Author Topic: March Madness NCAA Basketball (Read 3869 times)

TomSea · « **on:** March 13, 2018, 10:54:05 am »

We have real concerns in this country. Did you fill your bracket out yet?

I did, though, I'm far from an expert on this. People will watch their teams, favorites, regional and so on.

If one wants, one can fill out brackets at cbssports.com, one gets 3 chances in fact.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament/brackets/games/

And at many other venues.

Some playoffs begin tonight already, playoffs to get into the 64 team tournament. I think there are just two of those games.

My brackets have gone very sour; for me myself, picking the favorites seems to be the best policy.

TomSea · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2018, 11:42:57 am »

Sports radio was talking last night, FWIW,

5 big conferences get to decide a lot on this.

USC did not get invited but they said they are a good team, Syracuse is there but they did not deserve it said the announcers. Syracuse though, is usually good at basketball so we will see.

TomSea · « **Reply #2 on:** March 16, 2018, 11:59:18 pm »

#16 University of Maryland-Baltimore defeated #1 seed, Virginia who went in with a 31-3 record. That is a big upset and there have been others, the Buffalo University team won. But the UMBC as the last seed of that group defeating the #1 seed must be the biggest and they won, 74-54, 20 points, that almost defies logic.

txradioguy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 17, 2018, 12:27:48 am »

I just sensed a great disturbance in March Madness...as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and thousands of bracket sheets were suddenly destroyed. I fear something terrible has happened.

DCPatriot · « **Reply #4 on:** March 17, 2018, 07:41:18 am »

Quote from: TomSea on March 16, 2018, 11:59:18 pm

#16 University of Maryland-Baltimore defeated #1 seed, Virginia who went in with a 31-3 record. That is a big upset and there have been others, the Buffalo University team won. But the UMBC as the last seed of that group defeating the #1 seed must be the biggest and they won, 74-54, 20 points, that almost defies logic.

What's funny is that (University of) Maryland didn't even get an invite.

goatprairie · « **Reply #5 on:** March 17, 2018, 10:15:42 am »

Visited a Virginia blog last night after the game. Cavs fans are really stunned and down in the dumps...some are ready to commit suicide. Not quite that bad, but many of them are embarrassed. First no one seed to lose to a sixteenth seed ever.
On a side note, my team Wisconsin, put out feelers for Bennett after Bo Ryan retired. He decided to stay at Virginia. He's a good coach, but this loss will sting for a long time.

mountaineer · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2018, 07:42:44 am »

Worst defeat for Virginia since they lost half their state in 1863. ^-^

TomSea · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2018, 03:25:20 pm »

Virginia's coach, Tony Bennet btw, is pretty interesting, coached or played in New Zealand and Australia among, obviously, other places. Born in Green Bay, @goatprairie I'm sure knows this but I found it interesting. I've heard interviews since on the loss, he's being "philosophical" about it, I think one would say, a learning experience.

In the meantime, I hope the underdogs can continue.

My short analysis has to be, maybe Va. just took this game lightly, you'd never want to do that really in the NCAA tournament, sure, #16 seed had never defeated the #1 seed; but there have been plenty of other upsets.

Good tournament so far,

Purdue won today, but I heard one of their main players has a fractured wrist or something and that's a big blow to them. I see them as a dark horse team, I've watched them play in the regular season, they were pretty darn good.

goatprairie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2018, 03:50:11 pm »

Quote from: TomSea on March 18, 2018, 03:25:20 pm

Virginia's coach, Tony Bennet btw, is pretty interesting, coached or played in New Zealand and Australia among, obviously, other places. Born in Green Bay, @goatprairie I'm sure knows this but I found it interesting. I've heard interviews since on the loss, he's being "philosophical" about it, I think one would say, a learning experience.

In the meantime, I hope the underdogs can continue.

My short analysis has to be, maybe Va. just took this game lightly, you'd never want to do that really in the NCAA tournament, sure, #16 seed had never defeated the #1 seed; but there have been plenty of other upsets.

Good tournament so far,

Purdue won today, but I heard one of their main players has a fractured wrist or something and that's a big blow to them. I see them as a dark horse team, I've watched them play in the regular season, they were pretty darn good.

Tony's father Dick coached at UW for five or six seasons and took Wisconsin to the Final Four in 1996 for the first time since 1941.
He coached high school ball in Wisconsin at Eau Claire and I remember seeing him on the bench there coaching.
Tony played hs and college ball in Green Bay. He was one of those Steve Nash-type guards....not a lot of natural ability but very skilled and intelligent.

WingNot · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2018, 04:29:50 pm »

Quote from: mountaineer on March 18, 2018, 07:42:44 am

Worst defeat for Virginia since they lost half their state in 1863. ^-^

As it turned out...that might have been a good thing after-all!

TomSea · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2018, 09:57:50 am »

Kentucky goes down to K State... Florida State wins, not sure of the last time, they went this far.

Today, Clemson vs. Kansas, though the Jayhawks are nearly always a top team, Clemson walloped their last opponent. For myself, one can hardly pick who will win any of the games, so many upsets.

Gefn · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2018, 07:03:05 am »

I didnâ€™t do a bracket but I find it fascinating
I use to do brackets with my dad. I miss him so much.

Thanks for this thread. I will enjoy it lot of nice memories

goatprairie · « **Reply #12 on:** March 24, 2018, 09:40:19 am »

This time of the year, since my team (Wisconsin) isn't in it, I find more joy in rooting against certain teams...specifically the basketball factories who woo and catch the one and doners.
I don't want those players coming to Wisconsin...I don't want players who don't want to be part of the program. And Wisconsin, itself, has produced a number of one and doners who are now riding the benches of NBA teams or headed for the G-League, the NBA's minor league.
College sports is screwed up anyway. I suspect that if strict grade rules were applied, the great majority of the top recruits wouldn't be playing in college.

mountaineer · « **Reply #13 on:** March 24, 2018, 09:47:38 am »

Mr. M said he saw the postgame interview with Kentucky players, and he was convinced few of them could even spell their own names. But, hey, they're one-and-dones, on their way to the NBA! Woo hoo.

goatprairie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 24, 2018, 06:06:48 pm »

Quote from: mountaineer on March 24, 2018, 09:47:38 am

Mr. M said he saw the postgame interview with Kentucky players, and he was convinced few of them could even spell their own names. But, hey, they're one-and-dones, on their way to the NBA! Woo hoo.

I'm not against people turning pro when they get out of high school. Obviously, most of these athletes do not belong in a four year college.
They want to be pro players, and more power to them if that is their life's dream.
The problem comes with fans who want their school to be a big time power. Obviously, most of them don't care one whit whether the players attending their institutes of higher learning are actually learning anything. They want a winner...even if it means wooing and taking in athletes who are spectacularly unqualified to attend college.
The best thing to do for everyone concerned is (1) to tighten entrance requirements and (2) to force the NBA to enlarge the money for the G-league. Pay the G-league players more.
The idea that players have to play college ball to become pros is bogus...there are plenty of stars and ex-stars like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, and some others to show college ball is not an mpediment to becoming a good pro player.
Stop the college farce now.

dfwgator · « **Reply #15 on:** March 24, 2018, 06:09:49 pm »

Guns Up!

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #16 on:** March 24, 2018, 09:37:57 pm »

Quote from: dfwgator on March 24, 2018, 06:09:49 pm

Guns Up!

Almost a home game at the Final 4 if they can get by Nova.

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #17 on:** March 24, 2018, 09:39:56 pm »

That Loyola team is fun to watch.

And that guy Richardson with his 3 pointers almost guarantees a win.

dfwgator · « **Reply #18 on:** March 24, 2018, 10:26:21 pm »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on March 24, 2018, 09:37:57 pm

Almost a home game at the Final 4 if they can get by Nova.

Especially with today's nonsense, you have to root for a school that has that as their motto.

dfwgator · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2018, 11:12:58 pm »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on March 24, 2018, 09:39:56 pm

That Loyola team is fun to watch.

And that guy Richardson with his 3 pointers almost guarantees a win.

WOLVERINES!

TomSea · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2018, 09:19:30 pm »

Tech, Florida State, they played very well.

On Michigan, that Mo Wagner fellow couldn't hit a 3 hardly, they said the other night he was 8 of 11. That was a bit worrying for the Wolverines...

I'll probably hope Loyola-Chicago can win it all, as they did in 1964.

But Villanova really really looked awesome, Tech had a very good team and it got tight down the stretch. That's really to TT's credit.

dfwgator · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2018, 09:23:54 pm »

I like Michigan to win it all.

TomSea · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:00:47 pm »

Kansas in Omaha should have helped them too, quasi-home-game.

I didn't watch a lot of the games, Mich won the big 10 tournament. That's a plus.

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #23 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:04:43 pm »

Quote from: dfwgator on March 25, 2018, 09:23:54 pm

I like Michigan to win it all.

While you might like that, right now I would say Nova looks the best.

Michigan barely made it by Houston, and that was a miracle shot when Houston had a presumptive win after playing better ball.

Free Vulcan · « **Reply #24 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:15:50 pm »

Nova and Kansas ought to be a real barn burner. Go Loyola.

dfwgator · « **Reply #25 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:32:12 pm »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on March 25, 2018, 10:04:43 pm

While you might like that, right now I would say Nova looks the best.

Michigan barely made it by Houston, and that was a miracle shot when Houston had a presumptive win after playing better ball.

A lot of teams have those kinds of finishes early on, then go on and win the title.

TomSea · « **Reply #26 on:** March 25, 2018, 10:44:45 pm »

Michigan would have lost last night, except for some adjustments at halftime. One of the commentators with Barkley even predicted FSU to win. They did have the better in the first even though the score was like a 1 point difference.

But Loyola Chicago has been defeating all of their opponents so far by a fair number of points, at least, these last few if I am correct. One just doesn't expect the Ramblers, a little college to do it I suppose. Nova can't be that big of a college either though.

dfwgator · « **Reply #27 on:** March 25, 2018, 11:00:17 pm »

Quote from: TomSea on March 25, 2018, 10:44:45 pm

Michigan would have lost last night, except for some adjustments at halftime. One of the commentators with Barkley even predicted FSU to win. They did have the better in the first even though the score was like a 1 point difference.

But Loyola Chicago has been defeating all of their opponents so far by a fair number of points, at least, these last few if I am correct. One just doesn't expect the Ramblers, a little college to do it I suppose. Nova can't be that big of a college either though.

Loyola won their first three tournament games by a combined 4 points. Their win over K-State was their first blow-out.

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2018, 08:21:31 pm »

Quote from: dfwgator on March 25, 2018, 09:23:54 pm

I like Michigan to win it all.

They just clinched the opportunity to try.

mountaineer · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2018, 08:49:43 pm »

Much as I love a Cinderella team, was glad Michigan won. I've liked Beilein since his WVU days.

TomSea · « **Reply #30 on:** April 02, 2018, 11:07:34 pm »

If Michigan could have gotten some 3s and here, 'Nova just made two 3s in a row... I don't know what the stats are, Wolverines could really use some 3s, Mich. just made a bit of a run... but Villanova, I almost wonder if I've ever seen such a good team in the NCAA final four... and to that, yes, of course, there have been teams as good... maybe even that didn't win it...I don't know my hoops like some but usually watch it every year, the streets are empty when the championship game is on. Who knows, about 12 minutes left, it is not over.

dfwgator · « **Reply #31 on:** April 02, 2018, 11:20:28 pm »

Turn out the lights, the party's over...

goatprairie · « **Reply #32 on:** April 03, 2018, 12:28:23 am »

Not a real surprise. I usually back a Big Ten team, but Villanova is extremely well-coached and their players aren't hot dogs like many current collegians. Congrats to Villanova.

mountaineer · « **Reply #33 on:** April 03, 2018, 07:43:33 am »

I agree with your assessment, goatprairie. Villanova played very well at both ends of the court. My husband and I once participated in a golf outing to benefit a college athletic dept and met Jay Wright there, so we joke that our golf buddy does pretty well at basketball, too.

TomSea · « **Reply #34 on:** April 03, 2018, 10:48:11 am »

Quote

Who is Donte DiVincenzo? 'The Michael Jordan of Delaware,' that's who
Henry Bushnell

Donte DiVincenzo has two popular nicknames. One is â€œBig Ragu.â€ The other is â€œThe Michael Jordan of Delaware.â€ And after his performance for Villanova in the national championship game on Monday night, both nicknames are as apt as ever.

The first is a reference to his red hair. The second, though, is the one DiVincenzo validated with 31 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks to lead Villanova to a 79-62 victory over Michigan, and to a second national title in three years. (It also earned him the NCAA tournamentâ€™s Most Outstanding Player award.)

Read more at: https://sports.yahoo.com/donte-divincenzo-michael-jordan-delaware-thats-023856366.html

Man of the tournament, Donte DiVincenzo.... note, he looks like he has practically no body fat...could be natural or he has a very lean diet and lots of exercise like a runner gets, which is what I would suspect.

Great tournament, I think interest in college hoops will pick up after this. It seems an abnormal amount of underdogs won, at least, for one side of the bracket, they did.

goatprairie · « **Reply #35 on:** April 04, 2018, 02:30:03 pm »

Quote from: TomSea on April 03, 2018, 10:48:11 am

Man of the tournament, Donte DiVincenzo.... note, he looks like he has practically no body fat...could be natural or he has a very lean diet and lots of exercise like a runner gets, which is what I would suspect.

Great tournament, I think interest in college hoops will pick up after this. It seems an abnormal amount of underdogs won, at least, for one side of the bracket, they did.

As I'm sure you know virtually all athletes in every sport do a lot of weight training. I would think DiVincenzo did a lot of that.
I hope I don't gore anybody's ox, but there are a number of schools I hope never win a tournament again. They're the ones that specialize in the one and doners. Time to stiffen entrance requirements as I suspect 90% of these types of athletes are not the least bit interested in getting a college degree. College is just a training ground and way to get noticed by the pros. Colleges cynically use these players.
I don't blame the players, I blame the schools and coaches that cynically use these players.
If pro hockey and major league baseball have systems that don't rely on colleges for their players, the NBA can do the same. I don't want to see college players getting paid. They're already getting an expensive education and publicity. If they want to get paid, they should join some pro league.