2023 March Madness Thread

Pruitt IV · Post by **Pruitt IV** » Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:05 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:53 pm
sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Mar 16, 2023 1:52 pm Sorry, Shirley.

(but, what a shot!)
No idea what that UVA player was thinking with the downcourt heave...

The broadcast crew couldn't believe it either...

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:35 pm

Kevin Harlan’s the best.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Mon Mar 20, 2023 4:51 pm

I have to believe Tony Bennett didn't instruct his players to burn the last timeout should they find themselves in a backcourt trap like that 5th year senior did.

I feel badly for that guy (not Bennett).

Post by **brian** » Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:10 pm

Al Queda pulling off 9/11 was like a 16 seed beating a 1 seed.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:42 am

Brian, was that a Bill Simmons impersonation? Because that's the only way that joke could've landed.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:45 am

Dennis Miller but with newfound brevity.

Post by **Shirley** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:22 am

I hate you guys

rass · Post by **rass** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:31 am

Too soon?

Post by **brian** » Tue Mar 21, 2023 3:01 pm

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:42 am Brian, was that a Bill Simmons impersonation? Because that's the only way that joke could've landed.

More like Larry King but sure that was the idea.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:12 pm

K-State kid gonna be a legend of they win this game.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:39 pm

Almost…

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:44 pm

Big time jinx right here.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 7:52 pm

These guys watched the WBC

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:02 pm

That was awesome. Made me make all sorts of sounds down here that everyone upstairs made fun of.

Jerloma · Post by **Jerloma** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:03 pm

I've never seen 4 separate guys on the same play so terrified to take a shot like that.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:19 pm

Yeah? Last kid maybe but the rest seemed like finding better options / not forcing themselves.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 8:28 pm

Arkansas won the SEC tournament? I mean, Black is good, but this is an incomplete roster. No height, not much depth at all. If UConn had an actual PG, they'd be up 40 points.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:18 pm

Arkansas won one game in the SEC tournament

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:35 pm

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:18 pm Arkansas won one game in the SEC tournament

So why were they an 8 seed? They had no depth.

Eta I see I already said how much UConn would've won that game.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:44 pm

conference tournaments largely don't have much to do with seeding, Arkansas played much of the season without Nick Smith and ranks No. 22 in KenPom

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:05 pm

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:44 pm conference tournaments largely don't have much to do with seeding, Arkansas played much of the season without Nick Smith and ranks No. 22 in KenPom

They were 1-5 vs SEC ranked opponents. I get that they were banged up, but so what? They played like they were 3 men down and were completely overmatched by a 4 seed.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:33 pm

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:05 pm
Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:44 pm conference tournaments largely don't have much to do with seeding, Arkansas played much of the season without Nick Smith and ranks No. 22 in KenPom
They were 1-5 vs SEC ranked opponents. I get that they were banged up, but so what? They played like they were 3 men down and were completely overmatched by a 4 seed.

And, they also beat a #1 seed. So, I guess the UConn game or the KU game, taken individually, shouldn’t define them.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:36 pm

and Arkansas is the chaos theory personified in a basketball team. they can play with anyone but are also very capable of putting up a stinker -- and sometimes ride the rollercoaster in the same game like in the loss to Texas A&M in the SEC tournament

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:42 pm

sancarlos wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:33 pm
EnochRoot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:05 pm
Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 9:44 pm conference tournaments largely don't have much to do with seeding, Arkansas played much of the season without Nick Smith and ranks No. 22 in KenPom
They were 1-5 vs SEC ranked opponents. I get that they were banged up, but so what? They played like they were 3 men down and were completely overmatched by a 4 seed.
And, they also beat a #1 seed. So, I guess the UConn game or the KU game, taken individually, shouldn’t define them.

Or, their 8-10 regular season, 1-5 vs top 25 teams?

Whatever. They were a shallow team that didn't warrant that high of a seed.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:55 pm

Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:36 pm and Arkansas is the chaos theory personified in a basketball team. they can play with anyone but are also very capable of putting up a stinker -- and sometimes ride the rollercoaster in the same game like in the loss to Texas A&M in the SEC tournament

I think this proves my point. If this were an A-10 team, they would've missed the tournament. If they were a Big East team? an 11-12 seed.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:18 am

Wow...that definitely ranks up there for ballsy shots..

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:28 am

EnochRoot wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:55 pm
Brontoburglar wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:36 pm and Arkansas is the chaos theory personified in a basketball team. they can play with anyone but are also very capable of putting up a stinker -- and sometimes ride the rollercoaster in the same game like in the loss to Texas A&M in the SEC tournament
I think this proves my point. If this were an A-10 team, they would've missed the tournament. If they were a Big East team? an 11-12 seed.

I'll go with KenPom.com or even the NCAA's own NET ratings that have Arkansas at No. 21

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:20 am

Man, some great games last night. The Tournament always delivers.

Two of the ballsiest plays I've ever seen. A long-range reverse-dunk alley-oop in the final minute of a tied game in overtime of the Sweet Sixteen? Jesus.

And then that Strawther shot. That's an all-time No, no, no, no, YES! Shot. It was a such a bad decision to shoot from that deep, but he made it, so all's well!

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:38 am

Oh, and that dude told Isiah Thomas "watch this" before he went down and threw they alley oop. Holy shit.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:15 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:20 am And then that Strawther shot. That's an all-time No, no, no, no, YES! Shot. It was a such a bad decision to shoot from that deep, but he made it, so all's well!

In the post-game, Mark Few talked about how they called it the "Jay Wright" play...the same that Villanova ran to win the championship a few years ago. And they ran it against BYU to win the game earlier this season.

Shouldn't have gone down to that...4 missed free throws and a pass to no one sailed out of bounds in the last 90 seconds is not good.

Reaper · Post by **Reaper** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:44 am

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:15 am
Shirley wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 8:20 am And then that Strawther shot. That's an all-time No, no, no, no, YES! Shot. It was a such a bad decision to shoot from that deep, but he made it, so all's well!
In the post-game, Mark Few talked about how they called it the "Jay Wright" play...the same that Villanova ran to win the championship a few years ago. And they ran it against BYU to win the game earlier this season.

Shouldn't have gone down to that...4 missed free throws and a pass to no one sailed out of bounds in the last 90 seconds is not good.

I don't know how none of the announcers talked about it. It was clear as day that it was the exact same play.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:13 pm

Yes, but Jenkins's shot was 3-4 feet closer, at the buzzer, and in a tie game. Little risk to taking that shot.

Strawther was 3-4 feet further away, had 9 more seconds to get a better look, and they were down one and didn't need a three. Great shot, no doubt, but it wasn't the wisest basketball play.

I was happy for Timme that his missed free throws didn't cost them the game. He was so good otherwise.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:31 pm

Shirley wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 12:13 pm I was happy for Timme that his missed free throws didn't cost them the game. He was so good otherwise.

Yeah, that would have been a horrible way for his career to end.

Dude is such a great college player. Its a shame that his game just doesn't translate to the NBA.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:50 pm

I think It's smart play design in that situation - low % shot, but chance for a big rebound (or foul and extend game). So often teams wait for a 'good' shot that never comes.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:13 pm

I missed the game as we were having dinner at the Eiffel Tower at Paris LV, but the moment we came out of the elevator, we heard a massive roar coming from the sports book about 50 feet away. So a fun way to catch the reaction.

Zags and UCLA need to be put in the same bracket from now until time immemorial.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 2:48 pm

degenerasian wrote: ↑Fri Mar 24, 2023 1:50 pm I think It's smart play design in that situation - low % shot, but chance for a big rebound (or foul and extend game). So often teams wait for a 'good' shot that never comes.

I mean, it worked, sure, but even for a good shooter, that shot has, at best a 30% chance of going in. If he misses, you might get the rebound, but that's a tough gamble, especially when at least 2 of your players are 25 feet away.

Again, they were only down 1. A drive to the basket is a higher probability play - you can score and/or get fouled. Also, they shot too early. UCLA had a good chance to steal it.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:59 pm

I love when Karma works out...

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:35 pm

With Alabama kicked to the curb, and Houston pissing away a final four home court advantage, I can't help but think the UConn / Gonzaga game tomorrow night portends the NCAAT champion.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:57 pm

All the teams left have four titles among them. All belong to UConn.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Fri Mar 24, 2023 11:21 pm

After the Mountain West’s recent failures, I’m happy to see them last longer this year than the 40 teams from the SEC and Big 10. Go, Aztecs!