C and D will be switched over to their games before tip-off. I can just see some Lehigh fan this afternoon screaming "We don't get to watch the Lehigh game?!?!?!" and missing his footnote.

[lynchjm24]

The two teams you refer to as "stink" have beaten Pitt, West Virginia, Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame and Louisville this year.

Yeah Seton Hall has already fired their coach and UConn was lucky to survive Northeastern at home. You are right, they are SO GOOD.

[MacroGuru]

Kansas State-BYU: This assumes BYU gets past Florida and KSU over North Texas, but I think both are a fairly reasonable bet. I think whoever wins that game also wins the next one, be it against Pitt, Xavier, or even Minnesota. I think either team even has a chance against Syracuse to make it to the Final Four.


I am a BYU homer and to hear everyone hand the Florida game to BYU scares me...In fact, I do not have a lot of faith in them to win the 1st round game. If they do win, I see them beating K-State due to playing the same type of ball and the confidence builder needed from that first win, but then lose the next game.

[jbergey22]

Yeah Seton Hall has already fired their coach and UConn was lucky to survive Northeastern at home. You are right, they are SO GOOD.

Did I ever say they were "SO GOOD?" or did I miss what I wrote?

[jbergey22]

I like the part where they send the telecast to the first game starting at that time bracket followed by the caviat that those fans waiting for Game B, C and D will be switched over to their games before tip-off. I can just see some Lehigh fan this afternoon screaming "We don't get to watch the Lehigh game?!?!?!" and missing his footnote.

When do Mizzou/Clemson play? I'm excited to watch this style of game?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

When do Mizzou/Clemson play? I'm excited to watch this style of game?

Tomorrow afternoon in the 2nd set of games.

[jbergey22]

I am a BYU homer and to hear everyone hand the Florida game to BYU scares me...In fact, I do not have a lot of faith in them to win the 1st round game. If they do win, I see them beating K-State due to playing the same type of ball and the confidence builder needed from that first win, but then lose the next game.

You arent giving your team enough credit. Id have them going a lot further if it wasnt for a 2nd round game. Ken Pomeroy loves them.

http://kenpom.com/rate.php

[jbergey22]

Tomorrow afternoon in the 2nd set of games.

Thank you!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Today's games are now posted for selection in the online viewer. Might want to bring up that viewer now rather than later. The server to load the viewer gets hammered at game time.

It's nice that they don't have those silly line queues this year. Must have added enough servers to handle the load.

Two hours to go!

[JonInMiddleGA]

My son gets screwed over by a 10p start time for Tennessee on a school night.

[SportsDino]

Izzo is a great coach, just a question of whether he can connect with this team (I think they are suffering from a giant case of big head after last year). The first two games are good matchups so I think there is a chance for momentum heading into Kansas. Also it will be the first game of the weekend, so we'll probably come out with that ugly Big Ten basketball everyone hates, but potentially knocks teams out of their rhythm (see UConn and Kansas last year).

Kansas can put a stop to that though if they come out like UNC did last year. Come out as if the game is on the line, dominate the first ten minutes with your star power, and then run your starters back onto the court if State starts to make a run to get back in it. Don't get down early, cause coming back against State usually means the Spartans getting soft... if they are on their game the defense tends to take a lot of energy to overcome.

All this can be moot though, best to just throw the ball up and see what happens!

[jbergey22]

Izzo is a great coach, just a question of whether he can connect with this team (I think they are suffering from a giant case of big head after last year). The first two games are good matchups so I think there is a chance for momentum heading into Kansas. Also it will be the first game of the weekend, so we'll probably come out with that ugly Big Ten basketball everyone hates, but potentially knocks teams out of their rhythm (see UConn and Kansas last year).

Kansas can put a stop to that though if they come out like UNC did last year. Come out as if the game is on the line, dominate the first ten minutes with your star power, and then run your starters back onto the court if State starts to make a run to get back in it. Don't get down early, cause coming back against State usually means the Spartans getting soft... if they are on their game the defense tends to take a lot of energy to overcome.

All this can be moot though, best to just throw the ball up and see what happens!

They seem like they depend on Lucas too much and dont have much of a mid-range threat like they had last year. Lucious hasnt stepped his game up like I would have expected either. Like has been mentioned though they are coached by Izzo and it seems like he is as good as anyone at getting his team prepared around tourny time. Maryland is probably the perfect team to play in the 2nd round for them. They seem to feed off of finesse teams around tourny time.

[wade moore]

Argh - ODU is an early game. I'll have to try to stream from work, but it's somewhat frowned upon.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

My couple of thoughts before the tourney starts about the team I love and the team I hate.........

-I'd like to think that Mizzou has the better coach in the Clemson/Mizzou matchup and that will be the difference. I honestly also believe that Clemson is the tougher of the two matchups this weekend for Mizzou. IF Mizzou can advance past Clemson, I think we have a very good chance of beating West Virginia. WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.

-Anyone who doesn't pick KU as national champions is a fool. Yes, you heard that from a Mizzou fan. They are the best team by a good size margin. People often talk about Collins and Aldrich when they talk about how good Kansas is. What really makes KU good is their quality of depth. Henry and Taylor would be leading scorers at most any other program. The Morris twins are extremely gifted when they put their mind to it. Morningstar and Reed will make you pay every time you double down on Aldrich by knocking home a wide open three pointer. I hope and pray that KU doesn't win a national championship. But they should be your top dog in every bracket you create.

[Lathum]

There are some really amusing prop bets on BoDog right now, some surrounding Obamas picks.

Really excited for today, I don't blame people for not giving Udub much of a shot based on their entire body of work, but we have been playing with a different sense of urgency the past few weeks and athletically stack up against just about anybody.

[Atocep]

WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.


I really don't think 5 games in 10 days is a big deal when you've had 5 days rest in the middle of it.

[Lathum]

My couple of thoughts before the tourney starts about the team I love and the team I hate.........

-I'd like to think that Mizzou has the better coach in the Clemson/Mizzou matchup and that will be the difference. I honestly also believe that Clemson is the tougher of the two matchups this weekend for Mizzou. IF Mizzou can advance past Clemson, I think we have a very good chance of beating West Virginia. WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.


I totally disagree with you. Not because I am some expert on Mizzou, but because of the reasons you give.

1. WVU is pretty certain they will beat Morgan St and have probably done a considerable amount of film work and game planning for the Mizzou/Clemson style.

2. They had a 5 day layoff between now and the Big East final, plus, odds are WVU wins easily and rests guys in the second half while the Mizzo-Clemson game will likely be a 40 minute affair.

3. With regards to the amount of games played, these are 18-21 year old kids, they aren't broken down 33 year old pros at the end of a 72 game season, physically WVU will be just fine.

[DataKing]

Shame I have to work today, but at least I was able to take tomorrow off. :D

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I totally disagree with you. Not because I am some expert on Mizzou, but because of the reasons you give.

1. WVU is pretty certain they will beat Morgan St and have probably done a considerable amount of film work and game planning for the Mizzou/Clemson style.

2. They had a 5 day layoff between now and the Big East final, plus, odds are WVU wins easily and rests guys in the second half while the Mizzo-Clemson game will likely be a 40 minute affair.

3. With regards to the amount of games played, these are 18-21 year old kids, they aren't broken down 33 year old pros at the end of a 72 game season, physically WVU will be just fine.

1. I'll agree to some extent, though other than the fact that they pressure, there's not a lot of similarities in how the pressure is run. MU runs it much differently than Clemson and both coaches will tell you exactly that.

2. I think you're underestimating Morgan State. I don't see that game as that big of a blowout.

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.

We're obviously getting way ahead of ourselves here as Mizzou has to take care of business first, but it's definitely an intriguing matchup if it happens.

[lynchjm24]

Did I ever say they were "SO GOOD?" or did I miss what I wrote?

You listed a bunch of teams that they beat and said they don't stink. They stink, they stink to high heaven. Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach. Teams that don't stink don't end their season by losing to ND without Harangody, USF and St. John's by 25.

You want to defend Seton Hall and say they don't stink... ok. UConn is a horrible basketball team who's play by play announcer said 9 days ago that it was 'the low point in 20 years of Connecticut basketball'. I was there, stink isn't a strong enough word to describe that team.

[Lathum]

ESPN really needs these games to start. Their coverage has deluded into something you would see on local access television. Watching ESPNU the past 2 days is like watching Weird Al in UHF.

[Atocep]

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.


Mizzou's pace is 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Syracuse 69.7, Villanova 71.6, and Providence 71.8.

[Swaggs]

I have no concerns that WVU will suffer from fatigue by potentially playing two games in three days. We won the Big East tournament, against a really good/competitive field, and also won the 76 Classic that featured teams like Butler, Texas ATM, and Minnesota. We play 11 to 12 deep.

Actually, the more I think about this pod of games in Buffalo, the more I like our chances with the matchups. Traditionally, Big East teams suffer when the refs call tight games. I think that, if the refs call a tight game, it will affect the winner of Mizzou/Clemson just as much or more than it would WVU. I also think Mizzou, should we met up, will have a tough time scoring against us due to our size/length, the fact that they will most likely have a physical/uptempo game, and they will have less recovery time. Hopefully, we have an easy time with Morgan State and Clemson/Mizzou play into overtime. :)

[jbergey22]

You listed a bunch of teams that they beat and said they don't stink. They stink, they stink to high heaven. Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach. Teams that don't stink don't end their season by losing to ND without Harangody, USF and St. John's by 25.

You want to defend Seton Hall and say they don't stink... ok. UConn is a horrible basketball team who's play by play announcer said 9 days ago that it was 'the low point in 20 years of Connecticut basketball'. I was there, stink isn't a strong enough word to describe that team.

You should probably catch up on the rest of the thread. I dont believe I was ever defending Seton Hall or UConn. I believe the whole point of my posts was that it appears the Big East may be a bit overvalued this year.

[lynchjm24]

You should probably catch up on the rest of the thread. I dont believe I was ever defending Seton Hall or UConn. I believe the whole point of my posts was that it appears the Big East may be a bit overvalued this year.

Well then you are right. Except I look and I'm not sure who is any better....

[Swaggs]

1. I'll agree to some extent, though other than the fact that they pressure, there's not a lot of similarities in how the pressure is run. MU runs it much differently than Clemson and both coaches will tell you exactly that.

2. I think you're underestimating Morgan State. I don't see that game as that big of a blowout.

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.

We're obviously getting way ahead of ourselves here as Mizzou has to take care of business first, but it's definitely an intriguing matchup if it happens.

I don't think Huggins will be surprised by anything that Anderson does (and vice versa), they have played against each other, in conference, for five seasons (four while Huggins was at UC and Anderson at UAB, and another one while both "rookies" in the Big 12).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Mizzou's pace is 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Syracuse 69.7, Villanova 71.6, and Providence 71.8.

There's a big difference between walking the ball up the court every possession and forcing your way through a press and extended half court defenses.

[jbergey22]

Well then you are right. Except I look and I'm not sure who is any better....

Big 12 has very good conference comparisons. They are 1st in head to head vs other Big conferences and 2nd in conference computer rankings to the ACC who has less teams.

[Atocep]

There's a big difference between walking the ball up the court every possession and forcing your way through a press and extended half court defenses.

And I quickly remember why it's impossible to actually have any sort of discussion with you.

[lynchjm24]

Big 12 has very good conference comparisons. They are 1st in head to head vs other Big conferences and 2nd in conference computer rankings to the ACC who has less teams.

And I think Kansas is by far and away the best team, and like Baylor and Kansas State as well. The computer conference rankings really get thrown off by DePaul and Rutgers when you are comparing the Big East to others. DePaul is so bad that in past seasons when you remove them the Big East leaps way up.

There is just no way in the world that the ACC is the best conference. Georgia Tech and NC State as a semifinal in their tourney was an abomination. Terribly played and terribly coached by even the standards of the ACC over the past 5 years. They look good in the computers because they lack a Colorado or Rutgers or Oklahoma, but does anyone really expect anything this weekend from Clemson or Tech or Wake?

[Passacaglia]

I'm not sure if possessions per 40 minutes is really the best way to measure that kind of thing. Doesn't that pretty much just tell you how long the team takes until they get a shot off? I think to judge the effect on stamina, you'd have to figure out if the players are running around a lot, or just standing around waiting to set something up -- in fact, I'd expect a team that's trying to wear out the opposition to hold on to the ball longer and make the defense chase them around for a while.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I don't think Huggins will be surprised by anything that Anderson does (and vice versa), they have played against each other, in conference, for five seasons (four while Huggins was at UC and Anderson at UAB, and another one while both "rookies" in the Big 12).

Actually, I believe they only coached against each other for three years in CUSA before UC moved right before Anderson's final year at UAB. Huggins record against Anderson is 3-2 with the home team winning every single matchup. They've never met on a neutral court.

[jbergey22]

I'm not sure if possessions per 40 minutes is really the best way to measure that kind of thing. Doesn't that pretty much just tell you how long the team takes until they get a shot off? I think to judge the effect on stamina, you'd have to figure out if the players are running around a lot, or just standing around waiting to set something up -- in fact, I'd expect a team that's trying to wear out the opposition to hold on to the ball longer and make the defense chase them around for a while.

Shots+(FTs/2)+TO's is basically the equation.

Id agree that possessions against Mizzou is different then possessions against Providence but I still dont think a bunch of kids are going to be tired after a 3-4 day break. Just watching the tourny's last week it appeared the teams playing back to backs had better records than the teams with days off.

[Samdari]

Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach.


They fired him because he was an &*(^&&, not because of his record. The team had shown steady improvement in his 4 years.

Funny, they fired him for his boorish attitude, the character issues of the players, plus they want someone who gets to the tournament every so often. Sounds like the guy they want is Louis Orr!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Here we go!!!!!!!! Time for some basketball!!!!!!!

[panerd]

And I quickly remember why it's impossible to actually have any sort of discussion with you.


Yeah, it's a little much at times and even though I love Mizzou it is still way over the top. Do I hope we will give WVU a game?(if we beat Clemson) Yes. Does the evidence show that we can handle a team with tall and talented players? No.

[Swaggs]

Actually, I believe they only coached against each other for three years in CUSA before UC moved right before Anderson's final year at UAB. Huggins record against Anderson is 3-2 with the home team winning every single matchup. They've never met on a neutral court.

Huggins never had the opportunity to coach UC in the Big East -- he was dismissed prior to their first game. After checking, they were actually only in CUSA for three seasons ('02/'03 -- '04/0'5) and then again in the Big 12 in '06/'07. I'm not sure on their records against one another, but I'm sure that they are each familiar with one another's systems (though probably not with the caliber of talent they currently have).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Reynolds and Fisher will not start for Villanova, but will play. No word on what they did.

[Swaggs]

Scary fact (found after checking Huggins' history on wiki): Huggins has 666 wins entering the tournament.

[wade moore]

I grabbed the $10 MMOD app for the iPod.

It's pretty sweet.

GO ODU!

[sterlingice]

-Anyone who doesn't pick KU as national champions is a fool. Yes, you heard that from a Mizzou fan. They are the best team by a good size margin. People often talk about Collins and Aldrich when they talk about how good Kansas is. What really makes KU good is their quality of depth. Henry and Taylor would be leading scorers at most any other program. The Morris twins are extremely gifted when they put their mind to it. Morningstar and Reed will make you pay every time you double down on Aldrich by knocking home a wide open three pointer. I hope and pray that KU doesn't win a national championship. But they should be your top dog in every bracket you create.

You're just doing this to screw us, aren't you?

It doesn't work if you're doing it intentionally. It's like the guy who pulls some prediction out of his ass and it happens. When he follows it up with something like "Oh, and I'd like strippers to deliver me a million dollar", it doesn't happen, does it?

I think of all the teams in the tourney, we have the best chance. However, if you're giving me Kansas or the field for a bet, I'll take the field every time.

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

I took KU in my bracket. Over...'Nova I think, IIRC.

[MacroGuru]

Stupid CBS...teasing me with BYU then moving to the RM/Nova game...now I have to watch the game streaming on the computer.

[sterlingice]

Scary fact (found after checking Huggins' history on wiki): Huggins has 666 wins entering the tournament.

I know some K-State fans who would think this is apt.

SI

[lynchjm24]

They fired him because he was an &*(^&&, not because of his record. The team had shown steady improvement in his 4 years.

Funny, they fired him for his boorish attitude, the character issues of the players, plus they want someone who gets to the tournament every so often. Sounds like the guy they want is Louis Orr!

Had he been playing today and not Tuesday they wouldn't have fired him, if they really cared about his personality they never would have hired him in the first place.

Abraham is a very good player at RMU, I saw him in person earlier this year and he is excellent.

[Lathum]

Harrongody with 2 early fouls

[whomario]

Shots+(FTs/2)+TO's is basically the equation.

Id agree that possessions against Mizzou is different then possessions against Providence but I still dont think a bunch of kids are going to be tired after a 3-4 day break. Just watching the tourny's last week it appeared the teams playing back to backs had better records than the teams with days off.

I don´t think it´s a matter of stamina, but of being mentally fresh and able to execute under pressure and staying with a game plan. It´s one thing preparing for a pressing defense, another to actually execute come game time, yet anotherto beat it often enough to stay in the game 30 minutes in and then there comes the point where you start to grow tired of having to run hard with the ball after being pushed to the sideline or come to deliver help for a teammate in the backcourt or make the Xth "simple" pass to get the ball up court methodically.
At some point a lot of teams give in and force the issue. As said, i wouldn´t say that is or isn´t the case with WVU as i haven´t seen them play.

Not going to comment on the teams in question, just thought i´d chime in with that ;)

Hate Gonzaga´s first round matchup, Florida State have a lot of length up front which might spell trouble for Gonzaga´s front court and especially Harris who propably isn´t used to using his quickness after playing 6´7 PFs most of the games ... (plus his perimeter skills aren´t earth shattering anyway, pretty good but not brilliant really) .

Can´t wait to get off work and get home (propably in another half hour), hope the March madness on demand option works ...

[sterlingice]

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

[spleen1015]

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

This is what I have going on right now!

[sterlingice]

Nice run there in BYU!

SI

[wade moore]

Weird how ODU is the more physical team in this game. ND is leading based on 3-point shots while ODU is owning them inside on offense.

[sterlingice]

That's ODU, tho. They have big conference size but not quite skill.

SI

[Lathum]

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

I have a similar set up. My wife thinks I am crazy but she is a woman which means she is stupid.

[muns]

That's ODU, tho. They have big conference size but not quite skill.

SI

ODU staying in zone is just a bad move IMO. No problems with switching it up to keep Dotre Dame on its toes but sticking with it is going to burn them I think.

[jbergey22]

And we have nova in early trouble.

[Samdari]

And we have nova in early trouble.

We???

Yeah, looks like Robert Morris is serious.

[timmynausea]

And we have nova in early trouble.

Pretty sure I jinxed them by picking two Nova guys for my Top Gun team.

[sterlingice]

I have a similar set up. My wife thinks I am crazy but she is a woman which means she is stupid.

Mine just claims to be an NCAA Tourney widow

SI

[jbergey22]

We???



I should have phrased that different.

nova is in early trouble.

[Samdari]

And we have nova in early trouble.

What early foul trouble? They have 4 team fouls with 4 minutes left in the first. RMU has 10.

For Nova, "foul trouble" starts and ends with Reynolds. Everyone else is a part they have a replacement for.

[DataKing]

nova is in early trouble.

Underdogs leading in the first half is no big deal. Happens over and over again in the first round, until the favorites decide they need to stop screwing around because the underdog actually has some talent. If an underdog is in the lead or tied with 10 minutes to play, that's when my attention is earned.

[jbergey22]

What early foul trouble? They have 4 team fouls with 4 minutes left in the first. RMU has 10.

For Nova, "foul trouble" starts and ends with Reynolds. Everyone else is a part they have a replacement for.



Trouble=Down early to a 15th seed. Give a 15 seed confidence and they will be in a game later. Nothing more to my statement.

[Samdari]

I should have phrased that different.

nova is in early trouble.

I was asking about the "we" - did you go to RMU?

[jbergey22]

I was asking about the "we" - did you go to RMU?

Nope, I was just generalizing meaning we as the people in the thread. I realized after I said it not everyone may be rooting for the underdog.

[wade moore]

ODU staying in zone is just a bad move IMO. No problems with switching it up to keep Dotre Dame on its toes but sticking with it is going to burn them I think.
Zone is what has gotten them here though. I bet they'll make some adjustments at half, but they have really been a VERY good zone D this year. By many measures, they were top 10-15 in the country.

[Samdari]

Zone is what has gotten them here though. I bet they'll make some adjustments at half, but they have really been a VERY good zone D this year. By many measures, they were top 10-15 in the country.

Yeah, but Abromaitis is a good zone busting type - a tall three point shooter. Those are very tough to defend with the zone. That said, he's 0-3 today.

[muns]

Zone is what has gotten them here though. I bet they'll make some adjustments at half, but they have really been a VERY good zone D this year. By many measures, they were top 10-15 in the country.

They look better in it now. I actually have them winning this game. I really like how Lee plays, although he shuffles his feet way too much when he gets the ball.

[Swaggs]

I always root for the Big East teams in the tourney, but lord I get tired of seeing Harrangody's flops. The guy is like 10 feet tall and weighs 400 lbs, but gets knocked to the ground a dozen times a game (and actually gets calls more times than not). He's got a great game for a guy his size, but the flops get ridiculous.

[sterlingice]

It may not be over yet for Florida, but it's getting close. BYU in danger of running away with it

SI

[sterlingice]

I haven't completely given up on the BYU/Florida game but it's on silent on my laptop. I've switched over to Old Dominion-Notre Dame which is tied with about 3 to go.

SI

[Lathum]

ND had chucked up a 3 on the last 10 possessions it seems. They are begging to lose.

[Lathum]

This 'Nova game is starting to make me nervous. They didn't exactly finish the season on a high note

[Dr. Sak]

Bobby Mo is up 10

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Good lord. I think we can officially consider Villanoval in trouble. 8 point lead for Robert Morris at the under 12 media timeout. Robert Morris is playing with a TON of confidence and the Villanova team has the deer in the headlights look.

[sterlingice]

Florida has tightened it up with BYU, too. They're down 3 with about 3 to go. ODU-Notre Dame is a 3 point game with 50 seconds to go and that Nova/Robert Morris game is about to hit 10 mins left and the #2 is down 7.

SI

[sterlingice]

Notre Dame just jacked up *another* 3 and missed. But, man, ODU cannot hit FTs. 25 seconds left, Notre Dame is probably going to jack up a 3, trying for the tie after this time out.

SI

[gstelmack]

Underdogs leading in the first half is no big deal. Happens over and over again in the first round, until the favorites decide they need to stop screwing around because the underdog actually has some talent. If an underdog is in the lead or tied with 10 minutes to play, that's when my attention is earned.

What about up 7 with 11:05 to go?

[SirFozzie]

IF results hold up, there are going to be some brackets blown up. Notre Dame was a trendy pick.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Horrible switching here in Atlanta, cutting away from (then) tied Florida-BYU to watch ND-ODU sit through a timeout.

I guess they thought we needed proof that Dick Enberg was still alive.

[sterlingice]

Florida has taken the lead from BYU with 2 left

ODU-Notre Dame at another commercial. Irish got a 2 and are down 1, ODU has the ball

SI

[Karlifornia]

Pretty good start to the tourney so far. 3 competitive games. Go Robert Morris!

[sterlingice]

Huge NBA three for BYU!

SI

[Lathum]

This Fla-BYU game has been outstanding

[Coffee Warlord]

Any time Notre Dame gets bounced in the first round is a good day.

[sterlingice]

ODU drops both FTs and is up 3. One more time out- 9.6 left to go.

SI

[SirFozzie]

Interesting that the refs blew the call on that last ND bucket (guy touched the ball twice while hanging on the rim.).

Old Dominion up 3 with 9.6 to play..

Nova only down 3..

[Dr. Sak]

I think it'd be funny to see 2 Big East school get bounds in the first set of games.

[sterlingice]

Old Dominion with the win!

Go CAA!

SI

[SirFozzie]

You have to know the game situation there. One rebound, yeah.. second one, you need to tip that sucker out.

[sterlingice]

Villanova has tightened their game up with Robert Morris a lot. 3 point game now with 7 and change to go.

Florida-BYU tied with 18 seconds left

SI

[gstelmack]

And wade, CW, and I pick up 11 in the Pick 5 game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Nothing like losing a S16 team in the first final of the day.

[muns]

Pretty good start to the tourney so far. 3 competitive games. Go Robert Morris!

+1 hell of a way to start the tourney this year

[B & B]

Really like ODU to win over ND, as long as its fairly officiated.



You want winners? I got more winners.


N. Iowa over UNLV tonight.

[Swaggs]

Good win for ODU and a good set of games, so far.

I still like 'Nova, in close games, as long as they have Reynolds.

[sterlingice]

Our first of hopefully many overtimes :D

SI

[SirFozzie]

Bob Morris hanging tough, up 4 with five to play.

[sterlingice]

Much like Notre Dame, someone want to remind BYU that you can go for two point shots?

SI

[Lathum]

Hope Jay Wrights teaching lesson has been worth it.

[MacroGuru]

Our first of hopefully many overtimes :D

SI

Meh..as I said earlier...I am a Cougar homer...but I have no faith...the imploded at the end of the season and in the conference tourney. And they have yet to win a first round game in 7 or 8 years.

[SirFozzie]

Honestly.. how often does a 2 seed get outrebounded by TEN by a 15?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Geez, are we sure this game isn't being played at Robert Morris? That place is LOUD.

[SirFozzie]

It's in Providence.. and everyone loves the big upset, because nobody from Philly area would willingly go to Providence ;)

[Lathum]

If Nova loses I blame Dicky V. it has to be a conspiracy to make things even easier for Duke.

[sterlingice]

Man, this BYU-Florida game is excellent

SI