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March Madness is among us

smotpoker

smotpoker

Bluelighter
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Jun 30, 2002
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The most exciting time in sports is approaching, and I've already got the 18th and 19th off from work :)


My favorite team, the Wright State Raiders are playing Butler tonight in the Horizon League championship game in Indianapolis.

I know Butler is great, and it's going to take some Butler 3 point misses and some luck for WSU to win. But I think the Raiders can pull it off...

3 keys to WSU winning tonight

1. Get Matt "I pick my nose on the bench" Howard into foul trouble early. This will be tough to do, mainly because Howard is a flopper, the guy gets more bogus calls to go his way than anyone I've ever seen.
But if we can put him on the bench early, that will bode well for the Raiders.

2. Don't turn the ball over. Easy to say and for WSU it shouldn't be too hard to do. WSU usually won't beat themselves, but against a team like BU you really have to practice what you preach.

3. Make Butler shoot the three late. If the game is close in the final 3 minutes Butler loves to try and draw the foul, usually getting it. And although Butler is a great 3 point team, it will put a lot of pressure on them is they are forced to shoot the three.

I really hope Wright State wins! And Go Bucks!
 
Finally the thread I've been waiting on. I love this time of year, NO OTHER SPORTS TOURNEY has the magic this one does. Earlier in the year I was predicting Texas to win, and now I don't know I wanna say my Wildcats, but they are just too young for me to bet on. I won't put my money on Kansas cause I hate that team, and I just don't think they are the "it" team. I kinda really like Kansas State though, however I worry about their legs and depth. It's OBVIOUS Syracuse can't handle pressure, Duke hasn't played anyone other than Maryland (that I can recall). But I Know they can't win. Villanova, Scottie Reynolds is no Wall, or that guy for OSU. Maybe WV... I don't know doody about them though. OSU has that one really good point guard but not much else... I don't see them being the "it" team either... I think unlike last year, this year it's all going to be about the layout...
 
I've been wanting to start this thread, but held off because if my Gators make it, they'll get pasted in the first round if God is gentle. If not, they'll make the second round and lose by 20-30 to Nowhere State. As my conference has had little to talk about, and my team has had nothing noteworthy, I haven't paid that much attention to this season. Meh, I'll see if I can put to together a bracket game for us in here, unless someone else wants to get one going. We can make a custom title for the winner if we want.
 
Damn Butler is very good. Wright State played good last night, it seemed like Butler couldn't miss a 3 with 3 guys in their face. Oh well I am still very proud of them it was their 4th straight 20 win season and they should get invited to either the NIT or CBI tourny.
 
As for who could win it all this year, who the heck knows. IMO it's wide open this year, I hope Ohio State wins it all, it would make up for some letdowns in BCS championship games and an NCAA Final loss. Evan Turner is good enough to lead them to the championship, but there are a lot of great teams this year, so I won't even begin to make a prediction.

At least we all can say for sure that it won't be the Tarheels this year:)
 
Evan Turner is as talented as anyone, that's true, but he's not good enough to carry that team past the sweet 16.

1 man does not make a team.
 
one man might not make the team, but one man can make a team better as a whole, which Turner does. All his teamates, especially Diebler and Lighty and Buford, play above theirlievel when he's on the floor. His talent allows Diebs to get open for 3's, etc.

The Buckeyes might not have a ton of depth, but that isn't always needed. The 1987 National Champ Hoosiers had 4, yes 4, total guys score for them in the championship game. And only 7 guys actually play. That's not too deep.
 
Evan "the Villain" Turner could be the best player in college right now.

the Buckeyes look great! what an awesome surprise. some ESPN commentators were calling them to be the dark horse team in the Final Four this year - and I will admit I didn't buy the hype. Coach Thad Matta always brings in the talent but he always seems to stumble in the Sweet 16 and on.

but this year the Buckeyes look amazing. they will most likely be a Number One seed and I am going to have them in the Final Four - to much of Rusty Cage's hating dismay.

just think about what Ohio State's record would have been if Evan Turner was not injured for that month long period?

it would be scary
 
re: one man does make a team.

at least in basketball. look at LeBron James
 
LOL

A number 1 seed? No way they are a 2 seed sir. Also I don't hate on their basketball program... just their undeniably overrated football program. And I never said that OSU wasn't playing good. I just don't think they have the depth.

Furthermore (I just love that word it makes ya sound condescending), Evan Turner most definitely is not King James. Even if he were, even the king doesn't have a title yet. And they'd be what 26-4, 27-3? And a top 4 team, prolly a lock for a no. 1 seed. Right now everyone wants to give the last no.1 spot to Duke... who by the way looks to be no better than a sweet 16 team right now.

And I just don't think OSU is going to go any further either. I think Elite 8 is possible depending on the draw, but right now it's all speculation.
 
no way is Evan Turner anywhere NEAR King James, I was just making the point that in basketball more so than any other sport - one man doth maketh the team. it's not something I am happy about, it's a fact. look at your much toted Diaper Dandy, John Wall. where would Kentucky be without him this season?

OSU doesn't have much depth, but if they can hit their threes (looking at you John Diebler), then they are a lock for the Final Four.

and I'm thinking they will give OSU the last Number One seed. again, who knows if they "deserve" it but I do agree on the fact that Duke doesn't deserve the last One seed.
 
UK without John wall? Admittedly Wall is a clutch player, and won us a few games by taking over in the last few minutes... But Wall is not the best player on that team, not even close. Demarcus Cousins is the meat there. Don't forget Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, and Daniel Orton. All 5 of those guys are Pro material.

Of course the player I like to watch the most is Deandre Liggins... That kid has matured this season.

Also on another note: If we were talking Talent alone I could break UK up into two 6 man teams as talented as any other 6 in the country. But the problem is they're still so young... I really don't know what to expect from them going into the tourney. If they shoot like the did mid-feb. from the 3pt. range I'd say they die out in sweet 16. If they actually hit their shots, and play defense for a full 40... then they might grab UK another title. They are an easy sweet 16 team, but after that... I think it's 50/50 maybe a little better, a little worse depending on the draw.
 
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John Wall not the best player on UK? I think pretty much every sports writer would disagree with that one.
 
WOW! If there is any doubt as to who the P.O.Y is in CB, all you need to do is watch the final 5 seconds of the Ohio State-Michigan Big Ten tournament game! Evan Turner is SUPERMAN!


And to all the UM fans, how does it feel knowing OSU ended your season in BOTH football and basketball this year? Have fun watching us in the NCAA'S! :) :) :)
 
No Rusty, I don't want the link. I just find it hard to believe that if you are a P.O.Y candidate that you wouldn't at least be the best on your own team.

Is that not reasonable logic? But I'm sure you read somewhere that that isn't the case, so it's cool.

Adn on your comment that OSU is always overrated in football, I know a few months ago I read a study that showed where teams where ranked preseason and where they actually finished the season ranked. Usually Ohio State was ranked higher at the end of the year than they were at the beginning.
I know this year for example they were preseason #7 and finished #4 or #5, which as you should know means they were actually underrated when it was all said and done. Oklahoma, who was preseason top 5, if I remember correctly finished the season unranked, which shows they were incredibly overrated. And don't try to tell it was all because Bradford was hurt. Cause if you use that argument you could also say the only reason Bama won the NC is because Mccoy was hurt, which according to sec fans had nothing to with it.
But being over or under rated is based on where you start off ranked preseason and where you finish ranked.

Here are the preseason top 10 from 2009 and the final top 10 from 2009-2010.

Preseason:
1.Florida
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. USC
5. Alabama
6. Penn State
7. Ohio State
8. Texas Tech
9. Oklahoma State
10. Georgia

And here is the final top 10:
1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Florida
4. Boise State
5. Ohio State
6. TCU
7. Iowa
8. Cincinnati
9. Penn State
10. VT


So, looking at the polls it would appear that Alabama, Texas, Boise, Ohio State, TCU, Cincy, and Iowa were all underrated.

Overrated were Florida, Oklahoma, USC, Penn State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Georgia.

So yeah it doesn't look like the Buckeyes are overrated at all. They were actually underrated by two spots.

Now that that has been settled back to Basketball!
 
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TheLoveBandit said:
Meh, I'll see if I can put to together a bracket game for us in here, unless someone else wants to get one going. We can make a custom title for the winner if we want.
Click to expand...

To address my earlier statement, I won't be able to get to this, and won't be able to participate. :\ However, if the forum does run a contest, I'll support the mods handing out a temporary title to the winner. Sorry.
 
After watching, oh I dunno nearly 48 hours worth of basketball (at least that is what it seems like), I can now say with almost certainty that Kansas is NOT the best team in college basketball. I honestly have to say that I think that that title belongs squarely on Syracuse' shoulders. I seriously can't wait for the brackets tomorrow night.
 
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