Running 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Thread

Much better nickname. They should keep it.

 

Just a bad look. Not thinking that Hubert Davis has grown arrogant, therefore this smells of dysfunction within the roster. Could be viewed as “we’re too good for this.” Could help the underclassmen get some work in for the offseason and next season.

(Apologies to franticscribe, UNCGrad and Tarheel316 … not trying to take a cheap shot. But this is inexcusable IMO,)

 

Izzo set a record

 

Because I was too lazy to go outside to find a rock to pound on my head, I watched the last 14 minutes of the ESPN Bracketology show. Every single member of their distinguished panel had Duke making the Final Four. Two had 'em in the championship game and one I think picked them to win it all. Like were they afraid Vitale would keel over if they didn't? K isn't there any more guys. You didn't have to do this.

 

Easy there ... Duke has been hotter than a Saturday night special.

This isn't sucking up to Coach K. They've been legit the last month or so. And their last loss was disputed because of a screwed-up call in Charlottesville that forced ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips to offer a mea culpa through the media.

That region's No. 1 seed, Purdue, looked like the best team in the country about a month ago, but - relatively speaking - has lost its way recently. The No. 4 seed, Tennessee, has been throwing oil, too.

Again, not a Duke slurpfest.

 

I'm trying to see it this way, because I know it's the right thing to do and we should honor the NIT, and if somebody wants the Tar Heels to play anywhere, they should be happy to go.

And I'm still thinking if I have any association with UNC basketball, the last thing I want is the visual of the country seeing my program playing in the NIT. Sorry/NS.

I do know what the late Dale Earnhardt would have had to say about the NIT.

 

Duke is a perfectly credible Final Four pick. But not by unanimous vote of four alleged experts. That's serious groupthink. Also odd were the two picks for UConn (again one to win it all), last seen having their asses handed to them by Marquette. History shows that on average of all Final Fours, two and a half one seeds get there (that half is another reason bracket contests are hard to win). But I have seldom seen such dismissal of one seeds by the TV commentators. They usually play the chalk until they choke on the dust.

 

VCU's "havoc" defense is really "foul them every time, they won't call them all." St. Mary's is in real trouble.

 

... and with the increasing parity of the men's game, too much chalk will cause your "bracket*" to dry up and blow away.

Few of the No. 1 seeds, save maybe Kansas, were locked in. And I'm not terribly impressed with Houston (of course, I don't like Kelvin Sampson's style of play at all ... physical is one thing. Sampson's belief in trying to put more contact in it is a problem here.) Purdue hasn't impressed much the last few weeks. Who knows with Alabama?

In some attempt at fairness, they had barely an hour to put their projections of teams advancing together. Yeah, people in the office haphazardly do a bracket in less time than that ... and most of them haven't a fraction of a clue compared to the majority of people on this board.

*A perfect opportunity to channel my inner S-P and remind everyone that NO ONE gives a crap about your bracket. I repeat ... no one. RIP, Ron ... you're still missed.

 

Hosted a women's regional back there during my school days. Still remember the athletic department cringing at offering us flights ... and that those of us who didn't play percussion were asked to give up at least some of our luggage allowances to get a drum kit and glockenspiel to Des Moines. Also will never forget the decency and kindness that Kay Yow showed toward us during the entire run.