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If we're dreaming, it's gotta be Duke becoming the first #1 to lose in the first round.
As for Duke... they're underrated and in a relatively easy bracket - they're one of the safer bets going (dreams aside).
(Disclaimer: I have a degree (not undergrad) from Duke. I worry about this. If/when a 1 ever loses it will be a 1 that isn't really a 1 playing either a good team underseeded or a playin team - that is, a team that has played a game this week and gotten some of the jitters out. I don't expect Pine Bluff to win, but I'd much rather have had Duke on the 2 line (where they belong).
Also, I'm with VoodooR on the Zags beating Syracuse. Because of that, I've picked Vermont to win in a bracket that gives a bonus in the first round of the difference in seed line. That'll be worth a laugh when it's 95-52.
i figure, pretty much any game they're in is a glorified toss up, since they've got 6 guys shooting 39% or better from beyond the arc, with 5 of them having 80+ attempts.
I believe Boheim said that he'd be out at least the first weekend, which could be critical because both Gonzaga and FSU have some pretty talented frontcourts, and now the Orange have little depth down low.
I have them getting eaten by Baylor in the 8, but I wouldn't be shocked if Texas A&M takes them out before then.
I'm not sure I think too much of the Big 12, either (with the obvious exception of Kansas), but it's much stronger than the ACC.
I would say to anyone that hasn't been close to the action here in the ACC that it's hard to underestimate how weak the league is.
I strongly disagree - though few agree with me. The top of the league is down, yes (and resultant NCAA struggles should add to the ACC is way down meme). However, the bottom, normally the conference's strength, is up a bit - there's no really weak teams. Sagarin has the ACC as the #2 conference (behind the big 12, though closer to #1 than to #3 (Big East)), Pomeroy has the ACC #1 (though I think it overrates the league a bit). Sagarin predictors for each the top four leagues:
ACC: 2, 11, 17, 22, 26, 36, 46, 49, 57, 63, 66, 73B12: 1, 4, 10, 12, 16, 23, 42, 68, 70, 87, 89, 93
B10: 5, 7, 14, 20, 21, 53, 67, 81, 94, 159, 163
BEa: 3, 8, 13, 15, 24, 32, 33, 48, 54, 61, 65, 69, 79, 83, 156, 162
FSU, as good as its front court is, could really struggle versus Syracuse's defensive scheme. I am picking the Seminoles to win, but only as a differentiator, not because i believe it.
Anyway, they're not a mid-major, but I don't think the league is as strong as, say, the three other leagues you quote. We'll see, I guess.
(I may be unduly biased by being a Wake Forest season ticket holder. Perhaps the ACC is as good as you say. Wake Forest would be overrated as a 13 seed. (I don't think they should have gotten a bid.))
I have UTEP (beating Murray State in the 2nd round!) and Cornell. Siena is a possibility as well although I like A&M;.
I'm probably biased since KU blew Temple out of the water in Philly, while Cornell probably should have beaten KU in Lawrence, but Cornell has beaten some decent BCS schools this year and seem very well coached, while Temple seems very "meh" to me and very overseeded.
UTEP has good size and is playing well down the stretch, and I don't particularly like Butler or Vandy.
http://mmod.ncaa.com/
I believe some games are blacked out b/c they are being shown locally, but maybe not -- I tried to get the Nova game earlier and couldn't, but I can now.
Caught it last night. I'll make two caveats - I was a huge Reggie fan back in the day and I detested the Knicks with every fiber of my being.
BUT
Man, they really made Reggie out to be some sort of clutch savior and John Starks as some chump. It was ridiculous. They completely glossed over the fact that Reggie Miller, one of THE BEST free throw shooters in NBA history - clunked a free throw at the end of Game 6. They completely glossed over the fact the Pacers blew several chances to beat the Knicks in 1994 and 1995. And that John Starks made some huge baskets down the stretch and played great defense. The PACERS were the choke artists, not the Knicks.
That was really a great Pacers team that completely underachieved. They were better than the Knicks, but they had this starry-eyed look the entire time and were completely intimidated playing at MSG. I mean, they dropped, what 31 of 33 over one stretch with their only saving grace being an incredible 18 second stretch by Reggie and a missed lay up by Patrick Ewing?
And of course, even when they finally beat the Knicks, they were disposed of by the Magic. Who lost to the Rockets.
Still, it was an entertaining film - even my wife, not an NBA fan - was enjoying it.
I've really enjoyed the 30 on 30 series thus far. The USFL was the best, I enjoyed the U and the only one I really haven't liked was the Jimmy the Greek one which seemed pointless and was silly when they had an actor portray him.
Really looking forward to seeing the Michael Jordan in the minors and the Paul Westhead films.
That's because the CBS website is ####### terrible.
"For a long time, Miami was bad. Then they hired Howard Schnellenberger, who recruited players from the inner city. Those players were good. That made Miami good. Those players were also loud and enthusiastic, and frequently engaged in antics that other teams found to be in poor taste."
Well, yeah. I know that. Everyone knows that.
that being said, i think they'll win in round 2. reynolds couldn't buy a bucket today, and i don't see that happening (let me count...) 8 games in a row.
Well, yeah. I know that. Everyone knows that.
I was pretty unaware Miami was so bad before. I grew up with them being dominant - you kinda forget that back in the day, they were not very good. I kinda wish they had focused on that more rather than the good days. Also, they completely omitted Jim Kelly who was a huge part of them turning things around.
Wouldn't've gotten in probably anyway.
WF was definitely overseeded, but I think they've a case for being in the tourney - despite how frustratingly they play. I'll put it this way, they're better than Florida (who made it), but not as good as VPI (though I think I get why Tech got left off).
I have UTEP (beating Murray State in the 2nd round!)
My upset-rewarding pool has this as well.
4 for 4 in the tourney, woot!
Seemed very un-quick to me, to be honest. Had good low post moves, but looks like he couldn't face up anyone, couldn't back down a real PF/C, and couldn't bang with a PF/C on defense.
W&M;was up 72-69 before UNC scored the last 11.
My wife, who hates basketball, actually turned away from the computer to watch parts of it.
I don't think this is possible -- if you consider Ewing a great center, I think you have him well above people. I don't think "Ewing is a great center" is really a popular opinion. Maybe you're a "large great" kind of guy. :)
I keep waiting for Georgetown to make a run, but... it's just not happening. Ohio seems to get into the paint whenever they want.
Edit: Ah, here it is. 9 point game.
6:38 left, so I've got time for my half-hour trip home and still catch the end, right?
God, I hate televised basketball.
Sounds like a road game for Marquette, kudos for the Washington fans for coming south. They have been in close games all year, they won't get rattled.
Anyone else read Home Land, by Sam Lipsyte?* Adds some extra comic value to the nickname "Catamounts." Makes me pull for them all the more.
* If you haven't, you should. Very funny book. His new one is good, too.
Go Panthers!
Apparently the NCAA has imported refs from the NBA to officiate this tournament. Good lord. I swear that was Dick Bavetta doing the Nova game.
Woot!
Edit: And now they can't miss.
####### Washington shot 63% from beyond the arc. Of course, Marquette did too, but Marquette was one of the best shooting teams in the country while Washington was one of the worst. Whatever. Still a successful season.
So, I can relax for at least another year that Duke won't be the first 1 to lose to a 16 but I then had to watch my Cowboys fold and my cousin's school (NMSU) go down. I should quit while I'm tied.
Edit: That said, I still think the officials are very poor in college, though this guy appeared to get it right.
(The part of me that agrees with this is the part that gets annoyed when people pretend college basketball is more rooted in the "fundamentals" than NBA ball; if that was ever true, it doesn't appear to be so now, not judging from the games I've watched.)
I agree. Some people think that because there is less iso, so they see a guy cut, catch a pass, and score and they say "wow, fundamentals."
SDSU played Tennessee tough, but Tennessee was a little better.
Anybody else think Cal has a good shot to beat Duke? I have seen Cal three times--they looked awful once, losing to my Bruins, but looked good the other two times.
I don't know that it's a huge factor, but free throws in games come after you're fouled. It's possible some of the fouls are hard enough to affect the free throws.
Anyone who plays pickup ball can attest to the number of missed free throws when guys are just picking teams. Stick them in front of 25,000 screaming people, television cameras that broadcast their shot to millions more, run them hard for about 30 minutes, in a win-or-go-home situation, and see how they do.
RR, yes, Cal can beat Duke. They probably won't and wouldn't win a series, but they can and it won't blow me away if it happens. Remember 1993.
College is becoming more like the NBA every year. I've watched some high end D-III lately and those guys play good fundamental basketball and make a lot of free throws. They also don't have media timeouts except in the playoffs. It's heaven. I think a lot of the poor college officiating is due to the fact that the game has changed and yet you have lots of older refs who learned to call a slower game, smoother, cleaner game.
It's pretty surprising to lose to a 10 seed as a 2.
This probably bumps Samhan up into the end of the first round, ya?
As for Samhan... well Richmond was a guard based team, right? And Nova clearly has no inside players. I mean he's a tall, in control player with good low post moves and nice touch. But he's not quick and I don't think he can guard. I think he's destined to be a Euro pro.
I might be biased because I've seen him in Moraga, but Samhan is a good passer, has good post moves, and is carrying his team deep into the tournament. I get that he's not much of a defender against quicker guys, but it seems like there's a decent place for him in the league to come off the bench with a team's second unit. He's also an excellent rebounder.
Do you really think he doesn't get drafted?
He's been the best player in the tournament, but I think a lot of his skills will be offset a bit in the supremely athletic NBA.
I wouldn't mind drafting him in the mid second but I wouldn't take him in the first round. I also think this draft is pretty deep in terms of late first-second round draft picks.
Nova's entire offensive game plan seemed to predicated on an assumption that they had bought the refs out. Drive, stumble, wait for the foul call. Only St. Mary's was smart enough to not even get close to fouling, letting the Nova ball handler to fall down.
I've long been an admirer of Jay Wright, but he got schooled today.
He's been the best player in the tournament,
Jimmer Fredette says hello.
I like this Samhan kid a lot, but I can't see how he gets drafted first round. His offensive moves are nice against teams with no good post players, but he is way too slow and probably not strong enough for the NBA. I wouldn't be totally surprised if somebody grabbed him as an UFA, maybe worked him a year in the NBDL and came away with a nice post bench player, but I can't see him as a first rounder.
FWIW, NBA Draft Express lists him as the 36th best senior, and NBA Draft Depot has him going 48th overall.
Sahman had a 29-12 game and this game it looked like he had at least 31 points. Fredette needs another balls to the wall game to get back into the running.
Also, the Big East is brutal.
That's what people said about Millsap and Carl Landry, too.
Rebounding is about effort, more than anything else, which is why it's no real surprise that rebounding is one of the stats that tracks the best from college to the pros.
Like I said, I'm probably biased, but I'd take him over the annual Euro-stiffs and big school guards who don't have well rounded games.
UNI one time!
Kansas, on the other hand, has not been that impressive (though they may still win). This is the cream of the crop? They're not doing anything interesting on offense. I thought college teams ran plays and stuff?
Pretty much. Reckon I'm rooting for N. Iowa now -- my Dad went to U Dubuque, close enough.
Greg Gumbel just said 2-0 was Kansas's only lead.
Man, I would love for all the #1 seeds to fall. Has that ever happened?
Speaking of Millsaps, is Elijah likely to ever make it to the pros? Paul's one of my favorite players, and if his brother is anything like him, I'd love to see him make it.
In any case, now that my bracket is ######, I just want to see complete chaos. I'd love to see a scenario where only one #1 seed makes the FF. I'll definitely be rooting against Duke (general principle) and Kentucky (Calipari seems like a sleaze).
Seems, madam? Nay, it is.
Go Panthers!
Kansas, on the other hand, has not been that impressive (though they may still win). This is the cream of the crop? They're not doing anything interesting on offense. I thought college teams ran plays and stuff?
The last few weeks of the season, KU has gotten terrible at their entry passes and have stopped feeding the ball to Cole completely. That's their only really good set play. Other than that, their play usually consists of (a) swinging the ball around til they find an open man, or (b) everyone stands around while Sherron either does something amazing or something stupid. And today we got stupid Sherron rather than amazing Sherron and Cole was hurt down the stretch. I agree with nickswisherhygiene, the press was really getting to UNI and should have been done much earlier in the game. You could see at about the six minute mark, the Jayhawks started getting pissed and grabbed boards with authority and made some great defensive stands. But it was too little too late (where was that passion in the first half?) and UNI was a pretty smart team down the stretch and didn't fold like you see some mid-majors do under pressure.
Oh and HUGE cojones on Ari. Wow.
Does anyone else buy into the notion that this seems to be a bit of a 'down' year for college basketball?
That's been the consensus all season. Really, there is Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse, then a bunch of very good teams - Villanova, K-State, West Virginia, Pitt, Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State - that in any other year wouldn't be a serious contender. After that, there is a pretty level playing field. Jay Bilas called it "the worst at-large field ever" and I concur. Its not surprising this many mid-majors are advancing. The power conferences are really quite mediocre this year.
GO BYU COUGARS!
I can't imagine how awesome it would be to be a Cornell alum today. They've got a lot more than a puncher's chance...
And yes, Self should have started pressing sooner.
I have Kentucky in my office pool. I usually pick the winner based on "who has the most first-round NBA lottery-type guys."
As for the Ali shot, well I think we have to keep in mind that Kansas didn't need to foul, but they almost certainly were going to double him immediately if he didn't shoot, and it was clear that UNI was struggling to get open against tough pressure defense. Obviously, it was still ballsy.
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