***OFFICIAL*** March Madness watch thread (2 Viewers)

[tri-man 47]

FWIW, I happened to recall (and looked back to confirm) that Michigan has arguably the top recruiting class of 2021.  They'll lose a lot after this year, but they should restock quite nicely.  

Also, I wonder what Isaiah Todd is thinking.  He was a very (maybe the very) top ranked recruit who had signed with Michigan, but then opted out and went to the NBA's G league.  Bottom line, what's the price over one's lifetime of having had - or not had - an NCAA tournament run?   But I suppose a lot of these kids don't care about having any taste of the college experience.  

 

[facook]

FWIW, I happened to recall (and looked back to confirm) that Michigan has arguably the top recruiting class of 2021.  They'll lose a lot after this year, but they should restock quite nicely.  

Also, I wonder what Isaiah Todd is thinking.  He was a very (maybe the very) top ranked recruit who had signed with Michigan, but then opted out and went to the NBA's G league.  Bottom line, what's the price over one's lifetime of having had - or not had - an NCAA tournament run?   But I suppose a lot of these kids don't care about having any taste of the college experience.  

I thought I heard them say yesterday that Juwan was bringing "everyone" back?  Are there seniors that will maybe choose the take advantage of the extra covid year?

 

[nysfl2]

I thought I heard them say yesterday that Juwan was bringing "everyone" back?  Are there seniors that will maybe choose the take advantage of the extra covid year?

Doubtful - they're going to lose a lot:

Livers and Wagner looked into going pro last year, and almost certainly will go into the draft. Probably late-first to early-second round picks.

Mike Smith, Chaundee Brown, and Austin Davis are all grad students. Brown is probably the only one of the three with a possible pro future (as a 3-and-D guy). I think they'd all be eligible to come back for the extra year, but probably just will move on with their lives.

Eli Brooks may be the most likely - just a senior, and no real pro future, so maybe he'd spend a grad year playing.

With the recruiting class coming in, minutes may be hard to find next year, too.

 

[facook]

Doubtful - they're going to lose a lot:

Livers and Wagner looked into going pro last year, and almost certainly will go into the draft. Probably late-first to early-second round picks.

Mike Smith, Chaundee Brown, and Austin Davis are all grad students. Brown is probably the only one of the three with a possible pro future (as a 3-and-D guy). I think they'd all be eligible to come back for the extra year, but probably just will move on with their lives.

Eli Brooks may be the most likely - just a senior, and no real pro future, so maybe he'd spend a grad year playing.

With the recruiting class coming in, minutes may be hard to find next year, too.

Gotcha.  You are probably right about Livers and Wagner.  Wagner sure looked like a pro yesterday.

I could see Smith and Brooks for sure coming back.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Yep, it's so high I feel like I'm being baited.

And SC won't repeat that last game, which is what folks will go on.

So then I go back to the clock running out on Cinderella.  But you look at the Beavers run in a now solid Pac-12 tourney (beat UCLA, Oregon and Colorado) and it's not like they just had favorable NCAA tourney matchups of late.

I read some of this after they whooped Kansas though. USC is playing pretty great as a team and they have some elite talent. 

Their best player just had a game where he only needed to take six shots and they easily won. 

I am very much looking forward to that game. 

 

[tri-man 47]

I thought I heard them say yesterday that Juwan was bringing "everyone" back?  Are there seniors that will maybe choose the take advantage of the extra covid year?

I hadn't heard that, and at this point, I don't know the status.  @nysfl2 gives a nice walk-through of some of the dynamics.  As he notes, would a couple of the guys come back, given the risk of losing minutes to the new, young studs?  I'll be reasonably happy with Dickinson, Johns, last year's recruits, and the new class.  

 

[AAABatteries]

I read some of this after they whooped Kansas though. USC is playing pretty great as a team and they have some elite talent. 

Their best player just had a game where he only needed to take six shots and they easily won. 

I am very much looking forward to that game. 

Ultimately at the Elite Eight level nothing is shocking and USC does look great.  I expect Gonzaga won't be thrown off by their zone though.  The difference is USC can score with them and has athletes basically as good or maybe better.  I expect the Zags to win but if they are cold from 3 then I could see USC taking them out. 

 

[ChiefD]

What do we want in this game?

A Cougar or some Beaver? Both look pretty defensive so far. Sounds about right.

 

[AAABatteries]

What do we want in this game?

A Cougar or some Beaver? Both look pretty defensive so far. Sounds about right.

So far seems like the Beavers are tight and the Cougars are loose and ready to play.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Cougars are definitiely on the rebound. Usually means trouble. 

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

I read some of this after they whooped Kansas though. USC is playing pretty great as a team and they have some elite talent. 

Their best player just had a game where he only needed to take six shots and they easily won. 

I am very much looking forward to that game. 

Oh don't get me wrong, SC can beat Gonzaga.  I was just saying an off-game could be coming, while people betting them are thinking they are getting the Kansas / Oregon type games and grabbing all those points.  Gonzaga will only help to bring them back to earth.

I actually hope they're lights out again and we see a great game.  I said their free throw shooting will be their demise and I'm thinking this will be that time.

 

[Capella]

FWIW, I happened to recall (and looked back to confirm) that Michigan has arguably the top recruiting class of 2021.  They'll lose a lot after this year, but they should restock quite nicely.  

Also, I wonder what Isaiah Todd is thinking.  He was a very (maybe the very) top ranked recruit who had signed with Michigan, but then opted out and went to the NBA's G league.  Bottom line, what's the price over one's lifetime of having had - or not had - an NCAA tournament run?   But I suppose a lot of these kids don't care about having any taste of the college experience.  

I’d guess he’s probably thinking he made 250 grand instead of nothing and got to prepare against better competition. 

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

That's the second time I've heard this announcer talk about the actual net providing "interference" for an offensive player.  Like it was an important shield and strategic move or some ####.   AYFKM?

 

[parasaurolophus]

Lets hope for a better second half. I might need to put a pot of coffee on. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

some of these passes are just inexplicable. Here, take this ball from me.

 

[identikit]

These announcers are dweebs.

 

[Deamon]

We are just overmatched here by Houston unfortunately.  Hell of a good run, hopefully it helps recruiting moving forward.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

I’d guess he’s probably thinking he made 250 grand instead of nothing and got to prepare against better competition. 

Or, "man I hate studying and taking tests."  I mean really, 99% of us at age 18 would run away from that if we had the physical skills to play pro sports.  Can always go back to college if it doesn't work out.

 

[identikit]

We are just overmatched here by Houston unfortunately.  Hell of a good run, hopefully it helps recruiting moving forward.

Ain't over yet.

 

[Deamon]

Ain't over yet.

Don't jinx my reverse jinx attempt

 

[parasaurolophus]

How did these coke goat man and werewolf girl commercials get through focus groups? 

 

[identikit]

I think that one was too late.

 

[Deamon]

THAT'S ####### LATE!

 

[Deamon]

I think that one was too late.

Yep, I have it paused with it in his hands and 0 on the clock

 

[identikit]

Beavers changed their D.

I don't know why.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Bank!

 

[ChiefD]

Bank!

Helluva comeback by them. 

Beavers need to learn how to box out. 

 

[ChiefD]

You would think a box out would be in a Beaver’s DNA.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Helluva comeback by them. 

Beavers need to learn how to box out. 

Just terrible rebounding. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

That was a bad foul call. 

 

[Deamon]

That was a bad foul call. 

####### bull####.

 

[scottybo]

Both teams have scored roughly the same number of points 

Very good.

 

[SayWhat?]

Game was over anyways, but that may be the worst intentional foul call I’ve seen.  

 

[parasaurolophus]

Wait. They called a flagrant foul??? 

 

[identikit]

OSU should have stayed in the zone.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Game was over anyways, but that may be the worst intentional foul call I’ve seen.  

We know which way the ref bet.

 

[SayWhat?]

Alright, I may get murdered for bringing this in here.  But considering it’s March Madness and Bueckers is the best thing to happen to women’s basketball since I can remember...that non-call on UConn at the end of their game against Baylor was brutal.  That Baylor girl got straight mauled by a UConn big that was not only clearly sliding into her but also had her arms out at about a 45 degree angle.  Terrible way to lose a game like that.  
 

Link

Carry on...

 

[3 hour lunch]

These announcers are dweebs.

I hate the Spenarkel games because he always says “just then” and for some reason it’s like nails on a chalkboard to me. He says it all the time and I’ve never heard anyone else say it 

 

[Penguin]

Oregon State tried their best to not cover the +8

 

[Judge Smails]

I read some of this after they whooped Kansas though. USC is playing pretty great as a team and they have some elite talent. 

Their best player just had a game where he only needed to take six shots and they easily won. 

I am very much looking forward to that game. 

Do not underestimate USC. I think they have a huge shot against Gonzaga and are a big threat to win it all. Their length is problematic for everyone and they a great point guard and 3 fearless shooters to go along with the Mobley brothers. Nobody is eager to play them right now. 

 

[Capella]

There’s at least 300 bottles of Powerade in the range of every player. 

 

[ChiefD]

There’s at least 300 bottles of Powerade in the range of every player. 

The National Sales Manager is screaming at the tv:

”THEY ARE MISSING OUR NEWEST FLAVOR!!! WHERE IS THE NEW FLAVOR????”

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Will anyone watch a single minute of United States of Al after seeing these previews? I could see this show having a Nielsen rating of 0.0. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

The National Sales Manager is screaming at the tv:

”THEY ARE MISSING OUR NEWEST FLAVOR!!! WHERE IS THE NEW FLAVOR????”

Yeah but then he feels better when he realizes he doesnt have goat boy as a spokesperson. 

 

[ffball-novice]

Pretty disappointed in CBS lack of clarity on Kelvin Sampson ethical problems. They said something like he left Indiana under a cloud. He was fired with a 5 year NCAA coaching suspension after having had problems at the job prior to Indiana hiring him. His NBA experience was not optional. But I guess it looks bad to have a final four coach labeled unethical.

 

[identikit]

Pretty disappointed in CBS lack of clarity on Kelvin Sampson ethical problems. They said something like he left Indiana under a cloud. He was fired with a 5 year NCAA coaching suspension after having had problems at the job prior to Indiana hiring him. His NBA experience was not optional. But I guess it looks bad to have a final four coach labeled unethical.

He did his time.

 

[Capella]

Pretty disappointed in CBS lack of clarity on Kelvin Sampson ethical problems. They said something like he left Indiana under a cloud. He was fired with a 5 year NCAA coaching suspension after having had problems at the job prior to Indiana hiring him. His NBA experience was not optional. But I guess it looks bad to have a final four coach labeled unethical.

Who cares, the ncaa sucks and they can piss right off. Good for him, and also I hope he’s handing his team giant stacks of money. 

 

[culdeus]

There’s at least 300 bottles of Powerade in the range of every player. 

This is the site that rolls the full six pack out 4 deep.  It's beautful.

 

[AAABatteries]

Pretty disappointed in CBS lack of clarity on Kelvin Sampson ethical problems. They said something like he left Indiana under a cloud. He was fired with a 5 year NCAA coaching suspension after having had problems at the job prior to Indiana hiring him. His NBA experience was not optional. But I guess it looks bad to have a final four coach labeled unethical.

Most of the rules he violated aren’t even rules any more - he had to sit out and has come back and performed.  Why make a deal out of it after all these years?

 

[stbugs]

Alright, I may get murdered for bringing this in here.  But considering it’s March Madness and Bueckers is the best thing to happen to women’s basketball since I can remember...that non-call on UConn at the end of their game against Baylor was brutal.  That Baylor girl got straight mauled by a UConn big that was not only clearly sliding into her but also had her arms out at about a 45 degree angle.  Terrible way to lose a game like that.  
 

Link

Carry on...

They said the entire game that they were letting them play physical. They called it the same the whole game. Just a few seconds before a UConn player got a lay up and was clearly hacked and there was no call. That same Baylor player flopped horrifically and got a foul called on a rebound that was like a soccer game.

I didn’t see any problem with that call as she was getting her shot blocked by two players and it was called the same way all night long and probably more to Baylor’s side because they were a lot more aggressive on defense. Again, that same Baylor player fouled Bueckers hard on a layup with what looked like a round house. I am not crying for her getting her shot easily stuffed at the end since the same call wasn’t made 20 seconds earlier on the other side. The physical play absolutely favored Baylor and their inside/bigs play so to call that at the end of the game (it wasn’t even close to brutal) would have been a travesty as the game would never have been that close.