2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

[DaveInSeattle]

someone check on Shirley....

I can't believe what I just saw.

[EnochRoot]

UVA is the fraud-iest we always knew they were. Sleep tight.

[degenerasian]

This is the upset Twitter was made for. We have...

- The 16 seed with an acronym as its name, leading to many puns and memes
- The team mascot being a dog, so more puns and memes
- Tony Bennett is the losing coach, so even more puns and memes
- The guy running UMBC's Twitter must be drunk, and it's amazing

[DSafetyGuy]

Any guesses at the odds of the first 16 seed to beat a one-seed doing so by 20 points?

[rass]

That was great.

[Pruitt]

Astounding.

Probably the record for beating the point spread as well. 41.5 points.

[EnochRoot]

This is the upset Twitter was made for. We have...

- The 16 seed with an acronym as its name, leading to many puns and memes
- The team mascot being a dog, so more puns and memes
- Tony Bennett is the losing coach, so even more puns and memes
- The guy running UMBC's Twitter must be drunk, and it's amazing

I’d have been hammered by halftime. If I thought they had a chance of coming back, I’d have dismissed it and drank less but still drank.

Translated: I’d need a freaking wheelbarrow.

[Pruitt]

I mean, look at these good boys!



Love it.

[Nonlinear FC]

UVa just fucking lost the plot in the second half. I mean, earlier, sure, but not so much that in the first half you could see them using their athletic prowess to overpower.

But that second half was borderline embarrassing for UVa. Brutal.

[DSafetyGuy]

Syracuse has held TCU without a field goal for just shy of nine minutes (and counting).

They have outscored TCU 10-6 in that time.

For your safety (and sanity), please do not watch.

[brian]

Good point. Absolute complete mental breakdown. Bennett’s coaching career is done. I’m not joking. He’ll never live this down. He would have to win two national titles.

[DSafetyGuy]

First 2-seed to lose to a 15-seed? Syracuse.

Off. The. Hook. Forever.

ETA: And the largest margin of loss among the eight 2-seeds to lose to a 15-seed was 13 points.

[Pruitt]

UVa just fucking lost the plot in the second half. I mean, earlier, sure, but not so much that in the first half you could see them using their athletic prowess to overpower.

But that second half was borderline embarrassing for UVa. Brutal.

They looked like a beaten team early. Absolutely shocking performance.

[A_B]

Attendance seems to be terrible at every venue.

[brian]

Attendance seems to be terrible at every venue.

They play 4 games and 60 percent of the tickets end up bought by one team. Can’t blame some ppl for hanging out until midnight.

[The Sybian]

I guess there was another game after the Buffalo game?

[Rush2112]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

I think they have a little chutzpah left over from their AEC run. I believe they had lost to Vermont 23 straight times (it may be 33) and beat them on a 40 ft three....so playing for broke just like Vermont did when they beat Syracuse 15+ years ago.

[psunate77]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

But the history involved here... Again, no offense, but this is amazing to watch. And to have a little local flavor adds to the experience.

Wouldn't shock me if Kstate beat UMBC by 30, UMBC shot lights out.

But wouldn't shock me if UMBC beat K State, especially if they shoot like that again.

[sancarlos]

And, (way upthread), yes, the tournament tries to "protect" the top four seeds in each regional by keeping them close to home. Frankly, there should have been a way to get both Michigan State and Michigan to play in Detroit.

Hmm. I see that applied in some cases, such as #4 seed Gonzaga going only 400 miles. But, #4 seed Wichita State traveled 1,300 miles. #4 seed Arizona traveled 1,000 miles.

But, enough on that. I really hope Shirley is ok. I’d be devastated if I was in his shoes.

[bfj]

I can claim UMBC because it’s the very first college I ever dropped out of, right?

[TT2.0]

condolences dave. thats brutal to take

[Joe K]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

Obviously UMBC shot really well in the second half, but the ultra slow-paced style of play UVA employs (dead last in tempo, per KenPom) is ideal for creating the conditions for surprising upsets in a single elimination format. Any team can and will have random hot stretches, but the more possessions in a game, the more likely that the better team will emerge on top. Also, a fast paced game would generally favor the deeper and more athletic team which, one would think would always be the 1-seed in a 1/16 matchup. Basically, as I saw pointed out by an NBA writer on Twitter last night, UVA plays, stylistically, like a 16 seed should. That surely helps them vs. teams like UNC and Duke but isn't great when you face a UMBC team that gets in the zone for a half.

[Pruitt]

Attendance seems to be terrible at every venue.

The Midwest Regional played in San Diego featured two teams from South Carolina, Auburn and New Mexico State (700 miles away). Not much local interest there.

[HaulCitgo]

As least they didn't get Navy in the first round. Might have lost by 42.

[A_B]

Attendance seems to be terrible at every venue.

The Midwest Regional played in San Diego featured two teams from South Carolina, Auburn and New Mexico State (700 miles away). Not much local interest there.

True. And I guess I’m not a typical college basketball fan but every time I’ve had tourney tickets I’ve watched both games of my session. Granted, half he time my team was one of the game but twice I went to Rupp when it was here and uk had to be elsewhere. But apples and oranges for sand Diego v Lexington on college basketball interest

[DSafetyGuy]

And, (way upthread), yes, the tournament tries to "protect" the top four seeds in each regional by keeping them close to home. Frankly, there should have been a way to get both Michigan State and Michigan to play in Detroit.

Hmm. I see that applied in some cases, such as #4 seed Gonzaga going only 400 miles. But, #4 seed Wichita State traveled 1,300 miles. #4 seed Arizona traveled 1,000 miles.

But, enough on that. I really hope Shirley is ok. I’d be devastated if I was in his shoes.

Well, I did say they try to and they protect the higher seeds first. They also have to do more important things like keep conference matchups from not being possible until the Elite Eight unless the conference gets nine teams in, in which case, they keep potential matchups limited to the Sweet Sixteen.

Another factor I imagine for lots of fans is they have to decide if it is worth the expense of traveling on a couple days' notice if their team might lose in the first round. Some fans of higher-seeded teams probably also are waiting to go the Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight games if their team advances (make a hotel reservation they can cancel and keep an eye on flights).

I went to a Sweet Sixteen once (free tickets, drove with a friend to Phoenix, stayed at his dad's place). The local alumni club had a pre-game gathering, so we didn't go to the arena until around the end of the first game (we didn't care to see UConn crush - looks online - Vanderbilt). I imagine many other fans only have an interest in watching their team in the first round, especially when they can go to a bar and enjoy the tournament as a whole.

[Nonlinear FC]

Salt in the Wound Pt. Infinity: UMBC's head coach (Odom) is like a slightly hungover version of Bennett. Who is Westworld-level handsome.

[EnochRoot]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

Obviously UMBC shot really well in the second half, but the ultra slow-paced style of play UVA employs (dead last in tempo, per KenPom) is ideal for creating the conditions for surprising upsets in a single elimination format. Any team can and will have random hot stretches, but the more possessions in a game, the more likely that the better team will emerge on top. Also, a fast paced game would generally favor the deeper and more athletic team which, one would think would always be the 1-seed in a 1/16 matchup. Basically, as I saw pointed out by an NBA writer on Twitter last night, UVA plays, stylistically, like a 16 seed should. That surely helps them vs. teams like UNC and Duke but isn't great when you face a UMBC team that gets in the zone for a half.

It seems to me rather one dimensional of Bennett to be essentially producing an offense capable of executing one style of play, because as you mentioned: the reason you want to get out there and run v inferior opponents is because they’re never deep enough, and probably don’t have the legs to match at the start anyway.

[Joe K]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

Obviously UMBC shot really well in the second half, but the ultra slow-paced style of play UVA employs (dead last in tempo, per KenPom) is ideal for creating the conditions for surprising upsets in a single elimination format. Any team can and will have random hot stretches, but the more possessions in a game, the more likely that the better team will emerge on top. Also, a fast paced game would generally favor the deeper and more athletic team which, one would think would always be the 1-seed in a 1/16 matchup. Basically, as I saw pointed out by an NBA writer on Twitter last night, UVA plays, stylistically, like a 16 seed should. That surely helps them vs. teams like UNC and Duke but isn't great when you face a UMBC team that gets in the zone for a half.

It seems to me rather one dimensional of Bennett to be essentially producing an offense capable of executing one style of play, because as you mentioned: the reason you want to get out there and run v inferior opponents is because they’re never deep enough, and probably don’t have the legs to match at the start anyway.

Yup. I don’t think Roy Williams is a great tactician by any stretch but his teams are usually tough outs in the tourney because they consistently push the pace and few teams have the horses to keep up with UNC talent for 40 minutes of up-tempo basketball.

[EnochRoot]

I do feel bad for Dave. It fucking sucks to run into a random buzzsaw. I don't know if UMBC = George Mason. But that team was insane in term of its FG percentage and NO ONE could've stopped them.

Obviously UMBC shot really well in the second half, but the ultra slow-paced style of play UVA employs (dead last in tempo, per KenPom) is ideal for creating the conditions for surprising upsets in a single elimination format. Any team can and will have random hot stretches, but the more possessions in a game, the more likely that the better team will emerge on top. Also, a fast paced game would generally favor the deeper and more athletic team which, one would think would always be the 1-seed in a 1/16 matchup. Basically, as I saw pointed out by an NBA writer on Twitter last night, UVA plays, stylistically, like a 16 seed should. That surely helps them vs. teams like UNC and Duke but isn't great when you face a UMBC team that gets in the zone for a half.

It seems to me rather one dimensional of Bennett to be essentially producing an offense capable of executing one style of play, because as you mentioned: the reason you want to get out there and run v inferior opponents is because they’re never deep enough, and probably don’t have the legs to match at the start anyway.

Yup. I don’t think Roy Williams is a great tactician by any stretch but his teams are usually tough outs in the tourney because they consistently push the pace and few teams have the horses to keep up with UNC talent for 40 minutes of up-tempo basketball.

It’s what made Calhoun’s UConn teams so tough to play, too. Well, that and they always seemed to have the best guard on the floor.

[Nonlinear FC]

Just to hammer that point home, UMBC was absolutely gassed half way through the second half. Their star player had to sit out due to leg cramps.

I don't want to put too much on Bennett, because that takes away from a brilliant Retriever performance.

But, I mean, c'mon. That game was screaming for UVa to push the tempo.

[HaulCitgo]

Carolina ain't the example. Sure if you get the pick of recruits you can run people off the floor. But it's a much tougher call if you generally have less or equal talent and athletism vs your league. Huggins generally gets it done, even then it's still more defense oriented than Roy and those results are good not necessarily great. Shaka smart? But yeah. You need to do both or at least have it in the bag.

[brian]

Reading through this thread it someone seems inevitable in retrospect that UMBC would win.

[degenerasian]

On one side

A bettor at Las Vegas sportsbook operator CG Technology on Friday placed a $20,000 money-line parlay on three heavy favorites in the NCAA tournament for a chance to win a net $870.

The bet: North Carolina, Purdue and ... Virginia.

The other side

[Joe K]

Carolina ain't the example. Sure if you get the pick of recruits you can run people off the floor. But it's a much tougher call if you generally have less or equal talent and athletism vs your league. Huggins generally gets it done, even then it's still more defense oriented than Roy and those results are good not necessarily great. Shaka smart? But yeah. You need to do both or at least have it in the bag.

You’re sort of missing my point. As I mentioned in my post, UVA’s slow paced style is a very good strategy against more athletic ACC teams like Duke and UNC. But playing that way makes it more likely to lose to a less talented underdog like UMBC. It’s the inverse to what drives me nuts about Ty Lue’s coaching against the Super Warriors. It’s a good strategy for the Cavs to play fast against their Eastern Conference opponents, but it’s suicidal to try to beat the Warriors in a game played in the 120s.

[tennbengal]

Buffalo warming up from 3. And hitting 40 footers.

[rass]

What a winning shot for Loyola Chi. Balls.

[brian]

I had Loyola in the Sweet 16.

[sancarlos]

So, as Loyola is celebrating on the TV screen, my wife walks in the room and says, "So, is March Madness finally over, now?"

[A_B]

I had Loyola in the Sweet 16.

Me too