March Madness Challenge 2009 (free premium from jbrettlip)

[luns101]

My biggest risk left in the next round will be #4 Xavier vs. #1 Pitt. I'm going with the upset on that one, which would pave the way for Duke to get into the Final Four.

[jbrettlip]

UCONN/Purdue is the only one I would bet on. The rest seem to be coinflips.

[oVo]

Pitt has not been dominant, but they have been very strong in the final minutes of their games. OSU had a great run at them and looked like they just might finish it. Then Pitt shut 'em down, used all the shot clock and patiently took control of the final two minutes. It's not pretty, but they get it done. Xavier & Pitt makes for a sweet rivalry matchup that I as a tossup... Pitt is very confident in their play and the 'X' will have to be on top of their game to go through. Villanova has been very impressive right from the git-go in this tourney and have shown they are very capable of winning it all, so Duke should have their hands full in this one.

The BIG East is certainly well represented...
UConn has really been dominant so far, but Purdue has shown balance, determination and been very resilient in their games.

I agree, all of these matchups are hard to call and it'll be interesting to see who's left after this batch of games.

[jbrettlip]

I just can't watch Big 10 Bball. I don't think Purdue will be anywhere close to winning that game. Early spread is 6.5, but I could see a 20 pt win. Pitt is an 8 pt favorite, and that is too many. I wish the games simply continued on Mon and tues, and then give them all a break.

[luns101]

I wish the games simply continued on Mon and tues, and then give them all a break.

Yeah, but then we couldn't hype up the next round of games as much and each give our special "insights" about why our bracket choices are the best

.......or complain about why our choices kept losing by only a few points repeatedly in the 1st round

VCU, Utah State, Florida State....why or why?!!!!!!!!!

[oVo]

The Associated Press' Top 10 still standing, also the top 3 seeds in each region.

AP Final Season Rankings:

1. Louisville 28-5 (Big East Reg.Season & TourneyChampions)
2. North Carolina 28-4 (ACC Reg.Season & Tourney Champions)
3. Memphis 31-3 (C-USA Reg.Season & Tourney Champions)
4. Pittsburgh 28-4 (2nd in Big East)
5. Connecticut 27-4 (3rd in Big East)
6. Duke 28-6 (2nd in ACC)
7. Oklahoma 27-5 (2nd in Big 12)
8. Michigan State 26-6 (Big 10 Reg.Season Champions)
9. Missouri 28-6 (Big 12 Tourney Champions)
10. Gonzaga 26-5 (West Coast Reg.Season & Tourney Champions)
11. Villanova 26-7 (4th in Big East)
12. Wake Forest 24-6
13. Syracuse 26-9 (6th in Big East)
14. Kansas 25-7 (Big 12 Reg.Season Champions)
15. Washington 25-8
16. Florida State 25-9
17. Purdue 25-9 (Big 10 Tourney Champions)
18. UCLA 25-8
19. Arizona State 24-9
20. Xavier 25-7 (Atlantic 10 Reg.Season & Tourney Champions)
21. LSU 26-7
22. Butler 26-5
23. Marquette 24-9
24. Clemson 23-8
25. Utah 24-9
ur. Arizona 19-13 (6th in Pac 10... Conference Tourney runner up)

[derfderf34]

just in case for future reference the CARDS TO THE TOP bracket is mine

[oVo]

I suppose that's a reference to Louisville and not a religious group of Pope wannabes?

[luns101]

I suppose that's a reference to Louisville and not a religious group of Pope wannabes?

<*waits for puns against Xavier & Villanova*>

[luns101]

Alrighty then...so I guess now that Xavier messed me up I am officially screwed, right?!!

Unless Duke makes a comeback I'm also getting killed in that bracket as well.

[got tonkaed]

Alrighty then...so I guess now that Xavier messed me up I am officially screwed, right?!!

Unless Duke makes a comeback I'm also getting killed in that bracket as well.

at the moment i look good to rally back into 2nd from my temporary fall from grace.

Granted it all falls apart tomorrow, but it will be fun to stay alive for another day.

edit unless missouri decides to implode

[john9blue]

I'm doing pretty well for someone who pretty much selected all the most popular picks...

[derfderf34]

4 for 4 last night! woo hooo!

[oVo]

Alrighty then... I am officially screwed!

Me too.

I'm not surprised by any of those games... particularly Missouri and Villanova who have both played well all tourney. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kansas and Oklahoma advance either.

[luns101]

So even when I pick the Pukesters to win one out of practicality for this contest...they still end up doing me harm. The lesson here everyone - don't trust Duke.



Good riddance from the tourney, Dukies!

[SEAsportsfan]

wow thanks to Pitt's great defense, i can no longer win the tourney....wow.....

[luns101]

Whoa! The top 2 people in this competition now have incorrect champion picks...this thing is going to get a whole lot more interesting now.


Tonka, YOU PICKED KANSAS TO WIN IT ALL...ROFL! What were you thinking? Have you lost your mind?!!

Oh wait, I'm in 21st place...never mind.

[ronsizzle]

Ugh, I'm a big KU fan and still had nightmares about that game until we finally won last year. I'd join a yahoo bracket league as well.

One of my biggest nightmares was when Christian Laettner hit that last second shot in 1992. I can remember all my friends and I screaming, "Don't give them that in-bounds pass!" Of course, they let Laettner catch the ball anyway. Ugggh!

what a glorius day that was. what a team!

[got tonkaed]

Whoa! The top 2 people in this competition now have incorrect champion picks...this thing is going to get a whole lot more interesting now.


Tonka, YOU PICKED KANSAS TO WIN IT ALL...ROFL! What were you thinking? Have you lost your mind?!!

Oh wait, I'm in 21st place...never mind.

I was trying to win the pool! I didnt realize everyone else would miss so many picks that id still be relevant enough to need to pick a team that had more than an outside shot of winning. Still if State beats nova in the final = got tonkaed winnar.

[djt5483]

GO CAROLINA

[jbrettlip]

ANd I will now barely beat the people who didn't even fill out a bracket. That was shitty.

[john9blue]

The only way I can win this is if UNC beats MSU in the finals *becomes temporary MSU fan*.

[got tonkaed]

The only way I can win this is if UNC beats MSU in the finals *becomes temporary MSU fan*.

oklahoma looks pretty outgunned in this one.

[captainwalrus]

Don't underestimate Nova!

[luns101]

GO CAROLINA

No kidding! That's the only team I have left alive in this tournament