2014 OFFICIAL NCAA Tournament Thread: Connecticut wins the title

[Jas_lov]

I can't believe NC State missed that many FTs to clinch it. But now St Louis is down 2 players who fouled out.

[Glengoyne]

Or St. Louis might come back late to tie it...

still alive.

Still alive.

[sterlingice]

The St Louis-NC State game completely fell off my radar.

SI

[Thomkal]

wow Tyler Lewis wow

[Vince, Pt. II]

Wow, T.J. Warren.

[Glengoyne]

Now Oklahoma is trying to set my bracket back.

[PilotMan]

AAAAAAAGH.

[Thomkal]

Now Oklahoma is trying to set my bracket back.

I had NDST in that game, but changed when I saw I had 3 12 teams winning-thought that was one too many. will kick myself if that's the game that stops my perfect string. Of course st. louis may give their game back to NCST

[Vince, Pt. II]

Hard to believe that this NC State - St. Louis game has had only 2 lead changes.

[EagleFan]

Hard to believe that this NC State - St. Louis game has had only 2 lead changes.

Hopefully one more.

[Jas_lov]

Wouldn't the coach have mentioned in the huddle, don't you be the one to foul, TJ Warren, you have 4 fouls. Idiots.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Once the ball gets over there though you have to foul, so it had to be Warren. Hard to game plan that.

[Thomkal]

man that was an ugly display of missed free throws

[EagleFan]

"Keep making defensive stops."

Seriously? Those defensive stops were the other team unable to make freaking foul shots.

[Lathum]

What a sick comeback by St Louis. I though they made a mistake going for the tie at the end, they should have gone for 3 and the win with Warren fouled out and them unable to make a FT.

St Louis really showed how important it is having veteran leadership.

[Jas_lov]

Warren could have been the one to guard the inbounder. That's just stupid coaching. He's their best player with 4 fouls, he should be the last one that commits the foul.

[sterlingice]

And in!

SI

[Thomkal]

I'm not sure my heart can take three back to back OT games to keep my perfect string going...

[PilotMan]

I'm not sure mine can handle one.

[Thomkal]

man three tries to win it..

[EagleFan]

wow, another OT tonight.

[sterlingice]

This has been a fun first day. It's lacking that giant upset but a lot of fun games

SI

[mauchow]

2 overtimes in prior two tourney's and four today alone?

[Thomkal]

I'm not sure mine can handle one.

Hang in there PM! :)

[sterlingice]

This has been a fun first day. It's lacking that giant upset but a lot of fun games

SI

Tho, if Manhattan wanted to play spoiler, that might cap the night... :devil:

SI

[Lathum]

The timing of these games has been perfect. Just as Uconn is wrapping up St Louis is making their push, then that ends and the ND State game is in the final minute.

[mauchow]

there is something wrong with end-game basketball when the last 1:12 takes 15 minutes.

[sterlingice]

The timing of these games has been perfect. Just as Uconn is wrapping up St Louis is making their push, then that ends and the ND State game is in the final minute.

I completely missed the SLU-NCState game because the UConn-StJoes game went long

SI

[PilotMan]

The refs are having a rough night in Spokane.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Whistle happy all of a sudden.

Crazy for this kid to get into the game, touch the ball immediately and then hit two free throws cold as ice with just over a minute left in OT.

[EagleFan]

Oklahoma imploding over the past 30 seconds.

[mauchow]

Wow, ballsy shot by that guy in NDSU to give 4 pt lead with 20 seconds on shot clock still.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Ballgame, ladies and gentlemen.

[Thomkal]

man Oklahoma very sloppy in the OT. Congrats to Pilot and NDSU :)

[PilotMan]

HOLY CRAP! I went from throwing shit all over to this!?!?!?!

[PilotMan]

NDSU has only been D1 for 5 years. This is going to be a big one for the school.

[mauchow]

HOLY CRAP! I went from throwing shit all over to this!?!?!?!

Woot!

Will be curious to see if Saul Phillips is the guy that takes over Wisconsin once Bo Ryan leaves.

As much as I'd like to see Tony Bennett take over, I don't think Tony's going to 'settle' for Wisconsin when Bo's done.

[Vince, Pt. II]

WTF was that possession by Oklahoma? Why all the kick outs? I know it's basically over, but there were three shots there I would have been ok with my team taking in this situation before they finally took a shot.

[EagleFan]

A timeout with 3.5 to play, down by 5 and the other team getting the ball?

[Glengoyne]

So 12-0
With SD state, Texas, Louisville, and Villanova to go.

[Thomkal]

:::kicks himself::: for not sticking with the NDST pick. At least i used them for the Pick 5 :) not staying up for the late games, have fun guys

[mauchow]

I would LOOOOVE to see Milwaukee take this one.. holy smokes.

[Lathum]

good news- I am 12 /12 in one of my work brackets

bad news- Its the one I picked Duke to win and Virginia to make the final 4.

[Matthean]

A 2 seed going down would pretty much end any talk of a billion dollar bracket.

[MizzouRah]

SLU baby!

[PilotMan]

Or something like Louisville not making the round of 8.

[sterlingice]

A 2 seed going down would pretty much end any talk of a billion dollar bracket.

I hazard to say that Louisville losing would break more brackets

SI

[Glengoyne]

NDSU has only been D1 for 5 years. This is going to be a big one for the school.

I agonized over the bisons in the second round. I finally didn't send them to the sweet sixteen. I think that was the most difficult decision for the whole bracket.

[Buccaneer]

My son picked both NDSU and Harvard and he's pretty stoked. That's why I don't do picks anymore, I just defer to him.

[Buccaneer]

Btw, his big upset pick is Villanova losing.

[mauchow]

I understand there is a reason why these kids are at UW-Milwaukee vs a bigger d1 school but I just don't understand why these players aren't smarter with the ball. You're a quick point guard with a big slow guy on you and you dance around at the top and pop a three from 3 feet beyond the arc.. just stupid.

[EagleFan]

I miss Gus doing games...

[sterlingice]

Btw, his big upset pick is Villanova losing.

I don't really see it. Nova is 0 for 12 from 3s and still leading. I think they pull away in the second half but I could be wrong.

SI

[sterlingice]

I miss Gus doing games...

As do I :(

T.J. Sorrentine stuns Syracuse (2005 NCAA Tournament 1st Round) - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbFNFHsNo3w&feature=youtu.be&t=1m4s)

One of my personal favorite calls

SI

[sterlingice]

I miss Gus doing games...

That said, I'll admit to liking listening to Bill and Verne, too.

SI

[Vince, Pt. II]

I normally can't stand the Shirsey, but these Louisville uniforms look pretty good.

[britrock88]

That said, I'll admit to liking listening to Bill and Verne, too.

SI

I don't think that's an "admission." That's the best pair out there.

[Matthean]

Highest difference in the four games is four points. Yeah, have fun with those brackets. :lol:

[SirFozzie]

So now, as traditional the question is:

How boned is your bracket as we approach the end of Day 1?

For once, the answer is "Not really that much".. I only lost one Sweet 16 team (OU)

[PilotMan]

I have ASU in this game. Yet another game going down to the wire.

[PilotMan]

So now, as traditional the question is:

How boned is your bracket as we approach the end of Day 1?

For once, the answer is "Not really that much".. I only lost one Sweet 16 team (OU)

Fairly, I'm down 2 Sweet 16 teams. But they are the only games I've missed.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Huh. I didn't see the foul in the ASU/Texas game there. Dude was already on the way to the ground.

[PilotMan]

That was my thinking too.

[sterlingice]

Time to go to the replay but I think it's good

SI

[cartman]

Holy crap! Can't cut it much closer than that!

[PilotMan]

Yep it was good. Quite the finish.

[sterlingice]

Now I'm greedy. I got my buzzer beater. Now I want Louisville to go down. Bracket breaker time!

SI

[digamma]

So on the buzzer beater, say the defender did tip it and he touched it after the horn (shot clearly before the horn), but the shot goes in. Does it count or does the defender's touch end it? (Or in this case send it to OT?)

[cartman]

I'll have to find the link, but I think the end of game decision is on the offense handling the ball, and a defensive player is like the backboard.

[digamma]

Cool, thanks. Great ending, anyhow. Congrats and Hook 'em!

[sterlingice]

Fouls starting to feel really lopsided in this game

SI

[BishopMVP]

Wouldn't the coach have mentioned in the huddle, don't you be the one to foul, TJ Warren, you have 4 fouls. Idiots.Once the ball gets over there though you have to foul, so it had to be Warren. Hard to game plan that.Warren could have been the one to guard the inbounder. That's just stupid coaching. He's their best player with 4 fouls, he should be the last one that commits the foul.Gottfried could've taken him off the court. I know Warren just had the steal +1, but pull him for that auto-foul possession and put him back in after St. Louis shoots their 1st FT (they were in the double-bonus).

[cartman]

Harvard v. Texas title game matchup! :D

[Glengoyne]

14 wins but manhattan could really ruin day as Louisville is supposed to get back to the final four this year.

[sterlingice]

That will finally end it. Shame. I stayed up to see if Manhattan could pull it off

SI

[EagleFan]

Crap, I marked it for San Diego State, now it's getting tight.

[EagleFan]

Major mistake there. We have another potential OT if they can hit a last second three.

OR do you go for a quick two and then immediate foul?

[EagleFan]

Holy crap. Just a couple tenths of a second away from that tip in counting too.

[Glengoyne]

Wow!

San Diego throws the ball away on the inbound with 13 seconds left.

Another game in OT.

[EagleFan]

Nice block.

[Glengoyne]

Nice block.

Crazy good. And the Giant fouls out.

[BishopMVP]

Major mistake there. We have another potential OT if they can hit a last second three.Wow. Give the kid 4 chances and he finally hits one.

Btw, how did I not know about this 7'5 monster for NM State? Sim Bhullar biography - NMStateSports.com - The Official Website of New Mexico State Athletics (http://www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205311976&DB_OEM_ID=1900)

[EagleFan]

Wow. Give the kid 4 chances and he finally hits one.

Btw, how did I not know about this 7'5 monster for NM State? Sim Bhullar biography - NMStateSports.com - The Official Website of New Mexico State Athletics (http://www.nmstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205311976&DB_OEM_ID=1900)

That guy is a beast, at least in size.

[EagleFan]

If they give this to New Mexico State I give up. :)

[EagleFan]

Are you kidding me? Three replays I see today and each one they called opposite of what was shown.

[EagleFan]

Why even have replay?

[BishopMVP]

Shady, shady call. I know that should have been a foul live, but you can't give that ball to NM State.

[BishopMVP]

Get ready for another wild 3-py attempt by Aronis.

[EagleFan]

Butt clenching time for the guy at the line now.

[Glengoyne]

Are you kidding me? Three replays I see today and each one they called opposite of what was shown.

I'm with you on that. Twice I just don't see it, and that one was clear off the shooters hand. The defender hit the off hand while the shooter still had the ball.

I can only believe here the refs gave them a makeup call.

[EagleFan]

I am not a huge college basketball fan all season long but these first two days of the tournament are my favorite days of the year.

[Glengoyne]

I am not a huge college basketball fan all season long but these first two days of the tournament are my favorite days of the year.

+1

[EagleFan]

See everyone the same time tomorrow... or later today actually.

[BishopMVP]

Good 1st day. Wish one more of those near-upsets have gone through, but never a lag with no close game.

[Glengoyne]

The bracket is still clean at the end of the day. Four over times and at least two other games at he buzzer.

What a wonderful day.

[sterlingice]

See everyone the same time tomorrow... or later today actually.

Today's going to hurt. I turned off the computer but I stuck it out through to the end last night. I can't remember the last time games went until after midnight CT but all the OT had me up until past 12:30

SI

[Thomkal]

so 2 wrong on the day, that's pretty good for me. Had Texas and NDST wrong. Had Oklahoma going another two rounds so that's not good. Lots of people still perfect in my ESPN bracket, anyone know how many are still perfect in the Buffett contest?

Looking forward to seeing Coastal Carolina play today, unfortunately its one of the last games of the night. :( Don't really want to wait all day and then watch them lose by 20 or 30 at halftime.

Good luck to "your" team today and all your brackets of course :)

[Butter]

I do like overtime, thanks. But it made that 5:30 AM wake-up call pretty painful this morning.

[henry296]

so 2 wrong on the day, that's pretty good for me. Had Texas and NDST wrong. Had Oklahoma going another two rounds so that's not good. Lots of people still perfect in my ESPN bracket, anyone know how many are still perfect in the Buffett contest?

Looking forward to seeing Coastal Carolina play today, unfortunately its one of the last games of the night. :( Don't really want to wait all day and then watch them lose by 20 or 30 at halftime.

Good luck to "your" team today and all your brackets of course :)

Only 18,000 perfect brackets out of 11 million on ESPN, not sure about Buffett.

[mauchow]

No Sweet 16 teams out for me yet. Thats always key. A bracket I filled out at work is for $5k w only 6000 entries.. I'm in top 2% at this point.

[Lathum]

The bracket is still clean at the end of the day. Four over times and at least two other games at he buzzer.

What a wonderful day.

15/16 in my work bracket missing only Arizona State in a 2 point loss.

The probem is I have Duke winning that one.

[Butter]

I'm #3 out of 196 at my work, top prize of about $600. That means today is going to be upset city, since I think the only one I have for today is Providence over UNC, and maybe a couple 9's over 8's, but that's not much of an upset really.

[mauchow]

Louisville gets a quick turnaround for their second game after ending pretty late last night.

[Buccaneer]

I saw my son's brackets, he filled out 4: an official one, a plan B one, an upset-city one and a would-he-wants-to-win one. Just taking a look at his official one, he's 14/16 (missing Dayton and Villanova) and all clear for Sweet 16.

[Scoobz0202]

http://i.imgur.com/C3DYj85.jpg

[Kodos]

Alright. I'm, dead last in the Colossal Squid brackets!

[cartman]

My best bracket is the Billion Dollar one. I'm 13/16 on it.

[Kodos]

That's good, but not Billion Dollar Good.

[Glengoyne]

http://i.imgur.com/C3DYj85.jpg

At least I'm in good company :)

[sterlingice]

http://i.imgur.com/C3DYj85.jpg

LOVE THAT! :D

SI

[sterlingice]

I do like overtime, thanks. But it made that 5:30 AM wake-up call pretty painful this morning.

Same here, but I can handle one 5 hour sleep night. Tomorrow I only have to wake up in time for the 11 o'clock games.

I think I'll rest tonight and take another dose of 12-hour basketball today

SI

[Glengoyne]

15/16 in my work bracket missing only Arizona State in a 2 point loss.

The probem is I have Duke winning that one.

This is my only bracket this year, and I'm a little afraid that I've got Syracuse to the final four. I'm thinking that I should have put a little more thought into that and a little less thought into talking myself out of putting ND state through to the sweet 16.

I've got Michigan state cutting down the nets. All in all, I figure that today my bracket is going to come back to earth.

[Glengoyne]

15/16 in my work bracket missing only Arizona State in a 2 point loss.

...

I had written AZ state off in that one. Then I looked up at the box score and the game was tied with seconds to go, and seconds counting down. I tuned in just in time to see the rebound and put back. I was actually sort of sad that I missed the anxiety from the other close games. That said, I feel for ya after you probably watched them eek their way back into it, and just came up short.

[cartman]

15/16 in my work bracket missing only Arizona State in a 2 point loss.


I don't think I can be your friend anymore. Bad enough that you are a Giants fan, now this. :D

[sterlingice]

Is it really worth it start "comparing" bracket results until after the first weekend and, mostly in terms of who you have left of your E8 and beyond not how many points you have now

SI

[Lathum]

Is it really worth it start "comparing" bracket results until after the first weekend and, mostly in terms of who you have left of your E8 and beyond not how many points you have now

SI

No but its fun.

[mauchow]

Duke losing won't kill me too much but I sure wpuld love it!!

[cmp]

As much as I want Mercer to win this game it sure seems like Duke will still come out with the win.

[Matthean]

Somebody on the ESPN chat when comparing Duke and Michigan said "Michigan plays defense, though." :lol:

[cmp]

Somebody on the ESPN chat when comparing Duke and Michigan said "Michigan plays defense, though." :lol:

They sure are a defensive powerhouse. They look just like the 04 Pistons.

[Jas_lov]

Could have another Lehigh here. Mercer's not going away.

[Kodos]

C'mon, Mercer. You can do this!

[Jas_lov]

Duke's gonna fall again.

[Kodos]

Not watching, but this is looking good...

[Matthean]

Twitter / BoPelini: Can I get fined if I comment ... (https://twitter.com/BoPelini/statuses/447060643967823872)

Can I get fined if I comment about basketball officiating?

[Matthean]

Just imagine if UL lost and how that oh so difficult bracket for WSU would have been virtually eradicated in the first round.

[cmp]

Weber State up 7-0!

[panerd]

Just imagine if UL lost and how that oh so difficult bracket for WSU would have been virtually eradicated in the first round.

I think a lot of it (obviously Louisville was part) was about the preseason #1 team in the country sitting at the 8 seed and Michigan hasn't it?

[EagleFan]

So long Duke.

[Kodos]

Bracket decimated - Kodos elated!

[Easy Mac]

I find Duke basketball in the tournament funny. Normally, it's the smaller schools that have to shoot lights out from 3 to upset the bigger schools. But it seems like its always the opposite against Duke. If you can beat them inside, you stand a better chance at an upset.

[Kodos]

:banana: :bowdown: :wagfingers: :chickendance: :party: :devil: :cool:

[Coffee Warlord]

I can about guarantee you 99.9% of all billion dollar brackets are now gone with Puke eliminated.

[sterlingice]

Bracket decimated - Kodos elated!

Same. I went with them to take the Midwest since I saw so many more picks for Louisville, Michigan, and even Wichita State.

SI

[Matthean]

I'm still not sure about UK. The talent hasn't seemed to gel yet in a way that I could trust.

A team that can force Michigan to play half-court defense and can rebound will give Michigan fits. The team doesn't have to be that good defensively to counter Michigan's offense. I think their offense is going to run rather well anyway. You just need to keep pressure on them with your own scoring and rebounding to limit what Michigan can do. They are a team that could be knocked out in the second round or in the title game depending on how things fall. They have already proven they can hang with Arizona.

[panerd]

I can about guarantee you 99.9% of all billion dollar brackets are now gone with Puke eliminated.

Somewhere out there someone is chuckling at the amount of information they were able to obtain by dangling a billion dollars out there for an impossible dream. :)

[EagleFan]

Mercer is one of the teams that I have in an office pool. We picked the 64 teams like a Super Bowl block pool (but with 64 blocks) and we get winnings for each win a team gets with the upsets netting more. Go Mercer! :)

[korme]

Since I am a homer, in my bracket I had UC winning it all... over Duke.

Sitting pretty right now.

[Glengoyne]

Wow the clean bracket doesn't even survive the first result of day 2.

Ouch for Duke.

[cartman]

Stolen from a friend's feed:

They should add an amendment to the Geneva Conventions making these Baylor basketball uniforms a war crime

[TroyF]

I find Duke basketball in the tournament funny. Normally, it's the smaller schools that have to shoot lights out from 3 to upset the bigger schools. But it seems like its always the opposite against Duke. If you can beat them inside, you stand a better chance at an upset.

Just a strange, strange game.

Duke went 15-37 from three point range. They went 7-25 on their 2 point shot attempts. Seriously?

Mercer went 20/32 on their 2 point shot attempts. (62.5%)

Wow.

So, Mike K, how is that "the ACC is tougher and deserves more teams" thing working our for ya?

[Jas_lov]

I knew I should have picked Tennessee/Iowa winner over Duke in the 2nd round. Coach K said the ACC was so good and so much better than the A-10, and then he lost to Mercer.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I believe that's gotta be at least arguably the 4th biggest basketball win for all schools in the state of Georgia combined (I'd put the combined three wins for Final Four berths at GT/UGA ahead of a first rounder).

It's also quite possibly the biggest upset anyone from the state has pulled, only UGA over UNC for a final four trip comes to mind as a rival.

[Matthean]

I find Duke basketball in the tournament funny. Normally, it's the smaller schools that have to shoot lights out from 3 to upset the bigger schools. But it seems like its always the opposite against Duke. If you can beat them inside, you stand a better chance at an upset.

MSU is known as a physical team that does well with their inside game and yet Izzo's record against Coach K is terrible. I think this was a good Duke team but hardly an upper tier one. This gives Michigan a shot at the Elite 8 if they play to their potential.

[Buccaneer]

All we need now is for UK to lose and it will be a perfect opening round.

[TroyF]

Twitter / BoPelini: Can I get fined if I comment ... (https://twitter.com/BoPelini/statuses/447060643967823872)

I rolled my eyes and then looked at the box score. 36 FT to 10? Yikes. It may be fair based on how the game is going, but that's pretty one sides.

[BillyMadison]

I knew I should have picked Tennessee/Iowa winner over Duke in the 2nd round. Coach K said the ACC was so good and so much better than the A-10, and then he lost to Mercer.

It's gonna be UMass. I'm a homer but no one is giving us any respect or credit. We beat 7 teams in the tournament. Tennessee has beaten 1 this year. Yes, the argument can be made that were over seeded but we should not be 6 point underdogs. I bet if Tennesseee was a 6 and UMass was an 11-- we'd see most people picking UMass. The so called experts are punishing them for their seed. Senior laden team with a great point guard in Chaz Williams. See for yourself. UMass to the Sweet 16.

A10 has proven itself as a power conference. 2-1 and St Joes had UConn for most of the game. I expect 5-1 after today.

[Thomkal]

So let me ask:

The beginning of the end for Coach K at Duke? Losing to a 14th and 15th seed in the past three years, doesn't win the ACC? Seems silly to suggest such a thing, but this is clearly not the Duke of old

[Matthean]

I rolled my eyes and then looked at the box score. 36 FT to 10? Yikes. It may be fair based on how the game is going, but that's pretty one sides.

I believe Miles got tossed as well.

[BishopMVP]

Teams and coaches from the Atlantic Sun seem to have more fun than any other conference.

[Thomkal]

And I hope Coastal Carolina takes inspiration from being a giant-killer on the same court as they will be playing on later. :)

[Matthean]

So let me ask:

The beginning of the end for Coach K at Duke? Losing to a 14th and 15th seed in the past three years, doesn't win the ACC? Seems silly to suggest such a thing, but this is clearly not the Duke of old

It is up to him to decide that. I can't imagine anyone there forcing him out. He obviously can bring big name talent in. I just don't see this as being the thing that has him leave.

[sterlingice]

Stolen from a friend's feed:

They should add an amendment to the Geneva Conventions making these Baylor basketball uniforms a war crime

Maybe HP or some other monitor manufacturer gets kickbacks for this

SI

[sterlingice]

And I hope Coastal Carolina takes inspiration from being a giant-killer on the same court as they will be playing on later. :)

I would like to request Eastern Kentucky not be added to this list today, please

SI

[Kodos]

All we need now is for UK to lose and it will be a perfect opening round.

AND Syracuse. Then I agree. So it's out of reach. :(

[panerd]

So let me ask:

The beginning of the end for Coach K at Duke? Losing to a 14th and 15th seed in the past three years, doesn't win the ACC? Seems silly to suggest such a thing, but this is clearly not the Duke of old

Last five years...

National title, Sweet Sixteen. Upset Loss, Elite Eight, Upset Loss. Yes pretty silly suggestion.

[Lathum]

Fuckin duke.

[Buccaneer]

Is Nike doing bball uniforms as well?

[Lathum]

Last five years...

National title, Sweet Sixteen. Upset Loss, Elite Eight, Upset Loss. Yes pretty silly suggestion.

Agree. The losses seem worse because of who they were to. You're not going to win the title every year.

[Thomkal]

I would like to request Eastern Kentucky not be added to this list today, please

SI

That's fine by me!

[Butter]

I honestly think Coastal Carolina might give UVa a game. Might be more like an Albany/Florida type game where it stays around 10 points most of the game, but I think it won't be a blowout.

The bracket just opened up for UMass to get an A10 team into the Sweet 16. Let's do it, Minutemen.

[Buccaneer]

Kodos, too late - Cuse had already won their opening round game. But the tournament was already near perfect without the presence of Indiana. :)

[Butter]

So, how did Tim Miles get ejected?

[BishopMVP]

So, Mike K, how is that "the ACC is tougher and deserves more teams" thing working our for ya?He can commiserate with Chris "Georgetown would be a top 3 team in the A10" Mack.It's gonna be UMass. I'm a homer but no one is giving us any respect or credit. We beat 7 teams in the tournament. Tennessee has beaten 1 this year. Yes, the argument can be made that were over seeded but we should not be 6 point underdogs. I bet if Tennesseee was a 6 and UMass was an 11-- we'd see most people picking UMass. The so called experts are punishing them for their seed. Senior laden team with a great point guard in Chaz Williams. See for yourself. UMass to the Sweet 16.

A10 has proven itself as a power conference. 2-1 and St Joes had UConn for most of the game. I expect 5-1 after today.When'd we get another UMass fan around here? I do think the "experts" are overstating their dislike of UMass because they got a 6, but I'd be lying if I said this was anything other than a 50/50 game. I'm not looking forward to seeing Cady and Sampson constantly fail to get position against the 2 Tennessee bigs, and it'll be hard to put Esho or Putney at the 4 when those 2 are on the court. It'd be a great game to throw some zone looks out there, but DK never uses those.

I do wonder just how much of Tennessee's great computer numbers in things like KenPom come from that one 35 point win over Virginia. And fwiw, I like both the other A10 teams to win, but only like 60-70% probability. VCU is the best A10 team, but they got a tough 12 seed in SFA.

[Kodos]

Kodos, too late - Cuse had already won their opening round game. But the tournament was already near perfect without the presence of Indiana. :)

Yeah, I saw that after my initial post. Didn't get to watch any last night, as we were trying to catch up on True Detective.

Oh well. Maybe next round!

[BillyMadison]

He can commiserate with Chris "Georgetown would be a top 3 team in the A10" Mack.When'd we get another UMass fan around here? I do think the "experts" are overstating their dislike of UMass because they got a 6, but I'd be lying if I said this was anything other than a 50/50 game. I'm not looking forward to seeing Cady and Sampson constantly fail to get position against the 2 Tennessee bigs, and it'll be hard to put Esho or Putney at the 4 when those 2 are on the court. It'd be a great game to throw some zone looks out there, but DK never uses those.

I do wonder just how much of Tennessee's great computer numbers in things like KenPom come from that one 35 point win over Virginia. And fwiw, I like both the other A10 teams to win, but only like 60-70% probability. VCU is the best A10 team, but they got a tough 12 seed in SFA.

Tennessee is coming off an OT loss to a team that isn't that dissimilar to us. They're gonna be tired and if we can play our game and run run run-- I think we can wear their bigs out. The key is hitting the glass hard today and setting up the fast break. If we can do that I like our chances.

[sterlingice]

I do think the "experts" are overstating their dislike of UMass because they got a 6, but I'd be lying if I said this was anything other than a 50/50 game.

I believe Vegas had Tennessee favored by a few last I checked, even tho they were the lower seed

SI

[mauchow]

I had Duke out in R2.

[chesapeake]

Fire Krzyzewski.

[Solecismic]

I believe Miles got tossed as well.

I didn't watch, but the box score certainly explains the technical fouls. Nebraska's a physical team, maybe they couldn't adjust to officials not used to the Big Ten. You need to do that if you're going to go far in the tournament.

MSU ran into the same problem yesterday, but Delaware (39 FTA) was overmatched.

Michigan doesn't play that style. Maybe that's why they went so far last year.

[Buccaneer]

Kodos, truth be said, I had a hard time seeing Cuse as a Sweet 16 team and certainly not Elite 8. With Dayton next, that may be different.

Both my son and I are very happy that OSU lost. We would hate to think of the chance of SU losing to OSU.

[nol]

So let me ask:

The beginning of the end for Coach K at Duke? Losing to a 14th and 15th seed in the past three years, doesn't win the ACC? Seems silly to suggest such a thing, but this is clearly not the Duke of old

Think of how much sooner it would have been over if he hadn't gotten the team USA job.

[Kodos]

At least we can all be united in our hatred for Duke. And Kentucky. And OSU.

[BishopMVP]

Tennessee is coming off an OT loss to a team that isn't that dissimilar to us. They're gonna be tired and if we can play our game and run run run-- I think we can wear their bigs out. The key is hitting the glass hard today and setting up the fast break. If we can do that I like our chances.Maybe it'll affect their bigs a little bit - Stokes doesn't exactly look to be in shape - but college players getting tired is an overrated trope. They're 20 y/o kids who are used to playing multiple games in a day at AAU tournaments or hours of pick-up basketball in the offseason. 1 game 36 hours ago won't affect them much.I believe Vegas had Tennessee favored by a few last I checked, even tho they were the lower seedTenn 2.5 point favorite.

I do like DG being aggressive - he's really our best driver as long as he's not scared to get fouled (he was shooting under 50% on FT's early in the season, but that mental block appears to be gone). Now we just need Maxie to stop missing bunnies.

[Matthean]

There are now 2,185 perfect brackets in ESPN's Tournament Challenge after Duke's loss.

[sterlingice]

There are now 2,185 perfect brackets in ESPN's Tournament Challenge after Duke's loss.

That's a surprisingly high number between that and some of the upsets yesterday. None were super surprising (if Manhattan had won, it would have been), but, still- quite a few

SI

[BishopMVP]

We might travel more than any team in the country.

Btw, for those who haven't watched UMass this year, this is absolutely no surprise. We look like shit for at least 10 minutes if not a whole half every game. We could go down (or up) by 20 before halftime and I'd still be convinced this will be a close game with 5 minutes left.

[Thomkal]

I honestly think Coastal Carolina might give UVa a game. Might be more like an Albany/Florida type game where it stays around 10 points most of the game, but I think it won't be a blowout.

The bracket just opened up for UMass to get an A10 team into the Sweet 16. Let's do it, Minutemen.

As much as I want to believe that Butter, just can't see it. Virginia would have to play poorly/choke for it be close at the end. Coastal does not have a big scorer (the senior transfer from South Carolina who was supposed to be a star for us, has not been a starter since game 7), and not a lot of depth.

They could be and were beaten by any Big South team on any given day, can't imagine they have the game to take on a Virginia. But the tourney does crazy things to players and teams (Hi Duke! :)) so we shall see.

[JonInMiddleGA]

If the Vols blow an 18 point lead, Cuonzo might manage to get himself fired after all.

[Jas_lov]

Just as I suspected, UMASS is no match physically for Tennessee. That Iowa/Tennessee winner was one of the easier "upset" picks for me. Not really an upset though since TN was favored. Either would have been tough for Duke as well with their size and I'm kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on TN/IA over Duke.

[chesapeake]

So let me ask:

The beginning of the end for Coach K at Duke? Losing to a 14th and 15th seed in the past three years, doesn't win the ACC? Seems silly to suggest such a thing, but this is clearly not the Duke of old

It is silly to suggest such a thing. Even though I suggested it earlier.

Every program is going to have more severe peaks and valleys in the era of "one and done." Jabari Parker, perhaps the top pick in the next draft, laid a big turd today. Freshmen do that, no matter how good they may be.

Coach K's end at Duke will have nothing to do with a couple of bad tourney performances (sandwiched around a regional final). When he decides he's done, then he'll go. But he's given no indication that he's ready to retire. 2 things point to him staying -- he's continuing on as Olympic coach through the next Olympics and he's got 3 of the top 10 recruits in the country coming in next season.

Certainly, the end of the road for him is not too far off -- he's 67. But he'll punch his own ticket.

[Matthean]

FiveThirtyEight | Duke's Lehigh Loss Was Bad, But Mercer Was Worser (http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/dukes-lehigh-loss-was-bad-but-mercer-was-worser/)

Worser?

[JonInMiddleGA]

A collection of reaction tweets from the game (and a few funny pics)
Macon's Mercer Bears upset Duke in NCAA Tournament | www.ajc.com (http://www.ajc.com/s/sports/mercer-stuns-duke-in-ncaa-tournament/)

[Butter]

I honestly think Coastal Carolina might give UVa a game. Might be more like an Albany/Florida type game where it stays around 10 points most of the game, but I think it won't be a blowout.

The bracket just opened up for UMass to get an A10 team into the Sweet 16. Let's do it, Minutemen.


Welp.

[BishopMVP]

Do the officials have the balls to call that a flagrant in the New Mexico game? Edit - Yes. Wow

[cmp]

Hmmm. I don't really like that call.

[molson]

Maybe it'll affect their bigs a little bit - Stokes doesn't exactly look to be in shape - but college players getting tired is an overrated trope. They're 20 y/o kids who are used to playing multiple games in a day at AAU tournaments or hours of pick-up basketball in the offseason. 1 game 36 hours ago won't affect them much.Tenn 2.5 point favorite.


I think if anything its the opposite. I know teams with byes and double-byes in the Big East tournament tended to struggle and lose often against teams coming of back-to-back-wins on consecutive days. I don't know how well the play-in teams have done in "round 2" relative to similarly-seeded peers, but I feel like if a #1 ever beats a #16, it might be in that kind of scenario. The #16 wins a conference tournament, beats somebody in Dayton, and then takes that momentum into a game against a #1 team who hasn't played an intense game in months.

[BishopMVP]

But Stanford hits their FT's and UNM didn't. That could've been a huuuuuuuuge call.If the Vols blow an 18 point lead, Cuonzo might manage to get himself fired after all.Hey, we practiced this by coming back from double-digit 1st-half deficits multiple times this year! Now, those were against teams like St. Bonaventure and URI, but hey, never say never.

[henry296]

I think if anything its the opposite. I know teams with byes and double-byes in the Big East tournament tended to struggle and lose often against teams coming of back-to-back-wins on consecutive days. I don't know how well the play-in teams have done in "round 2" relative to similarly-seeded peers, but I feel like if a #1 ever beats a #16, it might be in that kind of scenario. The #16 wins a conference tournament, beats somebody in Dayton, and then takes that momentum into a game against a #1 team who hasn't played an intense game in months.

That scenario sounds a lot like Cal Poly vs. Wichita state tonight.

[JonInMiddleGA]

but hey, never say never.

It's Tennessee b'ball, I never say never.

But if it happens, the hot seat that had just barely cooled off will rekindle in a hurry

edit to add: especially given Auburn's new hire this week

[MizzouRah]

Bracket decimated - Kodos elated!

+1 and my bracket is KILLED!

[BishopMVP]

Ugh. This little show-me 1-3-1 full court press has been shit all year.

Sampson Carter, stop putting the ball on the floor. Ever. Just spot up for 3's like you're Matt Bonner.

[nol]

Every program is going to have more severe peaks and valleys in the era of "one and done." Jabari Parker, perhaps the top pick in the next draft, laid a big turd today. Freshmen do that, no matter how good they may be.


That "perhaps" got way smaller after today. Not in an overreacting sense because he'll still be in the top 3, but defense has been a problem for him and getting benched for not being able to stop somebody on Mercer obviously does nothing to help there. If Embiid's back injury checks out as a huge red flag and Utah ends up with the first pick, maybe they'd pick Parker.

[BishopMVP]

That "perhaps" got way smaller after today. Not in an overreacting sense because he'll still be in the top 3, but defense has been a problem for him and getting benched for not being able to stop somebody on Mercer obviously does nothing to help there. If Embiid's back injury checks out as a huge red flag and Utah ends up with the first pick, maybe they'd pick Parker.NCAA tournament loss didn't hurt Kyrie Irving. Parker wasn't even the worst potential top 10 pick on that floor - Rodney Hood might've played himself out of the lottery.

[sterlingice]

Of course a tense KU game will be on while I can't watch during my commute home :(

SI

[BishopMVP]

Hahaha, look at this round man on Louisiana. It looks like Big Baby Davis ate Khalid El-Amin. And he's hitting step-back jumpers!

(I'd say I've given up on the UMass game.)

[sterlingice]

Hahaha, look at this round man on Louisiana. It looks like Big Baby Davis ate Khalid El-Amin. And he's hitting step-back jumpers!

(I'd say I've given up on the UMass game.)

You see the big dude on New Mexico State last night? He was a man of much size

SI

[BishopMVP]

You see the big dude on New Mexico State last night? He was a man of much size

SIOh, indeed. Apparently he's got a slightly smaller freshman brother there (only 7'3, 320) who redshirted this year. Twin towers next year.

[BishopMVP]

Big picture, 1st tournament berth in 16 years after like 5 years near the bubble, so overall a successful season. But sure doesn't feel great right now. I guess the best news is that Duke getting upset will somewhat overshadow that performance. Maybe Creighton and Kansas (sorry SI!) will lose too.

[Matthean]

I think if a 1 seed ever falls to a 16 seed it has to be something similar to the Kansas situation.

[Matthean]

ESPN chat is talking about a sad day for the McCaffery family but nobody is officially posting anything.

EDIT: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/24494968/tumor-removed-from-fran-mccafferys-son-found-to-be-malignant

[nol]

NCAA tournament loss didn't hurt Kyrie Irving. Parker wasn't even the worst potential top 10 pick on that floor - Rodney Hood might've played himself out of the lottery.

It didn't hurt him because 1) he played decently during the multiple games Duke played in the tournament because they actually made it out of the first round and 2) nobody else that year was any good.

It's not going out on a major limb to say he won't end up as the first pick - I'm pretty sure I made a post here earlier this season saying Parker would end up in the top 2-3 when the mock drafts had him at 5-6.

[nol]

I think if a 1 seed ever falls to a 16 seed it has to be something similar to the Kansas situation.

There would also need to be a lot of chalk in the smaller conference tournaments for the 16 seeds to be as good as possible.

[Matthean]

File away for next year when doing brackets.

A First Four team has made 2nd round all four years since tourney went to 68 teams.

[BishopMVP]

I think if a 1 seed ever falls to a 16 seed it has to be something similar to the Kansas situation.Ehh... Embiid had some great games and stretches, but overall he wasn't even Kansas' best player. This wasn't Kenyon Martin or Marcus Camby dragging some average/above-average players to a 1 seed - every single Kansas starter would be by far the best player on this EKU team. Kansas is only in a game because they turned the ball over 13 times in the first 15 minutes. Kansas is dominating shooting and rebounding.

[BishopMVP]

It didn't hurt him because 1) he played decently during the multiple games Duke played in the tournament because they actually made it out of the first round and 2) nobody else that year was any good.

It's not going out on a major limb to say he won't end up as the first pick - I'm pretty sure I made a post here earlier this season saying Parker would end up in the top 2-3 when the mock drafts had him at 5-6.He got dominated in that loss by the other potential #1 pick Derrick Williams and it really didn't matter.

I'd still take Wiggins over Parker, but I don't think this game will have any effect on his eventual draft position. I do think this slightly ups the chance he comes back to school for another year.

[BishopMVP]

"I think Eastern Kentucky needs to hit some shots here in the 2nd half because it allows you to set your defense and will give you some confidence."

Disagree Len - I think EKU needs to hit some shots because that's how you score points.

[nol]

He got dominated in that loss by the other potential #1 pick Derrick Williams and it really didn't matter.

I'd still take Wiggins over Parker, but I don't think this game will have any effect on his eventual draft position. I do think this slightly ups the chance he comes back to school for another year.

Yeah, we're talking about the same thing. This game doesn't change much, but Parker could have had a decent shot at being chosen over Wiggins if he had gone off for a few games while Wiggins struggled.

But I'll agree to disagree on the "Derrick Williams dominated Irving" angle because Irving had 28 himself and it's not like either one spent any time guarding the other.

[SackAttack]

File away for next year when doing brackets.

Big part of that might be the teams they're picking for the First Four. You see a lot of fringe major conference teams in those games. The idea of the play-in, people might immediately think of 16 seeds, but that isn't how it's worked out. They haven't gone to four play-ins for 16's. You see play-ins for 11 seeds, 12 seeds...

So, yeah, given that, I'd *expect* at least one First Four team to be advancing every year.

[sterlingice]

Ehh... Embiid had some great games and stretches, but overall he wasn't even Kansas' best player. This wasn't Kenyon Martin or Marcus Camby dragging some average/above-average players to a 1 seed - every single Kansas starter would be by far the best player on this EKU team. Kansas is only in a game because they turned the ball over 13 times in the first 15 minutes. Kansas is dominating shooting and rebounding.

Except probably Tharpe, which is how you end up with 13 turnovers in the first 15 minutes.

SI

[RainMaker]

Kansas needing a lot of help from the officials to hang on. Might be in trouble in round 2.

[sterlingice]

Kansas needing a lot of help from the officials to hang on. Might be in trouble in round 2.

With the Embiid injury, Kansas has not seemed like much more than a 2/3rd shot to get to the Sweet 16. Even with him, we've been shaky but this gives a ready made excuse

SI

[PilotMan]

Great to see Duke go out that fast. Great job by Mercer. They played their asses off.

[RainMaker]

Not sure how Mercer was a 14 seed. As fun as it is to see Duke out, they did get burned by the seeding.

[sterlingice]

Wow. Okie State-Gonzaga refs getting paid by the foul?

SI

[PilotMan]

My bracket is officially blown beyond repair. I did much better last year.

[BishopMVP]

Not sure how Mercer was a 14 seed. As fun as it is to see Duke out, they did get burned by the seeding.Mercer's 80th in RPI, and no one below them got a better seed. Mercer showed some fight in losing at Texas by 3, but close losses don't matter for seeding and their only win against an RPI team better than 138 was one at Mississippi. They're actually not even the "best" 14 seed - Western Michigan was 69th in RPI.

[Buccaneer]

My bracket is officially blown beyond repair. I did much better last year.

My son's bracket is still ok but he got really hurt with Stanford beating UNM.

[RainMaker]

Mercer's 80th in RPI, and no one below them got a better seed. Mercer showed some fight in losing at Texas by 3, but close losses don't matter for seeding and their only win against an RPI team better than 138 was one at Mississippi. They're actually not even the "best" 14 seed - Western Michigan was 69th in RPI.

They just looked much better than most 14 seed teams. And with what FGCU did last year, maybe the A-Sun is being vastly underrated.

[sterlingice]

This is just ugly and painful to watch. TIme to grab a shower before the next set of games get too deep

SI

[BishopMVP]

My bracket is officially blown beyond repair. I did much better last year.This is easily the worst I've done in the opening round in awhile, but I lucked out in that only 1 other person out of 26 in my money pool has Arizona winning like I do. He has Mich/Mich St/'Cuse in the Final 4, I have Florida/Louisville/Villanova (my "unique" pick), so I still have a fairly clear path to winning if Arizona can carry me.

53 fouls (and counting) in this Ok State-Gonzaga game. It wouldn't have made a difference (ticky-tack reffing probably would've fouled out all our bigs against Maymon/Stokes), but UMass/Tennessee had like 11 in the first half. Noticeably different levels of contact allowed.

Btw, what did the announcer say about Karnowski that he's repeatedly apologizing for?

[sterlingice]

This is easily the worst I've done in the opening round in awhile, but I lucked out in that only 1 other person out of 26 in my money pool has Arizona winning like I do. He has Mich/Mich St/'Cuse in the Final 4, I have Florida/Louisville/Villanova (my "unique" pick), so I still have a fairly clear path to winning if Arizona can carry me.

53 fouls (and counting) in this Ok State-Gonzaga game. It wouldn't have made a difference (ticky-tack reffing probably would've fouled out all our bigs against Maymon/Stokes), but UMass/Tennessee had like 11 in the first half. Noticeably different levels of contact allowed.

Btw, what did the announcer say about Karnowski that he's repeatedly apologizing for?

He said it was "Hack a Polack" time when they went after Karnowski.

SI

[BishopMVP]

They just looked much better than most 14 seed teams. And with what FGCU did last year, maybe the A-Sun is being vastly underrated.Yeah, those computers are biased against them :)

Duke had that 1-pt win over Vermont, and worse loss to Notre Dame early in the year. The narrative is that Duke's looked a lot better recently because they beat good teams, but they still had that 10-pt loss to a bad Wake team and questionable victory over a Clemson team right around Mercer's level in the last few games. They were a 3 seed, not a 1 seed, for a reason.

Down to 6 perfect brackets at ESPN.

[SportsDino]

Wish I went back and made my billion dollar bracket consistent with ESPN so I could track them in on one page. My ESPN bracket is at 21 of 24 and doing all right on the games underway (99.9% yay). My Yahoo bracket, which only has minor differences, is 17 of 24.

The only differences are the four losses with no ripple effects (I still have a little bleeding from Duke to come though but that was the same in both). I couldn't remember my 7-10 and 6-11 upsets correctly for the first round.

If I'm perfect for the rest of the tourney I will end up 4 games back in the imperfect copy I made for Yahoo. I couldn't even make mistakes that had a chance! :banghead:

It still is a snowball in hell likely to melt at any moment, but it would be ironic if the primary bracket would end up placing since I play 2 per year for ages (1 is B1G MSU always wins bracket).

[mauchow]

Of the 7 ESPN brackets, none have MSU or Florida as winners.

One of them has a final four of Dayton, North Dakota st, Wichita and North Carolina.

[sterlingice]

Yeah, those computers are biased against them :)

I think we've reached that adolescent point where we were with baseball stats about 10 years ago. Ranking stats are starting to get popular but used in a lot of bad ways kindof like some people use WAR now without much context (like neglecting that the defensive stats are way out of whack one year).

SI

[Matthean]

Of the 7 ESPN brackets, none have MSU or Florida as winners.

One of them has a final four of Dayton, North Dakota st, Wichita and North Carolina.

I get upsets happen, but the quality teams will start to win out. I say go crazy until about the Sweet 16. After that you get very few legit underdogs winning out.

[Suicane75]

So nerve racking that TruTV isn't on Comcasts basic tier.

[mauchow]

OH, man, not even close... missed by about a foot. Moving onto the next game.

[mauchow]

I get upsets happen, but the quality teams will start to win out. I say go crazy until about the Sweet 16. After that you get very few legit underdogs winning out.

Yeah, I wonder if they made any other brackets without so many reaches.. Oh, well; likely done after a few more hours anyway.

[Ragone]

If you had coastal Carolina as the last team
In the tourney from the Carolina's.. You could have
Made some money heh

[Matthean]

Duke and possibly UNC going out in round one.

[henry296]

If you had coastal Carolina as the last team
In the tourney from the Carolina's.. You could have
Made some money heh

Nc central is still left too

[BishopMVP]

I think we've reached that adolescent point where we were with baseball stats about 10 years ago. Ranking stats are starting to get popular but used in a lot of bad ways kindof like some people use WAR now without much context (like neglecting that the defensive stats are way out of whack one year).

SII think people decently understand the limitations. The bigger issue is that there are so few OOC games (13ish each team), and the teams from power conferences do rarely go on the road against a team on the A-Sun's level. But it's still hard to argue the A-Sun is underrated as a whole. Mercer and FGCU are obviously the upper-tier of it, but the conference as a whole was 4-34 vs. power conference teams (wins over Ole Miss, Seton Hall, VaTech and South Carolina). RPI has plenty of issues, but it's a decent quick reference point, and the only top 100 wins the entire conference had were Mercer over Ole Miss and ETSU over Stephen F. Austin.

Mercer may be better than a typical 14 seed, but if they are it's because there is more parity than ever, not because the committee under-seeded them. Manhattan, NM State, Harvard, ND State, (UNC-Central), Louisiana-Lafayette - there were a solid number of auto-bid teams in that 12-14 range that have looked very good the last 2 days.



I could watch Bryce Cotton and Marcus Paige go at it all day. Go OT!

[sterlingice]

The back and forth between Carolina and Providence is fun

SI

[BishopMVP]

(If McAdoo hits a FT here, which is no gimme) Providence kinda blew that by not going for the 2 for 1 opportunity.

[SirFozzie]

Providence looks like the moment's caught up with them

[mauchow]

UNC gonna pull this off.. or is it going to be our first buzzer beater when behind coming right now?

[sterlingice]

C'mon, Buzzer beater time!

SI

[dzilla77]

Wow - gotta get a board!

[sterlingice]

Man, poor Providence

SI

[Peregrine]

Wow we just barely missed the worst two days for North Carolina (the state) basketball in a long time. Would have been devastating to see Duke, NC State and UNC all drummed out in the first round.

[Thomkal]

Big game of the night is starting! CCU vs Virginia :)

[Scarecrow]

Seriously, an 'administrative' technical for a dunk during warm ups???

[sterlingice]

What a stupid rule. Some K-State walkon engineering major dunked in warmups and they gave a technical to them and Kentucky started the game up 1-0 before the tip.

SI

[Thomkal]

Coastal off to a surprisingly good start, ahead by 4

[mauchow]

OOOH MY LOOOORD! FOUL ON A 3 POINTER! 4 pt play to t ie!?!?

[sterlingice]

OOOH MY LOOOORD! FOUL ON A 3 POINTER! 4 pt play to t ie!?!?

Holy crap! That was amazing!

SI

[EagleFan]

Are you freaking kidding me? Defender has one job there DON'T FOUL.

[mauchow]

FUCKIN NAILS IT. WOW