College Basketball.

[CEPick]

Clemson not at full strength and I wanted a shot a Virginia.

https://giphy.com/gifs/charles-barkley-inside-the-nba-tnt-1PoLAjuorMUVy

[devinh821]

Carolinas cake walk bracket continues with another year. Virginia has a very very tough bracket

 

And TBS. please don’t ever do the selection show again.

[knock it close]

I know lefty was talking about doing a march madness pool but it looks like he unregistered so I made one http://games.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2018/en_CA/group?groupID=2349839

 

password march

 

it's set for one bracket right now but if you guys would like multiples I'm fine

[devinh821]

They really rewarded Virginia. Bracket is loaded.

State got a 9. Worst seed ever. But Kansas has been shaky at times if they can get past seton hall. Im picking it. Too big of a homer not to!

[WKent]

#1 seed seems to have been given toughest bracket. Some reward.

[CHuntsman]

I know lefty was talking about doing a march madness pool but it looks like he unregistered so I made one http://games.espn.co...groupID=2349839

 

password march

 

it's set for one bracket right now but if you guys would like multiples I'm fine

 

I'm in. Bracket is filled out and submitted.

[moegolfer11]

I know lefty was talking about doing a march madness pool but it looks like he unregistered so I made one http://games.espn.co...groupID=2349839

 

password march

 

it's set for one bracket right now but if you guys would like multiples I'm fine

 

I'm in. Bracket is filled out and submitted.

 

Likewise. Go Bearcats!

[blaird]

Every year I look at Duke's bracket and think "wow we can get thru this one, final four here we come" and never get out sweet 16...hopefully this year is a different year.

[CHuntsman]

Every year I look at Duke's bracket and think "wow we can get thru this one, final four here we come" and never get out sweet 16...hopefully this year is a different year.

 

I hear you, I'm a fellow Dukie myself. I'm not liking that 3rd round match-up possibly against MSU. Izzo vs. K doesn't seem like a sweet 16 match-up, more like a final four game. #LetsGoDuke

[thug the bunny]

Any picks out there on the 2/15, 3/14, 4/13 bracket busters for this tourney?

[Fellaheen51]

I'm not liking a potential third round, Sweet 16 matchup vs. Duke. Would have preferred any other region, that did not have the Dukies in it. Izzo is 1-11 lifetime against K. The percentages are not favorable. WTS, Go Green!

[deadsolid...shank]

I'm not liking a potential third round, Sweet 16 matchup vs. Duke. Would have preferred any other region, that did not have the Dukies in it. Izzo is 1-11 lifetime against K. The percentages are not favorable. WTS, Go Green!

 

But Duke is getting worse each year on the defensive and rebounding side of things. Bagley is covering up a lot of defeciencies this year.

[CHuntsman]

I know lefty was talking about doing a march madness pool but it looks like he unregistered so I made one http://games.espn.co...groupID=2349839

 

password march

 

it's set for one bracket right now but if you guys would like multiples I'm fine

 

I'm in. Bracket is filled out and submitted.

 

Likewise. Go Bearcats!

 

We can do better than 3 entries, c'mon guys/gals.

[blackngold_blood]

I am in.

[devinh821]

I’m in. You guys are about to lose. Just not to me

[davechen]

[tarheelsfan105]

Great thread guys! Glad someone started one...been another crazy season with every team (with the exceptions of maybe Virginia & Villanova) having some major swings in performance/momentum. The thing that really makes March Madness crazy is, except for the 1/16 matchups, and maybe a 2 or 3 seed game here and there, blowouts are much more rare.

 

I think there are about 6-8 teams that are very capable of winning their next 6 games. I think there's another few that can get hot enough to win it all. A Tar Heels fan myself, I was much more nervous going into last year's tournament. UNC was almost expected to win it all, at least by me :) and would've hurt much more to get knocked out, especially after considering how things had gone the year prior :( This year, I'm just going to enjoy the Madness. I do think UNC is in that 2nd tier of teams that could get hot enough to win it all.

 

Another thing MM brings out is the star players (underclassmen in a lot of cases) that lead their team to a deep run.

 

Some examples from the past (just off the top of my head)

Kevin Durant

Steph Curry

Carmelo Anthony

Duke's trio of freshmen in 2015/16

Nappier (UCONN)

Kentucky's freshmen in 13/14? The Anthony Davis team...

 

Some of this year's talent

Duke's "freshmen" (Bagley is a BAD MAN)...and senior

Young from OK

Ayton and Alkins (underrated) from AZ

Syracuse freshman...can't recall his name

Bridges from MSU

Villanova's combination of talent and experience

 

Again, great thread, lets keep it up..."real" games start tomorrow!!!

[deadsolid...shank]

In my opinion, college basketball has a problem with officiating.

 

This is obviously a borderline call.

 

 

 

The official in the top left of the photo (who was closest) made the foul call. There is no way he can see the play on the ball.

There is way too much anticipation in the making of calls anymore.

[TMadigolf]

I'm in jrader is my name.

[Bob Cat]

A friend of mine who officiates HS basketball games tells the captains of each team at the beginning of the game that if they can promise not to make any turnovers or miss any free throws that he'll not miss any calls.

[deadsolid...shank]

A friend of mine who officiates HS basketball games tells the captains of each team at the beginning of the game that if they can promise not to make any turnovers or miss any free throws that he'll not miss any calls.

 

Not complaining about missed calls. They happen. Always have, always will. I'm talking about anticipating and making calls that you cannot see.

[moegolfer11]

In my opinion, college basketball has a problem with officiating.

 

This is obviously a borderline call.

 

 

 

The official in the top left of the photo (who was closest) made the foul call. There is no way he can see the play on the ball.

There is way too much anticipation in the making of calls anymore.

 

Was at the game last night, terrible officiating on both sides of the ball. Not only was it shoddy but it totally ruined the tempo of the game. Both teams could not get into any sort of rhythm.

[knock it close]

That ASU/Cuse game was a disgrace, St. Mary's, USC, Middle Tenn, ect snubs even more egregious now, the only good thing is I cashed my PAC12 under 1.5 teams to the round of 32 ticket before the tournament even started.

[Jose c.]

I'm in GO BLUE.

[tarheelsfan105]

of course...first game of the tourney goes to OT!!!

 

Awesome...wish I was in Vegas

[tarheelsfan105]

buzzer-beater ending and the tournament's first upset....Loyola (Chi)/Miami!!!

[devinh821]

Well there goes the Wolfpack.

Great first year by Keatts and staff. Took a bunch of non defensive scrubs over the past few years from Gott and made men out of them.

Inherited a team who won 4 conference games with a lottery pick, and won 11 conference games with left overs.

Awesome job all year.

 

Now to kick back and just enjoy the games!

[thug the bunny]

SD St v. Houston - hell of an ending, with both teams hitting jaw dropping shots, but why the heck didn't SD foul at the start of the last possession to freeze the clock? You could see Gray was just going to run off the clock for the final shot..

[devinh821]

Seen Gray play in high school a couple times. Played at a big private school in the area. Also remember him from the public high school he was at before. Never thought I would see him play at the level he is. He has put in the work over the years and made a really good player.

Down goes Arizona! Sean Miller is gone. After the FBI stuff going on, never making it past the sweet 16 over the past few years and now getting blown out in the first round.

Being on the east coast and a total ACC homer, is the Pac 12 really that bad? Like it seems like a mid major conference with everything going on lately.

[moegolfer11]

Seen Gray play in high school a couple times. Played at a big private school in the area. Also remember him from the public high school he was at before. Never thought I would see him play at the level he is. He has put in the work over the years and made a really good player.

Down goes Arizona! Sean Miller is gone. After the FBI stuff going on, never making it past the sweet 16 over the past few years and now getting blown out in the first round.

Being on the east coast and a total ACC homer, is the Pac 12 really that bad? Like it seems like a mid major conference with everything going on lately.

 

I truly believe he has the drive to be a solid little off the bench player in the NBA. He has the heart and work rate to match.