So the brackets are out now. The fun is in filling out the brackets though, so I assume that's what most of you have been doing since they were announced. Who do you have in your early Sweet 16? Here's mine: <font size=""4"">Sweet 16</font> <u>Midwest</u> #8 Arizona vs. #4 Maryland #3 Oregon vs. #2 Wisconsin <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #4 Southern Illinois #6 Duke vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> *Hardest bracket by far #1 North Carolina vs. #4 Texas #3 Washington State vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Tennessee #3 Texas A&M vs. #7 Nevada <font size=""4"">Elite 8</font> <u>Midwest</u> #4 Maryland vs. #3 Oregon <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> #1 North Carolina vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size=""4"">Final Four</font> #3 Oregon vs. #1 Kansas #2 Georgetown vs. #1 Ohio State <font size=""4"">Championship Game</font> #1 Kansas vs. #2 Georgetown Winner: #2 Georgetown
Sweet 16: Midwest: Florida v. Maryland Oregon v. Wisconsin West: Kansas v. Virginia Tech Duke v. UCLA East: UNC v. Texas Vanderbilt v. Georgetown South: Ohio St. v. Virginia TexasAaM v. Memphis Elite 8: Midwest: Florida v. Wisconsin West: Kansas v. UCLA East: Texas v. Georgetown South: Ohio St. v. Memphis Final Four: Wisconsin v. UCLA Texas v. Ohio St. Championship: Wisconsin(68) v. Ohio St.(77)
<font size=""4"">Sweet 16</font> <u>Midwest</u> #1 Florida vs. #4 Maryland #3 Oregon vs. #2 Wisconsin <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #12 Illinois #6 Duke vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> #1 North Carolina vs. #4 Texas #3 Washington State vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Tennessee #3 Texas A&M vs. #2 Memphis <font size=""4"">Elite 8</font> <u>Midwest</u> #1 Florida vs. #3 Oregon <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> #1 North Carolina vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #5 Tennessee vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size=""4"">Final Four</font> #1 Florida vs. #2 UCLA #2 Georgetown vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size=""4"">Championship Game</font> #1 Florida vs. #2 Georgetown Winner: #2 Georgetown
These brackets didn't allow for me to have my top teams in the top places. Usually I can put the teams I think are the best at the top and knock out the overrated teams early, but this year I had to make decisions like Wisconsin vs. Oregon and North Carolina vs. Georgetown. In a perfect world, I'd have North Carolina, Georgetown, Wisconsin, and Oregon in the Final Four, but since half of those guys will be knocked out automatically because of the way the bracket is set up, I had to put Texas A&M and Kansas in there as well.
You're right, the East is a beast. Georgetown has the credentials to be a #1 seed, and they will certainly play like one. Anyteam with Kevin Durant on it is scary, while Washington State is the best team that no one knows about.
I like how VC stayed on the Arizona bandwagon and stayed on the Anti-Florida Bandwagon still....... <u>Sweet Sixteen</u> <u>Midwest</u> Florida VS Maryland Oregon VS Wisconsin <u>West</u> Kansas VS Va Tech Pitt VS UCLA <u>East</u> North Carolina VS Texas Oral Roberts VS Georgetown <u>South</u> Ohio St. VS Tennessee Texas A&M VS Memphis <u>Elite 8</u> <u>Midwest</u> Florida VS Oregon <u>West</u> Kansas VS UCLA <u>East</u> North Carolina VS Georgetown <u>South</u> Ohio St. VS Texas A&M <u>Final Four</u> Florida VS UCLA North Carolina VS Ohio St. <u>National Championship:</u> Florida 79 UNC 75
All is subject to change: Midwest Arizona v. Maryland Oregon v. Wisconsin <u>Wisconsin </u>v. Arizona West Kansas v. South Illi. VCU v. UCLA <u>Kansas </u>v. UCLA East North Carolina v. Texas Washington St. v. Georgetown <u>Georgetown </u>v. Texas South Ohio State v. Tennessee Texas A & M v. Nevada <u>Texas A & M</u> v. OSU Final Four Texas A & M v. Georgetown Kansas v. Wisconsin <u>KANSAS </u>over Texas A & M Note: I'll probably have Washington State or something sneaking in there instead of A & M.
<div class="quote_poster">J_Ray Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I like how VC stayed on the Arizona bandwagon and stayed on the Anti-Florida Bandwagon still....... </div> Well, considering that the other day when I checked, Florida was #9 in the RPI and Arizona was #14, I wouldn't say it's that much of a stretch to see Arizona knocking them off, especially with Florida playing like absolute <font color=""black"">s</font>hit against all the decent competition they've played in the last ten or so games. Really, looking at their entire resume, they only have two quality wins. One against a young, inconsistent, and newly GregOdenned (yes, that's a word) OSU team, and the other against Vandy. Outside of that, their resume only entails a bunch of wins against mediocre SEC teams and a non-conference schedule with the best road win being at Florida A&M. Arizona, on the other hand, won against New Mexico State, UNLV, Illinois, @ Louisville, @ San Diego State, Memphis, Stanford, @ Oregon, and @ Stanford. And all of their losses have come to tournament qualified opponents, unlike the Gators, who lost to both Florida State and LSU. I'm not saying that Florida can't make a run, because I think that they can. I'm just saying that in March, when it's as unpredictable as it is, predicting for Arizona to beat them is not so out of line.
<u>Sweet 16</u> MIDWEST #1 Florida vs. #4 Maryland #2 Wisconsin vs. #3 Oregon WEST #1 Kansas vs. #5 Virginia Tech #2 UCLA vs. #3 Pittsburgh EAST #1 North Carolina vs. #4 Texas #2 Georgetown vs. #6 Vanderbilt SOUTH #1 Ohio State vs. #4 Virginia #3 Texas A&M vs. #7 Nevada <u>Elite Eight</u> MIDWEST #1 Florida vs. #2 Wisconsin WEST #1 Kansas vs. #2 UCLA EAST #2 Georgetown vs. #4 Texas SOUTH #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas A&M <u>Final Four</u> #1 Kansas vs. #2 Wisconsin #1 Ohio State vs. #4 Texas <u>Championship Game</u> #1 Wisconsin vs. #4 Texas
<div class="quote_poster">Bobcats Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"><u>Championship Game</u> #1 Wisconsin vs. #4 Texas</div> With the way Texas has been playing down the stretch, I can definitely see that, especially with Durant being the biggest freak of nature in the NCAA, but their bracket is just unfairly impossible. North Carolina, Georgetown, Wazzou, and Texas? Screw the selection committee, those are all Final Four caliber teams. They shouldn't be in the same division. BTW - Who do you see winning that title game?
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">With the way Texas has been playing down the stretch, I can definitely see that, especially with Durant being the biggest freak of nature in the NCAA, but their bracket is just unfairly impossible. North Carolina, Georgetown, Wazzou, and Texas? Screw the selection committee, those are all Final Four caliber teams. They shouldn't be in the same division. BTW - Who do you see winning that title game?</div> It's a toss up for me right now. I just have this feeling Durant is going to have a Carmelo Anthony like tournament and lead his team to the championship game. Wisconsin is a great team and I'm a big fan of Alando Tucker, but as you said, Durant is a freak of nature and can take over a game in a matter of minutes. If it came down to it, if DJ Augustine and the rest of Texas' supporting cast can step up with Durant (as Schaddy said) going apesh*t, then I'd probably pick Texas. BTW, I agree, the East bracket is just crazy.
Right now, Wisconsin does not look like a final four team to me, not without Butch, and not when their only weapons on offense are Tucker, a streaky Kam taylor and a freshman coming off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">XSV Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Right now, Wisconsin does not look like a final four team to me, not without Butch, and not when their only weapons on offense are Tucker, a streaky Kam taylor and a freshman coming off the bench.</div> Agreed. I don't think that Brian Butch is that bad of a loss, because he was kind of a weak post player who relied too much on his outside shot anyway, but they're sitll definitely not playing like a Final Four team right now. Ever since the loss at Michigan State this past February, they've choked under the pressure and haven't been able to perform on the road or in big time situations. Tucker and Taylor are historically a hell of a duo. In fact, I may be way off on this, but I think they're actually the highest scoring duo that Wisconsin has ever had. When neither one of them can get it going offensively though, Wisconsin stagnates. They need another viable threat on the perimeter. They need guys like Flowers, Krabbenhoft, and even the freshman Bohannon to have great performances if they want to go deep in the tourny this season. You also have to look at who they've drawn in their bracket. Barring an upset, they'll be playing one of the hottest teams in the NCAA, Oregon, who just absolutely beat the <font color=""black"">s</font>hit out of #5 seeded USC yesterday. I've got to favor Oregon in that one at the moment just because of how hot they've been lately and how cold both Tucker and Taylor have been.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Agreed. I don't think that Brian Butch is that bad of a loss, because he was kind of a weak post player who relied too much on his outside shot anyway, but they're sitll definitely not playing like a Final Four team right now. Ever since the loss at Michigan State this past February, they've choked under the pressure and haven't been able to perform on the road or in big time situations. Tucker and Taylor are historically a hell of a duo. In fact, I may be way off on this, but I think they're actually the highest scoring duo that Wisconsin has ever had. When neither one of them can get it going offensively though, Wisconsin stagnates. They need another viable threat on the perimeter. They need guys like Flowers, Krabbenhoft, and even the freshman Bohannon to have great performances if they want to go deep in the tourny this season. You also have to look at who they've drawn in their bracket. Barring an upset, they'll be playing one of the hottest teams in the NCAA, Oregon, who just absolutely beat the <font color=""black"">s</font>hit out of #5 seeded Oregon yesterday. I've got to favor Oregon in that one at the moment just because of how hot they've been lately and how cold both Tucker and Taylor have been.</div> Yeah, you're right, I remember the announcers saying that during today's broadcast. This team just doesn't have enough offense to go very far, but then again every time I see them on tv up here, they're going up against a hell of a defense in Ohio St. The only way I can see them making it far is if, like you said, Tucker plays his balls off every game, and their role players start doing more than just making hustle plays and start scoring. If not, there is no way they make it past Oregon or maybe even GT for that matter.
Wow, two picks for Georgetown to win it all. They've been the team I was planning on taking for awhile, but I didn't know they'd be the popular pick. Anyway, I like them and I like Ohio State as the two best teams in the nation right now. One good thing about OSU is that they've played a lot of teams with slower, halfcourt styles and that will prepare them for teams like Texas A&M and Georgetown.
I wish JBB was more trusted than CBS or ESPN or CNN - I just witnessed non-Wisconsin fans conduct a discussion about the team that was neither biased nor misinformed. We truly are smarter here than everybody else Good job guys! I agree with most everything said about us. I don't think we're a Final Four type team, and it's easy to see this team bowing out early after the spanking Brutus just gave us. I'm scared about playing UNLV - they're a #7 seed, but they're a top 20 team that just won their conference tourney. They're on a roll and they can match up well against UW. Wisconsin lives and dies with Kam Taylor more than Tucker. If Taylor isn't hitting his shots, he gets all hyper and just starts launching 'em from everywhere on the court. Our entire offense stagnates, while Tucker never even touches the ball. Like you guys said, though - facing Michigan St and Ohio St probably was facing two of the 10 best defensive teams in the country, so it shouldn't come as a shock to see our offense struggle. That said, our offense was embarassing yesterday. The Badgers HAVE to run when the opportunity presents itself. And we can't just have these 4+ minute scoring droughts. Defense, rebounding, taking care of the ball, I'd take us over just about anyone in the country. But offensively, this team has a bunch of work to do, and it starts with playing a TRUE FRESHMAN (Bohannon) more than we play our SENIOR lead guard (Taylor). It must be pointed out that Bo Ryan, for all his coaching wisdom, has been unwilling or unable to adapt our offense to the stifling zone defense that OSU has played against us - if somebody uses that D in the NCAAs, he had damn well better figure out a way to adapt.
<font size=""5"">Sweet 16 </font> <u>Midwest</u> #1 Florida vs. #5 Butler #3 Oregon vs. #2 Wisconsin <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #5 Virginia Tech #6 Duke vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> #1 North Carolina vs. #4 Texas #3 Wash St. vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #4 Virginia #3 Texas A&M vs. #2 Memphis <font size=""5"">Elite 8</font> <u>Midwest</u> #1 Florida vs. #3 Oregon <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. #2 UCLA <u>East</u> #1 North Carolina vs. #2 Georgetown <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size=""5"">Final Four</font> Florida vs. Kansas North Carolina vs. Ohio State <font size=""5"">National Championship:</font> Kansas (61) vs. North Carolina (71) I hate to have all the 1 seeds in the Final Four but I can't really see it going down any other way.
<font size="4">Sweet 16</font> <u>Midwest</u> #1 Florida vs. #4 Maryland #3 Oregon vs. #10 Georgia Tech <u>West</u> #1 Kansas vs. Southern Illinois #2 UCLA vs. #11 VCU <u>East</u> #4 Texas vs. #8 Marquette(Just have a feeling UNC will be disappointing and Marquette will be red hot) #2 Georgetown vs. #6 Vanderbilt <u>South</u> #1 Ohio State vs. #5 Tennessee #3 Texas A&M vs. #10 Creighton <font size="4">Elite 8</font> #1 Florida vs. #3 Oregon #1 Kansas vs. #2 UCLA #2 Georgetown vs. #4 Texas #1 Ohio State vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size="4">Final 4</font> #1 Florida vs. #1 Kansas #2 Georgetown vs. #3 Texas A&M <font size="4">Championship</font> #1 Kansas vs. #2 Georgetown <u>National Champions</u>: #2 Georgetown I put quite a few upsets in the Sweet 16 and then barely any in the Elite 8.
