March Madness Open Thread
I'll start with my own predictions:
Kansas over N Iowa
Tennessee over Ohio
Murray St over Butler
Kansas St over BYU
Kentucky over Wake
NMU over Washington
Baylor over Old Dominion
St Marys over Nova
Who's been the most impressive team so far? After seeing all the teams play once, what picks would you change now?
I'm going to say that Cornell was the most impressive in round one (debated Ohio but basically they got real hot against a terribly inconsistent Georgetown team). I picked Nova over St. Marys, so I would obviously change that one if I could.
Baylor(-5) against Old Dominion is very tempting.
Madness would definitely describe how I feel about Gillette razors too.
There have been 2 games now with 2 bad calls, the Villanova game and the Michigan State game.
Don't sleep on ODU against Baylor and I definitely think Washington beats New Mexico. Anyone who watched that UW/Marquette game should see that those two teams were both built for a run. I can't believe Washington was an 11 seed.
their defensive pressure was impressive. I've definitely got that game circles. Last I checked Washington was favored
They were on fire coming into the tournament and with Pondexter inside and my boy Isaiah Thomas playing like a man I really think they are capable of at least the elite 8 if not further.
ODU is pretty good, but some people will still choose UW because....
1) UW is doing well
2) They have no idea who ODU is.
My choice will be ODU, I think they will pull the shocker.
...but they'd just all be wrong. I've only lost one team in my Sweet 16 (Georgetown), but I'm dying from 1000 papercuts.
And Nova is sucking again, so that may change quick.
Didn't really SEE them, but Kentucky seemed pretty dominant. Syracuse looked good too for a team with a key player out. But so often the 1st round doesn't reflect how the team will play the rest of the way.
Change...? Well, right now I wouldn't have Villamova going as far as I do (which I wouldn't have anyway if the Committee could do a bracket worth a damn, and had ANYBODY good in the South). But change just one game/pick kinda thing? I'd change my pick and take BYU. Not because they were that great in double OT; just that after picking them the last few years, and having them finally win after 7 straight 1st round losses, and the fact that the ONE ten seed I pick is the only one NOT to win, it's kinda annoying me.
Nova isn't just losing, they're getting embarrassed.
Butler won't lose. I knew I should have picked Baylor over Nova. At least they aren't in my Final Four.
Villanova must be the least motivated team ever. They seem so lackadaisical and let themselves get dominated by teams they are clearly better than.
The team is so talented but they act like they don't even want to be there.
Mach Madness Open ThreadI was really impressed how Chuck Yeager and the Bell X-1 had handled themselves against the Sound Barrier in the first round. Screwed up my bracket though, I had Sound Barrier going deep into the regional. I think F/A-18 Hornet has Yeager's number in the next round though..../nerd!
The F-22 might get surprised if it doesn't take the F-15 seriously.
I thought the same thing when I saw that title.
Watch out for Piper Cub....showing unexpected quickness and loads of grit.
I thought this thread was going to be an update on Denard's track season.
+1 to you
I am loving this so far
Gaels and the points were my first official double play of the tournament at the JCB
Loooooong way to go, though.
Should have more picks up in a few minutes
Villanova is actually good when they want to be, it's just as though they think they will win every game they step into without trying.
Is it just me or does it look like he's wearing a pair of Vans?
...it's criminal to let him score thisamy points at the center postion in the college game. Shaq couldn't do this in the Tourney against Indiana. Haven't they ever heard of a zone? A double team? I'd be bringing guys off the bench to foul out before I let a bunch of Australian manhandle my team.
(And what happened to the Scottie Reynolds I watched in the Tourney last year?)
Samhan made 13 of 16 shots, when your hot your hot, but that is scorching
...to deny him the ball.
You should stick to musicals!
6'11" and making everything. Stopping that falls under the easy said than done category. This wasn't the kids first 30 plus game this year, give him some props. I'm sure Jay Wright tried to deny him, Samhan only took 16 shots, but he made 13. Sometimes you have to say WTF.
Samhan is a monster. This game has been awesome so far, DJ Williamson FWIW is loving it also. Talking to him via twitter he doesn't think that St. Mary's should be in the game due to lack of athleticism, but shooting, basketball IQ, and will to win easily make up for athleticism IMO.
D. A heart attack waiting to happen.
Is one goofy-looking dude, especially with that giant mouthpiece.
Bank=Open
Mickey is incredible, even though that was lucky, his shooting is money. Buffalo Wild Wings queue OT please.
Further proving that you actually have to play and can't just show up and win.
And that's the game folks.
There goes my first finals team (albeit the loser in my final).
Ditto.
Oh perfect. I pick Nova to the Final Four. My bracket is screwed because that would also be eight Sweet 16 teams gone.
I have Baylor coming out of this region so this doesn't hurt me toooooooo bad, but I'm so far behind that I need to basically get every pick correct from here on out to make up any ground.
On a related note, I can't wait to see Udoh pack in shot after shot on these guys. Sure, it's easy to dominate a team with no inside presence, not going to be that easy against the Big 12's single-season shot block record holder.
Nice work, Gaels. Great game. Hope its the start of a fun day
Onto the the next two games.
I think Murray State if for real and gives Butler a taste of their own medicine as far as team, balanced basketball goes.....they shoot better than 50 percent and allow less than 40 percent. Love those numbers. You would expect Butler to have that sort of fundamental game. Think this is decided in the final seconds.
after the first round. I am purely rooting for underdawgs. I don't care anymore. It is kind of fun to just root for teams without the brackets blinding my inner fan (or at least I have myself talked into this.) Final four of St. Mary's, Murray St, Cornell, and Ohio would be fantastic with me.
Murray/Butler are a combined 43-1 since Dec. 23
Somebody is going to be dealing with a rare, heartbreaking loss in a couple of hours.
Whenever butler shoots?
Don't make Wayne Brady choke a bitch!
Don't sleep on Butler. Murray State is good, but so is Butler. They have tournament experience and know how to win. MSU already had their big upset of the tournament, and I don't think it will happen again. Note: I would have said this before the game started, and the fact that Butler has been ahead for almost the whole first half only confirms it.
I'm glad I picked Baylor over Villanova. My Elite 8 is still intact, and I only lost 3 Sweet 16 teams so far.
At least we won't get a bunch of "should we have hired Jay Wright instead of Beilein?" threads...
Huge thunder dunk!
Butler and Murray State are totally gassed. Both teams are dragging down the court.
Butler better hold on now. Tennesse crushing Ohio.
Oh noes Kansas! 10-2.
Baylor is sticking it to ODU early, 20-8.
Go Bears!!
Baylor gonna win. Kansas gonna win.
Why don't you start acting like you give a damn and play some defense against these farmboys.