Elrond50
Feb 8 2008, 06:37 PM
I know this is early, but I can't wait for the Tourny. No one on my LJ cared, but maybe you guys will appreciate this. My mother bought me for Christmas, two tickets to the Regional Semifinals and Finals for the South here in Houston.
I'm already tracking ESPN's bracketology to see how might end up here.
Seriously, as a major college hoops fan Christmas will come in March.
Joe in Philly
Feb 8 2008, 06:48 PM
Your mom rocks. My mom gave me a ceramic Santa's boot with chocolates inside.

(She did make it herself, though...)
blueraider
Feb 8 2008, 07:06 PM
QUOTE(Elrond50 @ Feb 8 2008, 06:37 PM)

I know this is early, but I can't wait for the Tourny. No one on my LJ cared, but maybe you guys will appreciate this. My mother bought me for Christmas, two tickets to the Regional Semifinals and Finals for the South here in Houston.
I'm already tracking ESPN's bracketology to see how might end up here.
Seriously, as a major college hoops fan Christmas will come in March.
I'm looking forward to it as well, I'm going down to Florida in March to catch some spring training baseball but primarily to see the Tampa sub-regional.
It'll be my fifth subregional in this decade, can't get enough of them....
jsieds
Mar 7 2008, 04:35 PM
Cornell University is the first team in the tournament. The Ivy league does not have a tournament, so the regular season winner gets the automatic bid.
George Twins fan
Mar 7 2008, 05:14 PM
First time in 20 years that the Ivy League is being represented by a school other than Penn or Princeton. Good for Cornell.
The-Ultimate
Mar 9 2008, 09:18 AM
I was hoping to see Kenny George (who's about 7'6" or something insane like that) from UNC-Asheville in this years tourney, but we'll have to settle with Winthrop as being the automatically qualifier from the Big South for the fourth straight year.
Joe in Philly
Mar 9 2008, 09:25 PM
It's not
the tournament but I'll see some games at
a tournament.

The Atlantic 10 tournament is in Atlantic City and since I was able to get a free hotel room for 2 nights I'm going to the Wed. night doubleheader in the opening round, and the quarterfinals Thursday (2 afternoon games and 2 night games). I'll see at least two of the three Phila. A10 teams -- Temple got a first-round bye and starts on Thursday. LaSalle plays Wed. night but St. Joseph's game is Wed. afternoon so for me to see them they'll have to win.
Boltergeist
Mar 14 2008, 07:40 AM
I don't think I've seen a day where the bubble collectively crapped out like yesterday.
Villanova, Dayton, UAB, Arizona St., Baylor, Houston, Florida, Oregon, UMass, Maryland, Ole Miss, Arizona, and New Mexico all went down.
RBear78240
Mar 14 2008, 04:58 PM
QUOTE(Elrond50 @ Feb 8 2008, 11:37 PM)

I know this is early, but I can't wait for the Tourny. No one on my LJ cared, but maybe you guys will appreciate this. My mother bought me for Christmas, two tickets to the Regional Semifinals and Finals for the South here in Houston.
I'm already tracking ESPN's bracketology to see how might end up here.
Seriously, as a major college hoops fan Christmas will come in March.
You're going to love the Regionals in Houston. I've been to the tourney in some aspect (subregionals, regionals, and Final Four (2)) for 12 of the past 14 years. It's an annual experience for me now. The only problem with the Houston Regional is that they will be running with the new Final Four configuration in Reliant Stadium. Yes, the NCAA has finally succumbed to the greed factor and put the court in the middle of the football field longways. San Antonio will be the last year we have the half-field configuration.
I'm especially going to enjoy it since my alma mater (UALR) will be hosting a sub-regional for the first time in Little Rock. I have tickets to that and get to go home to watch the games with a basketball crazy family. I then get to come back and work with the Host Committee for the Final Four in San Antonio. So I start the tourney and end it this year, a real treat. I almost bought Houston Regional tickets but that would have been a little hard to explain to the boss taking off that many days in March.
March Madness is finally here!!!
PCC
Mar 15 2008, 10:47 PM
There's already one sub .500 team in the tournament, Coppin State. There's one more on deck. If Northwestern State beats Texas Arlington, they'll be the second sub .500 team at 16-17.
Boltergeist
Mar 15 2008, 10:55 PM
And Illinois could be another one at 17-18.
RBear78240
Mar 16 2008, 08:47 AM
Yep that's the problem (or fun depending on how you look at it) of automatic bids. Thank goodness for the at large slots in the tournament. However those automatic bids who typically come from the mid-majors always provide the best entertainment of the tournament and what makes this tournament so good.
This has been a great weekend of play along with some interesting events. Hearts and prayers go out to those people in the Atlanta area after the storms that forced the SEC tournament into new quarters. I can't imagine what it was like in the Georgia Dome Friday night.
Today is going to be great for me. My native Hawgs are in the SEC final and my adopted Horns are in the Big 12 final. Thank goodness there's only a 30 minute overlap between the games.
Hopefully Texas holds their edge and ends up getting seeded into Little Rock. If Arkansas beats Georgia today I hope the committee is benevolent and puts them in Little Rock also. That would be a sweet victory and ending for Arkansans who have their first NCAA tournament games hosted in their state this year (UALR's the host school but they all love the Hawgs).
Dang I just saw the schedule. It appears they moved the SEC tournament to a later time to give Georgia some rest. There is still overlap but not like I'd like. Looks like the remote's gonna get a workout today.
George Twins fan
Mar 16 2008, 08:58 AM
I heard the Georgia headd coach bitching about having to play two games in one day in the SEC tournament. I'm wondering what he thought they could do? I mean, sure it's an inconvenience but there was a freakin' tornado causing over $100 milllion in damage. Get some persepective there buddy. People could have been killed and you're gonna whine about your sub .500 team having to play 2 games in one day? Really???
canmark
Mar 16 2008, 10:30 AM
The Canadian CIS Men's Basketball Championship game is this afternoon: #5 Acadia Axemen vs. #7 Brock Badgers. Game is 3:30pm Eastern on The Score.
In the semis, the Axemen defeated #1 Carlton Ravens, who had won 5 straight CIS championships. The Badgers defeated #6 Western Mustangs.
CIS===========
This just in: Brock Badgers win the Canadian Men's University Basketball Championship.
RBear78240
Mar 16 2008, 12:11 PM
Hey Canmark. Thanks for the perspective. Yes, there is basketball going on somewhere else in the world besides the states.
Regarding the SEC tourney I agree. I really have to hand it to the SEC guys for making this happen even with the adversity. The challenge they have is to get the final game completed before the Selection Show. They pushed it as late as they could to still give the committee time to factor in the results of the game. With two non-ranked teams in the final it's critical to have the time to figure out where to seed them if they do. They have to find a Regional and a slot to slide them in. Arkansas' in according to Joe Lunardi. However Georgia has to win today to get in the dance. Yes, I bet the GA coach will claim adversity but sports is sports. You can't expect perfect conditions every time. You play to the situation.
Selection is in less than 5 hours! What's wild is seeing CBS fill the SEC slot with a replay of last year's Final Four. Now that's grasping to fill air time when you have the ACC Final on at the same time. No comparison. My odds are on FL winning the game on CBS.
azairforce
Mar 16 2008, 11:02 PM
should be a very good tournament! Tar Heels all the way!
they are in the toughest bracket by far i think and UCLA has the easiest road.
I'm for the Tar Heels all the way!!
Elrond50
Mar 17 2008, 06:59 PM
I can't wait. Texas and Stanford in the South Regional!!! (most likely) Reliant will be rocking for UT. can't believe that UT could possibly have 'home court' with the Regional in Houston and the Finals in San Antonio.
RBear78240
Mar 17 2008, 08:10 PM
QUOTE(Elrond50 @ Mar 17 2008, 11:59 PM)

I can't wait. Texas and Stanford in the South Regional!!! (most likely) Reliant will be rocking for UT. can't believe that UT could possibly have 'home court' with the Regional in Houston and the Finals in San Antonio.
Reliant probably would be considered a home court for Texas but because of the way tickets are allocated it's hard to really consider San Antonio a home court. Unlike the Regionals where fans can purchase tickets through a standard allocation system the Final Four operates a lottery that was allocated nationally last summer. Besides there aren't that many seats allocated to the general public. The average Texan couldn't just walk up and purchase a ticket to the Final Four.
If Texas were to make to the Championship Game that might be considered a home court since losing fans typically sell their Championship Game to locals after the Saturday games.
These days the average basketball fan has a hard chance getting a ticket to the Final Four. They are allocated to the schools, the coaches (that's the biggest source of after market tickets), sponsors, the NCAA, and the general ticket lottery. You have a better shot watching Texas in Reliant than in the Alamodome unless you want to pay some serious bucks for tickets.
GageChicago
Mar 18 2008, 01:02 AM
Dude that rocks your Mom is awesome. Just hope you aren't dreaming of a WHITE christmas in March hahahaha
QUOTE(Elrond50 @ Feb 8 2008, 06:37 PM)

I know this is early, but I can't wait for the Tourny. No one on my LJ cared, but maybe you guys will appreciate this. My mother bought me for Christmas, two tickets to the Regional Semifinals and Finals for the South here in Houston.
I'm already tracking ESPN's bracketology to see how might end up here.
Seriously, as a major college hoops fan Christmas will come in March.
jsieds
Mar 18 2008, 08:26 AM
QUOTE(Elrond50 @ Mar 17 2008, 07:59 PM)

I can't wait. Texas and Stanford in the South Regional!!! (most likely) Reliant will be rocking for UT. can't believe that UT could possibly have 'home court' with the Regional in Houston and the Finals in San Antonio.
Unfortunately Stanford will not survive the fury of the Big Red from Cornell.
NorCalHusker
Mar 18 2008, 05:20 PM
QUOTE(jsieds @ Mar 18 2008, 01:26 PM)

Unfortunately Stanford will not survive the fury of the Big Red from Cornell.
LOLOLOL
*gasp* *chuckle* *snicker*
LOLOLOLOLOL
How is Cornell going to stop Los Lopez?
RBear78240
Mar 18 2008, 08:14 PM
It looks like Rick Barnes may have stirred the pot for some animosity in Little Rock this weekend. In
comments during a conference call he basically told Arkansas fans to play nice or he'd take his marbles and stay home next year for a series with the Razorbacks.
Add to the Arkansas fans a host of Memphis fans who really don't want to face Texas in Houston and Alltel Arena could be a pretty hostile place on Friday or Sunday afternoon. I'll be there with burnt orange on but I can tell you I'll probably be in the minority.
blueraider
Mar 18 2008, 08:19 PM
QUOTE(NorCalHusker @ Mar 18 2008, 06:20 PM)

LOLOLOL
*gasp* *chuckle* *snicker*
LOLOLOLOLOL
How is Cornell going to stop Los Lopez?
Ummm....logic is not permitted here
Let's go Red!!!!
I wonder when the last occasion was in which two teams whose nicknames are colors(Cardinal, Red) faced off?
SCTrojan
Mar 18 2008, 08:24 PM
Alls I know is "Beat the Wildcats!"
Joe in Philly
Mar 19 2008, 12:05 AM
QUOTE(NorCalHusker @ Mar 18 2008, 06:20 PM)

LOLOLOL
*gasp* *chuckle* *snicker*
LOLOLOLOLOL
How is Cornell going to stop Los Lopez?
They've hired Tonya Harding as a...ummm...consultant.
jsieds
Mar 19 2008, 10:37 AM
QUOTE(NorCalHusker @ Mar 18 2008, 06:20 PM)

LOLOLOL
*gasp* *chuckle* *snicker*
LOLOLOLOLOL
How is Cornell going to stop Los Lopez?
Perhaps the same way that Siena did in their win over Stanford. Siena lost to Cornell one week later. How's that for logic? Cornell last loss came 17 games ago at Duke.
The Cornell-Stanford connection goes beyond colors. From Uncle Ezra - a Cornell Q/A forum
QUOTE
Dear Uncle Ezra,
I heard that the founders of Stanford University,
Leland and Jane Stanford, were Cornellians. Is this truth or myth?
Dear Myth buster,
That is untrue, the Stanfords were not Cornellians, and the story that their son had died while attending Harvard, and after being snubbed by the Harvard president they started a school in his name, rather than giving the memorial gift to Harvard, is also a tall tale. However, there are threads of truth in both stories.
Stanford was established in 1885 by a grant from Leland Stanford and his wife Jane. They founded the university after the death of their only child Leland Stanford Jr. who died of typhoid fever just shy of his 16th birthday. Just after his death, Leland was alleged to have turned to his wife and said, "The children of California shall be our children."
In establishing the university, they traveled to many schools on the East coast to seek wisdom and ideas, including Harvard, MIT, Cornell, and Princeton. And when it was time to select a president, they asked A.D. White, Cornell's president to come west. White declined but recommended David Starr Jordan, a former student of his, who was at the University of Indiana. They did, and Jordan went on to loyally serve the university for several decades as both president and chancellor. Other Cornell links also connect the two schools. When Stanford formally opened its doors in October 1891, it was one of only a handful of coeducational schools in the nation (Cornell one of them). On that day, of the 15 original faculty members, 7 hailed from Cornell University. They also shared philosophical beliefs about education including the importance of research in the university.
The Stanfords' inspired, egalitarian visions for what has become a wonderful university does remind you a bit of our dear old Cornell,
doesn't it?
Uncle Ezra
WVUfanPHILLY
Mar 19 2008, 02:48 PM
QUOTE(SCTrojan @ Mar 18 2008, 09:24 PM)

Alls I know is "Beat the Wildcats!"

My thoughts exactly!
Ted P
Mar 19 2008, 03:53 PM
At least Coppin State is out. There ought to be a rule - NO 20-LOSS TEAMS IN THE NCAA'S.
Thank you, Mount St. Mary's. (Not that you're getting much farther....)
Joe in Philly
Mar 20 2008, 01:29 PM
Whose brilliant idea was it to have early games in Denver? The Temple-Michigan State game started at 10:30 am local time.
The-Ultimate
Mar 20 2008, 01:51 PM
Down to 61 teams left. Temple, Georgia and Portland State are out.
Pitt had to play a 12:20 (9:20 local time) in Boise, ID in 2005 and lost to Pacific. CBS/NCAA usually will delay one pod-sites, (Anaheim this year) where the first game starts at 2:30 EST instead of 12:30. They usually don't do that in two sites in one day.
Georgia played with a lot of intensity but exhaustion and a lack of effect passing in the second half against Xavier allowed Xavier to bury them.
Michigan State looked hot in the first game, even with Neitzel putting in the hole very much. Can they continue that strong?
MiamiSpartan
Mar 20 2008, 01:55 PM
Nice win for the Spartans, but Neitzel wasn't a factor again today....He has had a strange year. Some games he seems like a world beater, and in others he hardly shows up....
Come on ORU!!! Beat Pitt!!
WVUfanPHILLY
Mar 20 2008, 03:02 PM
ORU's gonna have to do some heavy duty praying during halftime! GO BIG EAST!!!
MiamiSpartan
Mar 21 2008, 07:49 AM
...and I cannot believe how Belmont threw that game away last night!!! It was their game to win, and they just choked it away....
They were only giving themselves 6 seconds to set up their shots, and then of course they could not get a good look...
And whoever called that inbounds play should be shot....seemed like no one else on the team even knew it was coming....
DnD10598
Mar 21 2008, 08:43 AM
Should be a great second-round game in Denver. ORU was supposed to be so good defensively and the Panthers ran rough-shod over them. Let's see if we can do same thing to the vaunted defense of the Green. Let's Go Pitt! Let's go Big East!
RBear78240
Mar 21 2008, 08:56 AM
Maybe we should hook up with
these math majors at College of Charleston. They picked KState over USC in all their computer models. If they come out successful I can see a new life - setting the odds in Vegas.
My bracket was almost blown out of the water yesterday by the kids from Belmont. Up until this point the biggest thing Belmont produced was Josh Turner and other great C&W performers. Yesterday they almost went down in NCAA Tourney history. I only got to see bits and pieces of that game flying to Little Rock but what I saw was one heck of a game.
We'll see if another TN team (Austin Peay) can make tourney history by upsetting the Longhorns in a hostile crowd for the Horns. Coach Barnes comments have turned Alltel Arena into anything BUT a Longhorn court.
simontexas
Mar 21 2008, 03:22 PM
QUOTE(RBear78240 @ Mar 21 2008, 08:56 AM)

Maybe we should hook up with these math majors at College of Charleston. They picked KState over USC in all their computer models.
I picked Kansas State over USC too. I only missed one. I didn't pick UNLV. Let's see how it goes today. I got 5 big ones riding on it! Well, uh, I mean 5 dollars.

Yeah, that's how I roll.
Joe in Philly
Mar 21 2008, 04:29 PM
I thought picking Kansas State was obvious. OJ Mayo wouldn't even have been in that game if the NBA didn't change their rules on high schoolers being drafted. To me, his lack of sincere interest in college and the college game indicated it wouldn't be a big deal to him if USC lost. Didn't he actually he chose USC in part to help set up his future marketing opportunities? I guess he won't bother to attend any more classes now.
LAKERSRDABOMB
Mar 21 2008, 05:28 PM
Wow! This thing is really starting to heat up! WKY and SD really put some excitement into the tournament! Yesterday was kinda lacking except for the Duke vs. Belmont game. Now my adrenlin is a pumping! My 2 favorite days of the year, 1R of March Madness!
Jim at Outsports
Mar 21 2008, 05:33 PM
I am proudly third from last in our pool!
phillyrunner
Mar 21 2008, 11:40 PM
Tampa should be named upset city. This is he first time ever that two 12 seeds and two 13 seeds win to go to round two.
skiviesman
Mar 22 2008, 12:11 AM
I have had two wonderful days watching the MARCH MADNESS... a yearly mental vacation for me...
This year I am actually free and for the first time on the WEST COAST so I can see it all...
I love it... The only thing better would have had a bud here sharing the good time
but why ask for the impossible...
but I am encourged that there are so many participants in the pool and I am enjoying the shared experience.
And so it goes...
Boltergeist
Mar 22 2008, 02:01 AM
The Eric Gordon era at Indiana: One and Done.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer kid .....
RBear78240
Mar 22 2008, 08:54 AM
QUOTE(Jim at Outsports @ Mar 21 2008, 10:33 PM)

I am proudly third from last in our pool!

Hey Jim I'm probably not far from you. After years of picking favorites I tried some upsets and apparently I don't have the nose for them. There were upsets, just not the one's I picked.
Oh well, I'll just consign myself to enjoying the games. Tampa Bay! The upset city. Can you imagine the stigma now of playing there? Probably as bad as being seeded a #5 in the tournament. The 5-12 jinx hanging over your heads. I'm sure coaches are begging "Anything but a 5 seed. Anything but a 5 seed."
Thanks for hosting the bracket again this year.
Joe in Philly
Mar 22 2008, 12:28 PM
After going 14-2 on day one, yesterday wasn't quite as spectacular.

But hey, I'm in a 39-way tie for 47th place.
blueraider
Mar 22 2008, 12:47 PM
QUOTE(phillyrunner @ Mar 22 2008, 12:40 AM)

Tampa should be named upset city. This is he first time ever that two 12 seeds and two 13 seeds win to go to round two.
I'm down in Florida now, and was incredibly fortunate to witness the Tampa subregional in person. The bestest first round subregional EVER!!!
wvderby
Mar 22 2008, 01:08 PM
Big East 7-1 in the first round.
RBear78240
Mar 22 2008, 03:33 PM
QUOTE(wvderby @ Mar 22 2008, 06:08 PM)

Big East 7-1 in the first round.

wvderby I always give you and your WV posse a hard time about that Big East arrogance but you guys deserve the bragging rights today. Just witnessed WV schooling Duke in DC. Awesome game and well deserved victory. BTW, you just smoked my bracket. Falling further and further behind.

Good luck on the rest of the tourney. After the lackluster performance of the Pac-10 yesterday a lot of people are questioning UCLA's #1 seed. I might be seeing your Mountaineers in San Antonio.
canmark
Mar 22 2008, 03:41 PM
Great game by WVU! That Mazzulla kid, what a performance! A 6-2 guard, he scores 13 points, grabs 11 rebounds, and dishes 8 assists.
The-Ultimate
Mar 22 2008, 03:58 PM
I am amazed at how different Duke played both halves, but for the Mountaineers to only be down by 5 after not making a trey in the first half, you knew they were in good position. This is a team that knocked down 17 3s in a game in the Big East tournament.
It's astounding that West Virginia has made it to the Sweet 16 in their last four NCAA tournament appearances. That's pretty good in the clutch! I bet Bobbie Huggins is salivating at the possibility to play Xavier again in Phoenix next Thursday.
wvderby
Mar 22 2008, 04:21 PM
You have to give props to the Big 12.
The Big 12 is 5-1 in the first round.
Mazulla played lights out today. He will be a great PG next year fulltime when he replaces a graduating Nichols.
WVU should matchup well with Xavier or Purdue. If WVU wins, UCLA looms most likely. I am not too fond of that matchup. WVU doesn't have the horses down low to matchup with Love and UCLA's other low post players.
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