Regardless of how your brackets are doing, this has NOT been a very good tournament as there really haven't been many good games. In fact, that's GOT to be the WORST Sweet Sixteen in years with six of the eight games total blowouts.
Will today be different?
4:40 PM ET (3) Missouri vs. (1) Connecticut
7:05 PM ET (3) Villanova vs. (1) Pittsburgh
Anything else?
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Speaking of sports, North
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 10:22 ET by BDSpeaking of sports, North Dakota takes on New Hampshire in the Northeast REgional of the final 16 today.
After they easily defeat New Hamsphire they will likely play No 1 seed Boston to get to the final four.
"Fight on Sioux!"
Let's Go Pitt!
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 10:27 ET by Roger the ShrubberBack in January, Pitt went to Philly and lost to Nova by 10. Blair only played 23 minutes because he got into serious foul trouble early in the first half.
If Nova can duplicate that strategy, they will win again. They are on a roll. If Blair can dominate the boards like he can, Pitt will win. Yinz all know which scenerio this shrubber is pulling for!!!
Also, the Penguinis host the heathen scumbag Rangers this afernoon at The Igloo. NHL Playoffs are only 2 weeks away!
Rog
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 12:38 ET by Noel SheppardRog,
As a Dukey, I was VERY impressed with Nova Thursday. Frankly, they might be the best team in the tournament right now. They play great D and O. With Duke out, I'm rooting for these folks to go all the way. ns
No Noel...The Big East must
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 12:58 ET by JerNo Noel...The Big East must go down! Conference dynasties are unhealthy.
That said, Nova, Louisville, and Heels look awesome [well, Mizzou too]--which means Pitt will probably win it all.
Jer
Jer
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:03 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
Big East is certainly representing, although it's a tad easier with 16 teams in your conference. :-) ns
Good point...Sheppard
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:07 ET by JerGood point...Sheppard drains it for a "3".
Jer
Mutli-conference Final Four
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 10:51 ET by ricklailBefore the pairings ever came out I predcited my Heels would play Pitt for the title. Well that can't happen. They are bracketed together in the Final Four. I still believe they will meet next Saturday in Detroit with my Heels winning-sorry Roger.
I really want to see a Michigan State-Missouri match up in the other game next Saturday. I want a multi-conference Final Four not a Big East finals. If that does not happen then there must be a Congressional investigation. It is not fair the the Big 10, Big 12, or ACC get shut out. So thinking like Dear Leader and his far left associcates it must be multi-conference to go along with their multi-cultural thinking.
If it does come down to 3 Big East teams then the Big East needs to be broken up. It is like a monopoly on college b-ball and we can't have that.
A Voice from Vanceboro
"Democray used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands"-Jesse Helms (Prophetic?)
Agree 100%, ricktail...
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:04 ET by JerAgree 100%, ricktail...
As I noted a few days ago, the SEC got shafted big time. Yes, the conference had a down year, but only three selections--an 8, a 9, and a 13! Ridiculous.
Jer
What was really
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:27 ET by JerryWhat was really ridiculous: A conference champion of a major conference who won 27 games only got a 9 seed. Also questionable was how Florida was totally excluded from even "bubble" talk for the past 2 years.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
I think things went south
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:47 ET by ricklailI think things went south for Florida and Auburn when Miss State won the SEC tournament along with USC winning the Pac 10 and several others winning conference tournaments that weren't going based on their regular season play. I feel like Maryland got in as the next to last at large based on the wins over My Heels and Duke. Arizona was probably the last at large.
I have to admit somebody on the selection committee had it in for the SEC.
"Democray used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands"-Jesse Helms (Prophetic?)
There was a lot of talk
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:55 ET by JerThere was a lot of talk that the SEC would have only been awarded two selections if Miss State had not been the tournament champion and therefore the recipient of an automatic bid. From what I gather, the "experts" think Saint Mary's would have been next in line.
Jer
The pundits at
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 14:46 ET by ricklailThe pundits at Sporting News Radio were talking Florida and Auburn until the win by Miss State. So they were in the running up until about 4 on Sunday. St. Mary's was too until all the conference upsets. If Baylor would have won the Big 12 it was going to be one hell of a mess.
"Democray used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands"-Jesse Helms (Prophetic?)
The guys I heard on ESPN
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 15:00 ET by JerThe guys I heard on ESPN had Auburn and about 4 other teams in the mix, but seemed to lean toward St. Mary's as the first option among those candidates.
Jer
Jer
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 15:53 ET by ricklailI was rooting for Auburn to get in because their coach, Jeff Lebo, was a former Tar Heel player. If you look back now at how the NIT has turned out I wonder how far Auburn or Florida would have gone.
What is going to happen at Kentucky? I mean this was once one of the premier basketball schools in the country. The Tar Heels had one terrible season under Matt Daughtry but they bounced back. Things haven't gone too good for the Wildcats in several years. With the win last night the Heels passed Kentucky for most wins in the NCAA tournament with 99. Some might have thought that would belong to UCLA but when they were winning all those titles they only played 4 games in the tournament.
"Democray used to be a good thing, but now it has gotten into the wrong hands"-Jesse Helms (Prophetic?)
ricklail...
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 16:06 ET by JerProbably about as far as TN, Miss St., and LSU did. But they (TN, M St., LSU) had everything stacked against them anyway. TN missed a last-second shot to win [and would have drawn #1 Pitt if it had]. LSU won and then had to face the Heels, and played them pretty even until the last few minutes of the game. And Miss St. had one superstud, and he got 3 quick fouls called against him early in the game which effectively sealed its fate.
Jer
Let's go V
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 11:58 ET by AJSHOPEAs a Syracuse Alum, I really don't like Pitt or UConn. So if they lose that would be great. I don't see Missouri beating UConn though.
Pitt may have the best chance on paper to beat UConn, but the way Villanova has been playing recently, I think either game would be good.
Quite frankly I would like to see UL win it all. I've worked a few of their later games and they don't really have a "superstar" player, but everyone on that team seems to know what needs to be done to win.
Go Louisville
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 13:07 ET by the strugglerLouisville...Large and in Charge....and lookin' for victims.
Matter of fact,we could end up with the women and the men in the final four this year.
ONWARD!
Nova
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 21:29 ET by Noel SheppardFolks,
We FINALLY had a great game this tournament!!
Now THAT's basketball.
I wouldn't want to be facing Nova, 'cause these guys are BAD!!! ns
One hell of a game. An
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 21:33 ET by JerOne hell of a game. An absolute WAR. I know it's a cliche` but neither team deserved to lose that one.
Jer
Jer
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 23:16 ET by Noel SheppardJer,
'Bout time we had a game. This has NOT been a great tournament so far. Too many blowouts.
You knew this was going to be a good one. Nova looks great. I'm very impressed. They can win the next two and take the whole thing.
Finally some real fun! ns
Right you are, Noel...
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 23:33 ET by JerRight you are, Noel...I had the game on in the background, but I started watching intently about halfway through the second half. I can't recall a game played with such intensity by both teams. Every time either Pitt or Nova would get a nose in front, the other would come roaring back. Very impressive. I can't imagine it will be topped. But, as you say, "finally some real fun!"
Jer