🏀 Big Dance Musings

[psychojoe]

My bracket has been in tatters for about a week now, but this tournament is turning downright interesting.Looking at tonight's games, Kentucky takes on Indiana. It isn't likely that the Hoosiers can repeat theri December magic. I still like Kentucky to win it all.Baylor takes on Xavier tonught. When the Bears are playing their A game they can play with anyone. I think they are good for one more W tonight.NC State takes on Kansas. Gottfried's team has played very well in the tourney so far. I expect the Jayhawks to take them down, but they don't match up terribly with Kansas, so it would not be a shock of the Wolfback pulled off the upset. This would set up a match with their cross state rival, North Carolina.North Carolina, however, has a big problem. Marshall, their point guard, broke his wrist (non shooting arm) in their win last weekend, and their #2 PG, went down in January with a season ending knee injury. Marshall's availability and his level of effectiveness are closely guarded secrets right now. They may be able to get by Ohio without Marshall, but could they beat Kansas without a PG? Many of our brackets have NC going to the championship game, but that all looks very cloudy now. Meanwhile, Saturday games are very intriguing.Mayhem in one quarter of the draw has Louisville battling Florida for a trip to the Final Four. Pitino and Donovan are a master versus student matchup. This is an intriguing battle. Florida has picked this time of the year to play its best basketball. I really like them. Considering the way my prognostications have gone this tournament, you would be wise to bet the house on the Ville.On the other side, this is the rare bracket that has followed the form charts. Syracuse takes on Ohio State in what figures to be a classic 1 versus 2 matchup. Syracuse had to play very well last night to squeak by Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Ohio State is playing in my opinion the best ball of anyone. I don't like either team, but in basketball I dislike Ohio State less, and I think the Buckeyes will prevail.

 

[rick4bama]

Do you think the UK vs UI is really the Champaign game tonight?

 

[psychojoe]

Unlike some of the recent dances, Cinderella has not shown up. The elite 8 is composed entirely of teams from the power conferences, with SEC, Big East and Big 12 having two each, ACC and Big 10 one each. So much for the talking heads who have been pushing the Big 10 as the nation's best conference.

Two of the bracket feature the 1 and 2 seeds and a third one has one versus three. Only one bracket features a matchup of lower seeds, Louisville versus Florida. And of course this matcup features Pitino versus Donovan, both of whom have won national championships. No strangers coming to the final four this time.

Just so you will know, I pick Florida and Kentucy to win, and Ohio State and Kansas as the rest of the final four.

You contrarians could get rich off of me, lol.

 

[TideAlum05]

That was an epic choke by Florida today. I mean WOW. They had that game and just failed. Hopefully UK wins tomorrow.

On a tangent, why the hell is Kidd-Gilchrist getting the hype that he is? Chad Ford of ESPN has this kid going #2 overall? WTF? He has role player written all over him. He's averaging less than 12 ppg in college. He has no offensive game. I dunno man, I could find 10 players I'd take over him.

 

[psychojoe]

Have to agree on UF. Why, with Louisville having multiple players with four fouls, did they quit attacking the basket and settle for all those jump shots?


Kidd-Gilchrist does have an NBA ready body, and good length for his height. He laso has an excellent motor. Still, as far as basketball skills, you have to wonder. I can see him going in the first round, but second after Davis? That leaves me scratching my head.