Something totally off topic

[derby1592]

This board has been so dead lately that I figured you all must be doing the same thing that I am doing - following the NCAA tourney.

On Saturday, I watched the tourney games and then later that evening happened to see part of an NBA game. What a difference in terms of excitement and intensity! I will take the college game over the NBA any day of the week.

My bracket has not been doing that great but my Final 4 is still alive: Arizona, Kentucky, Texas and Syracuse with Arizona defeating Texas in the Championship game. I am sticking with those picks but I certainly don\'t plan on putting any money on that opinion.

What great games so far. The Arizona/Gonzaga game was a classic and the buzzer beater by Marlyand was incredible. I rank the NCAA tourney just below the Derby in my list of favorite sporting events.

Toss in the fast approaching opening day in baseball along with the Masters and this is great time of year for a sports fan and a nice diversion from current world events (which may be the real reason that this board has been so dead lately).

Chris

[Michael D.]

interesting pick with Syracuse. I think everyone is getting a bit carried with the home court advantage angle though. they are now favored by 5 1/2 points, while Okla is only favored by 7 over Butler!! I still think the Orange should squeeze out a victory, which would set up a great Eastern final matchup.
if Syracuse could somehow manage to get two wins in Albany, they will again have an advantage. shooting from the perimeter in big domes is very difficult (final is the dome up in Minn), and Syracuse went undefeated in the Carrier Dome this year (for the first time in their history). Good luck, I have the same final four in my bracket!!!!

[Silver Charm]

The final this year is in New Orleans, the Midwest regional being played now is in Minn.

But it should give Syr the same positive \"look\".

Ky should also have the same positive \"look\" because they just won the SEC tournament in N.O.

Starting with most of the games on Thursday and going forward, things really boil down to individuals matchups. When the Sat and Sun games hit you can just about start flipping coins because things are that even. And you are hearing this from someone who bleeds KY BLUE.

[Mall]

Chris: I know you\'ll be rooting for Ariz as enthusiatically as I\'ll be routing for Pitt, & the Ariz/Zags game was obviously a classic, but it seemed to me based on that game that Ariz may not be as tough inside as the winner of the Pitt/Kentucky game will be. For Thurs, Kansas minus 3 seems like the best bet, while I\'m giving Conn +130 a long look on Fri even though the game is in San Antonio. Texas, imho, is overrated, & I won\'t hesitate if & when they play on a neutral site.

[derby1592]

Mall,

I learned a long time ago never to bet on a horse that I owned or a team that I cheered for. There is no way I can be objective in such cases.

Regarding your analysis.

I think you underestimate Texas. They have a great point guard and a real monster down low and some good complementary players and a good coach. Also, as you mentioned, they essentially have a home court advantage. They somehow got the easiest draw in the Tourney in what clearly should have been Kentucky's bracket slot. The conspiracy theory around Arizona is that the NCAA Tourney Chair, Livengood (who is the AD at Arizona) was pandering to Texas because he is very interested in becoming their AD. I think they are giving him way too much credit and seem to forget that there is an entire committee that makes the decisions. Livengood did provide some lame rationale for the bracketing but I think it basically came down to the fact that they needed to put more butts in seats in Minneapolis. Anyway, I would be very surprised to see UConn beat Texas. In fact, I picked Texas to make it all the way to the Championship game.

I think Kansas is clearly better than Duke but Coach K. has an incredible tourney record and Roy Williams has a history of underachieving with his teams in the NCAA. I think Kansas should dominate inside but if Duke is hitting their 3s it could go either way.

I think Arizona will cruise against the Irish. Kentucky will handle Wisconsin (but I will be cheering for the Badgers to upset) and Syracuse and Oklahoma will also win without too much trouble.

I think the Maryland-MSU game is a toss-up with a slight edge to MSU. I think the Pitt-Marquette game is also a toss-up. I would give the edge to Pitt but an upset would not surprise me. Pitt got stuck with a very tough draw.

I will be cheering for Pitt to make it the final-4 along with Arizona just so we can partake in some pre-game trash talking. I will start a little early just in case the matchup never materializes by responding to this BS about the Big East being physical and the Pac-10 being soft. I remember the same talk two years ago about how tough and physical Illinois and MSU were and how soft Arizona was but somehow those soft Wildcats blitzed right through both those tough Big-10 teams on the way to the NCAA title game where they lost to a good Duke team that looked even better thanks to support from  three extra helpers in striped shirts...

Chris

[bdhsheets]

My gaawd, speaking of help by the striped shirts, Arizona got plenty vs the Big Ten teams that year. All they had to do was breathe on an Arizona player and the whistles were blowing.

Sign me:

Illini Fan .......... LOL

[Michael D.]

on to N.O. for the Orange. watching this MSU/Texas game, I\'m not sure either of these teams will be able to do any damage against the Syracuse zone........ look for the \'cuse to be playing for it all a week from tomorrow.