Rowand44

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2011 -> 11:01 AM) It is supposed to be a 15 year deal. 14 I believe. But ya, we got it for a while.

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Mar 17, 2011 -> 05:00 PM) And, as usual, Vandy doesn't show up in the tournament. Good thing I picked Richmond... Vandy gets some really freakin tough matchups in the tourny. Granted, they're loaded with talent and shouldn't be a one and done but the committee has certainly done them no favors the past couple of years.

My bracket made quite the recovery today. Lost the first 3 games including 2 sweet sixteens and then proceeded to go 12 and 1, losing only 1 pt the rest of the day.

QUOTE (Brian @ Mar 17, 2011 -> 08:20 AM) Can't put $10 down in addition to your other billion and can't come try a health club for free for a week. Weak! If you were running it, I'd just drop 10 bucks by your house, I really don't want to put more money on my credit card card though. And that's your damn fault for always working sundays on my off/get over hangover day!

Ya, sorry guys, I have about a billion dollars into tourny pools right now, I think I'm going to pass on this one.

My left side of the bracket is so chalky and the right side is complete chaos.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Mar 16, 2011 -> 09:45 PM) Personally, Lebron's far more unlikeable IMO. LeBron more unlikeable off the court and overall imo, Wade more unlikeable on the court.

Kelsey Barlow suspended, Kyrie Irving possibly coming back, a lot going on these last few days before we actually get started.

If I'm starting a franchise, I'm easily taking Love, that's not even a question. On this Bulls team, I'm keeping Noah, also a pretty easy decision.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Mar 15, 2011 -> 02:32 PM) Josh Hamilton That's quite the different set of circumstances.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2011 -> 06:31 AM) Honestly I am pretty Bobby Knight on the conference tourneys. I actually completely understand why people would feel this way but to me, the conference tournaments play into what March Madness is, leave them alone. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2011 -> 08:55 AM) It is on Comcast? Sweet. It is.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 07:32 PM) Ya been there, I tend to analyze everything to death, makes me change some things that end up killing me at the end. So far I haven't changed a single thing this year though, pretty proud of myself. Ya, well so much for that, major changes to my bracket, more so than I've ever made after my gut picks.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 08:21 PM) Boston loses to NJ. HURRRRR. Bulls even in the loss column. Lets take over 1st tomorrow!

Milledge showed some ridiculous pop today, not too hard to see why he used to be so highly regarded. Obviously I'm not expecting him to turn into a star or anything but he deserves to be on this roster come opening day.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 04:56 PM) That's why I changed it. I originally had Kentucky, but in my over-analysis of other things I somehow glossed over that fact. Sullinger is going to draw fouls, and if Jones or Miller has to guard him it's going to get ugly. Too bad the committee had to put OSU, UNC, Syracuse and Kentucky all in the same bracket. Put any of them in the southeast with Pitt and I'd have them in the Final Four. Ya been there, I tend to analyze everything to death, makes me change some things that end up killing me at the end. So far I haven't changed a single thing this year though, pretty proud of myself.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 04:57 PM) I think if you win your conference then youre in the tournament. They did what they were asked to do to make the field of 64. The play-in games should consist of the lowest at-large bids. Completely agree.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 04:54 PM) Defensive basketball is winning basketball. Look at the NBA and which teams are successful this year. I like defensive basketball, that's the reason I don't like Wisconsin to do anything in this tournament because they're not a good defensive team. EDIT: And btw, it's not just offensive and defensive efficiency, every stat both offensively and defensively points to the fact that Wiscy is a good offensive team while not being a very good defensive club.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 04:13 PM) I wouldn't want anything to do with Kentucky in my bracket personally. They might only go 6 deep, but it's a solid 6. They have two lottery-type talents with Knight and Jones and they have a bunch of shooter. It's not like most teams go more than 8 deep, especially with quality, and OSU is similarly built. I keep switching back and forth between OSU and Kentucky. I think that'll be a REALLY good game and the winner goes to the Final Four. I love that Kentucky team too but if Harrellson gets in foul trouble against OSU they're just done. He's literally their only low block player and Sullinger is going to eat anyone else alive down there.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 12:50 PM) I cant believe I'm saying this, but Illinois has the talent to beat KU, and I think could really push the Jayhawks. I really hope they play like they can play. Even if Illinois gets by UNLV(which I don't think they will), they matchup horribly against KU. I don't see that one happening.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 11:23 AM) Defensive efficiency at 63 isn't really bad considering how many offenses they played with top 40 efficiency (OSU, Purdue, PSU, ILL and NU) especially considering the difference between MSU (35th defense) and Wisconsin (63) is 1.6 points, which I can only imagine is much closer if you take out the OSU game where they went 18-19 from 3. Its one of those times where the stats are not exactly correct. Now Im not going to say Wisconsin is the best defense, but they are certainly a tough defense. You're looking at adjusted efficiency which already take into the equation the offense of other teams. Their actual d efficiency is somewhere in the 150's, not every good, in fact it's pretty poor. This is another team that allows over a point per possession, that kind of stuff usually wont get it done.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 07:19 AM) Will any experts even pick Wisconsin to win? Belmont was everyone's "sleeper" mid-major team, Wisco just scored 33 points in their last game too and isn't the same team away from the Kohl Center. I think they can pull it off though, but Belmont +4.5 looks like a good bet to me. It's funny cause Wiscy the 33 points masks their real problem which is actually on the defensive side of things which is very odd for them. They're still one of most efficient offensive teams in the country this season but they struggle on the other side of the ball.

QUOTE (Fotop @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 04:04 AM) I've kept fairly quiet on ND all season, mainly because it took the entire season to convince me that this year was any different than previous iterations of this team. Having said that, I've come to the belief that this is the strongest team they've had since they took down U of I to make the s16 in 2003. In fact, it's likely stronger as it's much more balanced (everyone is a threat to score) and actually plays defense despite common belief. Now, they're not lockdown defenders, I'll give you that, but their defense isn't below average. Outside of Ben H., the whole starting lineup is 6'8". As a result, their length has been giving folks in the Big East fits on the defensive side. They're not good at defending the three, but I think that's their only weakness on d. They're good rebounders and above average defenders in the paint/collapsing in zone due to the aforementioned length. People are always going to dog them because they don't have any freak athletes (although Carleton Scott is a good shot blocker) and a low amount of forced turnovers. The turnovers aren't as much of a concern as people like to say it is (coughESPNcough) because their tempo is slow (so less possessions to force turnovers) and they themselves don't turn the ball over frequently. I don't know much about TAMU and Fla St. but from what I've read they're both defensive minded (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I'll gamble on ND beating a team known for their defense rather than having to run and gun with some really athletic teams. ND does not play all that well from behind as their preferred pace is fairly slow. Therefore, if an opponent's pace is also slow and prefers to grind it out (which sounds like TAMU and Fla St?) I'd take my chances with ND's offensive efficiency carrying the day. I think if any team has a good shot to take ND out, it's one that plays tight man to man d or provides solid 3/4 court or full court pressure to disrupt the flow of their motion offense. On the offensive side, opponents will need to have guards that can pentrate and create or dish (e.g. peyton siva of UL or kemba walker of UCONN etc - these guys give ND fits) and/or powerful 3pt shooting to expose ND's weak 3pt defense. Ultimately, getting eliminated prior to the s16 should be a disappointment for this squad. Making the e8 would be great for the program, so if they do survive the first weekend, there's going to be a lot hanging on their s16 matchup (which would likely be Purdue, of course). That game's essentially a coin flip, and as an ND fan I'll take a coin flip matchup to make the e8 since we haven't been there since what, the 70s? Just my two cents, but not sure how familiar folks here have been with ND (except for other ND fans - e.g. knight) Statistically they're still really poor on the defensive end of things. They still allow over a point possession, their efficiency is way down there as well. I really couldn't care less that they don't have any freak athletes, either does Duke or Purdue but those teams get out and defend 100 times better than ND. Obviously they're an odd match up for teams as they do have a bunch of taller shooters but teams that rank that low on the defensive end don't last too long in the tourny.

QUOTE (knightni @ Mar 14, 2011 -> 12:39 AM) ND mowed down Georgetown earlier this year and has played even better since then. Purdue and Kansas are the only teams that really concern me from the Southwest. Until ND learns to play defense they'll continue to have an early exit in the tournament. A&M should put them to bed early, that's one of the upsets I'm pretty confident in.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 11:20 PM) Took San Diego State here even though I don't think they've ever won a tournament game. May live to regret it. Could also see UConn winning here, and obviously Duke has a great shot. I think they'll be challenged in every game they play after the opener though. Very good region. Can't teach length and athleticism which SDSU has, they also happen to have my favorite player in college basketball in Kawhi Leonard, so they got that going for them . Top 4 seeds all have a legit shot at winning this region imo.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 09:37 PM) Can't believe VCU and UAB got in. I also am pretty surprised USC got in (not as surprised at Clemson as a lot of people though). I really think Harvard could make a strong case for being in, and Colorado and Virginia Tech also had a case. But the thing is, there were not 68 deserving teams this year. Not even close. So if you didn't get in, it's the fault of NOBODY but yourself. Teams like Illinois, USC, Marquette, Georgia, VCU, and UAB would not be in the tournament the vast majority of years because their resumes are either pieces of s*** or have elements to them that are trash. But this year, they're all in and teams like Marquette, Georgia, and Illinois aren't even play-in game types. Not to pick on them either, because I'm sure there are several other at-large teams I'm not thinking of that the same could be said for. And really, it's hard to find any teams to put in over them. This tournament is interesting in the sense you could make the case for a ton of upsets due to how crappy everybody is, or maybe there will be a lack of upsets due to how unprecented the low quality is among lower seeds. But it's the tournament, so we'll still all watch. As for first round matchups, I love Washington/Georgia. Should be a fun game, and I think the winner will give North Carolina a big headache either way. Also love Texas/Oakland if you're thinking big upset, and perhaps Belmont/Wisconsin too. Cincinnati/Mizzou and Michigan/Tennessee could be fun in the west as well. Vanderbilt/Richmond could be this years 5/12 upset. There are a lot of 1st round games that could be close. Although I think there are a lot of games in general that will be close, the talent level isn't that widely dispersed. Clemson has 0 top 50 wins, f***IN 0!!!! How the hell does someone with 0 top 50 wins make the field?!?!?!? And I understand the point your trying to make about the teams that didn't get in but Colorado is a HUGE snub. 5 wins against the top 50 including 1 against a top 4 seed and a road and neutral court win against KSU, to be honest, they should have been in pretty comfortably, it's absurd that they aren't in at all. Washington is very dangerous but they're too small to hang with UNC imo. Oakland is going to be a popular pick(and for good reason) but they got a bad matchup against Texas, wouldn't be shocked if UT blows them out, on the other hand, who the f*** knows with Texas. The Richmond-Vandy game has given me more of a headache than any other matchup in the 1st round. I love Vandy's talent but I really like this Spiders team a lot as well, in the end I think Richmond can control the tempo and give Vandy another first round exit. Belmont over Wiscy isn't really an upset, that'll also be quite a popular pick. The bolded is absolutely true.