March Madness 2025

[yourout]

No dog in the fight but that was some really terrible officiating in the Houston/Tennessee game. 

More phantoms than a medieval castle.

[RedStickBrew]

5 minutes ago, yourout said:

No dog in the fight but that was some really terrible officiating in the Houston/Tennessee game. 

More phantoms than a medieval castle.

I thought Houston got away with a ton of contact at the beginning of the game. At the end of the day though  Tennessee didn’t shoot it well enough 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Kind of two similar games so far, though MSU is doing a better job of keeping it close in this first half than Tennessee did.

Houston-Tennessee was definitely a "tougher team wins" kind of game, and that was Houston. This year's version can really shoot it, which makes up for some of their historic deficiencies offensively. Same attitude, same defense, better shot-making.

Looking like it'll be all four one seeds and an SEC v. the world title game. Maybe MSU pulls a comeback and spoils the party, but I don't see it.

I think I'll be team Houston, but mostly I'll just keep being anti-Florida (even though how can you not be impressed by Walter Clayton, Jr.?).

[yourout]

17 minutes ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Kind of two similar games so far, though MSU is doing a better job of keeping it close in this first half than Tennessee did.

Houston-Tennessee was definitely a "tougher team wins" kind of game, and that was Houston. This year's version can really shoot it, which makes up for some of their historic deficiencies offensively. Same attitude, same defense, better shot-making.

Looking like it'll be all four one seeds and an SEC v. the world title game. Maybe MSU pulls a comeback and spoils the party, but I don't see it.

I think I'll be team Houston, but mostly I'll just keep being anti-Florida (even though how can you not be impressed by Walter Clayton, Jr.?).

Not sure I've ever been more apathetic to any of the teams in the final four.

[HarryDoyle]

All four #1 seeds make it to San Antonio. Should probably stop calling it March Madness now.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, homer said:

Ohio State raised something like $20 million for their football team.

I was just gonna say, I think OSU is pretty much at an SEC level regarding funds. Possibly UM & Penn State to an extent, although they're heavily aided simply by being helmet schools.

[Jim French Stepstool]

2 hours ago, yourout said:

Not sure I've ever been more apathetic to any of the teams in the final four.

The existence of Duke makes me a pretty big Cougs' fan on Saturday, and a big Auburn or Florida fan on Monday if need be. But taking any of the four on a stand-alone basis, I agree.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Not tourney related, but I was wondering the other day how many D-1 teams you could see in person this season if you lived in Las Vegas. There's whatever holiday tourneys they host, UNLV games, a # of conference tournaments, and the other day I came across something called the College Basketball Crown, and the host city is......you guessed it. Enough entertainment options to worry even Wayne Newton.

Nah.

[RedStickBrew]

This Auburn v Florida game has been a good one.

Clayton has been one of the best players in the tournament 

[CheeseheadInQC]

I have paid less attention to college basketball this year than I have in decades, so of course this is the first time I enter the championship game with a shot at finishing in the money in a pick ‘em contest put on by my town’s phone company. In my case it seems the old joke about these things might really be true.

Also, that Houston-Duke ending was insane.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

I have paid less attention to college basketball this year than I have in decades, so of course this is the first time I enter the championship game with a shot at finishing in the money in a pick ‘em contest put on by my town’s phone company. In my case it seems the old joke about these things might really be true.

Also, that Houston-Duke ending was insane.

Wait...your 'town's phone company'? Do you still use landlines out your way?!? OR are you talking about a mobile carrier franchise?

[CheeseheadInQC]

2 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Wait...your 'town's phone company'? Do you still use landlines out your way?!? OR are you talking about a mobile carrier franchise?

There are still some with landlines (including us) because they are practically free with their fiber internet service (their real money-maker now).

[Joseph Zarr]

8 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

There are still some with landlines (including us) because they are practically free with their fiber internet service (their real money-maker now).

Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

We really wanted a landline out our way but we are super mountain valley rural (though one hour from two mid-major cities in Spokane and Coeur D'Alene) and we tried the phone off our old satellite internet and it was definitively not worth the extra charge and hassle. I am just infinitely grateful for Starlink. We had to go the route of the Viasat scam. My gods. The end of the old satellite internet cartels is such a beautiful thing. That racket is one of the most unregulated scams I've ever been forced to be a part of. I've seen Fibertel trucks out this way the past year plus. Ostensibly, they are installing fiber optic cables throughout the vast majority of this region but I have yet to see an actual offer of service. From my understanding via convos from some of the men routinely working on our County Road at the below ground junction boxes, this is a project kickstarted by Bill Gates? Which, well, would be classic; fascinating; and hilarious all at once. That man seems to have his slimy tentacles in everything. Granted, these workers could have been entirely misinformed. There is that probability.

[CheeseheadInQC]

55 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

We really wanted a landline out our way but we are super mountain valley rural (though one hour from two mid-major cities in Spokane and Coeur D'Alene) and we tried the phone off our old satellite internet and it was definitively not worth the extra charge and hassle. I am just infinitely grateful for Starlink. We had to go the route of the Viasat scam. My gods. The end of the old satellite internet cartels is such a beautiful thing. That racket is one of the most unregulated scams I've ever been forced to be a part of. I've seen Fibertel trucks out this way the past year plus. Ostensibly, they are installing fiber optic cables throughout the vast majority of this region but I have yet to see an actual offer of service. From my understanding via convos from some of the men routinely working on our County Road at the below ground junction boxes, this is a project kickstarted by Bill Gates? Which, well, would be classic; fascinating; and hilarious all at once. That man seems to have his slimy tentacles in everything. Granted, these workers could have been entirely misinformed. There is that probability.

By us, they laid all the initial lines first, then went back to make the home connections for those interested. They were definitely publicizing it before the laying of the fiber started, though. I wonder if there was a foundation grant to install the infrastructure in hopes of luring a provider who would do the home connections or something like that.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Just reflecting on that wild Duke-Houston finish. That 6-point possession the Cougs posted (with the help of a contact technical) to cut a 14-point lead to 8 felt like the turning point for me.

Kind of a phantom foul on Flagg, but Duke's owed more than a few tough whistles.

Loved the way Houston guarded the final possession. Don't let Flagg beat you with a PASS. That's his elite skill. They played that perfectly and made him take a tough fadeaway.

If I'm Duke, the biggest thing I'd regret is up one with about 30 seconds left. They get the ball to Proctor (the exact guy Houston wants to foul) in the front court, with Flagg and Kon trailing in the backcourt. Nowhere to go, Proctor gets fouled, misses the front end. 

Don't care who you are, you have to get the ball to Flagg or Kon there. Credit to Houston for defensive alignment. But was surprised Duke didn't go to the football OOB set up.

As for tonight, I will be rooting for Houston, of course, but I think Florida is better and will win. Clayton is unreal. If I'm Houston it is sell out to stop that dude driving to the rim, hand is his face on every three. If he hits tough shots or Martin, Condon, or Haugh or whoever drop 30, you live with it. Maybe break out the old Rock Majerus box and 1?

[homer]

I did auto draft based on seed for the one bracket I entered. Only change I made was swapping Florida for Duke as champ. I am guaranteed to win. Kinda wish I'd entered another contest or two.

[RedStickBrew]

4 hours ago, Cool Hand Lucroy said:

Just reflecting on that wild Duke-Houston finish. That 6-point possession the Cougs posted (with the help of a contact technical) to cut a 14-point lead to 8 felt like the turning point for me.

Kind of a phantom foul on Flagg, but Duke's owed more than a few tough whistles.

Loved the way Houston guarded the final possession. Don't let Flagg beat you with a PASS. That's his elite skill. They played that perfectly and made him take a tough fadeaway.

If I'm Duke, the biggest thing I'd regret is up one with about 30 seconds left. They get the ball to Proctor (the exact guy Houston wants to foul) in the front court, with Flagg and Kon trailing in the backcourt. Nowhere to go, Proctor gets fouled, misses the front end. 

Don't care who you are, you have to get the ball to Flagg or Kon there. Credit to Houston for defensive alignment. But was surprised Duke didn't go to the football OOB set up.

As for tonight, I will be rooting for Houston, of course, but I think Florida is better and will win. Clayton is unreal. If I'm Houston it is sell out to stop that dude driving to the rim, hand is his face on every three. If he hits tough shots or Martin, Condon, or Haugh or whoever drop 30, you live with it. Maybe break out the old Rock Majerus box and 1?

I think two things stood out about that game to me; one, Houston is a tough defensive team of grown men that took advantage of late mistakes, and two, Duke choked down the stretch. As you pointed out Duke did not play out the last 2-3 minutes well and some of that is on the young coach as well.

Tonight I expect another tough battle.  I think Florida gets it done though as they are the deeper team and Clayton is the best player on the floor.

 

[Jim French Stepstool]

1 hour ago, RedStickBrew said:

I think two things stood out about that game to me; one, Houston is a tough defensive team of grown men that took advantage of late mistakes, and two, Duke choked down the stretch. As you pointed out Duke did not play out the last 2-3 minutes well and some of that is on the young coach as well.

Tonight I expect another tough battle.  I think Florida gets it done though as they are the deeper team and Clayton is the best player on the floor.

 

IMO it was more 80%-20% Houstons' defense & experience, although Dukes' youth did show, too. 

I'd go with the Gators tonight as well. But I'd like to see the Cougs get it done, finally. Six (or was it seven) trips to the FF with no championship.

[yourout]

At least it wasn't Duke.

[RedStickBrew]

That was a really physical game. Florida did just enough to get it done. Tough luck for Calvin Sampson he’s gotten close a few times now. 

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Florida earned it. Not a lot of shot-making, but they were the tougher team and won by forcing Houston way out repeatedly.

Kind of surprised Kelvin didn't have something to shift to when things went stagnant in the last quarter. Their most effective offense was literally baseline out of bounds. Credit to Florida. They out-Houstoned Houston.