Lookout Landing: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: The Boxing Bulletin for Boxing Fans!

OFFICIAL EFF YOU NCAA SELECTION COMMITTEE THREAD

Tiny by seattlebruin on Comment 438 comments

also contains off-topic stuff.

HEY NCAA SELECTION COMMITTEE I HATE YOU

ANYONE BUT VILLANOVA

THREE STRAIGHT WEEKS PLEASE NO NOVA PLEASE NO NOVA PLEASE NO NOVA

SORRIES ALSO GO TO -

MEMPHIS FANS BECAUSE UCONN BLOWS. At least your bracket is weak and you're going to the Final Four

WASHINGTON FANS BECAUSE HOLY CRAP IS THAT THE WORST DRAW EVER

Who else do you people like?

Talk about basketball now.

EFF YOU GONZAGA FOR SUCH AN EASY DRAW

 

5 recs  |  Comment 438 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Read More: ahhh i hate the selection committee, Seattle Mariners

Comments

Display:

GOD I JUST REALIZED THE FUCKING GAME IS IN PHILADELPHIA, TOO

FUCK THIS EVEN IF WE MANAGE TO BEAT VCU BY SOME MIRACLE

by seattlebruin on Mar 15, 2009 3:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 15, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's kind of annoying.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 15, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wish he wouldn't.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 15, 2009 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

=/

There are no good individual basketball statistics.
54!

by joof on Mar 15, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Do you have any idea who Robert really is?????

THIS IS NOT HIM FUCKING AROUND!!!!! THIS IS ACTUALLY HIM…HAVING A NUCLEAR MELTDOWN!!!

by Fuzz on Mar 15, 2009 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This actually does suck.

A four seed? Really? These people have selective memories.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 15, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

A four seed is fucking fine

its the fucking uconn in the sweet sixteen that fucks shit up

by Robert on Mar 15, 2009 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You would have wanted Memphis instead??

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 15, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Memphis is extremely overrated.

They have a ton of length on D, but I don’t see them getting far, possibly losing to Cal/Maryland.

They lost to Cuse (who is ridiculously overseeded in my opinion), Xavier, and Georgetown. They are a good team, but playing in that conference will make them soft, IMO. They are nowhere near as good as last year and I was praying to get them in Nova’s bracket. But of course we got Pitt. And Duke. Dammit

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 4:52 PM PDT up reply actions   1 recs

I said:
They are nowhere near as good as last year

But as I said below, I am probably underestimating them

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They've been to the Elite 8 three straight years.

At some point people will have to realize that either C-USA doesn’t hurt them or they would be unbelievably good if they played in a power conference.

by acblue on Mar 15, 2009 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, I think a lot of the C-USA talk is overblown.

But I don’t think they’re an Elite 8 team this year

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

A lot of it depends on how real their improvement has been.

If they’ve gotten significantly better than they were early on (and considering how young they are I think it’s reasonable to think that they have) they very well could be a legit title contender. If not, you’re totally correct.

by acblue on Mar 15, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah it's kinda hit or miss.

They are extremely talented and very long, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they got to the FF. Also I’m biased because I wanted Evans to come to Nova.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Memphis is an incredibly talented basketball team

As always. I just like Mizzou’s 40 minutes of Hell more than I like Calipari’s dribble-drive offense.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 8:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry seattlebruin.

I don’t want to face you guys either…although the more I look at the teams the better I feel.

But look on the bright side, if we get past AU and UCLA, we can vanquish the Dukies.

Final Four: Louisville, Mizzou, Nova, Oklahoma.
Others: Kansas/West Virginia, Wash/UConn, Pitt, UNC/Zaga.

I like Nova’s draw, although I would have preferred to stay away from VCU. We’ve beaten Pitt already, and I think we can beat every other team in the bracket. Being in Philly will be huge in the second round if we get past American. Otherwise UCLA would scare me.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 4:46 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I may be by myself on this,

but I really really really really don’t like Memphis this year. I think they’re primed for an upset, possibly by MD or Cal. Of course, I thought that Mich St and Texas would beat them last year so take this with a grain of salt.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am. That team is scary.

They’re worse than last year, but then, so is all of college basketball.
And as bad as Memphis looked in their early non-conference games, Louisville looked worse. I’d be damn scared to face either team at this point.

Seriously, I think UW has a better shot at a Dyson-less UCONN than they do vs. Memphis.

by marc w on Mar 15, 2009 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

UCLA has no chance to beat Villanova

none. Zero. I would rather face any other 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 seed and a couple ones and twos than Nova

by seattlebruin on Mar 15, 2009 4:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

VCU is a scary team.

I actually wanted to have them as my sleeper but now I can’t for obvious reasons.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess I don't know that much about UCLA this year.

But I am still very nervous about that matchup (if we beat American).

The only thing that gives me confidence is Philly. Also its sick because now I can go to some of the games here and I have friends up in Boston if we get to the second weekend.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 15, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Basically UCLA can't hang with teams that can press and have excellent scoring at the guard positions

and have trouble with non-traditional big men as well.

Basically Villanova is built to destroy them. I’d be surprised if it’s closer than 15.

The teams I didn’t want to face, in order, were 1. Louisville, 2. Wake Forest, 3. Villanova.

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Michigan State slaughtermolested Kansas two months ago

There is no possible way they get past MSU if that matchup happens. Which I see.

And Louisville, for some reason, doesn’t worry me nearly as much as any of the other two elite no. 1’s. All I wanted was to sidestep UNC, and an invitation to play in Big Ten country all the way through the bracket is the reward. MSU is going to be really, really scary.

by cwel87 on Mar 15, 2009 6:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

NU is pretty damn good - as is the entire Big Ten

When a league goes nine deep out of 11 squads, you have yourself a relatively decent conference.

Michigan State doesn’t lose when they’re healthy, except in the BT tourney. And frankly, the results that came to pass were better than any 1 seed MSU could have hoped for.

Sure, ignore the Spartans if you like. I’ll take the coach that has a geographical advantage and just makes Final Fours.

We’ll see who’s right in two weeks!

PS: Potentially, Louisville plays Ohio State…in Dayton, OH.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Trust me on this: NU is not very good and neither is Big 10.

They went 9 deep because there was no dominant team in the conference. While 9 of the 11 were at least OK, none are good enough to compete with the likes of the Big East.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 9:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

UNLV beat Louisville too

then the Cards woke the hell up and are crushing everything in their path

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Louisville has a Tourney weakness in that they don't have one or two go-to players.

With as many mercurial talents as they have, they could easily go cold one game and have no one to bail them out.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He did say 'none' are good enough

Did he not?

And yet, we find a mediocre one is more than ‘good enough’.

You’re analyzing the Big Ten wrong, I’m telling you both. It’s a dangerous game to think little of a defensive-heavy league when the tournament is a one-and-done scenario.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I orginally had Louisville beating UNC for the title, but that was too boring

I’ve got UW beating ASU in an all Pac-10 final. Go Dawgs

by MFAN on Mar 15, 2009 4:53 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

This bracket makes for easy construction!

One mid-major’s going to romp on dreams, a couple 5-12 seed upsets will occur, and when the dust settles, two 2’s and two 1’s will be in Detroit. Pretty standard.

’Nova also has a chance because every single one of their potential matchups are favorable in one way or another.

by cwel87 on Mar 15, 2009 6:45 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

UW won't even make it out of Portland, so don't worry about dreams of 2004 and 1998.

Red hot Mississippi State and Purdue teams? Gonzaga in the same pod bringing their fans that will boo the shit out of Washington? Hell, it being in Portland, land of scourge and death? I like the field there.

by James F'n X on Mar 15, 2009 9:18 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

the 25 minute drive home tonight was filled by a 20-minute rant by the Fox radio guy on the subject of the Committee and their choice of big division bottom feeders over small division winners with higher RPIs.

He didn’t even get to bad-luck draws or seeding.

by msb on Mar 15, 2009 10:00 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I fail to understand the Michigan State love

Both from the polls and the selection committee. Their record wasn’t that much better than the Dawgs and I think they played in an arguably weaker conference. Plus they’ve been pretty damn lucky this year too, as Dave Cameron pointed out in this articel.

Before the Pac-!0 tourney started I was really confident in UW’s chances to go deep. Now I’m a little wary. I know that Mississippi State plays in the weak SEC and all but they seem like they might match up with us really well. And Purdue looks like a decent team too.

Damn the selection committee to hell Detroit.

"I call the big one Bitey."-Homer J. Simpson

by Willie Mays Haze on Mar 15, 2009 10:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

They got lambasted by Maryland and UNC when they were injured

And they played in the Big Ten, where 10 of the 11 teams prefer a slow tempo and defensive style of play.

It’s obvious what happened – Michigan State got blown out when they were hurting and ended up winning a lot of ‘close’ games in the Big Ten, which weren’t really all that close by normal Big Ten standards.

Also, the Pac-10 isn’t even comparable to the Big Ten. Not even comparable.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

That was what the Fox guy was saying.

Only with FCC-approved language, of course.

by msb on Mar 16, 2009 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How the fuck did I come up with Memphis winning the whole thing?

I’ve got them beating Nova with Syracuse and Louisville also making the final four.

by Robert on Mar 16, 2009 10:51 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

On first cut I have

Wake Forest over Memphis
Pittsburgh over North Carolina

Pittsburgh over Wake Forest

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wake is schizo, they've been that way for as long as I can remember

If they can’t get out of the second round with Chris(t) Paul and Skip Prosser, I don’t see them getting much further than that this year.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 11:55 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They have a really easy draw, honestly.

and they match up well with Louisville.

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tell that to their matchup zone difficulties

And a potential second-round foe in Arizona.

I’m not saying they’ll lose, just that they seem to do it like clockwork. That doesn’t mean I’m picking against them…but be incredibly wary of a deep run.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Arizona is just as schizo as Wake

I just think Jeff Teague is going to be too much for Louisville to handle

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're moreso schizo

But it’s frightening nonetheless to face that matchup zone as Wake Forest. They lost to Georgia Tech and NC State because of it, for God’s sake.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, now that you've been exposed to Wake's schizophrenia

Realize that’s a program that, for as long as anyone can remember, has had a fuckton of talent and a hilariously small amount of Sweet 16’s to show for it.

by cwel87 on Mar 23, 2009 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dang.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 23, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Personally I'd like to thank the committee

admittedly I don’t know how good BC is, but a #10 seed is higher than I expected and the chance to face an overrated Michigan St in the 2nd round is great!

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:05 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

The one thing BC has going for it is Tyrese Rice.

Those kind of freak streaky guards are the engine that pulls the upset train in the tourney.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I still don't believe in one-man teams in the tourney

especially ones where the one is a well-known player. They’re just not all that hard to game-plan for. Hackett is going to destroy Rice

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He did a pretty good job on James Harden

in the Pac 10 tournament.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And Tyrese Rice is significantly smaller than James Harden

he’s going to destroy him. I’m thinking something like 6-19, 14 points, 4 assists and 3 steals

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It certainly can't be an entirely one man show, but it doesn't take too much in the way of ancillary talent.

Davidon last year is the popular example of this, but Acie Law carried A&M in 2007 without supreme surrounding cast, and West Virginia pulled it off last year with a 2/3 man team.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

2/3 guys works well because you can't just focus on the one

and in a short-turnaround situation, you’re more likely to just focus on trying to stop one guy, which is why I think Marquette is so dangerous – no one will gameplan for Wes Matthews and he’s going to go nuts.

Also, Acie Law’s surrounding cast wasn’t that bad. Carter and Kirk were both pretty good and they had that big fat dude that got a ton of boards.

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wes Mathews and Lazar Heyward are freaks, but they're going to miss Dominic.

Without the initiator to that offense, I don’t believe in them like I would have with a healthy James.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes. they're a huge mystery to me as well

but I’ve always thought that their secret was that James was the third best player and it wasn’t terribly close. I love McNeal’s game – I think he’s going to be an NBA star

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

McNeal definitely has a future.

While James isn’t their best player talent wise, most of what they do predicates on the havoc that he wreaks. Sure he’s a woefully inept shooter (Pargooo!!!), but he collapses the D which keys everything for them.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Definitely agree

the more I think about it, the more I think they’ll miss him – he was the catalyst on defense too, even though McNeal is a much better on-ball defender. We’ll see. I loved them with James, I merely like them without him.

Keep in mind I love watching athletic 2-guards with well-rounded games – definitely the most fun kind of player to watch for me.

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

So what you're saying is

I’m not completely a homer for picking USC to go two rounds deep?

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

The only reason I didn't pick sc to beat Michigan State is that I went to UCLA

otherwise I very well may have had them in the Elite Eight. This is the second wonderful draw in two years for them – last year I thought they were going to the Final Four

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Did you see the Pac 10 Tournament?

I think his head is officially out of his ass.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Eh

this felt like one of those cases where a player finally “Got it”. But that could just be me.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Remember when Lil' Romeo scored against UCLA?

That was doubtlessly the highlight of my basketball season

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder who enjoyed that more

self hating bruin fans or Romeo himself for all the shit he had to have heard from bruin fans.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Self-hating Bruin fans

that moment was one of the five funniest things I’ve ever seen on a basketball court because he even missed the first free throw. I was more nervous watching him shoot the second free throw than I was when we lost to Michigan this year

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

There seems to be only two kinds of bruin fans

self hating, and delusional. What’s up with that?

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Then there's my Dad, who went to UCLA for three years of Walton.

They did not lose at Pauley in his 4 years there, and they won 3 titles to boot.

How could you possibly accept UCLA now?

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And then there are people who got into UCLA in 2003 and saw people decide Ben Howland was the second coming of John Wooden

who now refuse to admit that Howland is somewhere between a mediocre and an awful in-game coach

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This has happened to USC people a few times

with football.

I remember the reactions of people who had never seen us lose at the Coliseum until we lost to Stanford.

I’d been there long enough to have been present when the streak started. :(

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It changes everything when you're expected to lose

As opposed to expected to win.

Like our M’s last year as opposed to this year! (Which, ironically, should have been flip-flopped when comparing the state of the division)

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I always have so much trouble talking myself into upsets

even though I know they happen. Is there a good site that lists historical results? I think wikipedia has some of this info…

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Ah here it is perfect

Since the inception of the 64-team tournament in 1985, each seed-pairing has played a total of 96 first-round games.

   1. The #1 seed has beaten the #16 seed all 96 times (100).
   2. The #2 seed has beaten the #15 seed 92 times (96).
   3. The #3 seed has beaten the #14 seed 81 times (84).
   4. The #4 seed has beaten the #13 seed 79 times (82).
   5. The #5 seed has beaten the #12 seed 65 times (67).
   6. The #6 seed has beaten the #11 seed 66 times (69).
   7. The #7 seed has beaten the #10 seed 60 times (62).
   8. The #8 seed has beaten the #9 seed 44 times (46).

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't get me wrong, I love sabermetrics in baseball

But trying to use this as a tool to analyze a one-and-done basketball tournament is probably not the smartest decision.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Worked for me in the 1st round last year IIRC.

After that it’s not as easy.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Every tournament has its own identity

Combined, sure, it makes up those numbers – but a lot of those 5-12 upsets have come more recently, and the 3-14s were a number of years ago.

And the 2-15 losses were all within an 8-ish year span.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

True

but it helps to remind myself that there is always a 8-9 “upset” and a “7-10” upset. Predicting the 5-12s and 6-11s isn’t as easy.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Western Kentucky

is the only one that is kind of standing out at me, maybe VCU or ucla.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Replace under with over.

The Big 10 is seriously overrated this year, and I saw that as a person who usually has to defend the Big 10’s honor to West Coasters.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

How does one get close enough to Digger Phelps to do cocaine off his left nipple?

Because you have clearly reached that level of intimacy with the man.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just graduated from Northwestern in June.

I’ve watched a TON of Big Ten basketball in the last 5 years. Also, Digger has some killer nips.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would agree with you on this normally

But Illinois has had several games this year scoring under 20 at the half

by Fuzz on Mar 16, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And that fantastic 38-33 game against Penn State

where I thought it was the halftime score when I saw it

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

But, see, that's the Big Ten

Everyone plays at this ridiculously slow tempo and forces horrible shots. Low scores don’t necessarily mean bad basketball – it means a commitment to the defensive side of the ball that teams, and players, simply do not have these days.

I watched the Big East/ACC tournaments and, conversely, saw some treacherous defense.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Northwestern has a commitment to defense.

Their offensive scheme relies mostly on Craig Moore and Kevin Coble catching fever and hitting 5 or 6 3’s each with hands in their faces and the shotclock near zero.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

Illinois seems like the one Big 10 team that doesn’t have an excessive number of question marks.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Except their best player on both sides has a broken hand

Which gives them more question marks than any other BT team

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Them, I agree

Bruce Weber did a hell of a coaching job getting that team to where it was this season, but it ends against an experienced NCAA squad.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well I don't think I'm picking them.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not like Western Kentucky is all that good though

they lost their two best players off last year’s team. I haven’t seen enough of them to really know, (only one game), but based on what I saw of the guys who are starters this year that weren’t last year, I just don’t think they get by Illinois

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well hmm.

This year is tougher for me than normal. I think I really paid less attention to college hoops than usual. Probably because of lowered expectations and not being in school.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Experience in the tourney does matter

So does winning.

I just really think Illinois will miss Frazier, and even if he’s able to play, he won’t be close to himself. Frazier’s defensive intensity makes that team.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well with Chester Frazier hurt, I'm a little concerned

but compared to the really schizo or downright bad B10 teams (Michigan, Minnesota)…

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Michigan is schizo

Minnesota beat Louisville when Mater Dei HS would have beaten them

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't see a team to be so mercurial

And yet everyone is totally sold on them now.

They went from a top-5 preseason ranking to being potentially beaten by a high school team to no. 1 overall seed?

I think they just played a really shitty Big East schedule and have a real good coach.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

In my opinion, likelihood of the top 6 seeds winning a national title, in order

hey look, I’m like Corco!

1. North Carolina (1)
2. Pittsburgh (1)
3. Memphis (2)
4. Wake Forest (4)
5. Louisville (1)
6. Connecticut (1)
7. Villanova (3)
8. Oklahoma (2)
9. Syracuse (3)
10. Michigan State (2)
11. Gonzaga (4)
12-23. holy crap there are a lot of bad teams seeded this high
tell you what, the answer is not Utah.
41823142832. UCLA

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:09 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Poor UCLA

That’s probably the worst draw they could have possibly hoped for.

I’ve got:

1) UNC
2) Pitt
3) Memphis
4) L’ville
5) UConn
6) MSU
7) ’Nova
8) ’Cuse
9) Wake
10) ’Zaga
11) Mizzou
12) West Virginia
13-the rest – irrelevant

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stephen F. Austin is awesome

last year there was some guy on the twoplustwo forums (a poker website) who said he was an assistant coach at a Texas D-I school and he just answered a ton of questions about college basketball life – turns out he was a head assistant at SFA, so I’m rooting for them like mad now.

Too bad Syracuse is looking pretty invincible right now (provided their legs are destroyed)

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:24 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I still kinda think Devo is a scum bag

even if he probably isn’t.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love Dave to death, but his argument is immensely flawed

Take the average MOV from the Big Ten conference games and line them up with those of the BE and ACC, and it’s not even close.

Now, add in two games where MSU got absolutely smoked in the early part of the season when they were battling injuries galore.

Compare the two, and it’s obvious that MSU, the outright champion of a 7-bid conference by four games, will end up near the bottom of the rung when compared to Pythagorean-esque maps.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not even a luck argument, although Dave has already made that case.

They just aren’t that good. Kalin Lucas is good. Raymar Morgan is mercurial at best, but he’s really just a B+ Alando Tucker. The only ranked team they played outside of the Big Ten were UNC and Texas. Texas isn’t amazing, and UNC spanked them. The rest of their Big Ten schedule is suspect as the Big Ten just wasn’t all that spectacular this season. They all got ranked with vanilla out of conference schedules in combination with picking on each other. It’s similar to how the Big East football teams were all ranked a few years back.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're the best rebounding team. In the country.

They go nine deep, they have an outstanding core, they’re big, they’re fast, they’re physical, they’re tested, and they played another ranked team out of the Big Ten.

Their name is Kansas. MSU was up by about 20 by the half and played their subs for the majority of the second.

Who’s the three-seed in the Midwest again?

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Kansas is the other really overrated three-seed

I think Michigan State will destroy average competition and have trouble with streaky teams on good days. I think they beat $c. Don’t think they get by West Virginia (or Kansas if by some miracle they happen to make it that far)

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I absolutely agree that West Virginia is way underrated

They’re horribly frightening. But the bottom line is they just don’t have the athletes to match up with MSU.

Plus, Bob Huggins vs. Ton Izzo is a non-debate in March.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

By 'big', I actually mean play big

Mistake on my part.

They also have the best defensive specialist at guard arguably in the entire country – T-Wizzalt

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I remember five trips to the Elite Eight in the last 10 years, and four Final Fours

And I look at their talent, and their injuries/unnaturally weird diseases being over, and their coach, and I see no flaws outside of 3-point shooting.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This team still has Mateen Cleaves, Charlie Bell, Mo Pete, Zach Randolph, JRich right?

What about Paul Davis, Shannon Brown, Matt Trannon, or Maurice Ager? No? Them neither?

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I do! He was the 12th man on the last good Sacramento team.

He was the Ronny Turiaf of that team (minus the playing time), in that he was the biggest cheerleader on the court. Also, he frequently would scream the N word loud enough to be caught on camera. That was fun.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No, but that's the job for

Goran Suton
Raymar Morgan
Delvon Roe
Travis Walton
Kalin Lucas
Korie Lucious
Chris Allen
Idong Ibok
Durrell Summers
Marquise Gray

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

If by deep you mean,

Overfilled with mediocre.

by Sec 108 on Mar 16, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Morgan was all-BT last two years, missed it this year because of mononucleosis

Lucas was the BT PotY.
Walton was BT-All D.
Izzo was CotY.
Roe was All-BT F team – and missed ‘08.
Suton would have made first team too if his knee didn’t die for the first eight games of the year.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why don't you?

That baffles me.

No coach has been better in the last ten years than Tom Izzo. Period.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've just been informed that on Eric Maynor's Facebook page

under favorite books, he wrote “I DONT LIKE READING!!!!!!!!!!”

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:28 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You don't need to prepare to do that

I could score on Darren Collison

or, as my roommate (who graduated from UCLA last year) once asked “why is his name Collision?”

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

He also apparently has this gem in his profile
"Yea I got me a Honey Dip
International chick
Dats all I fuck cause they love International Dick
Da type of bitch make a nigga wanna cuff her
Walk wit her hold hands tell her dat I love her (Sike!)
She already know
Pimpin is my steelo Jamaicans, Haitians, Hispanic amigos
Yea! I need those wanna hit da weed ho’s get down on her knees please believe she deep throat
Head game so fire, make me catch a heat stroke
Strong feelings for babygirl, she make me weak tho
Hit her on da horn late nite she know its on
Bottle of Moet Purple Haze got her in da zone
Sometimes she call me tell me "I got da Manaj for you"
Dats a bet let me stop and get da massage oil
Whipped cream Strawberries and Chocolate
Da toppings I need to go good wit my Honey Dip!"-Dats for my homie EMayn…Don’t bite my shit

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 12:32 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ASU is my darkhorse for the Final Four.

They have the right combination of talent to take Syracuse, Oklahoma and UNC. Also, watch out for UNC. Ty Lawson is made of glass.

by Sec 108 on Mar 16, 2009 12:30 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Well now I do too.

Shouldn’t she just be ecstatic that UA stole a spot in the tourney?

by Sec 108 on Mar 16, 2009 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

She's more relieved than ecstatic

but I believe her exact quote was “I never thought I’d live to see the day when ASU is better than UA at basketball, and it looks like it’s going to be a loooooong day”.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Mar 16, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe it is only against us

but that Glasser guy seems pretty good, ditto Pendergraph.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It must just be against us then.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Mar 16, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Harden is the obvious one.

Pendergraph can play D, run the floor, make shots from 16’ in, pass decently from the post and he sets a mean screen.

Glasser is a solid PG with a mean streak. They have multiple guards to come off the bench also.

I am no expert, but most NCAA champs have a good PG, good post player and a dynamic wing.

by Sec 108 on Mar 16, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dionte Christmas is pretty good

Don’t have them sliding past poor old Fran Dunphy so fast. The Owls were in it last year, too…against MSU.

by cwel87 on Mar 16, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Just noticed that the tourney starts Thursday,

when the MLS season opens in Seattle and the tourney ends April 6th, AKA MLB Opening Day.

Great planning, everyone.

by Matthew on Mar 16, 2009 1:12 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Scoop Jackson has this piece of advice for filling out your bracket
• Use this as a motto: Got Seniors?

A word from the very educated on UCLA basketball – if you pick UCLA any farther than the second round, YOU WILL REGRET IT

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 1:12 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

• Look for teams with guards with composure as the clock winds down. Examples: A.J. Abrams (Texas),

AKA – hay guyz watch me chuck the ball in the general direction of the rim and sometimes it goes in!

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It sure as hell worked in the Oklahoma game.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

When it occasionally works, sure it's great.

When he goes 5/17 from 3 against Notre Dame, not good. 3/15 against Oklahoma the first time around? Ouch. 4/14 against Kansas State? Yikes.

The man shoots 38.9% from 3 and he attempted 244 3’s this year! It’s one thing for Stephen Curry to do that, but Texas has other talented players who may once in a while do something more effective with the ball.

by abender20 on Mar 16, 2009 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's not that he's not a good shooter

quite the opposite.

It’s that he takes the most awful shots you could possibly imagine, and takes them all the freaking time.

by seattlebruin on Mar 16, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

This is the first year I will even glance at the NIT.

It might be the last time to see Stephen Curry as an effective player.

Go Nova

by dbroncos31 on Mar 16, 2009 1:34 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You know who's terrible?

The backup center for Texas. That guy lacks any hint of coordination.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

On a serious note

I believe that the frontcourt is what makes a championship-caliber team. Big men seem to be more effective overall than guards.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

As a point guard myself, I am well-aware that my success is hinged on the success of the 4 and 5 guys.

Sure, I can run an offense pretty well, but if the center’s not pulling down boards, providing steady scoring, and dominating the paint, the best my team can be is mediocre.

I mean, look at Jerome James. He played a huge role in the Sonics’ success in ’05.

However, now that I think about it, point guard play is more important to the fundamental efficiency of the offense.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sure. Email me the link.

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dexter Pittman's his name

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:26 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

C

Why would I watch Transformers when I can play with them at my house?

by Taylor H on Mar 16, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Connor Atchley's not a bad college player

He’s had a really, really down senior season, but he’s a nice piece on a decent team.

by marc w on Mar 16, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Side Note: Team Stephen Curry vs Team Patty Mills on Monday

That’s better than any player on player matchup you’ll see in the Big Dance.

by SethGrandpa on Mar 18, 2009 1:37 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

If Patty Mills is himself yet

Which I pseudo-doubt after watching that Gonzaga pillaging.

by cwel87 on Mar 18, 2009 7:36 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Holy shit that was an amazing performance.

yeah, yeah, it was on Taylor Rochestie, or it was more impressive because Klay Thomson couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, but he seriously made himself money last night. Moved up in the draft 10 spots.

by marc w on Mar 18, 2009 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

From ESPN.com's Pat Forde
Washington (4)

Best Case: Huskies sprint through Mississippi State and punk Purdue by forcing the tempo out of the Boilermakers’ comfort zone. In Glendale, Washington gets double Sweet 16 revenge upon UConn. The Huskies East eliminated the Huskies West in 1998 on a last-second shot in the regional semifinals, and the Huskies East eliminated the Huskies West in overtime in 2006 in the same round. This time it’s Jon Brockman hitting the game-winning putback at the buzzer. Somewhere, Todd MacCulloch looks up from a pinball machine and smiles. In an NBA locker room, so does Brandon Roy. Huskies go on to reach their first Final Four since 1951, when they were under the direction of the immortal William “Tippy” Dye.

Worst Case: Huskies run into a hot Bulldogs team — most notably the long arms of Jarvis Varnado inside — and are ejected from the Dance in the first round. Defensively indifferent Huskies fail to close out on Mississippi State shooters and are strafed from the outside. Washington fans unsuccessfully attempt to blame the outcome on East Coast bias. Meanwhile, Jake Locker gets hurt in spring football practice.

Our city pain is a national punchline. At least its recognized…

by Matthew on Mar 18, 2009 3:44 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Search

User Tools

By reading a game thread of your own volition you agree to accept all liability for any and all damage done to your delicate sensibilities.
Start posting about the Mariners »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Max_small
FootbaLL IV (Nov 21st)

by JamMasterJesus 3 days ago

43 comments | 5 recs

Small
The Sabermetrics of Cats

by ARock 8 days ago

148 comments | 9 recs

Recent FanPosts

Small
WAR gains major exposure

by Fett42 about 9 hours ago

10 comments | 0 recs

Laughing_man_elmex_small
AFL Championship game thread

by Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth 1 day ago

40 comments | 0 recs

Smell-the-glove_small
OFFTOP 11/19 - The Hand of Fraud

by pdb 3 days ago

512 comments | 0 recs

Small
Tony Blengino interview on 710 AM ESPN Seattle's Hot Stove League

by ARock 3 days ago

15 comments | 0 recs

Ichirocameron_small
OTFPOTD 11/16: Recipes Edition

by Decatur 6 days ago

1082 comments | 0 recs

Small
Lookout Landing as a communtiy

by JetersNeverProsper 8 days ago

370 comments | 0 recs

Small
Royals determined to unload Callaspo...

by slamcactus 10 days ago

31 comments | 0 recs

Ichiro_small
Ackley and Triunfel on MLB TV right now

by Smegmalicious 14 days ago

102 comments | 0 recs

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Recent Posts

SBNation.com Recent Stories

Photo link

Diamondbacks Acquire Pitcher Aaron Heilman

AZ Snakepit

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 18, 2009, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/George Nikitin) +2 updates

Tim Lincecum Edges Carpenter, Wainwright To Win Second Straight NL Cy Young

Photo

Mike Scioscia, Jim Tracy Named Managers Of The Year

More from SBNation.com >

Sexy People

1_small Graham

Small Matthew

Small Jeff