2008 College Basketball Season [Winner: lardass76]

[taxmanjle]

Michigan upends rival and top seed Michigan St to keep those slim tourney hopes alive. Bring on the Nittany Lions!

[flexmaster33]

New brackets are updated...most tourneys are into the semfinal rounds by now...Selection Show coming next week most likely...update on that in the next day or two.

[Oshida]

Tournament Game: 2008 College Basketball Season - MAC 1stR — W6 Ball State vs. E3 Ohio

Game 4272203

Ohio wins in 8 rounds

[AndrewB]

Didn't you say that there will be 3 games per round?

I got screwed by dice in the last game so i have to finish the tournament?

And all those previous games, what were they for, if just 1 game will decide the winner of the tournament?

I am not sure that i understand the format of the tournament...

[Aesop Jones]

Game 4248060

Cavs Upset Tigers, Finally Drop The Bomb in Epic 31-Round Thriller

"The Arms Race court," Aesop Jones somberly began his press conference, "is built for speed. You're in, you're out. When you have to dig into the trenches, however, that's when you really test the measure of a team. And let me tell you...those Virginia Cavaliers measure up very, very well."

After clinching the ACC, the Clemson Tigers have now dropped two in a row on their home court. Coach magneto_acolyte was unavailable at press time, but was spotted with an oxygen mask back in the locker room. And both sides sorely needed that fresh air - to go thirty-one rounds in Arms Race is a rare sight.

"They got the jump on us," a Clemson player told us. "They broke through the perimeter, but you gotta give our defense credit - we never hung it up, we never surrendered. Just kept battling back, got close near the end, but they sunk the dagger in on round 31 and that was it." Shaking his head, he continued - "We even had the bomb ready to drop. Them Cavs, man...they're no joke."

Virginia now makes a trip to Boston College, where the Eagles await.

[MuEagles79]

Sorry I couldn't pull Purdue out of the dregs since I took over the coaching reins....at least I've managed to go .500 or so though! NIT here I come!

[flexmaster33]

Didn't you say that there will be 3 games per round?

I got screwed by dice in the last game so i have to finish the tournament?

And all those previous games, what were they for, if just 1 game will decide the winner of the tournament?

I am not sure that i understand the format of the tournament...

We will move to the best of three scoring formula for the entire NCAA tourney and the final four of the NIT bracket.

The winner of the NCAA tourney is the champion of this Conquer Club event. The NIT is just a consolation bracket.

The regular season (28-30 games) allows teams/players to make their case for being included in the 65-team March Madness field and to boost their chances for a higher seed/better draw for the playoff bracket.

The conference tourneys are just a last gasp chance for any team to make a run, win the league tourney and gain a spot in the NCAA bracket. For the stronger teams, such as yourself, the conference tourneys may have an slight effect on your seeding.

Watch for the tourney Selection Show probably sometime next week to see where your team falls in the bracket.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

[yellowdogjack]

Buffalo continues its hot streak by winning the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament against Miami,Ohio.

[flexmaster33]

New brackets are up...Weber State remains the only auto bid to this point, but other title contests are getting close.

Look for a new newsletter before the night is done....which means now for most of you

[Keellan]

Florida takes down Kentucky and advances to the finals in an attempt with defend its SEC title from last year and ride the hot streak into the NCAA tourny.

[Lubawski]

Illinois St shows why they are a no. 1 seed trouncing Northern Iowa to move to the CUSA semi-finals.

[flexmaster33]

I'll update brackets again Saturday night...no big changes over the last 24 hours.

[plash.ricrem]

I'll update brackets again Saturday night...no big changes over the last 24 hours.

Charlotte stuns Umass in the A-10 finals (beating both Rhode Island and Umass on the road to run the table). Coach Ricrem offers his props to Charlotte in this impressive feat, but notes that he will have to now get that Tourney Profile up sooner than later seeing as UVM have been placed squarely on the bubble again. He would like to remind the tournament committee that the care package from Vermont is in the mail...

[flexmaster33]

Brackets are updated through Saturday night...Charlotte (ultraman) is the second to gain an automatic bid to the Dance (see newsletter)...most tourneys are nearing championship games, while the MAC and CUSA are into the quarterfinals. Selection Day should be set soon...I'll update a time as we get closer.

[MuEagles79]

Flex-

there might be some errors in the Big Ten records...I notice some teams have played more than 28 games....does this include the Big 10 tourney games as well? If so, then my record(Purdue) and others haven't been updated...I think I should be 14-16.

[j law]

Didn't you say that there will be 3 games per round?

I got screwed by dice in the last game so i have to finish the tournament?

And all those previous games, what were they for, if just 1 game will decide the winner of the tournament?

I am not sure that i understand the format of the tournament...

We will move to the best of three scoring formula for the entire NCAA tourney and the final four of the NIT bracket.

The winner of the NCAA tourney is the champion of this Conquer Club event. The NIT is just a consolation bracket.

The regular season (28-30 games) allows teams/players to make their case for being included in the 65-team March Madness field and to boost their chances for a higher seed/better draw for the playoff bracket.

The conference tourneys are just a last gasp chance for any team to make a run, win the league tourney and gain a spot in the NCAA bracket. For the stronger teams, such as yourself, the conference tourneys may have an slight effect on your seeding.

Watch for the tourney Selection Show probably sometime next week to see where your team falls in the bracket.

Hope that clears up any confusion.

Hey Flex, Great tourney so far.

One question about the dance. How will the map be determined? Will it be the higher seeds home map? Or will you have predetermined maps for each reason? Just curious, thanks!
J law (oregon st)

[laci_mae]

It would be cool if each region had its own map. The games could be played with the lower seed's preferences.

Just an idea.

Laci

[*Pixar*]

penn state beats michigan and is going to win the big ten

[flexmaster33]

answers to a couple questions...

• The final standings were updated through the early rounds of the conference tourneys...I'll make another update when those are all completed. And yes, some teams have more games depending on early-season tourneys and conference tourneys.

• The Big Dance will be played with 3 maps for each game...The first and third maps will be on predetermined neutral courts (announced earlier in this thread), while the middle map will be on the better seeds home settings.

Once, we reach the final four, the middle map will be a neutral court, while the other two will be made of home settings for each school.

I'll update all that info and post the tournament scoring formula here over the next week before we get to the Selection Show. Overly busy with work right now, so I haven't had a chance to make those final updates yet.

[plash.ricrem]

Plash.Ricrem sits at the podium with a Magic Hat beer in one hand and a folder of nerdy basketball stats in the other.

"Alright gentlemen, I've called this press conference today to address concerns that Vermont may not gain an at large bid into the NCAA tourney in the coming weeks. This may happen because of the shocking number of upsets where otherwise marginal or bubble teams have garnered auto bids (including in our very own A10 where the 5 seed Charlotte was able to do so).

Yet, UVM should not be delegated to the NIT. And here is why... Ricrem pulls out a top hat and cane as music starts to play from speakers. Suddenly the music stops as his assistant coach hurries over and whispers to him. Ricrem sits back down.

"Well it would seem that apparently a song and dance number would not be the best way to get the selection committee's attention. So instead I will just give you the following facts:
1. UVM finished the season with a 16-14 record in the A10 gaining the 3 seed in the conference tourney. We were knocked out in the semis by the 2 seed Umass who later were defeated by Charlotte in the championship game.
2. The season started on a terrible note, with a 1-7 out of conference showing as Temple. However,with NCAA approval I was able to move the entire team to Vermont (where the beautiful scenery and isolation make it easier to focus) where we have thrived with a 15-7 record since then.
3. We finished with a 12-6 record in regular season conference play. Of those 6 losses, 4 were to the top 2 seeds Rhode Island and Umass. The coach of Rhode Island admitted that his 2 victories (particularly the first one) came about from strange results. In the first it was uncanny 3 point shooting ( 3 mixed sets to rally late), while the 2nd was fueled by the rigged nets at the Arms Race Arena where UVM didn't score for the first 10 minutes ( take a territory in the first 4 rounds). The other 2 in conference losses came to Duqesne who finished with the 4th seed.
4. Vermont played the most games against top 20 teams in the A-10 accumulating a 2-4 record (wins v. St. Bonnies and on the road @ #3 Eastern Michigan).

The team has matured as the season has gone on, and is more deserving than other A10 bubble teams who are resting on the laurels of their early season accomplishments (Yes, I'm looking at you St. Bonnies). In closing, I'd like to say that UVM is looking forward to whatever postseason birth it is granted, although it would certainly prefer a trip to the big dance.

And remember selection committee, If these facts haven't swayed you enough, and you think you might need more "information" on Vermont just get in contact with us and perhaps a care package (12 finely hand crafted vermont brews) will allow you greater insight into Vermont's standing in the field of 64."

[flexmaster33]

Plash and the rest of the coaches will get their answers during the "Monday Make It or Break It" selection show scheduled for live chat event schedule for 9 a.m. (PST)/Noon (EST) Monday, March 2.

I'll create a seperate room for us, so show up early to get your invite as the brackets are revealed.

Sure, I'd like a crowd in chat, but if you can't make it no worries...I'll still send our pms updating you with each tourney game similar to the conference tourneys.

[Fireside Poet]

The showdown for the BigEast Tournament is set to begin - Villanova vs South Florida.

[HighlanderAttack]

The showdown for the BigEast Tournament is set to begin - Villanova vs South Florida.

Villanova is looking for a number one seed. The last time we spoke was a dissaster--I think we lost like 4 or 5 in a row after reaching the top 5. Coach HighlanderAttack feels like we are a solid two, but after finishing the season strong and going through to the Big East Finals he has his team focused on winning their way to a number one seed in the big dance.

Good Luck to South Florida

[flexmaster33]

Florida wins the SEC (Keellan) and North Carolina (dustin800) wins the ACC to become the latest teams with an automatic bid...brackets and newsletter to be updated tonight.

[HighlanderAttack]

Congrats to South Florida for winning the big East with a 50 pointer. Too many turnovers cost Villanova a win. They played scared and South Florida played a great game. No number one for Villanova. South Florida is a team to be scared of for sure at the big Dance. Coach Highlander Attack will not type anything else until the big Dance is over for fear of the dreaded jinx.