NCAA Tournament Open Thread

Submitted by TWSWBC on
Marquette vs Syracuse followed by Wichita St vs Ohio St. Both games are on CBS. Enjoy the hoops Edit/Update: Syracuse advances to Atlanta with a final of 55-39 while holding Marquette to 22% shooting. Yeesh. Attention now shifts to Wichita St vs Ohio St. Tip off is in about 30 minutes Update to the update: Wichita St leads Ohio St 35-22 at halftime

M-Wolverine

March 30th, 2013 at 4:34 PM ^

But do we match up better with one of these squads if we were to advance and get them the next game?

kirtip

March 30th, 2013 at 4:40 PM ^

I had the same question. While I think the 2-3 zone of Syracuse is pretty scary, I think have the right kind of team to beat it. We have pretty good perimeter shooting, with a lot of guys that can shoot the long jumper. We have a couple good slashers that can cut through the zone, especially GRIII. Also, a week to prepare for the 2-3 zone would help a lot.

That being said... I still think we would probably have a better shot against Marquette.

TWSWBC

March 30th, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^

James Southerland from Syracuse has been a hot shooter lately. Our perimeter D isn't always stellar so avoiding him would be ok with me

B-Nut-GoBlue

March 30th, 2013 at 4:52 PM ^

Was going for Syracuse when I had a nice unique Final Four of Wichita St., Cuse, Duke, and Kansas.  Now that that Kansas team lost to that Michigan team my bracket that could have been something special is dead, go Marquette.  Torn on "rooting" for Ohio, I'd still kind of like to see Wichita St. in the Final 4.

F MY BRACKET IN IT"S FACE BECAUSE MICHIGAN IS IN THE ELITE 8!!!!

M-Wolverine

March 30th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^

If they win it sets up Michigan-Florida where Michigan can eliminate me, or if Florida wins I'm still alive (and winner if Louisville wins). So a consolation prize.

So of course Wichita State will win, and then Michigan won't even win tomorrow. (And Duke will win to go for the trifecta of suck).

MEZman

March 30th, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^

So if Mich doesn't win it all I'm hoping for 'Cuse to win it and then have their season vacated due to the ongoing investigation. Because F the NCAA and their BS multi-year investigations.

Goblueman

March 30th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^

Not only to avoid the zone but mainly because Syr is a MUCH more talented team offensively  and a better rebounding team.Also McGary would have more success vs Marq.

Mr. Yost

March 30th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^

I just want to be in the game. Both teams are underwhelming but have unorthodox strengths. Syracuse runs that zone, Marquette specializes in making the game ugly.

They're both succeeding right now.

I feel like we could shoot over the zone and Trey could penatrate it...but Syracuse is the better offensive team.

I feel like we could match Marquettes bigs with McGary and Morgan, but it would be like playing MSU again.

In the end, just survive and advance. It's not supposed to be easy in the Final 4.

jmblue

March 30th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^

This has the feel of one of those games where the team ahead throughout the first half fails to deliver the knockout punch and ends up getting dominated in the second.  Syracuse should be up by a lot more than 3 right now.

Mr. Yost

March 30th, 2013 at 5:22 PM ^

...this is painful to watch.

I feel like I'm watching a regular Big East Conference game at noon on ESPN2 in January. Nothing about this game says March Madness, Elite 8 or NCAA Tournament.

WolverineFanatic6

March 30th, 2013 at 6:04 PM ^

We have shooters, I'd rather play Syracuse. Marquette is tough and physical. Cuse is long and athletic but they only play that 2-3 zone. I live 50 miles from Syracuse and have been to many games over the years. If you start making shots the zone widens and you can finally get inside. However if you're not shooting well you're looking at an almost certain loss. Jim Boehiem is a genius and one of the greatest ever.

jmblue

March 30th, 2013 at 5:33 PM ^

BTW, it turns out that Dickie V might be the most accurate ESPN commentator.  He alone predicted us to make the Final Four.  Three of his four teams (UM, OSU, Louisville and IU) are still alive.

 

FreddieMercuryHayes

March 30th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^

Ok, so MU is shooting 7% from 3 (1-13), and 25% overall.  Is this a product of Syracuse's D or are they just shooting shitty tonight.  I mean, it's not like MU is getting wide open looks all the time, but I feel like they're just blowing a lot of decent shot opportunities.

jmblue

March 30th, 2013 at 5:57 PM ^

Crazy thing I just read about Kansas:

Kansas has been a #1 seed 10 times since 1992. That's 10 out of 22 seasons.



Of those 10 times as a #1 seed, Kansas has:



Won the title 1 time



Lost in the Final Four 1 time



Lost in the Regional Final 2 times



Lost in the Sweet 16 3 times



Lost in the 2nd round 3 times

 

That is pretty staggering underachievement.  OK, winning it all is hard, but only two Final Fours in 10 times as a #1 seed?  

TWSWBC

March 30th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^

Verne Lundquist is very entertaining to me. When he calls a game it sounds like he has heard a lot about basketball but has never seen a game in person and this says "WOW!" frequently.



I also love his laugh when he just says "HA!"