College Basketball Thread

“Illinois took care of Indiana. Bring on Michigan or Iowa. Michigan is up 7 at half.

Did anyone else take a look at the CBS Bracket Manager link? Is there much interest out there? Maybe one of you old timers could be the commissioner?”

“We don't need no stinkin' corporate bracket thingy.”

“I think the winner of the Big east Tourney should get a #1 seed. It's the most competative conference in the country as well as the most physical.

UCONN had been impressive without Okafer. If they beat Pittsburg they deserve a #1 seed. Pittsburg, if they win the Big East should be a unanimous #1 seed selection.

With the upsets in some of the conference tourneys, I think that The Big East will only get five teams max. Coupe other majors will lose a team too I think.

Pittsburg, Uconn, Syracuse, Providence and Seton Hall from the Big east.”

“The year is over for the Lobo men. People had some high hopes, but it was a rebuilding year. Next year will be very telling. They've got some great young talent.


The Lady Lobos, however, are kicking butt, getting to the MW championship game. Top seed after getting regular season co-championship with Utah, it comes down to NM vs Utah for the tournie. Looks like they will get an NCAA invite and start off on home territory in the Pit.


Lobos are also hot skiers this year. ;-)

Ski team took over the lead in the national championships.

"We are in a great position to get it done," stated head coach George Brooks who is in his 34th year at the helm of the Lobo Skiing program. He is the only head coach in the history of the Lobo Ski Team and is trying to bring home the first team national title in any sport in school history. The highest finish the Lobo athletic program has ever had was a second place showing at the 1992 NCAA Skiing Championships. "Speaking on behalf of our coaches and student-athletes we would love to bring home the first team title in school history, but we have a lot of work left to do. We are going to give it our best shot and if it happens, it happens."”

“Wow! Third time is the charm for the Jayhawks. A good time was had by all. All the folks in blue, that is. Could Kansas be getting it together at the right time? We'll see.”

“By the way. Everyone who is posting here, TAKE NOTICE! We have an annual "I AM THE BASKETBALL GOD" contest. Once the field is announced, we pick our teams. I have been cheated out of the winnings two years in a row. Not this year.”

“Illinois wins again. That's 13 in a row. They downed Michigan and are on to the championship game vs either Wisconsin or Mich St.”

“Well, we're lining up to win our 25th Kentucky Invitational tomorrow. Just one little roadblock named Florida, but that's nothing new.”

“Today is the day! Brackets BABY!”

“http://www.ncaasports.com/images/ncaasports/brackets/d1_bkc_bracket_2004.pdf

Printable Bracket

Number 1 seeds: St. Joes, Kentucky, Duke and Stanford.

You have to love this!”

“Kansas got a #4! Wow.”

“Well... both of my predictions panned out... do I get to be a basketball deacon at least?

I never would have picked Kansas as a #4 so I'm not omniscient.”

“It's nice to have some reputation working for you, I guess. Nobody in this town thought Kansas would be playing so close to home as a #4 seed.
Violin, just line up yer picks and don't worry about being a deacon. Become a god.
Dayhiker, I think Bama got a dangerous first round. The Salukis could make some noise for a round or two. Just ask Arclite about those Missouri Valley teams.
Well, would someone post the rules again, for all of those who haven't played the TT version of the bracket picks?? Maybe a divine person would step in and do it?
Let's get ready to rumble!!!”

“Do yall want to do the pics here, or just use chili's version on cbssportsline?”

“Let's do them here.”

“I agree with Chili.
I predict Kansas and Kentucky will meet in the tournament. What do you say about that, Stickman?”

“I predict Memphis and South Carolina will meet in the tournament.

Am I a fortune teller, or what?

I also predict that the winner of the game will get squashed by the Cowboys.”

“John Lucas for OK State is the real deal.
Memphis definitely wins the first round.”

“I struggled with all four of the 7-10 games; I think each of them could go either way. Doesn't make much difference for the second round, though.”

“I think Memphis probably has the worst 7 seed in the tournament.

The Cowboys are playing really well.”

“As of now I have Oklahoma State in the final.

UK got a tough draw for being the top team in the tournament, potentially having to play Kansas in St. Louis (not to mention potentially getting to play the UAB version of 40 minutes of heck in the second round).”

“UK vs. UConn in the final”

“Wow, I'd like to see UK in the final, especially against Kansas, but I don't see us getting that far. Someone post the rules, since I didn't get here till late march last year and missed it. I'm going to go out on a limb and say:

the dookies against Kansas.”

“Not sure if this is how we will post our picks, but here it goes.

1st Round Winners
Kentucky
Washington
Providence
Kansas
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Michigan State
Gonzaga

St. Joe’s
Texas Tech
Florida
Wake Forest
Wisconsin
Pittsburgh
Memphis
Oklahoma State

Duke
Arizona
Illinois
Cincinnati
North Carolina
Texas
Louisville
Mississippi State

Stanford
Alabama
BYU
Maryland
Vanderbilt
North Carolina State
DePaul
Connecticut


SWEET SIXTEEN
Kentucky
Kansas
Boston College
Gonzaga

St. Joe’s
Wake Forest
Pittsburgh
Oklahoma State

Duke
Cincinnati
Texas
Mississippi State

Stanford
BYU
Vanderbilt
Connecticut


ELITE EIGHT
Kentucky
Boston College

Wake Forest
Pittsburgh

Duke
Texas

Stanford
Connecticut


FINAL FOUR
Kentucky
Pittsburgh

Duke
Connecticut


NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Kentucky
Connecticut


NATIONAL CHAMPION
Connecticut”

“If Okafers back holds up, UCONN has a good chance to run the board.

I was unimpressed with Charlie Villunueva. For a "prime time" player it seems to be that he doesn't have the heart to play with pain.

Where is there a Donny Marshall (Yes, Donnie, not Donyell!) when you need him?

Of couse the upside is that I don't think there is anyone in the country that can guard Ben Gordon like Page did for Pittsburg. Page has to be one of the best defenders in the country.

He reminds me of Ricky Moore. Anyone remember the jobs that he did on Allen Iverson when he (Moore) was a sophmore at Uconn, and then Trajan Langdon when UCONN spoiled the "Duke Invitational" and beat Duke for the Championship?

Oddly enough Moore was never drafted and Alan Iverson still says that the only person who could guard him was Ricky Moore.

A UCONN-Stanford matchu would be interesting. Calhoun and Montgomery are good friends. It was Caljoun who started the Home and Home matchups with Stanford a while back so Montgomerys team would get more exposure outside the Pac 10.

I don't understand Duke getting a 1 seed when they didn't win the conference championship. If Maryland was impressiver enough in the tournament to go from a bubble team to the 4 seed, then likewise Duke is unimpressive in losing the title game.

St Josepphs should have gotten a two seed. Thye play a weak schedule. Okla State I think should have gotten a #1 seed, or else UCONN. I think the Vig East is the toughest conference right now. The ACC has a tendency to get more respect in some years when it doesn't deserve it.

Overall I think the committee did a good job even though I think that two of the one seeds should have been twos and two of the twos should have been one's. (Hmm. not exactly sure what I just said.)

There is another 2 seed I expect to see be the national Champion, The UCONN Women. When everything counts, Geno is the best coach in Womens Basketball. With all due respect to Pat Summit. I do thing the Duke Woman may be the one team that can handle Uconn i9n the tournament.”

“Sorry you went to so much trouble typing all of that, WK, but here's how we do it around here.
It is very simple. There are 64 teams. Assign 64 points to the team that you think will go all the way. Assign 63 points to the team you think will be the runner-up. And so on down to the teams that you think will be knocked out in the first round. Here's an example, (but not my real picks).

64 Kentucky
63 Oklahoma State
62 Pittsburg
61 Stanford
And so on down to 1 point.

Each time a team wins, you receive the amount of points that you assigned to that team. All posts must be on this board by 12 noon on Thursday. Good luck everyone.”

“12 noon on Thu? Man you make me feel like I'm back in college trying to get an assignment turned in!”

“BTW, yes, it's safe to say there will be a KU/UK matchup, and the winner will probably be in the final four at least.”

“Am I the only one working on this? Here's my lineup, not that I'm real pleased with it:
NCAA Tournament 2004
64: Duke
63: Kansas
62: UConn
61: Oklahoma St.
60: Kentucky
59: Georgia Tech
58: Texas
57: Wake Forest
56: Maryland
55: Stanford
54: St. Joseph
53: NC State
52: Gonzaga
51: Miss. State
50: North Carolina
49: Illinois
48: Wisconsin
47: Vanderbilt
46: Louisville
45: Pittsburgh
44: Syracuse
43: Texas Tech
42: Michigan State
41: Cincinnati
40: Arizona
39: Providence
38: Utah
37: Florida
36: Southern Illinois
35: South Carolina
34: UAB
33: Dayton
32: Xavier
31: Seton Hall
30: Memphis
29: Charlotte
28: Washington
27: Air Force
26: Boston College
25: BYU
24: Murray State
23: Nevada
22: East Tn. State
21: DePaul
20: Alabama
19: Manhattan
18: Western Michigan
17: Northern Iowa
16: Pacific
15: Illinois-Chicago
14: Princeton
13: Vermont
12: Va. Commonwealth
11: UTEP
10: Lafayette
09: Texas-San Antonio
08: Richmond
07: Monmouth
06: Central Florida
05: Valparaiso
04: Lehigh
03: Eastern Washington
02: Alabama State
01: Liberty”

“The Jayhawks thankyou for the compliment, Stickman. No, you aren't the only one working on the bracket. I have already filled out two, and they don't totally agree with one another. Since I don't have to work this afternoon, I will come back home and work on my picks. Look for the winning picks sometime this evening. Please, no copying, you losers.”

“I am in Six Sigma training all week. I will try to work on this at night.”

“Six Sigma training sounds like something out of a bad science fiction novel. Do you get a decoder ring when you're done?

My picks:

64: Mississippi State
63: Oklahoma State
62. Connecticut
61. Kentucky
60. Duke
59. Stanford
58. Gonzaga
57. Texas Tech
56. North Carolina State
55. Texas
54. Cincinnati
53. Wake Forest
52. Wisconsin
51. Kansas
50. Georgia Tech
49. Maryland
48. Pittsburgh
47. St. Joseph's
46. Providence
45. Syracuse
44. Michigan State
43. Boston College
42. Louisville
41. Western Michigan
40. DePaul
39. Alabama
38. Seton Hall
37. Alabama – Birmingham
36. Murray State
35. Memphis
34. Manhattan
33. Air Force
32. North Carolina
31. Illinois
30. Charlotte
29. Xavier
28. Florida
27. Arizona
26. Vanderbilt
25. BYU
24. Washington
23. Southern Illinois
22. Dayton
21. East Tennessee State
20. Texas – El Paso
19. Richmond
18. South Carolina
17. Nevada
16. Utah
15. Northern Iowa
14. Princeton
13. Pacific
12. Virginia Commonwealth
11. Valparaiso
10. Central Florida
09. Louisiana - Lafayette
08. Illinois - Chicago
07. Liberty
06. Texas – San Antonio
05. Alabama State
04. Lehigh/Florida A & M
03. Vermont
02. Eastern Washington
01. Monmouth”

“I wasn't real pleased with mine when I was done, but we'll see what happens. Some teams were given a higher spot than they may have deserved, but I was going on the coaches' tournament experience, etc.”

“Those are the kinds of sensible picks that could win the thing for you.

In the past I've had a tendency to pick some 6 - 8 seed to make the Final Four and have consistently been disappointed. I almost picked Texas Tech this year, but went with the more sensible 3 2's and a 1. I think I probably picked less 5-12 and 4-13 upsets in the first round, too.”

“64. Stanford

Does anything else matter??



OK, I'll fill out the rest of my list later....”

“Bowlder, you should be sober when you make your picks. It helps.
Here's the winners, you suckers!

64.Kentucky
63.U Conn
62. Duke (sux)
61. OK St.
60. Kansas
59. Stanford
58. Miss. St.
57. Georgia Tech
56. Wake
55. Texas
54. Illinois
53. Pitt
52. Syracuse
51. N.C. St.
50. Gonzo
49. So. Ill.
48. Memphis
47. Cincinatti
46. North Carolina
45. Louisville
44. Xavier
43. Wisconsin
42. St. Joe's
41. Richmond
40. Maryland
39. S. Carolina
38. Seton Hall
37. Arizona
36. Charlotte
35. Texas Tech
34. Manhattan
33. Florida
32. Providence
31. UAB
30. Washington
29. DePaul
28. Boston College
27. Nevada
26. Michigan St.
25. Dayton
24. Utah
23. Western Mich
22. Vanderbilt
21. BYU
20. Princeton
19. Pacific
18. Murray St
17. E. Tenn. St
16. Alabama
15. N. Iowa
14. Valparaiso
13. Virginia Common.
12. Central Fla.
11. Air Force
10. UTEP
9. LaFayette
8. Eastern Washington
7. Liberty
6. Monmouth
5. Ill Chicago
4. Alabama St
3. Vermont
2. Lehigh
1. Florida A&M”

“Fairly similar picks. This should get real interesting 3rd round or so. I too shied away from any 14 seed over 3 seed or 12 over 5 type predictions.”

“No laughing, please. This is a highly scientific process.

64 Stanford
63 Oklahoma State
62 Gonzaga
61 Mississippi State
60 Kentucky
59 NC State
58 Cincinnati
57 Wake Forest
56 St. Joseph's
55 Connecticut
54 Kansas
53 Georgia Tech
52 Wisconsin
51 Syracuse
50 North Carolina
49 Arizona
48 Michigan State
47 Duke
46 Washington
45 Vanderbilt
44 Princeton
43 Xavier
42 Pittsburgh
41 Maryland
40 Dayton
39 Providence
38 Utah
37 Florida
36 Illinois
35 S. Illinois
34 Charlotte
33 Memphis
32 Alabama
31 Boston College
30 Louisville
29 Seton Hall
28 DePaul
27 UAB
26 Air Force
25 Richmond
24 South Carolina
23 Nevada
22 Western Michigan
21 Texas
20 Texas Tech
19 Manhattan
18 Pacific
17 Murray State
16 BYU
15 UTEP
14 UIC
13 E. Tennessee State
12 VCU
11 N. Iowa
10 UL Lafayette
9 UCF
8 Eastern Washington
7 Valparaiso
6 Monmouth
5 Vermont
4 Texas-San Antonio
3 Liberty
2 Alabama State
1 Lehigh/FAMU”

“I've just came back into town and have yet to start digesting the bracket. I'll try to post my picks by tomorrow evening.

Wow, the committee didn't do the Big 10 any favors this year - a 5, 6, and 7 seed. With Michigan losing to UofI, I didn't expect more than three teams getting in, but it sounds like the "experts" are suprised at the low seedings. Oh well, you work with what you got.”

“Bowlder, I'm not griping at you or anything, but what was your basis for placing Miss. State above Kentucky?”

“I've got mine all worked out and will post them when I get a chance to type them up. I have Kentucky as the champ but may have to rethink after seeing the last post.”

“Just a feeling, stick. There always has to be a dark horse - Mississippi St. is (one of) mine. Plus, I have a feeling Kentucky will get overconfident with their #1 #1 seed.”

“There are sure to be upsets in the tourney but having one before it starts is beautiful!”

“Kentucky
Duke
NC State
St Joes
Oklahoma State
Texas
Gonzaga
Maryland
Mississippi State
Stanford
Kansas
Georgia Tech
Pitt
Uconn
Wake Forest
Illinois
Xavier
Cincy
Syracuse
Florida
Alabama
Wisconsin
Providence
Michigan State
Memphis
Charlotte
Vandy
Dayton
Arizona
North Carolina
Boston College
UAB
Depaul
Louisville
Texas Tech
South Carolina
Washington
S Illinois
Seton Hall
Nevada
Air Force
Richmond
Western Michigan
Utah
Murray State
BYU
Manhattan
Pacific
ETSU
UTEP
VCU
Il - Chicago
Princeton
Northern Iowa
Central Florida
UL - Lafayette
Vermont
E. Washington
Valpo
Monmouth
Tx - San Antonio
Liberty
Alabama State
Play in”

“64) Kentucky
63) Connecticut
62) Duke
61) Pittsburgh
60) Syracuse
59) North Carolina
58) Wake Forest
57) Boston College
56) Stanford
55) NC State
54) Illinois
53) Louisville
52) St. Joseph’s
51) Oklahoma
50) Providence
49) Nevada
48) Dayton
47) Vanderbilt
46) Maryland
45) So. Illinois
44) Mississippi
43) Texas
42) East Tennessee State
41) Seton Hall
40) Gonzaga
39) Georgia Tech
38) Kansas
37) Washington
36) Memphis
35) Wisconsin
34) Florida
33) Charlotte
32) Vermont
31) DePaul
30) La – Lafayette
29) Western Michigan
28) Texas – El Paso
27) BYU
26) Alabama
25) Tex – San Antonio
24) Monmouth
23) Xavier
22) Princeton
21) Air Force
20) Cincinnati
19) Murray State
18) Arizona
17) Alabama State
16) Valparaiso
15) Michigan State
14) Northern Iowa
13) Utah
12) Illinois – Chicago
11) Pacific
10) Ala – Birmingham
9) Florida A&M
8) Eastern Washington
7) So. Carolina
6) Central Florida
5) Richmond
4) VCU
3) Manhattan
2) Texas Tech
1) Liberty”

“So, do we keep track of our own points, or does someone have some sophisticated, 21st century, brilliantly coded computer program to do it for us?”

“I think the job belongs to the outgoing basketball god.”

“Not fair fiddle. In past years either me or arclite or both have kept up with the points. Last year I had to correct his math. Engineers always have to double check Architects!”

“It looks like there will be a larger number of contestants this year. Would it make sense that everyone is responsible for calculating their own totals with the winning claim double or triple checked by others?”

“Sounds great! I have 384,586,220 points - I win!!”