College Basketball 2011-2012

[owbc]

It really makes me appreciate the gritty, physical, defensive-orientated Big Ten when I see Wisconsin play a supposedly good defensive team from another conference. Wisconsin is moving the ball really well and getting good looks inside and out. If the faster pace is working, they may as well keep it going, although I expect Bo will have them buckle down on defense in the 2nd half. I still always worry about the offense going to sleep for 10 minutes though.

[Menotti80]

Cadougan playing great for MU. Vander Blue... not so much

[Schlitz001]

Wow BA is calling the LB State - New Mexico game. That came as a shock to me. Good for him.

[Menotti80]

I would laugh so hard if somehow UNC ashville can win this

[Glennron]

The officiating at the end of this 'Cuse game is atrocious. How badly do the refs want to see Syracuse win?

[pitchleague]

UNC-Ashville is getting the royal screw job in this. That's now 3 calls that were obvious that have gone against them.

 

Somehow, David Stern is involved in this. . . . .

[Menotti80]

These officials should never be allowed to ref in the NCAA tournament again

[stalton]

Last time this year my bracket was already busted when "cuse lost. Today I wouldn't have minded an Orange loss and the first #1 seeded team to lose to a #16 but it looks like we will have to wait some more before that will happen

[PeaveyFury]

That practically looked like the fix was on... those refs should be ashamed of themselves.

[Glennron]

It should be noted that Reggie Miller doesn't know the rule. A player can't enter the lane (or inside the 3-point arch in this case) until the ball hits the rim. Technically. If the ref is going to make that call, then you have to call a lane violation on every free throw attempt.

 

That inbound pass call was awful though. Either call the foul on Ashville or give them the ball. It was obviously off Triche in real time, why can't they look at the replay? Such a joke.

[brettac1]

Just watched the MU game after getting home from work and have decided that Crowder is my favorite MU player ever. He is so fun to watch.

[craigharmann]

VCU over Wichita State. VCU was in the Final 4 last year. Experience.

quote]

 

Although Shaka is a very good coach, this is not a good basis to go by. Past experience means nothing for smaller schools. Butler was the other final four team last year, this year they'll be lucky to win a first round game in the NIT. VCU lost 4 of their 5 starters of last year team and Wichita State is sweet 16 bound IMO with their top ranks in the major categories (15th/PPG - 13th/FG%).

 

I blame you for making me second guess myself and picking Wichita State against my pick of VCU! :-) Actually, I blame myself for not following college hoops as much as I should (having an almost 3 year old and almost 4 month old will do that) along with picking teams being a crapshoot....so, you're basically off the hook!

[homer]

I just go to some nerd site like Basketball Prospectus or Nate Silver's blog and use their picks. Can't be any worse than what I come up with.

[Glennron]

I just go to some nerd site like Basketball Prospectus or Nate Silver's blog and use their picks. Can't be any worse than what I come up with.

 

That's what I do too, but then I end up trying to get too cute anyway and end up with Long Beach State in the Sweet 16. Oops.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Not too many competitive games in the early games yesterday. Marquette just had way too much firepower for BYU.

 

Wisconsin absolutely physically dominated Montana. The refs really let a lot of physical play go in that game, which I like to see, but when you let that go, that's going to favor the physical Badgers 100% of the time.

 

That Syracuse game was a joke. Basically, if they're not going to allow a 1 to be beat, what is the point of having 64 teams?

[BradWI]

MU plays at 4:15 Saturday, UW at 5:15

[thebruce44]

Just watched the MU game after getting home from work and have decided that Crowder is my favorite MU player ever. He is so fun to watch.

 

You can spend the whole time he is on the floor just watching his body language and facial expressions. He's awesome.

[Funketown]

Yeah, that Syracuse game was horrendous. I watched the last ~15 minutes after class and it was pretty painful to see UNC-A get totally hosed. They still probably would have lost if those calls had gone their way, but they might have had a ~35-45% chance to win if that lane violation hadn't been called. I've never liked Syracuse (don't they just seem like a skeezy program?), but this gives me one more reason to dislike them.

 

My basic bracket strategy is this: Higher seeds are usually better, but there are some 9's, 10's, and 11's that have a >50% chance of winning, perhaps a few 12's every couple years. But, I like picking upsets, because that's way more fun. So, I try to find teams that I think have a good chance given their seeding. For example, I took NC State over SDSU this year, and Texas over Cincy. I also took Lehigh over Duke, mostly for fun, but I do think that Lehigh has a much better chance than most 15's (call it 5% rather than 2%). I hate losing sweet sixteen teams in the first round, so I very rarely put a >5 seed in the sweet 16, typically 1 per year (this year, I'm forced to pick Xavier/ND, and went with Xavier).

 

Gotta cheer for Norfolk State despite having Mizzou in the final four!

[jjfanec]

Gotta cheer for Norfolk State despite having Mizzou in the final four!

 

My thoughts exactly. Seeing a 15 win was a lot of fun even if it wrecked my bracket. If St. Bon would have taken out FSU that would be crazy.

[Menotti80]

If Marquette can get by Murray State tomorrow, at least they won't have to face Missouri

[Funketown]

If Marquette can get by Murray State tomorrow, at least they won't have to face Missouri

 

They've got to feel great about their chances now. Murray State has had a great year, but they are not on the level of Marquette, and neither is Florida. If something crazy happens to Mich State, they could be sitting pretty.

[craigharmann]

I also took Lehigh over Duke, mostly for fun, but I do think that Lehigh has a much better chance than most 15's (call it 5% rather than 2%).

 

It's sure looking close right now! May be a smart pick!

[homer]

I hate Duke.

[Funketown]

I hate Duke.

 

 

I don't even care about losing Missouri. Lehigh got me 10 points. Got some wonderful screenshots of Kyscysscysysky when they were about to lose.

 

Nervous about Creighton. I'm guessing Henson will be healthy enough to play in a pinch, but Williams will be very conservative. It'll be a fun, up-tempo game and if Carolina can put up an early lead it will pay off throughout the rest of the tournament. I don't want to play from behind against a team like Creighton.

[homer]

In case anyone forgot, the same Norfolk St team that beat Mizzou lost to Marquette the first game of the year by 31 points. They then regrouped and lost to them by 2 a week later. They also lost to some school called Elizabeth City State. I have no idea who that is.