March Madness

[skiracer]

Big day for me today. I had a feeling North Carolina was in for a loss after last week at Duke and last night at Clemson. Finally got my wish. They lost this afternoon to Georgia Tech and blow the ACC championship an open the door for Duke. Almost as good Duke beating them or the Yankees beating up on those hopeless Red Sox. North Carolina State at Duke at 4 pm. Go BLUE DEVILS. Make my day complete. If you're into it let's have some fun and voice your rants for your favorite team or the ones you hate the most in this edition of the ongoing conference championships and the upcoming NCAA championships. March Madness is on baby.

[mrmarket]

If Penn can secure a 12th seed or higher, I think they will advance.

[skiracer]

Of course you're somewhat biased. Isn't that where you graduated from or did your graduate work.

I have good friends in South Philadelphia and when the Palestra, now I'm dating myself, was still there we would go to the big 5 city league games all the time. It was as good a brand of basketball as you could ever want to watch. I'm still a Villanova and St. Joe's fan from those days. I saw Penn play quite a few times.

Aside from October this is my favorite time of the year for sports. Big college baskets fan. I'll keep an eye open for Penn an usually will watch a portion of any game regardless of who's playing.

Yesterday was a spectacular day. Could you ask for any more exciting games than yesterday's slate provided.

[B.J]

If Penn can secure a 12th seed or higher, I think they will advance.

If my Cincinnati Bearcats are the 5 seed opposite that, you have a pretty good shot. They can play with, or lose to, just about anyone.

[mrmarket]

Of course you're somewhat biased. Isn't that where you graduated from or did your graduate work.

I have good friends in South Philadelphia and when the Palestra, now I'm dating myself, was still there we would go to the big 5 city league games all the time. It was as good a brand of basketball as you could ever want to watch. I'm still a Villanova and St. Joe's fan from those days. I saw Penn play quite a few times.

Aside from October this is my favorite time of the year for sports. Big college baskets fan. I'll keep an eye open for Penn an usually will watch a portion of any game regardless of who's playing.

Yesterday was a spectacular day. Could you ask for any more exciting games than yesterday's slate provided.

The Palestra is still there and, in my mind, there's no better place to be than at a Big 5 game at the Palestra.

I was at the Penn - Harvard game at the Palestra only last week.

Looks like Duke is going to get the #1 seed. Here we go again!

[B.J]

Three ACC teams as a #1 seed, I'd normally say tough sell. But no one esle seemed to want it. Washington and Louisville (Kentucky still as well) each make a good case, but looks to me like:

Illinois, NC, Wake, Duke.

[skiracer]

Illinois for sure. I thought Kentucky was a shoe in for sure but can you believe Florida murdered them today like they did today. I thought North Carolina and Wake Forest were also sure number 1 seeds but I guess no one wants it that bad.

I think it will be Illinois, Duke because of todays win, an two out of either Kentucky, Wake Forest, and North Carolina. Who else could it be? Anyway let the games begin. Good luck to your favorites.

[B.J]

Wake Forest's situation depends on Chris Paul.

Usually if a kid is out due to injury during a key loss, the selection committe accounts for it, if the kid can come back. But, since Paul was suspended because of the crotch grab on Hodge, would the committe penalize Wake, sending the message that that behavior hurts a team?

[skiracer]

Interesting thought. I couldn't say whether or not it would affect the seeding positions.
Certainly can't have that kind of behavior but I don't know if it will hurt them in that respect. We'll know in another hour or so.

[skiracer]

Where did Washington come from?

[grebnet]

Go Syracuse

Im live in SYR and if our young guys step up and help Macnamara and Warrick...Then watch out

[skiracer]

They're in there with Duke, Kentucky, an Oklahoma. It's a tough bracket but they're playing good and Boheim always seems to have them at their best this time of the year. They are always dangerous. Good luck. They're going to have to get past a very good Vermont team first and either Oklahoma or Kentucky to get to Duke, if Duke even gets that far. This should be an exciting tournament.

[B.J]

This is great! The three most recent posters in this thread are in the same bracket.

I'll be glad if Cincy just wins their first game and gets a shot at Kentucky. They never schedule us. Win or lose it would be a fun one to watch.

As for the bracket, I will probably pick the Orange.

[skiracer]

I can't see Duke losing to Delaware St. but I can see Syracuse losing to Vermont. Vermont has a very good team and they are kind of unknown an unheralded from a small no name conference. Not for anything but I could see them beating Syracuse or giving them a good fight. Kentucky should handle E. Kentucky without to much of a problem an I like Cincinnati over Iowa although Iowa has a good team and could win the game. Oklahoma is very strong and should handle Niagara. The rest of the teams in this bracket shouldn't pose any problems for Duke, Syracuse, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, and Kentucky. I would love to see Vermont beat Syracuse. I see the 2nd round as Duke vs Miss. St., Syracuse vs Mich. St., Okla. vs. Utah, and Cincinnati vs Kentucky. Those would all be great games. After that I see Duke vs. Syracuse and Okla. vs. Kentucky and then Duke vs Kentucky. But I'm quite biased towards Duke. They would have two hard games against Syracuse and Kentucky if it goes that way.

[skiracer]

So the first round is nearly over and there has been some pretty good upsets, my favority being Syracuse since they are in my region and posed a big hurdle to Duke. But I mentioned in an earlier post that Vermont was dangerous and even though Syracuse was definitely the better team Vermont had just enough luck with them to pull it off.

Kansas ranked #1 in the preseason and the beginning of the year is also out. What a slide down for them over the course of the season. Sorry about Penn MM but they had a rough row to how with Boston Col. Maybe next year. Pittsburg another powerhouse out of the big east conf. is also gone.

Most of the big guys are left and this next round should provide plenty of exciting games. One that I'm looking forward to is the Cincinnati/Kentucky matchup. I've been a fan of Cincinnati since I was in high school. Have a good friend from there and he got me into them. Needless to say I would love to see them knock off Kentucky. You know why. Another big gun that I feel is ripe for a letdown and loss is North Caroling. Iowa St. is a very good team and could easily pull it off over them.

So lets have some fun and hear what your picks are in this round. Here are mine. I'll just give the winners to keep it short.
Illinois, Bost. Col., UAB, Okla. St. althought I love So. Illinois , Wash., Geo. Tech., Gonz. although I would like to see Bobby Knight in it, W. Virginia, my upset pick of this round, Iowa St., Villanova, Bucknell, Conn., DUKE, Vermont, Oklahoma, Cincinnati. Good luck to your favorite team as long as it's not either Stanford or Miss. St.