quote:

Originally posted by Jfont:
Collison was a monster yesterday...

Brackets are out and it looks like UCLA has a very favorable bracket. The only worry here is the second seeded Duke...

The Bruins will take care of Duke.

quote:

Originally posted by duckfaninmt:
Oregon is in the dance, and a not-too-shabby 9th seed. They may not last long (hope I'm wrong) but for them to get in and get a halfway decent seed is worthy of celebration here.

Go Ducks!

I hope my Spartans see your ducks in Houston (somebody's gotta beat Memphis). MSU can play with anybody, but they are just so darn inconsistent. If they commit 21 turnovers again, they will be just another in the long string of #5s that lose to #12 in the opening round, but if they can keep their heads, they are capable of the final 8, or better. Considering how they've finished in an admittedly weak Big 10 this year, #5 seed is better than I had hoped, but I guess they did have a pretty strong non-conference showing.

Well the champs today are the Kansas Jayhawks. The game was won fair and square.

quote:

Originally posted by Yonster24:

quote:

Originally posted by Jfont:
Collison was a monster yesterday...

Brackets are out and it looks like UCLA has a very favorable bracket. The only worry here is the second seeded Duke...

The Bruins will take care of Duke.

If Duke even makes it 2 rounds, havent decided yet.

Tournament thoughts:

East and Midwest are unbelievably tough brackets. My Heels were done no favor as the Number 1 overall seed.

West is clearly the easiest bracket. UCLA's ticket to the F4 was practically punched yesterday. That said, don't overlook the hated dookies. They're extremely talented and will beat UCLA if UCLA plays as it has for the past couple of weeks.

I understand that most teams are in the eastern US, and the Cmte tries to limit travel as much as possible, but the Cmte really should balance out the brackets better.

Pittsburgh is playing great ball now. They will be a tough out.

KS clearly has the most talent and if all teams are playing their absolute best, KS cuts the nets down.

quote:

Originally posted by vikki:
Well the champs today are the Kansas Jayhawks. The game was won fair and square.

Only problem is they now have to face my "other" Oregon team, the Portland State Vikings. Do I hear "major upset?"

(not that it's a truly viable possibility)

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk:

quote:

Originally posted by duckfaninmt:
Oregon is in the dance, and a not-too-shabby 9th seed. They may not last long (hope I'm wrong) but for them to get in and get a halfway decent seed is worthy of celebration here.

Go Ducks!

I hope my Spartans see your ducks in Houston (somebody's gotta beat Memphis). MSU can play with anybody, but they are just so darn inconsistent. If they commit 21 turnovers again, they will be just another in the long string of #5s that lose to #12 in the opening round, but if they can keep their heads, they are capable of the final 8, or better. Considering how they've finished in an admittedly weak Big 10 this year, #5 seed is better than I had hoped, but I guess they did have a pretty strong non-conference showing.

That would be great, though Oregon's got to beat another MSU first, and that's not going to be easy... they're a pretty darn good team. Then they have to beat Memphis, which is REALLY not going to be easy.

I'd be happy if they beat Mississippi State and at least make it a game against Memphis. I know that doesn't sound too supportive for the team but geez, when you play the last half of the season as poorly as Oregon did, it keeps my optimism in check.

I'm just glad to see them make the Tournament!

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk:

quote:

Originally posted by duckfaninmt:
Oregon is in the dance, and a not-too-shabby 9th seed. They may not last long (hope I'm wrong) but for them to get in and get a halfway decent seed is worthy of celebration here.

Go Ducks!

I hope my Spartans see your ducks in Houston (somebody's gotta beat Memphis). MSU can play with anybody, but they are just so darn inconsistent. If they commit 21 turnovers again, they will be just another in the long string of #5s that lose to #12 in the opening round, but if they can keep their heads, they are capable of the final 8, or better. Considering how they've finished in an admittedly weak Big 10 this year, #5 seed is better than I had hoped, but I guess they did have a pretty strong non-conference showing.

MSU won't get by Pitt and that is a fact, Jack.

quote:

Originally posted by Instant Access:
East and Midwest are unbelievably tough brackets. My Heels were done no favor as the Number 1 overall seed.

I agree that the East is incredibly tough but I think that the South is tougher than the Midwest: Memphis, Pitt (they will beat the Spartans), Kentucky has played well in the last month with the exception of the Vandy blowout, Stanford, & Texas.

I'm looking at the brackets right now and These Games Are Giving Me Fits:

Oklahoma vs. St. Joseph’s
UNLV vs. Kent State
Clemson vs. Villanova
USC vs. Kansas State – Kstate has Beasley & IMO he is the best player in the country. Hansbrough included.
Gonzaga vs. Davidson
Mississippi State vs. Oregon
Marquette vs. Kentucky
BYU vs. Texas A & M
Purdue vs. Baylor – Purdue’s stingy D will probably win out here
Xavier vs. Georgia – When X is on they can hang with anybody but lately they haven’t been on lately and Georgia has the hot hand right now
West Virginia vs. Arizona

Without filling out my brackets yet, my initial picks are UNC, Texas, Kansas and UCLA. Teams which could spoil this are Louisville, Clemson and Pitt. The free throw thing gets Memphis.

The games between Kansas and Texas were the best played games I saw this year.

You're right, Altaholic, I meant the South.
UNC and Memphis were given tough draws as 1 seeds.

Of course, to be the champ you have to beat a lot of good teams, but easier Regions give a 1 seed more margin for error, even when the 1 seed is having a bad day.

Well I just marked my bracket with Memphis winning the National Championship over North Carolina.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaferguy91:
Well I just marked my bracket with Memphis winning the National Championship over North Carolina.

I like Memphis also but their free throw % is going to kill them in the tournament. I picked Pitt to beat Memphis in the regionals with Texas winning the South.

I was really impressed with Pitt's run in the Big East Tourney. They play defense, have an inside and outside game and they are tough as nails. Scary team.

But, it's the Big Dance. We've all seen how hot teams can fizzle in Rd 1 or ride the momentum to the F4.

Anyone got any huge upsets picked in there bracket, my final four are Texas, NC, Kansas and UCLA, with UCLA beating Kansas for the championship. But, for upsets I have West. Kentucky winning over Drake, thats the largest upset I picked. I am in a pool, 250$ a bracket so have to be careful you know

Final Four:

N.C.(extremely well coached, play team basketball, tested throughout the ACC, have a difference maker)

Georgetown (have a lottery pick big man, well coached, have experience from last years run, they are simply due for success)

Stanford (very well coached, Pac-10 tested and proven, two 7 footers, balanced attack)

UCLA (tradition, well coached, Pac-10 champs, tested & proven)

My final four picks:
Memphis/UCLA/Georgetown/North Carolina
Memphis wins it.

KarenT
www.jeanedwardscellars.com

"You should only make wines you love to drink."

KarenT,

I like your picks !

This is one of the great days of the year. Let the MADNESS begin.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaferguy91:
KarenT,

I like your picks !

SG91 - happy to report I went 17/17 in the first round and off to a good start for my bracket. GO TIGERS!!!!

KarenT
www.jeanedwardscellars.com

"You should only make wines you love to drink."

Better than me. I am still shocked USC lost. I had them losing to Kansas.

Bruins looked good. I was glad that their starters got rest and they didnt need to use Mbah Moute. Is there anything better than watching Love's outlet passes. There were 3 or 4 times MVS scored and less than 2 seconds later a Bruin has a layup to nullify. You have to work so hard against the Bruins to score, then they negate it just like that.

<SIGH> It can be real hard to be an Oregon fan sometimes. The team looked so good in the first half, had a 13 point lead early in the second, then just cratered. What a meltdown. What a disappointment. Oh well, it's a "one and done" for this team... time to root for someone else in this year's tournament.

Apologies to Redhawk... I had you aligned with the wrong MSU (Mississippi St instead of Michigan St).

KarenT, your picks are looking even better after today!

7 1st rd losses here. 2 2nd rd losses already. What the hell happened to Clemson? I didnt see the game. Go UCLA!

Less than one minute to play and the Dukies are about to enjoy another early exit from the Tourney.

Wait, let me check my bracket. Yep, I have WVU advancing.