Bracket-Mania '09

[Fazor]

Well, I just filled out my bracket for the men's tourney. I'm not very confident in it, though I never am. I just do a single bracket for $10 though the Amer. Legion that my dad is a member of. I never come close to winning (well, think I was in the top 10 years ago, but since then nada). But at least it makes games I otherwise don't care about, fun to watch.

I'm not a big b-ball fan, but I do love the college tourney. Those kids play with all heart. Well, most of 'em do.

[NEOWatcher]

You should publish your method, and contact the news. Or maybe you need a book first.

The news is so full of the "foolproof" methods right now that the noise is deafening. It happens every year. I have yet to see anybody re-visit any of those claiments after the whole thing is over.

[SeanF]

I'm not into basketball, either, but I may have to watch some of the women's tourney since SDSU is playing (in their first year of eligibility, even!)

[jfribrg]

As always, I am rooting for Villanova. They are only six wins away from their second national championship. 58 of the 65 teams will lose without Villanova doing anything. We just have to finish off the remaining 6.

[Fazor]

I like Villanova. They always make a good run in the tourney. I have them going to the final four, but have N. Car beating them. I couldn't bring myself to pick NCar for the championship though; I chose Memphis to win it all, coming off an exciting upset of Louisville.

Memphis has one of the best regular season records of the teams in the tourney, though I didn't look at their strength of schedule. In the end, none of that really matters. Like you say; it's whoever can win those six games in a row.

[jfribrg]

Back in 1978, we had a lottery for the champion. All the teams go into a hat and everyone picks one team. I picked North Carolina. They made a surprising run, but eventually lost. I still root for North Carolina whenever there are no local teams (Villanova, Temple, St. Joe's, Penn) left in the tournament. This year, I think Villanova has a chance to make it to the final four, but getting past Duke will be tough.

I also hope that one of the number 1 seeds loses in round 1. I don't care which one. For a change, I just want to see a 16 seed make it to round 2. It's bound to happen at some point.

[Fazor]

I also hope that one of the number 1 seeds loses in round 1. I don't care which one. For a change, I just want to see a 16 seed make it to round 2. It's bound to happen at some point.

I don't. I went against my normal tactic and have most of the number one seeds going pretty far. I never pick one to lose in the first round; but usually pick two to lose in the second round. I don't like going with number one seeds; but this year, Pitt is the first one I have losing, and that's in the 3rd round. Then UConn in the 4th.

So that means this'll be the year that all 4 lose in the first or second round.

[HenrikOlsen]

Well, I just filled out my bracket for the men's tourney. I'm not very confident in it, though I never am. I just do a single bracket for $10 though the Amer. Legion that my dad is a member of. I never come close to winning (well, think I was in the top 10 years ago, but since then nada). But at least it makes games I otherwise don't care about, fun to watch.

I'm not a big b-ball fan, but I do love the college tourney. Those kids play with all heart. Well, most of 'em do.

Some kind of hint to indicate what on earth you're talking about would have been nice.

b-ball=baseball?

[NEOWatcher]

Some kind of hint to indicate what on earth you're talking about would have been nice.

Here's some hints...
Actually; "where on earth" is the first clue in finding out what is being talked about.
Once you get that (and the cultures involved) then you get to when in the year.
After that, there's only one answer...

b-ball=baseball?

oooh, wrong season. Think indoor sport that is over by the spring. Think BIG shoe contracts. Think BIG tall fellas.

Don't have it yet? Here...Basketball

[Fazor]

Bocce-Ball. It's time for the annual college tourney.

[Fazor]

Okay, B-ball is an actual slang term for "basket ball" that is very well known in America, even though it could be used for other sports that start with "B" and end with the word "ball". No one calls "Baseball" "B-ball".

But I always forget that is something that is not globally used, and it always confuses people when I use it on Baut. But learning form past mistakes takes too much effort.

[mike alexander]

I believe it's called 'football' on the Continent.

Anyhow, I just filled out our lab's sheet by flipping a coin for each matchup. My nickel says Memphis will play Akron for the championship, with Akron winning.

[Fazor]

Anyhow, I just filled out our lab's sheet by flipping a coin for each matchup. My nickel says Memphis will play Akron for the championship, with Akron winning.

Well, I think it'd be safe to say with that pick, if you are correct, you'll easily win the pool.

[NEOWatcher]

I believe it's called 'football' on the Continent.

Wouldn't it be hamperball on the other side of the Atlantic?

[Fazor]

Except in Australia, where it's known as "Thudwhumper Ball"

[jfribrg]

As always, I am rooting for Villanova. They are only six wins away from their second national championship. 58 of the 65 teams will lose without Villanova doing anything. We just have to finish off the remaining 6.

Villanova 80
American 67

33 down, 5 to go.

[jfribrg]

Villanova 89
UCLA 69

49 Down, 4 to go

[SeanF]

I'm not into basketball, either, but I may have to watch some of the women's tourney since SDSU is playing (in their first year of eligibility, even!)

Well, SDSU won their first-ever NCAA tourney game tonight in rather convincing fashion, beating TCU 90-55.

[Click Ticker]

Michigan State is back in the sweet sixteen for the eighth time in twelve years (second only to Duke's 10 in 12). I didn't even do a bracket this year. I usually enter one pool. I won the whole thing in 2005, so I'm actually ahead in total dollars spent vs. won. Picked MSU for the final four that year as an eight seed.

MSU has Kansas next, who they beat by 13 earlier this season. But the second meeting seems to favor the loser of the first - so I hope they don't get too confident. Not that Izzo will let them. Louisville lost to Minnesota earlier this season and they are the one seed in MSU's bracket - so I'm not overly concerned there. It's a winnable game. MSU beat Minnesota three times.

The Big East does appear to be living up to the hype. Five teams still standing. Of course, with all the high seeds they were awarded, they haven't faced any really tough teams yet - but they've still struggled at times.

[Fazor]

My bracket looks ugly so far, but with all the teams I picked going to the elite 8 and beyond still in it, I might not be too bad off.

[Click Ticker]

The Michigan State Spartans have both their mens and womens teams in the Sweet 16 after the ladies pulled the nine seed over one seed upset of Duke yesterday. Especially nice because they defeated their old coach in doing so. I hope they can repeat their 2005 success with both teams in the Final Four.

[SeanF]

Well, SDSU won their first-ever NCAA tourney game tonight in rather convincing fashion, beating TCU 90-55.

Couldn't make to the Sweet 16, though, losing to Baylor 60-58. Talk about a tough game, though - I don't think either team had more than a five-point lead throughout the entire second half, and Baylor sank the tie-breaking basket with 0.5 seconds left on the clock.

Well, there's always next year, right?

[A.DIM]

Go Cards!

[jfribrg]

This year, I think Villanova has a chance to make it to the final four, but getting past Duke will be tough.

Villanova 77
Duke 54

Please disregard the above quote. I knew all along that the Wildcats are better.

57 Down, 3 to go.

[Click Ticker]

I was torn on that game. As much as I love to see Duke bow out of the tourney each year, I find myself a bit hopeful that the Big East isn't as good a conference as the hype. So far they are proving all the doubters wrong. Kudos.

[Fazor]

Well, I think I'm out of the running. I had Memphis going all the way. It'll be a longshot for them to win it now that they've been bumped from the tourney.

So the only thing left for me to do is cheer on the only remaining Big 10 team. Go Mich St! (Now that I said that, they'll lose tonight)

[rigel]

I not sure who I'm supposed to support, daughter at Pitt and son at Nova.

[jfribrg]

I not sure who I'm supposed to support, daughter at Pitt and son at Nova.

Pick a college half way in between. Tell them you would have rooted for Shippensburg.

Alternatively, root for whoever has the lead. Or you can root for whoever is losing. If you're like me though, you'll root for Villanova, because it is more fun rooting for the eventual winner.

[Fazor]

If you're like me though, you'll root for Villanova, because it is more fun rooting for the eventual winner.

Spoken with all the arrogance of a true team fan. If Mich St doesn't go on (which, honestly, I'm not expecting them to), it wouldn't bug me if Villanova did well. I don't know why, but I've always kinda rooted for them . . . my guess is for the mere fact that they have "nova" in their name, and that's cool (but makes me feel like my g/f--picking teams based on colors... heh).

[jfribrg]

I've always wondered about the town of Villanova, which of course translates to "New town". 7 miles away is another town called "Newtown Square". And 25 miles in another direction is a town called "Newtown". Back when they were naming towns in this neck of the woods, they apparently didn't waste too much time thinking up creative names.