Brackets Have been announced

[Guest]

I meant totally banned, not to come back, because I'm that sure Arizona will win.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

As much as I hate it, I keep coming back to an ACC and 1-seed heavy bracket. Not a lot of the 3-6 teams that might usually be expected to make a run really give me that intangible vibe.

 

Provisionally, I'm saying Illinois over Georgia Tech (as an ACC guy, I'm with iggy on this one), UNC over Duke, and Illinois over UNC (derrr, boring) for the final, but I'll probably drop at least UNC or Duke before Thursday. Duke's bracket looks so weak that I'm actually thinking Oklahoma has as good a chance as anyone in there, and I'm really not that high on their abilities.

 

Additionally, if Oklahoma State were in any region but Illinois', I'd have them in the final.

[Damaramu 0]

I still think OSU can take Illinois. OSU plays some crazy defense at times that I don't think anyone in the Big Ten plays.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

I've got them both in the 8 and I agree that OSU has a fighting chance if they get that matchup. Still, I haven't seen any team as consistently strong and dominating as the Illini this year. Like I said, I get uneasy picking 1 and 2 seeds for the round of 8, but in the Chicago regional it feels like clearly the most likely scenario.

[Matt Young 0]

Anyone planning on doing a Yahoo or ESPN.com Pick 'Em group for the board? I can start one if need be.

[Damaramu 0]

I've got them both in the 8 and I agree that OSU has a fighting chance if they get that matchup. Still, I haven't seen any team as consistently strong and dominating as the Illini this year. Like I said, I get uneasy picking 1 and 2 seeds for the round of 8, but in the Chicago regional it feels like clearly the most likely scenario.

Oh yeah I think it's a very good possibility.

But just something about OSU. They've been waiting all year to get it together and I feel they have now.

Also Kansas is just a sleeping giant IMO. Everyone is downplaying them but I can see them going nuts.

I still think OSU wins it all.

[alfdogg 0]

Anyone planning on doing a Yahoo or ESPN.com Pick 'Em group for the board? I can start one if need be.

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=68009#

[iggymcfly 0]

As much as I hate it, I keep coming back to an ACC and 1-seed heavy bracket. Not a lot of the 3-6 teams that might usually be expected to make a run really give me that intangible vibe.

 

Provisionally, I'm saying Illinois over Georgia Tech (as an ACC guy, I'm with iggy on this one), UNC over Duke, and Illinois over UNC (derrr, boring) for the final, but I'll probably drop at least UNC or Duke before Thursday. Duke's bracket looks so weak that I'm actually thinking Oklahoma has as good a chance as anyone in there, and I'm really not that high on their abilities.

 

Additionally, if Oklahoma State were in any region but Illinois', I'd have them in the final.

Wow, we really are at a meeting of the minds on this one. I was thinking that Oklahomna State is probably about the third strongest team in the tournament, as far as potential to go far, and our Final Four is the exact same. In addition, I also remember remarking that Duke's bracket was one of the easiest I'd seen, and Oklahoma was the only other decent squad in there.

 

The only major difference is I have Duke beating Carolina to get to the Final Four due to their tournament experience, and the fact that by watching them play, I actually think they're more talented. Shelden Williams will outplay Sean May any day, and while Felton and McCants are really good, they still can't take over a game like J.J. Redick can. The depth I don't think will matter at that point, because if Duke's playing Carolina in the Final Four on six days rest, they'll have enough adrenaline to play all night.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Yeah, I just dislike Duke considerably and am probably letting that cloud my call.

 

The Albuquerque region really is rough. I'm finding myself capable of making Sweet Sixteen arguments and beyond for just about every one of the top 9 seeds except Texas Tech. I also wish I'd had a chance to see more Washington games to see if they're good or massively overrated at #1, because right now Pacific or Pitt are looking mighty tasty.

[Damaramu 0]

I don't think OU is the only decent team in Duke's bracket. I think that Syracuse is very good and can take Duke as well.

I really still see Duke as massively overrated. If Reddick isn't playing good or starts jacking up wild 3's that won't go they will lose.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

I've got Illinois and Louisville on one side and North Carolina and Syracuse on the other. NC and Illy will meet in the finals where NC will claim the national title.

[iggymcfly 0]

Yeah, I just dislike Duke considerably and am probably letting that cloud my call.

 

The Albuquerque region really is rough. I'm finding myself capable of making Sweet Sixteen arguments and beyond for just about every one of the top 9 seeds except Texas Tech. I also wish I'd had a chance to see more Washington games to see if they're good or massively overrated at #1, because right now Pacific or Pitt are looking mighty tasty.

I've watched Washington play quite a bit this year, and they're actually extremely solid, probably the only legitimate team out of the Pac Ten. However, they're still the most vulnerable of all the 1 seeds, and it seems like somebody gets an early flameout every year. I like Pittsburgh myself, but realistically, everyone in that subregional sans Montana could reach the Sweet 16 easily.

[Slickster 0]

OPENING ROUND:

Oakland picked up the win 79-69 over Alabama A & M. I'm disappointed that their coach said it would take 'a miracle' to beat UNC (in Charlotte, no less). If I was in his place I'd have printed up 'OAKLAND: 2005 NCAA CHAMPIONS' gear and given it out to the team. I'd talk about how the Golden Grizzlies are a team of destiny and that UNC has been out of action for too long, that sort of thing. Talk about your upcoming travel plans to Syracuse. Get some more press out of the deal.

[Mik 0]

At least he is realistic. I'm glad they won. Maybe it will shut up Jay Mariotti and Skip Bayless and all the other punks who said it was a disgrace they were in the tournament.

[iggymcfly 0]

Alabama A&M was actually a 5:2 underdog just because the team with a losing record always wins the play-in game, so I threw a little money on them, but it didn't work out.

 

Oh well, I'm still going to win plenty of money on the actual tourney.

[Der Kommissar 0]

I am also glad they won. I don't see the big deal about them being in there. They had to beat the two best teams in their conference just to get to the play in game, where they took out the SWAC champion. Why not let them enjoy their 15 minutes of fame? It will likely end against North Carolina as it is.

 

Anyway, in NIT action, Holy Cross knocked off Notre Dame. I was hoping Notre Dame would have at least get by round 1 of the NIT, but I guess it wasn't to be. Good to see Holy Cross advance though.

[Mole 0]

WF over Arizona

UNC over Duke

 

UNC over WF

[Alro 0]

OK State over Wake Forest

UNC over Kentucky

 

UNC over OK State

 

UK is obviously my dumbest pick, but my gut was telling me to go with them. If any team is going to bite me in the ass, it will be UK. If they do, hopefully it won't be as bad as what Florida did to me last year.

[Guest BDC]

Kentucky will lose to Eastern Kentucky. You fuckers just WATCH.

Dude, I go to Eastern. If that goes down, there's either going to be a riot on campus of our students or UK students coming down to kill us. But if we pull that off, damn the rest of the games, we won't care.

[Guest Laka]

Wake over Illinois

UNC over Syracuse

 

Wake over UNC.

[Guest Shadow]

i changed my mind again

 

OSU over Wake

Syracuse over Florida

 

Cuse over OSU