College Hoops 2/27/2006 - 03/12/2006

[SilverPhoenix 0]

Since when did they drop the Midwest/South/East/West designations?

 

2004 and they added the "seeding the 1 seed" game in its place.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Since when did they drop the Midwest/South/East/West designations?

 

2004 and they added the "seeding the 1 seed" game in its place.

 

 

They are coming back next year but the designations will now be based on the location of the regional round.

 

example: Lets say the round is in Seattle it could be called the Northwest regional. In Phoenix the Southwest regional, In Syracuse the Northeast regional etc...

[SilverPhoenix 0]

Since when did they drop the Midwest/South/East/West designations?

 

2004 and they added the "seeding the 1 seed" game in its place.

 

 

They are coming back next year but the designations will now be based on the location of the regional round.

 

example: Lets say the round is in Seattle it could be called the Northwest regional. In Phoenix the Southwest regional, In Syracuse the Northeast regional etc...

 

That makes sense.

[Bored 0]

The region naming thing is pretty pointless and I don't know why they care either way. Next year when they go to another modified version they can essentially just have it as the old format.

 

East - East Rutherford

South - San Antonio

Midwest - St. Louis

West - San Jose

 

Final Four is in Atlanta. Surprised the Bay Area is getting a regional final two years in a row. And if anyone cares here's the "pods" for next year.

 

Buffalo

Winston-Salem

New Orleans

Lexington

Chicago

Columbus

Sacramento

Spokane

[Guest]

Since I haven't posted my thoughts yet, I'm just going to go down the row.

 

ATLANTA

Duke's going to beat GW, if GW can even beat UNC Wilmington, which I doubt. Even if Mensah Bonsu comes back, he won't be at 100%. GW got fucked.

 

Duke vs LSU in the Sweet 16 after A&M beats Cuse. Southern Illinois also screams Sweet 16, so I'll put them in against Texas.

 

So, in the Atlanta bracket I've got LSU against Texas in the Elite Eight, and I'll take Texas to go to the Final Four. Southern Illinois will play Texas real close in the Sweet 16, but fall short.

 

OAKLAND

Memphis is gonna cruise to the Sweet 16, Bucknell just isn't athletic enough. I've got Memphis playing Pitt.

 

I've got San Diego St. playing Gonzaga in the 2nd, Marquette playing UCLA in the 2nd, and the Zags playing Marquette in the round of 16. UCLA and Gonzaga shouldn't be in the same bracket, and their seeds should be switched.

 

So, I've got the Zags playing Memphis in a rematch from earlier this season, and I'm gonna take Gonzaga. San Diego St. will be their toughest matchup, prior to the Memphis game anyway.

 

WASHINGTON D.C.

Don't want to look too much into this bracket, so UConn vs Illinois and Wichita St. vs Michigan St. in the Sweet 16.

 

UConn will blow apart Wichita St., and as I said, I don't want to talk about it. Just a hunch that the Shockers are the Cinderella.

 

MINNESOTA

Nova's gonna be the 1 seed that loses in the second. I really, really don't like their matchup against Arizona. The Cats athleticism allows them to be able to keep up with Nova, and they're a team that can be real dangerous in the tourney. However, Arizona could be lulled to death against the Badgers and this may not even happen. So, I've got Zona and BC in the Sweet 16.

 

Other side, I've got UW Milwaukee beating OU in the 1st, then beating Florida in the second, and losing to Ohio State in the Sweet 16.

 

Elite Eight matchup will be Ohio State and BC, and THE Ohio State University is going to the Final Four.

 

So, my Final Four is Texas, Gonzaga, UConn, and Ohio State; my national title game is Gonzaga and UConn, and I've got UConn winning it all.

 

These brackets are so fucked up, that's it's near impossible to call and I'm just using guesswork.

 

Packer and Nantz are faggots.

[Guest Princess Leena]

I wish they'd have more games in college arenas. Like Buffalo, should never get any games. The atmosphere always seems better at The Pit, Boise, etc... instead of big mostly empty arenas.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

Crap

 

I thought that UCLA would be a great under the radar pick to make it the Final Four, now everyone is picking them to go, which is strange since no one talked about them the whole year.

 

I bet UCLA and Gonzaga switched seeds because of the way they played in their conference tournaments. Gonzaga played three down to the last play games against three scrub teams at home while UCLA destroyed everyone in their path.

 

I put my bracket in the hands of West Virginia since I got them going to the Final Four

[Guest Princess Leena]

UCLA was also my sleeper pick since I saw them play in the preseason NIT. I agree that it's kind of a bummer now that so many people will pick them in this situation. Then again, watch them lose early, which wouldn't shock me either.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

UCLA just got a great draw, and has been coming on strong. Out of the highly-seeded teams (4 and up) I think they got the best. UNC is close behind, but they may hit one of the best mid-majors and have to get past UConn to boot. UCLA is the pick for Oakland. I have them beating Pitt in the final. Sorry Memphis; you join Duke in the Sweet 16 graveyard.

 

Provisionally, I like LSU, even though I think they're far from the best team overall in Atlanta. I think they'll be the ones to take out Duke with that massive front-court, though J.J. could get hot and torch them. I'm liking Texas for the Elite 8, but I can't trust these guys to win 6 games in a row. LSU will be in great position if they get there. I just like the way their run shapes out, though I'm wary of them losing early like they did to UAB last year.

 

I agree that Zona could be a tough draw for 'Nova, but I think 'Nova is basically a better version of 'Zona. I have them going all the way, and they're actually my favorite right now to win in Indy. Over Georgetown to get there, I'll say.

 

UConn and UNC in D.C. Nothing else in there interests me that much. The ACC mark in me wants UNC, but UConn is deep, and has shown the fewest moments of weakness out of anyone in the tourney. Losing to Syracuse isn't the end of the line for them. Everyone's vulnerable, but they seem to be the least vulnerable.

 

I will change all of this tomorrow, five times I'm sure.

[Guest]

If there's one thing that I'm sure on, above all else, is that a mid-major team will get to the Final Four. The rest that I posted a while ago, I'm not too sure on. This is the year that the mid-major team leaves it's stamp on College Basketball.

 

UConn is the team to beat as far as I'm concerned.

[Damaramu 0]

Speaking of Texas, Dama what's the odds of a meltdown if Texas wins the tournament and has a football and basketball championship in a one year period?

 

Well I only rooted for them in football season b/c I wanted USC to lose. But now that's worn off and I realized that Texas won the national title. Fuck.

And if they win it in basketball it's going to suck ass. Texas hats are popping up all over Oklahoma. It's like they've replaced all the bandwagon OU and OSU fans.

Insanity. So yeah I wouldn't want them to win. On one hand it'd be cool to see a team win the national title in the same sport in the same year....but not Texas.

I still think Kansas will go farther than them. While KU is young they are very talented and playing really well now.

[Damaramu 0]

Whoa I just read Kingofthe909's post. Zaga in the national title game? Where can I buy what you're smoking?

 

And I missed the CBS show. What exactly happened? And what were Zaga and Penn's reactions?

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

I'd like to give a hearty "Fuck off" to Seth Davis for shitting on A&M's selection. 'Cuse/TAMU might very well be a dogfight of a 1st round game (assuming someone like Law or Kirk can stick with McNamara), and he's bitching that they got in at ALL, much less as a 12 seed? Jackoff. There's no way the Aggies get far enough, but UT/A&M part 4 would be fun to watch. All three meetings have been fairly close, especially the last two meetings.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Whoa I just read Kingofthe909's post. Zaga in the national title game? Where can I buy what you're smoking?

 

And I missed the CBS show. What exactly happened? And what were Zaga and Penn's reactions?

 

'Zags looked PISSED, with like 1 or 2 guys clapping after they realized the cameras were on them. Penn was cheering except for one or two guys who didn't look happy at being stuck with Texas in the first round.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

Winthrop was clearly the best reaction, running up to the camera and posing, leaping around all "bring it, Bruce Pearl!" That alone makes me wants to pick the 15/2 upset.

[therealworldschampion 0]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2366357

 

John Chaney has officially retired.

 

Andy Katz has reported that these are the probable candidates to be the next coach at Temple:

 

Rick Brunson

Randy Ayers

Bruiser Flynt

Fran Dunphy

Bob Huggins

 

Flynt seems like he has underachieved at Drexel. Dunphy has turned down his alma mater, La Salle, twice so I don't think he'll come in. I highly doubt that Ayers is going to get hired.

[jwpeer 0]

Is it wrong that when I look at the bracket for Pitt...I'm more worried about their first 3 games, and that if they win out of those 3, I think they can go all the way...But I'm so nervous about Kent St. and Kansas...

[Guest]

Whoa I just read Kingofthe909's post. Zaga in the national title game? Where can I buy what you're smoking?

 

And I missed the CBS show. What exactly happened? And what were Zaga and Penn's reactions?

I don't know, but the last time someone said something to me about buying what I'm smoking, Canada didn't win a medal like I predicted in the hockey tournament. Gonzaga has more talent than anyone here will give them credit for. Batista can dominate the interior.

[smh810 0]

Is it wrong that when I look at the bracket for Pitt...I'm more worried about their first 3 games, and that if they win out of those 3, I think they can go all the way...But I'm so nervous about Kent St. and Kansas...

 

I wouldnt sweat Kent St. too much, the MAC is not what it was a few years ago and I think they will pretty much have their way with them. Kansas is very talented but very green and I think Pitt would frustrate them into a lot of stupid mistakes and turnovers.

[cabbageboy 0]

Okay guys, here is what I have in my bracket followed by my reasoning. It might sound insane but it makes sense to me.

 

Atlanta:

 

I think we all know Duke is the HHH of this bracket, destined to win whether we want it or not. That said, I think GW will fall into that Zaga 2002 trap of whining about seedings and then UNC Wilmington will bite them in the ass (it's in Greensboro).

 

I have TX A and M over Cuse in that 5/12, mainly because I NEVER trust a mediocre team that gets insanely hot for 1 week to get a seed they flat out do not deserve. Cuse won't have much left emotionally and I think A and M pulls off the mild upset. Oh, and I have A and M playing Iona, mainly because I have a running joke of picking Iona whenever they make it (don't ask). Besides, LSU impresses me not. Probably one of the weakest teams to ever go 14-2 in a major league.

 

The rest of the bracket goes pretty much according to form. I've got WVU over Iowa in the 2nd round, mainly because Iowa bores me to tears and I don't think they are shit. Then I have WVU over Texas since I remember that earlier meeting where WVU had them beat until Pittsnoggle gave it away. Duke over WVU in the regional final.

 

Oakland:

 

Why is anyone thinking Bucknell will beat Arkansas? I saw Bucknell and didn't think they were worth a shit (this was vs. UNI). Ark/Mem is a fun 2nd rounder anyway, though I have Memphis edging them. I am also going out on a limb and taking Bradley over Kansas. I know this sounds insane given that the only time I saw Bradley was in that hideous MVC final, but what the hell. Pitt/Bradley in that 2nd round will be a brutally bad affair however. Think 45-43.

 

I do have IU beating Gonzaga, mainly because Zaga has shown a trend of tanking in the 2nd round and IU has been on a sort of JTTS type run of late. UCLA will wax the Hoosiers in the Sweet 16 however. I have Pitt taking out Memphis since I think they will physically dissect the Tigers. Then I have UCLA over Pitt since Pitt can't score enough to make the FF.

 

Washington DC:

 

I know everyone thought "OMG, UAB over UK!" in that first round but somehow I doubt UK loses to them again. The front page of today's paper was hilarious though, saying "UK vs. UAB part II" and showing a UK fan with his mouth agape. I don't really have any upsets in this bracket to be honest. Just gets down to UNC/UCONN in the regional and I think UConn is a bit too experienced and tough for the young Tar Heels.

 

Minneapolis:

 

The only upset I have the first round here is UWM over OU, mainly because OU hasn't done shit this year to impress me and struggles against everyone. I thought about G'Town over OSU but didn't pull the trigger on that upset. I do have BC over Nova in the Sweet 16 since I don't like Allan Ray possibly not being 100% and I think Nova struggles vs. teams with serious inside games. I have BC going to the FF actually over OSU, avenging the loss in the 1994 regional final, haha.

 

Thus my FF ended up being Duke, UConn, UCLA, and BC. In other words the exact thing Dick Vitale had, which scares me a bit. I have Duke vs. UConn in the title game, but think Duke will win.

[sfaJack 0]

I'd like to give a fearty "Fuck off" to Seth Davis for shitting on A&M's selection. 'Cuse/TAMU might very well be a dogfight of a 1st round game (assuming someone like Law or Kirk can stick with McNamara), and he's bitching that they got in at ALL, much less as a 12 seed? Jackoff. There's no way the Aggies get far enough, but UT/A&M part 4 would be fun to watch. All three meetings have been fairly close, especially the last two meetings.

I didn't see/hear what Davis said, but there is a very good case to be made that A&M doesn't deserve to go dancing. They have ONE win on the season that you count as a big win and that was at home by a whopping three points. In conference, they lost to Texas, OU twice, Kansas, OSU once, and barely beat Colorado, at home. Their non-conference schedule is a complete joke, and includes only ONE non-conference road game (Pacific), which of course, they lost.

 

You can make just as good a case for the University of Houston as you can the Aggies. Maybe a better one since they at least beat Arizona at home and LSU on the road.

[Guest Smues]

Last night an $11 million student housing building at Gonzaga that was set to open in a few months went up in flames, and in fact may still be burning. I'll read this as a sign that god doesn't want Gonzaga to beat Xavier. Yeah that's the ticket.

[Damaramu 0]

Dickie V picks Duke and UConn as the national title game. He picked UConn to win but I know it was killing him inside to do so. I bet in his head he thinks Duke will blow through the tournament and then challenge the rest of the teams they didn't play just to prove their dominance. [Dickie V mode/] DUKE BABIEEEEE~!~!~!~!~!

 

Enough to make you puke.

[Guest Smues]

I've seen a lot of people today picking a Duck Uconn final. Which sadly probably means Duke goes out in the 2nd round so everybody can say 'SEE I TOLD YOU THEY SUCK!'.

 

Most anybody winning it all but Uconn would make me pretty happy.

[naiwf 0]

Most anybody winning it all but Uconn would make me pretty happy.

[Guest Smues]

In regards to Gonzaga looking pissed off at their seeding Mark Few said he has Direct TV and it was on an 8 second delay so they hadn't seen it yet when the cameras were on them. I don't buy it, but I suppose it's possible.

[Guest Princess Leena]

There's no teams I hate this year. So, I don't have the "I hope this team loses" to keep my childish motivation.

 

Also, I don't see why teams can't be pissed off with their seedings. If I were Karl Hobbs, I'd give a nice middle finger to the committee. And punch Jay Bilas out.

[cabbageboy 0]

What I find truly pathetic about these seedings is that the committee picks and chooses when they want to use the RPI. I'd like to hear the logic behind Air Force getting in over Missouri St. or Cincy (Missouri St. had a 20 RPI). I won't be too hard on Utah St. since they did at least take Nevada to OT in that conf. title game.

 

But GW as an 8 seed? It makes sense from a purely RPI perspective where they were 32. Then they go and seed Cuse as a 5 and frankly seeding a team #5 that lost by 40 to DePaul not long ago is absurd.

 

Here's what it comes down to at the end of the day: The committee is full of shit. They say they look at teams and not conferences, but then how can you account for Hofstra being left out other than "We don't want 3 teams from a shit league like the Colonial?" Or Missouri St. being left out with a 20 RPI mainly because the committee draws the line and says "No way in hell are 5 MVC teams getting in." Or Cincy not getting in, mainly because they don't want to give 9 bids to ANY conference. Of course Cincy has other things going against them:

 

1. They are mediocre.

2. They lost to Syracuse in the conf. tourney, who took their spot.

3. No Huggins. If Huggins was there I bet they give them the benefit of the doubt. But nobody really cares about Cincy without Huggins aside from their fans.

[iggymcfly 0]

GW didn't get an 8 seed because of the RPI. They got an 8 seed because Mensah-Bonsu hasn't played in a month and a half, and the committee doesn't really believe he'll be 100% by the tournament. Without him, they're just a relatively good mid-major team in the same vein as Bucknell or UNC-Wilmington.

 

Remember, if Bucknell hadn't decided to play Duke and Villanova, they could be a two-loss team too.

[Guest Princess Leena]

The committee was entirely full of shit, which I finally realize now.

 

Missouri St. doesn't get in with their 20-whatever RPI, but the only reason Tennessee gets a 2 seed is because of their #6 RPI.

 

GW is rated as the 32nd best team in the tourney because they have a weak non-conference schedule... yet, Utah St. and Air Force get in with horrible ones. Air Force doesn't even have the excuse of major teams refusing to do home & home's with them... they regularly have major conference teams travel to Air Force every year. It's entirely their fault if they choose to beat up on non-D1 and my beloved Independents.

 

The Mensah-Bonsu excuse is weak, also. He hasn't even been ruled out of their 1st round game.