Selection Sunday

[moguy1973]

I hate filling out my brackets. There's always one or two teams that I really can't stand that inevitably end up in the Elite-8 or Final-4 just because of the matchups they are presented along the way. Miami is one of those teams...

[ozark trout fisher]

One thing that I thought was interesting was how the committee apparently placed so much importance on winning road games, as that was their main reasoning for putting in Middle Tennessee in (and leaving out other bubble teams, pretty much all of which were from the SEC.) But they really didn't hurt Missouri too much for a 2-8 road record (even if you count neutral sites as away games, we're still looking at a 6-10 record.) I mean, a 23-10 team from a so called "power" conference with an RPI in the 30s usually gets something like a 9 seed. I really thought they might move Mizzou down a couple seed lines just because of the road record, but it doesn't seem like they did. Kentucky and other teams have to be wondering why they were hurt by what they did away from home even though they won more road games.

Why am I making this point? Because selfishly, I was hoping Missouri would move down the bracket a little more, only because I think that would actually help them win games. It's easier for an 11 or a 12 seed to win a couple games than a 9. But really there's nothing to complain about.

[stlfisher]

Below is the center for New Mexico State. He is one really large man.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/college_sports/local_colleges/article/At-7-foot-5-Bhullar-center-of-attention-for-the-4244040.php#photo-4123218

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, the New Mexico State center is a big boy. 7'5" and 355 pounds. But, who is he going to guard? Loe and Ellis will just take him out to the three point line, and if he doesn't go out there they'll just shoot threes. SLU has enough outside shooters to shred a zone. They all run the floor well enough to have five on fours, because I watched a NMS game and the big guy just trots/lumbers up and down the floor. In the game I watched, which was the conference tourney championship, neither team was in the same class as SLU in quickness. Of course, you never know what adrenaline can do, but I look for SLU to handle them pretty easily as long as they don't overlook them.

I'm not even going to guess at how Mizzou will do.

[stlfisher]

Yeah, he is not quick at al and doesn't look very athletic... so as long as SLU moves the ball around then it shouldn't be an issue. I am more surpised by just how big he is than threatened by how good he will be. Probaby can't drive straight at him and excpect good results though. As long as SLU plays their game and shoots decent they should win easily. New Mexico State is not a high scoring team and they haven't seen a defense like SLU.

Oregon and Oklahoma State could be a tough second round game for SLU.

[ozark trout fisher]

New Mexico State is a good mid-major. The WAC may have been a one-bid league this year, but two other teams (Louisiana Tech and Denver) were legitimately tournament quality teams if they were in a bigger conference, and Utah State was right there too. So New Mexico State is used to playing (and beating) good teams. So I wouldn't be stunned if an upset occurred. But SLU is a really good, experienced team, and I just don't see them going down in their first game. They should be good enough defensively to win. Assuming they do, I expect them to really be tested by the winner of Oklahoma State and Oregon.

Both are good, highly talented teams. Oklahoma State has Marcus Smart and LeBryan Nash, and the rest of their roster is very talented as well. They, like SLU are a potential final four team, and they have all kinds of NBA talent. I would be extremely excited about that game if it happens, I think it would be one of the best possible match-ups in the entire tournament. Oregon is also really good. They went 26-8 and finished tied for second in the Pac-12-and somehow are sitting there as a 12 seed. They beat both Arizona and UCLA though, and I expect them to be a tough out in the tourney. So assuming SLU moves on against New Mexico State (not a walkover) there will be a good team waiting for them. I do think they can definitely beat either Oregon or Oklahoma State-but after I took some time to look at it, it's sure a tough draw for a high seed. If SLU makes the final four run that I still think they're capable of, it will be well earned, to say the least.

[joeD]

Please forgive me.

I think we would enjoy the NCAA Tournament more if we didn't fill out brackets.

Meaning, we cheer for teams we want to win, instead of teams that would advance our cause in "pools."

I guess I shouldn't write "we." Me.

When did it become important for me to win a "pool?" Well, not important, but, "having a monetary stake." Showing my college BB knowledge. Which is nothing.

I have Colorado State beating Mizzou. (do you trust MU?)

What fun is that?

I'm beginning to think that "pools" are bad. They go against our "better" natures. Wouldn't it be nice to cheer for teams we want to win, instead of teams that we "need" to win?

Eeh. Screw that. I'm taking Colorado St and the points.

[Justin Spencer]

I think it makes all the games fun, and I rarely pick my favorite teams to win it all, but still cheer for them, it makes it a little easier to take when you pick them to lose.

[ozark trout fisher]

To me, filling out a bracket is just fun and doesn't get in the way of rooting interests. Every year, I do try to pick Mizzou as far as I honestly think they'll go-not as far as I hope they'll go. But I hope they prove me wrong and absolutely ruin my bracket!

Last year I picked upsets like crazy. Didn't work out. Now I have two 1 seeds, a 2 seed, and a 3 seed in the final four. I know that's boring, so watch a couple of 8 seeds somehow make it in there.

[snap]

Speaking of Mizzou, it made me feel better that Ole Miss won the SEC tournament after the way Mizzou blew that last game!!! As mentioned by me, Mizzou should have won that game by 10+ points, so this hoping Haith learned something this year about this team and has them ready and lets them play .......but they have let me down soooooooooooo many times this year, it is hard to get too excited about them making a run.......I am not going to fill out a bracket for the first time in decades!!!....but I will enjoy all the games on the tube, even if the Mrs. won't!!!!