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🏀 THE MARCH MADNESS NCAA Basketball Thread 🏀

posted a year ago by MonStar (11606)
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Top Seeds of 68 teams participating:

#1 South: Alabama (the overall #1 seed) - #6 seed in 2022. Lost in round 1 to Notre Dame.
#1 Midwest: Houston - #5 seed in 2022. Lost in round 4 to Villanova in 2022.
#1 East: Purdue - #3 seed in 2022. Lost in round 3 to #15 St. Peter's.
#1 West: Kansas - 2022 champion.

March Madness results in millions of bracket pools in the USA. BetMGM has a $1 million prize for anyone who submits a perfect bracket. It has never happened. The best bracket gets $100,000.

Trying to pick big upsets is a challenge.

[–] MonStar (11606) a year ago

With the 65-52 loss by #5 Duke to #4 Tennessee in the East region,

🏀 There are currently ZERO perfect brackets remaining on ESPN!
20,056,273 brackets have fallen from perfection.

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

There will be a new champion this year (and the 2nd #1 seed goes down)...Arkansas just defeated Kansas in a close game. What a Tournament this has been so far.

[–] Burk48917 (10988) a year ago

The current Kentucky vs Kansas St game is amazing. Been a very exciting tournament so far.

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

Another "less than stellar" performance from the Big Ten...thank goodness for Michigan State and Tom Izzo. 8 teams in, one to the Sweet 16 (At least the 3rd year in a row where the Big Ten has laid an egg in the Tournament).

I don't think it's a "talent issue" as much as it is a "coaching issue." Other than Izzo, what have the other coaches accomplished? Purdue has really hurt the conference the past couple of years...I thought losing to a 15 seed last season was bad, but they topped themselves this season. I'm in Big Ten country, but I think the NCAA may need to start evaluating how many bids the Big Ten gets going forward.

[–] Thaisticks (2557) a year ago

It IS a talent (too many white guys!) issue. Next year should see fewer B10 teams get invites, and Gonzo should not get a seed in the top 16 no matter their record (again, too few athletes, plus terrible conference).

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

I would love to have seen what Jay Wright (as an example) would have done with Purdue's team this season. They'd have gotten to the Elite 8 at least, IMO. I still think it's coaching and not talent...plenty of basketball talent has come out of the Big Ten in recent years. But, other than Izzo, what have the coaches ever accomplished?

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

It's a really interesting Sweet 16. I think one thing we're seeing is that there just isn't a whole lot of difference between many of your lower and higher-seeded teams anymore. Some interesting teams in this group...should be some really interesting matchups.

[–] rex (2831) a year ago

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[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

Well, I never fill out a bracket anymore and I am usually absolutely terrible in my predictions. However, keeping that in mind, here they are:

South: Alabama (could be a really tough game against San Diego St. Friday...also, I hate it that Creighton and Princeton play each other, because I like the way both teams play and it would be an interesting contrast to see them play more athletic teams. Having said that, I think Alabama is just too talented for the other teams here).

East: Tennessee (Provided they get by Florida Atlantic...that Kansas State/Michigan State game should be a doozy...I want to pick Michigan State, but they are prone to have scoring droughts from time to time, and I think that's going to eventually do them in)

Midwest: Miami (FL)...going for an upset here. I was really impressed with the way they beat Indiana and I just have a feeling that they're going to beat Houston. They're athletic and they can score from both inside and outside. Texas and Xavier are good as well...I just have a feeling about Miami after watching them Sunday night.

West: Arkansas...going with another upset here. I probably should pick UCLA, but Arkansas has really impressed me this Tournament. That UCLA-Gonzaga game should also be a real doozy. And UConn looked good the other night also. This is a really tough regional here, IMO.

So...3 SEC teams in the Final Four is my guess. It just seems like it's the SEC's year, I think...but, again, I usually stink at predictions, so take this with a grain of salt! 😃

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

Well, last night showed why I don't fill out a bracket or make predictions on March Madness! 😃 A few thoughts on last night's games:

1) I think the Michigan State-Kansas game has been the game of the Tournament so far (and one of the best March Madness games I've ever seen). Really entertaining and well-played on both sides...shame that one of the teams had to lose. Michigan State saved the Big Ten from complete embarrassment and they should be proud of their performance. Kansas State is really entertaining to watch. I didn't hear much about them this season, so they've been a revelation to me this Tournament. Their point guard Nowell is a fabulous player and so much fun to watch.

2) I picked Arkansas over UConn...boy, was I wrong! UConn was really impressive last night...they really played a great first half. I really underestimated how good UConn is...they can score inside and outside, plus they are an excellent rebounding team.

3) Tennessee vs. FL Atlantic...I picked Tennessee to win and, for a good chunk of the night, it looked like Tennessee had it. But Tennessee stopped scoring and FL Atlantic took advantage. I am happy for FL Atlantic...they are a really solid team (only 3 losses on the season...I don't care what conference you play in, that's impressive) and they seem solid fundamentally. I think anymore, If you have a team that is solid fundamentally, you can play with anyone, and I think FL Atlantic is proof of that.

4) Gonzaga-UCLA: I thought Gonzaga was dead at halftime...I couldn't stay up to watch this one (I went to bed around midnight and I think Gonzaga had come back to tie it up). Seemed like a great game...kudos to Gonzaga for coming back.

[–] rex (2831) a year ago

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[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

Awesome! This has been some Tournament...I think this is the first Tournament where all 4 #1 seeds are gone after the Sweet 16.

I'm watching the Princeton-Creighton game...very entertaining. Both of these teams can shoot.

[–] rex (2831) a year ago

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[–] [deleted] a year ago

Is it the first? I was wondering about that. I can't remember a tournament where we didn't have at least one #1 in the final four, much less the elite eight.

[–] MonStar (11606) a year ago

ESPN confirms: it's is the first time since seeding began in 1979 that no #1 seeds made it to the Elite 8.

[–] MonStar (11606) a year ago

All four #1 seeds are out, as well as three of the four #2 seeds.

🏀 The Elite 8:

East region: #3 Kansas State vs #9 Florida Atlantic, Sat. Mar. 25, 6:09 PM ET, TBS
West region: #3 Gonzaga vs #4 Connecticut, Sat. Mar. 25, 8:49 PM ET, TBS

South region: #5 San Diego State vs #6 Creighton, Sun. Mar. 26, 2:20 PM ET, CBS
Midwest region: #2 Texas vs #5 Miami, FL, Sun. Mar. 26, 5:05 PM ET, CBS

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

2 more great games today and we have the Final Four on the Men's side! Congratulations to Florida Atlantic, UConn, San Diego State, and Miami (FL)!

This may very well be my favorite March Madness ever...just an incredible Tournament so far, so unpredictable.

[–] GlenEllyn (21089) a year ago

Do you have a favorite in the Final Four? A team you're pulling for?

[–] GolfnGuitars (2394) a year ago

Hello! No, I actually don't have a favorite...when it comes to college basketball, I'm an Ohio State and Kentucky fan. OSU had a rough season and didn't even make the Tournament...UK won its first game, but lost against Kansas St. I think that may be part of why I'm enjoying this Tournament so much...it's more fun and not as stressful when you don't have a rooting interest! 😃

[–] GlenEllyn (21089) a year ago

I have to agree that it's more fun when you don't have a favorite. If I don't have a favorite, I usually pull for the underdog or a team that hasn't been to the tournament in a long time. I'm undecided between FAU and San Diego at this point. 🤔 I have no pick in the other game.

[–] rex (2831) a year ago

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[–] Thaisticks (2557) a year ago

"poor creighton. you can't make that call"
Meh, there was definitely contact, though even the SDSU player said it didn't affect his shot. If the ref didn't call it SDSU fans would have, rightly, been up in arms (if they had ended up losing). It saved SDSU fans from obsessing over one of the most bone-headed inbound passes you'll ever see that allowed Creighton to tie the game.

[–] rex (2831) a year ago

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