NCAA Tournament Thread [R]

[WarrenWallace]

**PLEASE DON'T QUOTE THIS POST**

http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/ncaa/04mens_bracket.gif

**PLEASE DON'T QUOTE THIS POST**

[soccernutter]

FYI - there will be three threads.:
One for the Pools like ESPN or CNN, etc;
One for results only;
One for general discussion.

Any questions, PM me or CIM.

[soccernutter]

list of locations and dates:

http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/story/7083990

[WarrenWallace]

Ok, this thread is not for predictions. It is for talking about the NCAA brackett. What was wrong, what was right, who got hosed, etc.

[WarrenWallace]

Ok, I start it off.

--Utah State(24-7) should have gotten the invite over UTEP (25-3).
--Maryland(19-11) was seed too high as a 4 seed
--Wisconsin(24-6) was seed too low as a 6 seed
--Gonzaga wasn't given any favors by a potential second round matchup with Michigan State
--The top half of the E. Rutherford brackett is very soft while the bottom half is considerably stronger

[WarrenWallace]

Rank School W-L RPI Rank Rating AP USA
1 Duke 27-5 0.6664 4 0.6073 5 4
2 Kentucky 26-4 0.6663 7 0.5995 8 8
3 Saint Joseph's 27-1 0.6587 46 0.5568 1 1
4 Mississippi St 25-3 0.6437 39 0.5606 4 5
5 Connecticut 27-6 0.6400 17 0.5806 9 9
6 Oklahoma St 26-3 0.6400 47 0.5545 7 7
7 Stanford 29-1 0.6368 96 0.5268 2 2
8 Pittsburgh 28-4 0.6364 45 0.5568 6 6
9 Gonzaga 27-2 0.6316 85 0.5318 3 3
10 Texas 23-7 0.6311 12 0.5860 11 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11 Cincinnati 24-6 0.6311 23 0.5748 13 12
12 Wisconsin 24-6 0.6266 31 0.5688 10 10
13 Florida 20-10 0.6257 3 0.6121
14 Syracuse 21-7 0.6221 18 0.5795 19 23
15 Kansas 20-8 0.6216 10 0.5907 18 15
16 Georgia Tech 23-9 0.6212 11 0.5888 14 18
17 North Carolina St 20-9 0.6194 8 0.5960 17 20
18 Maryland 19-11 0.6175 2 0.6123
19 North Carolina 18-10 0.6146 5 0.6052 16 19
20 Wake Forest 19-9 0.6133 9 0.5915 15 14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

21 Providence 20-8 0.6121 20 0.5781 20 17
22 Boston College 23-9 0.6112 22 0.5753
23 Illinois 24-6 0.6103 62 0.5470 12 13
24 Louisville 20-9 0.6099 16 0.5834
25 Southern Ill 25-4 0.6076 104 0.5228 24 22
26 Alabama 17-12 0.6061 1 0.6127
27 Vanderbilt 21-9 0.6058 25 0.5744
28 Seton Hall 19-9 0.6033 19 0.5783
29 Nevada 22-8 0.6013 44 0.5574
30 Texas Tech 22-10 0.5978 32 0.5679
-------------------
The RPI as of 3:30pm on Saturday.

[soccernutter]

Agreed about Maryland. Though their win over Dook said alot.

OK St should have been a #1 with St Joes being #2. The big difference in that bracket is Pittsburgh.

Which Arizona team will show up - the one that lost to USC, or the one who can beat just about everybody else? Look for Stottlemyer (sp?) comments as an indication.

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by CityIceMan
Ok, I start it off.

--Utah State(24-7) should have gotten the invite over UTEP (25-3).
--Maryland(19-11) was seed too high as a 4 seed
--Wisconsin(24-6) was seed too low as a 6 seed
--Gonzaga wasn't given any favors by a potential second round matchup with Michigan State
--The top half of the E. Rutherford brackett is very soft while the bottom half is considerably stronger

I disagree vehemently. Did you watch the Terrapins over the last three days? That 4 seed was earned. They beat 4 Top 20 teams in the last 3 weeks, and three in the last three days.

UNLV got hosed. They just (literally, last second 3) missed winning the Mountain West tourney, they should have made it in as a crappy seed.

[WarrenWallace]

Yes, I did watch Maryland and was happy that they won. A week ago, they were on the bubble to get into the tournament. I would have given them a 6 seed.

[appoo]

Originally posted by CityIceMan
Ok, I start it off.

--Utah State(24-7) should have gotten the invite over UTEP (25-3).
--Maryland(19-11) was seed too high as a 4 seed
--Wisconsin(24-6) was seed too low as a 6 seed
--Gonzaga wasn't given any favors by a potential second round matchup with Michigan State
--The top half of the E. Rutherford brackett is very soft while the bottom half is considerably stronger

Wisconsin has what has to be the most unfair advantage in this tournament. They will play #3 seed in MILWAUKEE.

[Spartak]

Originally posted by appooOnU
Wisconsin has what has to be the most unfair advantage in this tournament. They will play #3 seed in MILWAUKEE.
Two years in a row Pitt gets screwed. Last year they had to play in Minneapolis where 15,000 Marquette fans showed up to cheer on the Golden Eagles. But of course Duke and Wake play in Raleigh, Kansas in Kansas City, Cinncinati in Columbus. Pittsburgh loses 4 games all year by a total of 10 points to 4 top 20 teams and they are a 3 seed. Come on! It's a joke. And Billy Packer had the nerve to criticize Syracuse last year for playing in Albany. When Duke has played in the state of North Carolina 12 of last 14 years in the NCAAs.

As for the other Big East teams. I'm happy for my 'Cuse that they were put in Stanford's bracket. However, I'm not so happy that UConn is at the bottom of the bracket. Everybody is picking Maryland to get to the sweet sixteen. Sorry, Not Gonna Happen. Maryland won't be able score as easily as they did in the ACC tourny against Syracuse. Seton Hall is done. They have to get through Arizona then Duke. Ouch. If Providence played Kansas on a neutral court they would win. But it ain't a neutral court. Kansas probably squeaks by. I see UConn easily getting to the final four and eventually winning the whole thing. Pitt got a tough draw and I can't see them getting past Okla St whom I see playing UConn for the title.

[Spartak]

For those of you without DirecTV you can watch every match online here: http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/livevideo
It cost $9.95 for all 37 games.

[WarrenWallace]

Originally posted by appooOnU
Wisconsin has what has to be the most unfair advantage in this tournament. They will play #3 seed in MILWAUKEE.

According to the rules of the selection committee, the top 5 seeds in each brackett are protected in the first game only. They won't project into the second round because you can't tell if a team will win or not. A couple of years ago people were also complaining this same situation. #3 Mississippi State had to play in the second round against #6 Texas in Dallas.

[Scoey]

Originally posted by CityIceMan
Ok, I start it off.

--Utah State(24-7) should have gotten the invite over UTEP (25-3).
--Maryland(19-11) was seed too high as a 4 seed
--Wisconsin(24-6) was seed too low as a 6 seed
--Gonzaga wasn't given any favors by a potential second round matchup with Michigan State
--The top half of the E. Rutherford brackett is very soft while the bottom half is considerably stronger

Gonzaga should beat Michigan State. Game is in Seattle, Gonzaga will kill them on the boards, Gonzaga's patient offense will exploit MSU's defense deficiencies. I don't really fear Michigan State at all. I'd actually rather play them than Nevada.

[Thomas A Fina]

Originally posted by ProfZodiac
UNLV got hosed. They just (literally, last second 3) missed winning the Mountain West tourney, they should have made it in as a crappy seed.

In whose place? BYU? Air Force? UTEP? Nevada?

Utah State got hosed.
MWC and WAC got some love

Alabama is too high
Wisconsin too low

and I agree with 'nutter

Ok State 1, the Hawk 2

[DSC05]

I agree that Pitt hosed, Wisconsin is a lot better than a 6 seed and a potential matchup in Milwakee is crazy for Pitt.

I think the whole Big Ten was hosed, I know it was a down year, but Illinois a 5? Wisconsin a 6? Michigan State maybe deserves a 7, but they are going to give Gonzaga all that they can handle.

[DamonEsquire]

Originally posted by Scoey
Gonzaga should beat Michigan State. Game is in Seattle, Gonzaga will kill them on the boards, Gonzaga's patient offense will exploit MSU's defense deficiencies. I don't really fear Michigan State at all. I'd actually rather play them than Nevada.

Last year was first year. I took to sweet sixteen and they lost. I feel. They will win but prediction is 0-1. I remember back in 80's and 90's University of Kentucky traveled out from region of demographics. Fans weren't pleased with C.M. Newton (Selection Committee).

[WarrenWallace]

Ok, let's open this up to all tourney talk. Get this thread moving.

[soccernutter]

I heard that Murry St is suspending a player? What's up?

[ProfZodiac]

Originally posted by DSC05
I agree that Pitt hosed, Wisconsin is a lot better than a 6 seed and a potential matchup in Milwakee is crazy for Pitt.

I think the whole Big Ten was hosed, I know it was a down year, but Illinois a 5? Wisconsin a 6? Michigan State maybe deserves a 7, but they are going to give Gonzaga all that they can handle.

As good as Wisconsin is, Pitt's still my Final Four choice in that bracket.

And not only is MSU going to give Gonzaga everything they can handle, they're gonna beat 'em. That's one of my bigger upsets on my brackets.

And how can you pick against a team called the Ragin' Cajuns?