Official NCAA "March Madness" Thread

[momo1tx]

Well, it's that time of year! What, Spring you say? No, it's March Madness! That's right, the best tournament in any sport, the NCAA college basketball tournament. Conference tournaments started last week, and 9 (soon to be 10) teams have wrapped up their conference bids. Anyone else following this closely? As you can see by my avatar, I'm rooting for George Mason, though their recent slump has hurt their chances of getting in. I'm also pulling for my other good local teams, Georgetown and George Washington, along with Ohio State. Anyone else got a team they're pulling for?

[the_rock401]

Hell yeah! Even though my Gophers are long gone from the tourney, I'm always cheering for Big Ten teams not named Wisconsin and Iowa.

 

If anyone is interested, I can set up a TPR tournament pick'em pool over at Yahoo. Post or message me and let me know.

 

Paul "Loves college BB" Miller

[Robbie]

Im big on all college sports and have watched the season

GO WVU

West Virginia is finally having a good year wooo lol

[coasterzak]

I'm pushing for my Ohio teams, but mainly the Zips! Fear the Roo! OSU is having a great season too. How about their men and women's teams this year? WOW! I'd like to see the Zips get a bid into the tournament. We'll see this weekend!

[timberterror]

I am pulling for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Washington Huskies. Can't wait for a week from Thursday.

[memphish]

So uh, I go to Memphis. We're ranked 3rd but no one cares. Yep.

[Robbie]

" I go to Memphis. We're ranked 3rd but no one cares. Yep"

 

Your in one of the worst conferences in basketball is why

[momo1tx]

C-USA isn't that bad. Besides, Memphis has some good non-conference wins. Still say Ohio St. deserves a #1 seed over them though...

[memphish]

We did have one of the toughest schedules in the nation. Or so ESPN led me to believe.

[mcjaco]

My alma mater, UW-Milwaukee won the Horizon tourney. Yippee!!! When I went there we won 8 games in 4 years.....what a change.

 

We also have the oldest starting line up in the NCAA, four starters are 23!

[the_rock401]

Well, gang, the official Theme Park Review NCAA pool is over at Yahoo Fantasy Sports.

 

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/men/group/28230

 

ID# 28230

Password: donkey

 

Paul "Let the Madness Begin" Miller

[N'at Man]

I'm a big Pitt Panthers fan. I'm not sure what to think of this team's chances but they should do better than last year. I've seen all three of the recent Sweet 16 losses in person so I'd love to get over that hump this year.

[Robbie]

Pitt???!?!?!?!? BOOOO!!!!

[JamminJ]

Today was a great day for college basketball fans.. 53 games in 15 conference tourneys.. (just so you know how many that is, the ENTIRE NCAA tourney is 64 games.. so its like the first 3 and a half rounds played in one day.. kinda sorta.. yeah it doesn't really make sense)

 

Three big upsets today Syracuse over UConn, and Temple over George Washington. Syracuse should be guarenteed to get a bid now, and GW probably drops to a 5 seed or lower. Their loss gives another crappy A-10 team a chance to lose in the first round and takes away a much needed bid from bubble teams like Florida State, Maryland, Michigan, Cincinnati, Seton Hall and hell even Kentucky and Arizona. The last major upset occured today after you were all alseep when Oregon defeated Washington.

 

Lets see whos made the field of 65 so far.. (I thought about adding random facts and oddities but I'll have to save that for another day)

Ivy League - PENN

Big South - WINTHROP

Atlantic Sun - BELMONT

Ohio Valley - MURRAY STATE

Southern - DAVIDSON

Missouri Valley - SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Colonial - UNC-WILMINGTON

MAAC - IONA

West Coast - GONZAGA

Horizon - WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

Mid-Continent - ORAL ROBERTS

Sun Belt - SOUTH ALABAMA

Big Sky - MONTANA

Northeast - MONMOUTH

 

Tomorrows schedule (37 games in 15 conferences)

Number is seed in conference tourney, bold signifies AP Top 25 team, and italics is gametime EST.

 

Patriot League - FINALS

1 Bucknell vs. 2 Holy Cross 4:30PM

 

 

Atlantic 10 - SEMIS

5 St. Joseph's vs. 9 Temple 6:30PM

6 Fordham vs. 10 Xavier 8:30PM

 

Big East - SEMIS

5 Georgetown vs. 9 Syracuse 7PM

2 Villanova vs. 6 Pittsburgh 9PM

 

Big West - SEMIS

1 Pacific vs. 4 Cal Poly 9PM

2 Cal-Irvine vs. 3 Long Beach State MIDNIGHT

 

Conference USA - SEMIS

1 Memphis vs. 4 Houston 4:30PM

2 UAB vs. 3 UTEP 7PM

 

Mid-American - SEMIS

1 Kent State vs. 5 Ohio 7PM

3 Akron vs. 7 Toledo 9PM

 

Mid-Eastern Athletic - SEMIS

1 Delaware State vs. 4 South Carolina State 6PM

6 Hampton vs. 7 Norfolk State 8PM

 

Mountain West - SEMIS

1 San Diego State vs. 4 UNLV 9PM

6 Utah vs. 7 Wyoming MIDNIGHT

 

Pacific 10 - SEMIS

1 UCLA vs. 4 Arizona 9:20PM

3 California vs. 7 Oregon 11:50PM

 

Southwestern Athletic - SEMIS

3 Grambling vs. 7 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 6PM

1 Southern vs. 5 Jackson State 8:30PM

 

Western Athletic - SEMIS

2 Utah State vs. 3 Lousiana Tech 9PM

1 Nevada vs. 5 New Mexico State 11:30PM

 

 

Atlantic Coast - Second Round

1 Duke vs. 8 Miami(FL) NOON

4 North Carolina State vs. 12 Wake Forest 2:30PM

2 North Carolina vs. 7 Virginia 7PM

3 Boston College vs. 6 Maryland 9:30PM

 

Big 12 - Second Round

1 Texas vs. 8 Texas Tech 12:30PM

4 Texas A&M vs. 5 Colorado 3PM

2 Kansas vs. 7 Oklahoma State 7PM

3 Oklahoma vs. 6 Nebraska 9:20PM

 

Big Ten - Second Round

1 Ohio State vs. 8 Penn State NOON

4 Wisconsin vs. 5 Indiana 2:30PM

2 Iowa vs. 7 Minnesota 6:40PM

3 Illinois vs. 6 Michigan State 9:10PM

 

Southeastern - Second Round

1E Tennessee vs. 5E South Carolina 1PM

2W Alabama vs. 3E Kentucky 3:15PM

1W LSU vs. 4E Vanderbilt 7:30PM

2E Florida vs. 3W Arkansas 9:45PM

 

I have to work early tomorrow, but I should be able to recap the day when I get home around 7PM. Selection Sunday is only 3 days away!111

 

EDIT: Jeezus.. had Wisconsin playing Wisconsin and didn't even realize it till the game was over...

[Slacking]

I'm not the biggest sports fan, but I sometimes do get into the NCAA tourney. Mainly because I was a member of my school's pep band my junior and senior year and was able to attend a couple tournament games back in 2002. When it comes to the Tournament, I mainly root for my school (Arizona), but I want all Pac-10 schools to do well.

 

Arizona has had an off year, but it looks like they'll (hopefully) make it into the tourney this year (They've got a loooong streak going, and it would stink if that streak ended now). But, they did beat stanford in the quarter-finals of the Pac-10 tourney. They're playing UCLA tonight, which will be a tough battle, but should be a good game to watch.

[JamminJ]

 

Winners in red

 

Patriot League - FINALS

1 Bucknell 74 vs. 2 Holy Cross 59

 

 

Atlantic 10 - SEMIS

5 St. Joseph's 73 vs. 9 Temple 59

6 Fordham 59 vs. 10 Xavier 70

 

Big East - SEMIS

5 Georgetown 57 vs. 9 Syracuse 58

2 Villanova 54 vs. 6 Pittsburgh 68

 

Big West - SEMIS

1 Pacific 68 vs. 4 Cal Poly 57

2 Cal-Irvine 73 vs. 3 Long Beach State 75

 

Conference USA - SEMIS

1 Memphis 68 vs. 4 Houston 54

2 UAB 63 vs. 3 UTEP 60

 

Mid-American - SEMIS

1 Kent State 72 vs. 5 Ohio 59

3 Akron 69 vs. 7 Toledo 77

 

Mid-Eastern Athletic - SEMIS

1 Delaware State 63 vs. 4 South Carolina State 51

6 Hampton 73 vs. 7 Norfolk State 56

 

Mountain West - SEMIS

1 San Diego State 63 vs. 4 UNLV 60

6 Utah 47 vs. 7 Wyoming 60

 

Pacific 10 - SEMIS

1 UCLA 71 vs. 4 Arizona 59

3 California 91 vs. 7 Oregon 87

 

Southwestern Athletic - SEMIS

3 Grambling 49 vs. 7 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 61

1 Southern 66 vs. 5 Jackson State 59

 

Western Athletic - SEMIS

2 Utah State 68 vs. 3 Lousiana Tech 64

1 Nevada 70 vs. 5 New Mexico State 59

 

 

Atlantic Coast - Second Round

1 Duke 80 vs. 8 Miami(FL) 76

4 North Carolina State 71 vs. 12 Wake Forest 82

2 North Carolina 79 vs. 7 Virginia 67

3 Boston College 80 vs. 6 Maryland 66

 

Big 12 - Second Round

1 Texas 77 vs. 8 Texas Tech 70

4 Texas A&M 86 vs. 5 Colorado 53

2 Kansas 63 vs. 7 Oklahoma State 62

3 Oklahoma 63 vs. 6 Nebraska 69

 

Big Ten - Second Round

1 Ohio State 63 vs. 8 Penn State 56

4 Wisconsin 56 vs. 5 Indiana 61

2 Iowa 67 vs. 7 Minnesota 57

3 Illinois 56 vs. 6 Michigan State 61

 

Southeastern - Second Round

1E Tennessee 71 vs. 5E South Carolina 79

2W Alabama 61 vs. 3E Kentucky 68

1W LSU 92 vs. 4E Vanderbilt 73

2E Florida 74 vs. 3W Arkansas 71

 

 

10PM Update:

Congrats to Bucknell, this is probably the best team to not be ranked, expect them to do some damage in the big dance, they beat Kansas in the first round last year...

 

Gerry McNamara is rediculous.. it will be a shame if he doesn't continue this run into the tourney. An upset over Villanova/Pitt tomorrow could be the story of the year...

 

You have to feel for NC State fans, consistantly good teams, consistantly bad coaching.. FIRE HERB!.. they'd be in the NIT if they weren't in the ACC.

 

Tennessee.. oh Tennessee... as a Florida fan.. I must ... just... BAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH

alright hopefully karma wont bite me in the ass, Bruce Pearl is a nutjob. And I mean that in the nicest way possible.

 

 

UPDATE 11:30

Damn.. good job Pitt, pretty much dominating the entire game against 'Nova. I expect them to go far in the tourney.

 

Michigan State over Illinois.. Illinois tried to mount a comeback but couldn't put it together, in the grand scheme I don't think it will dent either team in either direction. Both should still make the tourney and have fairly high seeds.

 

 

UPDATE 2:30AM

OMFG

The Cal-Oregon game was freaking INCREDIBLE.. 2 OTs and a conference record in scoring! Shame for those who snoozed..

[Slacking]

Might as well put UCLA in red. They are kicking Arizona's butt!

[JamminJ]

First off let everyone shift our attention to more important matters as Villanova's Allan Ray, who got hit in the right eye had to be rushed to the hospital. They're saying its not as bad as it initially looked, but everyone wish the best for him. Anyway on to the games..

 

Tickets punched (11 more get in today!)

Ivy League - PENN

Big South - WINTHROP

Atlantic Sun - BELMONT

Ohio Valley - MURRAY STATE

Southern - DAVIDSON

Missouri Valley - SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Colonial - UNC-WILMINGTON

MAAC - IONA

West Coast - GONZAGA

Horizon - WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE

Mid-Continent - ORAL ROBERTS

Sun Belt - SOUTH ALABAMA

Big Sky - MONTANA

Northeast - MONMOUTH

Patriot League - BUCKNELL

 

Tomorrows schedule (19 games in 14 conferences)

Number is seed in conference tourney, bold signifies AP Top 25 team, and italics is gametime EST.

 

Conference USA - FINALS

1 Memphis vs. 2 UAB 11:35AM

 

America East - FINALS

1 Albany vs. 6 Vermont NOON

 

Atlantic 10 - FINALS

5 St. Joseph's vs. 10 Xavier 6PM

 

Pacific 10 - FINALS

1 UCLA vs. 3 California 6:15PM

 

Mid-American - FINALS

1 Kent State vs. 7 Toledo 7PM

 

Mid-Eastern Athletic - FINALS

1 Delaware State vs. 6 Hampton 7:30PM

 

Big East - FINALS

6 Pittsburgh vs. 9 Syracuse 8PM

 

Southwestern Athletic - FINALS

1 Southern vs. 7 Arkansas-Pine Bluff 8:30PM

 

Western Athletic - FINALS

1 Nevada vs. 2 Utah State 9PM

 

Mountain West - FINALS

1 San Diego State vs. 7 Wyoming 10PM

 

Big West - FINALS

1 Pacific vs. 3 Long Beach State MIDNIGHT

 

 

Atlantic Coast - SEMIS

1 Duke vs. 12 Wake Forest 1:30PM

2 North Carolina vs. 3 Boston College 4PM

 

Big 12 - SEMIS

1 Texas vs. 4 Texas A&M 2PM

2 Kansas vs. 6 Nebraska 4:20PM

 

Big Ten - SEMIS

2 Iowa vs. 6 Michigan State 1:40PM

1 Ohio State vs.5 Indiana 4:05PM

 

Southeastern - SEMIS

3E Kentucky vs. 5E South Carolina 1PM

1W LSU vs. 2E Florida 3:15PM

 

Should be another amazing day..

[memphish]

Memphis wins the C-USA tourney.

[ltp74]

I'm hoping Pitt ends up playing the first two rounds at The Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit so I can go to the games. Ray Allen of Villanova has the vision back in his eye and has a good chance of playing in the NCAA tourney.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2363644

[Guest]

A few things...

 

-I'm glad my team (Colorado) got embarassed in the Big 12 tourney, rather than the real one.

 

-I've never been a fan of Pitt in football or basketball, but I really like their team this year and will be cheering for them.

 

-Conference USA sucks after the first two teams. Even though some of the teams that left for the Big East didn't play exceptionally well this year, they would have been easily at the top of CUSA (save for Memphis).

[momo1tx]

Whew... last night's game were worrisome for a bubble team like George Mason. Utah St. almost upset Nevada, who was sure to be in, and Wyoming almost beat another bubble team, San Diego State. Luckily both wrapped up their auto bids, and all I can do is root for Florida over South Carolina.

[JamminJ]

So over a day since the brackets were released and nary a word.. interesting...

 

First things first.. HOW BOUT THEM GATORS!11 Yeah ok so they just beat the Cocks but a SEC Title can't be taken away..

 

Ohio State and Texas both lost their conference championships clenching the 1 seed for Memphis.

 

Duke won the ACC for the 7th time in 8 years but will surely be rewarded with a Sweet Sixteen loss as they usually are..

 

Teams Who Shouldn't be in there: Air Force, Utah St.

Teams Who Should: Missouri St., Hofstra, Cincinnati

Teams Who Didn't deserve To Go To The Big Dance But Will PWN the NIT: Michigan, Maryland, Florida St., Creighton

 

I'll have a full first round 'preview' tomorrow but until then here a preview of the Opening Round game...

 

Hampton........................Monmouth

MEAC Champ........Northeast Champ

16-15............W-L................18-4

284...............RPI.................144

330...............SOS................195

0-1......W-L vs Top 50 RPI.....1-0

0-2......W-L vs Top 100 RPI...1-2

2-7......NonConference W-L...3-8

322......NonConference RPI...202

305.....NonConference SOS...122

14-8......Conference W-L......15-6

 

All signs point to Monmouth winning, which is why I'm picking Hampton to face Villanova Friday. Man its going to be a great weekend..

[momo1tx]

Yeah Monmouth! They're my favorite team! Not really, but there's a joke among my friends about rooting for Monmouth going all the way.

 

Seriously, what's up with GW getting an 8 seed against a NC Team in NC? That's crap!

[kennywood!007]

Booooo WVU...lol go Pitt! I think Ohio State might win though...I don't have much hope in Pitt..lol But WVU has no chance, by the way I despise of Duke, UNC is my favorite team.

 

 

 

 

-Zack