*The Official March Madness Thread*

[yankeekd25]

Mine as well make one of these now.

I cannot believe Duke lost again in ACC Tourney. And how bout G-Town losing to Pitt? This year's tourney should be great, as there isn't one dominating team. UNC can be beat... All the other teams have to do is take out Hansbrough... :thumbup:

[RickTheDestroyer]

I fully expected Duke to lose yesterday- Clemson is a better team than they typically get credit for. I wouldn't be surprised if they win again today.
Hansbrough can be shut down, but that usually leaves Ellington and Green (and potentially Lawson and Graves) more open on the perimeter. Thompson and Stepheson can't usually shoulder the load as well when Hansbrough gets shut down, but the perimeter guys do okay. I've watched enough games to know that they'll usually win those, but they'll be ugly nailbiters. Carolina is more likely to lose if Hansbrough only has an average game (say 20 and 8) and the guys on the wings go totally cold (but keep bricking threes).

[BilltheButcher]

Lots of Cinderella's in conference tourney's. Georgia, Illinois, even Pitt winning last night with the injuires they had to overcome.

UNC should do ok, if they can keep the turnovers down with Clemson's pressure. If they are pushing 15 turnovers, then it will be a tough one, and even without them Clemson will give them a tough game I think.

Looking forward to seeing the brackets.

[yankeekd25]

Number 1 Seeds: UNC (#1 overall), UCLA, Memphis, Kansas

No surprises there.

[WBBIRL]

I go to a branch of pitt... can't believe they took out gtown last night.

[galileo]

I go to a branch of pitt... can't believe they took out gtown last night.

Please God, let it be Greensburg...

[KingJustin]

I'm having a tough time deciding how far Clemson and Texas are going this year.

Clemson played so well all tournament, but it's so tough to lose a conference championship and then play well in the NCAA.

Same deal with Texas. They've been knocking off great teams all year, but they just lost by 10 to Kansas. That's always hard to come back from.


Any notable injuries anywhere?

[WBBIRL]

Please God, let it be Greensburg...

LOL... why?

Its the johnstown campus

[yankeekd25]

I'm having a tough time deciding how far Clemson and Texas are going this year.

Clemson played so well all tournament, but it's so tough to lose a conference championship and then play well in the NCAA.

Same deal with Texas. They've been knocking off great teams all year, but they just lost by 10 to Kansas. That's always hard to come back from.


Any notable injuries anywhere?

I don't see Clemson beating Kansas. Their run ends there.

I actually have Texas beating Memphis to reach the final 4. Memphis IMHO is overrated. They play in a soft conference, and when they played a quality team from the SEC they lost. Their bracket is probably the weakest one, and I do believe Texas can/ will beat the Tigers.

[BilltheButcher]

Any notable injuries anywhere?

Duke: Henderson reinjured his wrist.

Here is a link of injuries.

http://stats.collegehoopsnet.com/basketball/ncaab-injuries.aspx?page=/data/ncaab/injury/injuries.html

[bics56]

LOL... why?

Its the johnstown campus

Pitt Alumn here....yeah it was a shock to see them take the Big east considering how they were playing lately. But anyone who knows hoops will tell you it all matters if you get hot right about now!!!

[galileo]

LOL... why?

Its the johnstown campus

I am reasonable distance from Greensburg, so you could easily hunt me down and stab me if you wanted.

[The Bran Man]

:thumbup: I lives in Memphis and were going to RAPE! :thumbup:

Pitt & Texas better look out

[BilltheButcher]

My final four is Pitt, UCLA, Louisville, and Wisconsin.

Got UCLA and Louisville in the Finals and UCLA winning.

[WBBIRL]

I am reasonable distance from Greensburg, so you could easily hunt me down and stab me if you wanted.

Is there any real reason for me to devote that much time, even if I were the hour closer to you, to hunting you down and then disemboweling you?

[galileo]

Is there any real reason for me to devote that much time, even if I were the hour closer to you, to hunting you down and then disemboweling you?

People have done far more, for far less reason. :cool:

[Chubrock]

People have done far more, for far less reason. :cool:

I think it would be fun.

[yankeekd25]

My final four is Pitt, UCLA, Louisville, and Wisconsin.

Got UCLA and Louisville in the Finals and UCLA winning.

I got UCLA winning it all too over UNC though. My Final Four is UNC, UCLA, Texas, and Kansas. I have Georgetown facing Kansas in the Elite 8. I think that will be one of the best games of the tourny, and it could go either way. UNC is too strong, I don't see anyone in their bracket that will knock em off. As I said, Memphis is overrated, and Texas will take them out. I have Duke vs UCLA to get to the final four... UCLA will kill them. Love will have a huge game. UCLA over Texas, UNC over Kansas, UCLA over UNC. Predicted the final four and the champ right last year, and I'm hoping to do it again!

[BilltheButcher]

I got UCLA winning it all too over UNC though. My Final Four is UNC, UCLA, Texas, and Kansas. I have Georgetown facing Kansas in the Elite 8. I think that will be one of the best games of the tourny, and it could go either way. UNC is too strong, I don't see anyone in their bracket that will knock em off. As I said, Memphis is overrated, and Texas will take them out. I have Duke vs UCLA to get to the final four... UCLA will kill them. Love will have a huge game. UCLA over Texas, UNC over Kansas, UCLA over UNC. Predicted the final four and the champ right last year, and I'm hoping to do it again!

Ya, not a bad Final 4 prediction. I think this year there are a few stand outs, but so many teams depend on great outside shooting and all it takes is one bad night and they are out.

Anyone have any first round upset predictions?

I am thinking San Diego over UCONN, Davidson over Gonzaga, and St. Mary's over Miami.

[Chubrock]

I've got Davidson over GZ as well.

[Cirino83]

I've got NOVA winning it all LOL. In order to win these things you have to do the unthinkable. I can assure you if NOVA gets to the final 4 even, I'll be winning my bracket :)

[yankeekd25]

Did everybody sign up for my competition who's interested? Cirino did you?

[BG5150]

Friggin' Georgia: probably cost Va Tech a spot in the big dance. Maybe I'll go see them in the Garden if they get tot he semi's of the NIT.

[Cirino83]

Did everybody sign up for my competition who's interested? Cirino did you?

I didn't sign up. I'm not really even into college basketball. I know very little about the teams. The only reason I did one is because my brother's med school is doing one and he wanted me to do it. Wasted 10 bucks IMO. Thanks though.

[yankeekd25]

Cmonnnnnnnnnnn USC! Please comeback or my bracket is busted!!!!

[Runty]

WISCO is taking it down gentlemen.

EDIT: Damnit, just checked my bracket and stupid Xavier came back.

[yankeekd25]

I hate you USC! Busted my ****ing bracket!

[BilltheButcher]

DOOKies are a bunch of cockroaches. You think they are dead in the water and they keep coming back.

Right now I have not lost a game in my brackets. W. Va vs. AZ game has me a little nervous but I have W. Va.

Anyways the more important tourney is going on and:

SU WON!

[Runty]

Bleh, not doing so hot in my bracket. I should have watched more basketball this season. Stupid not-having-cable-dumbass-self.

[rbar89]

I wanted to pick K-State so bad, but USC almost beat UCLA in the conference tourney so I went with USC, wow I'm upset.

[BilltheButcher]

Got all the late games right also. 16-0, but today will be my downfall. There are 20 people in my pool and 18 of us are 16-0, so not doing that great.

[Cirino83]

Got all the late games right also. 16-0, but today will be my downfall. There are 20 people in my pool and 18 of us are 16-0, so not doing that great.

damn that's impressive. I got 6 wrong, but none which I have going past the second round. I also know very little, if anything at all about college basketball and pretty much just guessed on 90% of the picks.

[dajuggernaut]

holla to belmont for almost taking down duke that would have ****ed everyone's brackets haaa

[RickTheDestroyer]

I botched both of the 8-9 games yesterday, but those can pretty typically go either way. I'm in okay shape because I got everything else and none of the 8s or 9s make it out of the second round in my bracket.

[yankeekd25]

I have USC going to the 3rd round. My bracket is toast. God damn Michael Beasley. ****! Cost me 5 million bucks!

[cphafner]

OI was 13 of 16 yesterday. Tons of people were 15 or 16 of 16. People pretty much just took the higher seeds, and it worked.

[ku_med]

we handled our business yesterday against Portland St (not like UCLA tho, that was ugly).

All hail the most talented/deepest team in the tourney...KU FTMFW!!

[Invain]

I forgot to fill out my damn bracket.

Anyways, I'm pretty disappointeda at the Duke game. That was so damn close to a funny upset.

[BilltheButcher]

DRAKE jsut killed me, I had them beating UCONN next round. Great game though.

[Jess21]

I wanted Arizona to go all the way, but WVU put the old fashioned stop to that. UCLA has a hell of a team this year, going to be hard to beat. I did not expect USC to lose!

[BilltheButcher]

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I had San Diego then I changed it last second.

[Mike G]

Ya, not a bad Final 4 prediction. I think this year there are a few stand outs, but so many teams depend on great outside shooting and all it takes is one bad night and they are out.

Anyone have any first round upset predictions?

I am thinking San Diego over UCONN, Davidson over Gonzaga, and St. Mary's over Miami.

You should have picked these upsets in your bracket.

UConn is a big disappointment. They looked great for a stretch during the season and then fell apart their last seven games.

Duke sucks.

Go 'Cuse in the NIT.

[BilltheButcher]

Dam It!

[leveque]

Go Badgers! Luckily, we don't have to face Georgetown now.

I'm not counting out Davidson though. If they can beat Georgetown, they could probably beat Wisconsin.

[yankeekd25]

Haven't been keeping up with my bracket. I did see UCLA come back though. I was in NJ/NY for the weekend at my cousin's Bat Mitzvah. Kinda a side note... But boy do I miss NY!! Anyway... my bracket already toast. I guess no one will win the 5 mil on yahoo!

[BilltheButcher]

But boy do I miss NY!!

Come up to central NY and I bet you'll change your tune. Going to NYC if SU gets to the NIT championships.

Here is my run down of wht I have left in the Sweet 16.

Eastern Bracket: UNC vs. Wash St (had this right)
Lousiville vs. Tenn (had this right)

Midwest Bracket: Kansa vs. Nova (ya, I picked Nova to get to 16 :) )
Wisconsin vs. Davidson (I had GTown beating Davidson)

South Bracket: Memphis vs. Mich St (I had Pitt going to Final 4 :( )
Stanford vs. Texas (I had Marq beating Standford)

West Bracket: UCLA vs. W Kentucky (i had Drake getting the 16)
Xavier vs. W Va (Had Purdue getting to 16)

My South Bracket is done, but if the right teams win, I can still win my pool. Everyone is kind of in the same position I am with Duke and GTown losing. I still got Lousville. UCLA and Wisconsion alive and if Louisville and UCLA go to the finals the $500 is mine.

[BilltheButcher]

Well did anyone have the Final 4? The Louisville loss killed any chance of me seeing any money. Only team in the Final 4 that I had is UCLA.

[Invain]

I think 4 #1 seeds is pretty sweet. Should make for some good games.

[Chubrock]

I had all four #1s in the Final Four. I've got my Heels taking it down.

[Guido]

I had Tennessee in the Final Four, but all my other picks were right on. If UCLA wins over UNC in the NC game I'll end up 3rd in my office pool, which has 87 people. Not too bad.

[yankeekd25]

I took Texas in the final four over Memphis. But I did take UNC, Kansas and UCLA with UCLA beating the Heels in the title game.

[Runty]

Woo!! Won the WBB bracketology!

[Invain]

I wanted to Memphis to win, but damn that was a good game anyways. Best NCAA tourny in a long time. All four #1's in the final four and an amazing championship game.

[yankeekd25]

Poetic justice. Memphis couldn't shoot free throws during the regular season and at the end that's what killed them. Good job Derrick Rose!!

[Guido]

Poetic justice. Memphis couldn't shoot free throws during the regular season and at the end that's what killed them. Good job Derrick Rose!!Word.

To those who say that pree throw % doesn't matter (and there are some who say that), last night's game will serve as Exhibit A.

[Cirino83]

I fell asleep at half :(

I wanted Memphis to win...mainly because Dorsey is a beast and I love watching him shot block.

[RickTheDestroyer]

And apparently the Tar Heels are the new Kansas. They should change it to Chokel Hill.
:(