Offical NCAA Tournament thread

[rocky_warrior]

Other than maybe Baylor, UCLA is the only FF team that has played and beat real competition (as it would be defined pre-tournament), I wouldn't discount that.

[Billy Hoyle]

Conference of Champions.

There is not enough weed in California for Bill Walton right now

[MU82]

Other than maybe Baylor, UCLA is the only FF team that has played and beat real competition (as it would be defined pre-tournament), I wouldn't discount that.

Yep. I mean, UCLA had to beat Marquette!

[MuggsyB]

Yep. I mean, UCLA had to beat Marquette!

MU absolutely should have won that game.  Bill Walton was very kind to Marquette nation during the broadcast but we still let that one get away.

[Billy Hoyle]

Terrible execution by UM. Did Dickenson get a single shot after Riley fouled out?

[GooooMarquette]

Major props to UCLA. They win ugly, but they win. And Juzang was incredible.

Gonzaga is at a different level, but a lot of people have lost money betting against UCLA in this tournament.

[MuggsyB]

Terrible execution by UM. Did Dickenson get a single shot after Riley fouled out?

Nope.  Great point Billy.

[JWags85]

Long trip back to Germany for Mutter unt Vater Wagner.

You spelled "the NBA lottery" incorrectly

[GooooMarquette]

Terrible execution by UM. Did Dickenson get a single shot after Riley fouled out?

Not the best in-game coaching by Howard. At least tonight, Cronin thoroughly outcoached him.

[PGsHeroes32]

Other than maybe Baylor, UCLA is the only FF team that has played and beat real competition (as it would be defined pre-tournament), I wouldn't discount that.

Gonzaga has far better resume wins that UCLA lol.

They beat WVU, Iowa and Kansas

[JWags85]

Gonzaga has far better resume wins that UCLA lol.

They beat WVU, Iowa and Kansas

Not just beat, they manhandled Iowa and Kansas.

[MU82]

MU absolutely should have won that game.

Fans of just about all the teams UCLA beat are lamenting: "We shoulda beat that team!"

[rocky_warrior]

Gonzaga has far better resume wins that UCLA lol.

They beat WVU, Iowa and Kansas

In the tournament!?!?  I must have been watching the wrong one.  lol

[PGsHeroes32]

Not just beat, they manhandled Iowa and Kansas.

They also smashed Auburn, who while they may be way down this year. Are still an SEC team.

Gonzaga has now also played a BIg12, Big East and Pac 12 team in the tourney. Closest game was like 17.

This team is legit as it gets.

[MuggsyB]

Fans of just about all the teams UCLA beat are lamenting: "We shoulda beat that team!"

We pissed that game away but you point is well taken.  UCLA has improved a lot since then, especially defensively.

[rocky_warrior]

They also smashed Auburn, who while they may be way down this year. Are still an SEC team.

Gonzaga has now also played a BIg12, Big East and Pac 12 team in the tourney. Closest game was like 17.

This team is legit as it gets.

Of course they are.  And as a 1 seed they've had an appropriately easy path and taken care of it (Iowa & Kansas should be ashamed they couldn't survive to give them a rematch).  I'm just saying, of the FF participants, UCLA has played the hardest tournament schedule.  And that's legit.

[PGsHeroes32]

In the tournament!?!?  I must have been watching the wrong one.  lol

Misread what you meant by "pre tournament"

But Baylor beat Wisconsin, Nova and Arkansas

That is not much different at all than Oklahoma, Creighton and USC.

Honestly the only reason why I wouldn't favor the Zags is the fact you said "pre tourney" for USC.

UCLA beat MSU(trash), Byu(a team Zags beat like 3 times), Fu cking Abilene Christain, Bama(impressive), Michigan(no Livers)

[Dr. Blackheart]

Of course they are.  And as a 1 seed they've had an appropriately easy path and taken care of it (Iowa & Kansas should be ashamed they couldn't survive to give them a rematch).  I'm just saying, of the FF participants, UCLA has played the hardest tournament schedule.  And that's legit.

Tempo was 59 tonight for those who can't stand slow style of play.

[rocky_warrior]

Tempo was 59 tonight for those who can't stand slow style of play.

It was an awful game!  (true. lol)

[rocky_warrior]

Misread what you meant by "pre tournament"

But Baylor beat Wisconsin, Nova and Arkansas

That is not much different at all than Oklahoma, Creighton and USC.

Honestly the only reason why I wouldn't favor the Zags is the fact you said "pre tourney" for USC.

UCLA beat MSU(trash), Byu(a team Zags beat like 3 times), Fu cking Abilene Christain, Bama(impressive), Michigan(no Livers)

Say what you want, and lets throw away ACU because the Zags also had Norfolk St.  Kenpom rankings:

OK (42), CU (21), USC(6) = average 23
BYU (17), Bama (9), UM (4) = average 10

Baylor had the second hardest tournament slate (avg 14 throwing out the worst team).

Just going by all opponents kenpom average:
UCLA: 35
Baylor: 59
Gonzaga: 69
Houston: 73

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Imagine being a Cincinnati fan. Mick Cronin delivered 9 straight tourney appearances, all but one of them with single digit seeds, and you get 1 Sweet 16 (in the second one) and then 7 straight years of first weekend exits. Cronin leaves for UCLA and in 2 years he takes an 11 seed to the Final Four. March is funny like that.

[VegasWarrior77]

I found this interesting: https://www.thescore.com/ncaab/news/2135137/houston-makes-history-by-facing-only-double-digit-seeds-en-route-to-final-four

No. 2 Houston's path to its first Final Four appearance since 1984 has come with its challenges. Those roadblocks just haven't come in the form of the opposition's seed.

The Cougars became the first team in NCAA Tournament history to face only double-digit seeds en route to the Final Four after knocking off No. 12 Oregon State.

Houston faced No. 15 Cleveland State, No. 10 Rutgers, and No. 11 Syracuse before Monday's matchup. The Cougars beat their low-seeded foes by an average of 14 points per game.

Houston has yet to face a team ranked higher than 20th in KenPom rankings this season. However, the program will face either No. 1 Baylor or No. 3 Arkansas in the Final Four. If the Cougars advance, they could potentially meet undefeated Gonzaga in the championship game.

[PGsHeroes32]

Say what you want, and lets throw away ACU because the Zags also had Norfolk St.  Kenpom rankings:

OK (42), CU (21), USC(6) = average 23
BYU (17), Bama (9), UM (4) = average 10

Baylor had the second hardest tournament slate (avg 14 throwing out the worst team).

Just going by all opponents kenpom average:
UCLA: 35
Baylor: 59
Gonzaga: 69
Houston: 73

Well I mean a 11 seed should have a tougher path than 1 seeds thats obvious.

But Byu lol. That team had the classic "empty resume". Gonzaga beat them 3 times. USC blew their doors off.

UCLA did beat Bama and Michigan which are better than anything Baylor and Gonzaga faced but that isn't tipping the scales. USC was much more tested than Gonzaga and that resulted in a snoozer.

[LON]

Imagine being a Cincinnati fan. Mick Cronin delivered 9 straight tourney appearances, all but one of them with single digit seeds, and you get 1 Sweet 16 (in the second one) and then 7 straight years of first weekend exits. Cronin leaves for UCLA and in 2 years he takes an 11 seed to the Final Four. March is funny like that.

F**k Cincinnati.

And their horrific chilli.

[🏀]

Sheesh -14