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OMG GREATEST TOURNAMENT EVER!!!

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The thread title is a parody of the typical comments after the first couple of rounds of every NCAA Tournament. Every single year there are big upsets and "mid-majors" getting past the first weekend and every year it seems to come as a big shock to CBS and ESPN's analysts, or they pretend to be shocked at least. I guess we can chalk this up to the typical short attention span of networks and the people who watch. Really the biggest surprise maybe that no #10 seed made it to the Sweet 16 for the first time in ten years but not that CBS or ESPN would notice.

 

Here's a look back at the "surprises" of the NCAA Tournament in just the last five years and I'll work backwards just to show how quickly people forget how "crazy and wild" past tournaments have been.

 

2005

-A #14, #13, #12, and a #11 seed win first round games.

-#12 seed Wisconsin-Milwaukee advances to the Sweet 16.

-#5 seed Michigan State advances to the Final Four.

 

2004

-Two #12 seeds win first round games.

-Two #1 seeds are elminated in the second round.

-A #8 and #7 seed make it to the Elite Eight.

 

2003

-A #13, #12, and a #11 seed win first round games.

-#12 seed Butler advances to the Sweet 16.

-#7 seed Michigan State advances to the Elite Eight.

 

2002

-Three #12 seeds win first round games.

-#11 seed Southern Illinois advances to the Sweet 16.

-#12 seed Missouri advances to the Elite Eight.

-#5 seed Indiana advances to the title game.

 

2001

-#15 seed Hampton wins in the first round.

-#12 seed Gonzaga advances to the Sweet 16.

-#11 seed Temple advnces to the Elite Eight.

 

So you get the point. This year is really no different from any other. If George Mason reaches the Final Four then we can talk about this being a surprising tournament.

 

-Speaking of upsets as mentioned in a prior entry I picked Bradley to make it the Sweet 16. I've been near perfect in that Oakland Region as only missed the Alabama/Marquette game. Of course every other upset pick failed miserably and this was probably one of my worst years ever picking the tournament but I prefer just to brag about picking Bradley. Oh and hey did you notice the game? It was Brad/Pitt in the little scorebox. Get it? Brad Pitt! Didn't take them long to drive that into the ground.

 

-Enough with the gratuitos shots of the coaches wives at the end of games. Does this really bring more viewers in? Is there some sort of extra drama I'm supposed to feel because the coaches' wife is praying? It got really out of hand at the end of the UCLA/Alabama game as literally every five seconds they were cutting to one of the wives.

 

-One final thing, March Madness On Demand was simply the greatest thing ever. Kudos to CBS and NCAA for agreeing to do this for free when they certainly could have charged a subcription fee for it and made a killing on people wanting to watch games while they are at work. It allowed me to not watch the Cal game (although I tuned in for the final minute to watch N.C. State win, woo hoo!) and for that I will always be grateful.

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I was watching the Shitt game when the announcers started the "Brad Pitt" joke and thought to myself, "time to watch the Lakers/Cavs." My bracket is shot to hell for the most part, but at least I called the Panthers losing in the second round. Of course, I thought they'd at least lose to a seed ranked better than them.

 

I can understand getting sick of the "shock" expressed by commentators whenever an underdog wins a game, but what gets on my nerves more is when they compare postseason matchups and half of the games have the "I sure wouldn't want to be playing this team in the playoffs/tournament" soundbite.

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I don't really like "Cinderalla" teams, because most of the time. When they lose, they get blown out. That's probably what will happen to Bradley, and the winner of the George Mason/ Wichita St game against UCONN.

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I said:

If George Mason reaches the Final Four then we can talk about this being a surprising tournament.

Okay maybe this is the greatest tournament ever. Unbelievable.

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