March Madness MARCH 20 thread

[mellytu74]

I see no Friday thread started yet so....

1) When I am queen of the world, the play-in game in Dayton will not feature two teams from smaller conferences. It will feature the last two BCS conference teams in. Like an Arizona-Wisconsin game. And the winner gets to be the last 11 seed or 12 seed.

I feel the little conference champions -- your Alabama States, your Morehead States -- do what they are supposed to do to reach the tournament. Making those teams go to Dayton deprives them of the real NCAA tournament experience. And I don't think it's fair.

2) I am liking this North Dakota State team. They are not suffering from the first-time-ever jitters that seem to grab Binghampton and Stephen F. Austin.

3) I felt very bad for VCU last night.

4) I have no doubt that the agita-inducing Owlets will induce agita today. I suspect the AIO studied the films of the USC-ASU games for the primer on how to contain Harden. I also suspect that AIO coach Fran Dunphy discussed ASU's matchup zone with the Matchup Zone Master, John Chaney.

What struck me was how evenly matched the two teams' stats are, down to their RPI (and the RPIs of the top three teams in each conference). I think the AIO nose out Macrae's ASU Sun Devils.

Either way, it should be one of the more entertaining games today. And there are many entertaining games right now.

And I think the winner beats Syracuse in the next round.

[mellytu74]

We have CBS CSTV and it's very cool because it has kive look-ins for all of the games and a panel of coaches who discuss the difference aspects of all the games.

I fear I jinxed North Dakota State.

[andrewjackson]

Some more close games but no upsets in the first four games today.

[andrewjackson]

I don't see a lot of potential for upsets this afternoon:

Temple-Arizona State
Cornell-Missouri
East Tennessee St.- Pitt
Dayton-West Virginia

But, hey, that's why they are called upsets.

[mellytu74]

Some more close games but no upsets in the first four games today.

Yeah, I think the only real "upset" of the first day was the Western Kentucky game and, with the kid out for Illinois, I know a lot of people who picked Western Kentucky.

I thought the way VCU came back last night that it would win.

But, yeah, very chalky tournament in general right now.

[silvercamaro]

As of right now, Annie and AJ are tied for first place in the WWTBAM group. I'm not surprised to see AJ at the top of anything, but Annie's success mystifies me (at least, so far, because rankings undoubtedly will change many times as games unfold.) I don't know enough about basketball to be of any help to her, which she knows, because she didn't ask for my help. But how does she do it? Is she Googling stats for every player on every team whenever I leave the house? Is she sending PMs to some of you to ask for advice? Do her very best friends on various teams send her eyelid messages?

What the heck is going on?

[mellytu74]

I don't see a lot of potential for upsets this afternoon:

Temple-Arizona State
Cornell-Missouri
East Tennessee St.- Pitt
Dayton-West Virginia

But, hey, that's why they are called upsets.

I think, because of the similarities of their stats, that Temple-ASU will be closer than the average 6-11 game (although you can't get much closer than the one-point Marquette-Utah State game). And I am not just saying that because it's my Owls.

I heard something on CBSCSTV about West Virginia and travel plans and getting in very late.

I doubt that Dayton has the firepower to beat the Mountaineers. And Dayton's bench is kind of shallow because it's had injury issues.

On the radio, I heard a couple of pundits pick Portland State over Xavier, which is a #4 seed.

WHile I think Xavier will win, I don't think the margin will be big. The Muskateers lost to Temple in the A-10 semifinals and they are kind of limping into the NCAA tournament, having gone something lke 7-5 down the stretch.

So, if Portland State DOES win, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

[TheCalvinator24]

Spoiler

What's up with Pitt? 10 minutes in and only 2 points up? What, did Blair already foul out?

[mellytu74]

Spoiler

What's up with Pitt? 10 minutes in and only 2 points up? What, did Blair already foul out?

Spoiler

I saw that. Pitt has as many turnovers as ETSU. I think Dixon has forgotten that no one on Pitt has any fouls because he has Blair and someone else sitting.

[andrewjackson]

These games are closer than I expected.

Not surprising, really.

[mellytu74]

These games are closer than I expected.

Not surprising, really.

The ETSU/Pitt game is really interesting.

Pitt's DeJuan Blair got a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk. The announcers said that was the second rim-hanging technical in the tournament.

[Jeemie]

Spoiler

What's up with Pitt? 10 minutes in and only 2 points up? What, did Blair already foul out?

Spoiler

And to think, earlier, you asked me why I had no confidence in Pitt.

This is why.

Now granted...it's early, and many times, a team has won the whole shebang after an early-round struggle. But Pitt has a history of lackluster tournament play. There ie enormous pressure on them to perform well.

This cannot be helping them.

[TheCalvinator24]

These games are closer than I expected.

Not surprising, really.

The ETSU/Pitt game is really interesting.

Pitt's DeJuan Blair got a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk. The announcers said that was the second rim-hanging technical in the tournament.

Does that count as a personal foul as well? I don't know if the rule applies to non-contact technicals.

[mellytu74]

Spoiler

What's up with Pitt? 10 minutes in and only 2 points up? What, did Blair already foul out?

Spoiler

And to think, earlier, you asked me why I had no confidence in Pitt.

This is why.

Now granted...it's early, and many times, a team has won the whole shebang after an early-round struggle. But Pitt has a history of lackluster tournament play. There ie enormous pressure on them to perform well.

This cannot be helping them.

Spoiler

Did either of you see the Villanova-American game last night? Villanova trailed by something like 15 points in the first half then came to life in the second half. Something like a 27-point turnaround.

[andrewjackson]

These games are closer than I expected.

Not surprising, really.

The ETSU/Pitt game is really interesting.

Pitt's DeJuan Blair got a technical foul for hanging on the rim after a dunk. The announcers said that was the second rim-hanging technical in the tournament.

Does that count as a personal foul as well? I don't know if the rule applies to non-contact technicals.

It does not.

NCAA rule clarification:

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=11141

Where the reorganization comes in is the indirect technical fouls such as hanging on the rim and slapping the backboard. These violations will result only in the player being assessed a technical and the opposing team receiving two foul shots. No personal or team fouls will be assessed.

[Jeemie]

Spoiler

Did either of you see the Villanova-American game last night? Villanova trailed by something like 15 points in the first half then came to life in the second half. Something like a 27-point turnaround.

Spoiler

I admitted it was early, and my opinion can change.

However, Villanova does not have the baggage Pitt has coming into this tournament.

[mellytu74]

Spoiler

Did either of you see the Villanova-American game last night? Villanova trailed by something like 15 points in the first half then came to life in the second half. Something like a 27-point turnaround.

Spoiler

I admitted it was early, and my opinion can change.

However, Villanova does not have the baggage Pitt has coming into this tournament.

Spoiler

Good point.

[TheCalvinator24]

W.Va. better come out on fire in the 2nd half or I can throw my bracket away already.

[TheCalvinator24]

And Temple needs to turn it on.

[TheCalvinator24]

Oh, and Missouri needs to stop toying with Cornell.

[mellytu74]

W.Va. better come out on fire in the 2nd half or I can throw my bracket away already.

I am really surprised. I saw Dayton a few times at the end of the season and they are playing much better than I anticipated.

I think, in the end, West Virginia does win.

Dayton does not shoot free throws well and, as I mentioned, its bench is a little weak because of injuries.

[TheCalvinator24]

And of course, Pitt better not become the first ever #1 seed to lose in the first round.

[mellytu74]

And Temple needs to turn it on.

The agita-inducing Owlets are giving me agita.

I mean, ASU has had three straight turnovers and Temple needs to take advantage of that.

[mellytu74]

Oh, and Missouri needs to stop toying with Cornell.

I am surprised here, too.

[smilergrogan]

Oh, and Missouri needs to stop toying with Cornell.

I am surprised here, too.

Missouri is a second half team. They have rarely led by much at halftime this year, but wear teams out in the second half because they are in such good condition. Those brainiacs from Cornell will be gasping for air by the 10 minute mark!