Who will cut down the nets in April?

[GoldenEagle]

The college basketball year is far enough to long to establish true contenders. Who so you think will take the title and hence be cutting down the nets in April? Overall, I think it is a down year for college basketball and a slew of teams have a realistic chance of winning. The key will be who can avoid injuries and break-downs in the stretch run. At least two or three of the top teams are venerable to getting knocked out of the race.

I think a team like West Virginia is one to keep a close eye on. Duke is steady but they are subject to getting beat. Florida has not had any real impressive victories and I think they will lose two or three in a weak SEC conference. Gonzaga is struggling in their own conference. Texas is hot, but if they pick-up a couple of injuries they could go back to mediocre.

[MrBug708]

Kansas or UNC

[Lathum]

uconn baby!

they are built for the tournament

[Swaggs]

WVU!

Maybe.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

WVU!

Maybe.

got a shot. Great guard play and solid defense. Their reliance on the 3 scares me a little.

[cmp]

Michigan St.

If not them I like West Virginia.

[GoldenEagle]

Originally Posted by gold101

Michigan St.

If not them I like West Virginia.

That is a homer opinion if I have ever seen one.

I will be the first to admit, I voted for Memphis. But I think they have proved the right to be up there. I have watched MSU play and I think they have some key weaknesses. I just do not see them going very far. In fact, it one of the teams I have circled as a chance of getting upset in an early round.

[biological warrior]

No love for UNLV?
Well here's my pick: UNLV over Duke, with Larry Johnson being POTG and Coach Tarkanian proving he will outlast Krzewskie.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Lathum

(WVU's) reliance on the 3 scares me a little.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. I think that this is the year for Villanova. But if any of these teams hits the wrong matchup in the tourney, or run into a crazy hot team (like WVU last year), then they can forget it. I don't think any of these teams has the unbeatable label like UConn or Michigan State in years past, so it's too early to tell. Call me again in late March right before the round of 16 for a better idea.

[cody8200]

You got Illinois but no Indiana on the poll? If Indiana can get D.J White healthy in another 2 weeks or so and everyone else stays healthy, I believe around tournament time we will be unbeatable. IU plays UConn at home on February 4th. I believe its a game they will win and a game I have courtside seats for

[Butter]

Yes, but you fail to take into account "Crazy" Mike Davis.

[Kodos]

Go Hoosiers!!!!

[cody8200]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Yes, but you fail to take into account "Crazy" Mike Davis.

I'm hoping he forgets to show up at the tournament in March and flies to the NIT instead. Though seriously, he will probably be our coach for another 5 years. I have no doubt that they will re-sign him after this year. His coaching has seemed to improve some this year. Hopefully that trend will continue.

[cartman]

Texas will exact revenge on Duke in the final.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by cartman

Texas will exact revenge on Duke in the final.

On the one hand I would really like to see that, obviously, as a Longhorn fan. On the other hand, why would I bother watching sports anymore if the Longhorns simultaneously hold the baseball, football, and basketball national championships?

Everything else will feel like a letdown.

I guess I could pull for a baseball repeat from our preseason #1 team. To legitimize the triple crown by winning them all in the same "school year" as some people say.

Such a tough time to be a Texas grad and sports fan.

[spleen1015]

J.J. Redick won't lose in the tournament again.

[dixieflatline]

Even though the zags have played a very tough schedule and won many of those game Sagarin's predictor only thinks they are the 21st best team in the country. Similiarly, it ranks MSU at 26, and WVU at 20. While these teams still have time to show that they are better than this(except maybe the zags) I think it is unlikely any of these team will be cutting down the nets. Sagarin's ratings are far from perfect but every year teams rated high in the RPI or ELO_CHESS but low by the predictor seem to take an early exit. When I see a team like that it raises a red flag in my mind. FWIW, my money is on UCONN even though I am not a fan of them at all.

[panerd]

You heard it here first. Quin Snyder and Mizzou will be cutting down the nets! Kansas fails to qualify for the tournament.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by panerd

Quin Snyder will be cutting down the nets!

This will never, ever happen.

[gottimd]

So this isn't a thread about the belittling of the New Jersey Nets in April?

[Noop]

I am going to go with Texas.

[streetballer22]

I'm gonna go with the obvious choice in UCONN but I think that Louisville is a serious contender.

[BuffaloHuskey]

My Huskies are looking better, but they still have not put in a solid 40 minutes. They are sloppy with the ball at times which scares me. They are very deep and have 5 or 5 players who could put up 20 on any given night.

I can see Duke getting knocked out in the Sweet 16 due to lack of depth. Reddick will only carry them so far. I think Georgetown exposed some weaknesess in the Duke armor.

I really like Villanova's chances as they have such great guard play. I also think Texas has a solid shot as they are a very balanced team

[General Mike]

Rutgers

[gottimd]

Just in case you were wondering what the money lines were at currently for the Champ:

Duke +200

U Conn +400

Texas +700

Memphis +1000

Villanova +1200

Michigan St +1800

Gonzaga +2000

W Virginia +2000

Florida +2000

Indiana +2000

Illinois +2500

Washington +3000

Arizona +3500

Oklahoma +4000

Boston College +4000

Syracuse +4000

Pittsburgh +4000

NC State +4000

UCLA +5000

Kansas +5000

Ohio St +5000

Tennessee +5000

LSU +6000

Louisville +7500

Maryland +7500

N Carolina +10000

Kentucky +10000

Wake Forest +10000

Iowa +10000

Wisconsin +10000

Arkansas +10000

Georgetown +10000

Xavier +10000

George Washington +10000

Michigan +10000

Nevada +10000

Marquette +10000

California +10000

Field (All Others Not Listed) +10000

Cincinnati +20000

Oklahoma St +20000

Iowa St +20000

Texas A&M +20000

UAB +20000

Miami Florida +20000

Air Force +20000

Georgia Tech +30000

Stanford +30000

Alabama +30000

Notre Dame +30000

N Iowa +30000

Temple +30000

Old Dominion +30000

Vanderbilt +30000

Ohio U +30000

Wisc Milwaukee +30000

Florida St +30000

Kansas St +30000

Clemson +30000

Texas Tech +50000

Mississippi St +50000

S Illinois +50000

NC Charlotte +50000

Virginia Tech +50000

Depaul +50000

Missouri +50000

UNLV +50000

S Carolina +50000

Buffalo +50000

UTEP +50000

Pacific +50000

Wichita St +50000

Creighton +50000

Missouri St +50000

Houston +50000

Northwestern +50000

Pennsylvania +50000

Utah +99900

St Josephs +99900

Minnesota U +99900

Dayton +99900

Utah St +99900

W Michigan +99900

Miami Ohio +99900

Oregon St +99900

Oregon +99900

Detroit +99900

Purdue +99900

Nebraska +99900

Bowling Green +99900

New Mexico +99900

Washington St +99900

LA Lafayette +99900

St Marys CA +99900

Hawaii +99900

Princeton +99900

Wyoming +99900

Denver +99900

Virginia +99900

Arizona St +99900

[ice4277]

I guess since I don't really see a clear-cut favorite (or even a couple strong leaders) I will go with my preseason pick of Texas. No way you could get me to put money on that though.

[George]

Originally Posted by ice4277

I guess since I don't really see a clear-cut favorite...

Yeah, there are some fun teams to watch and several that can make a run at it. It should be an exciting March.

[GoldenEagle]

Originally Posted by streetballer22

I'm gonna go with the obvious choice in UCONN but I think that Louisville is a serious contender.

Louisville?


HAHAHAHAAHAHHHAA

Wait....

Louisville?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

[dixieflatline]

He meant Louisville is a serious contender for the NIT title which they are.

[Huckleberry]

Originally Posted by gottimd

Just in case you were wondering what the money lines were at currently for the Champ:

Put me down for $1 on Oregon, $1 on Utah, $1 on Saint Joe's, and $1 on Nebraska.

[hoosiergoody]

Ok- it is time to put your "i wish they would win" aside and be realistic! Louisville???


UConn, Villanova, W. Va., and Duke are the top threats in my book.

And, as much as I want IU to win, they will lose in the 2nd round b/c they will have an off shooting night... aaarrrggghhh!!!

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by hoosiergoody

as much as I want IU to win, they will lose in the 2nd round b/c they will have an off shooting night... aaarrrggghhh!!!

Actually, they were one of the bets that I liked from that list. Florida is clearly the best bet (how old are these odds?)

I also like Pitt, NC State, Ohio St., Georgetown, Kentucky and North Carolina.

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Actually, they were one of the bets that I liked from that list. Florida is clearly the best bet (how old are these odds?)

Odds were as of yesterday, January 23, 2006.

[Schmidty]

Why is Michigan State not on this poll???????????? I refuse to vote on principle.

[tarcone]

I would say Iowa if they didnt have to play on the road....I would love to see Memphis do it just to stick it in the "money" conferences eyes.....But, realistically (and this kills me to say it) Duke will win it.......BLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEECCCCCHHHHHHH

[st.cronin]

North Dakota State

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I would say Iowa if they didnt have to play on the road....I would love to see Memphis do it just to stick it in the "money" conferences eyes.....But, realistically (and this kills me to say it) Duke will win it.......BLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEECCCCCHHHHHHH

Why Duke over, say, UConn. They will have a very tough time in the second game of every weekend, given their appalling lack of depth.

Plus, its very difficult to beat 5 good teams in a row without having your lead (and in Duke's case, only) post player getting into foul trouble. As Georgetown just showed us, they can be beaten by any number of teams when Shelden Williams is in foul trouble.

[gottimd]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

North Dakota State

GO BISON!!!!!

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by panerd

You heard it here first. Quin Snyder and Mizzou will be cutting down the nets! Kansas fails to qualify for the tournament.

Go put your money where your mouth is. You can see they're 500:1 down there

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Kansas or UNC

Hope you didn't put any money on Kansas.

SI

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I also like ...Ohio St...

At best, Ohio State will be the West Virginia of this year's tournament. They are absolutely deadly when they get going from the perimeter, but they have no interior presence to speak of beyond Terence Dials. It's a shame Dials is graduating, as OSU would've been a title contender to begin next season with Oden and the other terrific freshmen coming in. As it is, they'll be lucky to get a Carmelo Anthony-esque run out of the freshmen before they move on to the NBA.

[WSUCougar]

Washington St +99900

Smart money.

[dixieflatline]

Again dipping into the Sagarin ratings these are the teams I think are being underrated:

LSU +6000

Cincinnati +20000

Utah St +99900

Nebraska +99900

Washington St +99900

Specifically Cincinnati. The predictor loves them(#9), I can't see them missing out on the field, they have had some close loses and some loses to underated teams(Xavier), and have played a difficult schedule. ESPN currently predicts them as a #8 seed and no #8 seed should have odds that high against them.

And what is with Colorado not being on the list? They are clearly a better than many of the +99900 teams and have a great shot of at least getting to the tourney. If not for them I would think the "field" bet would be pretty poor.

[Karlifornia]

I'm liking UConn so far...they seem like they will be real tough to knock off come tourney time.

[cmp]

Originally Posted by GoldenEagle

That is a homer opinion if I have ever seen one.

I will be the first to admit, I voted for Memphis. But I think they have proved the right to be up there. I have watched MSU play and I think they have some key weaknesses. I just do not see them going very far. In fact, it one of the teams I have circled as a chance of getting upset in an early round.

The problem with that being a homer opinion is that I'm a Wolverine fan.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

At best, Ohio State will be the West Virginia of this year's tournament. They are absolutely deadly when they get going from the perimeter, but they have no interior presence to speak of beyond Terence Dials. It's a shame Dials is graduating, as OSU would've been a title contender to begin next season with Oden and the other terrific freshmen coming in. As it is, they'll be lucky to get a Carmelo Anthony-esque run out of the freshmen before they move on to the NBA.

Well, all I think about them is that their chances of winning it are better than 2%, which makes it a good bet. Same with WVU last year.

I don't think they are likely to win, just more likely than 2%. UConn, at 2-1, would need to be estimated to have better than a 33% chance to win. I don't think any team has that good a chance, thus while I think UConn is the most likely team to win, I think OSU is a better bet.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Samdari

Well, all I think about them is that their chances of winning it are better than 2%, which makes it a good bet.

Yeah, you're right.

[CleBrownsfan]

I think Duke but I want 'Nova to win it... I'll be in Vegas for the second week of March Madness!!

[JeeberD]

I'll be rooting for conference-mate Memphis.

Good luck against UAB tonight, GE. I want y'all to still be undefeated in conference when we take you down next month...

[GoldenEagle]

Does anyone think IU should be in this poll now?