Conference Tourney Thread

[waborat]

IN:

Belmont- Atlantic Sun
Morehead St- Ohio Valley
UNC Asheville- Big South
Indiana St- Missouri Valley
Old Dominion- Colonial
St Peter's- MAAC
Wofford- Southern
Gonzaga- West Coast
Butler- Horizon
Oakland- Summit
Arkansas Little Rock- Sun Belt
Long Island- Northeast
Northern Colorado- Big Sky
Bucknell- Patriot
Princeton- Ivy
Boston U- America East
UConn- Big East
Kansas- Big 12
UC Santa Barbara- Big West
Memphis- Conference USA
Akron- MAC
Hampton- MEAC
San Diego St- Mountain West
Washington- Pac 10
UT San Antonio- Southland
Alabama St- SWAC
Utah- WAC

Today's Finals:

ACC- UNC vs Dook
Atlantic 10- Dayton vs Richmond
Big Ten- OSU vs PSU
SEC- Kentucky vs Florida

[hermanfontenot]

Belmont is 30-4 and lost close games @ Vanderbilt and twice to Tennessee, including a last-second loss in Knoxville. That means they're good, right?

Wonder if Larry Bird and Carl Nicks will be attending the Valley title game.

[skatingtripods]

Belmont is 30-4 and lost close games @ Vanderbilt and twice to Tennessee, including a last-second loss in Knoxville. That means they're good, right?

Wonder if Larry Bird and Carl Nicks will be attending the Valley title game.

I'll be interested to see where Belmont gets seeded. A few years ago, they were a 15 and lost by 2 to Duke.

I have to say, there aren't a lot of strong mid-major conference tourney winners or prospective winners this year. I don't think we have a Northern Iowa in the bunch this year. One might come to the forefront, but, I don't see one.

[Triple-S]

Mo. Valley is underrated as hell for a mid-major. Really shocked they don't get two-bids. They've been able to pull of a few upsets in the past, and usually I mark them down for it.

[waborat]

Belmont is 30-4 and lost close games @ Vanderbilt and twice to Tennessee, including a last-second loss in Knoxville. That means they're good, right?

Wonder if Larry Bird and Carl Nicks will be attending the Valley title game.

I'll be interested to see where Belmont gets seeded. A few years ago, they were a 15 and lost by 2 to Duke.

I have to say, there aren't a lot of strong mid-major conference tourney winners or prospective winners this year. I don't think we have a Northern Iowa in the bunch this year. One might come to the forefront, but, I don't see one.

GMason, Utah St, UNLV, Temple & Xavier are all fine squads...

Um, and we didn't even touch on BYU or SDST...

After watching the Bucks destroy UNC-A in December by 50, I never woulda thought they'd be in the tourney?

BTW, this Aaron Carter on Indiana St is pretty fun to watch runnin round the court

[waborat]

Mo. Valley is underrated as hell for a mid-major. Really shocked they don't get two-bids. They've been able to pull of a few upsets in the past, and usually I mark them down for it.

It's all bout RPI, son...

When yer 2nd best team is pushing 60 and almost an 80 in their conference, then ya got no shot to polka

[neoleo]

Mo. Valley is underrated as hell for a mid-major. Really shocked they don't get two-bids. They've been able to pull of a few upsets in the past, and usually I mark them down for it.

It's all bout RPI, son...

When yer 2nd best team is pushing 60 and almost an 80 in their conference, then ya got no shot to polka

And Missouri State lost to Valpo in the midst of Valpo's late season plunge. Valpo finished 4th in the Horizon.

[waborat]

Mo. Valley is underrated as hell for a mid-major. Really shocked they don't get two-bids. They've been able to pull of a few upsets in the past, and usually I mark them down for it.

It's all bout RPI, son...

When yer 2nd best team is pushing 60 and almost an 80 in their conference, then ya got no shot to polka

And Missouri State lost to Valpo in the midst of Valpo's late season plunge. Valpo finished 4th in the Horizon.

And now add their 2nd loss to the Sycamores this season...

Just don't see anything on their resume to get them in now

[skatingtripods]

I don't consider the Mountain West a basketball mid-major anymore, wabo. You can't. Not with New Mexico being a 3 seed last year, SDSU, and BYU always in the fold.

Utah St. won't really sneak up on anybody. Temple isn't athletic enough for me. UNLV beat Kansas St, but is 0-4 v. BYU/SDSU with the two BYU losses by 12 and 14. I guess it all depends on your definition of a Cinderella.

Does George Mason have a resume to get in after getting thumped by VCU today? Their best win is probably at Duquesne. I know they're 23rd in RPI, but does beating Old Dominion, VCU, and losing at Dayton and Wofford make them worthy? I guess they could be a 12 or a 13 seed, and a dangerous one at that.

[waborat]

I don't consider the Mountain West a basketball mid-major anymore, wabo. You can't. Not with New Mexico being a 3 seed last year, SDSU, and BYU always in the fold.

But they are a mid-major and until the contracts and B(S)CS start giving free passes then they'll stay a mid-major...

Every few years there's a different conference we say "we don't consider" because they're good for a few years (M-West, A-10, MIZZ VAL come to mind)...

Now I agree, maybe we should start calling Southland & Northeast low-majors...

BTW, Mason's definitely in

[Triple-S]

Mo. Valley final was pretty awesome today.

I always felt that, that title game is like the perfect appetizer to Tourney time.

[waborat]

Sun Belt final the best one yet...

This Josh White for NTex is carrying at the end...

Might come down to the final shot?

[waborat]

HOLY SHIT, it did...

What a shot, Lil Rock moves on...

Wow, 2 downtown's in the final 18 ticks...

Gawd, I love this time of the year

[waborat]

'Nova just went down in the 1st round...

Just what we need, SFLA winnin the Big East...

Butler dominating once again...

Think anyone wants to play their D in the first 2 rounds next week?

[skatingtripods]

Obviously, Villanova's in. But where do you put them after that performance? That leaves them 9-10 in the Big East.

What are they? A 9? An 11?

Blow a 16 point lead in the last week to impress. To a 3-15 team in conference play?

[waborat]

Obviously, Villanova's in. But where do you put them after that performance? That leaves them 9-10 in the Big East.

What are they? A 9? An 11?

Blow a 16 point lead in the last week to impress. To a 3-15 team in conference play?

Who woulda thought on NYE, you'd have Nova as a bubble and St John's ranked?

After what I witnessed these past 2 weeks, I put em as a #1 in the NIT

[skatingtripods]

Who woulda thought on NYE, you'd have Nova as a bubble and St John's ranked?

After what I witnessed these past 2 weeks, I put em as a #1 in the NIT

Still 31 in RPI and 6 wins over top 50 RPI teams.

I get what you're saying. I can't see the Committee having the stones to do that.

[waborat]

Who woulda thought on NYE, you'd have Nova as a bubble and St John's ranked?

After what I witnessed these past 2 weeks, I put em as a #1 in the NIT

Still 31 in RPI and 6 wins over top 50 RPI teams.

I get what you're saying. I can't see the Committee having the stones to do that.

They won't and was pretty much kiddin, prolly a 9 or 10 seed...

Milwaukee, at least, made a game in the Horizon here in the 2nd, but Butler has just too much depth...

Oakland's a shoo-in

[waborat]

Nice to see Princeton force a playoff between the Ivy slicks

[waborat]

Bulldogs just opened up another spot in the tourney for someone

[skatingtripods]

Saw this morning that Lunardi projects 'Nova as an 11.

Georgetown's stock will fall here, but if Chris Wright comes back, they're a dangerous team as a 6/7.

[skatingtripods]

The reffing at the end of that Rutgers-STJ game was inexcusable beyond belief. They really cost Rutgers at the end. Terrible.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

The reffing at the end of that Rutgers-STJ game was inexcusable beyond belief. They really cost Rutgers at the end. Terrible.

That was turrrrrrible. It should've been a technical foul, and 1.2 seconds on the clock.

[Govbarney]

I love how you can stop the game to use NASA technology to see if a kids Nike's are a nanometer over the three point line, but you cant go back and look at a fuck up like the one yesterday in the Rutgers - STJ game.

[fundamentals]

I love how you can stop the game to use NASA technology to see if a kids Nike's are a nanometer over the three point line, but you cant go back and look at a fuck up like the one yesterday in the Rutgers - STJ game.

Unreal. Lavin's response after the game about calls like that balancing themselves out over the course of the year.

Mike Conley would have been pleased with the triple jump at the end of the game, just needed some sand for Brownlee to land into. I thought I saw Louisville's male cheerleader pat Brownlee on the back after the game as well.

Lavin's duds are appealing to the networks.

[waborat]

Huskies just won on a buzzer beater over PIT...

Beautiful headfake by Walker...

Kansas in a close one w/ Ok St

[Govbarney]

Huskies just won on a buzzer beater over PIT...

Kansas in a close one w/ Ok St

Gotta love this time of year.

[skatingtripods]

Kemba's a baller.

Every time I watch Syracuse, I cannot figure out why they are so highly rated. They just don't look like the Syracuse teams of old.

That said, I do have them -3 today.

[waborat]

That said, I do have them -3 today.

C'mon, St Jack's beats everyone in the top 15

Looks like the Bucks are gonna be playin the smart kids tomorrow

[waborat]

Miami scores 10 in the 1st & 53 in the 2nd?!??!?!?!?!

Going to OT...

Akron's ass is puckering

[skatingtripods]

Miami scores 10 in the 1st & 53 in the 2nd?!??!?!?!?!

Going to OT...

Akron's ass is puckering

Two of Akron's better players are fouled out. That didn't help.

Miami 7/12 from 3 2H, Akron 5/20 for the game. That's how you let a big lead piss away.

[waborat]

Gettin their $$$ worth at the MAC again...

Start of 2nd OT

[waborat]

Miami scores 10 in the 1st & 53 in the 2nd?!??!?!?!?!

Going to OT...

Akron's ass is puckering

Two of Akron's better players are fouled out. That didn't help.

Miami 7/12 from 3 2H, Akron 5/20 for the game. That's how you let a big lead piss away.

McNees' 1 of 12 doesn't help either

[skatingtripods]

Ice water from McClanahan on that 3 ball.

Can't miss free throws in March.

[waborat]

Iowa givin Spartey fits again...

Draymond's the only reason they have the lead at the half...

Pre-season #2 to possible NIT?

Have we ever seen a (healthy) school fall this much in a season?

[waborat]

Geno's gang makin it look easy

[waborat]

Bucks vs Wisecats in 1 hour...

Let's hope this is a lil easier than late Jan...

Control the tempo this time and they should be playin tomorrow

[skatingtripods]

Wow, Dayton up 14 with 12 + change left.

[jb]

Gotta be f'n kidding me Buckeyes.

This would be the worst week in OSU sports history.

[skatingtripods]

Gotta be f'n kidding me Buckeyes.

This would be the worst week in OSU sports history.

Wouldn't change a thing. Except they'd get a week to rest.

[fairvis]

Those smart kids play rough around the pipe. With the slow-down game, if the threes aren't falling for the Bucks, they can get beat. NW gave OSU two tough games this year, but not many teams play their style of basketball (Georgetown does, and some others). Matta's always had trouble against the slow-down game of Wisconsin/Northwestern et al, playing disciplined basketball. Good thing the Bucks were good from the line, as it really propelled them down the stretch.

That being said, the refs were loose on the big men until later in the game. Missing that shot clock violation on that 3 with only 2 min left was huge as well.

[jb]

Gotta be f'n kidding me Buckeyes.

This would be the worst week in OSU sports history.

Wouldn't change a thing. Except they'd get a week to rest.

As 2nd seed with a black eye.

[waborat]

If I'm the coach who plays OSU in the tourney then I'm loopin the 2 NW games 24/7 until tip off...

No matter what, Bucks @ the Q next week...

Anyone up for a roadtrip to Newark the following week?

[skatingtripods]

As 2nd seed with a black eye.

No way. They're locked in to a #1. They could have lost that game by 10 and they'd still be a #1.

[jb]

Anyone up for a roadtrip to Newark the following week?

Is anyone EVER up for a road trip to Newark?

[googleeph2]

Gotta be f'n kidding me Buckeyes.

This would be the worst week in OSU sports history.

Wouldn't change a thing. Except they'd get a week to rest.

What's the opinion here on rest vs. tourney experience/tuneups?

People used to cite the Big 10's lack of a conf tourney as a reason/excuse for a poor record in the NCAAs, some years.

[Squints]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Go all out unless your seeding will be unaffected. In this case, the Bucks are a #1 lock. I'm not saying tank these games or do what the Cavs did in the final regular season games last year. I want the starters to start, but substitute liberally while keeping our stars fresh. They've played 32 games together, they know each other. I would like to see more of Thomas, Sibert, Smith, Jr and even some Weatherspoon in this game. You never know, we may need them in the tourney- injury/foul trouble whatnot. Best to give them experience in a tournament setting in which is essentially an exhibition game. It won't happen, Matta is Matta. But can you imagine the OSU hate machine rolling if Sully, Diebler, Lighty or Buford goes down in one of these games?

However I say don't change a damn thing if we meet Bucky in the title game. Let's blast these mofos in to next week and leave no doubt.

[waborat]

You never know, we may need them in the tourney- injury/foul trouble whatnot.

I understand what yer saying Squints, but if they "need" them in a tourney game, they're done

[Triple-S]

pick whomever is the lower seed is against purdue in the first round.

last two games they've played, have been dogshit, and I fully expect them to carry on the tradition of choking when it counts.

[Squints]

You never know, we may need them in the tourney- injury/foul trouble whatnot.

I understand what yer saying Squints, but if they "need" them in a tourney game, they're done

You're absolutely right. But I keep having flashbacks to last year's Tennessee game, there's our rotation of 6-7 and Brucey subbing his players like they're a hockey line in the first half. And we just looked tired down the stretch. I get it, Matta ain't changing- "They can rest in April." We have at least one de facto exhibition game, you know my humble opinion/stance

As an aside- I DVRd today's game. Didn't look at my phone the whole time, resisted the urge. My Dad calls around three pm, he NEVER calls me at work, answer the phone, thinking something is wrong. "Bucks won in overtime!" Thanks Pop.