Thanks AMB4VT for reminding me to do this.
http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2015/en/group?grou...
The password is, you guessed it, hokies.
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One entry per user? I'm just going to roll with the upset bracket. See you all at the bottom of the points list.
Even with an upset bracket I'm not man enough to pick anyone but Kentucky.
I didn't pick Kentucky when they had Anthony Davis and everyone said they would win, not gonna make that mistake again. You can blame me when they drop a sweet 16 game
I did not pick Kentucky. Do not think anyone is gonna like who i picked....
You didn't pick them, did you?
Gonzaga?
Only if they have another Adam Morrison or a look alike version of him
They have Wiltjer, who's better at basketball but doesn't have the hair/mustache combo
the hair mustache combo is a deal breaker for me, i must say.
Life's Three Constants:
To: Anyone who generally gets last place in these bracket contests
From: Everyone
Subject: Your Final Four Picks
Midwest: wvu
West: unc
East: loluva
South: dook
Cant do it. I got UVA not even making it to the sweet 16 because screw UVA
I wanna pick Belmont over them sooo bad.
You mean you didn't?
Hell, Belmont shoots the three well. If you can do that you can give UVA a run for their money.
If you can score 50 points you can give loluva a run for their money.
Haha I did too, but I cant even justify that regardless of my hate
I mean - for anyone who always loses their bracket, choose these 4 to ensure they lose this year.
Izzo's boys will take care of the Hoos in short order. No worries there.
Doesn't matter their regular season record, Izzo's guys somehow get the slipper to fit for a good run every year. With that said, they don't beat loluva this year because loluva will lose in loluva fashion in the first round.
Coin Flippin was formed in less than 5 minutes.
I'm not a smart man but I can't figure it any other comfortable way
Dookie
UVA
UK
Ariz
brian regan will always get a leg
Tentatively: Kentucky, Louisville, Arizona, Duke.
I REALLY want to change my mind on the two ACC schools... but can't justify it.
I already forgot who I picked..
Because we have a few days before we actually have to make our picks, what do you think about the job the committee did? What teams did they get right? Which teams did they get wrong? Who got screwed? BTW here is the committees overall seeding
Maryland and Utah are underseeded, Georgetown is overseeded. Northern Iowa should've gotten a 3 seed. Notre Dame shouldn't be the last 3 seed they're better than Oklahoma and Baylor. Duke shouldn't have gotten the 3rd 1 seed, probably shouldn't be a 1 seed at all. Indiana and Texas getting in is arguable but UCLA has no business being in, all three got in based on big names. Murray State got screwed they should've been in.
listened to espn at lunch today. They said that the NCAA tournament committee's reason for letting UCLA in the field of 64 was that they "looked" like a tournament team. After reviewing their W-L record, there must have been some sort of magic in their games. The only good win they had was against Utah. They also lost to Utah by 32...
They played 6 non-conference teams that made the tournament. They were able to win 2 of those games: Coastal Carolina and UAB. They lost to the other 4 teams (UNC, UK, Gonzaga, Oaklahoma) by an average of 21 points!
I'm just remembering the last 4 years of the Greenberg era and I wonder why this kind of thinking wasn't used.
"I'm just remembering the last 4 years of the Greenberg era and I wonder why this kind of thinking wasn't used."
Because baby blue and gold is associated with championships, and maroon and orange is associated with football and the NIT. If Colorado State and Richmond switched resumes with UCLA and Indiana, the committee definitely would not have picked CSU and UR. It's seriously all about ratings this time of the year.
Once you get down that far it's basically a crapshoot anyway. The teams most likely wont make it far, especially the bottom bubble teams since a 1 seed hasn't been upset in the first round in almost forever. So go for some name brand and history.
"The teams most likely wont make it far, especially the bottom bubble teams since a 1 seed hasn't been upset in the first round in almost forever..."
Except for VCU. If I remember correctly, Bilas absolutely blasted the committee for even choosing them the year they made it to the final 4. Also a 1 seed has never been upset by a 16 seed, but not sure what that had to do with this year's UCLA or Indiana teams.
I thought Oklahoma State was kinda high losing 6 of their last 7 games. I guess the committee valued their wins over Baylor more... I also agree about Utah. They are gonna be sneaky in this tournament. They have great shooting, good defense, and a really good senior guard.
Don't get me wrong. I think Villanova is a great team and I really like their program, but I don't think they are gonna live up to their #1 seed this year (although i hope i am wrong) and LSU/NC State might have an opportunity to upset them.
Also how boring would it be if Wisconsin and UVA play in the final with their style of play. Zzzzz (and will the NCAA let that happen...)
Notre Dame could be a team that makes a deep run, or loses early. Notre Dame's weakness is on defense and they play a really good shooting team starting off vs Northeastern. This game could be alot closer then people think. Not saying the upset will happen but i would be worried. Northeastern did beat FSU. And if they (ND) advance it doesn't get any easier with Butler
For as much as I hate UVA's style of play, I actually really enjoy watching Wisconsin. Kaminski is the best player in the nation right now and everyone in that starting lineup can put the ball in the hoop, unlike the Hoos. I was pretty surprised that MSU could play with Wisconsin, much less go into OT with em. Izzo is a heck of a coach tho and it seems fitting Sparty would heat up at the right time of the year.
Agreed on Murray State. They had that win streak, and pretty sure regular season champs.
I say give all reg season and tourney champs auto bids. That's 64, but then you subtract the ones that won both. Leaves 10 or 15 slots for at-large to get to 68.
At least give those titles recognition. Duke didn't win either yet got a 1 seed over Arizona who won both or even UVA who won the regular season. ND won the ACC tourney and beat Duke twice plus a good season overall and got the last 1 seed. Murray State was ranked before they lost. They went undefeated in regular season conference play. I don't think you can give autos to both reg. and post season champs but you have to recognize, as they say, the "body of work". And what's a better body of work than winning your conference in the regular season?
One thing i did like about what the committee did (whether it was intentional or not) is that they put Kansas and Witchita St in the same region. They will play each other in the round of 32 if they both advance. That is going to be a game to watch. Witchita St seems to have a hard time getting a series with their in state neighbors Kansas. Dont think they have played in 20+ years or so. Witchita St should be jacked for that game. Possible bracket buster. The game would be Sunday in Omaha assuming both teams advance.
I watched some of Andy Katz's 6 hour tourney preview he talked to Bill Self and asked him why they don't play Wichita St. and Self answered "Well, Andy, I don't see what that has to do with the tournament" and then went on to say they always have a top 10 OOC SOS there's really no need to add Wichita St. He didn't say was feeling like himself because he had all these bills to himself which is a disappointment.
I think generally, the committee got it right... Not really any major snubs this year. But as you pointed out, some of the teams are seeded wrong.
Not sure about Maryland, but Utah is definitely underseeded, And yes, Texas and UCLA are this years marketing management picks.
I have to disagree on Murray State. Sure 27-5 looks good by itself, but paired with that RPI of 236... Dang that's ugly. I saw the head coach in an interview talk about how the teams that the Racers played beat other good teams. My question would be, "That's fine coach... your opponents manned up on their OOC schedules; but who did YOU play?" Just my opinion, but using the transitive property in sports really gets my knickers in twist.
Thanks again Joe!
Call me crazy but final four: ND, Wisconsin, NOVA, Iowa State
WOOHOO FINAL FOUR!
You're crazy.
Kidding aside, something inside of me just says that Notre Dame is gonna make a statement. I also love how in that bracket KU is a 2 seed w/ 8 losses, yet ND is a 3 seed with only 5 losses and beat Duke twice, and Maryland is a 4 seed with only 6 losses. Nice seeding NCAA. Goes to show that you have to go really far in your conference tournament to be considered elite unless your name is Duke.
well now that im going to grad school there and they're pretty legit....GO BADGERS!!!!
Just filled out my bracket. I know nothing about the teams in the field this year. If I win, you should all be ashamed of yourselves.
I do know that there are 12 vs 5 upsets every year, so I picked the Cousins to go down.
Taking the Cousins out is not a bad flier pick. Just so long as you don't have Buffalo beating Kentucky, you 'll be fine.
i'm in......cant do worse than last year, so i'm really going out on a limb (/s) with kentucky, duke, wisconsin & louisville in final four......
good luck everyone!
My final four is Big Blue Nation, Zona, Northern Iowa and Puke. I really wanted to pick someone else out of that Dookie region, but my gosh is that a cushy bracket. Fear the Zags...I think not. In my written bracket I have SMU in the Final 4 and Stephen F. Austin in the elite 8, so didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Also for what it's worth, I got LOLUVA losing to Michigan State for the second year in a row. Pretty much the same team except MSU looked really strong over the weekend and UVa is fading rapidly, especially with Anderson basically being a non-factor against UNC.
Maybe a little unexpected but this is what I got
UK, Sparty(prior upsets in region led to this), Iowa State, Wisco
Georgetown is going to break my heart again, I just know it.
they always do
I have them losing to Eastern Washington
Notre Lame over UK and UVA not making the Sweet 16, that's what I call a Championship bracket
Did a second bracket just for TKP, will be upset if this one does worse... *fingers crossed*
I made a bracket based on the team mascot's similarity to a wildcat. I got to the Final 4 and then didn't know what to do...
I made a bracket....I also have no idea what I'm doing....
Welcome to the club. I have been doing this for 3 yrs now and still
don't have a clue...but hey its still pretty fun! :)
A couple of years back, I really tried to make solid predictions. I don't follow basketball very closely, but I know the gist of who's good, etc. I did some stat comparisons and whatnot, and put together my bracket. I finished at roughly 30% correct. My wife filled out a bracket the same year based on which mascot would win in a fight. She was over 60%. I took the latter approach this year, more or less. I picked a likely winner, contrasted with more badass mascot, and if the two didn't agree, mascot was the choice.
I don't think I've watched a single cbb game in it's entirety this year (yes, that includes Hokies games :/ smh) and I could make excuses but I'm not going to. I'm not even bothering with research..I'm just wingin' it and hopin' for the best
Your bracket will be better than mine. Book it.
I gave him credit for the sword. But Cav Man isn't taking down a Spartan.
I flipped a coin for a bracket. Heads the higher ranked team won.
Tails the lower ranked team lost?
Ive pretty much done the same thing with my 3 yr old the past few years (no kibble though, it gets caught in his teeth). Ill just ask him which number (seed), mascot, or school he likes best. Ill give him the 1 seeds in the first round. He had Wisconsion winning last year, this year its Georgetown with UK being upset by Buffalo in the sweet 16.
I love stuff like this. I think everyone should have their animals pick a bracket, winner gets treats. Sponsored by Purina/Hills/Iams/whoever.
So do you have a human to do this with? You put out two hamburgers and see which one they pick?
Well I usually only allow picks to be made on races. Hint, hint, I have the inside track. I'll see myself out.
As far as humans are concerned, no, I don't, and I usually don't trust them. They tend to overthink things
Legs for anything involving Mark Titus.
I read all of his stuff. I loved his book aka "The Theory of Pooping"
Time for Hampton vs. Manhattan. The result of this first round game will surely play a role in how people fill out their brackets.
#GoVirginiaSchoolsThatArentUVA
Are we the only VA school that didn't make the tourney? my gawd
Thankfully not, but a good number of the mid majors in the state have been capable of beating us for a few years now.
Anybody want to publicly admit they picked Belmont over UVA?
This guy, proudly.
The real shame is not picking Belmont. (I didn't, great dishonor on my family)
I picked them in both my brackets. Even the mascot battle bracket.
At this point (Sweet 16) I think we can all see where this bracket challenge is leading too.... match fixing scandal. It's clear the our bagman PeteBuddyWilson has been spreading the Hardees coupons around in his favor.
At least he could have given us all a heads up so we could have put real money down in other pools.
For the first time ever, I actually have one perfect region: I have not missed a game in the East yet.
Now that I've said that, watch Louisville get knocked off by NC State and ruin my championship game.
boom... goes the brackets
But for all the right reasons! Go Badgers!!!!!!!
Victory!
The final game of the tournament determined the winner - doesn't get better than that in Bracketology
wow, tied for 7th. I think that's the best I have ever done.
Tied for 12th.......respectable!