OT: 7 teams who can win the NCAA tournament
Saw this article on Yahoo sports and lists the teams they feel have the best shot at winning the Big Dance. Not surprisingly, because otherwise I wouldn't have posted the article, UM is in the mix.
It also includes three teams that WON'T win it, again according to Yahoo Sports, and includes Wichita State, the #1 seed in the Midwest. Unfortunately, the list that could win includes Staee...but lists a number of weird guys as the reason. Dook is also on the list. Whatever.
What's interesting is that, historically, there's about a 25% chance or so in any given year of the winner of the tournament being a 1-seed, at least before any games are actually played. It isn't any different this year, except the split of that probability gives Wichita State about a 2% shot compared to the estimates for, say, Florida and Arizona (10% and 8%, respectively). Actually, Wichita State's current chances of getting to the Elite Eight are lower than some 3 and 4-seeds by some accounts.
I completely agree, but this is their chance to prove themselves.
March 18th, 2014 at 10:39 PM ^
to Kentucky
Definitely not OT.
If they can win, perhaps, the toughest league in the nation, there is no reason they can’t win the national title.
It really annoys me when people who get paid to write throw in, random, commas.
The Cyclones will oust the Spartans from the tournament.
agreed...I got Iowa St. in the national final game - the are TOUGH
- Indiana.
- Notre Dame.
- Any other school in Indiana.
Daddy? No?
If you want to see Indiana kids with the team work ethic and heart that used to be a primary characteristic of those that sought to don the cream and crimson, I suggest you watch the top Indiana ballers that have become irreplaceable components on MSU and Michigan rosters. Watch the recovering Mitch McGary cheer from the bench with the same level of enthusiasm he brought when he took the NCAA tournament by storm last season.
http://scoop.hoosiershq.com/2014/03/sunday-scoop-iu-lacking-an-identity/
It's no accident that the Indiana teams are on a down, especially Purdue. They're getting slaughtered in recruiting in their own back yard.
Living in Michigan I don't mind all the hype for MSU. Sure, it's annoying. Sure, they just played their Super Bowl. Sure, Tom Izzo was featured on ESPN Sports Science today (because he's much more important than his players)...But the bright side is that every dummy in the office is going to pick them to win. My bracket shall not feature the excuse train. Those bitches left the station.
Side note, I like how the Arizona note mentions how they quickly adjusted to life without the injured Brandon Ashley (similar to how, 5 minutes into the second half against MSU, McGary's injury was finally mentioned and then dismissed because "Michigan learned to play without him")...but MSU is dangerous because they're finally healthy. Tom Izzo, the greatest coach ever unless there is adversity, sun in the eyes or a dog who ate his homework.
I think Izzo figured out that the media wants to be fed stories and he's pretty good at creating a consistent and compelling narrative. Unlike Beilein, who isn't particularly interested in using the media for extra credit, Izzo likely sees it as a way to manipulate the big picture - the refs, the perception, everything. I think you nailed it when you said he's more important than his players, although I think you were being facetious. I actually think he is.
I wasn't being entirely facetious; I think, at least in Izzo's eyes, that he is more important than the team. He's going to find out if that's true next year. You're right though, the media accounts of "injuries, injuries, injuries" wouldn't have existed (at least some endlessly) without Izzo beating that drum.
I know I'm in the minority around here but I do think those Bastards have more than a fighting chance to win it all. If Izzo can get them to play with anything close to the emotional energy they displayed against us for 6 games I'm not sure who can beat them right now.
I do have them winning it all in my bracket but hey...I live in Ohio so all the locals are picking OSU to run the table. I dont have to fight the homestate bias projections you guys do.
They really did have injuries, as obnoxious as Izzo's constant whining about it was. They also simply weren't playing well. Now those things at least appear to be fixed. They're a very good team, just as they appeared to be at the beginning of the year. That doesn't mean they'll win, but I don't see any sense in denying any of this.
Additional thought: I would also love to trade draws with them as far as region.
They also lost to UNC at the beginning of the year, when everyone was healthy.
I'd like to see it with my own eyes before I start crowning Sparty.
Oh, dat confirmation bias....Michigan lost to Penn State last year and then went to the Championship Game.
I sincerely hope State disappoints, but for most (if not all) teams in the field, you could cherry pick disappointing games on their schedule. Also, UNC is a quality team.
Trade draws? You'd need Mark Hollis as your AD (and rep on the Committee). They are indeed a good team, but I think they're much more dangerous when playing the "poor us" card. Now that they won their Super Bowl, I don't know how much will be left in the tank when they come upon their first hint of adversity.
I don't understand how anyone with eyes could pick OSU to win this tournament.
But like most Michigan fans, hope like hell they don't.
Funny that Myron Medcalf had a similar artical today with 12 contenders, including UM, MSU, and Wisconsin.
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/2014/story/_/id/1…
However, just yesterday he predicted no BIG team will make the Final Four.
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/96423/medcalf…
What the hell is going on here?
What's going on is he got you to click on two separate articles. Or "articals" (which I take it are testicles used as art pieces).
Staee is the only team that can win it. I know because every analyst agrees.
On a slightly different note, Bruce Pearl was just hired as the new head coach at Auburn. His "Show Cause" penalty is still in effect through August but it won't stop his staff from recruiting - Seems about right for the SEC. Would appear to be thread worthy but I don't have enough of those points thingies.
In other news, Jim Tressel is tan, rested, and ready.
Bruce Pearl and Auburn. Two pristine names in recruiting. What could possibly go wrong?