friendfromlowry;1843613 wrote:Xavier and Gonzaga will be an awesome game.

Only three #11 seeds have made the Final 4, but none have advanced....if Xavier gets past Gonzaga, I like their chances.

Major choke by Zona. Lost to an 11-seed who really shouldn't have been in the NCAA Tournament. Would've had to go through a mid-major in Gonzaga to make the Final Four, which would've been in Phoenix. Probably the biggest miss of Sean Miller's career. So big, that it's not shocking if he would listen on the Indiana job.

Azubuike24;1843623 wrote:Major choke by Zona. Lost to an 11-seed who really shouldn't have been in the NCAA Tournament. Would've had to go through a mid-major in Gonzaga to make the Final Four, which would've been in Phoenix. Probably the biggest miss of Sean Miller's career. So big, that it's not shocking if he would listen on the Indiana job.

Go Xavier.
Go UCLA.

Seems like everyone is discounting Gonzaga...not like they aren't the second best team in the country the entire season or anything!

Laley23;1843628 wrote:Seems like everyone is discounting Gonzaga...not like they aren't the second best team in the country the entire season or anything!

Agree. They have an unfair reputation of "choking."

Azubuike24;1843631 wrote:Agree. They have an unfair reputation of "choking."

I don't think it's unfair. Get over that hump, and then you drop the reputation.

ernest_t_bass;1843633 wrote:I don't think it's unfair. Get over that hump, and then you drop the reputation.

They have been a 1-seed twice. If you don't make a Final Four and you're not a 1-seed, it's technically not "choking."

Arizona has "choked" just as many times with a favorable draw and more talent. Why don't they get ridiculed like Gonzaga?

Azubuike24;1843634 wrote:They have been a 1-seed twice. If you don't make a Final Four and you're not a 1-seed, it's technically not "choking."

Arizona has "choked" just as many times with a favorable draw and more talent. Why don't they get ridiculed like Gonzaga?

I see the "choke" as winning the big one for Gonzaga.

Laley23;1843628 wrote:Seems like everyone is discounting Gonzaga...not like they aren't the second best team in the country the entire season or anything!

Second best behind who? I would have both Nova and Kansas ahead of them for a better regular season....potentially UNC as well

Laley23;1843628 wrote:Seems like everyone is discounting Gonzaga...not like they aren't the second best team in the country the entire season or anything!

And likely considered the "best" team if they hadn't laid that one egg against BYU.

slingshot4ever;1843641 wrote:Second best behind who? I would have both Nova and Kansas ahead of them for a better regular season....potentially UNC as well

Kansas was the only team better, imo. I watched Nova this year, not once did I think they were top 5.

ernest_t_bass;1843638 wrote:I see the "choke" as winning the big one for Gonzaga.

Gonzaga has to win a title to not be ridiculed? Damn you have some high standards.

Laley23;1843648 wrote:Gonzaga has to win a title to not be ridiculed? Damn you have some high standards.

In my opinion, that's why they are seen as "choke" artists. They have these "great" teams every year, but can't win the big one.

I need survivor winner today. 58% of the remaining pool left last night with Zona and Michigan losing. Play it safe with UNC or gamble with South Carolina? Leaning towards UNC only because I want nothing to do with that elite 8 matchup and would prefer to keep Kansas till final 4

ernest_t_bass;1843649 wrote:In my opinion, that's why they are seen as "choke" artists. They have these "great" teams every year, but can't win the big one.

This may be the only time I've ever heard gonzaga and "great" together. I've rarely ever heard anyone say they've had a ton of "great" teams.

ernest_t_bass;1843649 wrote:In my opinion, that's why they are seen as "choke" artists. They have these "great" teams every year, but can't win the big one.

Years they had a high (1-4) seed and lost to a lower-seeded team: 2004, 2005, 2013 (when they were a 1 and lost to a 9 in the second round).

Every other year, they either weren't remotely great (lower seed) or in the case of 2006 (3 losing to a 2) 2009 (4 losing to a 1) and 2015 (2 losing to a 1), they performed to their seed.

UNC better during the regular season? The same UNC with 7 losses? No way. UNC was lucky to get a 1-seed.

Now, on this site, I think they got a "choke artist" rep simply because Rec had an irrational hatred of them. Must have had a couple Aussies on the team or something...

As to in a grander sense, call me a conspiracy theorist, but I think they get a "choke artist" rep simply because they're a team from a small conference that's weak overall that legit made it as a national commodity. They make the tournament about every year and often are seeded far better than little guys can count on. So when they don't exceed expectations or don't live up to expectations, the narrative is that they "choked" as a way to discredit them based on not being a big conference team that plays a tougher schedule in Jan and Feb in a "Sure, they can beat Portland and San Fran, but when the big boys come calling, they cave!"

Azubuike24;1843657 wrote:UNC better during the regular season? The same UNC with 7 losses? No way. UNC was lucky to get a 1-seed.

Yeah, any team that loses 2/3 to Duke this year is nowhere close to "best in regular season". Just no.

ernest_t_bass;1843649 wrote:In my opinion, that's why they are seen as "choke" artists. They have these "great" teams every year, but can't win the big one.

They have had 2 "great" teams (this year included). And 2-3 good teams (which they produced with, and gave some epic battles to the higher seeds). Then teams that are the best of the Mid-Majors (anywhere from 6-11 seeds who should win a game, tops). Who has ever said they are greatbyear in, year out? Tell them to pay better attention to college basketball.

Some of the Gonzaga "chokes" are not really that. People just remember them.

2003 vs Arizona. Gonzaga was an 8 and lost by 1 in double OT to Arizona, the same Arizona team who played a heck of a regional final against runnner-up Kansas.
2006 vs UCLA. Gonzaga was a 3 and UCLA was a 2. The same UCLA team who played in the national title game.
2013 vs Wichita State. Gonzaga was a 1 and although Wichita State pulled the upset, they also made the Final Four.
2015 vs Duke. Gonzaga was a 2 and Duke went on to win the national championship.

I'm predicting that even if they make the Final Four, people will STILL discredit them saying they got a gift facing an 11-seed out West to get there. Probably a good thing, as Gonzaga has been knocked out by Arizona 3 times in the NCAA Tournament.

Hell, even if they make the championship game, depending on who they face from the East, considering it could potentially be the 7 or 8 from there.

Yeah, and watch them win the title and people say they only did so with a great draw. I'm not at all a Gonzaga fan, but the hate on them from so many big school fan bases is ridiculous and more often than not, I've found myself defending them.

My teams left: UNC, UK, Butler, UCLA, Wisky, SC, Gonzaga, Kansas, Xavier....UNC tonight, Gonzaga Tommorrow? Or something different?

If it's Kansas vs ucla in the final four, I am looking good to win both my money league brackets. Which would be about tree fiddy. Which is nice.