2018 NCAA Tournament thread

[WarriorDad]

MAC champion a 16? No freakin' way.

That's why I said one could argue.  Only 32 teams back then so it wasn't as bad, but at the time was considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history.

https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/12/archives/defending-quintet-loses-in-overtime-providence-out-flagrant-foul.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1978/03/12/marquette-ambushed/4809e94d-0edf-41df-b29a-77bc549696ab/?utm_term=.fe8dc3b1dc80

We had a 10 point lead with under 4:00 to play.  Miami lost 8 games that year before playing us, including to Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Toledo.  That was a monumental upset.  Not Hank's best moment.

[Loose Cannon]

This is a good point, and I think we should offer to help.  UMBC fans, if you need a place to chat this NCAA tournament season, email me and we'll setup a board just for you.  muscoop@muscoop.com.

Gallant move, always Full Service.

[Eldon]

Damn it!  I fall asleep on the couch, and history passes me by!!

[dgies9156]

Probably biggest upset ever if this goes, even over the Chaminade game.

I'm probably only scoop guy that's ever been to UMBC, it's like a small community college campus. 

Unreal. Have to make foul shots now.

Congratulations Virginia!

You have now knocked Marquette's loss to Miami of Ohio in 1978 off the  top of the list of biggest NCAA upsets of all time.

We're now number 2, but on this list, that's OK!

By the way, that was the worst game in MU history. Absolutely the worst! Defending national champions. Arguably a one or two seed. And we lose to Miami of F-ing Ohio.

I'm sure Virginia fans are saying the same thing this morning. F-ing Baltimore County!!!???!!!!

[Lennys Tap]

That's why I said one could argue.  Only 32 teams back then so it wasn't as bad, but at the time was considered one of the biggest upsets in NCAA history.

Of course "one could argue". One could argue virtually anything whether the argument has merit or not. In this case yours doesn't.

There have been 3 opening round NCAA games where a 20+ point favorite has lost - #2 seed Arizona vs #15 Santa Clara in 1993, #2 seed Missouri vs #15 Norfolk St in 2012 and Virginia last night. In term of point spreads our loss to Miami O in 1978 isn't even in the top 20.

[tower912]

Yes, Virginia, there really is a UMBC.

[GB Warrior]

Having the stain of losing to a 16 is a legacy that belongs at UW. Bring it home Barry

[nyg]

Pretty good article by Pat Forde on UVA's issues. 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/theres-no-escaping-historic-embarrassment-virginia-043006234.html

[Eldon]

Greatest upsets in sports history:

https://sports.yahoo.com/most-shocking-memorable-upsets-history-slideshow-wp-231632977/photo-p-no-16-seeds-had-photo-231632787.html

I'm disappointed that they didn't include the 1994-95 (95-96?) Denver Nuggets, who beat the Sonics.  The first time in NBA history an 8-seed beat a 1-seed.  I mean come on, Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton in their respective primes?!?

[tower912]

Basically,  Forde is saying that UVA under Bennett is the new Wisconsin under Bo.  Doomed to fail any time they go against a team that can make them play outside their comfort zone. 

[MU82]

Pretty good article by Pat Forde on UVA's issues. 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/theres-no-escaping-historic-embarrassment-virginia-043006234.html

That is a good reference list and a conversation piece, and I actually had forgotten about a couple of them (including Boise State's win over Oklahoma and Appalachian State beating Michigan). But the order is absolutely ridiculous.

I mean, it's 20 years later and people everywhere are still buzzing about the Harvard women's basketball team's first-round win over Stanford in 1998.

To claim that there were 17 bigger upsets than the U.S. hockey win at Lake Placid and 14 bigger than Buster over Tyson ... so stupid it's almost funny.

Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey bigger than Buster over Tyson. Good stuff.

[Benny B]

That is a good reference list and a conversation piece, and I actually had forgotten about a couple of them (including Boise State's win over Oklahoma and Appalachian State beating Michigan). But the order is absolutely ridiculous.

I mean, it's 20 years later and people everywhere are still buzzing about the Harvard women's basketball team's first-round win over Stanford in 1998.

To claim that there were 17 bigger upsets than the U.S. hockey win at Lake Placid and 14 bigger than Buster over Tyson ... so stupid it's almost funny.

Holly Holm over Ronda Rousey bigger than Buster over Tyson. Good stuff.

F-ing Millenials.  I bet 90% of them think a fallout shelter is somewhere you go to record yourself playing video games. 

[Lennys Tap]

Anything can happen in the NCAA tournament.  40 minutes of bad basketball erases months of great basketball. So many fans put all the judgment on coaches with what they do in the tournament and seem to forget the rest, but yes it can happen that quickly.  This will follow Bennett the rest of his life and I think he is a wonderful coach.  Unfortunate.  Wish this would have happened to Boeheim or Coach Cal.    The tournament is madness.

The tournament matters much more than regular season games and it's how coaches are judged. Sean Miller, Thad Matta and Dana Kirk (to mention a few) have much better regular season records than Tom Izzo, Bobby Knight, Jim Calhoun and Denny Crum. Mark Few has a higher winning % than Johnny Wooden and Coach K. Good coaches win in November - February. Great ones win in March.

[Floorslapper]

Basically,  Forde is saying that UVA under Bennett is the new Wisconsin under Bo.  Doomed to fail any time they go against a team that can make them play outside their comfort zone.

Yes.  That's what he's saying.  That said, it was a FLUKE of epic proportions.  Bennett can flat out coach.  31-2 regular season says all that needs to be said.  No doubt their fans have to be off the rails, going into this tourney with such high expectations - but, if UVA wants to move from Bennett, I'd gladly take him at MU!

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

The Va. upset is one reason why I don't believe a post-season tournament limited to the P5 or "Big Boy" conferences would ever reach the popularity of the NCAA tourney. The David v. Goliath storylines would not be there. The NCAA is far from perfect, but it has this tourney down pat. The P5 shouldn't mess with happy in this case.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

F-ing Millenials.  I bet 90% of them think a fallout shelter is somewhere you go to record yourself playing video games.

Speaking of Fing millennials....

https://sports.yahoo.com/s-f-austin-coach-blames-millennials-today-ncaa-tournament-loss-174417469.html

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I really dislike Syracuse. Don't deserve to be in and get a really favourable first round matchup. Feels like this happens every damn year.

[Loose Cannon]

Liked the Movie.

[Norm]

Nova with early foul trouble. 4 fouls on them, including 2 on Spellmen, and 0  Allen against Bama thus far.

[Floorslapper]

Nova with early foul trouble. 4 fouls on them, including 2 on Spellmen, and 0  Allen against Bama thus far.

If BAMA has gas in the tank, (late finish in hard fought game Thursday night), they will give Nova all they can handle.  Wouldn't surprise me to see Bama beat Nova.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Nova with early foul trouble. 4 fouls on them, including 2 on Spellmen, and 0  Allen against Bama thus far.

Probably wasn't the game for Spellman anyways. Bama is really small and quick.

[BM1090]

Probably wasn't the game for Spellman anyways. Bama is really small and quick.

Small?

edit: just looked at their size. They are indeed quite small. Crazy athletic, though.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Bama had to be feeling pretty good when Brunson went to the bench with two fouls. Cue DiVincenzo hitting back to back to back ridiculous 3 pointers.

[BM1090]

Bama had to be feeling pretty good when Brunson went to the bench with two fouls. Cue DiVincenzo hitting back to back to back ridiculous 3 pointers.

Nova when they get on a roll is just indefensible. Nothing you could do about either of those last two shots. Came off of zero passing/ball movement, just contested pull ups.

[Norm]

DiVincenzio could be called for carrying every time he dribbles.