March Madness - Let's Hear Your Notable Picks and Pans
Mates,
It is that time for March Madness. And while we need to step away from the smoldering crater that is U of M hoops right at this moment, March Madness is still a very fun time of the year. I run our 'family and friends' bracket - I put up the money, family and friends send me their sheets, and I score keep. Traditionally we do the bit about 1 pt for first round wins, 2 pts for second, and on it goes. 1st and 2nd get $.
So hopefully you've had time to fill out a bracket or maybe you'll do that today. Technically the 'First Four' games start today, I think they're down in Dayton.
Today's questions:
1. Who are your Final Four teams?
2. Who wins it all?
3. Who is your longshot team to go the farthest?
Any other commentary is welcome. Also, for the many here that have my contact info re: back channels, you too are invited to send me your sheet.
Have a great day and Go Blue
Remember, we are the National Champions and nothing can change that.
XM
1. I really like UCONN, Gonzaga, UK and Arizona. UK (my other team I watch religious) has the easiest path, but plays high school defense. Zags I think are very talented and can be a sleep at 5. Zona willl have a storyline with Downs facing UNC again. I do also really like Tennessee.
2. Betting favorite is UCONN. They look the best team but not sure I believe they can repeat with a new team. I think the winner from the west might win it all.
3. I can see James Madison or NC St. going to the sweet 16. Can also see some upsets with Mcneese and Sanford blowing brackets up as well. Those two have gauntlets though.
1.) UConn, Houston, Arizona, Tennessee
2.) UConn
3.) Purdue
March 19th, 2024 at 11:05 AM ^
Ha! Purdue as a longshot.
I was hoping someone would mention that pick.
My longshot made the finals!!!!!!!
1. UConn, Tennessee, Kentucky, St. Mary's
2. UConn
3. Drake is my longshot team. I have them losing to UConn in the Elite 8.
MSU will get blown out by the other MSU.
i candidly think the MSU we don't like is actually not as bad of a team as we would hope, and might win a game or two.
did note that both colorado teams (CSU and the buffs) are in the first four and both have a 24-10 record. did a double take on that, thinking it was a typo/misprint for a second.
Unfortunately I agree XM. I think Staee wins the first game and their game against UNC will be close either way.
Or they might not play to their ability like they have all season and lose game one.
They me be the 2nd most frustrating team to figure out this year.
Way more talent than results. Although weak at the five.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:54 AM ^
I’ll preface that staee is garbage and I loathe them to wits end. That said, staee does better in the tourney when they’re not expected to do much. When they’re a favorite, they go down in the 1st or 2nd round. I have them in 32 or sweet 16.
Agreed here, XM.
CSU (led by Brian’s choice for incoming UM HC Niko Medved) was firmly in just about bracketology prediction prior to the release of the entire field of 64 as a 10 seed or higher but got pushed to the First Four. CU made it all the way to the PAC 12 conference championship and ended up in the same pool of 8 final teams. But whatever…
I really think MSU and the B1G need a good showing to prove the conference continues to deserve a higher number of selections in the tournament. Problem is MSU hasn’t been nearly as good in their calling card categories like rebounding and fast break points like they’ve done in the past. They just don’t muscle opposing teams anymore and turn the ball over quite a bit.
I think Purdue will face its typical fate in the tournament. I think they are a good team but they are beatable under the right circumstances and a six game winning streak is not in the cards. I think they will get through the first two rounds though. Not a good year for the B1G.
I thought it was interesting that the NIT isn't good enough for Indiana and we're not good enough for the NIT.
I’ve got… UConn vs Arizona and Houston vs Creighton, then UConn over Houston. The first couple founds will be a mess. Best time in sports outside of when Michigan is winning the Championship in football, which happened in January in case anyone forgot. I have New Mexico in the S16 with Samford.
Wake me up for The Masters.
There's a tournament this year?
Houston , Creighton , Arizona, Iowa state final 4.
Iowa state wins the national championship. The best sign stealing football team and best sign stealing basketball team both National champions.
I have UConn beating Houston to repeat.
They retired their mascot (Jonathan #14) after last year's National Championship, so I'm hoping that Jonathan #15 starts his run with one was well.
Yes, I am a longtime UConn basketball fan - men and women.
nice dog.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
Great great time for you. Hurley is the real deal. You guys win and you’re solidly above dook, imo.
Teams I'm very to pretty confident will make it out of the first weekend: UConn, Purdue, Houston, Auburn, Creighton
Boom or Bust teams (Elite 8 or first weekend exit): Illinois, Arizona, Tennessee, Kentucky, Marquette,
No brackets this year for me. Wife knew not to even ask me to participate in her work one which we usually win.
Too much stuff to do around the house anyway. Someone let me know when we're back in the field and I'll tune back in.
See ya in 2026 (hopefully)
March 19th, 2024 at 10:34 AM ^
I dunno man. It's filling a bracket out. Maybe online even. I've a hunch the toilet flapper changeout and screen door washing can wait another 90 seconds?
I have a hard time paying nearly as much attention when UM isn't involved tbh.
I'm a secondary Boise State fan so I'd love them to get their first tourney win, but them getting terrible seeding and giving them a play in as a top 25 NET team (fuck the NCAA) makes it unlikely.
UConn over UNC.
Duke over Creighton
UConn over Duke.
1 and 2. Like everybody else, it's hard not to see UConn winning it all. I have Arizona, Duke, and Tennessee joining them in the Final 4.
3. I pick a 14-3 upset every year, and I have Morehead State over Illinois. They're top 10 in opponent FG% and 3P% and they have an elite scorer in Riley Minix. Also Purdue fans' misery grows as Utah State upsets them in the 2nd round.
I'll be at the 4 games in SLC on Thursday.
I've been to Michigan sweet 16 games in LA and Anaheim, an elite 8 game at Staples, and some final 4s in San Antonio and Atlanta. But these will be only my second 1st rounders since going to some of them in Indy in 2021.
Haven't done my brackets yet. But I have placed small money line bets on every first round underdog, except the #15s & #16s.
avatar checks out, but user name, not as much. would've thought you'd pick the tar heels.
have fun in SLC.
All I care about is seeing Dookie lose in the first round or soon after.
I'm picking King Kong Bundy to defeat The Macho Man Randy Savage in a cage match final
Dick the bruiser, from the top rope - after giving his gravel voiced, “this is fair warning!”
1) Michigan, Iowa, Texas, OU
2) M
3) M is the lowest seeded team I have in the sweet 16, but I picked TAMCC to beat USC in a 16/1 game
I only filled out a women's bracket
Whatever happens, I'm going to laugh when Illinois fails to make it out of the first weekend of the tournament again.
Underwood has Michigan's number. I won't dispute that one iota. But his teams are for s**t when it comes tournament time. Then again, so is most of the Big Ten, and I won't be surprised if most, if not all Big Ten teams are out by the end of the first weekend.
If they get BYU in 2nd round and if BYU is making the 6,000 3s they take Illinois will go home because they can’t defend. But BYU could also go Ice cold which has happened a lot this year.
Will be interesting to see how Illinois plays out. They were down in the second half by double digits (or close) in each of the BTT games with win probabilities of 10-20% in each and seemed to be able to shift into a higher gear each game and confidently come back and win. Plus Shannon looked pretty impressive. Generally a good formula going into the NCAAs.
Alternatively, games were against OSU, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
Have hardly even looked at brackets, but I’ll pick Houston to win it all.
Illinois to go the farthest from the B1G.
My contrarian pick v. most of y’all is Kansas to the final 4. I’ve interacted with Hunter many times and always came away impressed and wish him nothing but the best. (Plus my late BIL was a professor there and has his name on an endowed scholarship- Rock Chalk Jawhawks!)
Kansas 0 bench with two of their starters really banged up.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:38 AM ^
Scanner, fill out a bracket and email it to me.
UConn, Baylor, Houston Tennessee. UConn champ.
Make to watch Samford. Bucky McMillan is the next great coach in the sport
March 19th, 2024 at 11:02 AM ^
Love the Baylor pick. They’re a sneaky team this year
March 19th, 2024 at 10:00 AM ^
My rule - expect Arizona, Purdue, Kentucky, Kansas, Illinois (and Iowa) to flame out early.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^
This is the least CBB I've watched in years so guaranteed this is also the best my brackets will do in years
March 19th, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
life does indeed work like that sometimes, doesn't it.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:17 AM ^
When did you say the Tigers start? Can't wait for Opening Day.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^
There are 6 Big Ten teams in the tourney. None of them will play beyond this weekend.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
I'm taking Purdue for the Final Four.
mix things up...
PS. I haven't won brackets since Carmelo Anthony...
March 19th, 2024 at 10:56 AM ^
never-before territory for purdue. bold pick jdon. could be the carmelo curse will be lifted.
March 19th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
i haven't watched any college hoops this year
March 19th, 2024 at 10:58 AM ^
other than some michigan hoops, same here. nevertheless, i always find some time to watch the NCAA's. it's like baseball. i really don't care about the regular season but i'll watch a few minutes of the world series no matter who is playing.