College Basketball Thread

“Either way is fine.

Dunadan - our two games were somewhat similar. Other teams jumps up with the good guys making a small run before half. Tieing game about mid-way in 2nd with a little back and forth and then losing at the end. My biggest frustrations are that we didn't use Erwin Dudley enough and that we were down by 1 with about 10 seconds on the shot clock and maybe 15 in the game and our freshman point guard takes a shot from about 23 feet. All we had to do was swing it one or two more times and take an inside shot and hope for the best. We still could've lost, but would have had a much better chance with a 15 footer.”

“All I can say about the Jayhawks is that they could not hit the basket. Our two guards who usually contribute 20-30 points between them, get three total points. That is the whole story.
I think Bama has the best route to the elite eight, unless OK St pulls out a great game, (a possibility).
Dana Altman is a great coach for Creighton. Florida will have to come prepared for them. Then, Florida is looking at Illinois. Not easy. The Midwest is the only bracket that has nationally ranked teams in the 8 and 9 seeds.
It's gonna be a great tournament.
Everyone should get their comments about the contest, ASAP.”

“I agree about the Oklahoma St. game. That one has me a little concerned. I will be on the trail that day and won't find out the results until late Sunday evening. I'll get my wife to tape it, but it's not the same thing.”

“Like I always say UC BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I'm glad the Bearcats were awarded a #1. They are playing Boston U in the first round. BU is the "Terriers"! SCARY! Good luck, Prowler.”

“Man,,, the West region looks to be the one to watch. Its stacked with teams that you would never want to play and plus its got 3 Ohio schools in it. I hoping for some match ups between'em.”

“Guess who got screwed once again? The #6 team in the country gets a 6th seed in the West? They're one of 3 teams in the country to go to the Sweet 16 the last 3 years and this is the respect they get? I guess Gonzaga will just have to win it all...”

“Chili - I feel your pain. We were about 21-10 last year and got the ole 'bend over a smile' treatment. We did make it to the championship game of the NIT before Buzz Peterson's teams blew us out. I bet yall can do the same, uh, except for getting blown out.”

“I was thinking of ranking the teams from 1 to 64. But I'm a believer in majority rule here.

Dunadan, we may get that match-up. I'm just not sure if Florida is ranked correctly, overranked or just rank.

They've been talking up the Florida/Kansas match-up here. Apparently Kansas' coach tried to sic the NCAA on Florida when Mike Miller signed with Florida over Kansas a few years back. Anything goes with those sports writers who try to create bad blood.

Kansas has the highest scoring team in the nation, Kansas runs up the score, Kansas' coach sucks! Is that an obnoxious mind-set or what?”

“Anyone but Duke! I'll be looking to your Jayhawks to do the deed Dunadan.

I heard one commentator saying Gonzaga should sue the selection committee for that seed. I think the trouble is that most of the country thought it was a form of pea or bean.”

“Gonzaga got hosed...but then again, that team seems not to care what they are seeded, they just keep winning anyway.

Though ND is in the tourney (not for long probably), I got to say the Zags are the team I will be rooting for this March. They're so fun to watch...and Dickau should be an all american.”

“Well, low score works for golf and that seems like a more intuitive system for what we're doing. So, if I have Kansas a 1 and they win 4 games then I have 4 points. If I have Gonzaga as a 30 and they win it all I have 4(KU) + 30+30+30+30+30+30 = 180+4 = 184 points. Is this the way everyone understands it? We don't all have Mensa+20 IQ's(grin) and need a little help!”

“I agree, Gonzaga got hosed. If Texas, Texas Tech, and Cal are 6 seeds then Gonzaga should be a 2 seed. Watch out for Mississippi State. They play good defense and seem to always find a way to score. I also think Western Kentucky looks good. Too bad they might not even make it to play Kansas.”

“I would do it the other way (high score), dayhiker, but we'll need to reach a general consensus.

Need some extra braynz? I can transfer some spairz by ocular transference, dayhiker. Come here and LOOK INTO MY EYE!”

“I was thinking more of a mindmeld, ala, Picard and Spock's daddy. Both methods would require either you coming to mountains that are cooler than 80* or me going canoeing with manatee. Just so long as you don't ask me to "swim with the fishes"(in your best Soprano's voice)”

“Actually, your way would better. That way you wouldn't be infected with any engineering thinking and I wouldn't be infected with any architectural stuff. Actually, I think both parties(arch'n'engineers in general) would benefit with a better appreciation of the hoops that the other has to jump through.”

“1. The NCAA did Gonzaga a favor, if you ask me. Those guys will play much better with something to prove.
2. I can see the possibility of a Ohio St vs Cincy matchup, but I don't think any Ohio schools are going to match up in the West.
3. Are we all in agreement that Duke must go down?
4. I hope everybody who has posted on this thread will play the game. Fill out your bracket and become divine!
5. Florida must take care of Creighton first. I hope they come ready for a real game, because it could be close. If Florida is hot, the Bluejays won't stand a chance, but if the game gets ugly, watch out.
6. My vote is still for assigning the team you think is most likely to win it all 64 points. Arc is in agreement. Who else? The decision will be made tomorrow!”

“Go Salukis!!! Beat the *&#$@# *%%$ out of Bobby %$@& Knight's @#%$ team. <-:”

“I think there is a good chance that the Salukis will get it done against T Tech. The Mo Val could stand to get some wins, except against the Gators. We have a date with them.”

“now that Spurrier is gone. Get to hate the Redskins now.”

“Oh, and about bad blood between Roy Williams and Billy Donovan....I don't think there is any substance to that rumor. I do think Coach Williams took a second look at the Miller recruitment, but he seems to put matters behind him and get on with life. I have heard Coach Williams compliment Coach Donovan, so I hope the media boys don't incite Gator fans into thinking there is anything but respect from KU for the Florida program. Not many schools that can stay on the top of the football and basketball world.
Ricardo Patton of Colorado was accusing Roy of "negative" recruiting but it didn't stick. They are back on good terms, again. Roy Williams is no saint, (although he does walk on water around here), but from everything I've read and heard, he is a pretty classy guy.”

“OK, folks, last post tonight. I'm gonna help all of you with your homework. Here are the first round winners,
East South
1. Maryland 1.Duke (sux)
2.Wisconsin 2. N.D.
3.Tulsa 3. Indiana
4.Valpo 4. USC
5.U-Conn 5. Tide
6.NC State 6. OK State
7. Gawja 7.Pitt
8.So. Illinois 8. Cal

Midwest West
1. KU all the way 1.Cincy
2.Western K. 2. Ole Miss
3.Gators 3.Missouri
4.Illinois 4.Ohio St
5.Oregon 5. Oklahoma
6.Pepperdine 6. Hawaii
7.Miss St 7. Arizona
8. Tejas 8. Gone Zaggy

This list is subject to change depending on actual results.
You may copy if you like.”

“Duke
Kansas
M'Lnd
Cin
Okla
Conn
Ore
Bama
Arizona
Kentucky
Illinois
USC
Ga
Miss St
Oh St
Marq
Florida
Pitt
Miami
Zags
Cal
Indiana
Xav
Ok St
NC St
Texas
W. Ken
Tx Tech
Wake
Wisc
UCLA
Stan
Kent St
Pepper
ND
Char
Miss
Haw
Wyo
St. John
Mizzou
Mich St
Salukis
Penn
Utah
BC
Tulsa
C Conn St
Davidson
Creighton
McNeese
Murray St
UNC-W
SD St
Valpo
UCSB
Fl-At
Mont
Hamp
Ill - Chi
Boston
Play in team
Holy C
Winthrop”

“UC for ever no one else NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you al;l know UC is going to take the NCAA title this year!”

“LOL, dayhiker. I'm a little out of practice, but I can do a pretty good Soprano's immitation when I want to (dis, dem, dees, and dose). I'm afraid that the Vulcan technique may not work, remember, I'm artistic too. I've got some pretty strange brainwaves. Get to close to my mind and yours might melt!

I'm not fired up Dunadan. I try not to let other people's opinions fire me up. But over the years, I have been amazed at the types of things sports writers use to get their readers riled up. The really scary part is that some folks get all emotionally screwed over things like that. I've always liked Kansas. I really liked the movie Hoosiers. Yep, those Kansas boys can really play some roundball.”

“OK, I'll admit it. You are funny, Arc. At least you have me laughing. I liked Hoosiers, too. It's odd that they named a film about Kansas like that.
Anybody have a bet on the "play-in" game? Will Alcorn State be able to handle Siena? I hear that both teams put FIVE GUYS on the court at once! I hope your team is ready for these kind of tactics.
BTW, there were supposed to be spaces between the East-South and the Midwest-West winners in that last post of mine.
Unless there is some credible objection, we will assign numbers to each team according to our confidence in that team. The team you think will go all the way will get a 64. The teams that you think will dive will get your lowest rating. You can figure out what to do in between. Post your numbers before noon EST on Thursday, and let's rock and roll!

And...I am so glad that Duke is ranked #1 again. Any pressure off of the Jayhawks is a positive.”

“OK, folks, have fun in my absence. I actually have to go to work today, so I won't be checking this thread until the evening. Let me know if there are any other ideas. If not, we will go wth the high number to your #1 team. See ya'!”

“I'm glad you're laughin', Dun, and I'm in agreement with ya. Kansas gets 64 points in my book.

ROCK
CHALK
JAYHAWK!”

“Here it is, folks!
64. Kansas
63.Oklahoma
62.Maryland
61.Duke
60.Cincinatti
59.Oregon
58.Alabama
57.U Conn
56.USC
55.Gonzaga
54.Texas
53.Florida
52.Missouri (you better not let me down)
51.S. Ill
50.Cal
49.Tulsa
48.Wisconsin
47.Illinois
46.Ole Miss
45.Miss St
44.Georgia
43.Michigan St
42.Arizona
41.Ohio St
40.Indiana
39.OK St
38.Xavier
37.Valpo
36.Pepperdine
35.Marquette
34.Kentucky
33.Texas Tech
32.Notre Dame
31.UCLA
30.Miami
29.Wake Forest
28.Creighton
27.St Johns
26.NC State
25.W. Kentucky
24,Utah
23.Stanford
22.Boston College
21.Charlotte
20. Penn
19.Pitt
18.Hawaii
17.Hampton
16.Wyoming
15.McNeese St
14.Murray St
13.San Diego St
12.Montana
11.Fla. Atl
10.Cent Conn
9.NC Wilmington
8.Davidson
7.UC Santa Barbara
6.Ill. Chicago
5.Winthrop
4.Boston U
3.Holy Cross
2.Play-in
1.Kent St
Good luck, everyone. Next year, we might want to try to fill out the bracket.”

“Hey, I finally realized why you guys started this basketball thread! You are trying to distract me and keep me from writing bad haiku.

Think you're sneaky, huh?
Dunadan is too damn slick
To be fooled by you!”

“At least they sell beer at the NIT games.”

“Just remember that I see everything through Crimson colored glasses. We're going to slay the beast.

Kansas
Oklahoma
Maryland
Bama
Duke
Cincinnatti
Mississippi State
Georgia
Arizona
Oregon
UConn
Southern Cal
Miami
Kentucky
Pitt
Florida
Marquette
Gonzaga
Texas Tech
Indiana
Xavier
Texas
Illinois
Western Kentucky
UCLA
Penn
Oklahoma State
Ohio State
NC State
Notre Dame
Wake Forest
Wisconsin
Ole Miss
Kent State
Cal
Stanford
St. John's
Michigan State
Boston College
Charlotte
Wyoming
Pepperdine
So. Illinois
Tulsa
Hawaii
Missouri
Utah
Creighton
Valpo
San Diego State
UNC-Wilmington
Davidson
Central Conneticut
UC Santa Barbara
Murray State
McNeese State
Hampton
Montana
Illinois-Chi.
Florida Atlantic
Boston U.
Siena
Holy Cross
Wintrop”

“You are a brave man, Dayhiker. I hope you are right! And as for those crimson-colored glasses, the Kansas colors are crimson and blue, so you won't have to take them off for the final game.
I would LOVE to see Bama take it to the satan worshipers!!”

“Has anyone been listening to the sports radio shows? I just heard a reporter pick Duke, Maryland, and Wake Forest to make it to the Final Four. Is there some east-coast bias going on or what?”

“I want some of his ganga! The thing about the media is that if you make some wild guess, no one calls you on it. If you're right, then you're a genius. See my pick above(grin)!”

“I will admit that my pick isn't as bold as it initially looks. I put Duke right behind Bama. If we are fortunate enough to play them in the Elite Eight, and lose, it only costs me a point.”

“64. Duke
63. Kansas
62. Okalahoma
61. Maryland
60. Alabama
59. Cincinnati
58. Connecticut
57. Mississippi State
56. Marquette
55. Texas Tech
54. Missouri
53. Oregon
52. Arizona
51. Indiana
50. Illinois
49. Pittsburgh
48. Kentucky
47. Gonzaga
46. Oklahoma State
45. Florida
44. Michigan State
43. Texas
42. Mississippi
41. Western Kentucky
40. Xavier
39. Georgia
38. Cal
37. Ohio State
36. Wisconsin
35. USC
34. Wake Forest
33. Notre Dame
32. Charlotte
31. Miami
30. NC State
29. Murray State
28. Utah
27. UCLA
26. Stanford
25. Pennsylvania
24. Wyoming
23. Central Connecticut
22. Southern Illinois
21. Valparaiso
20. Tulsa
19. Boston College
18. Pepperdine
17. Boston University
16. Kent State
15. Davidson
14. Hawaii
13. UNC-Wilmington
12. Hampton
11. Creighton
10. San Diego State
9. Montana
8. Santa Barbara
7. Florida Atlantic
6. McNeese State
5. Illinois-Chicago
4. Holy Cross
3. St. Johns
2. Siena
1. Winthrop”

“Hey, I'm a football god. What do I know about basketball?

I have not used anybody elses picks as the basis for mine. I have arrived at these picks purely by mathematical calculation. After calculating the number of teams in the tournament, I started pulling numbers out of a hat.

64.Kansas 63.Duke 62.Maryland 61.Arizona 60.Oklahoma 59.Cincinnati 58.Ohio St. 57.Alabama 56.Connecticut 55.Oregon 54.Miss. St. 53.Southern Cal. 52.Kentucky 51.Florida 50.Illinois 49.Georgia 48.California 47.Pittsburgh 46.Marquette 45.W.Kentucky 44.Gonzaga 43.Kent St. 42.Texas 41.Pepperdine 40.Missouri 39.Wisconsin 38.Texas Tech. 37.Charlotte 36.North Car. St. 35.Michigan St. 34.UCLA 33.Indiana 32.Miami-FL 31.Hawaii 30.Mississippi 29.Oklahoma St. 28.Stanford 27.Notre Dame 26.Wake Forest 25.S. Illinois 24.Xavier 23.Wyoming 22.Pennsylvania 21.Tulsa 20.Utah 19.Boston College 18.St. John's 17.Creighton 16.San Diego St. 15.UNC Wilmington 14.Davidson 13.Valparaiso 12.C. Conn. St. 11.McNeese St. 10.Murray St. 9.UC Santa Barbara 8.Hampton 7.Fla. Atlantic 6.Illinois-Chi. 5.Montana 4.Boston U. 3.Holy Cross 2.Siena 1.Winthrop

Good luck folks! I wouldn't be disappointed to see Kansas and Bama in the final game.”

“GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“I'm starting to get nervous, gentlemen. I confess, I have tried to listen to every sports show on the radio while at work. I have watched sports on TV every night, and people in Lawrence don't say hello any more, (it's some reference to the Jayhawks). I have put myself in an emotionally touchy state, all over an inconsequential game.
I am going to miss a lot of work over the next two days.
I sincerely wish everybody good luck with their teams in the tourney. Thanks for sticking with us, Chili. This contest wouldn't be the same without you. Memphis will be there next year.
Arc, I'm surprixed that you gave Kentucky a higher rating than your Gators. I put good money on a bracket that says we meet in the third round, and I think Kentucky is gonna look like Alpo after Valpo.
I hope some of you other TT folks jump in before game time. Last chance to attain divinity until football season. (I know, you already are a god, Arc.)
One last time before the tourney begins just for good luck.....
ROCK!
CHALK!
JAYHAWK!
KAYYYYY
UUUUUU!

Play ball!!!!!!”

“Brett Nelson broke his jaw in practice Tuesday night, Dunadan. Pittsburg's star has a hurt knee. Just a couple of the many factors I considered in my picks. But it's hard to measure heart and that's what a lot of this tourney comes down to. I only HOPE the GATORS can make it past Illinois, let alone Creighton.”

“Dunadan, for me, it was mostly about the match-ups. Who has the good inside game, who's hot from the perimeter, who plays the tough defense, and what tempo do they play. What players match-up well with what players from the other teams? That all figured into my guesses. I think Kansas has a well rounded team, but their record in the tournament has not been stellar. Now, do they have the heart?”

“Sorry...didn't mean to say jaw in my first post. Brett Nelson broke his cheek bone. Big difference.”

“I just finished a front page story on how the Gators and Kentucky Wildcats are falling apart. I was sorry to read that. Teammates should not be breaking each others' faces this time of the year.
Maybe Nelson and Halton can get a match on the Fox network.
As far as heart goes, I think KU has as much as any team. That loss to Oklahoma will give them more heart and a greater focus in the tournament, I am sure of it. It will all be decided on the court, soon.
Nobody fighting on Bama, Cincy, or So. Ill, I hope.”

“Guys, I have a spreadsheet to calc point totals if anyone would like a copy. Dayhiker@tidefans.com”

“Ok, I sent you an email. You can send the spreadsheet by return. Thanks.”

“Thanks dayhiker, just a simple cut and paste and I am in business.”

“Dunadan, you are either a victim of assumption or yellow journalism. Nelson's cheek was fractured as a result of rough play. Donovan was trying to fire the team up and get them to play with emotion. I guess they exceeded expectations. Neither player has a history of rough play, both players like each other, and Donovan isn't worried about it. No actions will be taken, and Donovan is a strict disciplinarian.

You're paper must do a booming buisness creating scandals. I know many papers do.”

“Well at least I get to go to the pyramid, drink beer and see if the good or bad Memphis team plays tonight. UNC-Greensboro,,,, last year we were excited about advancing to the Final Four of the NIT.. This year..... well, I hope the beer is cold.”

“Florida Atlantic over Alabama at half. This may be the first time in history I have rooted for the Tide. I hope I don't lose my membership in the UT Alumni Association.”