2020-21 return of NCAA Hoops thread

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:42 am

As far as I can tell, there is no reseeding; there would just be no way to do it without causing huge disruptions. So if a team has to drop out before their first game, a team that didn’t make the tournament gets their slot. After the first round, though, any cancellation just results in a forfeit.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 11:06 am

UNC is in a bracket of death. First Wisconsin and if (big IF) they win, they have to play Baylor. Our weakness all year are teams that can turn you over and shoot the three, and both Wisconsin and Baylor fall into that category.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:02 pm

Alabama was the second biggest winner of the brackets from what I see. Michigan/Alabama would be a really fun and tough match up IF Livers were healthy. Without Livers I don't see Michigan making it far which creates a clear path for 'Bama to make the final 4. Which is nice because of Oats but sucks because I'd love to see Michigan fully healthy make a run as I thought they'd be a legit contender.

Gonzaga was just gifted a ride to the final 4 with no resistance in their bracket.

Over all I think Illinois is probably my pick though.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:11 pm

Remus West wrote:Alabama was the second biggest winner of the brackets from what I see. Michigan/Alabama would be a really fun and tough match up IF Livers were healthy. Without Livers I don't see Michigan making it far which creates a clear path for 'Bama to make the final 4. Which is nice because of Oats but sucks because I'd love to see Michigan fully healthy make a run as I thought they'd be a legit contender.

Gonzaga was just gifted a ride to the final 4 with no resistance in their bracket.

Over all I think Illinois is probably my pick though.

Playing Pitino's Iona squad isn't a win in my book.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:08 pm

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:11 pm
Remus West wrote:Alabama was the second biggest winner of the brackets from what I see. Michigan/Alabama would be a really fun and tough match up IF Livers were healthy. Without Livers I don't see Michigan making it far which creates a clear path for 'Bama to make the final 4. Which is nice because of Oats but sucks because I'd love to see Michigan fully healthy make a run as I thought they'd be a legit contender.

Gonzaga was just gifted a ride to the final 4 with no resistance in their bracket.

Over all I think Illinois is probably my pick though.
Playing Pitino's Iona squad isn't a win in my book.

They may be coached by Pitino but they are still a 15 v 2 dog. I'll take the red hot 2 seed - top 2 seed in the tourney.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 9:43 am

pr0ner wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 1:41 pm
Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:36 am The MSU news is bonkers. Getting corporate sponsorship for an arena is fine, but for the actual basketball team? It's just sort of embarrassing.
A coworker who is a MSU alum pointed me to this story saying that United Wholesale's CEO just dumped $32M into MSU's athletic program, and this is part of how Rocket Mortgage (who's already a big MSU donor) is responding. Sounds like things are getting heated between United Wholesale and Rocket Mortgage, to MSU's benefit.

As much as I love to rag on MSU (and I love to rag on MSU), the news was overblown quite a bit. This is just a run-of-the-mill sponsorship deal with a poorly worded press release. I remember some years back when the Chicago Bears made a similar announcement with (I think) Bank One as their presenting sponsor. There was a lot of guffawing that they would be the Bank One Bears, but the end result was the Bank One logo on the screen behind coaches and players during press conferences. I imagine this will be the same. (Although that will not prevent the mockery from online Michigan fans.)

Glad to see Michigan as a 1 seed, but it'll be hard to make a deep run without Livers. They're not ruling out that he'll play, but I think it's pretty doubtful. Illinois is playing so well right now that I would probably pick them over anyone else right now. Gonzaga may be worthy of overall first ranking, but it's fair to speculate what their record would be if they played in the Big 10 or Big 12. I don't really trust Baylor - IIRC, their defense is suspect.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:12 pm

Remus West wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:08 pm
Pyperkub wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:11 pm
Remus West wrote:Alabama was the second biggest winner of the brackets from what I see. Michigan/Alabama would be a really fun and tough match up IF Livers were healthy. Without Livers I don't see Michigan making it far which creates a clear path for 'Bama to make the final 4. Which is nice because of Oats but sucks because I'd love to see Michigan fully healthy make a run as I thought they'd be a legit contender.

Gonzaga was just gifted a ride to the final 4 with no resistance in their bracket.

Over all I think Illinois is probably my pick though.
Playing Pitino's Iona squad isn't a win in my book.
They may be coached by Pitino but they are still a 15 v 2 dog. I'll take the red hot 2 seed - top 2 seed in the tourney.

They (Pitino's Iona squad) are underseeded, just as they were in their conference tourney (a ninth seed), while mostly breezing through it. They also won 10 of their last 12 games after losing 3 of their first 5. They are most particularly NOT a 15 seed. May not have what it takes to beat Alabama, but it's not your normal 15/2 matchup. They have size and talent you don't get in 15 seeds.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:57 pm

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 12:12 pm
Remus West wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:08 pm
Pyperkub wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:11 pm
Remus West wrote:Alabama was the second biggest winner of the brackets from what I see. Michigan/Alabama would be a really fun and tough match up IF Livers were healthy. Without Livers I don't see Michigan making it far which creates a clear path for 'Bama to make the final 4. Which is nice because of Oats but sucks because I'd love to see Michigan fully healthy make a run as I thought they'd be a legit contender.

Gonzaga was just gifted a ride to the final 4 with no resistance in their bracket.

Over all I think Illinois is probably my pick though.
Playing Pitino's Iona squad isn't a win in my book.
They may be coached by Pitino but they are still a 15 v 2 dog. I'll take the red hot 2 seed - top 2 seed in the tourney.
They (Pitino's Iona squad) are underseeded, just as they were in their conference tourney (a ninth seed), while mostly breezing through it. They also won 10 of their last 12 games after losing 3 of their first 5. They are most particularly NOT a 15 seed. May not have what it takes to beat Alabama, but it's not your normal 15/2 matchup. They have size and talent you don't get in 15 seeds.

I'll still take Alabama here without a single qualm. They dominated the SEC both regular season and tournament. They are going to make a deep run this year regardless of how much Ionia may truly be a 12 instead of a 15.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Wed Mar 17, 2021 4:54 pm

Oklahoma just announced their second leading scorer is out for at least the first weekend due to Covid. I have no idea how that doesn't mean the whole team should quarantine. Yes, each player has his own room, but they are working out and hanging out together. Hopefully masked, but who knows. And at this point, per the NCAA rules, it's too late for Oklahoma to be replaced by another team...

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:41 am

Georgia Tech's best player and ACC player of the year, Moses Wright, is out of at least the first game due to Covid. And reports are that 7 (!!!) Duke players have no tested positive after one player tested positive last week. I would be surprised if Kansas, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma don't have similar problems in the next few days.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:01 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:41 am Georgia Tech's best player and ACC player of the year, Moses Wright, is out of at least the first game due to Covid. And reports are that 7 (!!!) Duke players have no tested positive after one player tested positive last week. I would be surprised if Kansas, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma don't have similar problems in the next few days.

I would not want to be one of the teams scheduled to play any of those. Even if you win the likely Covid exposure probably ends your tournament soon anyway. I have big doubts about this thing making it all the way through.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:31 pm

I have no doubt that they'll make it all the way through. Too much money involved. The bigger question, in my mind, is whether so many games will be missed/forfeited that it really means anything.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:25 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:31 pm I have no doubt that they'll make it all the way through. Too much money involved. The bigger question, in my mind, is whether so many games will be missed/forfeited that it really means anything.

I'll get back to you on that point when I see how far Michigan makes it.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 2:20 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:31 pm I have no doubt that they'll make it all the way through. Too much money involved. The bigger question, in my mind, is whether so many games will be missed/forfeited that it really means anything.

I know a UVA fan who already has said this past ACC tournament champion gets an asterisk next to their name because UVA had to pull out.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:01 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 1:25 pm
Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 12:31 pm I have no doubt that they'll make it all the way through. Too much money involved. The bigger question, in my mind, is whether so many games will be missed/forfeited that it really means anything.
I'll get back to you on that point when I see how far Michigan makes it.

I'm having a very tough time penciling Michigan far at all w/o Livers. Smith and Brooks will have to play out of their minds.

msduncan · Post by **msduncan** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:04 pm

As an Alabama fan, I fully expect us to get bounced from the tourney in the first game.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:07 pm

msduncan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:04 pm As an Alabama fan, I fully expect us to get bounced from the tourney in the first game.

If you don't, I have you in the Final Four, but I'd be much more confident if it weren't Pitino's Iona sqaud in game 1...

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:15 pm

msduncan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:04 pm As an Alabama fan, I fully expect us to get bounced from the tourney in the first game.

I haven't been following, but they are the #2 seed!

And Gonzaga at 26-0, holy shit!

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:05 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:41 am Georgia Tech's best player and ACC player of the year, Moses Wright, is out of at least the first game due to Covid. And reports are that 7 (!!!) Duke players have no tested positive after one player tested positive last week. I would be surprised if Kansas, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Oklahoma don't have similar problems in the next few days.

got any other hot tips from today?

Our fantasy player (PPG only) draft is in less than an hour (right during the UCLA/MSU game, of course

).

I do have the Tivo set, but I'm sure my alumni buddies will be lighting up the group text...

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Mar 18, 2021 8:08 pm

And yeah, looking forward to this, last year we arrived in Vegas for the annual Pac-12 Tourney roadtrip the night before everything was shut down.

The only thing on in the sports books were greyhound and harness races.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:36 am

Hot tip: Don't pick any MSU players.

Remus West · Post by **Remus West** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 3:14 pm

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:36 am Hot tip: Don't pick any MSU players.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:20 pm

Down goes Ohio State!

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:35 pm

Such a shame to see MSU and OSU losing before Michigan plays a game.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 5:52 pm

When does the “Is the Big 10 overrated?” narrative start?

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 6:10 pm

More like the Summit League is underrated!

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 8:47 pm

I shouldn’t have said anything about the Big 10.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:05 pm

Had our NCAA Fantasy draft last night , so I didn't start watching my Bruins until after 9:30 with a bit of Lagavullin but when I switched over to the Bruin blue at half... all Bruins baby!

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:07 pm

But we did get burned a bit by the buckeyes today. Here are your 2021 Gutty Little Bruins (points only league) :

Playe
Team
Draft
Kofi Cockburn C
Illinois
1
Andre Curbelo G
Illinois
2
Justice Sueing F
Ohio St.
3
CJ Walker G
Ohio St.
4
Eugene Omoruyi F
Oregon
5
Jericho Sims F
TEXAS
6
LJ Figueroa G
Oregon
7
Mark Vital G (higher minutes)
BAYLOR
8
Aaron Wiggins G
Maryland
9
Ben Roderick F
OHIO
10
Trey Pulliam G
San Diego St
11
Jacob Grandison G
Illinois
12

Skinypupy · Post by **Skinypupy** » Fri Mar 19, 2021 9:18 pm

Been trying to watch the games today, and good lord...the number of ads is utterly ridiculous.

Feels like an endless stream of ads, occasionally interrupted by basketball games.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:19 pm

Skinypupy wrote:Been trying to watch the games today, and good lord...the number of ads is utterly ridiculous.

Feels like an endless stream of ads, occasionally interrupted by basketball games.

If you can't be in a sports bar with all four games on at a time, you need to be on a tivo! Timeshift with multiple tuners.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:23 pm

Bama and Michigan advance to the detriment of the Watcha Drinking? thread.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 7:14 pm

VCU fucks up.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sat Mar 20, 2021 11:46 pm

At first I was trying to figure out which team was BYU. Then I saw the 4 pasty white guys. Grats to UCLA.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:23 am

Down goes Texas!
Down goes Texas!
Down goes Texas!

GungHo · Post by **GungHo** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 2:27 am

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sun Mar 21, 2021 12:23 am Down goes Texas!
Down goes Texas!
Down goes Texas!

I'll preface by saying you shouldnt lose to Abilene Christian in anything except Bible trivia, but we had a guy on the bench with a lip that was bleeding for 5+ min from a borderline flagrant, and theyre calling pussy-ass shit on a shot with 1.2 seconds left. Cannot wait until the day refs are replaced by AI

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 9:20 am

Or maybe Texas shouldn't have turned the ball over 23 times?

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 2:18 pm

Now Illinois tumbles. The Big 10 is in shambles.

Ralph-Wiggum · Post by **Ralph-Wiggum** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 2:23 pm

Except for Wisconsin.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Sun Mar 21, 2021 2:42 pm

They have a chance to prove their mettle vs. #1 Baylor.