Running 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Thread

Iowa finishes off Louisville and is back in the Final Four for the first time in 30 years — since I was a student there.

LSU, Iowa and we’ll see who else tomorrow night.

I think Maryland can give South Carolina a game tomorrow, but it’s sure looking like Gamecocks-Hawkeyes on Friday night.

 

Granted it was the second game of the season, but South Carolina has already beaten Maryland 81-56

 

Yes, it would take a lot going right for Maryland — or Iowa — to top South Carolina’s unbeaten women’s team.

And tomorrow night is basically a home game for them.

 

Clark has 984 points and 318 assists this season.

 

That Caitlin Clark line from last night is bonkers. 41 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, three steals, nine turnovers. Goes 8-14 from 3.

Pretty psyched to watch the VT ladies tonight. Didn't think I'd see any Virginia Tech basketball team in an elite 8 in my lifetime. No idea really what to expect. Only common opponents were Tennessee (VT went 2-0 against the Vols, OSU 1-0), Louisville (VT 2-0, OSU 1-0) and Boston College (both went 1-0). Tech hasn't lost since Jan. 26. Ohio State played a really tough schedule down the stretch and got clobbered a few times (losing to Maryland by 36, Indiana by 24, Iowa by 33).

 

My general rule in picking a final four is to make sure the sum of the final four seeds don't go over 10. I might have thought 15 given how the season went, but 23 is nuts.

 

15 entries in my office pool. Not a single bracket had picked any one of the Final Four teams - just paid out our winners.

What a crazy year.

 

One person of our 13 had one Final Four team, and she has UConn losing in the semifinals, so no more points can be had. We're done as well, which is wild.

 

One other factoid re the C-USA payout. The NCAA unit that FAU's run to the Final Four earns pays more to C-USA over six years than three years of C-USA TV contract pays FAU.

 

It probably wouldn't have changed these numbers much, but UConn, SDSU, and FAU were all underseeded. Not sure it means the best rise to the top or not.

UConn had an argument for a 2, but should have been at least a 3, SDSU should have been a 4, and FAU probably no worse than a 7. In terms of the latter two, it really didn't matter how it played out. SDSU would have had to play a No. 1 most likely in the Sweet 16 anyway and FAU certainly benefitted from the Purdue upset. Love them or hate them, UConn has definitely shown they are one of the best teams in the tourney.

 

UConn looks REALLY good. And Hurley severely outcoached Few in the regional final.