Bracket is aligning just perfect for Gonzaga already
Oklahoma’s second leading scorer is out due to Covid-19, Kansas has been without 3 of their players, 2 of their better ones, and Virginia has had issues as well. This is all before any upsets that might happen. These are all on Gonzaga’s side of the bracket. Not that they need any help because they are good but it seems like the stars are aligning for them already.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:17 PM ^
It's really gonna hurt then when Michigan beats them in the semifinal.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:22 PM ^
They were a damn near lock to the Final Four regardless of any of this stuff.
They're legit and the most complete team in the country.
Once they get to the Final Four, then you could see teams with a legit shot at knocking them off.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:23 PM ^
I really feel like they are now the most complete team in the country. Throw a healthy Livers back out there and we were right there with them if not better.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:27 PM ^
See below.
Right there with them if not better?
I don't see it.
Gonzaga might lose and Michigan might outperform expectations (as it has nearly all season) with its whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-the-parts team, but I wouldn't call Michigan anything near complete.
This was addressed in yesterday's main post. Our guards are small and a little slow. There's not much wing athleticism. (Have you noticed how easily some teams have gotten to the rim?) If Dickinson is even halfway neutralized (through someone like Cockburn or clever defense) the offense tends to stagnate, as there's no one capable of scoring consistently outside the system. Livers has done it several times but they all looked really high-effort. (It wasn't easy for him.)
What's crazy is that Michigan could have a more complete team next year. I'd still expect them to do worse because nearly everyone will be young and unseasoned.
If we get Smith and Dickinson back, we might be the preseason #1.
March 18th, 2021 at 10:15 AM ^
@blueheron
Fair points, but bear in mind that U-M has constantly been playing opponents capable of exposing weaknesses, while Gonzaga (through no fault of its own) has not. Thirteen of M’s last 14 games have been against A-caliber opponents on kenpom. For Gonzaga, it’s 2 of the last 14.
Also, I think the offense’s primary problem isn’t Dickinson (although we need to get him going again). The biggest issue is coming up with a counterpunch for opposing guards fighting over the top of every screen.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:26 PM ^
And honestly if Michigan was healthy and playing like they were earlier in the year...I'd say the same thing about us.
This bracket really isn't that tough, it's not a cakewalk, but it's not murders row either.
This ain't VCU/Kansas/Florida/Syracuse/Louisville...
But this team is tired from the B1G putting to much on them (which I think contributed to Livers getting hurt as well)...they're without their glue guy and top 3 most important player. And the confidence is shaken a little bit.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:30 PM ^
My hope is that the tournament represents a fresh start and you get to play teams that you don’t normally play and haven’t scouted you. It’s the fact that you know you are at the end of the line if you lose. Livers is a big loss and I’m not sure how we will overcome that but it’ll be interesting to see how it all goes.
March 17th, 2021 at 11:13 PM ^
Honestly none of the regions in this years' bracket can be considered a "murderers row". There are some tough matchups and draws for each of the four 1-seeds, but the field is pretty even. Well, Gonzaga is the lone exception, but they are the overall 1-seed so they do deserve the easiest path to the Final Four. The other three regions have a rough parity that's quite refreshing from brackets in prior years.
As for Michigan's prospects, I feel like most people believe they will lose in the Rd32 or are still onboard with them being a Final Four team. They will probably fall somewhere in the middle. I think if this team can make the E8 without Livers, you can be extremely proud and happy with that result. A S16 exit would be a little underwhelming, but would still be a good enough achievement.
I feel like Baylor and Illinois have way harder teams to get through than Michigan and Gonzaga. I was surprised at our bracket in particular since we're the 4th 1-seed.
But this team is tired from the B1G putting to much on them
Present tense? By the time we play Saturday, we will have had a week off.
Fans read too much into how a team finishes the regular season. The tournament is a different animal.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:35 PM ^
I don’t know, they haven’t played any great teams since December. It may be difficult for them to adjust to real competition. If they get in a close game, I think it may catch up with them.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:42 PM ^
While they lost earlier in season, I think Hawks could give them a run in E8. Other than them though, this region seems weak + all the Covid issues.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
They already beat the 2, 3, and 4 in their bracket during non-conf...their bracket was already a joke. If they don't win it this year...without any of the power houses in the tourney, will be pretty impressed. Only team I think is competition based on how they are playing off late is illinois.
Brought this up in another thread. Committee took it really easy on them by putting them with 2,3,4 seeds they already played. They don’t play anyone for 3 months and then instead of having to play different power 5 teams they get the same ones from December. Seems like NCAA really wanted an undefeated storyline going into the final four. I’m not saying they aren’t a really good team, just make them prove it against different power 5 competition.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:40 PM ^
I don't believe in Gonzaga at all. If they played in the B1G they would be a 4 or 5 loss team....
March 17th, 2021 at 10:53 PM ^
Um, you know Michigan and Illinois both had 4 losses to B1G teams this year. Do you not believe in either of them?
I agree with you that Gonzaga would have losses if they were in the B1G, but I still think they have the best talent in the country this season.
March 17th, 2021 at 11:49 PM ^
Naw, he, like a bunch of other people, just like parroting the tired nonsense that Gonzaga "isnt actually good" just because they play in the WCC. Completely ignoring the 5 straight Sweet 16's, three Elite 8's and National Runner- Up seasons in the past 5 seasons. Or 17-7 record against Top-25 teams the last 5 years. Or bunch of NBA guys they have had recently.
March 18th, 2021 at 12:39 AM ^
Gonzagagoblog wants you to come back you silly bird
Is gonzagablog just another term for reality? Seems like it, and he's already there.
March 18th, 2021 at 12:57 AM ^
And yet, with all the great Gonzaga teams of the past 10 to 15 years, they still only have ONE final four appearance and zero NCs. I don't blame anyone for second guessing the "greatest" Gonzaga team ever.
They haven't had a bunch of great teams. A really good one or 2, yea. They're just consistently solid. It's hard to get to the Final 4, any year...we should all know that, even as a 1 seed. Because Gonzaga doesn't have a title yet isn't something to be dangled in front of them saying "you guys are bogus for not finishing the job already".
These people who continually trash them are the same people who cannot even say the school name right calling them GonZOGa rather than GonZAGa. Shouldn't be that difficult since their nickname is the Zags...
This is a legit title contender with 3 All Americans, pretty much smoked every team they played in non-conference, even coming off a COVID break. But hey "tHeY pLaY iN tHe WcC sO tHeY mUst Be OvErAtEd"
March 17th, 2021 at 10:43 PM ^
I won't criticize them at all if Gonzaga goes undefeated.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:54 PM ^
I sort of expected Missouri to beat Oklahoma anyway so that's not a huge shocker, but yeah, that bracket may very well feature a couple of byes if teams aren't careful.
This does sort of feel like the year for the Zags. Not that they don't have talent coming in but it's a team with the right mix of experience and top-end talent, they haven't been stressed at all by the WCC, and they've got a bracket with a bunch of teams dealing with issues.
March 17th, 2021 at 10:59 PM ^
Gonzaga was 8-0 in quad 1 games and 6-0 in quad 2s. Michigan was 8-3 and 6-1, respectively. Gonzaga is legit.
There is a big difference in the quality of gonzagas quad 1 and 2 opponents and Michigan's though.
March 17th, 2021 at 11:10 PM ^
I have no real issue with them. I think Mark Few seems like a good person and they don’t appear to do things the wrong way. If Michigan can’t win it I’m ok if they do because it’s kind of neat to see programs like that do well. If Few starts landing some elite talent every year to go along with the upper classmen then he will have a legit contender every year. For example, if they land Sallis and Holmgren to go along with the fact they could return everyone except for Kispert and Suggs they will be elite again.
March 17th, 2021 at 11:15 PM ^
Hey, you still have to beat legit teams once you get to the sweet 16.
March 17th, 2021 at 11:51 PM ^
They should be getting the breaks, they earned it as the #1 overall seed
Kansas has Mccormack and the other guy coming back if I'm not mistaken. Jalen Smith didn't travel with them but he may be back for next weekend. Don't sleep on Kansas if they're 'healthy'.
Ya, but Self is a terrible coach.
March 18th, 2021 at 12:36 PM ^
LOLWUT
Self has had his share of NCAAT struggles (specifically in the Elite 8) but Self is absolutely an elite coach.
Dude wins everywhere he goes. I'm thankful Self left Illinois for Kansas. It should be clear by now that he was the one who built the core of the Illinois team that nearly won it all in 2005. Bruce Weber was the beneficiary.
I got for my final:
Michigan vs. OSU
"Virginia is still in “COVID jail” per Sports Illustrated’s Forde, who adds: “Virginia's tentative schedule is a doozy: arrive Friday early afternoon, get tested upon arrival at hotel; go into quarantine in rooms; get tested again after midnight; if tests are negative, practice Saturday morning; play Saturday night.”"
IDK if the cavs will make it. and if they do that's a whirlwind turnaround.
Not to mention that OHIO is legitimately a solid ball club playing their best basketball right now. UVA is in trouble.
you have to play thru the pain, even if it hurts!
March 18th, 2021 at 10:27 AM ^
They gave them the least possible struggles in their high seeds
Granted they couldn't give them Bama or Houston as a 2, But Iowa has 0 chance to beat them. OSU would have been a tougher matchup
Kansas if you squint but Covid too. But WVU and Texas would be worse matchups and maybe Arkansas
Virginia is Vince Mcmahon theme music, while OK State FSU, and Purdue would have had a puncher's chance in that order
The 5 seeds all seem really week this year. But maybe the weakest 5 couple with UVA not being to show up?