2016 March Madness thread

[Young Drachma]

Meh. I knew when they didn't get that point on the last run down the court they were screwed.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Great finish if you're neutral, heartbreaker for a scrappy as hell underdog.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

SFA is looking like they're not a 14th seed. This is just a damn good team from what I am watching. They're definitely not a fluke cinderella when it comes to the eye test.

Edit: What a shit ending.

They were heavily underseeded. Should have been around a 10 seed at worst.

Upsets are going to be a part of the tournament, but IMO the committee's reliance on RPI for seeding is why we've seen so many upsets the past few years. They're underseeding very good mid-majors.

[Young Drachma]

Those boys played with more heart than I've seen in a long time. Sad to see them go. Like a heart to talent ratio there was high. Really good execution and a gameplan to fit the situation. Until the end. But you know, Cinderella eventually had to go home.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

It was interesting watching the 538 expected win % for that game. I felt like they were really underselling ND's chances late. Easy to say now, but if feels like time and time again the established team finds a way in that type of situation.

Like Atocep mentioned SFA was underseeded badly. According to computer metrics they are around the 25th best team in the nation. The odds makers set this line in the right neighborhood. SFA opened a slight fav and most of the late movement had this a pick em game.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Atocep

They were heavily underseeded. Should have been around a 10 seed at worst.

Upsets are going to be a part of the tournament, but IMO the committee's reliance on RPI for seeding is why we've seen so many upsets the past few years. They're underseeding very good mid-majors.

And not letting some in.

[cuervo72]

VCU/OU looks really empty.

[Young Drachma]

I've noticed a lot of empty crowds more this year than in the past. Probably not really true, but...I think this whole model of playing far from home arenas thing probably makes the NCAA hand over fist because of their huge TV deal, but it's gotta be a shitty fan experience.

[Young Drachma]

Dola: This was a cool story. Sorry if someone posted it before, I didn't see it.

Pitt band pulls NCAA tourney double-duty as stand-ins for Weber State | FOX Sports

Weber State paid 'em $50 a person to do it. (That's pretty standard.)

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Like Atocep mentioned SFA was underseeded badly. According to computer metrics they are around the 25th best team in the nation. The odds makers set this line in the right neighborhood. SFA opened a slight fav and most of the late movement had this a pick em game.

Sagarin had them 46th after their first round win.
And their SOS was still 303rd.

Kenpom had the 28th after the win, SOS still 279.

Massey composite 58th after the win, with a mean of 63 and a median of 57.5

What the fuck computer metrics are you seeing that Massey isn't?

SFA is a nice team, love the gut & grit but they aren't any more the 25th best team in the country than I'm a flying goat.

edit to add: they had a top 25-35 season but when you're playing a glorified high school schedule that's a lot easier to accomplish.

[Julio Riddols]

Quick question.. Why does Oklahoma get homecourt advantage for the first 2 rounds?

[murrayyyyy]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Quick question.. Why does Oklahoma get homecourt advantage for the first 2 rounds?

So you'd ignore the fact that North Carolina had to drive 30 mins for their games...

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Like Atocep mentioned SFA was underseeded badly. According to computer metrics they are around the 25th best team in the nation. The odds makers set this line in the right neighborhood. SFA opened a slight fav and most of the late movement had this a pick em game.

538 had ND at 57% to win before the game -- and they take a few different rankings into consideration. Their composite pre-tourney ranks had ND as the 28th and SFA as the 40th ranked among teams in the tourney.

(Their own ELO ratings had the two a lot closer -- 30th and T31st.)

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

So you'd ignore the fact that North Carolina had to drive 30 mins for their games...

I hate UNC almost as much as I do Duke, but I don't think any team should play within a hundred miles of their home court in a tournament designed to find the best team in a 64 (or 68 I guess) team field.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

I hate UNC almost as much as I do Duke, but I don't think any team should play within a hundred miles of their home court in a tournament designed to find the best team in a 64 (or 68 I guess) team field.

It is not. It is designed to make as much money as possible.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Sagarin had them 46th after their first round win.
And their SOS was still 303rd.

Kenpom had the 28th after the win, SOS still 279.

Massey composite 58th after the win, with a mean of 63 and a median of 57.5

What the fuck computer metrics are you seeing that Massey isn't?

SFA is a nice team, love the gut & grit but they aren't any more the 25th best team in the country than I'm a flying goat.

edit to add: they had a top 25-35 season but when you're playing a glorified high school schedule that's a lot easier to accomplish.

The guys in Vegas opened SFA as a favorite. Really doubt they are going to make one of the most historic schools in America a dog unless they have plenty of reason to believe a lot of money is going to come in on SFA. The books closing line had that game around a pick em and it ended on a buzzer beater. Seems as if Vegas had a good read on that situation. Pomeroy had SFA coming in as 24th coming into todays games. Ive started putting more emphasis on his rankings over Sagarin. Vegas lines seem to stay closer to Pomeroys views.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

I hate UNC almost as much as I do Duke, but I don't think any team should play within a hundred miles of their home court in a tournament designed to find the best team in a 64 (or 68 I guess) team field.

From the official principles & procedures (synopsized by me): Can't play on your home floor, can't play on any floor where you've played three times in the regular season, cannot play in a building where you're the "host institution". Otherwise, in or as close to region of natural interest as possible.

To invoke a hundred mile rule that you mentioned would wipe out some teams from playing in their home region (Tobacco road teams comes to mind) because of the need to also avoid teams from the same conference meeting prior to the regional final & other considerations.

At the end of the day, the tournament better serves ticket buying fans by doing what they're doing.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

The guys in Vegas opened SFA as a favorite. Really doubt they are going to make one of the most historic schools in America a dog unless they have plenty of reason to believe a lot of money is going to come in on SFA. The books closing line had that game around a pick em and it ended on a buzzer beater. Seems as if Vegas had a good read on that situation. Pomeroy had SFA coming in as 24th coming into todays games. Ive started putting more emphasis on his rankings over Sagarin. Vegas lines seem to stay closer to Pomeroys views.

But lines are about moving money, not about teams quality per se.

And, honestly, after seeing this disparity in Pomeroy versus virtually every other ranking out there, I'm inclined to heavily discount those going forward. I never realized just how far out of whack they were/have become.

[Buccaneer]

That's vintage Cuse with a 20-2 run!

[Julio Riddols]

Thanks for the insight, guys. While I agree this is mostly about making money, its nice to know there are legit reasons why it happens... At least when it comes to maximizing interest and thereby money made.

[tarcone]

Bittersweet season for me and I am happy and sad this season is over. Iowa showed great potential during the middle of the season.
Then were exposed. What a disappointment that a team with 4 seniors and 1 jr. starting fell apart like it did.

Next year should be good. We will be young, but I like the make up of the team.

[wustin]

Originally Posted by murrayyyyy

So you'd ignore the fact that North Carolina had to drive 30 mins for their games...

That's because they won the ACC tournament. If they had lost to ND or UVA, they would've been given a 2 seed and kicked out to the west or midwest.

[nol]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

But lines are about moving money, not about teams quality per se.

They're about moving equal money on both sides and bringing in the house advantage every time. Less overall action is preferable to opening up the possibility of getting taken to the cleaners because 80-plus percent of the money is on one side.

[cuervo72]

Yeah, as I was saying about those percentages. Less than 1% indeed!

[Easy Mac]

That was pathetic. If he just held the ball for 10 seconds, A&M has 2 seconds to get a good shot off on the inbounds.

[molson]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a team score 14 points in 31 seconds.

[Wolfpack]

UNI has really picked themselves up off the mat after all that's happened. Quite impressed.

Edit: then again, it may not matter if A&M can't miss a shot.

[jbergey22]

Did UNI miss a bunch of free throws at the end? How did that happen? Just tuning in now.

[Wolfpack]

A&M cranked the pressure to the max on inbounds and UNI started panicking and it snowballed on them. A&M hit everything they threw at the basket and got a little help on a mild foul call, but mostly it was UNI self-destructing in the final 30 seconds (and this included UNI executing a perfect long ball pass for a basket that gave them a five point lead with 11 seconds left).

The run to close the last 30 seconds to force OT was 14-2 for A&M.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Did UNI miss a bunch of free throws at the end? How did that happen? Just tuning in now.

Inbounding is hard, especially if you keep putting it in the corner to invite trap.

[MrBug708]

What a terrible call against Xavier

[MrBug708]

There goes bracket

[CraigSca]

Not sure if it was a terrible call, but surprising. And they hit a 3. Wow.

[hoopsguy]

That shot by Wisky was crazy tough.

Agree that I don't like the offensive call on other end ... defender got to spot, I think, but hate rewarding a flop with 5 seconds left in game.

[lungs]

Wow!

[ColtCrazy]

What looked like a disaster a couple of days ago is a bit better now. 3 Big Ten teams in the Sweet Sixteen. Not the 3 you'd expect, but we'll take it. What a shot and win by the Badgers!!
UNI looks like they are running out of gas here.

Bummed about SFA as well, and I like Notre Dame.

[Galaril]

So much for all those low seeds winning. It looks like pretty much all the usual power conference schools going on.As some one who likes to root for the underdog mid majors nothing to see anymore at this point.

[Thomkal]

bummer with N. Iowa losing-my pick5 was looking pretty good most of the game.

[Young Drachma]

What a choke job. But that's what happens when you play Mickey Mouse clubs all year.

[mauchow]

Mannnn.. Bronson ties it just 15 seconds earlier w a dagger 3 and then finishes em off with a dagger 3!!

Woo!

[Julio Riddols]

Wow, that UNI collapse was insane.

[Thomkal]

Coastal Carolina's luck continues into the quarterfinals of the CIT. They drew yet another home game, and avoided the top 2 seeds. It won't be easy however as they drew 27-6 Grand Canyon. I had no idea before this tournament that there was even a college called Grand Canyon, let alone played Division I basketball. I should have however as they have a former CCU player who transferred out before this season. He's barely played so far this season, even less so in the tourney so may wish he stayed at Coastal. This will be Grand Canyon's 1st road game in the tourney so we shall see how they do with their longest road trip of the season. Wed night at 7 pm is the game time.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Coastal Carolina's luck continues into the quarterfinals of the CIT. They drew yet another home game, and avoided the top 2 seeds. It won't be easy however as they drew 27-6 Grand Canyon. I had no idea before this tournament that there was even a college called Grand Canyon, let alone played Division I basketball. I should have however as they have a former CCU player who transferred out before this season. He's barely played so far this season, even less so in the tourney so may wish he stayed at Coastal. This will be Grand Canyon's 1st road game in the tourney so we shall see how they do with their longest road trip of the season. Wed night at 7 pm is the game time.

Yeah they moved up from D2. Also the only for-profit school in D1. Though I guess they're talking about changing their designation. They're part of the WAC's "we can't close" plan. Congrats to your squad continuing the play. I remember when Wyoming's women's team won the WNIT in 2007. They packed every game in the Arena including the final, which is no small feat (thanks to companies buying up all the tickets) and we had a fun time watching the run, didn't matter to us that it wasn't the "real thing."

[Thomkal]

Well it looked like Coastal Carolina's run in the CIT was about to come to an end. Down by 6 to Grand Canyon with 3:37 to play, one player made all the difference. Elijah Wilson scored the last 8 points, including a go-ahead layup with two seconds left after blocking a 3 point attempt by GC with 12 seconds to go. Had to be the most exciting game of the year.

And the best news is that early reports have the Chants hosting the semi-finals as well. It has been a huge advantage playing at home for all their tourney games.

[Thomkal]

wow so far every quarterfinal game in the CIT has been decided by two points or less. Columbia and UC Irvine have claimed spots so far with one game left to play tomorrow. Coastal is the only south-eastern team left in the tourney, so their next opponent will have to travel quite a bit to play them.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

wow so far every quarterfinal game in the CIT has been decided by two points or less. Columbia and UC Irvine have claimed spots so far with one game left to play tomorrow. Coastal is the only south-eastern team left in the tourney, so their next opponent will have to travel quite a bit to play them.

UC Irvine will travel to Conway to play CCU. That's quite the commute

[Marmel]

OMG, OMG, the Cuse is in the House!

(RIP Al Mcguire)

[Young Drachma]

Didn't realize NJIT was still playing, good for them.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Wacky night in the women's bracket ... down go a pair of #1s and a pair of #3s (to three #4s and a #7). Being talked about as the the most cumulative upsets in a single day in women's tourney history.

Alas, UConn doesn't play until tomorrow.

[Kodos]

Congrats to Tarheels fans. You guys were hitting everything, hustling to get loose balls, etc. You were clearly better than us tonight.