Rowand44

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.

What are some of the first round matchups you guys are most looking forward to? Memphis-Arizona, Butler-ODU, Richmond-Vandy and SJU-Zags for me.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 09:02 PM) If it makes you feel any better my picks are usually horrible. I just can't bring myself to ever pick Duke. It makes me feel better because we only have 3 of the same e8 picks(UNC, Kansas, KState) and one of the same ff picks.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 09:52 PM) I have a Big 12 flavored final four and didn't even realize it until I was staring at my picks. Elite 8: UNC, Kentucky, Kansas, Notre Dame, Texas, UConn, Kansas State, Florida Final 4: UNC, KU Texas, Kansas State Championship: Texas vs KU, KU wins again The lowest seed I have making the Sweet 16 is two Big East #6 seeds in Georgetown and St. Johns. Pretty bland this year. Big 12 and UNC, HOMER.

Guess I'll be the first to post a final four prediction: Duke, Heels, Purdue, Jimmers ND, Pitt and Florida all going down 2nd round. Belmont over Wiscy(though that's really not an upset imo). No double digit seeds in the sweet 16 which is kind of disappointing.

Another real tough region imo. Still got Duke coming out of it.

Region is definitely loaded. This and the West had all the teams I thought about having in the final four pre bracket release.

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 05:43 PM) Missouri St. won the damn league. They deserve to make the tournament with the year they had. I'd rather see them than watch michigan st. or illinois, two teams that have been disappointments. Missouri State absolutely did not deserve to be in, their resume is horrendous. WSU also has a terrible resume, the valley deserved one team this year, period. I don't understand the fact that people are complaining about VCU, they're actually very deserving imo. Clemson and UAB on the other hand are ridiculous choices. Colorado should have been in semi easily imo as well, so that's one of the more ridiculous snubs I've seen in a while to be honest, 6 wins against the top 50? That's pretty f***in good. So Clemson and UAB out, Colorado in for sure and then I probably put St. Mary's in as well, them or Va Tech.

Final Four picks, upset specials, make all those predictions here...

The SIU win gets Illinois into the tournament for sure.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 13, 2011 -> 11:54 AM) It's 37 or something. That gets in every year just about, so if Harvard doesn't get it that will be a shame. They played a strong non-conference schedule, dominated conference play except for two hiccups. There is no doubt in my mind they deserve it over Illinois -- and that's from an Illinois fan. What might hurt them to be honest is the fact that Boston College and Colorado fall just outside the rpi top 50 so if you're using rpi as a grouping tool, those don't count as top 50 wins.

Today starts the best week of the year! Little over a hr until the selection show, I'm so damn pumped!!!!!

Make out with some random 30 yr old then proceed to hook up with the girl that dumped your ass a few months ago AND send her some ridiculous text messages afterwards. That's a successful night...

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Mar 12, 2011 -> 10:32 AM) Looks like fathom got his wish as well, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6209623 Must be nice.

My team won the championship today, woooooo!

QUOTE (kjshoe04 @ Mar 12, 2011 -> 01:09 AM) Don't get the Jimmer love. The guy has short Adam Morrison written all over him if you ask me. What's not to love? The only thing him and Adam Morrison have in common is that they could both shoot and are both white.

College basketball is f***in awesome. The play in some of these games has been horrendous, no doubt but you just can't beat the finishes/excitement of this, it's unreal.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 11, 2011 -> 05:22 PM) You just can't do what he does in college and be successful in the NBA. Sweetney was a bad comp, I recalled him being better. But I just think he'll be a productive bench player rather than starter. He will be just so unathletic compared to NBA bigs that I think it will be difficult for to have starting success. Sean May.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Mar 11, 2011 -> 05:03 PM) Not happening. You see how chicken s*** the Rangers are. They're so scared that Feliz will be scarred for life if they remove him from the closer role they'll cheat themselves, Feliz and their fans. Once Sale establishes himself, and I believe he will, in whatever relief role he's put in, he'll be there to stay. But don't fear. Jacob Petricka, Jimmy Gallagher, and Dylan Axelrod are here. Yes, because the Rangers are doing it, the Sox will for sure do the same thing. Overreaction central here.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 11, 2011 -> 01:11 PM) Oh and i can't say enough about Aaron Craft, he is going to piss people off for years with that defense. He's awesome. Love to watch that kid play.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 11, 2011 -> 01:10 PM) They only called it because he threw his mouthpiece. I don't think I've seen that before. And thank god no more NW, they kill us. I know that. But in that situation, you warn the kid, don't T him up in overtime of a conference tournament. Anyways, like I said, didn't effect the outcome at all so it's not a big deal in the big picture, I just don't like refs trying to take control of the game like that.

Dayton picks off Xavier too. So there's one of the 1 seeds going down when all 3 easily could.