2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Discussion

[TheKilo]

EAST REGION

 

UPSET SPECIAL - None. Picking chalk except for Tennessee over Oklahoma State.

 

OVERRATED TEAM - DOOK. I realize they won the ACCT, but a 2 seed? I expect Texas to beat this team in Rd. 2, complete lack of an inside game will continue to be Duke's undoing.

 

DARK HORSE - Texas. Love their draw, I think they dispatch of Minny very easily and handle Duke in round 2. Not completely sold on Villanova as any kind of challenger for this region, Texas/Villanova would be an interesting S16 matchup.

 

REGION WINNER - Pittsburgh. No real threat in this region, the only team that will beat them is themselves (and possibly the officials - if the games are called really tight it will work to Pitt's detriment.)

 

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[TheKilo]

WEST REGION

 

UPSET SPECIAL - (11) Utah State over (6) Marquette. MU would have been a sleeper FF pick for me if Dominic James didn't get hurt. Unfortunately, he did get hurt and I think Utah State can give them fits in the opening round. Jerel McNeal is a fantastic player but he will need to put this team on his back if they want to play more than one game.

 

Honorable Mention - (10) Maryland over (7) California

 

OVERRATED TEAM - In my projected field earlier today, I had Missouri as a number 3. But the more I think about it - the more I question whether or not they should be placed on that line. I think to be successful, Missouri needs to be knocking down shots from the perimeter. The beauty of the NCAAs is one cold game, you're out. Could that happen to Missouri?

 

Cal at a 7 seems high too.

 

DARK HORSE - Purdue. If Hummel is healthy, this is a complete team, one that defends and has balanced scoring up and down the lineup. IF they get hot, expect them to beat Washington and give UConn all they can handle.

 

REGION WINNER - Memphis. I said it earlier, I think we're on a fast track to a UConn/Memphis Elite 8. AS much as I'd love UConn to win, I just can't expect them to show up and beat a team like Memphis. I like UConn's draw and Thabeet should have a lot of influence on the first three games. But how can I expect this team to show up and win 4 must win games when they have never won one?

 

Memphis in a squeaker.

 

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[TheKilo]

SOUTH REGION

 

UPSET SPECIAL - (12) Western Kentucky over (5) Illinois. The 12/5 pick that made me look awesome last year was WKU over Drake, so I'll push my luck and go with them again. I find Illinois to be a tad overrated and if their PG is hurt and ineffective, this seems like a game ripe for the picking.

 

Honorable mention - (10) Michigan over (7) Clemson

 

OVERRATED TEAM - Syracuse. I love Jonny Flynn but this team is not as good as they played this week in NYC. Syracuse has a long history of disappointing in the big dance after putting up a great show in the BET. This team doesn't play great defense, the zone can be exploited. I think they bow out in round two to Arizona State.

 

DARK HORSE - Arizona State. James Harden is the real deal and will give Blake Griffin and Oklahoma all they can handle.

 

REGION WINNER - Gonzaga. I'm not sold on the Sooners post Griffin concussion and I'm not sold on UNC if Lawson is hurt. This team is peaking at the right time - Pargo and Heytvelt are two tremendous players and will be a tough out for any team.

 

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[TheKilo]

MIDWEST REGION:

 

UPSET SPECIAL - Seems to be the trendy pick, but I'm going to go with (12) Arizona over (5) Utah. Arizona has lots of talent on their team. Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, and Nic Wise will probably be the best players on the court when these two teams play. It's simply a question of consistency with Arizona - you never know what team you are going to get. I think we're looking at one win at the minimum for this team.

 

Honorable Mention - (10) USC over (7) Boston College. Athletes v. system.

 

OVERRATED TEAM - Wake Forest. Supremely athletic. Wins over UNC and Duke. Like Arizona, has the tendency to be maddeningly inconsistent. If they get past Cleveland State (and they should, although no guarantees with this team) a matchup with either Utah or Arizona awaits. I think it will be Arizona - a team that primarily plays zone, which could cause Wake problems.

 

DARK HORSE - Weat Virginia. A team who has made it to the Sweet 16 the last three seasons, they have the experience and the ability to put a deep run together.

 

REGION WINNER - Louisville. IMO the best defensive team in the country, their press will give teams fits all the way to Detroit.

 

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[Mr Crunchy]

I think gonzaga got so much attention for being underrated that theyve become overrated.

i had the pleasure of being at the BET this weekend and it was quite a show but the 2 teams i thought were the best got bounced, pitt and uconn.

i like guards and coaches in this thing and uconn losing their point is devastating even though price stepped up and played real well in his absense.

pitt looks awesome at times, unbeatable at others but then they get into a funk for 10 minutes theyre beatable...

Syracuse fans are amongst the biggest touchholes on the planet.

the 5'3 128 lb ""man""sitting in front of me was gettin animated when cuse went up saturday night, he was standing the entire time,jumpin up and down, high fiving his girl friend and making an ******* out of himself so the guy behind me says ""excuse me would you please sit down"" and the cuse kid doesnt turn but barks out ""WHY DONT YOU STAND UP""....so the guy did and he was about 6'2 305 and blacker than the night....the cuse kid s*** himself on the spot, mumbled something about his parking spot,grabbed his rat bastard ugly girlfriend and left.....18,000 people from all over the nation watching in harmony and 1 f*** bag nearly started a riot over his enthusiasms...plus you knew the only hoop this kid ever played was in phys ed but he was going on and on like dicky v.....couldnt help but enjoy watching louisville dismantle these guys in the 2nd half due to that *******.

[TheKilo]

Memphis losing will destroy my bracket but the fact this is even a game is incredible.

[TheKilo]

6 point lead!!!!!

[BoSox21]

f*** Memphis, there goes everyone's sexy pick

[TheKilo]

I still think Memphis ekes this one out but I feel much better about a potential UConn matchup - UConn needs to sit in a zone.

[BoSox21]

Memphis turned it around

[CrespoBlows]

f*** CBS. Butler launches a three with 0:11 left. The game abruptly switches to TAMU/BYU. TAMU is shooting a free throw with 2:07 left, up 14.

 

Fail.

[TheKilo]

Memphis survives.

 

3-0 so far today.

[Cocos Disciples]

2 for 3, I had Butler over LSU.

[Cocos Disciples]

Nice little comeback for Northern Iowa, but it looks like Purdue will hold on.

[TheKilo]

UConn winning a must win game?

 

Shocked.

 

And yes I know it's Chattanooga. I'll take what I can get.

[Cocos Disciples]

UConn winning a must win game?

 

Shocked.

 

And yes I know it's Chattanooga. I'll take what I can get.

 

It was pretty close for the first ten minutes, then I leave, come back and it's a 28 point game at half. Now it's 34. Impressive.

[TheKilo]

12 for 12 motherf***ers, and winning in the last 4 games.

[TheKilo]

16-0

[schillingouttheks]

14 for 16 ain't bad. I'll take it.

 

You would think that VCU would know that UCLA would be all over Maynor. That pissed me off, and it cost me a game. f***.

 

Also lost the Clemson game. Oh well.

[Cocos Disciples]

15 for 16.

[CrespoBlows]

Portland St. is my upset pick of the day.

[Cocos Disciples]

Cornell is/was mine.

[TheKilo]

Lost two, WVU one hurts, I think I had them in the E8.

 

Still, 22-2 overall isn't too shabby.

[Cocos Disciples]

Ouch, 4 wrong in the afternoon; I had Cornell, Utah State, Tennessee, West Virginia.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Horrible day for me. I had West Virginia going pretty far, so that basically ruins my bracket. Tennessee loses and my dream for a Cornell upset goes down the drain.

[Cocos Disciples]

Great set of games right now. Play-in Morehead State only down by 2 against Louisville at half, USC beating BC and Arizona beating Utah.

[msubulldogs21]

Cleveland State is hammering WF right now. Hahaha.

 

Sad thing is that I was so tempted to pick them but couldn't pull the trigger.

[TheKilo]

Cleveland State WTF

[ORS]

Gaudio looks to be a coach in the Dale Brown mold. Recruits his ass off, but couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper sack. He's got more raw talent on that team than Cleveland St has in school history.

[TheKilo]

This Siena/Ohio State game is amazing.