March Madness Predictions

PatsGuy5000

Looks like about a dozen teams could weather the 64 + team bracket this year. Let’s see your Final Four prediction, winner, and a sleeper who could get to the Elite 8.
North Carolina, Michigan State, Virginia, & Gonzaga - Gonzaga winning - sleeper Buffalo

Rick

Coinstartled

Some coach will earn a half million dollar bonus. All the players will go home penniless.

DIMEMAN

I like Duke.

PatsGuy5000

@DIMEMAN said:
I like Duke.

They have the most talent, but have seen most freshmen teams choke in the tourney

Brick

Kentucky Duke, North Carolina, Ohio State. Buckeyes win it all.

DIMEMAN

@Brick said:
Kentucky Duke, North Carolina, Ohio State. Buckeyes win it all.

You are kidding right! Ohio State probably won't even make the 64 cut.

bronco2078

I predict I will not see any of it. I predict I will be annoyed if it putting these games on tv displaces a worthwhile tv show

PatsGuy5000

@Brick said:
Kentucky Duke, North Carolina, Ohio State. Buckeyes win it all.

Like your 1st 3, OSU will have to win Big Ten Tour> @bronco2078 said:

I predict I will not see any of it. I predict I will be annoyed if it putting these games on tv displaces a worthwhile tv show

Wow, not a college hoop fan. I’ve always enjoyed seeing the Cinderella teams upset the big dogs. What’s a worthwhile show now? Don’t watch many sitcoms.

bronco2078

No the only college sport I watch is womens volleyball. I am an avid consumer of that product

Coinstartled

Even with 68 teams entering the tournament (if that is still the number). You will hear unending griping from the bubble teams that did not make it. The seedings and which region the teams were sent off to.

Coinstartled

This thread got shuffled back.

fox9487

Have to cheer for my advatar. March Madness finally make be decide to pick one. Cuse to great eight, lol.

PatsGuy5000

@Huckleberry said:
Duke all the way.

They have all the talent in the world, but they have a freshmen lead team. They are also one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in college hoops. They had losses to Syracuse and Gonzaga in the regular season, teams that play zone. Look for teams to try that in the tourney. It’s going to be fun, no clear cut, dominant favorite.

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Estil

Final Four predictions: Kentucky, don't care, don't care, don't care

Actually though, one of my main inspirations for going to UK (then tech ed teacher now a vice principal) went to Murray State so I certainly wouldn't mind seeing them make a splash or two in the Big Dance. After all they did just like Rocky in the first movie in 1990 did they not?

And did you guys know that our regional final match up with (most likely) UNC will be the 3000th game in our franchise history?

Catbert

BoilerUP, baby!

SanctionII

UC Irvine Anteaters.

Second trip to the dance. Hope this team wins some games in the tournament.

Estil

Boilerup eh? Why not, we both (Purdue and Kentucky) can't stand Clown U (Indiana)!

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Estil

Yeah, so called March Madness doesn't even have Selection Sunday until over halfway through the month!! At this rate it won't be March Madness it'll be April...eh, Anguish?

fox9487

@Huckleberry said:
Duke all the way.

Spoken like a true huckleberry.

Estil

PatsGuy5000

@SanctionII said:
UC Irvine Anteaters.

Second trip to the dance. Hope this team wins some games in the tournament.

Haven’t seen them play, but Seth Davis & Clark Kellogg speak highly of them. Gotta love the Cinderella teams! 🏀

Estil

One down, five more to go! 😊

Estil

@bronco2078 said:
I predict I will not see any of it. I predict I will be annoyed if it putting these games on tv displaces a worthwhile tv show

The last time I didn't see any of it was in 2013 & 2009...take a guess why...😣

SanctionII

13 UC Irvine beats #4 Kansas State in Round One of the tournament. Cinderella has entered the building.

The tournament hopes of California now rest on the shoulders of the Anteaters.

David Baker, Bill Mulligan, Kevin Magee, Bob Thornton, Scott Brooks, Mike Bokosky and others connected to UCI will no doubt be proud.

45isodd

Went to the dance
Looking to advance
Saw Ja Morant
So I thought I'd take a chance
Ja Morant, take my hand
You've got me rockin' and a-rollin'
Rockin' and a reelin'
Ja Morant

DIMEMAN

I wanna see a Duke game! I haven't seen Zion play yet.

larryallen73

Oregon v. UCI will be a fun game on Sunday. Two fun upsets today for those teams.

SanctionII

Care to "Hazzard" a guess who wins the game between the Ducks and the Anteaters?

UCI has four players on its roster whose fathers or grandfathers played in the NBA, including Walt Hazzard of UCLA and NBA fame.

erikthredd

@DIMEMAN said:
I wanna see a Duke game! I haven't seen Zion play yet.

He's putting on a show right now in his hometown.

larryallen73

@SanctionII said:
Care to "Hazzard" a guess who wins the game between the Ducks and the Anteaters?

UCI has four players on its roster whose fathers or grandfathers played in the NBA, including Walt Hazzard of UCLA and NBA fame.

My wife is Duck so I gotta go for them but hoping for a close game.

** Personal Trivia: Walt Hazzard was the speaker at our high school graduation and since I was such a big UCLA fan (and he was head coach then) I got to introduce him at graduation.

2dueces

Duke wins it but I like Buffalo. They are an exciting team and could go deep

fox9487

@SanctionII said:
Care to "Hazzard" a guess who wins the game between the Ducks and the Anteaters?

UCI has four players on its roster whose fathers or grandfathers played in the NBA, including Walt Hazzard of UCLA and NBA fame.

Anteaters of course!! Just gave them the kiss of death, shucks

45isodd

You heard it here first, a nickname for the great guard from Murray State, Jah “Breaker” Morant.

Estil

Well, I'm two for two on my bracket! Well the only part I care about

Sadly my HS teacher's alma mater got beat...still no first Sweet Sixteen for his Racers Still it's only the sixth time they made the Second Round, so that's not bad right?

purduepete

@Catbert said:
BoilerUP, baby!

purduepete approves of this post.

erikthredd

Duke-UCF was a great game.

PatsGuy5000

@erikthredd said:
Duke-UCF was a great game.

Duke squeaked that one out. Still think the Duke freshmen may struggle in future close games

erikthredd

@PatsGuy5000 said:

@erikthredd said:
Duke-UCF was a great game.

Duke squeaked that one out. Still think the Duke freshmen may struggle in future close games

I think alot of the struggle in this one was the other team having a 7-6 center in the middle. They won't see that in the next round.

larryallen73

Duke looked pretty marginal in the first half of their first game and looked very human today. UCF has a 7'6" guy yes but he has hands of stone and one of their guards can only dribble with his left hand. Duke was lucky to beat them. I am not impressed with Duke so far.

erikthredd

@larryallen73 said:
Duke looked pretty marginal in the first half of their first game and looked very human today. UCF has a 7'6" guy yes but he has hands of stone and one of their guards can only dribble with his left hand. Duke was lucky to beat them. I am not impressed with Duke so far.

Did you actually watch the entire game? Duke usually owns the paint and that center made it very difficult for Zion and everyone getting to the basket. Hands of stone mean nothing when he just needs to contest shots which is what he did while out there. I haven't checked any stats but I'd bet that Duke had less points in the paint today and more three attempts than they had in their previous game. I did see the graphic that Zion went 12-24 from the field and I'd be surprised if his FG percentage was much higher in his previous game than his .50% today.

larryallen73

@erikthredd said:

@larryallen73 said:
Duke looked pretty marginal in the first half of their first game and looked very human today. UCF has a 7'6" guy yes but he has hands of stone and one of their guards can only dribble with his left hand. Duke was lucky to beat them. I am not impressed with Duke so far.

Did you actually watch the entire game? Duke usually owns the paint and that center made it very difficult for Zion and everyone getting to the basket. Hands of stone mean nothing when he just needs to contest shots which is what he did while out there. I haven't checked any stats but I'd bet that Duke had less points in the paint today and more three attempts than they had in their previous game. I did see the graphic that Zion went 12-24 from the field and I'd be surprised if his FG percentage was much higher in his previous game than his .50% today.

I watched the first half the other day and most of the game today. Duke was very unimpressive in my opinion but I am certainly not a professional sports analyzer. Whatever the reason they barely won they were playing a bunch of scrubs today so shouldn't have had to eek one out at the end.

erikthredd

ESPN doesn't keep track of Points in the Paint in their ncaa boxscores but I did see that they shot 6 more three attempts than in round one. Zion's FG% also went from 75% in round one to 50% today. Tacko Fall feet didn't even need to leave the floor and he was making it very hard for Duke in the paint.

erikthredd

@larryallen73 said:

@erikthredd said:

@larryallen73 said:
Duke looked pretty marginal in the first half of their first game and looked very human today. UCF has a 7'6" guy yes but he has hands of stone and one of their guards can only dribble with his left hand. Duke was lucky to beat them. I am not impressed with Duke so far.

Did you actually watch the entire game? Duke usually owns the paint and that center made it very difficult for Zion and everyone getting to the basket. Hands of stone mean nothing when he just needs to contest shots which is what he did while out there. I haven't checked any stats but I'd bet that Duke had less points in the paint today and more three attempts than they had in their previous game. I did see the graphic that Zion went 12-24 from the field and I'd be surprised if his FG percentage was much higher in his previous game than his .50% today.

I watched the first half the other day and most of the game today. Duke was very unimpressive in my opinion but I am certainly not a professional sports analyzer. Whatever the reason they barely won they were playing a bunch of scrubs today so shouldn't have had to eek one out at the end.

Like I said above Duke's success is their ability to get to the basket whenever they want and couldn't do that today. Could they struggle again? Sure but they can also turn it on and blow teams out as well.
I wouldn't call UCF a bunch of scrubs either when they run the same exact system as Duke. Aubrey Dawkins & Tacko Fall will both be first round picks when they leave for the NBA.

Justacommeman

Lots of blow outs this weekend. The sweet sixteen is basically chalk.

Going to the west regionals in Anaheim on Thursday. 2 Michigan vs 3 Texas Tech and 1Gonzaga vs 4 FSU. Last year these same western regionals Michigan beat FSU in the finals to get to the Final Four.

m

,

Estil

Oh who cares about those blasted Puke Boys?

PatsGuy5000

@Justacommeman said:
Lots of blow outs this weekend. The sweet sixteen is basically chalk.

Going to the west regionals in Anaheim on Thursday. 2 Michigan vs 3 Texas Tech and 1Gonzaga vs 4 FSU. Last year these same western regionals Michigan beat FSU in the finals to get to the Final Four.

Great games to see! Hope you got good seats 🏀

PatsGuy5000

@PatsGuy5000 said:
Looks like about a dozen teams could weather the 64 + team bracket this year. Let’s see your Final Four prediction, winner, and a sleeper who could get to the Elite 8.
North Carolina, Michigan State, Virginia, & Gonzaga - Gonzaga winning - sleeper Buffalo

Rick

Not bad - got 2 teams in from a March 3 prediction

DIMEMAN

Those were 2 great games to watch that outed Duke and Kentucky. That Zion is a beast!

erikthredd

@DIMEMAN said:
Those were 2 great games to watch that outed Duke and Kentucky. That Zion is a beast!

Duke-MSU was a great game,its a shame that Duke didn't go to Zion for that last shot instead of Barrett.