03-16-2008, 07:55 PM | #401 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
I'll bet you there have been far, far more teams that have lost less than four games in conference who never won a single game in the tournament. At large bids are generally between teams from different conferences. Except as it contributes to overall schedule strength and good wins or bad losses, how does the conference schedule record in and of itself mean anything in that comparison? If it's a bad conference and you go sub-.500, okay, that's something to be concerned about (although this should then be reflected in strength of schedule/RPI/quality wins and losses). If it's in a good conference and the other comparative team does okay in a much worse conference, how does that tell us which is the better team? Fact is, it doesn't. Throwing teams on a hard rule based around a factor with much subdued effect (conference record) is pointless--it is as likely to throw out better teams in favor of weaker teams as it is to ensure that the best teams get in. It's like comparing right-handed power hitters with the Red Sox and with the Mariners. To compare their power against one another and to not take into account park effects would be silly.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
|
03-16-2008, 08:00 PM | #402 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
NIT bracket being announced on ESPN2 next
(Women's bracket is tomorrow night at 8, btw)
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
03-16-2008, 08:04 PM | #403 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
And let's not forget about (yeah, right) the College Basketball Invitational, the new post-season tournament that will give 16 teams a chance to play at least one more game.
http://www.gazellegroup.com/cbi/index_main.htm Looking around the 'net a little, looks like Houston has already accepted a bid & I believe Virginia has as well pending a possible NIT bid.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 03-16-2008 at 08:06 PM. |
03-16-2008, 08:17 PM | #404 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
I'm actually interested to see who makes that and how it plays out (as much as the NIT anyway).
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
|
03-16-2008, 08:34 PM | #405 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Kansas City, MO
|
Amazingly, I only have one beef this year with the teams selected -- I'd have Illinois State in over Villanova. Kudos to the committee for taking a team like South Alabama and giving them a good seed. Virgina Tech/Miami is a coin flip. I probably would have leaned Va Tech but I don't think it was a screw job. There have been much worse screwings.
I have a few quibbles with seeding but there are some refreshing improvements. Five years ago Drake and Georgia would both be 10 seeds. Nice to see one deservingly getting a 5 and another equally deservingly getting a 14. I think Tennessee should have gotten the the top 2 seed and it doesn't seem that way. I'm also not sure why Memphis has to go through Texas in Houston. Of local interest, Kansas State gets a huge break playing their pod in Omaha -- not sure why they deserve that. I'm also a little bewildered by that matchup. On paper, this matchup seems much more even than a 6/11 game -- looks more like a 8/9 game. It's a little disappointing to see the same trend that happened last year with mid- and low-majors getting pitted against each other early on -- Butler-South Alabama, Drake-Western Kentucky, Gonzaga-Davidson. Same thing happened last year. Would LOVE to see UNC shoot down KU's dreams. I'll be happy if anyone takes down KU. But if Roy does it, the devestation on the faces of KU fans will make it that much more sweet. |
03-16-2008, 08:52 PM | #406 |
Torchbearer
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: On Lake Harriet
|
|
03-16-2008, 09:00 PM | #407 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Quote:
Interesting. So does the CBI think those teams will make that money back and then some? I would have to think economic studies were commissioned by the CBI to determine this figure. They can't afford to have teams turn them down (they are already picking from the bottom), so having a prohibitive fee only hurts unless it is clear the home teams will make more than that. Plus, is it per game? You could arguably play five home games (with possible home games in the championship round).
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
|
03-16-2008, 10:14 PM | #408 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
Quote:
If that's the case, I have to think they're going to play hell finding 8 teams willing to host.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
|
03-16-2008, 10:37 PM | #409 |
Torchbearer
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: On Lake Harriet
|
Here's an article that mentions the guarantee:
http://azdailysun.com/articles/2008/..._sports_59.txt |
03-16-2008, 10:41 PM | #410 | |
Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
|
Quote:
Compare that to Miami, who finished 8-8. Miami had 4 of it's 16 conference games against NCAA tourney teams. If you count VT, that's 6 total - with 4 (UNC, Duke, Clemson, VT) at home. You give Miami the schedule that Arizona had in conference, and there's no way they finish .500. Same goes for Virginia Tech (9-7), who had just 4 total games against the tourney teams out of their 16 conference games (with 2 at home). |
|
03-16-2008, 10:50 PM | #411 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Whittier
|
Speaking of tournament teams, UCLA is 14-2 against tournament teams, Memphis is 6-1, Carolina is 9-1, and Kansas is 8-2
|
03-16-2008, 11:06 PM | #412 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Nov 2003
|
So, every single pundit on Sportscenter just picked a #1 vs #2 elite eight, with (I think) every single #1 making it to the final four. Thanks for the insight, guys
|
03-16-2008, 11:10 PM | #413 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Ohio
|
Am I crazy for having Drake in my Final 4?
|
03-16-2008, 11:24 PM | #414 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
|
Well, they're in UCLA's bracket, so...yes.
__________________
. . I would rather be wrong...Than live in the shadows of your song...My mind is open wide...And now I'm ready to start...You're not sure...You open the door...And step out into the dark...Now I'm ready. |
03-17-2008, 05:28 AM | #415 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
Pairings for the aforemention College Basketball Invitational
Tuesday, March 18 (East) Richmond at Virginia - 7 p.m. (West) Houston at Nevada - 9 p.m. (Midw) Brown at Ohio - TBA (East) Rider at Old Dominion - TBA Wednesday, March 19 (Midw)Cincinnati at Bradley - 7 p.m. (West) Valparaiso at Washington - 9 p.m. (South) Miami (Ohio) at Tulsa - TBA (South) Utah at UTEP - TBA When they get down to four they'll seed 'em again, and the championship round is best-of-three.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 03-17-2008 at 05:31 AM. |
03-17-2008, 06:04 AM | #416 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Norman, OK
|
Quote:
Texas Tech and Missouri turned them down for sure. Alabama did as well. The problem is that CBI people are really out to make money, they aren't going to give any favors and they want a guarantee. The NCAA doesn't really care how much they make. The article sounds like they take a bunch of the gate (like 75%), but I imagine they would at least let the school break even if it was a financial disaster. The old NIT wanted to make money, and they did so by seeding the tournament in a way to keep the basketball schools in longer and gave home games randomly with no seeds. It was really a mockery of a tournament. I guess the CBI just is more upfront about the money, but seems somewhat genuine in trying to make a competitive tournament. |
|
03-17-2008, 06:23 AM | #417 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
The pod system strongly suggests otherwise (although it's more of an indirect thing, as TV really doesn't like half-empty buildings much). Quote:
Methinks you have more confidence in them than I do.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis Last edited by JonInMiddleGA : 03-17-2008 at 06:24 AM. |
|
03-17-2008, 07:08 AM | #418 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Norman, OK
|
Quote:
True, the pod system is to make more money...they can sell more tickets this way. I don't like it, but they really aren't screwing anyone over. In fact, they are making more schools happy by allowing them to play closer to home. The system the NIT has with % of the gate is going to be better for the failure, even if the school loses money, than a larger lump sum. You might not make as much, but you probably won't lose your ass. |
|
03-17-2008, 08:07 AM | #419 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
Interesting little tidbit in my inbox this morning from the weekend overnight TV ratings for Atlanta. (note that the game was on CBS in the two home markets, ESPN2 in the rest of the country).
Yesterday's SEC Championship game with Georgia & Arkansas posted a preliminary overall rating of 1.7 P25-54, peaking at an 8.7 share. By comparison, the Lakers/Rockets game had a consistent doubledigit share peaking in the low 12's while the NASCAR race was consistently in the high teens and had almost triple the average rating. The golf tournament on NBC had ratings just below the SEC title game. I won't mention the NHL on NBC, it's too sad to really comment on. Even with all the drama surrounding their tournament run, it appears that the locals had relatively little interest in watching Georgia in the title game. I'm not surprised that it was below NASCAR, but I am surprised just how low it really was. And Saturday was even worse, with the Nationwide(nee Busch) race pulling more than double the households of all NCAABB combined, and the ACC semifinals having more than double the number of viewers of Sunday's c'ship game.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
03-17-2008, 08:08 AM | #420 | |
General Manager
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Town of Flower Mound
|
Quote:
Woohoo, go Miners...I guess?
__________________
UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO |
|
03-17-2008, 08:08 AM | #421 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
|
Quote:
I have now decided that I am not happy that you are back SI
__________________
Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
|
03-17-2008, 09:40 AM | #422 | |
General Manager
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New Mexico
|
Quote:
lol |
|
03-17-2008, 09:53 AM | #423 |
Bounty Hunter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
|
I don't have any great opinions on the bracket itself, but I pretty much want to kill Billy Packer. I know I'm not the only one, but still, it feels good to say.
"WHY ACC ONLY GET 4 TEAMS, WHY, BIG EAST GET 8, ACC #1 CONFERENCE DAMMIT" "Billy, we don't look at conference rankings. We look at each team individually." "I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT ACC #1, SO WHY ONLY 4 TEAMS FROM BEST CONFERENCE?" "Billy, we don't look at conference rankings. We look at each team individually." "SEC GET LIKE ELEVENTY TEAMS AND SUN BELT GET SIXTEEN BUT ACC ONLY GET 4. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?" "Billy, we don't look at conference rankings. We look at each team individually." "ACC ACC ACC ACC!!! WHY ISN'T BOSTON COLLEGE IN PLAY-IN GAME AGAINST NC STATE?" I seriously expected Billy Packer to complain about George Mason taking some ACC team's spot, even though they got an automatic bid.
__________________
No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor. |
03-17-2008, 09:56 AM | #424 |
Bounty Hunter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
|
I just figured it out. Billy Packer is jbmagic.
__________________
No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor. |
03-17-2008, 10:14 AM | #425 |
College Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
|
They did until they lost in the ACC semis to Clemson. But once they blew that game, I may have been inclined to switch them with the Big 10 champion -- except for the fact that they blasted the doors off of Wisconsin earlier in the season. I think that 24-point win was probably the deciding factor in placing Duke 1 spot ahead of them. |
03-17-2008, 06:48 PM | #426 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Congrats to the University of Wyoming women's team for finally getting picked up for the NCAA tourney. They'll make their first appearance in school history this year. They were snubbed last year and rode that all the way to the WNIT title and after being upset in the Mountain West tourney, they looked to be on the bubble, but were ranked most of the year and it seemed likely they'd get in. It's a good group and in the 6/11 matchup against Pitt, look for them to pull the upset if they play their game.
They're battle-tested and a lot better than their seed would indicate. I haven't seen Pitt and have no idea how they match up though, so it's hard to say, but...it's still excellent for them as they continue to rise up the ranks. Last edited by Young Drachma : 03-17-2008 at 06:48 PM. |
03-17-2008, 07:03 PM | #427 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney, Australia
|
Congrats to the Aussies at Baylor, St. Mary's, Vandy, and Washington St.!
Baylor might be a reach to make the 2nd round, but I give the other 3 teams a decent chance of making it at least that far. I've got Kansas down as my champ favourites. I didn't see much of them during the year, but after watching them in the Big 12 tourney I'm a believer. Great backcourt with Rush and Chalmers, but it's Arthur and, in particular, Kaun in the frontcourt that lead me to believe that it'll take a very bad game to knock the Jayhawks out of the tourney.
__________________
Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. --Ambrose Bierce |
03-17-2008, 07:28 PM | #428 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
Quote:
And I presume it's safe to add your congrats to the Aussie for the Georgia Tech Lady Jackets, Brigette Ardossi. The 6'2" sophomore from Melbourne is the top inside reserve for the #10 seed in the Des Moines pod of the Greensboro regional and will face the #7 seed Iowa State with the winner likely to face #2 seed Rutgers in the second round.
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
|
03-17-2008, 08:11 PM | #429 |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
|
I'm glad that Baylor made the big dance. They really needed that to finally put the whole sordid Dave Bliss/Patrick Dennehy/Carlton Dotson saga behind them.
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
03-17-2008, 08:50 PM | #430 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Land O Lakes FL
|
Quote:
To me, that is a pretty amazing turnaround.
__________________
"The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes. He hasn’t. I have a voice on the radio, he hasn’t. I was born a white man. And until a colored man is a full citizen, like me, I haven’t the leisure to enjoy the freedom that colored man risked his life to maintain for me. I don’t own what I have until he owns an equal share of it. Until somebody beats me and blinds me, I am in his debt."- Orson Welles August 11, 1946 |
|
03-17-2008, 08:53 PM | #431 | ||
lolzcat
Join Date: May 2001
Location: williamsburg, va
|
Quote:
__________________
Text Sports Network - Bringing you statistical information for several FOF MP leagues in one convenient site Quote:
|
||
03-17-2008, 08:55 PM | #432 |
Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
|
only a few spots left in my survivor pool, sign up here
http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=64250 |
03-17-2008, 11:00 PM | #433 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
|
Quote:
Awesome SI
__________________
Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
|
03-17-2008, 11:03 PM | #434 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Whittier
|
Announcer pairings.
Washington D.C...Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel Omaha...Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner Denver....Gus Johnson/Lenny Elmore Anaheim...Dick Enberg-Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas Raleigh...Jim Nantz/Billy Packer Birmingham...Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery Little Rock...Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel Tampa...Tim Brando/Mike Gminski Dick Enberg for UCLA is solid, but I love Gus Johnson as an announcer. He's much more refreshing then some of these guys |
03-17-2008, 11:19 PM | #435 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
|
Yay. We get Kevin Harlan
SI
__________________
Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
03-17-2008, 11:31 PM | #436 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Jul 2001
|
Quote:
ajlsqweiofndasklfjasgfwefwefalj. UGH. At least the Raleigh region didn't get Raftery. Giving Gus Johnson a region where there are 2 sets of 4/13 and 5/12 games(ie most primed for 1st round upsets) is brilliant, whether intentional or not. |
|
03-17-2008, 11:36 PM | #437 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Jul 2001
|
Has anyone ordered the Direct TV March Madness package before? is it pretty much the same as Sunday Ticket for basketball?
looking at the schedules I am more and more wanting to be able to have my choice of every game. I'm gonna be stuck watching Duke during USC/Kansas State, and lots of 1/2 seed games during a lot of the more interesting 5/12 games I think. |
03-18-2008, 11:26 AM | #438 |
Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
|
Anyone setup a free ESPN group yet?
|
03-18-2008, 11:46 AM | #439 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
|
Quote:
I ordered it about 4 years ago. It was great. But with the March Madness On Demand online for free, I'm just going to go with that like I did last year. The streams are obviously not TV quality, but they are usually pretty reliable and they fit my budget quite nicely.
__________________
My listening habits |
|
03-18-2008, 12:46 PM | #440 | |
Head Coach
Join Date: Jul 2001
|
Quote:
Yeah, I completely forgot about MMOD. I used it last year and liked it. I signed up for it this morning. Thanks |
|
03-18-2008, 12:50 PM | #441 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
|
Quote:
Just remember me when you make it big in poker.
__________________
My listening habits |
|
03-18-2008, 01:18 PM | #442 |
Wolverine Studios
Join Date: Oct 2003
|
I set one up today on our forums. You or anyone else who wants to jump in is welcome to do so. You get like 10,000 brackets to fill out on ESPN now so fill one out and join us. Get in the action now: http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=66576 Game Front: http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage Group: WolverineStudios Password: wolverine |
03-19-2008, 09:05 AM | #443 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: C-Town
|
Anyone know what times the Saturday/Sunday's NCAA games are usually played at?
__________________
XBox Gamertag: Pronk32 FOOL-X - Cleveland Naps FOOL - Cleveland Cyclones SLOP - Cuyahoga Spiders |
03-19-2008, 10:37 AM | #444 | |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
|
Quote:
Too funny. |
|
03-19-2008, 10:55 AM | #445 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
|
Quote:
Usually there are 4 groups of games on Saturday, and 3 on Sunday. So, on Saturday, you have a national game at something like 1 PM, then 2 games starting around 3, 3 games starting around 5-5:30, and 2 more games starting around 7:30-8. Then, on Sunday, I think they do 2 games at noon, 4 at 2:30-3, then 2 more at around 5 so they can try to finish up before 60 Minutes comes on. That is what I recall offhand, without looking at the official web site or anything. So, if a team plays in the early games on Thursday/Friday, they'll be in the earlier games on Sat/Sun... and later game winners will play later on Sat/Sun.
__________________
My listening habits |
|
03-19-2008, 10:56 AM | #446 |
Favored Bitch #1
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: homeless in NJ
|
It really stinks that the tournament falls Easter weekend.
|
03-19-2008, 10:58 AM | #447 | |
Grey Dog Software
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Phoenix, AZ by way of Belleville, IL
|
Quote:
|
|
03-20-2008, 10:13 AM | #448 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Behind Enemy Lines in Athens, GA
|
Round One coverage maps FYI
http://www.hdsportsguide.com/news/20...age-maps/#day1
__________________
"I lit another cigarette. Unless I specifically inform you to the contrary, I am always lighting another cigarette." - from a novel by Martin Amis |
03-20-2008, 10:23 AM | #449 | ||
lolzcat
Join Date: May 2001
Location: williamsburg, va
|
Quote:
Thanks Jon - I've been wondering about this. I have to miss the UT game tomorrow since it is at noon, but I didn't want to miss GMU tonight.
__________________
Text Sports Network - Bringing you statistical information for several FOF MP leagues in one convenient site Quote:
|
||
03-20-2008, 10:47 AM | #450 |
General Manager
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kansas City, MO
|
Anyone else waiting in line on the 'March Madness On Demand' website? Says the doors open up at at 12:00 PM EDT. I'm 70,000 back in the VIP line.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 4 (0 members and 4 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
|
|