2015 NCAA Tournament thread

Wasn't Duke a No. 2 seed when it beat UNLV in 1991? I don't think Kentucky losing to anybody would be seen in the same way as Duke beating UNLV.

 

If Kentucky loses to team before the Championship game and that team doesn't win it all, it's a 3 day story. If the 1980 US Hockey team doesn't win gold are we really still talking about the Soviet game with such reverence? If Kentucky loses in the Championship game, especially to Duke, it will be a big story but not as big and long lasting as if Kentucky wins it all. If Duke loses to Kansas in 1991 or if 1992 isn't a repeat Championship, maybe the UNLV game isn't so memorable.

Over the long run, and undefeated National Champion is a better story with longer legs. Someone can make a career of this season if Kentucky wins it all.

 

Well, I'm biased. I hate Kentucky.

 

What separates the 1990-91 UNLV team from this year's Kentucky team?

I think the big thing is that Kentucky is younger. UNLV was also the defending champion, but UK played for the title last year

I also think UNLV entered the tournament that year, it was seen as being unbeatable. I don't think Kentucky is seen that way this year.

Was that UNLV team the last team to come into the tournament as that big of a favorite? I'm trying to remember how big of favorites Duke was for its second title or Florida was when it went back-to-back. UCLA in 1995?

 

USA Today had something that said Kentucky was the biggest favorite ever (Even to win entering the tournament) , but failed to mention what the odds for teams in any other year were. Epic reporting fail.

 

Maybe Kentucky in 1997.

 

I can't believe Kentucky was a bigger favorite going in than the Kareem UCLA teams, but maybe USA Today didn't go back that far.

 

USA Today is probably like ESPN where the world didn't exist before they did.

I would be content with biggest favorite since they went to 64 teams in 1985.

It sure seemed like UNLV was a bigger favorite in 1991 than Kentucky is this year, but the article did say that was partially a reflection of lack of competition this year.

 

I sincerely doubt they had Vegas book future odds to win the tournament in 1969. I could be wrong, but I really doubt they did.

 

In 1995 Arkansas was the favorite. Defending champion with all five starters back. Not overwhelming, though. They sputtered in the regular season, barely won their first three tournament games and lucked out when Virginia upset Kansas in the regional.

 

IIRC, it was Kansas that was the prohibitive favorite going into the '97 tourney. They had been No. 1 all or most of the regular season and was the consensus pick to win it all, but fell to Arizona in the regionals.

 

Poin, I'm sure some book, legal or illegal, had one. People have been betting on basketball since the 1920s.