Championship Week(s): Conference Tournament Thread

mabrowndog

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In the WAC, #5 Idaho upsets top seed Utah Valley. The Vandals will face the winner of New Mexico St/Cal-Bakersfield for the title.
 

Dgilpin

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Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
I can't believe that didn't go in.  UConn escapes with terrific second half defense.
And likely grabs Cincinnati's spot as a 4 seed
 

mabrowndog

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Last night, Big West #7 Cal Poly knocked off #2 UC-Santa Barbara in a 69-38 blowout. Tonight they eliminate top seed UC-Irvine in a squeaker, 61-58, though they took the lead with minutes left in the first half and never trailed in the 2nd. The Mustangs get either #3 Long Beach St or #5 Cal St-Northridge for the championship.
 

mabrowndog

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Holy shit. CBS bracketologist Jerry Palm is on CBSSN right now at halftime of the New Mexico-Boise St game. Between his horrible Shemp Howard haircut (which makes Hideki Matsui look like Fabio) and his Lou Holtz lisp, this guy is easily one of the least appealing people ever to be put on television by his employing broadcast network.
 
This is actually a far more flattering photo than his TV persona deserves, and his haircut is far, far worse than this.
 

 
And here's a video from last year. I can't look away.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM8F7DVmqL0
 

Greg29fan

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SumnerH said:
NC State still on the bubble, or does beating Syracuse put them in?
 
It was pretty much universally said going into the Tournament they had to make the final, if not win the final, to get in.  They have a low-ish RPI (I think 59), Sagarin had them 75th and KenPom had them 64th.
 

mabrowndog

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SumnerH said:
NC State still on the bubble, or does beating Syracuse put them in?
 
Frankly, I think they have to win the whole ball o' wax to get in. Their RPI is still going to be in the mid-50s at best even with a win over Duke in the semis. Sagarin & KenPom had the Pack at 75 and 73 this morning, and their RPI was 62. Even comparing them to Florida State, who I have projected as the last of the at-large bids currently, the Noles would still be higher in all the metrics, and will have played a tougher out-of-conference slate (Michigan, VCU, UMass, Minnesota) than NC State did (Cinci, Tenn, Missouri).
 
But let's see them beat the Blue Devils and then revisit the conversation.
 

Greg29fan

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Lunardi has them them 7th team out on his March 14 bracket - not sure if that takes today's games into account, but that sounds about right.
 

mabrowndog

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Oh man, what a crappy call on Boise. They give a flagrant 2 to Thomas Bropleh, their leading scorer with 16 pts. He went up for a block on Bairstow but got caught in mid-air on a great fake, when he came down he was off balance, and his arm slammed down across Bairstow's face & neck, drawing blood from the nose.
 
I could see a flagrant 1 (2 FTs + the ball), because the contact was McHale/Rambis-esque even if the intent wasn't. But tossing that kid out of a close game in a conference semifinal is fucking ridiculous and borderline criminal.
 
This basically hands the game to New Mexico. What a shame.
 

SumnerH

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Thanks all. Haven't been paying as close attention this year as usual, but I should've done some homework before asking.
 

mabrowndog

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Wow. Jeff Elorriaga buries a three off a screen to get Boise to within 66-65 with 21 secs left. They just took their final time-out. It's his 70th three-pointer of the season. Lobos to inbound.
 

mabrowndog

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Boise's final possession, down 3 with 3 secs left, results in a long overhand inbound pass across midcourt, but in the process of running to meet the ball and evade defenders trying to foul them, they commit an over-and-back violation. What an effort from them tonight.
 
New Mexico escapes, 70-67, and the vicious rematch with San Diego State for the MWC crown is set.
 

shawnrbu

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Why isn't Jim Nantz calling the Big 10 Tournament?  Is he really that arrogant that he cannot bother to grace us with his presence prior to the Big Dance?
 
Edit:  Coming back from break, I learn that his second wife gave birth to their first child earlier this week.  
 

Deathofthebambino

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Come on Friars.  One more half baby.
 
I have to believe that no matter what happens, PC has put themselves into the dance with this showing, no? 
 

mabrowndog

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Deathofthebambino said:
Come on Friars.  One more half baby.
 
I have to believe that no matter what happens, PC has put themselves into the dance with this showing, no? 
 
I believe they clinched a bid the moment they made the conference final, regardless of tonight's outcome or how they played in it.
 

mabrowndog

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It's scary that this is the same Providence team that got their doors blown off at Creighton just weeks ago. Henton with an enormous shot, staring down the opponent while considering other options, and then burying it in his face.
 

shawnrbu

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Like to see PC use the foul to give wisely on this possession.  Another thought is sending Creighton to the line might not be a bad alternative to the inevitable McDermott 3 point attempt.