2014 OFFICIAL NCAA Tournament Thread: Connecticut wins the title

[Kodos]

Very happy for the Flyers. Would love to see them in the Final Four.

[Butter]

Promised my wife we could watch Saturday night's game in a sports bar. The OSU game I watched by myself, the Syracuse game I watched in South Carolina the night before a wedding, and last night was at home with my wife and 2 boys.

I suppose it'll be nice to soothe my sorrows with a bunch of other Flyer fans around.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Once Kyle Davis hit a 3 (that was maybe his 5th of the year?) I knew it was probably going to be a good night.

Correction, Kyle Davis going into last night's game: 1-16 from 3. Made has only 3 of the game last night to improve his season's percentage to .118 on the year.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Promised my wife we could watch Saturday night's game in a sports bar.

I'd like to have your wife talk to my wife.

[britrock88]

Disappointed SDSU couldn't hang on to knock off Arizona.

[Arles]

I was impressed with SDSU. Their defense was very good and I think the only had like 4 turnovers at the half. Thames was going off as well up until the final couple mins.

As an Arizona fan, this game gives me some hope as well. Nick started out 0-10 and Gabe was 0-6, both bigs (Rondae and Zeus) were in massive foul trouble early, SDSU protected the ball very well and I think we hit 2 3s in the first half. All that said, the team kept battling and pulled out a win. Essentially everything the talking heads said would hurt our team happened (foul trouble, off night by the main scorers, didn't force TOs) and we still won. Plus, the free throw shooting has actually been passable so far (another big knock).

Wisconsin will be a battle, but Arizona continues to be a balanced scoring team. 4 guys had double digit scoring night and Zeus would have had more than his 7 had he not had those 3 early fouls and played just 20 min. Looking forward to Sat night!

[mauchow]

No close games as we get close to halfway through the second half. boooring.

I had zero interest in the ISU/UConn despite having picked UConn over ISU in my 99.1% ESPN Bracket. That'll surely get me into the 99.5ish% range along with Michigan over Tennessee. It'll be cool to be in the top .1 % for a few hours.. and possibly into tomorrow if LVille and msu win.

[EagleFan]

Not sure how I feel about this Iowa State / Connecticut game. In our pool I have both teams. I get a little more of a payout for this game if Connecticut wins but thought Iowa State had a better chance of making final 4.

[Warhammer]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Promised my wife we could watch Saturday night's game in a sports bar. The OSU game I watched by myself, the Syracuse game I watched in South Carolina the night before a wedding, and last night was at home with my wife and 2 boys.

I suppose it'll be nice to soothe my sorrows with a bunch of other Flyer fans around.

Caught the Syracuse game at Chappy's that was a ton of fun. It's always great to catch the local game while it's on at a bar during tourney time.

[mauchow]

That should have been Michigan ball. What the hell?

[mauchow]

WOW! 1 pt game, 11 seconds left. Michigan ball, two fouls for Tenn to try for a steal again...

[mauchow]

TURNOVER! HOLY BALLLLLS!

[PilotMan]

Holy crap.

[mauchow]

WHAAAAT IS GOIIINNNNG ONNNNN?

[PilotMan]

I know why I never really like basketball. I never get the calls right and think that the fouls are wrong. I see other stuff that seems wrong but never gets called. I guess that's all on me. But it's a reasonable explanation as to why I can never get into it as a full time sport.

[Solecismic]

I try not to blame everything on the refs, but this has been a WTF last minute here. Should have been over minutes ago.

[PilotMan]

seems like at least half the time that would have been called a block. It seems so arbitrary.

[mauchow]

Either a block or no call on the charge would have been better than the charge... I guess a make up call for giving tennessee the ball when it should have been michigans?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Some awfully tough 50-50 calls down the stretch there.

I'd have rather fouled with 4-5 seconds left but defense got 'em this far, they decided to gamble that it would get 'em through & I can't really fault that much at all.

[tarcone]

Looked like a charge. You cant lower your shoulder and displace a defensive player. Pretty obvious call.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Looked like a charge. You cant lower your shoulder and displace a defensive player. Pretty obvious call.

On that particular play

That's a flop, Michigan vs Tennessee!

— CAROLYN PECK (@CAROLYNPECK) March 29, 2014

[tarcone]

Seriously? A flop? Oh boy.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Seriously? A flop? Oh boy.

Only because there wasn't grass in sight, otherwise it would have been better described as a dive.

Fwiw, I'm not overly critical of the defender, convincing an official is part of the game, has been for as long as I can remember.

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Seriously? A flop? Oh boy.

Of course it was a flop. You actually think Stokes generated enough force to knock down Morgan with one step?

There were some brutal calls both ways down the stretch both ways.

[HerRealName]

Go Sparty now. Three BiG teams in the Elite 8 would be nice.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by HerRealName

You actually think Stokes generated enough force to knock down Morgan with one step?

That's actually at least conceivable, it's the amount of contact actually made that makes the call a bad one imo.

[PilotMan]

I'm not convinced that the defenders feet were set prior to the offensive player starting his drive.

[ColtCrazy]

Anyone want to have a street race between Louisville and Lexington right now?

[tarcone]

He lowered his shoulder. Thats the foul.

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That's actually at least conceivable, it's the amount of contact actually made that makes the call a bad one imo.

A post defender can certainly be knocked back on a post move but getting knocked down like that takes acting.

Morgan played maybe the best game I've ever seen him play. I'm sure he's had better scoring games but he used to be a wuss - he played really tough today.

[Matthean]

Just glad Michigan won. We had a number of people around the TV at work to watch the finish. Not really sure I like either team to be the one who takes on Michigan next. It would be nice to have three teams in the Elite 8 but that requires wanting MSU to win.

[PilotMan]

UK is really outmatched in this game on paper, but I don't think that they could have drawn up a worst start to it.

[SportsDino]

Virginia and MSU are playing hard, I think this is the highest energy level I have seen to start a game in the tourney. Fun to watch two defensive juggernauts punch each other in the mouth.

[Matthean]

Both are games now.

[tarcone]

Good games.
My final four is Florida, MSU, Wiscy and Kentucky. I think i win the pool if this happens. But need big 2nd halves tonight.

[PilotMan]

I have FL, AZ, Virg and Louiville. Not a big surprise that they all still have a shot at it.

[ColtCrazy]

Louisville must feel sick. So many times they could have put Kentucky away.

[EagleFan]

Wow, tight games today.

[Desnudo]

Sure looked like Kentucky ball on replay

[Desnudo]

And not a foul

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

And not a foul

He got him on the body. Clean block up high, but a lot of body contact initiated by Randle

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

Sure looked like Kentucky ball on replay

You have better eyes than me if you can say that definitively.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

He got him on the body. Clean block up high, but a lot of body contact initiated by Randle

This.

[Desnudo]

You're allowed to go straight up as a defender which he did...announcers seemed to agree

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

You have better eyes than me if you can say that definitively.

I suppose I do. It seemed obvious from the baseline.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

You're allowed to go straight up as a defender which he did...announcers seemed to agree

This was my thought. Wow, this team has the talent to win it all, if they can put 40 full minutes together.

[ColtCrazy]

Kentucky's problem this year has always been a lack of intelligent play and composure. It was Louisville that lost their composure tonight.

And the Big Ten got knocked but have 3 of the final 8. Not bad.

[EagleFan]

Are they seriously calling that missed free throw a major gamble? 1.4 seconds and no timeouts. If they make that 2/3 court shot at the buzzer it was meant for them to win.

[NobodyHere]

Well if you make that FT and they get a 2/3 court shot then at least it's OT.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Well if you make that FT and they get a 2/3 court shot then at least it's OT.

Make the free throw and they have a chance to throw a long in bounds pass for a shorter shot (see Christian Laettner). Miss it and the clock starts right away with no chance to get a shorter shot.