Duke even gets favored in announcers. /Dukehaters

Laley23;1713180 wrote:They have a beast at C, Mammadou NDaiye (7'6"). But, no, not really. And he wont be able to do much of anything versus LV. He can only play like 4 times up and down before needing to be subbed out lol.

Damn it. Guess it's next round then for Louisville.

Ironman92;1713079 wrote:Shitty all-around for OSU.....region, site, seed, draw and potential next rd match ups

They should be happy they even made it.

Iliketurtles;1713076 wrote:Lol VCU is going to reek Havoc (pun intended) on OSU.

I look at that as about the best possible match-up a blah team like this year's Buckeyes could have gotten in first round.

First, VCU fits into the "struggling team (due to loss of key player) who got hot to win their conference tournament" role and teams like that often seem to revert back to struggling form in the NCAA. Second, from looking at their box score against Dayton, they don't have much in the way of height, so Matta will be able to keep Amir and Trey on the bench for virtually the entire game.

I mean, they'll still need multiple guys not named Russell to step up and give good games, which is an iffy proposition on the best of days, but having the chance to be able to play small ball puts them in a far better position than they'd be in against a team with a good post presence.

If they do win, Arizona will totally roll them, but hell, winning one game would exceed my expectations coming into the bracket reveal and they're at least in a position to do that.

Also I don't know if this is new on ESPN or not but I didn't notice it last year. You can go to a teams page on ESPN and click a little box and it will highlight all the games that team played against other teams in the tournament.

OSU got a great draw. Now, it's not like anyone should be excited about playing Arizona, but as a 7/10 participant, you're going to play a really good team sooner or later.

I think it would be great to see Stanley Johnson vs D'Angelo Russell. And yes, I think OSU will beat VCU.

I think OSU beats both VCU and Arizona. The team is streaky as hell and I could see them revving up the engines for a nice run in the tourney.

OSU was seeded correctly and got what they deserved.It is unfortunate that they drew Arizona in the 3rd round because Arizona deserved a #1 seed.

I expect a W against VCU. Won't beat Zona, but could make it interesting.

Only read pages 4 and 5 so if any of this was covered, I am sorry.

My reactions.

-Didn't understand Ohio State's seed but a 10 is better than a 8/9 as you avoid a 1 but Arizona will do them in so it doesn't matter. I love the matchup with VCU. With Russell and Scott, I think they handle the Havoc but can they score in the halfcourt? Always an issue with Ohio State. VCU is coming on strong. They and MSU are two of the best 7 seeds you will ever see. I can't wait for the the 10th seeded Buckeyes to "UPSET" VCU as 3.5 point favorites.

-Hate Stephen F Austin vs Utah and UNI vs Wyoming. I thought all 4 of those teams could be bracket busters and 2 will gone round 1. I wish SFA drew Arkansas on the 5/12 line.

-Dayton as the last team in? Ridiculous. First 4 games have been struggling to get attended. This just reeks of a way to sell more tickets in Dayton. The idea that Dayton would have been left out if UConn would have won the American is crazy to me.

Oklahoma State? 18-13 and losers of 6 of 7 as a 9 seed?

Surprised Georgetown got a 4 but I love the matchup vs Eastern Washington. Total contrast of style. EWU scored 80 points or more 16 times this year, including 88 AT Indiana in an 88-86 upset of the Hoosiers. Should be a fun one. If you are looking for the next Florida Gulf Coast...this could be it. And where did FGC get their start? Knocking off an overseeded Georgetown team.

Of the higher seeds, I think Belmont is the most dangerous. Committee did them no favors pitting them against Virginia. I would have loved to see them draw Kansas and watch Belmont coach Rick Byrd coach circles around Bill Self. However, I think Virginia overwhelms them.

The regular season A-10 champion Davidson draws a 10. VCU got revenge on them in tourney but on March 5th Davidson dialed VCU 82-55. VCU a 7. Davidson a 10. They also went to Virginia and played them tough. But the rest of their OOC schedule was weak so I get them being knocked. But the A-10 has a track record of producing some good teams and it seems the whole conference got knocked. La Salle made a mini run a couple of years ago, Dayton, VCU, George Mason (obviously were in a different conference then). St. Louis and Richmond have had nice teams. At the risk of sounding like an A-10 apologist, I think their whole conference was a bit underseeded.

The madness happens no matter what but it seems like the committee is going out of their way to avoid it with some of the matchups they gave mid majors...ie Belmont, pitting UNI vs Wyoming, SFA..etc. Also rewarding the big programs like Texas and UCLA when there were other bubble teams close. Perhaps just the conspiracy theorist in me.

Rick Byrd (who?) coaching circles around NCAA champion Bill Self? Right.

SportsAndLady;1713390 wrote:Rick Byrd (who?) coaching circles around NCAA champion Bill Self? Right.

He's won over 600 games at Belmont and has over 700 career wins. He knows his way around a chalkboard. I don't think Self is one of the top X's & O's guy. Great recruiter. Great motivator but a saavy coach with a veteran team playing good defense and an efficient, deliberate offense (Think Stanford last year. Or when they lost as a 1 seed to Northern Iowa) can out coach him.

TBone14;1713394 wrote:He's won over 600 games at Belmont and has over 700 career wins. He knows his way around a chalkboard. I don't think Self is one of the top X's & O's guy. Great recruiter. Great motivator but a saavy coach with a veteran team playing good defense and an efficient, deliberate offense (Think Stanford last year. Or when they lost as a 1 seed to Northern Iowa) can out coach him.

He's in the NCAA's tourney every god damn year, he's going to get upset a few times.

Belmont guy has 700 career wins and few people would be able to say his full name off the top of their head.

Come on.

Prescott;1713370 wrote:OSU was seeded correctly and got what they deserved.It is unfortunate that they drew Arizona in the 3rd round because Arizona deserved a #1 seed.

Not really. In fact, most didn't have them in the top 5. They won the worst conference of the power 6 and did so with 3 losses, all to non-NCAA teams. There were 5 teams with better resumes.

Azubuike24;1713345 wrote:OSU got a great draw. Now, it's not like anyone should be excited about playing Arizona, but as a 7/10 participant, you're going to play a really good team sooner or later.

I think it would be great to see Stanley Johnson vs D'Angelo Russell. And yes, I think OSU will beat VCU.

Not sure I would say great. But I did honestly expect to see them in UK bracket, second round game. So yes, I was fairly pleased with the bracket they are in. The VCU matchup will be a good one. But OSU does play better getting up and down the court. And that is what VCU likes to do.
As far as Zona, as mentioned, they were going to play a 1 or 2 in second round anyway. So why not Zona with the intrigue of Matta going against Miller in coaching.

SportsAndLady;1713401 wrote:He's in the NCAA's tourney every god damn year, he's going to get upset a few times.

Belmont guy has 700 career wins and few people would be able to say his full name off the top of their head.

Come on.

You're not the least bit nervous?

Azubuike24;1713407 wrote:You're not the least bit nervous?

About what?

I don't expect a national championship this year. We are so banged up, an elite 8 appearance would be a god damn miracle.

Not to mention, I'm already not high on Kansas this year. Good team but not championship caliber.

I agree with that. Anything more than E8 would be gravy. However, a loss in that game wouldn't be good.

Then again, last year a 7 and 8 played for a title.

Azubuike24;1713418 wrote:I agree with that. Anything more than E8 would be gravy. However, a loss in that game wouldn't be good.

Then again, last year a 7 and 8 played for a title.

Considering that loss will more than likely be Kentucky, I would disagree that would be "not good"

Not a loss then. A loss early.

Or a loss to Wichita. Losing to an in-state rival like that can't be good...

Azubuike24;1713420 wrote:Not a loss then. A loss early.

Kansas plays NMSU, not Belmont.

Just saw your edit. Not really worried about Wichita

Yeah, mixed them up, sorry about that. I don't know though. I'd never want to play a good Murray State or Western Kentucky team in the NCAA's. There's absolutely zero benefit, and no matter how good they are (Wichita could be a VERY slight underdog and many will pick them over KU), you're still in the David vs Goliath scenario but magnified.

Azubuike24;1713403 wrote:Not really. In fact, most didn't have them in the top 5. They won the worst conference of the power 6 and did so with 3 losses, all to non-NCAA teams. There were 5 teams with better resumes.

They lost 3 road games one of which was to an in sate rival. Their BPI is better than Duke and Nova.Their realtime RPI is behind UK,Wisky, and Nova, but not Duke.They won the regular season and the league tournament.The team that got the #1 seed over Arizona lost at home by 16 points to a non-NCAA tournament team. It seems like the west coast teams get no respect from "Most", whoever that is.