So who wants to take a road trip to Detroit?
UW defeats Kansas St. 72-55 to advance to the Sweet 16, and will play the winner of Davidson/Georgetown next Friday in the Motor City.
The Badgers played great team defense - only two Kansas St. players scored more than 4 points. Trevon Hughes shot lights out (8-14), and Greg Stiemsma had a career day offensively to lead the Badgers to the next round.
I'm sure all Badger fans are satisfied with this win, especially with the 17-point margin of victory.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
tS' March Madness Pool - UPDATE!
I have the scores for my pool posted below, so check them out and see where you rank.
Last year’s winner, Krista R., posted a score of 186 (highest score possible is 243), and second place went to Zach C. with a score of 183. Krista won $34.00 and Zach collected $15.00. I dubbed last year as the “worst NCAA Tournament of all-time” on my website last year – the Badgers lost in the second round, I hated watching the national championship game between Florida and Ohio State, and for the first time ever, I failed to finish in the top ten in the pool (my best scores were 11th, 12th, and 13th place).
Last year was also the lowest amount of money that had ever been collected for my pool since the very first pool. That was when I was in the sixth grade, and three friends and I each put in a dollar and “drafted” 16 teams. If your team won the national title, you won the big prize (all $4.00!).
This year, the pool has $61.00 in the pot. The payout situation is this:
-Assuming there are no ties, first place will win $50.00, second place will win $10.00, and third place will win $1.00.
-If there is a tie for first place, those brackets will split the whole pot.
-If there is a single first place winner, but a tie for second place, I will draw a name from a hat to determine the second place prize.
If you have any questions, contact me at tssanders@gmail.com.
Here are the scores through the first round:
Robert S. #3 54
Robert S. #4 52
Bob S. #7 50
Joe H. #2 50
Joey W. #6 50
Krista R. #2 50
TS #7 50
Bob S. #1 48
Bob S. #6 48
Connie R. #2 48
Eric J. #1 48
Eric J. #3 48
Joey W. #2 48
Joey W. #4 48
Joey W. #8 48
Jon P. 48
Kathy S. #1 48
Kathy S. #2 48
Kathy S. #4 48
Ken R. #1 48
Krista R. #1 48
Mike S. 48
Robert S. #5 48
Ryan P. 48
Sam D. #2 48
Sam D. #3 48
Steve P. 48
TS #3 48
TS #4 48
TS #6 48
Bob S. #3 46
Bob S. #4 46
Bob S. #8 46
Donna K. 46
Joe H. #3 46
Joey W. #1 46
Joey W. #7 46
Robert S. #1 46
Robert S. #2 46
TS #8 46
Bob S. #2 44
Brad S. 44
Daniel T. 44
Eric J. #2 44
RGT 3 44
TS #1 44
Bob S. #5 42
Jeremy N. #1 42
Jeremy N. #2 42
Joe H. #1 42
Joey W. #5 42
Sam D. #1 42
TS #2 42
TS #5 42
Connie R. #1 40
Joey W. #3 40
Ken R. #2 40
Austin R. 38
Erin H. 38
Kathy S. #5 38
Kathy S. #3 18
Last year’s winner, Krista R., posted a score of 186 (highest score possible is 243), and second place went to Zach C. with a score of 183. Krista won $34.00 and Zach collected $15.00. I dubbed last year as the “worst NCAA Tournament of all-time” on my website last year – the Badgers lost in the second round, I hated watching the national championship game between Florida and Ohio State, and for the first time ever, I failed to finish in the top ten in the pool (my best scores were 11th, 12th, and 13th place).
Last year was also the lowest amount of money that had ever been collected for my pool since the very first pool. That was when I was in the sixth grade, and three friends and I each put in a dollar and “drafted” 16 teams. If your team won the national title, you won the big prize (all $4.00!).
This year, the pool has $61.00 in the pot. The payout situation is this:
-Assuming there are no ties, first place will win $50.00, second place will win $10.00, and third place will win $1.00.
-If there is a tie for first place, those brackets will split the whole pot.
-If there is a single first place winner, but a tie for second place, I will draw a name from a hat to determine the second place prize.
If you have any questions, contact me at tssanders@gmail.com.
Here are the scores through the first round:
Robert S. #3 54
Robert S. #4 52
Bob S. #7 50
Joe H. #2 50
Joey W. #6 50
Krista R. #2 50
TS #7 50
Bob S. #1 48
Bob S. #6 48
Connie R. #2 48
Eric J. #1 48
Eric J. #3 48
Joey W. #2 48
Joey W. #4 48
Joey W. #8 48
Jon P. 48
Kathy S. #1 48
Kathy S. #2 48
Kathy S. #4 48
Ken R. #1 48
Krista R. #1 48
Mike S. 48
Robert S. #5 48
Ryan P. 48
Sam D. #2 48
Sam D. #3 48
Steve P. 48
TS #3 48
TS #4 48
TS #6 48
Bob S. #3 46
Bob S. #4 46
Bob S. #8 46
Donna K. 46
Joe H. #3 46
Joey W. #1 46
Joey W. #7 46
Robert S. #1 46
Robert S. #2 46
TS #8 46
Bob S. #2 44
Brad S. 44
Daniel T. 44
Eric J. #2 44
RGT 3 44
TS #1 44
Bob S. #5 42
Jeremy N. #1 42
Jeremy N. #2 42
Joe H. #1 42
Joey W. #5 42
Sam D. #1 42
TS #2 42
TS #5 42
Connie R. #1 40
Joey W. #3 40
Ken R. #2 40
Austin R. 38
Erin H. 38
Kathy S. #5 38
Kathy S. #3 18
March Madness - Second Round, Saturday
For those of you looking for a pool update, I will try to post the scores before the Badger game starts today. Also, for anyone interested in seeing my own picks, I will be scanning my brackets and posting those online. On to the preview of today's action:
Best Matchups
No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 3 Stanford
I'm looking forward to watching this game because of the matchup problems both teams present to each other. Stanford has the Lopez twins, two 7-footers who dominate the post area, while Marquette features a trio of very good guards. It will be interesting to see which team is able to emphasize their strengths and prevail.
No. 5 Michigan St. vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh
Both of these teams are on a roll right now and playing some of their best basketball of the season. Tonight's game will most likely be a very physical contest, and whoever emerges as the winner will have a great shot at potentially upsetting Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen.
My Picks (3-7 overall)
Yesterday was a pretty rough one for picking games, and I went 0-5. I guarantee at least one of these will be right today:
No. 2 Duke beats No. 7 West Virginia
No. 5 Notre Dame beats No. 4 Washington St.
No. 3 Stanford beats No. 6 Marquette
No. 4 Pittsburgh beats No. 5 Michigan St.
No. 1 UCLA beats No. 9 Texas A&M
Quick Links
A preview of today's UW-Kansas St. game.
Michael Hunt discusses issues surrounding Michael Beasley.
A look at Washington St.'s defense.
Best Matchups
No. 6 Marquette vs. No. 3 Stanford
I'm looking forward to watching this game because of the matchup problems both teams present to each other. Stanford has the Lopez twins, two 7-footers who dominate the post area, while Marquette features a trio of very good guards. It will be interesting to see which team is able to emphasize their strengths and prevail.
No. 5 Michigan St. vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh
Both of these teams are on a roll right now and playing some of their best basketball of the season. Tonight's game will most likely be a very physical contest, and whoever emerges as the winner will have a great shot at potentially upsetting Memphis in the Sweet Sixteen.
My Picks (3-7 overall)
Yesterday was a pretty rough one for picking games, and I went 0-5. I guarantee at least one of these will be right today:
No. 2 Duke beats No. 7 West Virginia
No. 5 Notre Dame beats No. 4 Washington St.
No. 3 Stanford beats No. 6 Marquette
No. 4 Pittsburgh beats No. 5 Michigan St.
No. 1 UCLA beats No. 9 Texas A&M
Quick Links
A preview of today's UW-Kansas St. game.
Michael Hunt discusses issues surrounding Michael Beasley.
A look at Washington St.'s defense.
Friday Recap
What a weird and wild day Friday was! Two No. 12 seeds and two No. 13 seeds advanced, and all four of those teams played their games in Tampa. Two games went into overtime and both produced thrilling results - Western Kentucky over Drake and San Diego over UConn. 32 teams are left standing as we head into the second round.
Best Win
No. 12 Villanova, against No. 5 Clemson
There are a lot of choices for Friday's best win, but Villanova was down by 18 points at one time, and managed to come back despite being undersized and relying on basically two players for offense. Scottie Reynolds showed incredible poise for a sophomore and took his team on his back to carry them to the next round.
Worst Loss
No. 4 Vanderbilt, to No. 13 Siena
The fact that Vanderbilt lost wasn't as shocking as how much they lost by. Siena shot 56.5 % from the field, and hit 22 of 25 free throws to defeat Vanderbilt, 83-62.
Best Individual Performance
Stephen Curry, Davidson
There were a lot of great individual performances to choose from today, but Curry scored 40 points, and hit 8 of the 10 three-pointers he attempted to lead Davidson to the upset of Gonzaga. The only thing that dampened his performance, was having to watch his mom's performance in the stands.
Seth Davis Smugness Watch
5/10
Before the first game started today, Davis confidently announced that 5 upsets would happen: Davidson, Siena, St. Joe's, St. Mary's, and South Alabama. Two of those came true. At the end of the day, it seemed like Davis took credit for predicting all of the day's upsets. Smugness level rising quickly.
Best Win
No. 12 Villanova, against No. 5 Clemson
There are a lot of choices for Friday's best win, but Villanova was down by 18 points at one time, and managed to come back despite being undersized and relying on basically two players for offense. Scottie Reynolds showed incredible poise for a sophomore and took his team on his back to carry them to the next round.
Worst Loss
No. 4 Vanderbilt, to No. 13 Siena
The fact that Vanderbilt lost wasn't as shocking as how much they lost by. Siena shot 56.5 % from the field, and hit 22 of 25 free throws to defeat Vanderbilt, 83-62.
Best Individual Performance
Stephen Curry, Davidson
There were a lot of great individual performances to choose from today, but Curry scored 40 points, and hit 8 of the 10 three-pointers he attempted to lead Davidson to the upset of Gonzaga. The only thing that dampened his performance, was having to watch his mom's performance in the stands.
Seth Davis Smugness Watch
5/10
Before the first game started today, Davis confidently announced that 5 upsets would happen: Davidson, Siena, St. Joe's, St. Mary's, and South Alabama. Two of those came true. At the end of the day, it seemed like Davis took credit for predicting all of the day's upsets. Smugness level rising quickly.
Friday, March 21, 2008
March Madness - First Round, Part Two
What a glorious spring morning it is here in southeastern Wisconsin. Nothing better than waking up to a fresh four inches of snow on the ground! Oh well, with 16 more Tournament games on today and tonight, who needs to go anywhere?
Best Matchups
Day: Midwest Region, No. 10 Davidson vs. No. 7 Gonzaga
Remember Gonzaga, that Tournament darling that everyone used to pick to get to at least the Sweet Sixteen? This year, Davidson has become the most popular Cinderella pick, and a lot of people have forgotten that they play a very good Gonzaga team in the first round. This year, Gonzaga went on the road and defeated Virginia Tech, St. Joe's, and UConn. Meanwhile, Davidson has one of the top scoring threats in the Tournament, Stephen Curry, who is averaging 25.1 points per game.
Night: Midwest Region, No. 12 Villanova vs. No. 5 Clemson
Just like USC, a lot of people have picked Clemson as a sleeper team - mostly because of the way Clemson played North Carolina this season. The scary thing about this Clemson team though, is that they are not a good free throw shooting team, and should Villanova keep the game close, that could prove perilous to Clemson. Nova needs a big game from Scottie Reynolds in order to advance.
My Picks (yesterday, 3-2)
No. 7 Gonzaga beats No. 10 Davidson
No. 5 Drake beats No. 12 Western Kentucky
No. 9 Oregon beats No. 8 Mississippi St.
No. 5 Clemson beats No. 12 Villanova
Upset Special: No. 11 St. Joe's beats No. 6 Oklahoma
Best Matchups
Day: Midwest Region, No. 10 Davidson vs. No. 7 Gonzaga
Remember Gonzaga, that Tournament darling that everyone used to pick to get to at least the Sweet Sixteen? This year, Davidson has become the most popular Cinderella pick, and a lot of people have forgotten that they play a very good Gonzaga team in the first round. This year, Gonzaga went on the road and defeated Virginia Tech, St. Joe's, and UConn. Meanwhile, Davidson has one of the top scoring threats in the Tournament, Stephen Curry, who is averaging 25.1 points per game.
Night: Midwest Region, No. 12 Villanova vs. No. 5 Clemson
Just like USC, a lot of people have picked Clemson as a sleeper team - mostly because of the way Clemson played North Carolina this season. The scary thing about this Clemson team though, is that they are not a good free throw shooting team, and should Villanova keep the game close, that could prove perilous to Clemson. Nova needs a big game from Scottie Reynolds in order to advance.
My Picks (yesterday, 3-2)
No. 7 Gonzaga beats No. 10 Davidson
No. 5 Drake beats No. 12 Western Kentucky
No. 9 Oregon beats No. 8 Mississippi St.
No. 5 Clemson beats No. 12 Villanova
Upset Special: No. 11 St. Joe's beats No. 6 Oklahoma
Day One - Recap
March Madness has begun, but the overall reaction so far has been a mild shrug of the shoulders. Kansas St.'s victory over USC was the biggest upset of the day, though I don't think anyone was heavily favoring the Trojans in that game. The biggest thrill was of course No. 15 Belmont's near upset of No. 2 Duke in the South Region. Hopefully tomorrow's games will provide some more madness.
Best Win
No. 8 UNLV, against No. 9 Kent St.
It didn't take long for UNLV to put away Kent St., and this game was never in doubt. A No.8/No.9 matchup usually produces a close game, but UNLV dominated the entire time, shooting 50% for the game.
Worst Loss
No. 6 USC, to No. 11 Kansas St.
So much for Pac-10 dominance. USC gave up 18 offensive rebounds, committed 24 fouls (two USC players fouled out), and the team shot 42% for the game. USC proved to be greatly over-rated and undeserving of a No. 6 seed.
Best Individual Performance
Josh Akognon, CS Fullerton
If CS Fullerton had one more Josh Akognon on their team, the Badgers would have been in serious trouble. Akognon scored 31 points on 11-for-23 shooting, including 5-for-12 from three-point land - all with one of the nation's best defenders chasing him around all game.
Seth Davis Smugness Level
2/10
One of the best things about so many games being played in these first few days, is that CBS "analyst" Seth Davis gets less camera time. I didn't catch many of his "expert" opinions today, so the Seth Davis Smugness Level is low to start off the Tournament.
Best Win
No. 8 UNLV, against No. 9 Kent St.
It didn't take long for UNLV to put away Kent St., and this game was never in doubt. A No.8/No.9 matchup usually produces a close game, but UNLV dominated the entire time, shooting 50% for the game.
Worst Loss
No. 6 USC, to No. 11 Kansas St.
So much for Pac-10 dominance. USC gave up 18 offensive rebounds, committed 24 fouls (two USC players fouled out), and the team shot 42% for the game. USC proved to be greatly over-rated and undeserving of a No. 6 seed.
Best Individual Performance
Josh Akognon, CS Fullerton
If CS Fullerton had one more Josh Akognon on their team, the Badgers would have been in serious trouble. Akognon scored 31 points on 11-for-23 shooting, including 5-for-12 from three-point land - all with one of the nation's best defenders chasing him around all game.
Seth Davis Smugness Level
2/10
One of the best things about so many games being played in these first few days, is that CBS "analyst" Seth Davis gets less camera time. I didn't catch many of his "expert" opinions today, so the Seth Davis Smugness Level is low to start off the Tournament.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
March Madness: Day One
March Madness is finally here! The first game tips off in about an hour, so let's get right to my thoughts on day one of the Tournament:
Best Matchups
Day: South Region, No. 11 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Marquette
This was one of the hardest games for me to pick. Both teams were inconsistent in the regular season, and both teams have strong backcourts and weaker frontcourts. Kentucky had a key player go down with an injury about a month ago, and Marquette has Dominic James (who sometimes plays like he's injured). Neither team had an impressive out of conference record (Marquette's best win was against Wisconsin, and Kentucky didn't have a single good pre-conference win).
Night: West Region, No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 7 West Virginia
This was another tough game to pick. I went with Arizona in most of my brackets, because I like their balanced scoring attack. Though I had plenty of reasons not to pick the Wildcats - the turmoil surrounding the coaching situation, their under-.500 record in the Pac-10, and the fact that WV's Joe Alexander has been tearing it up recently. Alexander vs. Arizona's Chase Budinger will be a fun matchup to watch.
My Picks
No. 3 Xavier beats No. 14 Georgia
No. 5 Michigan St. beats No. 12 Temple
No. 6 USC beats No. 11 Kansas St.
No. 3 Wisconsin beats No. 14 CS Fullerton
Upset Special: No. 11 Baylor beats No. 6 Purdue
Quick Links
Mark Stewart looks at today's matchup between the UW and CS Fullerton.
A preview of Marquette's first round game.
The impact of March Madness on the workplace.
Pat Forde looks at the best and worst-case scenarios for all 64 teams.
Best Matchups
Day: South Region, No. 11 Kentucky vs. No. 6 Marquette
This was one of the hardest games for me to pick. Both teams were inconsistent in the regular season, and both teams have strong backcourts and weaker frontcourts. Kentucky had a key player go down with an injury about a month ago, and Marquette has Dominic James (who sometimes plays like he's injured). Neither team had an impressive out of conference record (Marquette's best win was against Wisconsin, and Kentucky didn't have a single good pre-conference win).
Night: West Region, No. 10 Arizona vs. No. 7 West Virginia
This was another tough game to pick. I went with Arizona in most of my brackets, because I like their balanced scoring attack. Though I had plenty of reasons not to pick the Wildcats - the turmoil surrounding the coaching situation, their under-.500 record in the Pac-10, and the fact that WV's Joe Alexander has been tearing it up recently. Alexander vs. Arizona's Chase Budinger will be a fun matchup to watch.
My Picks
No. 3 Xavier beats No. 14 Georgia
No. 5 Michigan St. beats No. 12 Temple
No. 6 USC beats No. 11 Kansas St.
No. 3 Wisconsin beats No. 14 CS Fullerton
Upset Special: No. 11 Baylor beats No. 6 Purdue
Quick Links
Mark Stewart looks at today's matchup between the UW and CS Fullerton.
A preview of Marquette's first round game.
The impact of March Madness on the workplace.
Pat Forde looks at the best and worst-case scenarios for all 64 teams.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Less Than 15 Hours...
The first game of the first round of the NCAA Tournament will begin in less than 15 hours (Georgia vs. Xavier tips off at 11:20 am/ct, and Portland St. vs. Kansas and Temple vs. Michigan St. also play tomorrow morning).
Do you have your pool bracket filled out yet?
Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting at least twice daily. Before the games start (or shortly after they start), I'll do a preview of the day's action (best matchups, my picks, etc.). Then at the end of the day, I'll post a recap of the day's events. In those posts, I'll be looking at 4 things: the best win of the day, the worst loss of the day, the best individual performance, and the "Seth Davis Smugness Watch." If you have no idea who Seth Davis is, just watch CBS' coverage and you'll soon find out.
Do you have your pool bracket filled out yet?
Starting tomorrow, I'll be posting at least twice daily. Before the games start (or shortly after they start), I'll do a preview of the day's action (best matchups, my picks, etc.). Then at the end of the day, I'll post a recap of the day's events. In those posts, I'll be looking at 4 things: the best win of the day, the worst loss of the day, the best individual performance, and the "Seth Davis Smugness Watch." If you have no idea who Seth Davis is, just watch CBS' coverage and you'll soon find out.
Best Qualities of March Madness
#8 - BS' Annual NIT Pool
For the past 7 years, my younger brother BS has attempted to compete with my annual NCAA Tournament pool with a pool of his own (except his pool is picking NIT games). BS has won the NIT pool for 7 straight years, though that isn't exactly surprising, because he has also been the only participant. When asked about his NIT pool's lack of success over the years, BS responded that "it's only a matter of time before the world realizes how much fun can be had gambling a $1.00 on mediocre basketball games." BS also wanted to make it known that he is an experienced pool manager, organizing a Horizon League pool for the past few years.
For the past 7 years, my younger brother BS has attempted to compete with my annual NCAA Tournament pool with a pool of his own (except his pool is picking NIT games). BS has won the NIT pool for 7 straight years, though that isn't exactly surprising, because he has also been the only participant. When asked about his NIT pool's lack of success over the years, BS responded that "it's only a matter of time before the world realizes how much fun can be had gambling a $1.00 on mediocre basketball games." BS also wanted to make it known that he is an experienced pool manager, organizing a Horizon League pool for the past few years.
Quick Links
Grant Wahl's "Big Bang Theory."
Injury updates on UCLA.
Luke Winn provides more statistics.
In case you need more Bruce Pearl in your life, here's this story.
Andy Katz on the poor performances of referees this year.
A preview of Kentucky vs. Marquette.
Don't know anything about Cal State Fullerton? Click here!
Memphis' head coach isn't worried about his team's poor free throw shooting.
Here are eight players that could make a difference in the first round.
Injury updates on UCLA.
Luke Winn provides more statistics.
In case you need more Bruce Pearl in your life, here's this story.
Andy Katz on the poor performances of referees this year.
A preview of Kentucky vs. Marquette.
Don't know anything about Cal State Fullerton? Click here!
Memphis' head coach isn't worried about his team's poor free throw shooting.
Here are eight players that could make a difference in the first round.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Less than 37 Hours...
Until the first (real) game of the 2008 Tournament. The Big Dance officially kicked off tonight (Mount St. Mary's defeated Coppin St., and now gets the pleasure of meeting UNC Friday night), but the real action starts Thursday morning.
That means you have less than 37 hours to enter my pool! Don't forget that you have the option of filling out a bracket (or 2, or 3) online. Just email me (tssanders@gmail.com), or leave a comment in any of the comment sections on this blog, and I'll send you an invite to the group I've set up on cbssportsline.com.
That means you have less than 37 hours to enter my pool! Don't forget that you have the option of filling out a bracket (or 2, or 3) online. Just email me (tssanders@gmail.com), or leave a comment in any of the comment sections on this blog, and I'll send you an invite to the group I've set up on cbssportsline.com.
Best Qualities of March Madness
#9 - Crazy Joey's Story of Being at the Bradley Center for "That One Game"
Over the years, one March Madness story has become a bit of a tradition for me (and probably a bunch of other people who were unfortunate enough to be within hearing distance). That story is the one that Crazy Joey tells about being at a NCAA Tournament game in 1992 at the Bradley Center. I thought tonight I'd share with everyone the absurd ramblings of Crazy Joey.
(As I'm typing this right now, Crazy Joey is talking about going to the circus that same year, where a local radio DJ approached Joey, offering him an autograph, but Joey was crying...Joey ended up getting the autograph and took it to school the next day...holy crap, what a frightening trip through Joey's memories!)
Back to the Tournament game....Joey brings this up every time he sees the highlight, which is frequently included in montages this time of the year. It was the game in the second round of the Midwest Region, when Georgia Tech beat USC 79-78 on a buzzer beater. The game has a memorable "call" from Al McGuire.
In his own words, Crazy Joey:
"I don't remember much, except eating hot dogs, cotton candy..."
"I remember the end of it, seeing the team wearing black - Georgia Tech - hit the game-winning shot."
"I remember the court being really green. And it was snowing out that day. That's it."
Over the years, one March Madness story has become a bit of a tradition for me (and probably a bunch of other people who were unfortunate enough to be within hearing distance). That story is the one that Crazy Joey tells about being at a NCAA Tournament game in 1992 at the Bradley Center. I thought tonight I'd share with everyone the absurd ramblings of Crazy Joey.
(As I'm typing this right now, Crazy Joey is talking about going to the circus that same year, where a local radio DJ approached Joey, offering him an autograph, but Joey was crying...Joey ended up getting the autograph and took it to school the next day...holy crap, what a frightening trip through Joey's memories!)
Back to the Tournament game....Joey brings this up every time he sees the highlight, which is frequently included in montages this time of the year. It was the game in the second round of the Midwest Region, when Georgia Tech beat USC 79-78 on a buzzer beater. The game has a memorable "call" from Al McGuire.
In his own words, Crazy Joey:
"I don't remember much, except eating hot dogs, cotton candy..."
"I remember the end of it, seeing the team wearing black - Georgia Tech - hit the game-winning shot."
"I remember the court being really green. And it was snowing out that day. That's it."
Quick Links
Even though all of the polls and rankings are useless now, I found this pretty interesting. You can see how all of the coaches in the USA Today/ESPN poll voted for the entire season. USC's Tim Floyd voted the Badgers as a #10 in the last poll.
Pat Forde looks ahead to the Tournament.
Here's a story on Georgetown's Roy Hibbert.
Luke Winn does some bracket math.
The evolution of Trevon Hughes' game.
Pat Forde looks ahead to the Tournament.
Here's a story on Georgetown's Roy Hibbert.
Luke Winn does some bracket math.
The evolution of Trevon Hughes' game.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Reminder: Pool Entries Due by Thursday, 11 AM
Don't forget that bracket entries for my 13th annual pool are due this Thursday by 11 Am. Why Thursday and not Tuesday night? Because I still refuse to recognize the play-in game as officially part of the Tournament, that's why!
Best Qualities of March Madness
#11 - Your School Making a Run
Nothing makes the NCAA Tournament more exciting, than your school being in the field and making a run toward the Final Four. Wisconsin basketball fans have had a few memorable runs in the past decade. There was the 2000 Wisconsin Badgers, who made an improbable run to the Final Four as a #8 seed. In 2003, Marquette fans were full of joy after Dwayne Wade led the Golden Eagles (or whatever they were called back then) to a Final Four. 2005 saw UWM go to the Sweet Sixteen (not bad for a mid-major), and UW go to the Elite Eight.
Your school in the Big Dance can also be quite the nerve-wracking experience. Personally, watching the Badgers play has become more stressful over the years, as UW has gone from an upstart and upsetter, to being a favorite and upsetee. There's definitely more pressure on the Badgers to win games than ever before, which can sometimes make watching them a less than enjoyable time. On the other hand, it also makes you appreciate the victories even more.
#10 - St. Patrick's Day
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! This holiday always seems to be more enjoyable when there's a full slate of college basketball games to accompany it. I remember one St. Patrick's Day a few years ago, which landed on the first day of the Tournament. Between the festivities of both of the day's events, there was little time for me to study for an Italian exam the next day. Needless to say, but that was the worst grade I ever got in that class.
Quick Links
Gary Parrish gives his observations on the bracket.
Marquette and Kentucky will square off in the first round - in a repeat of the 2003 Elite Eight game.
Andy Katz gets answers from the selection committee.
Numbers don't mean much to the Badgers.
Seth Davis answers some questions on the Tournament.
Marquette and Kentucky will square off in the first round - in a repeat of the 2003 Elite Eight game.
Andy Katz gets answers from the selection committee.
Numbers don't mean much to the Badgers.
Seth Davis answers some questions on the Tournament.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Game Times
The NCAA has released the start times for the first and second rounds of the Tournament.
Found via Badger Blog.
Found via Badger Blog.
tS' 13th Annual March Madness Pool!
For anyone that would like to join and can't get me a paper bracket by Thursday morning, I've set up a group on cbssportsline.com. If you'd like to join, either email me (tssanders@gmail.com), or just leave a comment in any of the comment sections on this blog saying you'd like to join. I'll then send you an email invite with the group password.
People who participate through the online group will be in the same pool as all of the normal paper brackets.
Official scoring updates will be made regularly on this blog.
Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of cbssportsline.com, online participants can only make 3 bracket submissions. This year, I've capped the total number of bracket entries at 8 (so if you make 3 online brackets, you can still fill out 5 more brackets (if you can get those to me/a pool manager by Thursday morning).
Each bracket entry is $1.00. Payouts and whether or not there will be a second-place or third-place will be determined based on the total number of entries.
-tS
People who participate through the online group will be in the same pool as all of the normal paper brackets.
Official scoring updates will be made regularly on this blog.
Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of cbssportsline.com, online participants can only make 3 bracket submissions. This year, I've capped the total number of bracket entries at 8 (so if you make 3 online brackets, you can still fill out 5 more brackets (if you can get those to me/a pool manager by Thursday morning).
Each bracket entry is $1.00. Payouts and whether or not there will be a second-place or third-place will be determined based on the total number of entries.
-tS
tS' Weekly Top Five & Quick Thoughts on the Field of 65
Before I get to my final Top Five, here are my quick thoughts on the work done by the selection committee this year:
-Wisconsin should have been a #2 seed. At the very least, they shouldn't have been scheduled for a Thursday game. Winning the Conference Tourney obviously did not help them at all when it came to seeding, except for being placed in the Midwest Region (though I'm not sure how great of an advantage it will be playing in Omaha, especially if they end up playing Kansas St. in the second round). The four #1 seeds all won their conference tournaments. None of the four #2 seeds won their conference tournaments. The Badgers won their conference tournament, and are rewarded with a #3 seed and a Thursday game (which better be at least a night game!).
-The only other problem I had with the seedings, was Pittsburgh as a #4 seed (I thought they deserved a #3 seed), and Xavier as a #3 seed (I thought they could have been a #4).
-The East Region is probably the toughest, but Memphis will also have some potentially tough matchups in the South. They could face Mississippi St., Pittsburgh, and Stanford or Texas.
-Kansas in the Midwest Region seems to have the easiest road to the Elite Eight.
-Arizona St. and Virginia Tech got snubbed. Teams that I wouldn't have had a problem if they missed the cut include Miami, Kentucky, Villanova, St. Mary's, Arizona, and St. Joe's.
Here now is my final Top Five:
5. (tie) Texas - Played really well throughout the Big 12 Tourney, and just came short of another victory over Kansas in the championship game (in what was essentially a home game for the Jayhawks.
(tie) Wisconsin - The Badgers won their conference title outright and then backed it up with a Big Ten Tourney title as well. The comeback victory over Michigan St. was a great display of Coach Ryan's brilliance and his team's ability to execute calmly and efficiently.
4. Memphis - The Tigers finished the season with one loss. They are an experienced bunch, and have made it to the Elite Eight the past two seasons.
3. UCLA - The Bruins keep finding a way to win, even when key players go down with injuries. Three things I like about this team are their toughness on defense, the play of Darren Collison, and the way they don't panic at the end of close games.
2. North Carolina - The Tar Heels looked a little vulnerable in the ACC Tourney. Defense continues to be an issue at times for this team, but UNC still possesses the nation's best player, Tyler Hansbrough.
1. Kansas - Kansas rolled into the Big 12 Tourney Championship game, and then played one of the most impressive games by any team all year. This is an unselfish team with multiple scoring threats and a tenacious defense. They look like a focused team and seem poised to make a deep run in the Tournament.
-Wisconsin should have been a #2 seed. At the very least, they shouldn't have been scheduled for a Thursday game. Winning the Conference Tourney obviously did not help them at all when it came to seeding, except for being placed in the Midwest Region (though I'm not sure how great of an advantage it will be playing in Omaha, especially if they end up playing Kansas St. in the second round). The four #1 seeds all won their conference tournaments. None of the four #2 seeds won their conference tournaments. The Badgers won their conference tournament, and are rewarded with a #3 seed and a Thursday game (which better be at least a night game!).
-The only other problem I had with the seedings, was Pittsburgh as a #4 seed (I thought they deserved a #3 seed), and Xavier as a #3 seed (I thought they could have been a #4).
-The East Region is probably the toughest, but Memphis will also have some potentially tough matchups in the South. They could face Mississippi St., Pittsburgh, and Stanford or Texas.
-Kansas in the Midwest Region seems to have the easiest road to the Elite Eight.
-Arizona St. and Virginia Tech got snubbed. Teams that I wouldn't have had a problem if they missed the cut include Miami, Kentucky, Villanova, St. Mary's, Arizona, and St. Joe's.
Here now is my final Top Five:
5. (tie) Texas - Played really well throughout the Big 12 Tourney, and just came short of another victory over Kansas in the championship game (in what was essentially a home game for the Jayhawks.
(tie) Wisconsin - The Badgers won their conference title outright and then backed it up with a Big Ten Tourney title as well. The comeback victory over Michigan St. was a great display of Coach Ryan's brilliance and his team's ability to execute calmly and efficiently.
4. Memphis - The Tigers finished the season with one loss. They are an experienced bunch, and have made it to the Elite Eight the past two seasons.
3. UCLA - The Bruins keep finding a way to win, even when key players go down with injuries. Three things I like about this team are their toughness on defense, the play of Darren Collison, and the way they don't panic at the end of close games.
2. North Carolina - The Tar Heels looked a little vulnerable in the ACC Tourney. Defense continues to be an issue at times for this team, but UNC still possesses the nation's best player, Tyler Hansbrough.
1. Kansas - Kansas rolled into the Big 12 Tourney Championship game, and then played one of the most impressive games by any team all year. This is an unselfish team with multiple scoring threats and a tenacious defense. They look like a focused team and seem poised to make a deep run in the Tournament.
Games I Would Place One Betting Disc On If I Were a Gambling Man
I went 4-1 Friday, and now am at 43-19 entering the last day of games before the Big Dance. Here are today's picks:
Texas Arlington @ Northwestern St. - Northwestern St.
Clemson @ North Carolina - North Carolina
Kansas @ Texas - Kansas
Georgia @ Arkansas - Arkansas
Illinois @ Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Texas Arlington @ Northwestern St. - Northwestern St.
Clemson @ North Carolina - North Carolina
Kansas @ Texas - Kansas
Georgia @ Arkansas - Arkansas
Illinois @ Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Best Qualities of March Madness
#12 - Selection Sunday
For many college hoops fans Selection Sunday is a holiday. There is plenty of buildup to this year's Selection Sunday, and numerous teams across the country are waiting to find out if they will be dancing this year.
Joe Lunardi has his latest predictions on who will get in and who won't.
ESPN.com also has a "bubble watch."
The selection committee still has a lot of work to do. I don't think that there's a consensus as to who will be the four #1 seeds, and teams like Illinois and Georgia have the opportunity to burst some bubbles today.
For many college hoops fans Selection Sunday is a holiday. There is plenty of buildup to this year's Selection Sunday, and numerous teams across the country are waiting to find out if they will be dancing this year.
Joe Lunardi has his latest predictions on who will get in and who won't.
ESPN.com also has a "bubble watch."
The selection committee still has a lot of work to do. I don't think that there's a consensus as to who will be the four #1 seeds, and teams like Illinois and Georgia have the opportunity to burst some bubbles today.
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