Official 2018 March Madness Thread

[Robz4000]

ASU :hat

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Louisville wasn't even close to making it in, apparently. And Pitino still thinks he's ever going to get another coaching job?

[Robz4000]

I got North Carolina over Duke, 82-76. Final Four is NC, Duke, Virginia, and Texas Tech.

[Spurtacular]

Not a coincidence that Zona and Kentucky will be playing in the second round; NCAA is so predictable.

[JMarkJohns]

West is cake, South is bullshit.

[Blake]

I got North Carolina over Duke, 82-76. Final Four is NC, Duke, Virginia, and Texas Tech.

Yeah I'd love Tech in the final four but it's a tough run for them, tbh

Sleeper final four team to me is A&M. If they get past NC they might be able to cruise on in.

[rjv]

Yeah I'd love Tech in the final four but it's a tough run for them, tbh

Sleeper final four team to me is A&M. If they get past NC they might be able to cruise on in.

they won't get past NC if they even get by the friars. team is TO prone and has a hard time finishing. also, they just don't have that consistent shooter from outside to make it easier for the inside tandem of davis and williams. the ONLY way they get past the 2nd round is IF they suddenly get the hot hand from outside. i think the teams from texas with the best chances to go past the first weekend are houston and tech.

[Robz4000]

Bobby Hurley is an awful, awful coach.

[Clipper Nation]

:lol Traesh Young

[Silver&Black]

Glad Rhode Island beat det azz. Fucking joke Oklahoma got in.

Still pissed off that the Canes lost. I try to pull for those bastards, but they let me down just as much as Miss. St.

[Clipper Nation]

974358450317619200

:lmao

[Robz4000]

:lol day one and my bracket is demolished. At least my final four are still around.

[Blake]

974434534107242497

[rjv]

my best bracket on ESPN is at 99% (arizona) with 140 points and i still rank 173,000! did that many people pick buffalo? i'm sure my bracket will be torn to shreds by the end of the day though.

[rjv]

6:30 into the game and A&M hasn't scored. what a shocker. i have the friars in most of my brackets.

[Silver&Black]

:lol day one and my bracket is demolished. At least my final four are still around.

Final Four still around =/= bracket demolished

The people who had zona winning it all = bracket demolished

[rjv]

SEC showing well so far. surprised that A&M beat providence. no hopes for getting past NC though.

[rjv]

well, arkansas not so much at the moment.

[Silver&Black]

:lmao Pac-12

[Robz4000]

UT just has choking in their DNA.

[Chris Fall]

Eric Musselman’s wife is hot!

[rjv]

UT had that one. Tough loss.

[Arcadian]

:lol Longhorns

[TheCultOfPersonality]

My goodness Virginia sucks.

Virginia being the worst #1 seed of all time already confirmed.

[Das Texan]

Virginia gonna lose!

[TheCultOfPersonality]

These traps that Virginia is using aren't working.

[leemajors]

Lyles was a beast

[TheCultOfPersonality]

:lmao Virginia
:lmao Blown out by a 16 seed
:lmao Struggling to get to 50 points against a 16 seed
:lmao Those shitty traps

[Holden_Caulfield]

Lol Virginia #1 overall seed

[Clipper Nation]

March Madness > the NBA playoffs, forever. Too bad regular season college basketball is so shitty by comparison.

[Mr. Body]

ACC is always overseeded. Always. Tony Bennett can't coach his way out of a paper bag once in the tournament.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

The worst part for Virginia is this wasn't even a choke. UMBC was just simply the far superior team.

[Chris Fall]

Wahoowahahaha

[Robz4000]

:lol I had Virginia losing to Kansas State yet I was still giving them too much credit

[Clipper Nation]

I guess I'm the only one who feels bad for Virginia. Tony Bennett is a class act. Pitino or Rat Face deserved this, not him.

[Chris Fall]

It makes more sense that it would happen to a team like Virginia or Villanova as a 1 seed rather than a Duke or Kentucky. Duke and Kentucky as a 1 seed generally would have multiple five star NBA lottery type players. Virginia and Villanova have had success in part because they keep kids 3-4 years, develop three star kids into really good college players within a system. But the difference in talent between a 1 and 16 might not be quite as mammoth. Still really surprising but the Virginia, Villanova, Xavier 1 seeds talent wise would appear to be as fragile as any for this type of upset.

It would have been so much sweeter had it happened to Ratface or Calipari.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Disastrous first round for me (took a lot of upset chances that didn't pan out), but at the end of the day I still have 6/8 Elite 8 teams and 3/4 Final Four ones--including both NCG opponents. The Virginia loss is only crippling for those who had UVA winning it all. Other than that I'm guessing it screwed the majority of bettors equally

[DeadlyDynasty]

I got North Carolina over Duke, 82-76. Final Four is NC, Duke, Virginia, and Texas Tech.
I had UVA, Villanova, UNC, and finally Sparty to win it all.

[Mark Celibate]

It makes more sense that it would happen to a team like Virginia or Villanova as a 1 seed rather than a Duke or Kentucky. Duke and Kentucky as a 1 seed generally would have multiple five star NBA lottery type players. Virginia and Villanova have had success in part because they keep kids 3-4 years, develop three star kids into really good college players within a system. But the difference in talent between a 1 and 16 might not be quite as mammoth. Still really surprising but the Virginia, Villanova, Xavier 1 seeds talent wise would appear to be as fragile as any for this type of upset.It would have been so much sweeter had it happened to Ratface or Calipari.yeah I definitely agree with all of this. You knew it would happen some time, and I figured it would be a team like Wichita State or Gonzaga who cruised through a weak conference with only 2 or 3 losses overall. Like you said, they also would have a roster full of decent upperclassmen, who are just well coached and have a good system. There's an enormous amount of pressure on the 1 seed. I can't think of anything in college or pro sports that's talked about as a greater situational upset, and they bring it up every year. The bottom line was that somebody was just going to choke and try to do too much in a situation where the 16 seed still has a small lead late in the 2nd half. Somebody in the UVA press conference basically admitted that, and said when they were down 5 they were trying to make home run plays so they wouldn't make history. It's just a lot harder to choke when you're Duke/Kentucky and you have players like Anthony Davis, Demarcus Cousins, or Jahlil Okafor who the other team physically can't match up against.

[Clipper Nation]

I'd say it's the system more than the players in Virginia's case. They just play way too slow, which keeps inferior opponents in games and makes it far more difficult for them to keep up when an opponent has a hot shooting night.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Houston choking at the line came back to haunt them. A Michigan prayer gets answered.

[Chris Fall]

Crazy game. Crazy ending. Houston dominated the game from a physical standpoint but never built much of a lead. Surprised they didn’t put some pressure on the inbounder. A deflection or off target pass, the game's over.

[Clipper Nation]

Houston gave us all a preview of what the Rockets are about to do in the playoffs, tbh.

[Silver&Black]

March Madness > the NBA playoffs, forever. Too bad regular season college basketball is so shitty by comparison.

March Madness is a weird tournament. It's the only sporting event I can think of that continually gets worse the further it goes along.

First 2 days are phenomenal. Then a steady decline all the way to the Nat'l Championship.

There is nothing like looking at the top of the TV and saying to yourself, "Well that's a close game with 2 minutes to go. I think I'll flip the channel over to that game." You don't even care what the two teams playing are.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Ball looked like it was off of Michigan State.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Didn't matter anyway, Michigan State still sucks

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Battle just choked.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

So Michigan State ended the game missing 14 straight shots. Possibly the biggest choke in the tournament.

[Robz4000]

Fun game

[Mr. Body]

March Madness is a weird tournament. It's the only sporting event I can think of that continually gets worse the further it goes along.

First 2 days are phenomenal. Then a steady decline all the way to the Nat'l Championship.

There is nothing like looking at the top of the TV and saying to yourself, "Well that's a close game with 2 minutes to go. I think I'll flip the channel over to that game." You don't even care what the two teams playing are.

I think basically the selection committee sucks at seeding teams. They seed at least one conference higher every year than they should, and take other teams that they shouldn't. The first days are thrilling because of upsets, but the upsets come as much because the committee sucks at what they do. It's partially an illusion, partially suckiness.

[Blake]

March Madness is a weird tournament. It's the only sporting event I can think of that continually gets worse the further it goes along.

First 2 days are phenomenal. Then a steady decline all the way to the Nat'l Championship.

There is nothing like looking at the top of the TV and saying to yourself, "Well that's a close game with 2 minutes to go. I think I'll flip the channel over to that game." You don't even care what the two teams playing are.

Kinda reminds me of the early years of American Idol where the first few days were great watching the dregs embarrass themselves. After that it was wgaf.

[Blake]

Yeah I'd love Tech in the final four but it's a tough run for them, tbh

Sleeper final four team to me is A&M. If they get past NC they might be able to cruise on in.

Anyone else but me have aggy in their Final 4?

[Blake]

Damn Clemson laying waste to auburn. Didn't see that coming

[Chris Fall]

Ridiculous comeback by Nevada. Down 22 with less than 11 minutes to go.

Crazy, crazy comeback!

[Clipper Nation]

Cincinnati's final possession has to be one of the worst of all time. Broome dribbled the ball off his leg, then chucked up a hideous shot that got blocked. They should fire Cronin.

[Blake]

Ridiculous comeback by Nevada. Down 22 with less than 11 minutes to go.

Crazy, crazy comeback!

Jeez I honestly don't know who has choked the worst so far in this tourney.

[florige]

Jeez I honestly don't know who has choked the worst so far in this tourney.


No matter what VA is going to hold that title at least for this tournament unless a team is up 50 and blows it.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Virginia never led in the second half was completely dominated by Maryland-Baltimore County. To me this was the case of the better team winning and not exactly a choke.

To me a choke is Michigan State having the lead and missing their last 14 shots and losing by 2 points or Cincinnati blowing a 22 point lead in 11 minutes and not making a field goal for the final 6 minutes.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Jim Ross on this Clemson-Auburn game.

https://i2.wp.com/t.qkme.me/3tr8zq.jpg

[playblair]

Anyone else but me have aggy in their Final 4?
playblair haz aggy in championship rick stansbury was dirty recruiter heuilt aggy team sec basketball recruiting is dirty

[TheCultOfPersonality]

My goodness the offense in this UMBC-Kansas State game sucks.

[Robz4000]

:lol UNC

[TheCultOfPersonality]

UMBC has trailed 32-31 for 3 straight minutes and 34-33 for 3 straight minutes. Maryland-Baltimore County has been given plenty of chances.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

Maryland-Baltimore County choked period. Had plenty of chances to take the lead and blew all of those chances. Kansas State turned the ball over several times and didn't capitalize on them, plus they missed 9 free throws.

[Robz4000]

:lmao the shanty town of Cincinnati

[Chris Fall]

Down. Goes. Xavier.

[DeadlyDynasty]

I had UVA, Villanova, UNC, and finally Sparty to win it all.

...annnnd I'm officially fucked

[Blake]

playblair haz aggy in championship rick stansbury was dirty recruiter heuilt aggy team sec basketball recruiting is dirty

Well of course you had aggy winning it all. I meant anyone else not latched on to collie cock

[rjv]

Anyone else but me have aggy in their Final 4? i certainly didn't. i would have if it had been the aggies from the first ten games but not since then. still waiting for them to revert to that version in which case that would be the end. this tournament version certainly can get past michigan if they continue.

[Blake]

I've got 3 money brackets going, have them in final 4 in one.

Although they underachieved during season, they're just too talented not to have a chance to do damage here.

[Robz4000]

Loyola is pretty good tbh.

[Clipper Nation]

Aggy remembered that they are still Aggy, tbh.

[Mr. Body]

Shows how bad UNC was.

[Blake]

Loyola is pretty good tbh.

That good luck nun they got on the sidelines is what makes college sports so much better than the pros.

[Blake]

Shows how bad UNC was.

Damn how did they win the title last year

[Bill_Brasky]

I've got Mich, Tech, and Kansas in the Final 4. Arizona was my other pick but everyone's bracket got fucked in that region anyway.

[Robz4000]

Loyola annihilating Kansas State.

[Mark Celibate]

I've got Mich, Tech, and Kansas in the Final 4. Arizona was my other pick but everyone's bracket got fucked in that region anyway.

Tbh a lot of people picked Tech as a final four dark horse but Villanova looks scary right now, and IMO are the overall favorites with UVA out. When you take into account that it will probably be a 90% Nova crowd in Boston, this one looks pretty bleak.

Hopefully they can prove me wrong one more time though. If they can actually get to the Final four they might actually have a legit shot since it’s in Texas

[Blake]

Loyola annihilating Kansas State.

Good

[SPURt]

The officiating is superb

[Darius Bieber]

Of course San Antonio gets one of the most shittiest four team lineups for the final four :lmao

[Robz4000]

Glad Duke didn't make it tbh.

[Robz4000]

Of course San Antonio gets one of the most shittiest four team lineups for the final four :lmao

Villanova/Kansas should be a great game imo, and Loyola has been great to watch. Wish Tech had made it so we could've seen Kansas/TT Round III but overall this is a solid group.

[Silver&Black]

Glad Duke didn't make it tbh.

Don't care who won. That was a good fucking game though.

[Chris Fall]

Two #1s on one side. About as true a cinderella story on the other.

It’s not the sexiest Final Four ever, but odd to suggest it’s one of the shittiest.

[Silver&Black]

Malik Newman might pass Rodney Hood as my most hated basketball player ever.

Rooting for whoever plays against Kansas, thh.

[Chris Fall]

Not just Newman tbh. Kansas in general is very hateable. Maybe as much as any program after Duke and Kentucky, maybe even as hateable as those two. And Bill Self seems like an egomaniacal jerk who puts on that wholesome, aww shucks persona to the media.

[Silver&Black]

Not just Newman tbh. Kansas in general is very hateable. Maybe as much as any program after Duke and Kentucky, maybe even as hateable as those two. And Bill Self seems like an egomaniacal jerk who puts on that wholesome, aww shucks persona to the media.

Glad I don't have to go through this Malik Newman/Kansas hatred alone. Welcome aboard.

[Chris Fall]

Glad I don't have to go through this Malik Newman/Kansas hatred alone. Welcome aboard.

Also easy to hate when they got players like Lagerald Vick and their Euro kid Mykhailuk both with punchable faces.

In fairness, on the other side of the bracket, that German kid on Michigan and the head coach of Loyola also have very punchable faces.

[Robz4000]

Michigan/Villanova, who ya got?

Nova by 14.

[Robz4000]

Of course San Antonio gets one of the most shittiest four team lineups for the final four :lmao

Gotta give it to you, you called it. This has been one of the most forgettable Final Fours I can remember.

[cutewizard]

Divicencio for the Spurs

[cutewizard]

Wagner chickened out

[cutewizard]

Villanova rules

[cutewizard]

The Spurs need a bench next year

[Arcadian]

What a shitty championship game.

:lol Did this commentator seriously just say "Michigan has nothing to hang their heads about"?

[rjv]

well, my best bracket which had 'nova beating florida state in the final wound up ranked 770K. my worst bracket-which had Virginia winning-ranked 12.5 million.

[TheCultOfPersonality]

I fell asleep and didn't watch the championship game, but it turns out I didn't miss anything.