"twenty02 owns Cavanagh" Bracket Hub
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I will be more than happy if neither Duke nor UNC win out.
I really wanna see them in the final four. Will be great for the sport.
Not in my opinion. They have already met twice. If you go into any neutral sports bar the most interest is routing for underdogs. Neither of these teams are considered underdogs by the general public. If you ask the general bball public to rate each of the remaining teams on underdog status I expect these two teams at the bottom. Sorry but I have a color bias. I am biased against blue and white teams.
I am sure it would be (will) be a good game for people that appreciate good bball with the 1-1 split so far. Other cases I would enjoy the game but in this case I would be (will) be so depressed I would ( will) put the Kevorkian clinic on speed dial before the game.
I'm so damned stupid!! I never, ever think to check stickies, and here you guys are up here in stickyland talking brackets. @T.M.P. was even doing some bracket strategy stuff that I missed.
If we have a group bracket challenge next year, remind the dumbasses among us to check the sticky.
I didn't realize it at the time, but last night was the one game ever that I should've wanted the Boilers to win. I had a shot to run down @.Gerdis if PU got to the Final Four and Duke beats Arkansas. Of course, the Boilers always find ways to embarrass themselves when they have good teams... well done Boilers! Lol
As the tourney stands now, I think I like the Villanova/Houston winner best to win it all. I'll be betting Villanova there because I think they are built to stand up to Houston's defense much better than Illinois or Arizona. I think KU's best chance is if Houston wins on Saturday though.
Would love to see St. Peters beat UNC, but, even though I hate it, a UNC/Duke Final Four game in possibly K's last game would be epic sports! Obviously, I'll be rooting heavily with the Razorbacks and the Peacocks, but, when it gets this late in the Dance, I'm almost always on the side of the ultimate loser
It’s sports and you probably get the conflict of who to root for a lot. Last night I was conflicted (for example), watching the KU game. Do I root for my bracket pick, or root for Providence (and against KU)? I found myself hoping Al and company could pull it out.I'm so damned stupid!! I never, ever think to check stickies, and here you guys are up here in stickyland talking brackets. @T.M.P. was even doing some bracket strategy stuff that I missed.
If we have a group bracket challenge next year, remind the dumbasses among us to check the sticky.
I didn't realize it at the time, but last night was the one game ever that I should've wanted the Boilers to win. I had a shot to run down @.Gerdis if PU got to the Final Four and Duke beats Arkansas. Of course, the Boilers always find ways to embarrass themselves when they have good teams... well done Boilers! Lol
As the tourney stands now, I think I like the Villanova/Houston winner best to win it all. I'll be betting Villanova there because I think they are built to stand up to Houston's defense much better than Illinois or Arizona. I think KU's best chance is if Houston wins on Saturday though.
Would love to see St. Peters beat UNC, but, even though I hate it, a UNC/Duke Final Four game in possibly K's last game would be epic sports! Obviously, I'll be rooting heavily with the Razorbacks and the Peacocks, but, when it gets this late in the Dance, I'm almost always on the side of the ultimate loser
It’s been a wacky tournament, but when it’s all said and done we could be seeing Duke / UNC / Villanova / KU . So much for the idea of upsets. 1-2 seeds and 3 of the biggest blue bloods.
I really don’t want to see that.
Seems it’s Villanova now, but man how does Duke not end up as the champ in any bracket?
I had no idea I was even in the hunt on our Bracket contest until this morning, but I would have been for Providence and St. Peters regardless. Back when I used to get into bracket contests, we used a much different scoring system. Under that system, last weekend would have cost me any chance.
I'm not sure I like this ESPN scoring system at all. My brother says this is the way everybody scores them now, but, if you think about it, it's just a National Champion picking contest with the other 66 games just acting as a tie-breaker. It reduces all of those great upset picks in the first two rounds to near meaningless.
Anyway, I was very much for Providence! I was having a rough basketball season and I started making a run betting Providence. Al and the Friars bailed me out and got my head above water almost single handedly. In the closing minutes I was like "Please, let Al do something spectacularly heroic and pull off a shocker"! I really wanted it bad, but I didn't bet on the game at all. I was tempted to, but I couldn't see them beating KU.
I'm happy that the guys here put the contest together, as it was the first time in a long time that I kept pulling my bracket out of my pocket to check those first few days. I look forward to taking part again next year and joining in on the sticky chatter. Now that I've looked at the actual scoring system, I think I'll deploy a better strategy next year... so look out boys, I'm coming for the Title next year.
That is if we can avoid nuclear holocaust and zombie viruses for another year
I wasn’t even following my bracket, but I was looking at this thread, and that’s how I heard that I even had a chance. Typically in brackets it comes down to getting the final right, and then working backwards to see about points for tie breakers. As soon as Kentucky lost I assumed I was toast.I had no idea I was even in the hunt on our Bracket contest until this morning, but I would have been for Providence and St. Peters regardless. Back when I used to get into bracket contests, we used a much different scoring system. Under that system, last weekend would have cost me any chance.
I'm not sure I like this ESPN scoring system at all. My brother says this is the way everybody scores them now, but, if you think about it, it's just a National Champion picking contest with the other 66 games just acting as a tie-breaker. It reduces all of those great upset picks in the first two rounds to near meaningless.
Anyway, I was very much for Providence! I was having a rough basketball season and I started making a run betting Providence. Al and the Friars bailed me out and got my head above water almost single handedly. In the closing minutes I was like "Please, let Al do something spectacularly heroic and pull off a shocker"! I really wanted it bad, but I didn't bet on the game at all. I was tempted to, but I couldn't see them beating KU.
I'm happy that the guys here put the contest together, as it was the first time in a long time that I kept pulling my bracket out of my pocket to check those first few days. I look forward to taking part again next year and joining in on the sticky chatter. Now that I've looked at the actual scoring system, I think I'll deploy a better strategy next year... so look out boys, I'm coming for the Title next year.
That is if we can avoid nuclear holocaust and zombie viruses for another year
but, this is a smallish group, and seemed like it didn’t have a ton of variation as far as the champ (still baffled that no one picked Duke).
Duke wasn’t playing well end of the regular season. I hoped that would continue into the tourney but didn’t happen. Banchero hit a new gear and helped his draft prospects and can’t imagine that Ivey hasnt hurt his. I speculate that Ivey was thinking too much about his draft and Banchero was just playing basketball but could be wrong. They will both make a lot of money in any event.
Oh yeah, I meant to comment on that point you made about Duke. That is wild to think about nobody taking Duke. I only took them to the Final Four as a contrarian play, but I still expected to see maybe 3 or 4 Duke's as Champion.
I underestimated the Gonzaga effect. I finally learned my lesson last year, when that Zags juggernaut should have lost to a "not great" UCLA team then got shelled by Baylor! Remember when everybody said that Scott Drew couldn't coach? I've got something cool to show you about Baylor and Drew in a few minutes, but I have to find it among my notes again.
If St. Pete's would've got a crack at UCLA, they would've had a shot at taking down a #2, a #3 and a #4 in 10 days. That would be three Top 4 seeds, which would tie them with Gonzaga and IU's last 20 tournaments... lolz. In Top 2 seeds action, it currently stands IU (2- Duke and Oklahoma), St. Peters (1- Kentucky) and Gonzaga with zero.
Of course that's a bit of cherry picking (even though 20 is a good round number to use) as IU's wins vs Top 4 seeds roll off going into next years tournament, and if we go back just 2 years further Gonzaga picks up their eye opening Cinderella victories under Monson and then Few in his first season. The Zags picked off #2 seeded St. Johns and Stanford in consecutive years right before I conveniently start my 20 year count
. Still, I think it's fair given the Zags Duke-like reputation and seeding history over that time.Anyway, I was also rooting real hard for Texas Tech which I knew would doom them. That's why I separate who I bet from who I cheer for. I'm not saying I bet the opposite, but if I only bet who I wanted to win I couldn't afford the fun of betting games at all!
Good stuff!Oh yeah, I meant to comment on that point you made about Duke. That is wild to think about nobody taking Duke. I only took them to the Final Four as a contrarian play, but I still expected to see maybe 3 or 4 Duke's as Champion.
I underestimated the Gonzaga effect. I finally learned my lesson last year, when that Zags juggernaut should have lost to a "not great" UCLA team then got shelled by Baylor! Remember when everybody said that Scott Drew couldn't coach? I've got something cool to show you about Baylor and Drew in a few minutes, but I have to find it among my notes again.
If St. Pete's would've got a crack at UCLA, they would've had a shot at taking down a #2, a #3 and a #4 in 10 days. That would be three Top 4 seeds, which would tie them with Gonzaga and IU's last 20 tournaments... lolz. In Top 2 seeds action, it currently stands IU (2- Duke and Oklahoma), St. Peters (1- Kentucky) and Gonzaga with zero.
Of course that's a bit of cherry picking (even though 20 is a good round number to use) as IU's wins vs Top 4 seeds roll off going into next years tournament, and if we go back just 2 years further Gonzaga picks up their eye opening Cinderella victories under Monson and then Few in his first season. The Zags picked off #2 seeded St. Johns and Stanford in consecutive years right before I conveniently start my 20 year count
Anyway, I was also rooting real hard for Texas Tech which I knew would doom them. That's why I separate who I bet from who I cheer for. I'm not saying I bet the opposite, but if I only bet who I wanted to win I couldn't afford the fun of betting games at all!
Back to Baylor. There was a time when Drew was dragging in some highly rated talent, some 1-and-done types right. I can't find what I was going to copy and paste, so I'm just going to wing it.
Anyway, back then, even if they were pretty good, it seemed they were under achieving. So naturally Drew was getting a reputation of a likely crooked recruiter who couldn't coach much.
Now, looking at the last 8 years, he's only had three top 50 rated RSCI guys. Rico Gathers #32, Mario Kegler #48 (who was a transfer and played 1 season on a #9 seeded team), and this year he brought in #10 rated Kendall Brown. During that period there were only a couple more who fell into that #51-#75 range.
Anyway, I think Drew realized quicker than most that chasing the Duke/UK philosophy of bringing in the shiniest of toys wasn't going to work at Baylor. Maybe it was accidental, but I doubt that they just suddenly stopped buying players. Regardless, Baylor became much better and consistent when their roster was filled with players who were going to be 3 or 4 years and build toward something great.
I think Baylor is such a cool example because they briefly flirted with the Blue Chip approach, then adopted a more Jay Wright type of approach. Get the best talent you can get that are not dedicated to getting out the door ASAP.
If I can find my copy and paste thing, I'll re-post it, because it lays things out much more clearly. You can look into it yourself though at sports-reference.com
So it appears @.Gerdis and @Paterfamilias have the number 1 and 2 spots locked up. 3rd place will be dependent on who wins tonight. If KU wins, @sdhoosier takes 3rd. If KU loses, @All4You takes 3rd.
Yeah! Thanks Cav. Always fun filling out a bracket when our Hoosiers are included. My bracket got destroyed much like many. Gonzaga, Arizona, Duke and Auburn in my FF all got me a seat in the park. Tournament pickings? I couldn't ever pick my nose correctly🤣 But thanks again for providing everyone the opportunity to play.
Congrats to @.Gerdis @Paterfamilias and @sdhoosier. Also a big thanks to @IUclover for putting this on.
I’ll send you a dm to get you my hard earned money.
till next year. All aboard bitches.
I’ll send you a dm to get you my hard earned money.
till next year. All aboard bitches.
Heartfelt thanks to IUClover, twenty02 and Cavanagh for making this all possible!
Congrats to you three guys! And yes, a big "thank you" to IUclover for initiating this contest. It was fun and bracketology will always be a delight as long as IU is in the hunt. UROK, man👏
@.Gerdis Congrats on the Bracket Win! I've been sidetracked by Derby preps and hadn't yet had a chance to review your bracket. Nice call on Iowa St! Still can't believe that I was silly enough to take the Boilers all the way to the Title Game. That loss to St. Peters cost me 40 points, so I still would've needed PU to beat red hot Carolina to catch you... so that wouldn't have happened anyway.
After further review, I think I like the ESPN scoring system after all. I had a terrible second round, but was still alive. This scoring system keeps more people alive longer than the old fashioned systems that I thought I liked better.
Anyways, Congrats again and enjoy your year at the mountain top
After further review, I think I like the ESPN scoring system after all. I had a terrible second round, but was still alive. This scoring system keeps more people alive longer than the old fashioned systems that I thought I liked better.
Anyways, Congrats again and enjoy your year at the mountain top
Thanks, and congrats to you as well! It’s never easy to pick a winner. This was my only bracket so I got lucky.@.Gerdis Congrats on the Bracket Win! I've been sidetracked by Derby preps and hadn't yet had a chance to review your bracket. Nice call on Iowa St! Still can't believe that I was silly enough to take the Boilers all the way to the Title Game. That loss to St. Peters cost me 40 points, so I still would've needed PU to beat red hot Carolina to catch you... so that wouldn't have happened anyway.
After further review, I think I like the ESPN scoring system after all. I had a terrible second round, but was still alive. This scoring system keeps more people alive longer than the old fashioned systems that I thought I liked better.
Anyways, Congrats again and enjoy your year at the mountain top
Our group probably had a B10 bias, and undersold the ACC (UNC I understand, but how could People have been so bearish on Duke?)
St. Peter’s knocked my pick for the final (Kentucky) out, but that ended up not hurting with that whole region pretty much up in flames.
it was a lot of fun, and hopefully next year we do it again. Better yet, hopefully next year we see IU make so e sort of a run!!!!
I feel as if we are all winners just to see a bracket with our Hoosiers penciled in for the first time in a while. But for me, I'm especially elated that the tournament has mercifully ended because I no longer have to listen to Bill "onions, puppies and kiss" Raftery. Guy just grates on my last nerve.
Raftery needs to be put out to pasture. Time to retire already!
I don't have to look to see that I finished near last. Could be my worst bracket ever. I don't recall not having any of the Final Four or so few of the Elite Eight for any other tournament. Congrats to those finishing at or near the top.
I hate to admit it, but I've always liked Raftery. I liked Al McGuire too and he was a bit of a hoops dumbass and he would admit as much. The old-timers have stories that I like.
I think fans tend to like announcers better when their favorite team is really good. When it's never your guy that has "Onions" or is a "PTP'er Baby!", their schtick gets annoying quick. Maybe Torvik will be right and we can get back on the Raftery band wagon next year
I think fans tend to like announcers better when their favorite team is really good. When it's never your guy that has "Onions" or is a "PTP'er Baby!", their schtick gets annoying quick. Maybe Torvik will be right and we can get back on the Raftery band wagon next year
Speaking of announcers, I seem to recall a rumor that this was Fisch's last year? Anyone know if he has said anything about retiring?I hate to admit it, but I've always liked Raftery. I liked Al McGuire too and he was a bit of a hoops dumbass and he would admit as much. The old-timers have stories that I like.
I think fans tend to like announcers better when their favorite team is really good. When it's never your guy that has "Onions" or is a "PTP'er Baby!", their schtick gets annoying quick. Maybe Torvik will be right and we can get back on the Raftery band wagon next year
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