college basketball

[supershigirl]

how i wish i was at home right now watching my panthers beat up on virginia tech :D

[kitalyn414]

ZONA!!!!

ok... so we're not doing as well this year, but i am keeping my hopes high!

[supershigirl]

i'm pulling for pitt to at least make it to the final four....fingers crossed.....

[pisces2473]

I hope UCONN loses. I'm so sick of the hype.

[Crimson King II]

Duke, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and Pittsburgh in the Final Four.
Duke gets Pitt in the final game.
Duke wins it all.

I'll give official selections when the brackets come out. But that's how I see it.

[pisces2473]

Originally posted by pisces2473
I hope UCONN loses. I'm so sick of the hype.

Were we talking ladies or mens? I was talking ladies, lol.

[Crimson King II]

...probably tougher to play than the men's team. So let's just say we were talking about one and the same.

[pisces2473]

They are so annoying. If they sucked, people would hate them.

[Crimson King II]

...if they sucked people would probably just be indifferent.

[cheshrcarol]

Duke, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and Pittsburgh in the Final Four.

Check your bracket Crimson - Oklahoma and Pitt can't both be final four!

Who's everyone else got?

[Crimson King II]

...I made those picks before the brackets came out and figured Pitt would be a 1 seed in another bracket. I reserved my right to pick after the brackets.


So here goes.


You'll get Duke, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and UConn. I don't see any lower seeds breaking through to the final four, but if I were to pick one it would be Maryland playing UConn close in the regional final...but Okeafor is the difference maker...he gets them through.

Then in the Final Four...Duke beat UConn. Oklahoma State upsets Kentucky. Duke wins the national championship over the Pokes.

[and1grad]

Oklahoma State? What a homer.

Kentucky, Wake Forest, Stanford & Duke. To contribute to the earlier homerism, Stanford over Kentucky in the final.

ps I doubt Okafor's back will last and when he's done, its a wrap.

[Crimson King II]

I'm a Sooner. It PAINS me to pick OSU. But I saw the way they dismantled the Big XII this year and they have an easy bracket.

I can guarantee Wake Forest and Stanford won't be there in the end. They'll have to play teams with far bigger legacies at some point--someone like a Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina, etc. And that knowing what it's like to be there will take those teams down. Same with St. Joe's.

Okeafor will be fine. He won't see much action in the first two and a half games. They were worried about his back against Pitt and he had a double-double. He'll manage. But his back is the difference between them being a final four team and them taking the title.

[and1grad]

Well, based on the schedule, the only teams that should give Stanford any trouble, before the Final Four, are Md & Uconn. I think they're better than either team.

[Crimson King II]

...but both of those teams are past Champions in the not so distant past. And that's exactly what I think might make a big difference against a St. Joe's or a Stanford.

[pittgirl]

I have Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma State and Texas in the Final Four! I live in Pittsburgh and I think Pitt sucks, they won't make it past the Sweet Sixteen, they don't know how to play against stronger teams! They can't handle the pressure and I have had my brackets done for awhile. I have Maryland and Kentucky in the final game and Kentucky taking it all!

[cheshrcarol]

Righ now I have Kentucky, Pitt, Stanford, and Duke, with Duke and Kentucky in the finals and Kentucky to win. But I'm still debating UCONN/Stanford and Pitt/Wake Forest.

[pittgirl]

Wake Forest can crush Pitt any day!

[rsp319]

GO DUKE

[StateNAurora]

And still no respect for Syracuse. With all underclassmen and no Melo, still getting things done. If they don't go to the show this year, watch out for the next three.

[Crimson King II]

Getting things done? 33% of the way to a championship isn't quite getting things done? I'm guessing they won't get things done when the regional final is over...much less the whole tourney.


Duke over Oklahoma State. 78-66.

[Skyblade]

I was so happy last night when UCSB women won. Go Gauchos! :)

[paperjam1015]

Ok so anyone know a website where I can get enough knowledge to pretend to know what's going on? I didn't grow up in a sports family or go to a big school So now I am out of the loop. ANd everywhere I go people keep talking about this.

Wooo Hoo!!! Go Duke!!! Any team from NC or VA!!! (Um yeah...send me help fast!)

[pittgirl]

GO to Yahoo Sports they are able to keep you pretty up to date or the NCAA website www.finalfour.com

[PrinceViper]

So with all the upsets of the past weekend does anyone still have all final four teams that are still in the tournament?

[pittgirl]

I still have Oklahoma State and Texas, I am so disappointed about Kentucky :-(

[PrinceViper]

Yes, KY and MD were heartbreakers. But how did Stanford and Gonzaga get knocked out? Who has ever heard of Nevada before? I thought they were UNLV until someone corrected me.
I still have OK St and Duke in the final, with OK State winning the tournament. However, Stanford and Kentucky messed up my bracket as I had them going to the final 4.

[bigboom]

hehe not to offend anyone but stanford was over rated anyways. sure they won the games but they just didnt seem like a real clutch team that could perform :)

but im still cheering for st. joes and the jayhawks, go langford!

[pittgirl]

Kentucky and Maryland really screwed up my bracket and so did Gonzaga! I love Gonzaga, I can't believe Neveda beat them, it's horrible!! I had them going to the Elite Eight :mad:

I think Oklahoma State and Duke in the final games. As much as I love St. Joes I dont think they will be a match for other teams.

[Crimson King II]

OSU, Duke, and UConn. I'm still rolling alright.

[pittgirl]

You got a point Syracuse might make it, except I think they might make it to the final four and then get knocked out. Don't rule out Wake Forest though or UConn.

However the people who think Pitt is going to the Final Four, they are the fools! :)

[pluie76]

I know nothing about basketball either so I'll just throw in a GO TEXAS! for good measure :)

[bigboom]

Originally posted by pittgirl
Kentucky and Maryland really screwed up my bracket and so did Gonzaga! I love Gonzaga, I can't believe Neveda beat them, it's horrible!! I had them going to the Elite Eight :mad:

I think Oklahoma State and Duke in the final games. As much as I love St. Joes I dont think they will be a match for other teams.

i agree with ok state and duke. st joes is my fav team though and i will admit their one downfall is their size...they just cant bang with the bigger teams liek wake forest...if they make it through wake i like their chances.

[supershigirl]

go pitt :)

tough game tonight, but i'm pulling for my panthers!!!

[pittgirl]

Told ya Pitt couldn't make it to the final four!

[and1grad]

St. Joe's does it again. Can they beat EVERYBODY? They're making all the experts look silly.

[gracieTx]

Rock Chalk Jayhawk...KU!

And...for the Musketeers out there, cut some Horns tonight!!

[Crimson King II]

St Joe's will lose to OSU mark it down. I've told you folks about OSU throughout...and they're proving me right. A-10 or Big XII??? No comparison. OSU will beat St. Joe's by 10.

[and1grad]

But St. Joes is better than OSU. Hell, Wake is better than OSU. Why do u think OSU can beat St. Joes if Wake couldnt?

[Crimson King II]

Wake AND St. Joe's are better than OSU? Presumptive isn't it? How are you figuring? I'm guessing you're overlooking that OSU was ranked #4 and #6 in the final polls (ahead of Wake), they only have 3 losses (Only two more than St. Joe's), they have a better RPI than either team (which means they've played tougher opponents all year), they are the top field goal percentage team in the nation for the entire year, and they're conference champions and conference tournament champions in a conference that includes Kansas and Texas (who else is in the
A-10???), not to mention solid teams like Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Colorado. Oh, and did I mention that Eddie Sutton has the most NCAA tournament wins for any coach that has not actually won a championship (and he's been to multiple final fours). And their players have more tourney experience too.



That's pretty solid credentials that say your dismissive claim that St. Joe's is instantly better than OSU...may not be so.



Wake may be better than St. Joe's, too. They've played no one all year, they lost when it counted. But why is Wake better than OSU? Seems that OSU got a 2 seed and had a legit claim to a 1. OSU is really, really good. Just watch.

[and1grad]

Well, I think we've seen that the ranking is meaningless. So is strength of schedule. I'm talking just plain skills. Personally, I dont rely on stats to tell me who is better than who. I dont mean to be dismissive of OSU's skills and talent. I'm just saying that these teams are better than they are based on how they play, how good their players are, how good their players are at what they are SUPPOSED to do (role), whether they are "clutch" , etc. and it just looks, to me, that St. Joe's is a better team.

You're right. Wake was supposed to be better than St. Joe's...thas how I had it. But St. Joes practically nullified Paul and there's no way Wake can win without him (they did come pretty close tho).

Quick question: Why is it ok for you to say that OSU will not only win, but give a margin, and not for me to say that the other team is better?

[pittgirl]

Wait wait and1grad and Crimson..no fighting about college basektball you are both right. each time has their own ways of being the better team and out winning and playing each other. What it truly comes down to is how each team is going to play and who wants it more in the end. Both St. Joes and OSU are excellent teams, I am very roud of St. Joes, being a former A-10 (Go TEMPLE) and Philadelphia resident. However though OSU is a very good team and plays very strong defense. I have to agree with and1grad, rankings don't mean anything, because the team that was ranked #2 Stanford, lost in the second round.
Don't fight over which team is better, both are very good teams. All the teams in the tournament are awesome teams (well some just get in by luck, aka Xavier) but someone has to lose, I don't think it would be as exciting and what not if a team didn't have to lose.

[and1grad]

LOL...its all love pitt. But hold on a minute...LUCK!?!? Have u seen Xavier? This team is no joke. They definitely have the tools and they mean business. Don't be surprised if they beat Texas.

[Crimson King II]

No, you're right...I have seen Xavier...very good team. But I've seen OSU thrash Texas 3 times this year (home, neutral, and away), same with Kansas, same with Oklahoma, same with everyone else.


I'm simply predicting OSU wins and does so rather easily. St. Joe's has not played the competition OSU has (did you see Texas Tech play St. Joe's...they dominated SJU physically, but the Johnnie's had perimeter shooting like mad). OSU has perimeter shooting and should win the inside battle as well.

I don't think you can't or shouldn't say St. Joe's is better. But give me a reason why. You're reasons are the vaguest of generalities..."

I'm talking just plain skills. Personally, I dont rely on stats to tell me who is better than who. I dont mean to be dismissive of OSU's skills and talent. I'm just saying that these teams are better than they are based on how they play, how good their players are, how good their players are at what they are SUPPOSED to do (role), whether they are "clutch" , etc. and it just looks, to me, that St. Joe's is a better team."



Um...okay. But OSU has all of those things...plus their stats validate that, AND they got their stats against better competition. Whether they are "clutch" tells you St. Joe's is better? How "clutch" is the number one, undefeated game in a conference tourney first round game that they're supposed to win against a lower ranked opponent when they lose by 20 points??? OSU didn't do that. In fact, they beat the heck out of Kansas and Texas again.


Maybe St Joe's can win...we'll see. You'll notice I never said OSU was better...I do think they'll win for reasons stated. Play an SEC team, a Big Ten team, an ACC team...then we'll know. Do it throughout the season and we'll know more. OSU is the best team they will have played this year...I think the Pokes beat them by 10.

[and1grad]

Well, any team can get blown out. Being clutch has more to do with when the games are close and you pull it out. It seems like everybody is expecting SJU to fold up when they get put into pressure or play a more "physical" team, but they dont. Honestly, I think that beating they took (against Xavier?) helped them. It takes the pressure of that 1st loss off and plus they had the bonus of their coach getting into it with Billy Packer. Not to mention, the doubters. I was telling a friend of mine, if that doesnt put a fire in your belly then you shouldnt play. You're probably right...SJU hasnt seen a team like OSU but has OSU seen one like SJU? SJU's backcourt could be the best in the tourney right now and they're unconscious from the arc.

Back to "clutch", I didnt see OSU during the season so I dont know how they are in that situation. All I know is they havent really had to worry yet, in the tourney, and usually teams that had to struggle to win at some point, have some much needed crunch time experience.

Anyway, we're getting nowhere with all this. How bout Xavier and Texas? I still like the X-men but I havent seen much about Texas. I'm still not sure about UAB but it seems like everybody is in love with them. I like Nevada against GTech but its curtains for Illinois.

[Crimson King II]

Have they seen a team like Xavier? No. Unless you count Texas three times and Kansas twice. Oh...yes, I guess.

Xavier won't beat Texas. Texas is as solid as they come. If not for OSU, Texas is probably a 1 seed somewhere. OSU struggled in the opener, and they were two behind against Pitt with 1.05 to play...they won by 13. Pretty clutch way of slamming the door against another top 15 opponent, I'd say.

The doubters? Playing to prove the doubters wrong never wins championships. Just ask Duke, Kentucky, Maryland, UNC.

[pittgirl]

Just watch what you say Crimson, if you watched the OSU game last night you would have seen that OSU's shooting percentage is only 20% for the entire year adnd they mainly rely on defense. Which is what makes them such a strong team.

Also I am with you and1grad on SJU, only because I think they are so determined right now to prove all the critics wrong. However though I think they are in for a really tough fight with OSU. Also I am not saing Xavier is a bad team at all, I am just saying I have seen them play better and do better. They really had to rely on winning the A-10 championship to get into the tournament this year. I just think that Texas will be the stronger team and beat them. I think both games are going to be extremly close. It would be nice to see Xavier win, but that's what I meant by they just got in by luck. Because if they didn't win the A-10 tournament they were going to be at the NIT.

Don't rule out GT they are a pretty strong team, they beat Duke this year at home. That's teh fun of the tourney is that you never know what is going to happen. Just like that past two years with Duke being a #1 seed and getting knocked out in the sweet sixteen and elite eight.

[Crimson King II]

No Pitt...I'm right....sort of. Gonzaga outshot OSU this year by 0.1%.

Here's the proof:

National Shooting Percentage (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/leaders?cat=teamfg&type=2)


But you're right...they play tenacious D too.


And Pitt makes a great point. Xavier was a BUBBLE team that beat SJU by 20. That's hardly clutch.

[Crimson King II]

Well...I just couldn't let this go....

3 of 4 of my picks isn't bad.


And, uh...and1grad...you were saying?

Just kidding. St. Joe's really impressed me. Jameer Nelson is unreal off the dribble and sees the entire floor better than anyone I've seen since Magic. Easily the best game of the weekend.

[pittgirl]

Actually all the final games this weekend were good, espicially the Georgia Tech-Kansas game. Xavier even surprised me with Duke, however though they at least got further in the tournament than anyone else thought they would.

[and1grad]

I also thought the SJU/OSU game was really good....well 'cept for the ending. :p
XAVIER TOOK IT TO DUKE!! Even though they lost, they left it all on the court and thats almost as good as winning, IMO. Watch out for Doehller (Xavier). That kid can play.
Anyway, what are your pics for this weekend? I got UCONN over Duke in a classic and OSU over GT.

[Crimson King II]

My bracket says Duke vs. OSU. But have you seen UCONN play...they won't be stopped. You'll have a UCONN-OSU final game.