Chisoxfn

UCLA Kansas North Carolina Texas or Stanford (still not decided on that...leaning to Texas) UCLA vs Kansas in the Finals Kansas winning the national championship

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:42 PM) I'm just still trying to figure out how UCLA could possibly be the #1 overall #1 seed. Well they did play in the toughest conference in the country and had wins against a lot of quality opponents (Stanford multiple times, Washington State Multiple times, USC multiple times, etc). I think that is what helped them but there is no arguing that they got the easiest bracket which would thus make them the #1 overall seed. I had them as the #2 behind UNC (I think what UNC is pretty impressive, ie, the zero road losses all season).

The week could have gone better, but considering we had a game against San Diego (L) and than 3 At #1 Arizona (losing 2 out of 3) I can live with things (the Titans are an extremely young squad still gelling and they have played what is arguably the toughest schedule in the country thus far and I fully believe this schedule will help them out when they enter conference play and if they end up making it to the regionals.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:39 PM) Every bracket looks solid when your team is in it, so trust me I understand. But trust me, you guys got a sweetheart deal with that bracket. UCLA fans can start buying final four tickets. When I say solid, I meant that in a good way for UCLA. They have a pretty clear path to Duke and I consider Duke the weakest of the 2's. So I'm completely with you on that. Of course anything can happen.

The more I look at it, the more I just can't see Duke not playing UCLA in the Elite 8. Duke has an easy road, unless Xavier plays a really good game or Arizona completely wakes up and kicks ass (as Arizona is full capable of doing such, but I don't even know if they make it out of the 1st round).

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:36 PM) I love Purdue's layout, I don't think much of Xavier if both teams win their first rd matchups and I'd love to see Duke vs Purdue. I know I'm jumping ahead but two similar style teams that could be fun. Baylor over Purdue won't happen, at least it better not. You are underestimating Baylor. Baylor is a pretty darn good team. If they are on offensively they have a shot at routing Purdue.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:35 PM) The west is AWFUL, Gage should be feeling good. I love UCLA as is, but there bracket looks pretty solid. I would cry if they ended up playing Duke and lost though. God I hate Duke.

I love UCLA!!!!

I am perfectly content with those teams that didn't get in. The teams that didn't get in, didn't deserve it. I think the team that had the best argument is Illinois State and they were hurt because there conference wasn't quite as strong as its been in years past. Arizona is a team I wouldn't want to play if they happened to wake up, cause good god are they talented. I also am already picking the baylor over purdue upset.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:28 PM) I really feel like Wisconsin is one of the least likely teams to get upset in the first round. Maybe thats the me being a homer, but your team is going to have to shoot lights out to win. If they can drain the 3 they can win the game. Otherwise, good luck. Lucky for me, they are one of the highest scoring teams in the country and can drop 3's all day long (they also have a very good low post scorer in Cutley). Defensively they are horrendous though, but luckily Wiscy can't score. I'm thrilled the game is in Omaha too, as that is a place that Fullerton has dominated at for years. I feel it is an omen that we are in Omaha And Badger, just so you know, there is nothing but pride going into my logic (although it is true, Fullerton plays a very up tempo approach where they will take the early shot if it is open, ala the Phoenix Suns and no they don't have Steve Nash).

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:25 PM) Oh you Cal State. Anyways 3 seed in the Midwest isnt so bad and hopefully Wisconsin can get some good fan support in Omaha (closest regional and could potentially face 2 west coast teams). At the end of the day not the worst not the best. I guarantee one thing...you guys will win in terms of fans, but we'll win the game (I'd be stunned if we had 1000 fans there, but god damn I'm on the coolaid and am ready for them to win a tourney game).

I like Stanfords chances of matching up with Texas and the winner of that game going to the final four.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:17 PM) Midwest: 1. Kansas 16. Portland State 8. UNLV 9. Kent State 5. Clemson 12. Villanova (Whoa!!) 4. Vanderbilt 13. Siena 6. USC 11. Kansas State 3. Wisconsin (thought they might get a 2, but the committee appears to not like the Big 10) 14. Cal-State Fullerton (this should be interesting around the boards...) 7. Gonzaga 10. Davidson 2. Georgetown 15. UMBC Kansas State vs. USC is fascinating, i'm very surprised Villanova got in. I f***ing hate Wisconsin Badger basketball too, so I like this matchup. Anyone know what time the Titans game is at? I'm going to be in Arizona for spring training so I got to make sure I can find a way to watch it.

I have bets with a KSU person and a USC person. My bet with the KSU person is that Stanford goes farther (i made it about a month and a half ago when both teams were seeded similarly) and than I had a presason bet with an USC fan regarding UCLA going farther than USC (we all know how much I love UCLA). So barring a disaster for Stanford/UCLA, I will at least win one of the bets and therefor will be nicely covered. My other tourney bet involves KU and Memphis as I picked KU going further than Memphis about a month ago (this was when Memphis was still undefeated). I will be interested to see whether all my mouth running and betting pays off.

Yes.....Fullerton matches up agains the Badgers. CSUF plays a wide open up-tempo offense and I'm hoping that style will cause Wiscy problems. Of course Wiscy could just grind things out, but Fullerton won't play at that style and they can hit the three ball and if they can rebound they'll be able to get out in transition and create the upset. And yes...this is me purely being hyper on emotion, nothing more and it will f*** my bracket over for sure. Or will it GO TITANS GO!!!!

I f***ing love it. We will run Wisconsin to death. Badger...prepare to be upset!!!!!

You should be happy. Butler could be the type of team that takes out a Tennesee and ends up making your road a bit easier. Plus, IU is way over-rated. Perhaps they got a bit low of a seed, but while they have some talent they aren't a very good team. Than again, I'm overly harsh on the big ten this year because I think it sucks.

QUOTE(Brian @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:04 PM) What kind of bracket do you have when you have 3 teams in the finals? This isn't a triple threat match this year, is it? No I just indicated that those were my 3. I believe Stanford to be my 4th, but that would be dependent on them being in Memphis region. Otherwise Memphis could be my 4th or some other team in that bracket. Aside from that, barring some matchup I really hate, I freaking love the hell out of KU/UCLA/UNC when it comes to going deep in the tourney. SUcks for Tennessee, Butler is a rough 2nd round matchup (how the f*** Butler is a 7 seed, I don't know).

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 03:01 PM) You really think Arizona should be in without 20 wins and with an 8-10 conference record? Yep, they had some solid wins and a tough schedule. Plus they played in the best conference in the land and no one is going to convince me there is a conference better than the PAC 10. Committee gets the #1 seeds right and 3 of those 4 teams are going to be in the finals, imo (UNC/UCLA/KU).

Interested in seeing that Fullerton won't be in the opening round game.

VA Tech better not get in, nor should ASU (ASU sucked balls down the stretch and big wins be damn they shouldn't be in). Arizona should be in. OSU should be out cause the Big 10 blows balls. I actually have Kentuck in because they played strong down the stretch (although they had a bad tourney loss). Kstate is in but they definitely weren't impressive down the stretch (But they weren't as bad as ASU was down the stretch).

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 02:41 PM) I don't believe Bureau that a scout got fired for recommending Poreda. If that's true, then KW is the biggest liar in history. He sounded more excited about Poreda than anyone else yesterday, and went out of his way to bring up details about his stuff. Poreda is the type of pick the Sox organization wants more of. Poreda was a pick which was heavily influenced by Ken Williams or at least that is the hint I've always gotten from people (again though, I don't know any of this as fact, but it makes sense to me). Kenny was sick of staying safe and staying away from high upside guys. Hell, look at the Sox system and when was the last time they had a guy who a scout could legitimately look at and say he has all star potential, maybe more. Chris Young is about the only one I can think of and before that you'd have to be talking about Borchard. Poreda is a guy that if all goes well, you are talking about someone who could be a premiere starter in baseball. Note: There is a s***load that can go wrong with Aaron Poreda and there are obviously still major holes in his game (hence why he was available when they Sox selected him) but still, he was more of that high upside/high ceiling guy that Kenny wants to fill the system with (and he's pretty much been willing to trade trade trade anyone that doesn't meet those projections in his eyes for the most part, although I don't believe he wanted to deal De Los Santos or Gio but it just so happens to be that Swisher is an all star type talent with a great contract). I am very intrigued to see what the Sox do in this draft and I won't be surprised when they end up spending some money on some mid round guys (ie, taking some guys who slid and giving them decent money; nothing crazy like the Angels/Red Sox Yanks do, and I wish the Sox would, but I think they'll be very agressive this draft, especially if they end up moving Uribe/Crede).

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 02:30 PM) Wins are a team stat. Why don't you judge him on ERA, IP, WHIP, K? I don't want to beat up on Floyd too much, but considering our "win now" approach, his lack of options and his past record, he needs to put up something. I agree, this is put up or shut up time for him. Just like it will be for Grossman/Orton in Chicago and if BA gets a chance he'll be in that exact same boat as well.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 02:37 PM) We'll see him sooner than most expected. KW and Hawk were gushing over him yesterday. I don't know, but I have heard from someone that works in the Sox system and they were saying how freaking high everyone is on him (which is contrary to the stuff Bureau has stated, which is again why I think you ahve to take any persons opinion as just one opinion). But he definitely has an electric arm and from what I've heard he's really been developing a nasty slider (but it is an inconsistent one).

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Mar 16, 2008 -> 02:34 PM) You can't compare Floyd to those guys. He's spent parts of 4 seasons in the majors, and his best success was when he came up in 2004. I read a scouting report when he was drafted. He threw 95 in high school with a wicked curve. One scouting report said he was major league rotation-ready. He doesn't throw 95 anymore, and if Keith Law is to be believed, his curveball isn't so wicked anymore. I would completely agree with you that he isn't quite as good as the Floyd I saw in 04, because he was freaking nasty, much nastier that he is today. However, I've seen him snap plenty of good curves in a Sox uni and he still has a little above average velocity. I don't believe he'll be a #2 like Ozzie and Kenny state, but I also think he'll have a servicable major league career and he does have some upside because guys with his curve don't grow on trees. But if you guys want to debate it, instead of just telling me how much he sucks, why not create a thread indicating which minor leaguer you would want starting instead of Gavin or discuss other options for the Sox if the current pitchers don't deliver. Like I said, I know at times its nice just to get a f***, he blows today off your chest, but we don't need a new thread every day with the same old whining and complaining in it. And I'm dead serious, I've I have to I'll just create one massive thread for peoples whining and complaining to go to (well the unproductive kind such as posts that go, god he f***ing blows or Ozzie is a dumbass). Now if the thread is Ozzie lost us this game and this is how (with someone listing off strategy a,b,c and what he should have done...awesome, I considering that intelligent debate and am all for it).