NCAA Tourney Game Thread

[waborat]

What's on tap for today:

12:20 Florida vs BYU
12:25 Old Dominion vs Notre Dame
12:30 Robert Morris vs Villanova

2:30 Murray State vs Vanderbilt
2:40 North Texas vs Kansas St
2:45 Sam Houston St vs Baylor
2:50 St Mary's vs Richmond

4:45 Texas-El Paso vs Butler

7:10 Northern Iowa vs Nevada-Las Vegas
7:15 E Tennessee St vs Kentucky
7:20 Washington vs Marquette
7:25 Ohio vs Georgetown

9:30 Lehigh vs Kansas
9:35 Wake Forest vs Texas
9:40 Montana vs New Mexico
9:45 San Diego St vs Tennessee

[jordan kramer]

done with class (seriously there should be a rule against giving exams the morning after st. pattys day) now i can just sit back and watch games until my eyes bleed . i don't care if i win my 2 bracket pools i just want to beat my dad.... its been a few years and the shit talking has to stop

games i'm really lookin forward to catching today:
Florida vs BYU - heard some kid named Jimmer Fredette is a beast, a dog, a muthafuckin problem
Murray State vs Vanderbilt - first big contentious game for me and my dad's bracket pool, i need murray state to win he's got vandy goin a couple rounds, i got the upset
Texas-El Paso vs Butler - another head to head game, i need butler to get to the round of 16
Montana vs New Mexico - heard that steve alford's gotta pretty good team, haven't seen them yet wanna check em out


let the madness begin

[Ziner]

Best day to be working from home...

Anyone actually do a sheet of integrity? I just filled out 3 different brackets this morning, all about trying to win any of them not all of them.

Did one for the first time with seed difference multipliers. I am interested to see how it ends up.

[jordan kramer]

Jimmer Fredette gets to the basket as easy as Evan Turner. and he's got "more moves than a can of worms", awesome, i may name my first child Jimmer. 12 minutes into the first game and i've already fallen in love with him

[jb]

Jimmer Fredette gets to the basket as easy as Evan Turner. and he's got "more moves than a can of worms", awesome, i may name my first child Jimmer. 12 minutes into the first game and i've already fallen in love with him

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... aller.html

[jordan kramer]

Jimmer Fredette gets to the basket as easy as Evan Turner. and he's got "more moves than a can of worms", awesome, i may name my first child Jimmer. 12 minutes into the first game and i've already fallen in love with him

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports ... aller.html

no joke he went from 0 to favorite college baller in like 4.3 seconds

[neoleo]

Great games so far!

Robert Morris controls the whole game and then melts down in the last 2 to let Nova get into overtime. But then as it looks like Nova is going to run away with it in OT, they make a run of their own and have a shot to tie it at the buzzer. I was pulling for the upset but I guess it's good to not lose one of my final four picks in the first 2 hours of the tourney.

Another OT game in Florida/BYU and a close one with ND/ODU and both were great games. The first three games have featured 2 OT games, a one point upset and a near upset of a number 2. Great!

Now we have Murray State playing tough against Vandy and Sam Houston staying with Baylor.

Man I love Direct TV's mega march madness package. Been flipping back and forth all day.

[dmiles]

Small world, I played in a summer all-star team with Mike Rice and totally forgot about him, and the fact that he played college hoops. (I was pissy about only getting D3 and blew it off).

On that summer team, I was the starting PG, he was the starting SG. His pops was coaching YSU at the time and he was attending Boardman. We had our big game against the Pittsburgh all-stars, and his car broke down, and he didn't get there until half-time. (Youngstown against Pittsburgh). If we'd had him the whole game I think we challenge but Pitt's size was too much for us.

The best athlete on the team though was Vince Morrow who had a stint in the NFL and seems to be tied to MoC as an uncle or something. He was a Mooney guy. The other good playa was Aundra Davis from East but he ended up at YSU and I don't think he did a whole lot. Rice played at Fordham.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I called Murray St beating Vandy in the other thread.

[neoleo]

It took all of five games to get our first buzzer beater as Murray State sends Vandy home.

My uncle, who played ball for the Racers in the 80's, feels very confident about a sweet 16 appearance with a Butler/UTEP matchup looming in the 2nd round.

[skatingtripods]

Officiating got decidedly pro-Villanova at the end of that game. I was unimpressed with that ending.

Good time out in Wickliffe with Peeker, wabo, Poove, and the guys. Glad I could head out there for the opening games.

About to lose my first sweet 16 team with UTEP getting shellacked.

Notre Dame's choke job cost me some cash.

[jack_tors]

Called the Old Dominion upset, wish I would have gone with my gut and taken Murray St. I found Baylor to be very unimpressive and arrogant. I dont see them going far in this tourney.

Looking forward to tonight's games since I can sleep in and watch a full day tomorrow. Finally followed through and took a day off to watch games all day.

[jack_tors]

OU cant continue to shoot 3's like this all night but they have played a nice first half and have Georgetown completely out of their comfort zone. It will be interesting to see how Georgetown comes out in the second half and if OU can weather the run Georgetown is sure to make.

[skatingtripods]

OU is striving to ruin some brackets.

UK is making a statement today after how some of the other high seeds struggled.

[jesselamovsky]

This team finished 9th in the MAC? Really?

[neoleo]

This team finished 9th in the MAC? Really?

Took a while for the transfer Bassett and the freshman Cooper to get acclimated. Once the light went on, they've been great.

Lead down to 7 though. They've had a problem closing out games all season, including Akron in the MAC championship.

[skatingtripods]

What an upset for the OU program. Unbelievable.

Great ending to the UNI-UNLV game.

[jack_tors]

What an upset for the OU program. Unbelievable.

Great ending to the UNI-UNLV game.

+1

Georgetown was never in that game, much like the CSU upset of Wake last year. Its as if Georgetown didnt take them serious and OU made up pay. Interesting to see what OU has left in the tank for the next round.

Crazy first round of upset or near upsets. Been a great tourney after only one day.

[waborat]

What an upset for the OU program. Unbelievable.

Great ending to the UNI-UNLV game.

Heckuva game for the Bobcats!!!

Who saw THAT one coming?

No bracketologist was giving them any love at all

[neoleo]

Great win for OU. That team will run the MAC next year.

What the hell is going on with the Big East. Georgetown and Notre Dame upset and Nova and Marquette struggling with big underdogs (Marquette might still go down).

[Ziner]

There have been some damn good finishes today and this Marquette/UW looks like it is on a crash course for another. Love this time of year

[jesselamovsky]

Can't complain about the first day of this Tournament.

[neoleo]

Can't complain about the first day of this Tournament.

One of the best in quite some time.

[jesselamovsky]

And another thriller in the making betweem Marquette & Washington.

[waborat]

Pretty incredible day so far, in that half of the winners were lower seeds...

If only Bobby Morris, if only...

Now really impress us, Go Lehigh!!!

[skatingtripods]

Fuck off Marquette. Big East costs me in betting twice today.

[waborat]

Add Wake to the list of buzzer beaters...

Montana gave Alford & the boys a real scare...

3 OT games, 5 double digits & 7 lower seeds move on...

Lil' East goes 1-3 and shoulda gone 0fer...

What a day and it all starts again just 11 hours

[waborat]

Today's slate:

12:15 Morgan St vs West Virginia
12:25 Minnesota vs Xavier
12:30 Cornell vs Temple

2:30 Siena vs Purdue
2:35 Missouri vs Clemson
2:45 Oakland vs Pittsburgh
2:50 Wofford vs Wisconsin

4:45 Utah St vs Texas A&M

7:10 Florida St vs Gonzaga
7:15 Georgia Tech vs Oklahoma St
7:20 New Mexico St vs Michigan St
7:25 Ark-Pine Bluff vs Duke

9:30 Vermont vs Syracuse
9:35 UC-Santa Barbara vs Ohio St
9:40 Houston vs Maryland
9:45 Louisville vs California

[jordan kramer]

games i wanna catch that should interesting today:

Minnesota vs Xavier - wanna see if Minnesota can carry over some mo from the big 10 tourney. unfortunately i got class till 2 so i'll miss a lot of this one, unless i skip, which is a good possibility
Cornell vs Temple - Cornell is solid and i'm rooting for an ivy league victory, also theres some hype for this Juan Fernandez kid from Temple. once again class may fuck me here
Siena vs Purdue - i got Siena gettin to the sweet 16
Florida St vs Gonzaga - interesting match up, the Zags just got crushed in their last game, the Noles are a young team with a lotta size and athleticism, could be a good game
Vermont vs Syracuse - another serious possibility for a 15-2 upset. also Gus Johnson has the game, he's awesome, and he called the game a few years ago when vermont upset the orange, just sayin
UC-Santa Barbara vs Ohio St - for obvious reasons, go bucks
Houston vs Maryland - love me some Greivis Vasquez, and Houston may put up a solid fight. looks like imma be flippin between games a lot online tonight

[skatingtripods]

Underdogs went 12-4 on covering the spread yesterday. And Florida should have covered. Nine games were over. Seven were under.

[jb]

This team finished 9th in the MAC? Really?

And add another 12 "reallys?" for why the TSC annually snubs the MAC. Every year, they should have at least 2 teams go.

[hermanfontenot]

Well, to be fair the MAC has fallen off since the mid-90s-to-early-2000's heyday. Remember in '99 Kent didn't even win the league in the regular season but still got an #11 seed, and Wally World's Miami team got an at-large #10. The previous year Western Michigan didn't even get to the conference title game but still got an at-large #11 (and beat Clemson in the first round.)

It seems as if Ohio does less with more on a yearly basis than any other team in the MAC. They always have at least one great player, yet they rarely put it together consistently.

[jb]

Well, to be fair the MAC has fallen off since the mid-90s-to-early-2000's heyday. Remember in '99 Kent didn't even win the league in the regular season but still got an #11 seed, and Wally World's Miami team got an at-large #10. The previous year Western Michigan didn't even get to the conference title game but still got an at-large #11 (and beat Clemson in the first round.)

It seems as if Ohio does less with more on a yearly basis than any other team in the MAC. They always have at least one great player, yet they rarely put it together consistently.

Yes, off years lately. But if an off SEC can get how many teams? An off ACC can get in how many teams?

Why can't the MAC get a second when the 9 team rises up? The MAC isn't the Colonial or something.

Best argument for 96 teams? Yesterday.

[hermanfontenot]

Colonial? That's a decent league. George Mason came out of the Colonial, you know. Upper tier of mid-major conferences is the Missouri Valley, Horizon, MAC, West Coast & Colonial.

And 96 teams? Really? We both know what that would mean... more mediocre high-majors that go 6-10 in their conference. I'd be more in favor of capping at-large bids at six per league.

[jb]

Colonial? That's a decent league. George Mason came out of the Colonial, you know. Upper tier of mid-major conferences is the Missouri Valley, Horizon, MAC, West Coast & Colonial.

And 96 teams? Really? We both know what that would mean... more mediocre high-majors that go 6-10 in their conference. I'd be more in favor of capping at-large bids at six per league.

OK.

Got me. ODU and Wm & mary are Colonial, too. Thay had a nice year.

Can I rip on the Patriot and Northeast conferences instead?


They should go to 96 and cap at 8 . David vs Goliath is what this is ll about, until the final 4.

[jordan kramer]

a 64 team tournament is perfect. why mess with the best couple weeks in sports? if you were in a big conference and you didn't get in, tough shit you shoulda won a couple more games, enjoy the NIT. if you were in a small conference and you didn't get in, tough shit you shoulda won your conference tourny, enjoy the NIT. i just don't see the point in diluting the field with 32 more mediocre teams

[Triple-S]

To all of those that picked against the Boilermakers...

[neoleo]

To all of those that picked against the Boilermakers...

I did. Thought the tourney experience of Sienna and the clusterfuck that has been Purdue after the loss of Hummell would be too much to overcome. Glad I was wrong though. I like to see the Big Ten do well and Purdue has a good team and some good kids on that team, they don't deserve to go out like that.

[jordan kramer]

To all of those that picked against the Boilermakers...

hey, purdue better put that ref that gave them that gift of an intentional foul on there christmas card list. bullshit call, game was over after that, thank your lucky stars sss

[peeker643]

My effin' eyes are bouncing after all the basketball. Fla St know they're scheduled to play tonight?

And it can't be good for other squads to see Izzo woke up the Spartans after their 4 week nap.

[peeker643]

FSU climbs within 5 with 4 minutes left and NMSU blitzes MSU with a 13-2 run to start the 2nd half. GTeck and OK ST locked in a good one too.

This tourney has been crazy-good so far.

[jordan kramer]

dammit if the noles could make free throws down the stretch...

[Triple-S]

http://www.gusjohnsongetsbuckets.com/

Also, theres been a lack of Gus Johnson this weekend. Made me a bit bumemd out.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Ugly first half. Buford with the circus shot was nice. Deebler sniping.

[peeker643]

Comfortable win coming with next to nothing from Turner. Lauderdale just feasting on these shot attempts and I would really, REALLY like to bottle and unleash this Jon Diebler when they need him most.

[jordan kramer]

if that big goofy BJ Mullins jr. wasn't 7'2" he'd be a poetry major. i wish size wasn't squandered on vagina's like that. all i'm sayin is that if i was a 7 footer and played in the flippin big west i'd be averaging significantly more than 2 points a game, c'mon brah assert yourself a little. prolly can't walk and chew gum at the same time...

[waborat]

Comfortable win coming with next to nothing from Turner. Lauderdale just feasting on these shot attempts and I would really, REALLY like to bottle and unleash this Jon Diebler when they need him most.

Pretty much what I expected to see tonight...

A little sloppy after almost a week off, but were able to kick into gear when needed...the 17 pts wasn't even that close

UCSB keyed on ET most of game, so it was nice to see Diebler, Buford & Laud take over...

This was THE easy one, the next worries me because of our lack of size...

Get some rest fellas...

Sidenote: Cal looked really good tonight

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Ga Tech will be a tough game. Turner will need to show up or we are screwed.

Oh and FUCK THE BIG EAST IN THE FUCKIN NECK. My brackets are done.

[danwismar]

Turner looked exhausted to me...and the refs let them beat on him the entire game. Not sure if he was one of the several Bucks that were sick this week, but he looked like it.

[waborat]

Second Round Begins with:

1:05 St Mary's vs Villanova

3:20 Murray St vs Butler
3:25 Ohio vs Tennessee

5:40 Northern Iowa vs Kansas
5:45 Old Dominion vs Baylor
5:50 Washington vs New Mexico

8:00 BYU vs Kansas St
8:05 Wake Forest vs Kentucky