Morning Pre-Day 2 NCAA Tournament Thread
So, anyone still have a perfect bracket? (I've got one loss...and it wasn't the Harvard win, it was f-ing Mizzou).
What were your thoughts from yesterday? (Other than "THANK GOD MICHIGAN WON!")
MGoQuestion: Am I the only one absolutely at ease today? Yesterday was nerve-racking ALL DAY...I didn't enjoy one single thing about yesterday because we were playing and I was so damn tense. I was so afraid that if we lost, my tournament would end before it even began. I'm looking forward to watching ALL the games today...truly enjoying some March Madness.
| NCAA Tournament Games | |
| TIME (ET) | MATCHUP |
| 12:15 PM | (15) Albany vs (2) Duke* |
| 12:40 PM | (12) Ole Miss vs (5) Wisconsin* |
| 1:40 PM | (9) Temple vs (8) North Carolina State* |
| 2:10 PM | (15) Pacific vs (2) Miami (FL)* |
| 2:45 PM | (10) Cincinnati vs (7) Creighton* |
| 3:10 PM | (13) La Salle vs (4) Kansas State* |
| 4:10 PM | (16) James Madison vs (1) Indiana* |
| 4:40 PM | (10) Colorado vs (7) Illinois* |
| 6:50 PM | (15) Florida Gulf Coast vs (2) Georgetown* |
| 7:15 PM | (15) Iona vs (2) Ohio State* |
| 7:20 PM | (9) Villanova vs (8) North Carolina* |
| 7:27 PM | (14) Northwestern State vs (3) Florida* |
| 9:20 PM | (10) Oklahoma vs (7) San Diego State* |
| 9:45 PM | (10) Iowa State vs (7) Notre Dame* |
| 9:50 PM | (16) Western Kentucky vs (1) Kansas* |
| 9:57 PM | (11) Minnesota vs (6) UCLA* |
Same Here. This team is so young, you never really know what you're going to get. I'm just happy it's not banging heads with the rest of the best of B1G anymore.
...but I feel like that's overrated in basketball. Kentucky was young last year and won a championship.
My biggest issue is when we don't play with the effort, hustle, passion that we've shown at times this season.
Those are things that you can control. This is why I was almost more content with the loss @ IU than the win late in the year vs. Purdue or in the tournament vs. PSU.
I just want to see us execute...if we give a team our best and the win (like @ IU), I tip my cap and say "good game." But when we don't execute and don't do the things we can control every single time we step on the floor, literally get sick to my stomach. I HATE wasted potential --- HATE IT.
This is why in previous years, I was okay with most games...we didn't have the most talented team in the world, but thse guys more often than not played to their potential. They maxed out.
This team doesn't do that enough. But if they did, if we "maxed out" and played to our potential. We're a top 3 team in the entire country. Our "best" is just as good or better than most teams.
I'm going to try to enjoy today, but I don't think I will be able to with VCU looming! I'm glad it's a noon game tomorrow, though.
I missed on Cal, Oregon, Colorado State, Wichita State, and Harvard (shame on me for that one).
Thankfully, I didn't have any of them progressing past the next round. This should be minimal damage.
I also do feel a greater sense of peace today, though. It's a Friday and I've got a half-day scheduled, so that could have something to do with it too.
God Damn Harvard. I picked New Mexico to go to the final four, 1) cause I hate Ohio 2) casue I hate Gonazaga...now Ohio has a free ride to the tournament, except Arizona looked good.
I'm not worried about VCU, Akron had their star point guard suspended, 2 guys with the flu and another out with back spasms...we can handle VCU and I think the tempo they play at will help us. If Burke finds his stroke which I doubt he can go two games without it, then we'll be fine, this team had some energy yesterday.
I think you should be god damning New Mexico instead of Harvard
is to annoy dothepose
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
has the easiest path to the FF than anyone. Kills me. But hopefully that'll be a false sense of security and they get blown out in the semi finals.
But congrats to Tommy Amaker and the smaht kids. They played good ball. Blew up part of my bracket, but ahh well...it always happens.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
Teams like ohio that can't score never have a free ride. I could see ND/ISU upsetting them or defintely Arizona.
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
Ohio. Scoring. a lot of jokes come to mind
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
...because I'm worried about Trey Burke.
Lets be honest. He hasn't played a truly good "Burke-like" game in a MONTH. Not since we played at home vs. Illinois. That was February 24th. He did have a good half @ Purdue, but even that was 3/6.
He's shooting more and making less.
But even more bothersome is our struggles getting into an offense. Even yesterday, THJ kept us in the game in the 1st half and the GRIII knocked down HUGE shots in the 2nd half (albeit via Burke assists). However, we didn't really run an offense until Burke got hurt and Spike came in (WARNING: In NO WAY am I suggesting Spike should play over Trey). When Burke came back, he kept it going, then we started forcing turnovers and running and boom, game over.
Anyway, I just think we need Trey to really settle in and re-find his game. He's the best player in the country and he's likely got 5 games (max) left in his college career. Let's hope that sinks in and he goes on a Kemba Walker like run to Final Four MVP.
he'd have trouble breaking the press.
Against VCU, that is his #1 job (and Spike's, they should play a lot together).
If Trey can break the press, and I suspect he'll do that handily, there could be A LOT of easy baskets for GR3 and THJ, and a lot of wide open threes for Stauskus and THJ.
VCU will be playing most of the time w/ one big and the rest 6'5" and under
which is definitely a first. And I'm expecting retribution today.
You must not be in the ESPN group with your bracket. I see everyone in our group has at least two losses. I have six myself. Not a good day.
A rough day for me. Had New Mexico in the E8, so that definitely hurts. But the one that really sticks in my craw is Davidson. That was a chance for me to make ground on dang near everybody. The choke turnover there at the end was absolutely cringe worthy, and combined with all the contested 3s Marquette hit in the last minute after being cold all game, it was a gut punch.
Is there anywhere I can watch the game from yesterday online? my DVR messed up and I couldnt watch it.
is there a website that will let you watch the games without having flash on your computer ?
I do not want to risk creating a proxy at work
any help would be appreciated
Only 6% of brackets had that Harvard upset alone, so if you're still perfect, or even 15/16, I implore you to manage my financial portfolio.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
I'm horrible with numbers. Mine was a little luck and I think New Mexico was overrated and Harvard may actually be a Sweet 16 team, Amaker has a good team.
However, my girlfriend also picked Harvard and she works for JPMorgan...I'm sure she'd be happy to assist.
FWIW, our dog also picked Harvard...he picked Southern over Gonzaga too, if that would've happened I would've had HIM managing MY financial portfolio!
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
but I saw Harvard/New Mexico upset coming a mile away. New Mexico ranks 212 in 3 pt% defense and Harvard ranks 7th in 3 pt %. Shooting is what won Harvard despite turning the ball over a ton.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:08 AM ^
My MGoBlog submission managed to get 110 of 320 possible points, so there's that - it was not a good day for that bracket. The three work pools that I am currently in, however, are still going strong, with two that have only one loss and one with four. I am determined to get a little return on the investment this year.
As for yesterday, there was a certain amount of nervous anticipation, but I think I get this with every game to a certain extent. Looking forward to Saturday, as a thread below discusses, our discipline with the ball will be essential and if we can break the press and keep and convert possessions, we should do well, I believe.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^
Well, only half the points were available yesterday, so you got 110 of 160.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
I detest that Ohio State has a cakewalk to the tournament, with an already easy path made even easier by New Mexico, ugh. I hate it, I simply hate it.
That said, Arizona looked pretty good and perhaps Arizona and Wisconsin could be enough to knock out the Buckeyes. I have OSU in my final four but would not at all be upset if they lost earlier.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
New Mexico is the only incorrect pick that I had that I also had winning another game and I had them losing in the sweet 16, so bracket is still very much alive. I did, however, have them in the final 4 in my work bracket. That hurts a bit more, but it's not like it will matter much if I get everything about the championship game right.
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^
Randomly looking at a few brackets that are still perfect and pick M to win it all. This would be a fun tourney to win: http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/en/entry?entryID=782778
March 22nd, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
mizzou (who i had losing to louisville in the next round anyway)
ok st (who i had upsetting louisville in the elite 8 - doh!)
pitt (who i had losing to the zags in the next round)
new mexico (who i had losing to arizona in the next round)
on one of my brackets, my final 4 is Michigan, msu, osu, and Indiana, with Michigan beating Indiana in the final for the sweetest revenge.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:07 AM ^
My bracket is poop. I'm terrible.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
I felt good about yesterday, I thought I may go 16 for 16. Today? Not so much. I think today is where I, too, burn my bracket.
Here are my winners.
(2) Duke
(5) Wisconsin
(8) NC State
(2) Miami (FL)
(7) Creighton
(4) Kansas St.
(1) Indiana
(7) Illinois *least confident*
(2) Georgetown *if my bracket goes down today...THIS is where I want it to start, FGCU has a legit shot*
(2) Ohio St.
(8) N. Carolina
(3) Florida
(7) San Diego St.
(7) Notre Dame
(1) Kansas
(11) Minnesota
....I just realized that I have ALL "chalk" except for Minnesota. The state of Colorado screwed me once, my guess is they do it twice. That said, if I got 15/16 again, I'll be a very happy drinker tonight.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
i can totally see CU pulling the "upset" over Illinois. They're pretty underrated and actually would have beat Arizona were it not for horrible officiating at the end of the game.
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:03 PM ^
Pretty similar for myself. Took Illinois and Creighton as my chalk 7's and the other 7's (nd and SDSU) to lose. Everything else is the exact same.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:34 AM ^
I have the same. I'm in a small pool so it's all chalk, all the time for me
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:52 AM ^
Im actually looking forward to the Wisconsin/Ole Miss game. Will be interesting to see if Wisconsin can frustrate Ole Miss and Marshall Henderson (aka Eric Devendorf Jr) and force them into playing Badger-ball. Henderson is one of those players that can go off for 40+ every game and single-handedly will his team through a few rounds.
March 22nd, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
Love him or hate him, you gotta respect Coach K. 33 years at Duke with 954 wins. I love that kind of dedication and success.
screw you nc state and (f-ing) wisconsin... for bracket purposes, that is. I'm actually kinda glad wisco lost - not for the conference, but because they're wisconsin.
Most MGoBracketeers chose Michigan, Indiana, or Louisville to win it all. Duke seemed to be the next most popular choice.
Bracketeers choosing the other major contenders got in w/ underrepresented picks for the NC.