Elite Eight Day Two Open Thread
March 30th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
...and basically, my brackets - save for maybe one - look like this from the air:
Is liquid water, not steam for the record....
March 30th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
Someone on reddit pointed out how this Final Four could be Florida and the last 3 teams to beat them (UConn, Wisconsin, us). Kinda neat.
March 30th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
But I had MSU beating ISU today so it doesn't hurt that much.
Up until 2 days ago I was sitting pretty, I was in the 98% range on ESPN.com with 7 of 8 Elite 8 and 4 of 4 Final Four.
However, I had Arizona beating Wisconsin. Michigan beating Louisville, MSU beating ISU and Florida beating Syracuse.
Obviously Syracuse lost early and the Louisville lost to UK and ISU lost to UConn so that put me at 5 of 8 elite teams after the other night. But I still had all 4 Final Four teams until last night.
So yea...now I'm fucked. I fell from 98.5% to 94% in like 4 games.
At this point I just want to see all B1G teams make the Final Four then Michigan beat the shit out of both.
March 30th, 2014 at 10:58 AM ^
The OP reeeeeeally wanted to be the person to post this thread.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:04 AM ^
You took my comment, but you said it a lot nicer than me.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
I know this might be an unpopular view, but I really hope MSU wins. From a basketball perspective, I think UF v MSU would be a really fun game to watch. Also to have potentially 3 of the 4 Final Four will be a huge thing for the B1G.
Does anyone know when or if there was a Final Four with 3 or more schools from the same conference?
Go Blue!
March 30th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
1985 the Big East had three, in 1970 there were three independent schools. I didn't go back any further than that though.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
Imagine if ESPN had been as big in '85 as it is now. Schools from DC, Philly, and New York in the Final 4 at the same time, from a conference called the Big East? You would have heard about nothing else (not even the Red Sox and Yankees) for several days.
Even then, the noise from the East Coast media was deafening.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
Have been put on red alert!
March 30th, 2014 at 12:27 PM ^
You're just rooting for UConn to lose more than you're rooting for MSU to lose.
Get it right next time.
Touche'
Next year's tournament I'll get it right.
The Big Eight sent KSU, KU & OU to the Final Four, with Danny Manning and Kansas avenging 3 losses earlier in the year to the Sooners to win the NC.
The 1988 Final Four was Kansas, Duke, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Kansas beat Kansas St. In the Elite 8 that year.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
For me, B1G pride only goes so far.
Obviously if 3 schools make it through, I'll use that as a huge talking point for the foreseeable future, but I'm not gonna lie: the collegial "Go B1G; See you all in the Final Four" schtick has gone out the window for me. It's what I directly told Wisconsin fans in the afterglow of watching U of M best Texas live in Milwaukee last weekend, but the warm and fuzzies for me are now gone.
What's replaced them within me is a cold, reptilian, urge to WIN.
And that means rooting for Michigan's best interest in every game from here on out. I'm pulling for better match-ups for us, even if it isn't a B1G team. And even then, I'm not shedding any tears if the winners of other games happen to get modest (not career ending, just season ending) injuries while they are at it.
Personally, I think pulling for MSU at this point is being too-cute-by-half. They are healthy. They are good. Both they and Wisconsin have played us multiple times this year, which negates any advantage we might have in befuddling teams with our complex schemes.
And can you IMAGINE how insufferable Sparty will be if they win both the Rose Bowl and the NCAA Tourney (AGAINST US no less) in the same year?
I'll pass.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:31 PM ^
Why not BEAT them in the National Championship game?
3 times in 1 season.
They'll have to hang a banner that says "2014 National Runner-up" while we hang "2014 National Champions"
I for the life of me can't figure of me figure out why anyone wouldn't want this.
I'm not saying root for MSU - NEVER root for MSU. But it's not the end of the world if they today and next Saturday as long as we keep winning.
It's not even about B1G Pride...I mean that's cool and all. But we get a chance to stick it to BOTH B1G schools in the Final Four. Take that opportunity.
It'll be all B1G hype about 3 of 4 teams...and then we destroy both. How amazing would that be?
#DREAMB1G
I think we see a huge advantage when we play teams who haven't "seen" us before. Wisconsin and MSU are both familiar with the crazy shit we'll throw at them on offense and the importance of that for those teams is going unnoticed by a lot of people. I'll take Florida or UCONN over MSU if we make it that far.
that we would beat MSU in the championship, and losing to them on that stage would be the most devastating loss for a Michigan team since I've been alive.
March 30th, 2014 at 11:54 AM ^
I'm fine with Wiscy and UM make it; I'm SOOOOO tired of this MSU team and all of the media salivation.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
It's going to go away if both Michigan and MSU win...it'll be all about the B1G
If MSU loses, it'll be about their injuries for a couple days and then it'll be a UF slurpfest about their seniors and 0-3 and then to the Final Four.
No matter what it's not going to be about Michigan unless we reach the National Championship game again.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
I want staee to make it to the 'ship game. I want them to play MICH, and I want them to get humiliated.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:08 PM ^
We are going to have a lot of trouble with Wisconsin if we make it through Kentucky.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:14 PM ^
The Bo Ryan Fightin Badgers are a good basketball squad, but I think we can take them. I heard somewhere that Beilein is really really good when he has a week to prepare.
BUT FIRST we must defeat the University of Calipari Fighting Future First Rounders. My e-prediction for today's game is MICH 81 UCFFFR 79
HAIL
March 30th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
I agree, and the win at the Kohl center stands, but last time we faced Wisconsin we had 6 days to prepare and got run out of Crisler. I would've liked the Arizona matchup better.
Of course it's all moot if we don't win, so let's beat Kentucky!!
March 30th, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
To be fair, he had a week to prepare last time and Wisconsin shit on us. But I take your point all the same.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
I can't see 3 teams from the same conference making the final four. It's either us or MSU there up first. Go Blue!
March 30th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
You realize those are independent events, right?
March 30th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
Because according to his logic, if MSU wins. I don't need to watch the Michigan game.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
I know I'm a neg head. I just can't see 3 BIG teams in the final four. I'm nervous I need a beer and a xanax already. Go Blue for life!
March 30th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
Then you'll see it.
MSU is favored and Michigan is favored by Kenpom and -2 in Vegas...so it's not unrealistic. I mean, I guess I see your point...but they're just not mutually exclusive.
If MSU wins...it has no impact on us whatsoever.
Maybe just don't watch their game. I dunno what to tell ya brah!
March 30th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
Big east had G'Town, St. John's, and Villanova.
30 years ago... I feel better. Who was President in 85?
Castro.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
Little premature, eh, Sparky?
March 30th, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
When I create the Final Four (Day 1) OPEN Thread. It's going to be so cool - just wait.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^
That's the first game up...and hey, we're under 2 hours now from tip-off.
How do folks see this one going? MSU comfortably? I'm not so sure...
March 30th, 2014 at 12:45 PM ^
I predict Tom Izzo will bitch and complain an awful lot.
And they'll probably win but I think it will be closer than everyone seems to think.
In fact I wouldn't be surprised if UConn wins.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^
MSU wins a close one. However, UCONN will be tough to beat at MSG.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:42 PM ^
I'll be in the air during our game. Is airplane WiFi usually strong enough to stream a game? Delta is the airline.
March 30th, 2014 at 12:54 PM ^
Usually no streaming video.
Nope, airplane wifi does not support streaming video. Best chance is to DVR the game and avoid all sports media until you get to where you can watch it.
Streaming audio, on the other hand, should work fine. Assuming that you don't mind paying whatever exorbitant fee the airline charges, I'd DVR the game, listen to it on the flight, and then make an informed decision after you land about whether or not you want to watch or to delete the game when you get home.
Go Blue!
Perhaps you can stream the radio feed. The March Madness app lets you do this.
The biggest key for today is a Michigan Win! And this isn't for the obvious reasons. Living in SEC country, all i've had to listen to is "SEC SEC SEC SEC! We don't get no respect in Basketball! We're good! Better than most! Look, we've got 3 in the Sweet 16, 2 in the Elite Eight!" blah blah blah.
If Michigan loses, that puts 2 SEC teams in the Final Four. They DO NOT need any additional ammo to continue to preach the SEC dominance.
Plus, I work with a ton of UT and UK fans, so coming into work tomorrow having beaten both Tennessee and Kentucky would be AMAZING!
GO BLUE! The REAL BLUE!
I'm with you there. I live in Kentucky and my office is 75% UK fans and 23% OSU fans. 1 Vols fan and me. I need this win.
That sounds awful.
Quit
I just had a commit moment at the grocery store. I knew I could only buy one bag of chips, so I walked down the aisle slowly telling each bag how much I like what they bring to the table. The first bag was Salt and Vinegar kettle chips which I have loved since childhood, so I almost grabbed them and left. I knew that I may regret the choice with all of the crazy new flavors on the market, so I kept looking. The jalapeño chips were pretty confident that they had flipped me and the fans from the pork rinds were hoping that I choked on the first chip. My mom told me that Sun Chips are better for me, but ultimately I went with the salt and vinegar when the manager asked me to hurry it up because I was scaring the other shoppers with the pacing and mumbling. No regerts! No regerts!
Someone run him over please.
As this game proceeds I will hate MSU in inverse proportion to the love shown to them by these god awful announcers.