The Madness Begins.

[basska]

One of the best times of the year in sports will begin tomorrow - the NCAA tournament. 

For any other March Madness fans out there, what are your bold predictions?

[Quillback]

I don't have any predictions, but I hope Arkansas makes it to the sweet 16.   Arkansas is playing Kansas in the 1st round.  This is one year that I believe AR has a good chance against the JH's.  

I'm pulling for MO also; they have a tough matchup against Drake.  Saw a pundit that thinks Drake will go far.

I'm rooting for Gonzaga too.

Those are my teams, AR, MO, and Gonzaga - I doubt any of them will make it to the Final Four.

[ness]

It's always fun to see the initial bracket. I counted 12 colleges I don't remember ever hearing of before. It's also fun to see a smaller program make a run for it. 

Go Drake!  

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, ness said:

It's always fun to see the initial bracket. I counted 12 colleges I don't remember ever hearing of before. It's also fun to see a smaller program make a run for it. 

Go Drake!  

Beaker 😆

[ness]

1 hour ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Beaker 😆

Nah, not me. I just love an underdog. Or anybody playing Mizzou  

[Al Agnew]

The pundits love Drake, but all they see is the gaudy 30-3 record, the 2nd best (most of them say best, but that's not quite true) scoring defense, and that Drake plays the slowest in Division 1, while Mizzou is supposed to play so fast.  But by scoring defense, it simply means Drake has allowed the fewest points per game.  And that is entirely because of their slow as molasses offense.  Drake averages around 60 possessions a game, which, since only one team can have the ball at a time, means that their opponent only gets somewhere around 60 possessions as well...60 chances to score points.  Mizzou averages a bit over 70 possessions a game, for instance...Alabama averages 76 possessions.  You score more points the more times you have a chance to score.

But you also score more points the more efficient your offense is.  Drake is actually NOT a good defensive team as far as stopping the other team from scoring when they have the ball.  They rank in the 200s in opponents' effective shooting percentage and in opponents' points per possession.  Mizzou ranks slightly better in both.  But Drake also ranks 58th in their own effective field goal percentage, and 55th in points per possession.  Mizzou ranks 18th and 7th.  And...Mizzou played the 25th toughest schedule in Division 1 to amass those statistics, while Drake played the 111th toughest.  

And as far as Mizzou having to play fast, they are actually the 99th fastest team in D-1.  They like to run off turnovers and long defensive rebounds, but they don't just hoist up shots in the first ten seconds in a half court game.  They are bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic at every position, and their bench is also mostly the same compared to Drake's starters.

Sure, Drake CAN win.  But they'll have to play their A game and hope Mizzou guys miss a lot of shots, turn the ball over a lot, and get in foul trouble.

[Quillback]

Well sboot, AR and MO playing at the same time.  I could record MO, but they will be showing the score on the ticker while I am watching AR, and try as I might, it is hard to ignore that ticker.

[Flysmallie]

I got no dog in this fight but it’s cool to see Daniel Abreu out there playing for Drake. I took a lot of pictures of him when he played high school basketball at Willard. 

[Alex Heitman]

Mizzou getting Mizzoued again. It’s painful to be born a Mizzou fan. 

[Quillback]

Sorry to see Mizz take the loss.  I was hoping for an unlikely but possible AR vs MO in the Sweet 16.  AR won, but it was not an easy win.  Next up St. Johns.  I give Arkansas a puncher's chance in that one.