Bracket Busters

[vhawk]

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So, with March rapidly approaching, who feels the pressure to select among schools based on NCAA tourny performance? I mean, how can I choose Georgetown when they get beat in the second round by George Washington, or vice versa? This is a glossed-over aspect to the selection process, and one that needs to be discussed more.

As a side question, do those of you whose schools will not be partaking in the tournament feel regret, sorrow, shame, etc.? I'm looking at you, Hopkins.

 

[SamDC]

I'd love to see a GW v. G'Town matchup. It's about time the Colonials flexed their basketball prowess against the Hoyas.

 

[ornis4]

I think G-town still has some work to do...they have lost three in a row and play at UConn Wednesday. They finish up with Providence, but they'd better beat them and win a game in the Big East tourney, otherwise they may be in trouble. GW had a crazy win the other day. I grew up in CT and have been a UConn fan from the start, so it's nice to see former UConn assistant Karl Hobbs having so much success at GW so quickly. You're right though, the two DC teams are about dead even this year, better look for another school selection criteria!

 

[Jonathan13180]

Lets be perfectly honest-if I were able to choose where to go to medical school based on NCAA tourney teams, the no-brainer would be DUKE...to be a cameron crazy and a DUKE med student would be a wish granted by only the MAN himself.

 

[samboo]

GOT ROY?

IT'S UNC ALL THE WAY!!!

It's too bad we sucked while I was in undergrad there. Getting into med school at UNC would make it all better! 😉

 

[iunci]

I'm gonna have to correct you. Become a tar heel and you'll see what basketball is really about. Duke is a sad joke on bullying referee's. Even if I end up going to duke for med school (yes, I'm anxiously waiting a reply too) one thing will always stay true...
I'm a tar heel born, I'm a tar heel bred, and when I die...I'll be a tar heel dead!

GO HEELS!

 

[Jonathan13180]

The Heels, sadly to say, should be cutting down the nets this year-its been long enough, although with the squad they got this year, theres no reason they shouldnt be undefeated.
Dont DUKE hate, DUKE has, and always be, superior to the heels. Look at all the fans at various colleges and you will notice that they all attempt to emulate the crazies, its that simple.
I will say that DUKE vs UNC is the best rivalry in all of sports..hands down.

 

[ornis4]

Well, I'm hoping for UConn myself...and although the academics may not be on par with Duke, I'll take the basketball any day of the week. Coach K is one of the best ever, sure, and they have another unbelievable freshmen class coming in next year, but I'm sorry...Cameron Crazies are absolute losers. That, and I think we have a decent track record against Duke in the recent past 🙂

Can't argue with Carolina though...Dean was the best.

 

[VPDcurt]

Bigtime UConn fan here too (and I would die to get into their med school - I'm about 30 days post interview so we'll see). I give UNC the nod for this year though. Duke isn't having a great year, but I think they'll get to the Elite 8. Coack K gets the All Americans that either play up to expectations or don't. Jim Calhoun turns overlooked high-school players into overachievers.

With respect to Gtown vs. GW, Gtown will always have the upper hand because of their conference. GW will have a hard time becoming a national contender on a consistent basis simply because of the inferiority of the A10 conference.

 

[samboo]

I will say that DUKE vs UNC is the best rivalry in all of sports..hands down.

I totally agree! I was so glad when Coach K did not go to the Lakers. I love tobacco road!

 

[vhawk]

Can you say EAST COAST BIAS!! Sry, from the midwest, and we got Illinois, with matchups against MSU and UW every year that are AWESOME, plus Indiana versus anyone is always a huge rivalry. We are on a downtick(except for the PERFECT Illini) but watch out come tourny time. 5 Big Ten teams in, 5 Big Ten teams in Sweet 16, and 2 in Final Four baby!

 

[jammin06]

gonna throw my love down to my hometown and give a Big Ups to UAB and Univ. of Alabama

 

[VPDcurt]

Can you say EAST COAST BIAS!! Sry, from the midwest, and we got Illinois, with matchups against MSU and UW every year that are AWESOME, plus Indiana versus anyone is always a huge rivalry. We are on a downtick(except for the PERFECT Illini) but watch out come tourny time. 5 Big Ten teams in, 5 Big Ten teams in Sweet 16, and 2 in Final Four baby!

There is a reason for the East Coast bias. 5 of the last 6 National Champs have been from the east coast (UConn, Duke, Maryland, Syracuse, UConn). The other one was Mich St. in 2000. The west coast was significant when John Wooden was at UCLA and when UNLV had a decent team about 15 years ago. Arizona and Stanford (well not Stanford anymore) have good regular seasons but they suck in the tourney, much like Cincy and Illinois year in and year out.

 

[Jonathan13180]

Uconn is a solid team, though this year theyve slipped a little. Duke is having a great year considering they shouldnt be where they are. Duke gets stellar athletes, but coach K makes even the walk-ons become great players.

 

[shawty ya'head]

Tar Heels Baby.

Nc > Duke. Period.

 

[BOBODR]

Correction

Wake FOrest >>>> UNC>Duke

 

[i61164]

Correction

Wake FOrest >>>> UNC>Duke

It's about time somebody mentioned Wake. I am very curious to see who lasts longer between UNC and Wake Forest in the tourny. There's a pretty good chance one of these two will win the whole thing.

 

[rockit]

Duke is having a great year considering they shouldnt be where they are. Duke gets stellar athletes, but coach K makes even the walk-ons become great players.

Thats a quaint thought. Duke has had between five and eight McD's AAs for the past four years. Shavlick Randolph was one of the best high school players in the country, now he averages 5 points and 3 boards. Duke players suck in the NBA. The less time you spend at Duke, the more successful you'll be in the NBA.

 

[Jonathan13180]

Wake is good this year-Chris paul is the best PG in all the land-but lets get one thing straight-Duke and Carolina are in a league by themselves, just cuz wake has played well the past two years doesnt grant them admission to the upper echelon of the ACC.

 

[evajaclynn]

Correction

Wake FOrest >>>> UNC>Duke

Yet another correction...

Kansas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNC>Wake>Duke

See y'all in the tourney!

👍 👍 👍

 

[BOBODR]

Wake is good this year-Chris paul is the best PG in all the land-but lets get one thing straight-Duke and Carolina are in a league by themselves, just cuz wake has played well the past two years doesnt grant them admission to the upper echelon of the ACC.

I would say that Wake the last few years has been better than UNC esp under Dougherty (spelling?). And your team may be a wreck next yr since you might lose your entire starting 5 and more. ...

 

[paramus]

Yet another correction...

Kansas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNC>Wake>Duke

See y'all in the tourney!

👍 👍 👍

You UNC fans had better get used to seeing Roy cry. Sweet 16, max.

 

[evajaclynn]

You UNC fans had better get used to seeing Roy cry. Sweet 16, max.

Yep, we've already been there, done that!

 

[Jonathan13180]

I would say that Wake the last few years has been better than UNC esp under Dougherty (spelling?). And your team may be a wreck next yr since you might lose your entire starting 5 and more. ...

I dont think DUKE will lose anyone next year. Also, rumor has it that DUKE is getting one of the best recruiting classes in the country. The heels, on the other hand, stand to lose a lot of players...May, McCants, Felton.

 

[ornis4]

I believe Duke is getting three incoming All-Americans next year, UNC two. Of course, UNC is also most likely losing a lot more after this year than Duke, so yes, Duke should be very good next year. Could be another Duke-UConn dominant year, as UConn doesn't stand to lose anyone this year either, and they're adding a seven foot all-American. AJ Price will be fully recovered from his brain hemorrhage and back in action next year too. Anyway, let's enjoy the rest of this season...I can't really remember a time when the championship looked as wide open as it does this year, I think there are many teams that legitimately have a shot at it.

 

[gdubb]

go heels! let's hope i get into med school there AND we win a national championship

i 😍 unc

 

[VPDcurt]

I dont think DUKE will lose anyone next year.

Daniel Ewing will be gone next year.

 

[skiz knot]

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Champaign-Urbana.

#1 Team in the country and #1 medical school in the country (only because I go there 😀 )



P.S. F Uck D.ickhead V. and Digger Phelps! Illini get no respect.

 

[futuredoc10]

Gotta give some love to my huskies at U of Washington. One of the most exciting teams to watch in DI right now. Plus they have a top 5 recruiting class coming in next year with only possibly two guys leaving AND a sweet med school.

Either way, CANT WAIT for some MARCH MADNESS!!!

 

[VPDcurt]

Gotta give some love to my huskies at U of Washington. One of the most exciting teams to watch in DI right now. Plus they have a top 5 recruiting class coming in next year with only possibly two guys leaving AND a sweet med school.

Either way, CANT WAIT for some MARCH MADNESS!!!

As a Pac-10 team, I am willing to guarantee you that they don't make it to the Elite 8.

 

[KitesurfDaEarth]

Sure, sure. KU is also getting three All-Americans. Though KU loses Simien, In addition to the freshmen they have now, Self is going to have some hand-picked guards at his disposal, Miles and Langford just dont work on his system but look how well he has adapted.

As for the rest of the tournament, i dont know about UNC, they are way too unpredictable to make it all the way to the final four and dont get me started on roy. Though they are in a weak conference, Illinois looks unstoppable especially when you factor that they won't even have to get on a plane the whole tournament.

I believe Duke is getting three incoming All-Americans next year, UNC two. Of course, UNC is also most likely losing a lot more after this year than Duke, so yes, Duke should be very good next year. Could be another Duke-UConn dominant year, as UConn doesn't stand to lose anyone this year either, and they're adding a seven foot all-American. AJ Price will be fully recovered from his brain hemorrhage and back in action next year too. Anyway, let's enjoy the rest of this season...I can't really remember a time when the championship looked as wide open as it does this year, I think there are many teams that legitimately have a shot at it.

 

[futuredoc10]

As a Pac-10 team, I am willing to guarantee you that they don't make it to the Elite 8.

What are you willing to guarantee? Just curious, what would be your Elite 8 picks ole wise one?

 

[ornis4]

What are you willing to guarantee? Just curious, what would be your Elite 8 picks ole wise one?

Washington is an exciting team to watch. I haven't seen many people who can jump higher than Nate Robinson...man, that kid is an athlete. There's quite a stigma in college basketball these days about the Pac-10. Many people think it's soft, and it doesn't help that Arizona, which is usually the best the conference has to offer, often stumbles at inopportune times throughout the years. Still, I think Arizona and Washington are both solid teams this year, with very strong guard play, which is what makes a college basketball team.

 

[VPDcurt]

What are you willing to guarantee? Just curious, what would be your Elite 8 picks ole wise one?

I don't know who is going to make it. It is a lot easier to guarantee that a team, especially a team like Washington, won't make it. I could probably tell you at least 16 teams that will include the final 8 (and Washington is not one of them), but I don't feel like writing all of that out.

 

[redbeans]

It sure would be sweet to win the whole tournament while I'm still here at UNC...
And it'd be funny to get my UNC rejection the same day

 

[chitown82]

Illinois is gonna bring the title back to the midwest!

 

[OSUdoc08]

Yet another correction...

Kansas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNC>Wake>Duke

See y'all in the tourney!

👍 👍 👍

You only won by a shot. We won't let that happen again. I promise.

 

[newhavenjake]

Yet another correction...

Kansas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNC>Wake>Duke

See y'all in the tourney!

👍 👍 👍

Can we talk about my illini for a minute? Seems to me that this year they're several cuts above any of the previously mentioned team. lousy med school situation... but anyway, best basketball team by far. No contest.

 

[phleebie]

You only won by a shot. We won't let that happen again. I promise.

You won't let that happen AGAIN? are you serious, you guys haven't won in lawrence during my entire lifetime. only thing that matters is that KU won--we get the big 12 championship rings, not you. we're only two wins away from a #1 seed, baby!!!! 👍

 

[phleebie]

Yet another correction...

Kansas >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> UNC>Wake>Duke

See y'all in the tourney!

👍 👍 👍

yes!

 

[virilep]

So, with March rapidly approaching, who feels the pressure to select among schools based on NCAA tourny performance? I mean, how can I choose Georgetown when they get beat in the second round by George Washington, or vice versa? This is a glossed-over aspect to the selection process, and one that needs to be discussed more.

As a side question, do those of you whose schools will not be partaking in the tournament feel regret, sorrow, shame, etc.? I'm looking at you, Hopkins.

dude, I got a pretty tough choice. i think my waitlist chances are good... but


Louisville... or Kentucky? either way, we represent the only other state to rival us... North Carolina... but what can ya do? 🙂

 

[Medikit]

I want to root for Wake Forest but I still haven't made it off their waitlist 🙂.

 

[OSUdoc08]

You won't let that happen AGAIN? are you serious, you guys haven't won in lawrence during my entire lifetime. only thing that matters is that KU won--we get the big 12 championship rings, not you. we're only two wins away from a #1 seed, baby!!!! 👍

Unfortunately for you, when we face you, it won't be in Lawrence. Big 12 championship rings mean nothing during tourney time. We have ours from last year, alongside our final 4 rings.

 

[Jonathan13180]

You think Ewing will be gone? I dont see him making the NBA.
If its possible, itd be nice to see a Nova vs G-town final.

 

[evajaclynn]

Can we talk about my illini for a minute? Seems to me that this year they're several cuts above any of the previously mentioned team. lousy med school situation... but anyway, best basketball team by far. No contest.

Sure, we can talk about your Illini - they have a #2 RPI and #44 SOS (Strength of Schedule).

Now lets talk about those Jayhawks - #1 RPI and #1 SOS.

Anything else you'd like to talk about?

 

[Jonathan13180]

Sure, we can talk about your Illini - they have a #2 RPI and #44 SOS (Strength of Schedule).

Now lets talk about those Jayhawks - #1 RPI and #1 SOS.

Anything else you'd like to talk about?

Id like to chime in here...while i think that both the Illini and the 'Hawks are good teams, id like to mention how ive picked the jayhawks the past few years to go far, and they always failed me come tourney time. Im looking for them to go far again, but its becoming too risky.

 

[ornis4]

Id like to chime in here...while i think that both the Illini and the 'Hawks are good teams, id like to mention how ive picked the jayhawks the past few years to go far, and they always failed me come tourney time. Im looking for them to go far again, but its becoming too risky.

Yes, they always seem to be one of the most talented teams and successful in the regular season, yet stumble in the tourney. Kansas has a great program, and possibly the best fans anywhere...but man, they love blaming Roy Williams for stuff. We're going to find out this year. Kansas has tremendous talent and experience, and no excuses. Roy Williams has one of the top two or three teams in the country himself. So a really interesting final would be KU-UNC, but I'm not sure either team has shown itself to be reliable enough down the stretch to win six straight tourney games. We'll see.

 

[evajaclynn]

Id like to chime in here...while i think that both the Illini and the 'Hawks are good teams, id like to mention how ive picked the jayhawks the past few years to go far, and they always failed me come tourney time. Im looking for them to go far again, but its becoming too risky.

Its good to see some other fans here. Ahh, the ever elusive tournament title. There have definitely been some great Kansas tourney runs.

Last year - Elite 8
2003 - National championship game (this one still hurts, but what a wild ride!)
2002 - Final Four
2001 - Illinois beat us in the Sweet 16 - ouch!

No matter though - its always awesome being a Jayhawk fan!!! 🙂

 

[wordson1]

rpi means doo doo...
acc is by far the toughest conference to play in. many will argue that they are just top-heavy but the teams that aren't in the top 6 (by the way theres 3 acc teams up there) like maryland gtech and ncstate are always dangerous come tourney time. the problem is all the acc teams beat up on each other so they cant attain the high rankings as well. everytime i turn on espn i see another unc vs duke, duke vs wake, wake vs unc matchup. i can see unc going very far this year. they have the firepower to blow any one away. i just want to see unc illinois once and for all to see who takes it..

 

[evajaclynn]

rpi means doo doo...
acc is by far the toughest conference to play in. many will argue that they are just top-heavy but the teams that aren't in the top 6 (by the way theres 3 acc teams up there) like maryland gtech and ncstate are always dangerous come tourney time. the problem is all the acc teams beat up on each other so they cant attain the high rankings as well. everytime i turn on espn i see another unc vs duke, duke vs wake, wake vs unc matchup. i can see unc going very far this year. they have the firepower to blow any one away. i just want to see unc illinois once and for all to see who takes it..

Uhh yeah....that's exactly what the RPI factors into its equation
# Division I winning percentage (25 percent),
# schedule strength (50 percent) and
# opponent's schedule strength (25 percent)