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View Full Version : March Madness conversation: SOUTH Region



JasonEvans
03-16-2008, 01:02 PM
Please make all comments about the South Regional, being played in Houston, in this thread.

Memphis, TX, Stanford, Pitt

--Jason "I know the pairings don't come out until 6pm ET, but I wanted these to be out there early so we would not get a mad rush of new threads in the moments after the pairings are announced" Evans

Chard
03-16-2008, 06:27 PM
Oh, boy. UM gets to play Texas in the round of 32.

SharkD
03-16-2008, 06:29 PM
I really can't believe that they gave Kentucky an at-large bid. That's not a slam on Kentucky -- they just had a comparatively weak season recrd, and a one-and-done in their conference tourney. I guess having an SEC member on the selection committee helps, huh?

throatybeard
03-16-2008, 06:32 PM
UK went 12-4 in the SEC. Despite all the Duke grave-dancing on UK, it's been clear for at least 2 weeks they'd be in the field. Probably 3 weeks. They beat UTK just last week.

I like a potential Mississippi State-Memphis game in Little Rock.

SharkD
03-16-2008, 06:40 PM
I dunno. It's hard to believe that the Wildcats deserve to be in more than, say Dayton or UMass, Virginia Tech or Arizona State.

superdave
03-16-2008, 07:02 PM
They did Memphis no favors.

I have not seen Stanford play much but they gave UCLA a ride and have size. Pitt is really hot now and Texas could have been a #1 with a few made buckets against Kansas. This feels like the most top-heavy region.

Also, no 1-loss team has ever won it all (see Duke, 1999)

Wander
03-16-2008, 09:43 PM
Your big first round upset of the tournament this year is Cornell over Stanford. Feel free to thank me later...

JasonEvans
03-17-2008, 09:55 AM
Your big first round upset of the tournament this year is Cornell over Stanford. Feel free to thank me later...

I would have liked Cornell over some of the other teams they might have played... but not Stanford. The Cardinal are just a huge team with the Lopez twins at 7-0 and 250+ each. Granted, Cornell is bigger than the usual Ivy champs we have seen in the past, but the notion that their big men can stay with Brook Lopez... wow, I just don't see that.

--Jason "as an aside, Memphis got the screw job from the selection committee having to perhaps play UT in Houston-- gonna be a sea of burnt orange for that game" Evans

tbyers11
03-17-2008, 09:59 AM
UK went 12-4 in the SEC. Despite all the Duke grave-dancing on UK, it's been clear for at least 2 weeks they'd be in the field. Probably 3 weeks. They beat UTK just last week.

I like a potential Mississippi State-Memphis game in Little Rock.

I agree that Kentucky has likely been in the field for awhile now. But for clarification they didn't beat Tennessee recently, they beat them on Jan 22nd at Rupp with Patrick Patterson. They played Tenn very tough in Knoxville 2 weeks ago, but missed a 3 at the buzzer to force overtime.

JasonEvans
03-17-2008, 02:56 PM
I am adding polls to each one of the bracket threads, so see who folks think will win each bracket.

-Jason

Wander
03-17-2008, 03:39 PM
I would have liked Cornell over some of the other teams they might have played... but not Stanford. The Cardinal are just a huge team with the Lopez twins at 7-0 and 250+ each. Granted, Cornell is bigger than the usual Ivy champs we have seen in the past, but the notion that their big men can stay with Brook Lopez... wow, I just don't see that.


I told myself before the bracket came out that I was going to pick Cornell to win their first round if they were matched up against either Stanford or UConn. Cornell is terrible against teams that can press and get lots of turnovers (definitely not Stanford and UConn), and I imagine they'll do well against a team whose defense centers around shot blockers and not guarding the three. I don't think Cornell has any way of stopping the Lopez's on offense though, so they need to get them in foul trouble. If they do that, Cornell has a legit shot. I would feel more confident about them against UConn, but I'll still take them over Stanford.

snowdenscold
03-17-2008, 03:55 PM
--Jason "as an aside, Memphis got the screw job from the selection committee having to perhaps play UT in Houston-- gonna be a sea of burnt orange for that game" Evans

Oh great - I'll be traveling for work that weekend between Austin and Houston.

It'll be me, my rental car, and a huge caravan of UT fans heading west on 71 and I-10...

JasonEvans
03-17-2008, 09:42 PM
Only one person has picked Memphis in the poll... color me stunned at that one.

--Jason "I like Stanford, but still... Memphis is goood" Evans

dynastydefender
03-18-2008, 09:39 AM
I really can't believe that they gave Kentucky an at-large bid. That's not a slam on Kentucky -- they just had a comparatively weak season recrd, and a one-and-done in their conference tourney. I guess having an SEC member on the selection committee helps, huh?
Oh that hurts. And I just watched the 86 Duke v UL game on ESPN Classic and chose not to grave dance on Duke because of the MUCHO respect I have for this board.

Anyway, It's as I predicted. UK made the field and many do not want to believe it. The stats were on thier side as was the history.

dynastydefender
03-18-2008, 09:42 AM
I agree that Kentucky has likely been in the field for awhile now. But for clarification they didn't beat Tennessee recently, they beat them on Jan 22nd at Rupp with Patrick Patterson. They played Tenn very tough in Knoxville 2 weeks ago, but missed a 3 at the buzzer to force overtime.

Yes they played Tennessee very tough WITHOUT Patrick Patterson on Tennessee's home court. Not bad for a bunch of Tubby Smith Recruits. Then after beating Florida for the first time in 8 tries it was apparant that UK deserved an at large.

I am just thankful that this year for UK is almost over. Going out in the First round to Marquette (a former national champ) is ok by me. Just get me to next year!!!

dynastydefender
03-18-2008, 09:43 AM
You guessed it!! Me.

JasonEvans
03-18-2008, 09:54 AM
I wanna know why everyone is so down on Memphis.

I had gone with Stanford but am starting to think I may switch because everyone seems to be picking against the Tigers.

My big concern is that Memphis is not at all battle-tested. Conference USA sucked this year -- it got just one bid, less than the Sun Belt and Mountain West conference. Frankly, there is a reason Memphis went unbeaten in conference play, they did not have to play anyone (even UAB was not all that good). While Memphis did play some very good teams in their non-conference slate, with the sole exception of the game at UConn in November, all the other games were in Memphis. Sorry, but playing home games does not prepare you for the NCAA tourney.

But, it still takes talent to win win win win and never lose (except to Tennessee). Heck, Duke lost games to teams that did not make the Dance. So did Carolina and most everyone else. Memphis didn't. Plus, since that tough games with Tennessee, Memphis has just been clobbering teams. Their current 7 game win streak features wins by 15, 9, 17, 38, 19, 16, and 26 points. They are beating everyone to a pulp.

So, someone make the case that this big, athletic, skilled team is such a bad Final Four pick.

-Jason "Help me understand" Evans

dynastydefender
03-18-2008, 09:58 AM
Someone explain to me why Bobby Knight picks Pitt to win the Championship. When I saw him make that prediction I felt two emotions...

Shock: I could not believe that BK was crazy enough to make that prediction

Humility: Maybe with all of his experience he is right. How crazy would that be?




I wanna know why everyone is so down on Memphis.

I had gone with Stanford but am starting to think I may switch because everyone seems to be picking against the Tigers.

My big concern is that Memphis is not at all battle-tested. Conference USA sucked this year -- it got just one bid, less than the Sun Belt and Mountain West conference. Frankly, there is a reason Memphis went unbeaten in conference play, they did not have to play anyone (even UAB was not all that good). While Memphis did play some very good teams in their non-conference slate, with the sole exception of the game at UConn in November, all the other games were in Memphis. Sorry, but playing home games does not prepare you for the NCAA tourney.

But, it still takes talent to win win win win and never lose (except to Tennessee). Heck, Duke lost games to teams that did not make the Dance. So did Carolina and most everyone else. Memphis didn't. Plus, since that tough games with Tennessee, Memphis has just been clobbering teams. Their current 7 game win streak features wins by 15, 9, 17, 38, 19, 16, and 26 points. They are beating everyone to a pulp.

So, someone make the case that this big, athletic, skilled team is such a bad Final Four pick.

-Jason "Help me understand" Evans

ice-9
03-18-2008, 10:01 AM
No deep analysis here -- I just think they'll have an exhausting, draining game against Pittsburgh which they'll narrowly win, and then to fall to a good, energized Texas team playing in Houston.

Plus their poor free throw shooting is bound to do them in against top competition like Texas, Pitt, Stanford, etc.

Troublemaker
03-18-2008, 12:25 PM
Yeah, for me, it's just Memphis' free throw shooting and their placement in the true toughest region around (would UNC want to trade places with Memphis? Heck no). Opponents just have to keep it close to stand a very good chance of beating Memphis at the end, and I see Memphis having to play 3 close games before the Final Four.

JasonEvans
03-18-2008, 04:34 PM
I still cannot believe that this board thinks Kentucky has as good a chance to win this region as Memphis does...

Less than 2 days left to vote in this poll.

-Jason

BCGroup
03-19-2008, 07:57 AM
Thanks for the reminder. I don't think Kentucky will win it--I voted for Texas because I'm also just not convinced about Memphis.

dynastydefender
03-19-2008, 09:25 AM
I still cannot believe that this board thinks Kentucky has as good a chance to win this region as Memphis does...

Less than 2 days left to vote in this poll.

-Jason

Friend....it's called team loyalty. I assure you in folks in Kentucky have thehave the Cats going to AT LEAST the sweet 16. It's a closed minded unrealistic optimism. It's funny but very real. I should know. I experienced it several times.

Seriously though. I don't think Pitt will win the region. Unless I am mistaken they were not even ranked entering the Big 10 Tourney.

Indoor66
03-19-2008, 10:01 AM
Friend....it's called team loyalty. I assure you in folks in Kentucky have thehave the Cats going to AT LEAST the sweet 16. It's a closed minded unrealistic optimism. It's funny but very real. I should know. I experienced it several times.

Seriously though. I don't think Pitt will win the region. Unless I am mistaken they were not even ranked entering the Big 10 Tourney.

When did Pitt leave the Big East Monster Conference join the Big Televen and make it the Twelve?

Chard
03-20-2008, 03:15 PM
Kentucky and Maquette have met a record 10 times in the NCAAs(including today).

pless55
03-20-2008, 08:19 PM
I think that Texas will wind up beating Pittsburgh in the regional final. I think that Blair and Sam Young will give Memphis all they can handle and beat Memphis. Then sharpshooters Augustin and Abrams with help from Damion James on the glass will go to the final four.

dynastydefender
03-21-2008, 12:28 PM
Now the sportswriters are saying UK has fallen from the Elite Ranks!

:( :( :( :(

Be careful Duke. I remember a Murray State (15 Seed) playing Duke (2 Seed) in 96 and taking them to the wire. Then the Devils went out in the second round.

Indoor66
03-21-2008, 09:35 PM
Tonight is the night. #16 beats #1! Texas Arlington beats Memphis - 67-61. You heard it here,

JasonEvans
03-22-2008, 06:18 AM
Tonight is the night. #16 beats #1! Texas Arlington beats Memphis - 67-61. You heard it here,

Dude, you were so close!! UT-Arl was only down by 14 at the half and lost by 24. They had a chance if they had had only hit their 3s. They were 4-for-13 from 3 but if they had only hit 13-for-13 those 9 extra threes would have given them 27 extra points and they would have won!! 9 more shots and they were there! So close!!!!!

--Jason "sorry if this post was hard to understand but I don't speak well with my tongue planted in my cheek like that ;) " Evans

BCGroup
03-22-2008, 08:22 AM
Now the sportswriters are saying UK has fallen from the Elite Ranks!


Honestly, I enjoy getting more sports coverage, but the downside of so much coverage is the tendency of writers and television commentators to create these HUGE news stories that are SO BAD! Staying on an even keel just doesn't make for good copy.

Indoor66
03-22-2008, 09:27 AM
Dude, you were so close!! UT-Arl was only down by 14 at the half and lost by 24. They had a chance if they had had only hit their 3s. They were 4-for-13 from 3 but if they had only hit 13-for-13 those 9 extra threes would have given them 27 extra points and they would have won!! 9 more shots and they were there! So close!!!!!

--Jason "sorry if this post was hard to understand but I don't speak well with my tongue planted in my cheek like that ;) " Evans

Damn, the mojo failed.

Chard
03-22-2008, 11:00 AM
The Canes advance. McClinton pours in 38 points! Next up? Texas. Ouch.

Chard
03-23-2008, 04:55 PM
Dang. Canes were right there but bow out to Texas.

Is anybody watching the Davidson/GT game? Curry is shooting GT right out of the tournament.