March Madness 2024

[Jim French Stepstool]

It's been awhile since I filled out a bracket, I just like sitting back & enjoying the games, but just for funsies:

FF:

Connecticut-on paper, the best team. And they seem to respond to Hurley really well.

Arizona-I think they're one of those teams that gets a little bored w/the regular season. Early on they looked unbeatable.

Houston-Despite what happened vs ISU, a very consistent season, and they can guard at a high level. Tough regional to call.

Tennessee-Saw them in person vs Wisconsin. Can get out on the open court, and I think they have the defensive chops to bother the Purdue guards in a regional final.

                   

My fav double-digit seeds to make noise are Samford & McNeese. Unfortunately they're in the same 4 team pod.

10+ seed winning three games is hard to see. Maybe New Mexico.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

No Marquette?  
 

I’m going crazy this year, I just don’t believe in the 1 seeds and there is little difference in the 2-4 seeds. I think at least one 7 seed or higher has made a final four in several of the last tournaments.

FF- Auburn, Arizona, Texas, Wisconsin- because I have too

I have Auburn over Texas in the championship. 
 

Samford or McNeese are Sweet 16 Cinderella’s for me.

Drake is my dark horse for elite 8 run

If Auburn makes it to the FF they'll have earned it big time. That regional is loaded. UConn. Illinois can play with anyone if they decide to guard for 40 minutes. Iowa State looked terrific vs the Cougs. And I like Auburn a lot, too.

[Jim French Stepstool]

6 hours ago, patrickgpe said:

I had a good idea last night. First of all nobody wants to watch Howard vs Wagner on a Tuesday night in Canton. Also if you win your conference tournament I fell like you should play in the real tournament and get a chance to take on Goliath. 

So make the first 4, true playin games. Last 8 at large bids duke it out. Its more compelling to see the larger schools and this will limit the complaining a little. At least 4 more schools that didn't do enough during the season gets  chance to be in.

I also would be open to expanding the play-in to 16 and have doubleheaders Tuesday and Wednesday. It could basically replace the NIT and make for some compelling TV. 

I agree, except I'd simply go with the last 8 on the 1-68 list for the Tuesday-Wednesday games, regardless of conference tourney wins (I like the idea of playing in Canton, could tie it in with the NFL HOF😉. Games are in Dayton).

My preference would be if they simply stayed at 64, but that ship sailed.

[Samurai Bucky]

16 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

If so, does he get "Creaned"?

I see what you did there... 😂

[homer]

Nevada...yikes

[pitchleague]

The first half of today’s games have been the antithesis of March Madness.   I found them to be pretty boring games—more or less over long before the final buzzer.

Here’s hoping we get some better games

[RedStickBrew]

24 minutes ago, pitchleague said:

The first half of today’s games have been the antithesis of March Madness.   I found them to be pretty boring games—more or less over long before the final buzzer.

Here’s hoping we get some better games

I think Oakland heard you

[AKCheesehead]

One of these years I need to bring back my old tradition of taking time off for the opening round.  Used to be such fun to have multiple tvs going, friends over, bloodies in the morning, wings for lunch. 

Now I just fill out a bracket and check after work.  7-1 so far...thanks Nevada.

[RedStickBrew]

Nice to see the quintessential Kentucky D show up tonight

[yourout]

Oakland coach is not exactly pulling punches about the foul disparity.

Subtlety is not his strong suit.

Somehow I doubt he'll have the pull with the zebras that Coach k did.

[RedStickBrew]

Kentucky is going to need every whistle they can get the way it looks

[yourout]

23 minutes ago, RedStickBrew said:

Kentucky is going to need every whistle they can get the way it looks

Something extremely satisfying about Kentucky losing to a 14 seed.

[RedStickBrew]

@patrickgpe doesn’t need to worry about that Kentucky team versus Marquette anymore 

[patrickgpe]

36 minutes ago, RedStickBrew said:

@patrickgpe doesn’t need to worry about that Kentucky team versus Marquette anymore 

Haha, that’s why this is such a great event. Houston is a great team that Marquette would have to deal with if they get past the fist weekend 

[Sixtolezcano]

On 3/20/2024 at 12:05 PM, patrickgpe said:

Im worried about the Kentucky game for Marquette. Marquette is going to have a tough time stopping them and I’m concerned they can’t keep scoring pace with them, but stranger things have happened. 

They sure did…for Kentucky. Marquette might have trouble with Oakland.

[RedStickBrew]

11 minutes ago, patrickgpe said:

Haha, that’s why this is such a great event. Houston is a great team that Marquette would have to deal with if they get past the fist weekend 

Houston is a different animal than Kentucky, they play D. Marquette will need to shoot it well to win that one. There is a sneaky Nebraska team that could potentially give Houston fits if they meet in round 2

[RedStickBrew]

1 hour ago, yourout said:

Something extremely satisfying about Kentucky losing to a 14 seed.

My reaction was….

[AKCheesehead]

What a horse crap foul call to give Kansas free throws after that block.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

Nice to see the quintessential Kentucky D show up tonight

That, and just some really poor overall play, especially in the last 3-4 minutes. They were lucky they got hot from 3 all of a sudden otherwise they lose by 8 or 9.

Jack Gohlke, wow. Can't blame UW for not offering him out of Pewaukee HS. No one in D-1 did. He spent most of his career at Hillsdale College. Something in the (lake) water in Pewaukee I guess. First the Watt boys, now they've produced 3 or 4 D-1 hoops guys too.

[Jim French Stepstool]

First day thoughts:

It's scary how Illinois can just hit you between the eyes with those 3 or 4 minute explosions. Similar to last Sunday. Really adds another dimension for them if Dainja keeps playing this well.

Oregon looked better than I expected. Also Kansas, despite Samford scaring the bejeezus out of them.

How did NC State ever turn in the so-so regular season they did? Now you have two squads flying totally under the radar on winning streaks, feeling no one can beat them (NCST & Oakland), and they meet on Saturday. That sounds like must-see TV.

 

 

[patrickgpe]

11 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

Houston is a different animal than Kentucky, they play D. Marquette will need to shoot it well to win that one. There is a sneaky Nebraska team that could potentially give Houston fits if they meet in round 2

yeah Kentucky and Houston are different definitely. I think Houston is probably the 2nd best team in the dance. I thought Kentucky could just outscore teams, but when you let a player go off for 10 3's that harder to do. 

[patrickgpe]

10 hours ago, RedStickBrew said:

My reaction was….

there are calls for Cal's job. He has had a awful run in the tournament that his firing chance is no longer non-zero. 

[patrickgpe]

11 hours ago, Sixtolezcano said:

They sure did…for Kentucky. Marquette might have trouble with Oakland.

i watched them play UWM and was very impressed. So much so in one of those silly radio bracket contests that are free to enter I took Oakland to win it all. Its no fun to take a 1 and you would most likely lose in tiebreakers anyway, so I like to go big in those. 

[Jimbo]

On 3/20/2024 at 7:37 AM, RedStickBrew said:

Last night it seemed like VA missed a ton of 15-18 foot jump shots. Modern basketball is more about the three and getting to the rim

Watching the high school tournament last weekend, it finally hits me.  Watching 26 treys in the D5 championship game.  The conversation turned to how (high school) FT% is down across the country.  The thought being the players practice to hit the threes and not the 15-footers.  Being 58, not sure if the evolution of the game is necessarily going in the direction I enjoy.

 

[Jimbo]

On 3/20/2024 at 3:28 PM, Jim French Stepstool said:

I agree, except I'd simply go with the last 8 on the 1-68 list for the Tuesday-Wednesday games, regardless of conference tourney wins (I like the idea of playing in Canton, could tie it in with the NFL HOF😉. Games are in Dayton).

My preference would be if they simply stayed at 64, but that ship sailed.

Agreed to all above.  To have a play-in game(s) for the 12-seed or whatever just doesn't make sense to me.  I don't think it was always like that.