2023 NCAAM Final Four Thread

[pfrduke]

Exactly what everyone predicted from the outset, right? Poll attached - prognosticate away!

[Saratoga2]

Who would have thought

Miami ACC
UCONN Big East
Fla Atl Conference USA
Saqn Diego St Mountain West

Not a team with a higher seed. SEC, Big 10, Big 12 all eliminated.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Who would have thought

Miami ACC
UCONN Big East
Fla Atl Conference USA
Saqn Diego St Mountain West

Not a team with a higher seed. SEC, Big 10, Big 12 all eliminated.

I'd be more inclined to rag the pundits if my own brackets weren't totally trash.

[JetpackJesus]

I voted with my heart, not my brain.

[MarkD83]

I'd be more inclined to rag the pundits if my own brackets weren't totally trash.

Yes but they get paid and are supposed to be experts...so rag away.

[tommy]

Kind of annoying that, at least IMO, we’re better than two of the FF and even with a third (Miami).

[kako]

Kind of annoying that, at least IMO, we’re better than two of the FF and even with a third (Miami).

I think there are at least 16 other teams that think the same thing. Not much can be said, though. These 4 teams won their games, the other 64 teams didn't.

9F

[Neals384]

For all the heat the ACC has taken, there’s this

Final four teams, 2022 and 2023

ACC - 3
Big East - 2
Big 12 - 1
Mtn West - 1
Conf USA - 1
B1G - 0
SEC - 0
Pac 12 - 0

[duke2x]

Who would have thought

Miami ACC
UCONN Big East
Fla Atl Conference USA
Saqn Diego St Mountain West

Not a team with a higher seed. SEC, Big 10, Big 12 all eliminated.

You can also add the P12 to that list. The only conference that is a surprise is the Big 12(-2) as I thought TX might be legitimate. If Mark Mitchell had only been healthy...

[kako]

I think:

SDSU over FAU.
Miami over UConn.

SDSU is a defense wins angle. I question their ability to score at times, but they seem to be able to do enough. And even though FAU has gotten this far, I just don't have confidence they can keep it going. BTW, this could be the lowest-rated FF game in a long time.
Miami over UConn is more emotional. Tough to ever pick UConn, and they have been rolling. Perhaps Larranaga's experience beats out Hurley's. Miami has just been playing so tough. It will be a battle with UConn. And I'm pretty sure the so-called experts will pick the winner of this game over the winner of the other game, regardess.

Miami over SDSU.

Again, somewhat emotional pulling for the ACC. But Miami is proving to have several weapons that get the job done. It may be an ugly game. People seem to doubt SDSU, but their defense is legit. Still, I picked Miami.

9F

[dukelifer]

I think:

SDSU over FAU.
Miami over UConn.

SDSU is a defense wins angle. I question their ability to score at times, but they seem to be able to do enough. And even though FAU has gotten this far, I just don't have confidence they can keep it going. BTW, this could be the lowest-rated FF game in a long time.
Miami over UConn is more emotional. Tough to ever pick UConn, and they have been rolling. Perhaps Larranaga's experience beats out Hurley's. Miami has just been playing so tough. It will be a battle with UConn. And I'm pretty sure the so-called experts will pick the winner of this game over the winner of the other game, regardess.

Miami over SDSU.

Again, somewhat emotional pulling for the ACC. But Miami is proving to have several weapons that get the job done. It may be an ugly game. People seem to doubt SDSU, but their defense is legit. Still, I picked Miami.

9F

I think UConn wins this. Too big, D is good and shooting is very good. Miami’s D is not good enough and that will be the difference. It could be a close game though.

[Steven43]

I think:

SDSU over FAU.
Miami over UConn.

SDSU is a defense wins angle. I question their ability to score at times, but they seem to be able to do enough. And even though FAU has gotten this far, I just don't have confidence they can keep it going. BTW, this could be the lowest-rated FF game in a long time.
Miami over UConn is more emotional. Tough to ever pick UConn, and they have been rolling. Perhaps Larranaga's experience beats out Hurley's. Miami has just been playing so tough. It will be a battle with UConn. And I'm pretty sure the so-called experts will pick the winner of this game over the winner of the other game, regardess.

Miami over SDSU.

Again, somewhat emotional pulling for the ACC. But Miami is proving to have several weapons that get the job done. It may be an ugly game. People seem to doubt SDSU, but their defense is legit. Still, I picked Miami.

9F

Do you think SDSU v Miami would be the least-watched national championship game ever? Sure, I would be watching, but I’m thinking about the fringe basketball fan.

[BigZ]

Do you think SDSU v Miami would be the least-watched national championship game ever? Sure, I would be watching, but I’m thinking about the fringe basketball fan.

UCONN doesn't have some big national fanbase either. It's like that whatever matchup happens will be the least watched title ever.

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

UCONN doesn't have some big national fanbase either. It's like that whatever matchup happens will be the least watched title ever.

I read this in Colin Cowherd's voice...

You SAY you want upsets, but the numbers DON'T LIE!!!

I'm gonna go be nauseous for awhile now.

[SouthernDukie]

UCONN doesn't have some big national fanbase either. It's like that whatever matchup happens will be the least watched title ever.

But never underestimate the biggest backer and national influencer that UConn has: ESPN. That network loves the Huskies and, I believe, has expanded the national fanbase exponentially over the last 20 to 25 years. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the woman’s program has been so dominant for so long either.

[uh_no]

UCONN doesn't have some big national fanbase either. It's like that whatever matchup happens will be the least watched title ever.

But never underestimate the biggest backer and national influencer that UConn has: ESPN. That network loves the Huskies and, I believe, has expanded the national fanbase exponentially over the last 20 to 25 years. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the woman’s program has been so dominant for so long either.

They're

1) not as small as you'd think, given the name recognition and enormous success of the two programs over the past 30 years. They're currently the 9th most "favorite" team on kenpom, though that has a big selection bias and is subject to bandwagonning.

2) very good at travelling. Hordes would show up when the women played at UNC or Duke.


There are a lot of people that like sports in the northeast, a lot of wealthy people who live in connecticut, a lot of sports fans with a void of schools to cheer for, and no professional sports in connecticut. I'm not saying they have the following of large land grant schools, but there are a lot of factors that make drive a following.

[Waynne]

I hope Miami wins it all because we beat them twice, but I voted for UConn because they're playing at such a high level. They've won all 4 of their tourney games by double digits, including that brutal beatdown of Gonzaga. Miami is better than Zaga so I expect Miami/UConn will be a good game.

[Duke79UNLV77]

Do you think SDSU v Miami would be the least-watched national championship game ever? Sure, I would be watching, but I’m thinking about the fringe basketball fan.

I still think it will do better numbers than 1939 Oregon over Ohio State.

[arnie]

I still think it will do better numbers than 1939 Oregon over Ohio State.

You including radio listeners as well? It’ll never do as well as the famous Cheat championship in the 20s.

[Matches]

You including radio listeners as well? It’ll never do as well as the famous Cheat championship in the 20s.

Yea most of America was glued to its collective seat as sophomore forward Leaky Black led the Heels to victory.