The official tournament time thread

[Lathum]

Championship week underway.

It looks like San Diego came to play, a win by them screws someone big time.

[CleBrownsfan]

Here's hoping that Cleveland State can pull off a miracle to knock off Butler tonight!

[wade moore]

George Mason returns to the tourney after beating W&M last night.

I think they could pull a 1st round upset depending on who they draw, but they don't have the shooters that they had in their final 4 run so I don't see much more than that happening.

[Wolfpack]

I just had a personal depressing thought. It's been 20 years since NC State has had a team that was even considered a threat to win the national championship. The 1988 team was a #3 seed but got upset by Murray State in the first round that year. The 1989 team was a #8 that nearly beat Georgetown (it was a blocking foul on Mourning, dammit!), but it all went into the crapper after that. DFL in a 12-team ACC this year. At least the Les Robinson Invitational technically doesn't exist anymore. :(

[Lathum]

tought to recruit against UNC and Duke

[Izulde]

I'm surprised the University of Spoiled Daughters actually managed to make the NCAA mens basketball tournament.

[Lathum]

I'm surprised the University of Spoiled Daughters actually managed to make the NCAA mens basketball tournament.

did you go there?

[MrBug708]

Lame title

[st.cronin]

What is the University of Spoiled Daughters?

[Groundhog]

U of San Diego, I imagine.

St. Mary's may have shot themselves in the foot with their double-OT exit from the conference tourney. Hopefully they get an at-large.

[Lathum]

Lame title

thank you for your excellent contribution!

[MrBug708]

PAC-10 tournament hasn't started yet :)

[digamma]

I just had a personal depressing thought. It's been 20 years since NC State has had a team that was even considered a threat to win the national championship. The 1988 team was a #3 seed but got upset by Murray State in the first round that year. The 1989 team was a #8 that nearly beat Georgetown (it was a blocking foul on Mourning, dammit!), but it all went into the crapper after that. DFL in a 12-team ACC this year. At least the Les Robinson Invitational technically doesn't exist anymore. :(

Were they on probation in 1991?

[Izulde]

What is the University of Spoiled Daughters?

University of San Diego.

It's got that nickname because of the high proportion of wealthy girls who attend there allegedly living off of their parents' income.

Absolutely gorgeous campus, though.

[Butter]

Dayton squeaks past St. Louis in OT today in the Atlantic 10 Tourney to make it to round 2 vs. Xavier tomorrow at noon. Dayton wins, I think they are in the NCAAs regardless of results following that game. Dayton loses, they are NIT bound. It is the very definition of a bubble game. Hopefully Xavier sleepwalks through some of it, as they don't really need it... but they have owned UD of late, so I am not optimistic.

[jeheinz72]

University of San Diego.

It's got that nickname because of the high proportion of wealthy girls who attend there allegedly living off of their parents' income.

Absolutely gorgeous campus, though.

Yeah, I almost went there to play football actually.

You are forgetting just how hot most of those spoiled daughters are.

[Wolfpack]

Were they on probation in 1991?

They were on probation in 1990 and didn't go to the tournament that year (that was the year of the infamous debacle when State became the first #1 team in ACC tournament history to lose to a #8 when State got trampled by Bob Wade's Maryland team). Valvano was ousted in 1990.

A lot of State fans are real, real bitter about the last 20 years. They have pretty much castigated everyone from the News and Observer (which they view as a Carolina propaganda organ) to the university to every coach who followed Valvano (now including Lowe) for never getting things back to the good ol' days.

It did not help that when State went downhill, Duke was in the ascendant. It also didn't help that ESPN was becoming the media force it has become. Guess what the featured rivalry was when ESPN made its rise? Duke-Carolina. If ESPN came up earlier in the 1970s-early 80s, it very well could have been State-Carolina as aside from the 1978 Final Four, Duke was a nonfactor. I don't doubt that Duke and Carolina are worthy of their positions and their rivalry, but I do think the heightened focus on it has pretty much sucked all the oxygen out of NC State, Wake, and just about everyone else in the ACC. Time was Carolina was the sole constant in the league while various other teams (State, Duke, Maryland, Tech, Wake) would rise up to challenge for a number of years before settling back again. Now, it's Duke, Carolina, and not much else and it doesn't seem likely to change for the foreseeable future, probably until K retires and then we get to see how Duke weathers that storm. Maryland had a good stretch, but that seemed to coincide with UNC's falloff under Guthridge and D'oh!. Once Roy came back to UNC and got the program back up again, Maryland seemed to fall back pretty quickly.

I do begin to wonder whether we have a better chance of winning the football title in the ACC than the basketball one (and that's saying something given the struggles in both programs the last few years). I guess it's my pessimistic side, but I've kind of let it go and settled for the mediocrity in some respects because as I've gotten older and have had so many life changes, I've come to realize that getting my blood into a boil over this fall from grace by State athletics in general doesn't do me any good and in the grand scheme matters a hill of beans.

Technically, this should all be true of the Hurricanes as well, but dammit they're winning right now, so they bring me much joy and happiness and I'll gladly follow them to the ends of the earth. :D

[digamma]

Wasn't the Maryland upset 1989? I'm pretty sure Valvano's last game was in the 1990 tournament and NCSU was a 6 seed against Ga Tech, who went on to win the conference tournament (I'm a GT fan).

I was thinking of the next year and the Monroe-Guggliotta team. I think Monroe dropped something silly like 48 on GT that year and then they spanked the Jackets in the first round of the ACCT. I thought that team was nationally ranked, but couldn't remember if they were on probation or not.

[Wolfpack]

Yep, you're right. It was 1989. 1990 was V's last team and of course they struggled. I don't know why I thought State was an eight seed that year (1989) in the NCAA. I guess it's because G'Town was a #1, but I guess I forgot they met them a round later in the Sweet 16.

The 1991 team was the last year of Corchiani and Monroe and Gugliotta was beginning to come into his own. That was Les Robinson's first team and the last NCAA team State had until 2001.

At any rate, it could be argued that State has been in shambles since they lost to Murray State in that first round game in 1988. While one didn't cause the other necessarily, it definitely seems to have been a long slow retreat since then. They did advance further in 1989 and 1991, but the belief that NC State could win another national championship has been heavily eroded in that time. It's much more a hope of getting back to that time now.

[Radii]

but I do think the heightened focus on it has pretty much sucked all the oxygen out of NC State, Wake, and just about everyone else in the ACC.

Wake Forest was *so* close, it really sucks that Dave Odom left, and of course Skip Prosser's death last year was just terrible.

From 1995-2005, Wake was a 1 seed or 2 seed 5 times, and made the tournament 8 out of 11 years. The problem is the last 3 times in a row that they were a 2 seed they were upset in the 2nd round. If they had been able to make a final four with Tim Duncan or Chris Paul there they'd probably be viewed a lot differently today.

Comparatively, Maryland has been 'ok' a bunch with 4-7 seeds, but they had a *really* strong 3-year peak with Juan Dixon with a final four one year, and a championship the next. Wake was(and maybe is if this new coach can pick up where Skip left off well?) really the most poised team to try to challenge Duke/UNC long term.

Though right now it seems that Clemson under Oliver Purnell is the most likely team to try to challenge for awhile... but, its Clemson, so I'm hopeful but don't have very high expectations.



I really miss the days when UNC/NC State was a bigger game than UNC/Duke :D

[chesapeake]

Humbug. You can make a case for competing with UNC being difficult, but Duke only helps NC State by giving them greater TV exposure. They don't go after the same recruits at all. Duke has a grand total of 0 players from North Carolina on their roster. No one in North Carolina wants to get anywhere near Duke. The only guy they have from ACC country is Nolan Smith from MD.

Really, State's problem isn't UNC and Duke; it is the host of quality mid-major programs in VA and NC to whom they keep losing good recruits. And that isn't just a problem for State -- I think the problem is popping up among all the second-tier programs in the major conferences.

[SnDvls]

At any rate, it could be argued that State has been in shambles since they lost to Murray State in that first round game in 1988. While one didn't cause the other necessarily, it definitely seems to have been a long slow retreat since then. They did advance further in 1989 and 1991, but the belief that NC State could win another national championship has been heavily eroded in that time. It's much more a hope of getting back to that time now.


Thanks for Herb he's doing wonders out at ASU and he doesn't have to were a red sports coat either. ;)

[Butter]

Dayton squeaks past St. Louis in OT today in the Atlantic 10 Tourney to make it to round 2 vs. Xavier tomorrow at noon. Dayton wins, I think they are in the NCAAs regardless of results following that game. Dayton loses, they are NIT bound. It is the very definition of a bubble game. Hopefully Xavier sleepwalks through some of it, as they don't really need it... but they have owned UD of late, so I am not optimistic.

I know nobody cares. But FUCK.

[Lathum]

UConn needs to get it in gear

[jeheinz72]

So what phantom referee assisted call does everyone think UCLA will get tonight to beat a Bay Area team?

[Radii]

I know nobody cares. But FUCK.


I was actually looking for this game. Today's Bubble Watch: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bubblewatch?id=77 did a little comparasion of Dayton and Kentucky that I thought was pretty interesting, and I saw they were playing Xavier close ealry in the second half... but it wasn't on TV here :(

[INDalltheway]

I've watched about 3 or 4 Pac 10 games this year and I really hope none of their officials are officiating in the big dance..

[INDalltheway]

dola

Not completely serious, but I've seen some terrible calls at the end of games by Pac 10 officials. Let the players decide who wins please..

[SnDvls]

total job call by the Pac-10 refs in our game.

we have to have the worst refs in the world.

[st.cronin]

Pac 10 officials have had a rough year, no doubt.

[timmynausea]

http://mysole.wvu.edu/mfrazier/joedunkinbetuconn300x200.gif

34 more for Joe Alexander. I've never seen a guy improve so much over the course of a year.

[INDalltheway]

I yelled when I saw that dunk.. That was a nice exclamation point to that win.

[Atocep]

34 more for Joe Alexander. I've never seen a guy improve so much over the course of a year.

Maybe Gottlieb will admit they're a tourney team now....

[Lathum]

Big 11 basketball is really hard to watch

[korme]

http://mysole.wvu.edu/mfrazier/joedunkinbetuconn300x200.gif

34 more for Joe Alexander. I've never seen a guy improve so much over the course of a year.

Kenyon Martin

[timmynausea]

Kenyon Martin

Funny that that's another Huggins guy. I definitely think Huggs has played a huge role in Alexander's development. Aside from a spectacular dunk every couple games or so, JA never looked comfortable in Beilein's system.

[JonInMiddleGA]

We can officially take Florida off the bubble. It's 46-23 Alabama at the half.

[MrBug708]

Good. UCLA's kryptonite needs not be in the tournament

[kingnebwsu]

Tough loss today for UAB. I think the Blazers & Mike Davis are out.

Houston & UAB are the #2 & #3 seeds in CUSA, right? If so, the path to a conference tournament title for Memphis just got easier.

Is Villanova in? I don't think they deserve it, but most of those crappy .500 BCS teams seem to make it in the tourney.

West Virginia is definitely in with a big win tonight.

Dayton should be out with a loss to Xavier...but their RPI is awful good.

Bad loss for Baylor against Colorado today. It may have hurt their at-large chances. Hopefully they still get a nod because of the huge turnaround by Coach Drew...getting them to over 20 wins.

Florida's out...excellent.

Should be another good NCAA tournament. So many of these teams are separated by one shot or one call or one bounce. It's what makes college hoops so great.

Days off where you can watch basketball all day are the best :)

[Groundhog]

For the better Aussies in Div 1, I have my fingers crossed that St. Mary's makes it, but it was a bad loss in their conference tourney. They'll be sweating it. Some big wins this year, but some pretty dissapointing losses as well.

Ogilvy and Vandy looked good in their win, Ogilvy in particular was awesome with a new career high scoring total.

Bad break for Aaron Bruce and Baylor. Fingers crossed for them.

[Lathum]

I think St. Marys gets in easy. They were ranked most of the year and several teams that could have hurt them got knocked out early in their conference tournaments

[Wolfpack]

Memphis is in CUSA, right? If so, the path to a conference tournament title for Memphis just got easier.

Fixed.

[Groundhog]

I think St. Marys gets in easy. They were ranked most of the year and several teams that could have hurt them got knocked out early in their conference tournaments

Don't know that it's so clear cut. Gonzaga losing to USD really might have screwed the Gaels. Does the WCC get 3 teams in? I doubt it.

[Wolfpack]

Don't know that it's so clear cut. Gonzaga losing to USD really might have screwed the Gaels. Does the WCC get 3 teams in? I doubt it.

Most every projection has St. Mary's currently going in. With a whole host of other bubble teams getting wiped out today (Florida, Maryland, Baylor, Arizona State...), it's very likely that the WCC is getting three bids.

[Lathum]

Arizona has looked pretty good. I think they are a lock with the other teams going down early

[JonInMiddleGA]

Ole Miss continues their slide, losing to Georgia in OT 97-95.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wife & son are now off to the Georgia Dome for the afternoon session of the SEC tournament. (I'm here at home, partly for work & mostly because it made single session scalper prices a good bit more tolerable).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tennessee started fast but now only leads South Carolina by 1 at the half.
UNC leads FSU by 8 with a couple of minutes left in the game.

[MJ4H]

Jon would you mind a periodic update of the Arkansas game, at least the first half? I have class to teach until 3:05 pm our time. I might see if I can get a gametracker up or even a video stream, but I doubt I will be able to.

[Radii]

UNC wasn't spectacular but they weren't ever in real trouble either past the 8 minute mark of the 1st half. Movin on.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Jon would you mind a periodic update of the Arkansas game, at least the first half? I have class to teach until 3:05 pm our time. I might see if I can get a gametracker up or even a video stream, but I doubt I will be able to.

Barring something unforeseen should be no problem. The game should be on ESPN 360, although IIRC that won't help you. I almost didn't find this one on TV myself, no broadcast coverage Atlanta (not sure if that's blackout or simply no station willing to carry it, as the regular Raycom affiliate took the ACC tourney instead), finally found it on an FSN alternate feed that wasn't blacked out on Dish.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Vols are having one of those games we talked about in the main basektball thread. Tied at 46 with 17 minutes to play, already 6 team fouls on UT. Can't guard (former GT starter) Zam Frederick who leads all scorers with 18 so far.

[INDalltheway]

I'm heading to the Big Ten tourney for the second session. Pretty good deal, I will be seeing Purdue and IU play today.

[st.cronin]

Congratulations to Michigan on their record-setting performance.

[Lathum]

Congratulations to Michigan on their record-setting performance.

seriously, Big 10 basketball is unwatchable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

South Carolina has a combined 39 by their starting guards & leads 53-50 with 14 minutes to play.

edit: Vols by 1 with 12+ left, after Tennessee scores 7 points in just under 30 seconds. Meanwhile, I'm amazed somebody hasn't just slapped the hell out of Dave Odom at some point in his career.

[cartman]

Texas beats Oklahoma State by 7 to advance in the Big 12 tourney. They await the winner of the Colorado-Oklahoma game coming up next.

I'm really looking forward to the late Big 12 game between Kansas State and Texas A&M. That should be a great matchup.

[Butter]

Meanwhile, I'm amazed somebody hasn't just slapped the hell out of Dave Odom at some point in his career.

That made me laugh, but why do you say that about him?

[JonInMiddleGA]

That made me laugh, but why do you say that about him?

The combination of his sideline antics & his facial expression that goes with them. Even when he's right about a call he looks like a politician who just got caught with a hooker or a wide stance.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tennessee up 82-78 with 3:30 to play. SC guards Frederick & Downey have combined for 47 points, UT's Lofton/Smith/Smith trio has 31, 19 of those from Juwaun Smith. C Wayne Chism is trying to save the Vols, career high 23 points & 5 blocks so far.

edit to add: 84-83 Vols with 1:38 left in regulation. UT ball. Scratch that, SC ball after another Lofton turnover, now 1:10 left.
Trivia note: UT is 0-11 in the conference quarterfinals, last won in '91.

[JonInMiddleGA]

SC took an 85-84 lead on a offensive rebound dunk, Vols come right back & get a Tyler Smith bucket with 36.3 left. SC ball after a missed and-one try.

edit: SC by one with 16.7 left
Lofton buries a three with 11.4 left
No timeouts left, SC misses a three but gets it OOB with 1.1 left. Timeout UT, leading 89-87.

[Radii]

huge shot by lofton, damn.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Vols hang on as SC basically inbounded right into a jump ball tie-up.

Lofton's game-winner left him 2-10 from outside for the day.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Just in case MJ4H checks in, the overrun of the first game means that Vandy-Ark has not started yet. Teams are still in the shootaround right now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas up 15-11 with 12 minutes left in the half.

[Arles]

Congratulations to Michigan on their record-setting performance.
I was at a bar for lunch and saw the ticker show "MI 34 .." and thought "not too bad a half for Michigan". Next time it came around, I saw it was the final :eek:

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas 32-28 with 6 minutes left in the half.

[MrBug708]

Calipari's thoughts on the top teams

Memphis' John Calipari unleashed the stream-of-consciousness: "You have North Carolina because they've got the inside-outside game. Kansas, who I think is off the chain. Kansas is ridiculous. We played Tennessee; talk about a ridiculous team because of how they play and shoot threes. They could make 15 threes in a game, and I'm talking bad threes. They shoot it and it goes. Georgetown, because of [Roy] Hibbert and [Jonathan] Wallace. Then Louisville, they play that zone to perfection and have [David] Padgett, who I think has had an All-America year. I'm leaving out UCLA. I just hope they don't get calls in the tournament like they're getting now. If they get calls like that they're going all the way. Then Texas, because of guard play. That combination of guards may be the best in the country. And it could be Stanford because of the two big kids [the Lopez twins]. Connecticut is playing better, too. There are probably eight or nine teams [to beat]."

------------------------------
When we hold your team below 50 Cal, cry all you want

[SnDvls]

UCLA is in my final 4 no doubt the way they are playing. Bad ref calls and all.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas up 40-36 at the half, Vandy still in it with 16/19 FT shooting, Ark something like 3/7 from the line.

I've seen very little of the game as I've spent the first half fulfilling my wife's telephone request ... yep, you guessed it: tickets for tomorrow's semi-finals.

[Eaglesfan27]

UCLA is in my final 4 no doubt the way they are playing. Bad ref calls and all.


Hard to say without seeing the brackets yet, but as much as I hate them, barring a bad matchup for them, I agree.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas leads 48-46 at the first TV timeout of the second half.
Vandy has started hitting threes, Arkansas is living on 12 offensive rebounds.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas still leads Vandy, 60-58, with 7:42 left.
The story of the game remains FT's and OR's.
Vandy 21/28 from the line, Ark 5/11.
Arkansas has 14 Off/30 Total Reb to Vandy's 4/17.

[MJ4H]

Home. Thanks Jon. I appreciate it.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Cool, sorry I was so spotty on the updates in the first half, damned near never got the ticket thing straightened out.

edit: Good thing you got home, my feed just cut out at exactly 530pm. Just *poof*, gone.

[MJ4H]

Wow. How in the world that didn't happen to me, I don't know. That is exactly the kind of BS that I get when I get interested in a game these days.

And now, Vandy will every three pointer ever from here on out 73-68 Arkansas with 44.6 seconds to go after Foster (I think?) hits like a 30 footer.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Duke making it look easy, leading GT 44-29 at the half. Dookies have a 20-9 rebounding edge & are shooting 57% from the floor.

[miami_fan]

Does anyone want to solidify their tourney spots?

[MJ4H]

I think Arkansas did.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Does anyone want to solidify their tourney spots?

Virginia Tech maybe? ;)

[JonInMiddleGA]

GT goes on a 13-2 run to get within 8 at 52-44.

edit: Tech within 4 with 14 minutes left. Make that 2 with 13:30 left.
And with 11:51 left, it's back to 8.
And with 5:30 to play, it's 71-56 Duke. Tech cooled off, Duke got a couple of close calls, their defense tightened up & that's all she wrote.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Alabama & Mississippi State headed to OT as 'Bama recovers from blowing a lead & hits a three at the buzzer to force the extra period.

[miami_fan]

There is a hole in the roof of the Georgia Dome.

[MJ4H]

Anyone watching the Georgia Dome fall apart in the severe weather? (tornado??)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Severe thunderstorm / possible tornado has apparently damaged the Georgia Dome and caused a stoppage in play with 2:21 left in OT. Teams were sent from the floor, although the coaches are starting to come back to the court.

Really freaking bizarre scene, Tim Brando mentioned clearly hearing a "freight train or locomotive sound" and is showing some of the pieces that hit the court, looked like a metal washer about the size of a silver dollar. The roof was swaying, the catwalks are still swaying, and there's obvious damage to a couple of the fabric panels along the side/at the top of the Dome.

edit to add: The hook echo is pretty clear on local weather radar right in that area.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Sounds like they announced a delay of about 20 minutes just now but the coaching staffs appear to be relocating their families in the background shot.

edit: Seeing coaches carrying their kids around reminds me of the World Series earthquake scenes (obviously, thankfully, tons less severe)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Gee, comforting thought ... I'm watching the radar-in-motion thing as this same storm system heads straight for me.

Meanwhile, since the storm ain't here yet ... major props to the Raycom crew all the way around -- from cameras to announcers -- for their work through this scenario. At the high school level I've worked through thunderstorms, fights that involved police, several strange things & I know how hard those were, I can't really imagine getting through something like this as professionally as these guys have. And I have a pretty high opinion of my own ability, but these guys, sheesh damn.

[MJ4H]

Agreed, Jon. I've been pretty impressed with how the whole thing was handled. Right down to the security in the building. The shots of the event showed some major panic creeping into the crowd when the roof started swaying.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Agreed, Jon. I've been pretty impressed with how the whole thing was handled. Right down to the security in the building. The shots of the event showed some major panic creeping into the crowd when the roof started swaying.

Talked to my wife about that a few minutes ago. VERY important, IMO, to note that the security personnel were different than the standard Dome staff (the difference in demeanor & professional was pretty clear to her today under normal circumstances). Also noteworthy was something I noticed on tv & she confirmed, that the majority of uniformed law enforcement on hand for the event were state troopers, not local city/county police or deputy sheriffs.

For those watching the Raycom coverage, the first shot they showed from outside a few minutes ago I recognized immediately ... one of the two main smoking areas is just to the right of the p.o.v. of the first camera shot. I'd know that view in my sleep :D

[Ksyrup]

I was watching the weather on our local Fox station and the meteorologist starts talking about the UK game being delayed because of a possible tornado. Bizarre.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Fox5Atlanta is reporting also that "Numerous windows were broken at CNN Center during the Friday night storm, and there was also damage at nearby Philips Arena."

[cartman]

Since the roof was moving that much, and CNN Center is basically next door, I'm not surprised to hear that. I bet the people at the top of the Westin Peachtree got a hell of a ride and view during the storm.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Watching radar & weather now (http://www.11alive.com/video/default_live.aspx?storyid=112917)
and there's another strengthening system heading straight for the Dome in the next few minutes.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Since the roof was moving that much, and CNN Center is basically next door, I'm not surprised to hear that.

Y'know though, I've seen the roof fabric do that at least a couple of times in the past just from moderate winds/rain/storms. That really wasn't all that freaky to me. Never seen the catwalks move to anything remotely like that extent though, that's when I knew the shit was serious.

[JonInMiddleGA]

After all of that, a three for the win rimmed in & out, Miss State hangs on to win by 2.

[Ksyrup]

This is funny...the Raycom guy is giving weather reports from the Lexington weather guy I was watching.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This is funny...the Raycom guy is giving weather reports from the Lexington weather guy I was watching.

(for those not watching) He works for a Lexington TV station as his regular job, so he's been back & forth on his cell phone with his own weather man.

edit to add: Local news is reporting, per the Fire Department PIO, that up to a dozen people have been transported to area hospitals from the Omni Hotel and/or the hotel area, with dozens more believed to be injured (presumably to a lesser extent).

[Eaglesfan27]

They just called for a postponement of the 2nd game (Georgia - Kentucky) due to continuing severe weather in the Atlanta area, and there is talk that whoever wins the game will have to play 2 games tomorrow.

[Ksyrup]

They are going to have to. Somebody's playing 2 games in 1 day - either the winner of the UK/UGA game tomorrow, or if you only make THEM play once tomorrow, then the winner of the UK/UGA vs. Whoever game on Sunday would have to turn around and play the championship game that afternoon.

Only other way to do it is postpone the championship game until Monday, right?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Still trying to decide what they're going to do. And Monday makes sense ... except it creates a mess for the NCAA selection folks if a non-sure thing is still in contention at that point, or even for seeding purposes.

[Ksyrup]

Best thing they could do, if getting it done by Sunday evening is necessary, is have UK/UGA play at 10-11am tomorrow, then push back the other games a little later tomorrow night.

[Lathum]

It's interesting, how will they pull this off without a team having to play 2 times in one day

[Lathum]

I see it was mantioned. I don't see how they could play on Monday. This could actualy help UK. Assuming they beat Georgia and have to play twice tomorrow I don't see how that second loss could be used against them.

[MalcPow]

Hoyas definitely playing with a bit of a "So we're lucky huh?" chip on their shoulders. Nice to see, but save some of that for the big dance boys. Would've rather played Marquette tomorrow simply for the quasi-home game crowd dynamic, but it'll be cool to have the typical MSG "where amazing (douchebaggery) happens" from both sides against Pitt.

[Radii]

Best thing they could do, if getting it done by Sunday evening is necessary, is have UK/UGA play at 10-11am tomorrow, then push back the other games a little later tomorrow night.

This makes the most sense to me.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Best thing they could do, if getting it done by Sunday evening is necessary, is have UK/UGA play at 10-11am tomorrow, then push back the other games a little later tomorrow night.

Pushing them back much probably isn't going to be an option other than a last resort because of the impact on the tv affiliates.

As they said on Raycom, there's greater flexibility because the semis are on a regional instead of national network but with a 1p start scheduled, that makes the second game somewhere around 330, ending at 6ish. Going to be tough to get more than an extra hour, two at the most, I have to think because stations aren't going to want the game spilling into prime time.

[DaddyTorgo]

i don't have a horse in this race, but i think the only FAIR thing to do is make both teams play 2x in one day. otherwise you have a gassed team versus a fresher team and that's just crap

[JonInMiddleGA]

Incidentally, in case anyone wondered, no it hasn't been lost on anybody in my house that both wife & son were just there a few hours earlier & but for the way the brackets fell this year could have been there in the middle of that mess tonight.

[JonInMiddleGA]

i don't have a horse in this race, but i think the only FAIR thing to do is make both teams play 2x in one day. otherwise you have a gassed team versus a fresher team and that's just crap

No way to make it work that way, since we're down to 5 teams (3 semifinalists & 2 quarterfinalists).

Once Tennessee & Arkansas play tomorrow, the only team left for their winner to play is someone from the Kentucky/Georgia/Miss.State trio. Meaning that there's a 2/3 chance that for UT/Ark winner to play twice in one day you'd get a team playing three times in one day.

[DaddyTorgo]

No way to make it work that way, since we're down to 5 teams (3 semifinalists & 2 quarterfinalists).

Once Tennessee & Arkansas play tomorrow, the only team left for their winner to play is someone from the Kentucky/Georgia/Miss.State trio. Meaning that there's a 2/3 chance that for UT/Ark winner to play twice in one day you'd get a team playing three times in one day.

oh i didn't know that

i foresee one very pissed off team if someone has to play twice and loses, and a bunch of kicking and screaming

[Radii]

Too bad its not the big 10, with a pace so slow that you could play 2, maybe even 3 games in one day and it'd be like one game in most other conferences.

Anyway IMO UGA/Kentucky at 10am, change the semifinals to ~4 and 7. Surely the local Raycom affiliates would jump at the chance to get Kentucky on prime time TV on a Saturday night?

[LloydLungs]

I suppose that there could always be an option to have the committee announce the brackets with caveats, i.e. say Georgia upsets their way to the finals. Then maybe they announce, for instance, VCU as the at-large 13th seed UNLESS Georgia springs an upset in the Monday makeup game in which case they claim that spot. I guess you could just announce it as, example, "#13 -- VCU/Georgia vs #4 whoever."

But otherwise, if Georgia loses, the other three teams are likely in the NCAA tournament anyway. They may just have to accept that the rest of the SEC tournament will not affect NCAA seeding and will basically have no meaning other than determining the SEC tournament title.

I think they ought to just make somebody play twice in a day -- these are kids, they can manage it. Granted it's a disadvantage, but what are you gonna do? Mother nature and all. It's a bad situation but it can't be helped.

[MrBug708]

Or actually make all games end on Saturday

[JonInMiddleGA]

Anyway IMO UGA/Kentucky at 10am, change the semifinals to ~4 and 7. Surely the local Raycom affiliates would jump at the chance to get Kentucky on prime time TV on a Saturday night?

Very doubtful IMO, they have enough problems finding affiliates to clear the games at all in some markets.

Most affiliates connected to the any of the big four networks would be none too happy to have to bump primetime network programming (with higher ratings & ad rates) to clear basketball even if it was sold a premium for a Saturday afternoon. And that doesn't even get into the issue of how the networks feel about having their stuff bumped even if the local affiliate wanted to. And the FSN's have things so whacked that I doubt they'd managed to handle the sudden change on short notice even if Raycom were to agree to use them to cover the slack.

edit to add: Keep in mind, Raycom apparently couldn't even get the Atlanta affiliate (WUPA-69) to carry the tournament for the first two days, they opted to stick with their afternoon lineup of "judge shows" and syndicated sitcoms instead.

[LloydLungs]

I forgot about Arkansas in my little rant up there, but they're probably in too. Seems to me Georgia is the only complication -- otherwise you're just talking seeding.

[INDalltheway]

You guys all dog the Big 10, but your hatred made you miss two amazing games tonight. I'm glad I was there, and you all missed it! :p

[JonInMiddleGA]

otherwise you're just talking seeding.

Except that one of those seeds is a #1 if they win out.

[LloydLungs]

Except that one of those seeds is a #1 if they win out.

Yep, but what can you do? If they're not going to do the "two games in a day" plan, I'm thinking the committee can only seed with the knowledge they have through Sunday afternoon. Otherwise it just gets too complex.

The committee has already admitted that conference championship games played on mid Sunday afternoon do not affect seedings, due to their late start times. This would simply be an extension of that logic.

Will be interesting to see what they decide. I'm a bit surprised we haven't heard an announcement yet.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'm a bit surprised we haven't heard an announcement yet.

I imagine it's because they (SEC officials/NCAA officials/network execs/AD's) don't know WTF to do any more than we do.

Not sure what's been shown around the country or on the net, but there was significant flooding inside the Dome tonight, as the sudden change in pressure apparently caused pipes to rupture. There's damage, still undetermined how much, at the Phillips Arena next door. Georgia Tech's roof had a leak problem from a much lighter rainfall just a couple of weeks ago & holds less than half the tickets sold already. The Gwinnett Arena up the road is booked already, as is Phillips on Sunday. And the logistics of moving the tournament to another city, even as close as Birmingham, don't work (and their building is booked too).

At this point, I'd say they're stuck waiting to figure out what building, if any, will be available for tomorrow. And if the answer is none, the only solution might just turn out to be to cancel the tournament & award the auto-bid to the regular season champion (yeah, I know that works in my favor, but what else could you do if there was no building that was ready, safe, and could get them finished by even Monday?)

edit to add: And here's the other thing that I have to figure has them scratching their heads & wringing their hands more than a little bit "Thunderstorms were expected to have passed out of the metro Atlanta area by 2 a.m., but even heavier weather was expected Saturday afternoon and evening.

The storms that hit Atlanta on Friday could be "nothing to compare with what's coming in tomorrow," Leary said."

[Radii]

Alexander Memorial? I'd think at this point you just give up all pretenses of TV and such and get the tournament completed.

[MrBug708]

Georgia Tech time

[JonInMiddleGA]

Alexander Memorial? I'd think at this point you just give up all pretenses of TV and such and get the tournament completed.

As I mentioned though, there has to be concerns about both the roof there (fixed or not, y'never know) and the problem of having more than twice as many tickets sold as there are seats at Alexander. You start turning away 10,000 fans and turn them loose in the streets and it's probably going to be pretty contentious.

As for the TV, you're talking about a big chunk of change for everybody there, especially the conference & the networks. A lot easier for us to say "just give up" on it than it will be for any of them. In the modern era, conference tournaments exist largely for the dollars they generate, hard to just blow that off.

[Izulde]

As one of my grad school applications, I'm stoked about Arkansas upsetting Vandy to probably put the stamp on their Big Dance appearance. :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

And now some scattered looting is being reported around the city in areas that are blacked out.
Also, it really looks like a big time mess all around the Dome area for several blocks.

from ESPN.com
SEC spokesman Charles Bloom said league officials were still talking to athletics directors Damon Evans of Georgia and Mitch Barnhart of Kentucky to determine how to reschedule their game. Bloom said a decision wouldn't be made until early Saturday morning.

Television production crews began moving their equipment late Friday night from the stadium to the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, where the game was presumed to be played Saturday at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

[JonInMiddleGA]

WSB-TV in Atlanta, per a conversation with Coach Felton, is reporting UGA-UK tips off at noon at Georgia Tech, other games to follow all at GT. Semis on Saturday, finals on Sunday.

Nothing official from the SEC yet (nor any word on what those tickets I paid for earlier today will actually be worth).

[mckerney]

You guys all dog the Big 10, but your hatred made you miss two amazing games tonight. I'm glad I was there, and you all missed it! :p

http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/ac0f7408-7031-424d-9d35-ff36d236f73c.jpg

I was watching the Gopher v. Hoosier game at a bar on the Minnesota campus. It was packed and was great when it went from outrage over the call giving and 1 on the tip in to jubilation when the Gophers won it. My friend and I turned to each other and said, "Hoffarber" when they were getting ready to inbound, great to see he can still hit miracle shots. Also a great job by Damian Johnson D'ing up Gordon.

[INDalltheway]

I was watching the Gopher v. Hoosier game at a bar on the Minnesota campus. It was packed and was great when it went from outrage over the call giving and 1 on the tip in to jubilation when the Gophers won it. My friend and I turned to each other and said, "Hoffarber" when they were getting ready to inbound, great to see he can still hit miracle shots. Also a great job by Damian Johnson D'ing up Gordon.
It was great being there.. So many IU fans high fiving each other, then a moment later almost crying. It was fabulous. Almost made up for Purdue getting beat!

[Radii]

A Georgia athletics official told ESPN.com late Friday the remaining quarterfinal with Kentucky was tentatively set for noon on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, with the winner to play Mississippi State at 9 p.m. That game would follow a semifinal between Tennessee and Arkansas, set for 5 p.m-6 p.m.

Plus lots of other "SEC officials said" and "NCAA Officials said" info in here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3294382

[JonInMiddleGA]

Plus lots of other "SEC officials said" and "NCAA Officials said" info in here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3294382

And still not a word about any of it on secsports.com (which is where local papers for the affected teams seem to have been told to route their readers for the latest info).

[Radii]

SEC Tournament money or not, they need this finished on time Sunday unless something happens tomorrow downtown that is reminiscant of Sherman burning the city down. 1 seeds at stake, travel plans to NCAA sites, Kentucky's fate in general, UGA's outside shot at an auto bid... someone is going to be unhappy no matter what but just getting the games in guarantees the least amount of bitching, and bitching from bubble teams and UGA instead of the only team in the conference with a real shot in the tournament, or, worst case, teams elsewhere being impacted b/c the SEC doesn't have their shit together.

[Radii]

And still not a word about any of it on secsports.com (which is where local papers for the affected teams seem to have been told to route their readers for the latest info).

Yea the reporting in that story is pretty funny. It basically says "UGA told us this ,but Kentucky doesn't seem to know shit. We have SEC people e-mailing us but don't really know what's up right now and NCAA reps are clearly putting pressure on the conference to find a way to play the games but promise to let Kentucky in as long as they beat Georgia no matter how tired/bad they are vs Miss State later"

[cartman]

Looks like the SEC tourney is going to get played out at Georgia Tech. Attendance is going to be limited to player's families, cheerleaders, bands, and credentialed individuals. There will be refunds for the rest, but haven't announced the details.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/champweek2008/news/story?id=3294679

[JonInMiddleGA]

Probably the only thing they could do once the decision was made to move to GT. This way there's 20k ticked off people, but about half of them won't come downtown today. If they had come up with a plan to admit half the ticket holders the ensuing disturbance would have made last night's storms look like a warm summer breeze.

Although it came up in some places a little bit last night, I like what one of UGA's young guards pointed out about the two-games-in-one-day situation, that it isn't unheard of for those that came through the AAU system.

[MrBug708]

The NCAA should just ban tournament games on Selection Sunday anyways and make all finals play on Saturday. Then when something really screwy happens, you can play it early Sunday morning

[MJ4H]

As one of my grad school applications, I'm stoked about Arkansas upsetting Vandy to probably put the stamp on their Big Dance appearance. :)

atta boy

[Lathum]

Yea the reporting in that story is pretty funny. It basically says "UGA told us this ,but Kentucky doesn't seem to know shit. We have SEC people e-mailing us but don't really know what's up right now and NCAA reps are clearly putting pressure on the conference to find a way to play the games but promise to let Kentucky in as long as they beat Georgia no matter how tired/bad they are vs Miss State later"

this is exactly what I said earlier. I think this actualy helps UK.

[CU Tiger]

Damn, hate I misssed all this last night.
Was in Charlotte at the ACC tourney. Clemson won big but better play much better to have any shot this afternoon against Duke....

Either way i think its forgone that we'll be in the NCAA for the 1st time in 10 years.

[MrBug708]

Todd Bozeman might actually be int he tournament

[JonInMiddleGA]

Georgia leads Kentucky by 5 with 7 minutes to play.

Meanwhile ...
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/15600856/detail.html
New tornado warnings and watches were issued for most of north Georgia Saturday at almost the same time weather officials were confirming it was a twister that hit downtown Atlanta and other neighborhoods Friday night.

The tornado that left behind extensive damage packed winds up to 130 mph and was rated an EF-2 storm, said Lance Rothfusz, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service office in Peachtree City.

"This was clearly a tornado," he said. "The path was about six miles long and about 200 yards wide."

The funnel cloud first touched down at the intersection of "Simpson and Burbank and went right across the Georgia World Congress Center, right over CNN Center, (the) Omni, right over the Equitable Tower and from that point on went over I-85 and I-75 right at Edgewood and then to the Cotton Mill. The Cotton Mill sustained the F-2 damage, by far the strongest, but there was some near F-2 damage in the downtown Atlanta area," explained Rothfusz.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Overtime at the Thrillerdome, tied at 50.

[VPI97]

VT leads UNC 29-21 with seven minutes to go in the first half. We're killing them on the boards so far...my only concern is whether we can keep up this pace for the remainder of the game.

Malcolm Delaney (our true freshman point guard) is really making a name for himself in these tourney games...great start to this one.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Georgia up 54-52 with 1:37 left in OT, UK ball.

edit: Kentucky 56-54 with 8.8 seconds left, Georgia ball.

edit again: Freshman Zach Swansey hits a three with 1.2 left, Georgia leads 57-56, UK ball.

Georgia gets away with flattening the screener on the inbounds attempt, no call. Timeout Kentucky to try again and they throw away the long inbounds pass.

[VPI97]

VT and UNC tied 38-38 at the half. We were able to withstand a small Tarheel run at the end of the first. Confidence has got to be through the roof for the Hokies...

[Young Drachma]

Todd Bozeman might actually be int he tournament

Yeah, barring an upset by a team under .500 Coppin State team...he will be. Good for him.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Georgia wins it, heads to tonight vs Mississippi State.

[Radii]

VT and UNC tied 38-38 at the half. We were able to withstand a small Tarheel run at the end of the first. Confidence has got to be through the roof for the Hokies...

Va Tech is working their asses off in this game, very impressive so far.

[cartman]

Texas up by 7 at the half over Oklahoma, 36-29.

[VPI97]

VT leads 55-50 with just over 9:00 to play. A slower pace in the second half has been good for us.

[Radii]

As Va Tech continues to lead by more than one possession with less than 10 minutes to go I am getting very, very nervous. Ginyard is trying/having to do waaaay too much on the offensive end. They need to get Green and ellington some open looks, badly.

[Radii]

59-56 Va Tech with 3:45 to go. Carolina has wasted a number of chances to cut it to 1 or tie as Va Tech has gone a bit cold. The one positive is that UNC has pretty much taken over on the boards.

[Radii]

oh man. UNC gets all the momentum, ties it up, forces a jump ball, gets posession, draws a foul, and Wayne Ellington goes and taunts the guy that fouls him and gets a technical foul. Completely stupid move on his part.

[VPI97]

64-64 with UNC on the line for two more free throws...I don't like how these last few minutes are going....

[Radii]

Another momentum shift. Deron Washington fouls Ellington on a 3, fouls out, Ellington hits 2 of the 3, and UNC leads for the first time in a long long time, 66-64 with 1:15 left.

[VPI97]

66-66...UNC gets the final shot...

[Noop]

Why is my ESPN showing ESPN News. Fuck I hate Comcast.

[Radii]

Why is my ESPN showing ESPN News. Fuck I hate Comcast.

probably because you have the ACC Tournament on a local channel. ESPN is blacked out for me here, ACC Tourney on ABC or something.

[VPI97]

...and a tornado warning blocks the last seconds of the game. I don't know wtf is happening.

[Noop]

Nope. My ABC has nascar.

[VPI97]

..oh, looks like we lost.

[MrBug708]

Lame. More hype for Hans

[Karlifornia]

I hope Patrick and Vitale didn't use any teeth when they were blowing Hansbrough.

[Noop]

Radii you are indeed correct. It was on CBS for me instead of ABC though. I owe comcast an apology.

[Radii]

What a clutch shot by Hansbrough to win it.

That was really a hell of a performance by Virginia Tech from start to finish. Great game, VPI.

[Eaglesfan27]

Great play by Hansbrough down the stretch.

[VPI97]

That was really a hell of a performance by Virginia Tech from start to finish.
That and fifty cents gets us a cup of coffee. yay.

[Radii]

...and a tornado warning blocks the last seconds of the game. I don't know wtf is happening.

Lawson held the ball at midcourt til about 8 seconds left w/ no pressure. Drove right, put up a shot in the lane, off the backboard/rim, off to the right baseline. Hansbrough gets to it first, and sinks a ~13-15 footer with 0.8 seconds to go.

Va Tech calls a timeout to set up a final shot, but UNC puts a man on the inbounds passer and the inbounds pass is tipped and the clock just runs out.

[Toddzilla]

That and fifty cents gets us a cup of coffee. yay.When you figure where we were in the tournament picture on Friday - i.e. out - if anything, we're in the same position but with another great win (vs. Miami) and a redeeming game vs UNC (after getting blown out by 30 last time). Can't say I'm satisfied with the lost, but I'm not down by any stretch. The Hokies played about a good an ACC tournament as they could have hoped for, and if you'd asked me Friday if I'd take a last second shot to decide VT/UNC, I'd have said yes 100 times out of 100.

[VPI97]

Aside from this loss and the craptacular last second loss at Clemson in the season finale, it's been great to see all the VT freshmen (we rely on heavy minutes from five freshmen) really show what their made of during the second half of the year. Marked improvement from how we looked at the beginning of the season. I think we'll make a good run in the NIT.

[cartman]

Woot! Texas allowed OU to score the first 7 points in the second half to tie the game up, but then proceeded to outscore the Sooners 41-13 the rest of the way to win 77-49.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Tornado warning in effect for downtown Atlanta as I'm typing. Scary ass pictures from a tower cam on WSB-TV, huge freaking thing looks like a mushroom cloud heading for the south side of downtown (stuck it in this thread since that's where we had most of the storm discussion & since the distance from the Dome to GT isn't all that much).

[CU Tiger]

yep we have a full on nado warning here and a watch 15 miles north

[st.cronin]

Wisconsin advances to the Big 10 final, squeaking past Sparty.

[CU Tiger]

anyone able to see clemson duke?

can you provide an update all we are seeing is pics of the rain...

[st.cronin]

Apparently its raining in the building, but they're still playing. Duke 11, Clemson 10.

[st.cronin]

Clemson goes on a 9-9 run, its now Duke 20, Clemson 19, big piles of towels soaking up rain at random spots around the court.

[Eaglesfan27]

It's now Duke 20, Clemson 19. Duke just had a fast break slam dunk.

[MJ4H]

Duke 25, Clemson 21, 5:00 to play first half.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Apparently its raining in the building, but they're still playing. Duke 11, Clemson 10.

When did they move to Atlanta to play? ;)

[CU Tiger]

thanks guys back on now!!!! W00t

[cartman]

Kansas and Texas A&M are tied at 34 at halftime of their other Big 12 game today.

[wbatl1]

I know I'm late here, but that Georgia-Kentucky game was fantastic and really eerie at the same time. It looked like a Div. 3 game (or Georgia vs. anyone, actually), but it was a big game for both teams and ended with a fantastic finish. Regarding playing twice in a day, the Georgia coaches will surely moan a little, but there really is no other way and the kids have played more than once a day plenty of times in their career. Also, it appears to me that the NCAA and the selection committee pretty much told the SEC (and thus GA and UK) that they would have to play both semis today.

Regarding the Carolina game, VT deserves a lot of credit for some really solid play, and I think (and Roy agreed) that Carolina got very lucky to win the game.

[JonInMiddleGA]

IAlso, it appears to me that the NCAA and the selection committee pretty much told the SEC (and thus GA and UK) that they would have to play both semis today.

Based on the reports I've read locally, the NCAA said point blank either complete the tournament as scheduled (by Sunday evening) or forfeit your automatic bid. I don't believe they gave much of a damn whether they played 3 today or 2 Sunday or whatever, just get finished on time.

[Eaglesfan27]

What network is the Georgia-Mississippi State going to be on tonight? I don't think my Sat guide has caught up with the late changes, and I haven't heard a definitive answer from listening to the various games today.

[JonInMiddleGA]

What network is the Georgia-Mississippi State going to be on tonight? I don't think my Sat guide has caught up with the late changes, and I haven't heard a definitive answer from listening to the various games today.

At the moment, I'm guessing FSN & Raycom affiliates are sharing the Raycom feed. I'm getting it on FSN with no local broadcast affiliate, my in-laws in Tennessee said their listings clearly stated ESPN2 but I believe that's confusion with tomorrow's championship game with does seem to be on the deuce.

[cartman]

Duke sucks!

[Radii]

well that was a no lose situation, set up another UNC/Duke final, or see Duke lose. Grats to Clemson, winning 3 over the Tigers to win the ACC Tournament isn't going to be easy.

[CU Tiger]

nice...
now a chance for a 3rd nail biter against UNC.
What sucks is Im already committed to taking a customer to Bristol tomorrow, I could be at the game in the luxury box, instead I wont know who wins until around 6pm....

[cartman]

Kansas holds off a late A&M rally to win 77-71. Should be a great matchup in the Big 12 Championship game tomorrow!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Apparently Arkansas strategy is to injure Wayne Chism, that's two cheap shots in three trips down the floor. And Pelphrey is a little bitch that needs the shit slapped out of him worse than Dave Odom.

And I don't recommend he say anything else to a UT player, Pearl might just choke a bitch.

[MrBug708]

UCLA is missing their PF, Kevin Love is hurting and can barely make it on court for a minute at a time but UCLA manages to tie the score back up at 20-20 apiece.

God I love Russell Westbrook

[JonInMiddleGA]

Kevin Love is hurting

I'm a little behind this weekend, what's wrong with Love?

[Radii]

Love really, really shouldn't be risking his NCAA Tournament here, this has to be scary for UCLA fans.

[Radii]

I'm a little behind this weekend, what's wrong with Love?

I don't know if he was hurt before this game, but he hurt his back early in the game, and every time he takes(or delivers) a hit he looks like he's seriously in pain.

Courageous and of course he wants to be out there, and hell he's playing well, but if he's at any risk at all of further injury I can't believe they'd have him on the floor.

[sooner333]

Woot! Texas allowed OU to score the first 7 points in the second half to tie the game up, but then proceeded to outscore the Sooners 41-13 the rest of the way to win 77-49.

That was a pathetic performance...though I should have seen it coming after Austin. Either way, Texas is really good and also a really bad matchup for OU's outmatched guards. Augustin is really good and hopefully he'll be playing professionally next season.

I'm just happy we made it to the semis this year after everything that has happened and really a turnaround from last year. Good to be back in the postseason. Capel has done a really good job and with Warren in place for next year, I think this is a team on the rise for sure.

[Radii]

I cannot begin to express how much more awesome a game is when Gus Johnson is announcing it.

[MrBug708]

Love really, really shouldn't be risking his NCAA Tournament here, this has to be scary for UCLA fans.

Eh, it seems to be back spasms, but I agree. UCLA is already in the West Regional, might as well sit him down. I kind of wish he can't go today so UCLA can actually give some PT to the bigs down on the bench.

And I love Gus Johnson too.

[MrBug708]

38% from the field. 11% from the line. Love with one basket. Game tied at half.

Guts, Guts, Guts.

[JonInMiddleGA]

The sudden inability of Tennessee to guard anyone from medium range to outside is a harbinger of doom for their NCAA future. A couple of players have been reading their press clippings & have decided to throw their uniforms on the floor instead of putting forth enough effort.

First team they run across in the tourney with a couple of good outside/mid-range shooters & they'll be done.

[watravaler]

Man, I hope Illinois gets a #16 seed...

[Lathum]

boy, stanford just shit the bed

[Radii]

good D by UCLA but dear god terrible Stanford possession.

[MJ4H]

hi

[Eaglesfan27]

Boneheaded play by Stanford at the end.

[Lathum]

there goes UT's 1 seed

[Radii]

there goes UT's 1 seed

UCLA, Memphis, UNC, Kansas/Texas winner?

Does UNC have a 1 seed even if they lose to Clemson now?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Arkansas wins as Lofton rims one out at the buzzer. Saw this one coming once the intensity slacked off.

Heck, saw this one coming (just didn't know who it would be against) for a couple of weeks. Since the win at Memphis, their margins had been -3 (Vandy), +3, +3, +33, and +2. Can't live on the edge every game & avoid getting beat eventually.

Chism has been bringing it, Lofton is still mostly Lofton but the Smiths play in spurts, Ramar has been well off his pace, and Howell hasn't been able to throw the ball in the ocean for six weeks and that's actually a bigger problem than most people seem to have noticed. Howell with small but steady production, often timely, helped cover things on nights when Ramar or another Smith was off, but now he's a defensive rebound opportunity looking for a place to happen.

For the past month, this isn't a number one seed or at least isn't the caliber I expect from ones. A two is the best they deserve (assuming everyone else doesn't screw themselves up between now & then).

[Radii]

If Georgetown wins tonight and Clemson beats UNC, Georgetown might have a case for a #1 as well, the big east is certainly a stronger conference this year and they'd be 26-4 if they won tonight. I assume it *probably* wouldn't happen, but it certainly wouldn't be absurd.

[st.cronin]

hi

hi

[JonInMiddleGA]

UCLA, Memphis, UNC, Kansas/Texas winner?
Sounds right to me.

Does UNC have a 1 seed even if they lose to Clemson now?

Don't know if they absolutely do (although I think they do), but I believe they should.

[MJ4H]

hi

how'r things

[st.cronin]

how'r things

good n u

[MJ4H]

fine i dont drink but if i did id be drunk

[st.cronin]

if you wuz a lolcat you just got cheezeburger

[JonInMiddleGA]

UGA is tearing Miss State up early on, 17-8 with 11:45 left in the half.

[Eaglesfan27]

I've flipped through a ton of Fox Sports stations on my DirecTV, but we don't appear to be getting the game here. Too bad as I was looking forward to watching how Georgia did.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I've flipped through a ton of Fox Sports stations on my DirecTV, but we don't appear to be getting the game here. Too bad as I was looking forward to watching how Georgia did.

Did you try ch. 39 out of Baton Rouge? They're listed on Raycom's site as carrying the game, as is the cbs affiliate in B.R. (I'm assuming those are your local stations)

Meanwhile, it's MSU up 29-27 with 4:30 left in the half.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Georgia & Miss State tied at 33 at the half.

[Eaglesfan27]

I do get Baton Rouge locals, but there is no 39. we get 2, 9, 21, 27, 33, and 44. I'm checking in on the game via CBSSportsline's site.

[Eaglesfan27]

By the way, 9 was the Raycom affliate/CBS carrying the game last night. Tonight, they are carrying a repeat of Criminal Minds, the normal Saturday night fare :(

Edit: Just found it.. It's on 9.4! (via OTA) :)

[Chief Rum]

My Top 4

Memphis
UCLA
UNC (regardless of tomorrow)
Kansas wins, they get it. Kansas loses and G'town loses, Texas gets it. Kansas loses and G'Town wins, it's a toss up between G'town and Texas.

Texas, G'town and Kansas will be, at worst, #2s, regardless of what happens tonight/tomorrow.

UNC grabs the East regional #1, Memphis South #1, UCLA West #1.

If Kansas is Midwest #1, Texas goes out west as #2, and G'town is the East #2. Duke South #2 and Tennessee Midwest #2.

If Texas is Midwest #1, G'town will still be East #2, but the rest will depend on the Selection Committee's sense of humor. If that humor is "pure evil", they will send Kansas back out West to be #2 to UCLA, which will piss KU fans off royally. If not, they will send them to the South. If "pure evil" is the setting, Tennessee goes to the South to set up a Memphis rematch. If not, they could go Midwest or West. My guess is West, with Duke still to the Midwest.

If G'town is Midwest #1, Kansas or Texas will be Midwest #2 (probably Texas), setting up a situation like last year with UCLA #2 in its own region, with Kansas out of region #1. "Pure evil" setting steps in again to determine if Kansas goes out West. If East #2 is open, I think Duke gets that, so if KU isn't out West, they go South #2 and Tennessee goes West.

I can't think of any other team getting serious discussion as a #2 or higher except perhaps if Wisconsin wins the B-10, and they will be weighed down by the down year of that conference. Indiana lost too early, Stanford lost three of its last five games, Xavier lost too early.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I do get Baton Rouge locals, but there is no 39. we get 2, 9, 21, 27, 33, and 44.

Then what is WBXH-TV, sister station to WAFB-9 ?

Best I can tell from looking at the website, they've taken it as a MyNetwork affiliate but run it as an sort of minor extension of 9, possibly as a digital only signal now? But I keep finding it referred to in list after list as ch. 39.

Meanwhile I should have figured it would be on one of those two, they're both owned by Raycom Media.

[Eaglesfan27]

Then what is WBXH-TV, sister station to WAFB-9 ?

Best I can tell from looking at the website, they've taken it as a MyNetwork affiliate but run it as an sort of minor extension of 9, possibly as a digital only signal now? But I keep finding it referred to in list after list as ch. 39.

Meanwhile I should have figured it would be on one of those two, they're both owned by Raycom Media.

You're right. It's just not carried as a local of DirecTV and from checking quickly doesn't seem to be a local offered by cable either. I've never heard of it until now when I just did a bit more checking into it. Thankfully, my antenna is picking it up perfectly where it is apparently assigned to 9.4 by my sat box :)

[Young Drachma]

Coppin State (16-20) beats Morgan State to win the MEAC. Todd Bozeman gets foiled and Coppin State heads to the play-in game.

[Eaglesfan27]

Georgia is up by 1 with 47 seconds left and they are about to inbound the ball. Heck of a game despite their star fouling out a few minutes ago.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. Georgia fails to inbound it within 5 seconds..

[Eaglesfan27]

Swanson with the final rebound to finish it off. Georgia wins it 64-60.

[Lathum]

wow, If georgia pulls it off tomorrow that will screw someone

[Izulde]

Boise State and New Mexico State is having a fun finish

And whoohoo about the Hogs upset of UT!

[Izulde]

And we rollin' with Double OT for Boise State-New Mexico State!

[wbatl1]

Has anyone mentioned that this is the best time of the year? There have been some terrific, terrific basketball games!

[Chief Rum]

And we rollin' with Double OT for Boise State-New Mexico State!

Love the double OT, but it is annoying that this game is pre-empting a historic game for Orange County, CA--our only two Division I universities are playing each other for the right to play in the NCAA tournament, between Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine (in the Big West).

[cartman]

With Pitt beating Georgetown, it looks like the Big 12 Tourney champion will get the remaining #1 seed.

[Izulde]

TRIPLE OT FOR BOISE STATE-NEW MEXICO STATE!!

[Izulde]

Love the double OT, but it is annoying that this game is pre-empting a historic game for Orange County, CA--our only two Division I universities are playing each other for the right to play in the NCAA tournament, between Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine (in the Big West).

Yeah I noticed that, but I'm still loving this triple OT game. :)

[Arles]

Man, the bubble is a mess with Temple winning and a potential Illinois+Georgia winner tomorrow. If Georgia wins, I wonder if Kentucky is out (6 bids is too much for SEC). I think Temple ended UMASS' hopes. If IL wins, I'm guessing Ohio State's out.

Out of Arizona, Dayton, Illinois State, UMass, Villanova, Oregon, Arizona State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, VCU, New Mexico and Virginia Tech - only 2-3 may get in. It's going to be a tough day for a lot of teams tomorrow, esp if Illinois and Georgia win.

[mckerney]

Man, I hope Illinois gets a #16 seed...

I'd be nice to see them win the Big Ten Tourney as a 10 seed. They played well, Gophers still lack the inside presence and a scoring threat to compete. I was absolutely baffled at what happened at the end of the game though, poor job by the officials. It seemed like Illinois should have been shooting freethrows, and if there was no foul it should have been traveling. Not that it would have changed anything, but I don't see how the decision is to give the Illini the ball to inbound.

[Izulde]

I'm going to be camped out in front of the TV all day today. Got the SEC final at noon, the Big Ten final after that, followed by the Selection show.

[henry296]

SEC Final was moved to 3:30 EDT to allow time to rest. It will be on ESPN2. So you have ACC Final at 1, Big 12 at 3, Big 10 and SEC at 3:30 and then selection show.

[Lathum]

UNC-Clemson has started out like a track meet, very entertaining so far

[Radii]

looks like Clemson/UNC part 3 is going to be as good as the first two. Clemson is everywhere on defense, no more turnovers in the backcourt please.

[Lathum]

Whatever NBA team gets Hansbrough is gonna be really lucky.

[ThunderingHERD]

Whatever NBA team gets Hansbrough is gonna be really lucky.

Hansbrough won't make a starting lineup in the NBA.

[Radii]

Hansbrough won't make a starting lineup in the NBA.

+1

[digamma]

What's up with the awful choral interludes on exits to commercial breaks of ESPN's ACC tournament coverage?

[digamma]

Hansbrough won't make a starting lineup in the NBA.

He'll be a heck of a college senior next year though.

[Lathum]

Hansbrough won't make a starting lineup in the NBA.

doesn't matter. His work ethic and energy will rub off on the rest of the team, I think he'll be a better pro then people think. I'd take him on my team anyday.

[ThunderingHERD]

He'll be a heck of a college senior next year though.

Yep, UNC should be great next year as well. I can see everyone coming back except Lawson.

[Radii]

I think I need a nap after that first half. I'm a bit baffled as to how UNC is having so many problems in the backcourt vs Clemson's press. Hopefully they get that taken care of during halftime.

[cartman]

Hansbrough always looks like he is on the verge of crying. In every interview I've seen of him, I halfway expect the waterworks to start flowing.

[cartman]

doesn't matter. His work ethic and energy will rub off on the rest of the team, I think he'll be a better pro then people think. I'd take him on my team anyday.

People were saying this last year about Joakim Noah.