I'm taking Michigan State over Duke and even without Okeke I'm picking Auburn to absolutely destroy Kentucky.

As with most of my picks, I'll probably be way off!

Tough start for Auburn, but they're getting their feet back under them.

War Damn Eagle!!! Beat Kentucky!

(03-31-2019 08:25 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-30-2019 11:40 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  I think it is now clear the title game will be Duke vs Virginia, with Duke winning.

Virginia vs Purdue was Madness at its purest

I think that's never going to happen.

For one thing, as I read the bracket, they play in the semis.

Incorrect.

Congratulations, on to the Final 4!

Final 4 is set
Texas Tech- Big 12
Virginia- ACC
Auburn-SEC
Mich St-Big 10

Congrats again to Texas Tech, Virginia and Auburn and Michigan St. 1 school each from 4 of the 5 power conferences

I wonder when's the last time we had 3 F4 teams that have never won the national title?

Congrats Auburn! Hell of a run so far.

(03-31-2019 03:57 PM)cubucks Wrote:  Congrats Auburn! Hell of a run so far.

(03-31-2019 04:00 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 03:57 PM)cubucks Wrote:  Congrats Auburn! Hell of a run so far.

Thanks guys. Don't pinch me for another 9 days!


Congratulations to Michigan State! It's going to be an interesting final 4. 1 each from the ACC / SEC / Big 12 / & Big 10.

Sparty beats Duke in another thriller!

The Final 4 is set!

Down goes Duke

One team from each of the top four conferences in the final four

Congrats Michigan State! What a great game against a great team in Duke!

(03-31-2019 06:12 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  One team from each of the top four conferences in the final four

Yep. I updated my original post

Final 4 is set
Texas Tech- Big 12
Virginia- ACC
Auburn-SEC
Mich St-Big 10

The Final Four looks like a Sweet 16 bracket. Auburn, AAMoF, just escaped the same seeding structure.

(03-31-2019 07:41 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  The Final Four looks like a Sweet 16 bracket. Auburn, AAMoF, just escaped the same seeding structure.

If UH were included, would it look like a Final 4 bracket?

Is that supposed to be smack? If so, Texas Tech has a long way to go to pass Houston as a basketball program historically.

amazing how it feels like teams that survive games like Auburn did in rd 1 ultimately go on long runs like this.

(03-31-2019 08:59 PM)stever20 Wrote:  amazing how it feels like teams that survive games like Auburn did in rd 1 ultimately go on long runs like this.

In fairness I think that is common because teams that get hot late usually start their runs just prior to their conference tournaments and play the conference tournament to win. For Auburn that was 4 games in 4 days ending on Selection Sunday. They had a fly out day on Monday. A light practice on Tuesday because they were exhausted, a walk through and shoot around on Wednesday and then roughly a noon game (Mountain West Time at elevation) on Thursday. Getting through the first two games was what was crucial and they just about didn't get through that first one.

I think a lot of schools that follow a similar track for peaking performance have a tough time with that first round game. But after the first weekend there are much longer periods of rest between the rounds of games. I think that favors the deeper teams as it gives them rest and time to scheme.

But, the trend of which you speak is real and I too have witnessed it a number of times over the years with a variety of schools.

(03-31-2019 09:26 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(03-31-2019 08:59 PM)stever20 Wrote:  amazing how it feels like teams that survive games like Auburn did in rd 1 ultimately go on long runs like this.

In fairness I think that is common because teams that get hot late usually start their runs just prior to their conference tournaments and play the conference tournament to win. For Auburn that was 4 games in 4 days ending on Selection Sunday. They had a fly out day on Monday. A light practice on Tuesday because they were exhausted, a walk through and shoot around on Wednesday and then roughly a noon game (Mountain West Time at elevation) on Thursday. Getting through the first two games was what was crucial and they just about didn't get through that first one.

I think a lot of schools that follow a similar track for peaking performance have a tough time with that first round game. But after the first weekend there are much longer periods of rest between the rounds of games. I think that favors the deeper teams as it gives them rest and time to scheme.

But, the trend of which you speak is real and I too have witnessed it a number of times over the years with a variety of schools.

I can't tell you how many youth basketball titles I've won where the toughest playoff game by far was the first game. Something about adjusting to win/go home that is so tough in those situations. After you survive that first game, things just start to calm down for them. Why we've seen up until this year such success from the first four teams.