Rowand44

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:43 PM) I think they are too, but it's hard to ignore Durant, and Augustin has been a damn good point guard for most of the year as well. If they had a competent big man they'd really be A LOT more dangerous IMO. I've liked USC most of the year, I'm just not sure they have quite enough to hang with UT. Also, Arkansas is a bad matchup for them in the first round with their size, and they're not exactly terrible on the perimeter either. Even if they win, they'll probably be a bit more beat up, which tempers my enthusiasm a bit... I'd never dare ignore Durant . Obviously Augustin has become a stud as well, overall though, I just can't get too excited about them as a team. IMO they have a tendancy to just allow points in bunches and that will eventually be their down fall. As for USC-Arkansas, I completely agree that USC is going to have a tough one there. Arkansas is a really big team, and they pressure the ball about as good any one. Eventually though, I just think USC is too tough overall and they'll pull out a close one. Neither USC or Texas are a 100 percent certainty to make it to the 2nd round, but if they do matchup, I believe USC will take them.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 03:36 PM) I think that could be a hell of a game with USC. Both are perimeter oriented teams with athletic perimeter players that can shoot, and USC has been pretty good defensively. They also actually have someone that can score in the post in Gibson. I couldn't pick them over UT though, they have no one that can matchup well with Durant (MAYBE Young, but not so sure about that), and they really only have 4 good players themselves. To be fair though, they did struggle to put away Baylor and Oklahoma State. If Durant tries to do everything and is forcing shots while Augustin and Abrams aren't really factors (and both struggled a bit in the Big 12 tourney), that really hurts their cause. As gifted as he has, he can't do it alone. I like USC in that game, I really do. Also, just saying, NMSU is athletic enough to stick with UT. I personally believe Texas is a tad overrated, jmo.

Texas better worry about their first two round opponents before they worry about the Tar Heels.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 08:38 AM) He may have recruited them, but he never coached them, I wouldnt say he knows them very well. I dont know, I think SIU-Illinois would be off the hook, and SIU would have a bigger chip on their shoulder than Illinois. Beating the coach that left you is always a good motivating factor I'm hoping our players aren't looking ahead to a possible Illinois matchup, they're saying all the right things but every damn reporter is asking them about it and it has to be in the back of their minds. Holy Cross is no push over and that game honestly scares the hell out of me(I'd be nervous no matter who we played though). QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 10:06 AM) http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/0...ts/19573964.txt I miss the Copper Dragon, I have seen many many great shows and have had many many Copper Dragon brews there. Its too bad they stopped having it open regularly and only open it for special events. I've still never been to Copper.

Interested to see what everyone else here has as their final four. As for me: Florida, UCLA, Georgetown and Texas A&M.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 11:41 PM) Kansas fans are always glad to see Syracuse down in the dumps. I've really developed a strong dislike for Jim Boeheim the last few years, so I'm happy they didn't make it.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 10:58 PM) Maybe I'm mistaken, but wasn't Florida going through the flu/injuries when the two teams played (not to lessen it, just to say that I don't think the two teams have played each other at 100% yet). No. Their FSU loss is when Brewer was out and Noah was insanely sick.

QUOTE(Felix @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 07:27 PM) So did I SIU all the way, right? Um...duh. Is there any doubt?

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 10:12 PM) Where can I find the times? I really don't even think they've all been released yet. It's just on our athletic site for our game.

We play at 8:40 Friday night, Dawg fans. God damn that's far away.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 06:27 PM) You think 'Nova is better than them? Purdue? Xavier? No matter. We should win our first round game, even without McNeal. I'm just steaming about a second round matchup AT UNC. I bet the committee is thinking about the McNeal injury, but even without McNeal, they beat a #3 seed at home and won a road game at St. John's. And we were in the game against Pitt, only losing by 10. Whatever... I hate to go all 'woe is me' on you all, but man... I like Nova and Xavier better, obviously that's all a matter of opinion though.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 06:09 PM) Some of these teams ahead of Marquette is absolutely ridiculous. Indiana?!?!?! Duke?!? Purdue only one seed worse? Gosh damn. Round one game against the best #9 seed in the bracket, and then a round two game that's essentially at UNC? I could go on and on. f***in' bulls***. MSU isn't the best 9 in the bracket but you have a right to be angry at the moment.

Well guys, I already filled out the perfect bracket. Sorry everyone.

This region is loaded.

Gtown is just going to own the bottom half of that region. UNC on the other hand has a very tough road.

First round is going to be tough, Holy Cross is a solid team. I like this bracket for us overall though. I'm excited.

LOL @ Florida being the overall 1.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 04:25 PM) So the most accruate bracketologists(collegeRPI.com) have Illinois in with room to breathe. Lunardi was much more accurate than Jerry last year.

Less than an hour :headbang :headbang

QUOTE(ChWRoCk2 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 01:49 PM) Illini and Purdue will both be in, some people put Purdue in for sure over Illinois because they think head to head makes a big difference in decision making which it doesnt. Heres my take: Drexel - IN Illinois - IN Purdue - IN Kansas State - OUT Old Dominion - OUT Florida State - OUT Stanford - OUT Air Force - OUT WVU - IN It'll be a complete joke if WVU gets in.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 01:24 PM) I was only using it to begin with because of Stanford. To me, the SC should not be able to grant a team phantom wins just because of injuries. It's stupid and it makes no sense at all. There is no guarntee any one player could have made a difference in any one loss. Besides, weren't they all back for their last game vs. USC? I'm not sure they were, but I do know they lost. If they wanted to actually use the flawed argument of injuries, then they had to win this game, but they didn't. This is what is so flawed about the selection process. Apparently it's better to be strong in one part of your resume and be terrible in every other field than it is to be solid in every part of your resume. Again, dumb logic. Apparently you missed this: "Home losses to Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and California. Loss @ Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention they lost by 35 to Air Force at home?" Now I'm going to get lectured on how each one of those isn't. But in the end there is no denying that tourney teams should be losing to teams like these consistently. That's fine and dandy, but that's not for you and I to decide. The committee IS supposed to take injuries into discussion, so look at that any way you would like. And of course the selection process is flawed, how the hell would it not be? And again, of course things are going to be weighed more so than others, that's just the way it goes. As far as Stanford's losses, maybe they shouldn't have lost those games, but none of those teams they've lost to are bad teams, especially Gonzaga, considering they had Heytfelt for that game.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) I just have no idea how 1 very nice win in KState's case can make up for so much suck assness in other areas. Or Drexel, 3 nice wins but 4th place in a mid major conference... I've said plenty of times that I don't believe K State belongs in, so I agree completely there. Don't discount Drexel because they play in a "mid major" conference. The top 4 in the Colonial are really, really good. Drexel also has 14 road wins, and 3 against probable tourny teams. The best true road win for the Illini is Northwestern? Minnesota? Penn State? You can make good arguments for Illinois but their resume certainly isn't flawless.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 01:05 PM) Just 1 of many criteria, but apparently this year it's the only one. No, no. I never said that, but if they do get left out, that will be the reason. All their other numbers are good, there is no doubting that, however I do believe that having a marquee win is a huge factor, and Illinois just doesn't have that. Calm down bro, I know you're stressing over this but nothing has been released yet. Don't let Lunardi make you sad.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 12:50 PM) I'll post what I did in another thread: 18 wins RPI of 66 12 losses 4-6 in their last ten 4-8 against the RPI top 50 1st round conference tourney loss Home losses to Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and California. Loss @ Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention they lost by 35 to Air Force at home? How teams like Stanford and Kansas State are even being considered is beyond me. If you're going to use the injury excuse for Illinois you must for Stanford as well. They were missing Brook Lopez at the beginning of the year(when they got blown out by Air Force) and they were missing Andrew Goods for this bad stretch they've had, now they're both back. They also have an insane amount of good wins compared to other bubble teams: Texas Tech, @ Virginia(only team to win there this season), Washington State, USC, UCLA, Oregon. They also have 0 bad losses(just like the Illini). Stanford belongs in the field. If something is going to keep Illinois out, it's the lack of a marquee win. That simple.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 11:30 AM) Wasn't Illinois' SOS within the Big Ten lower than even Indiana's? I could be wrong there, but I think Illinois had a slightly easier schedule in conference. Still, either way you look at it, with everything else that could happen the next two days, I would not be overly confident if I were a fan of either team. Dude, you have the Rowand guarantee.