35 replies to this topic

[RedOctober3829]

All South Region discussion and analysis.

Edited by RedOctober3829, 12 March 2012 - 10:12 AM.

[jsinger121]

Kentucky
Duke
Baylor
UConn
VCU
Indiana


Tough region

[DukeSox]

KY, UCONN, UNLV, Baylor, VCU, Indiana...talk about storylines for Duke.

Edited by DukeSox, 11 March 2012 - 05:15 PM.

[JimBoSox9]

Upset Special: South Dakota St over Baylor.

[tims4wins]

KY, UCONN, UNLV, Baylor, VCU, Indiana...talk about storylines for Duke.

Not to mention Xavier and Notre Dame

[Hendu's Gait]

Crosspost:
hate Wichita State and VCU being paired together. Looks like NCAA wants to keep the mid-majors into S16 into as small a number as possible.

[collings94]

Today's game was the perfect example of why I don't like Kentucky to win. When crunch time is upon them, and they're up against the wall, Freshmen tend to stand around in the same spot and look lost. I really think it is impossible to win a championship when the majority of your team is comprised of Freshmen. Experience in the tournament is overlooked, it's why teams like UCONN and Butler were able to advance to the national championship.

[collings94]

Crosspost:
hate Wichita State and VCU being paired together. Looks like NCAA wants to keep the mid-majors into S16 into as small a number as possible.

Yeah, I hate that too. It reminds of the BCS Bowl Game (I think it was the Fiesta) two years ago. TCU vs Boise St? Both these teams fought hard to play the big game against the traditional powers, but pairing them together is like segregating them from the big-time programs.

[RedOctober3829]

I'm saying it now: UConn will beat UK

[jsinger121]

I'm saying it now: UConn will beat UK

Agree. Kentucky couldn't have gotten a worse second round matchup.

[johnmd20]

Lehigh was robbed! Just kidding. A 15 seed and a chance to beat an underwhelming Duke would be pretty gorgeous.

[BigSoxFan]

Calipari vs. Calhoun? Yes, please! UConn hasn't been very good this year but they're one of the few teams in the country that can match up with Kentucky. This game has to happen.

[DukeSox]

Not my own work:

Duke's region has: The top #1 seed, the second best #2 seed, the best #3 seed, the third best #4, the third best #5, the best #6, the best #7, the second best #8.

None of Duke's region's teams are the lowest team on their seed line. 4 of Duke's region's top 8 seeds are the best team on their seed line. The average should be 2.

Oh, and Duke's #9 seed is the defending national champs who struggled this year but probably have one of the 5 most talented rosters in the nation.

I don't think there has ever been a region over-stacked like this. It is preposterous.

And the team that is punished the most... you guessed it. After playing their game against the best #15 seed, in theory Duke would get the best #7, followed by the best #3, followed by the best #1. Talk about a gauntlet!!!

[DukeSox]

I don't have any big problem with this region, though. Baylor will be tough, but you gotta play good teams to make the final four.

Well, except for two years ago, when the selection committee gift-wrapped Duke a national championship.

[minischwab]

Well, except for two years ago, when the selection committee gift-wrapped Duke a national championship.

Let's not forget to thank Kentucky for that gift as well. They could have made life tougher on Duke, but were so focused on how they wanted to beat Duke in the Final Four, they forgot to beat West Virginia in the Elite 8.

As for the South Bracket this year, this proves the S Curve doesn't exist and the committee just does what they want. People thinking UConn will take out UK might be in for a huge surprise, Iowa State is no joke (imagine how good they'd be if McDermott had gone there!).

VCU-Wichita State is way too good a game to be wasted in the "2nd round." And Notre Dame-Xavier is way too bad a game, that's a total joke. How is Xavier a 7 seed? No way they're a top-30 team this season.

[JimBoSox9]

Saying "the best #15 seed" is kind of a joke. No excuses for a top-3 seed in the first round.

[tims4wins]

Everyone is already looking forward to the UConn-Kentucky 3rd round matchup... so I'll go ahead and predict that Iowa State takes down UConn. This type of situation seems to come up every year, and rarely does it actually play out like people think it will.

[DrewDawg]

I'm saying it now: UConn will beat UK

Make sure you enter the pool and pay your cash.

[tims4wins]

Quick hit thoughts:
- Everyone is already talking about UConn-UK, which is why I will probably pick against it happening
- I have no idea who to take between Wichita state and VCU. VCU looked good in their conference tourney and has the "been there" factor, like Butler last year
- I still think Indiana ends up in the sweet 16 against Kentucky, which is a solid revenge game for Kentucky, I think they win that
- I like the chalk in the lower half of the bracket. I guess I could see Duke losing to Notre Dame but it's hard for me to pick that. Currently have Baylor over Duke, then UK to the final four

Edited by tims4wins, 12 March 2012 - 09:58 AM.

[EastCoasterOutWest]

Defense is key in the second (first) round, which is why I'd pick VCU over Wichita St.

I'm also picking Iowa over UConn, who have been very inconsistent and underwhelming this year.

Kentucky is my pick to walk away with this region.

[maufman]

Actually, Duke got a pretty good draw -- Lehigh, ND/Xavier, and Baylor/UNLV is a very manageable path to the Elite Eight. Sure beats having to get through UConn and Indiana, which is potentially UK's path. The Blue Devils are my Final Four pick from this region.

[tims4wins]

Actually, Duke got a pretty good draw -- Lehigh, ND/Xavier, and Baylor/UNLV is a very manageable path to the Elite Eight. Sure beats having to get through UConn and Indiana, which is potentially UK's path. The Blue Devils are my Final Four pick from this region.

I agree with this - it was about as mild a path for a 2 seed that I could possibly have hoped for.

Duke is a tough team to evaluate right now, for me at least. They've picked up their defense quite a bit since midseason, with the exception of the abortion of the Carolina game. At the same time, the offense is not playing as well, but Ryan Kelly is kind of a key cog, since he is a matchup problem and a skilled outside shooter. They have played immature at times, but that shouldn't be a factor in the NCAAs in the sense that they should be up for every game.

I could definitely see them making a run to the Final Four, but I think it's far more likely that they go out in the 3rd round, sweet 16, or regional final. I said it upthread, but for now I have Baylor taking them down in the Sweet 16. Baylor actually should have beaten Duke 2 years ago in the regional final, still not sure how Duke survived that game. I think they get their revenge this year.

I still find it amazing that in the last 14 years - since 1998 - Duke has played an NCAA tournament game against 7 of the 15 other schools in the region.

[tims4wins]

I love how Duke is on the front page of ESPN.com for an Insider article on "which Goliaths need to look out below"... and then they are not mentioned in the article as an upset candidate.

[Mr. Wednesday]

- I like the chalk in the lower half of the bracket. I guess I could see Duke losing to Notre Dame but it's hard for me to pick that. Currently have Baylor over Duke, then UK to the final four

ND hasn't been the same team since the end of the nine-game win streak (which included home wins over Syracuse and Marquette), and the Irish are particularly bad this season on a short turnaround. So yeah, I wouldn't bet against Duke there.

[SoxScout]

This game has been UNBELIEVABLE

[Soxy Brown]

Ya, that was pretty fucking crazy. How often do you see a team make up a 16 point deficit in the final 5 minutes?

I really thought the kid from Mississippi Valley was gonna nail that three at the end. He had a great look at it and it wasn't even close. Epic choke job.

[tims4wins]

Everyone is already looking forward to the UConn-Kentucky 3rd round matchup... so I'll go ahead and predict that Iowa State takes down UConn. This type of situation seems to come up every year, and rarely does it actually play out like people think it will.

Yup

[EastCoasterOutWest]

Defense is key in the second (first) round, which is why I'd pick VCU over Wichita St.

I'm also picking Iowa over UConn, who have been very inconsistent and underwhelming this year.

Kentucky is my pick to walk away with this region.

Yup

Yup and yup.

Next up, VCU defeats Indiana.

[PC Drunken Friar]

Yup

So a 9 over an 8 is a great upset pick? Thanks.

Edited by PC Drunken Friar, 15 March 2012 - 11:03 PM.

[DukeSox]

...take a look up north at UConn. They were higher ranked than us [Duke] in the preseason (#4). They added superstud center Andre Drummond at the last minute. Back in October, plenty of folks would have bet on them to win the national title.

Well, now their season is over. They didn't even finish .500 in their conference in the regular season. They were never in their tourney game, being handled easily by Iowa State (no exactly a legendary program). They won't be back to the tourney next year because of their shameful academic record. Most experts say all their NBA prospects will leave because next season there is nothing to play for. Their long-time coach is sickly and retirement is imminent. Their conference has crumbled around them and they are begging the ACC for a lifeline... which does not appear to be coming.

From a Duke fan, obviously. This has gotta be it for Calhoun, no?

[EastCoasterOutWest]

So a 9 over an 8 is a great upset pick? Thanks.

Upset in school reputation/name recognition, but not in seeding.

[Mr. Wednesday]

And not much of a shock to anybody who was paying attention to how UConn was playing in the last few weeks of the season.

[tims4wins]

So a 9 over an 8 is a great upset pick? Thanks.

Actually, Iowa State was the 8 seed, so it wasn't an upset. What is interesting is that on Yahoo, 70% of the population picked UConn to win. Can't dig up the number on ESPN but wonder if it is similar.

[EastCoasterOutWest]

Probably. Most of those people picked them because they know the school name and, as Wednesday said, haven't actually watched them play.

[DukeSox]

Saying "the best #15 seed" is kind of a joke.

oh yeah?

[johnmd20]

Lehigh was robbed! Just kidding. A 15 seed and a chance to beat an underwhelming Duke would be pretty gorgeous.

PSYCHIC!!!!!!!!!!