The Swamp

Watching the Selection show...was it previously announced that the first rounds were going to be on Saturday/Sunday instead of Thursday/Friday? Did they do that to accommodate the teams that had Covid issues during the conference tourneys?

Shirley: Looks like a UVA/Gonzaga game is likely in the Sweet 16...

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:21 pm Watching the Selection show...was it previously announced that the first rounds were going to be on Saturday/Sunday instead of Thursday/Friday? Did they do that to accommodate the teams that had Covid issues during the conference tourneys?

Weird...the other side of the bracket looks like its Friday/Sunday as normal.

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:21 pm Watching the Selection show...was it previously announced that the first rounds were going to be on Saturday/Sunday instead of Thursday/Friday? Did they do that to accommodate the teams that had Covid issues during the conference tourneys?

Shirley: Looks like a UVA/Gonzaga game is likely in the Sweet 16...

Yeah they moved it all back a day and I can’t remember the real reason.

A_B wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:33 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:21 pm Watching the Selection show...was it previously announced that the first rounds were going to be on Saturday/Sunday instead of Thursday/Friday? Did they do that to accommodate the teams that had Covid issues during the conference tourneys?

Shirley: Looks like a UVA/Gonzaga game is likely in the Sweet 16...

Yeah they moved it all back a day and I can’t remember the real reason.

Travel to Indy and COVID testing.

A_B wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:33 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:21 pm Watching the Selection show...was it previously announced that the first rounds were going to be on Saturday/Sunday instead of Thursday/Friday? Did they do that to accommodate the teams that had Covid issues during the conference tourneys?

Shirley: Looks like a UVA/Gonzaga game is likely in the Sweet 16...

Yeah they moved it all back a day and I can’t remember the real reason.

It might be to make sure every team can hit the "seven consecutive daily negative tests for everyone in the 34-member traveling party" qualification.

The NCAA even set additional rules for travel. Schools less than 350 miles away from Indianapolis are required to bus in, three buses per team for everything to keep social distancing, etc.

Gonzaga gets a 1 seed, but has 3 teams they already beat as 2-4 seeds..

I think it’s going to be a monster first weekend for the Big Ten teams. The level of play in their conference tournament looked orders of magnitude better than anyone else. And they are already at the tournament site more or less.

(That’s your cue to bet against them across the board.)

So, I see that my alma mater, Colorado State is one of the four teams designated as "standby" teams, in case some in the tourney have to bow out due to Covid issues.

What do you think are the odds that one, two, or all four of those teams actually get to replace other teams?

I doubt any of the standby teams will get in but I do figure some teams will have to forfeit once tourney starts.

Ok, but what if a team had to drop out this week before the first game. Help me out, here. If a team has Covid problems and drops out, does one of these four replace them AND TAKE THEIR SEED? (I mean, you can't change all the matchups on the fly, so what if, say, Gonzaga, had to drop out. Would Louisville become a #1 seed???)

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:42 pm Ok, but what if a team had to drop out this week before the first game. Help me out, here. If a team has Covid problems and drops out, does one of these four replace them AND TAKE THEIR SEED? (I mean, you can't change all the matchups on the fly, so what if, say, Gonzaga, had to drop out. Would Louisville become a #1 seed???)

I think the date is Tuesday for those teams. Anything past that will be a no contest forfeit. But yes, I think in your scenario that is what would happen.

sancarlos wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:42 pm Ok, but what if a team had to drop out this week before the first game. Help me out, here. If a team has Covid problems and drops out, does one of these four replace them AND TAKE THEIR SEED? (I mean, you can't change all the matchups on the fly, so what if, say, Gonzaga, had to drop out. Would Louisville become a #1 seed???)

That's how it is in tennis. Lucky loser!

A_B wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:39 pm I doubt any of the standby teams will get in but I do figure some teams will have to forfeit once tourney starts.

How many teams will play with a positive test player then after they lose it comes out that that he was positive and played against..

psunate77 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 8:01 pm

A_B wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:39 pm I doubt any of the standby teams will get in but I do figure some teams will have to forfeit once tourney starts.

How many teams will play with a positive test player then after they lose it comes out that that he was positive and played against..

If it happens it’s the NCAA fuckup not the team trying to game the system. The NCAA is in charge as of this evening.

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 5:21 pm Shirley: Looks like a UVA/Gonzaga game is likely in the Sweet 16...

I'm not looking that far ahead yet! (but yes, I was hoping for UVA to NOT be the #4 in Gonzaga's bracket. That said, I guarantee UVA would play them much better next time.)

UVA has to get by Ohio first, son.

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:58 amUVA has to get by Ohio first, son.

Avatar bet for a week, Shirley?

Sabo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:02 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:58 amUVA has to get by Ohio first, son.

Avatar bet for a week, Shirley?

Sure!

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:03 am

Sabo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:02 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:58 amUVA has to get by Ohio first, son.

Avatar bet for a week, Shirley?

Sure!

Buena suerte.

I was struck by the fact that they don't have game times yet. (At least as of the selection show yesterday.)

Just gives you a fuller sense of how much they are scrambling on this. They also mentioned game sites all over Indiana. Curious to see what that looks like.

And while it's looking way down the line, B1G teams that made a decent run are going to have a slight edge having played at Lucas Oil this weekend. Those stadium sightlines fuck with shooting, until you get used to it.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:20 am I was struck by the fact that they don't have game times yet. (At least as of the selection show yesterday.)

Just gives you a fuller sense of how much they are scrambling on this. They also mentioned game sites all over Indiana. Curious to see what that looks like.

First round game locations:

Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil hosts a lot of games, so plenty of teams will get the experience. All elite 8 games and final four are in Lucas Oil.

I know Virginia has a game time, so I assume they have them all worked out now.

Rex wrote: ↑Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:27 pm I think it’s going to be a monster first weekend for the Big Ten teams.

Yeah, how many times have I thought that to myself ...

I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000 when Michigan State won. My son was born the next year and is now a sophomore in college. That's the last time a Big Ten team won the title (although they have been runner-up an impressive 7 times).

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:31 am I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000 when Michigan State won. My son was born the next year and is now a sophomore in college. That's the last time a Big Ten team won the title (although they have been runner-up an impressive 7 times).

Illinois appears to be on a sixteen-year cycle of Final Four appearances, each time going one step farther.

So they're due to win the Championship this year.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:40 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:31 am I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000 when Michigan State won. My son was born the next year and is now a sophomore in college. That's the last time a Big Ten team won the title (although they have been runner-up an impressive 7 times).

Illinois appears to be on a sixteen-year cycle of Final Four appearances, each time going one step farther.

So they're due to win the Championship this year.

That 2005 team was really good. But they picked the wrong year to have that team, as Carolina was even gooder.

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:23 am I know Virginia has a game time, so I assume they have them all worked out now.

Yep

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... racket-pdf

down at the bottom, helpful game time and channel listing.

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:58 am UVA has to get by Covid first, son.

Fixed it for you.

I have Illinois vs. Iowa in the title game (with Illinois taking it all).

Here's Richard Deistch's annual column on the TV end of the tourney - more helpful than usual do to the Covid weirdness:

https://theathletic.com/2448900/2021/03 ... ers-guide/

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:42 am

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:40 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:31 am I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000 when Michigan State won. My son was born the next year and is now a sophomore in college. That's the last time a Big Ten team won the title (although they have been runner-up an impressive 7 times).

Illinois appears to be on a sixteen-year cycle of Final Four appearances, each time going one step farther.

So they're due to win the Championship this year.

That 2005 team was really good. But they picked the wrong year to have that team, as Carolina was even gooder.

I guess I'd have to yield to your way-superior expertise on that one. All I really know is that they came within about 5 seconds of an undefeated regular seasons.

I think the 1989 team was even better. They beat the "champion" two out of three times, by 12 and 16 points, with the 16-point win coming on the road.

Dee Brown was really fun to watch on that 05 Illinois team.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:44 pm I think the 1989 team was even better. They beat the "champion" two out of three times, by 12 and 16 points, with the 16-point win coming on the road.

That '89 team was a blast to watch. Fun fact: I was at that final four (at the Kingdome). While it fun to be there, having seats halfway up the 3rd deck of a domed stadium for a basketball game is ridiculous.

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 5:30 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:44 pm I think the 1989 team was even better. They beat the "champion" two out of three times, by 12 and 16 points, with the 16-point win coming on the road.

That '89 team was a blast to watch. Fun fact: I was at that final four (at the Kingdome). While it fun to be there, having seats halfway up the 3rd deck of a domed stadium for a basketball game is ridiculous.

I played basketball, very poorly, on the court from that final four (my gym in Redmond has the court installed in one of the gyms).

I drink regularly on a portion of the court from 97 meadowlands.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 6:02 pm

DaveInSeattle wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 5:30 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:44 pm I think the 1989 team was even better. They beat the "champion" two out of three times, by 12 and 16 points, with the 16-point win coming on the road.

That '89 team was a blast to watch. Fun fact: I was at that final four (at the Kingdome). While it fun to be there, having seats halfway up the 3rd deck of a domed stadium for a basketball game is ridiculous.

I played basketball, very poorly, on the court from that final four (my gym in Redmond has the court installed in one of the gyms).

Me too. Although I played super well.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:44 pm

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:42 am

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:40 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 10:31 am I went to the Final Four in Indianapolis in 2000 when Michigan State won. My son was born the next year and is now a sophomore in college. That's the last time a Big Ten team won the title (although they have been runner-up an impressive 7 times).

Illinois appears to be on a sixteen-year cycle of Final Four appearances, each time going one step farther.

So they're due to win the Championship this year.

That 2005 team was really good. But they picked the wrong year to have that team, as Carolina was even gooder.

I guess I'd have to yield to your way-superior expertise on that one. All I really know is that they came within about 5 seconds of an undefeated regular seasons.

Carolina and Illinois had nearly as large a gap over the #3 team that year as Gonzaga has over #2 this year.

Marvin williams ended up being the best pro but I'd put 2005 sean may and mccants and felton against any carolina trio. All three really perfect college talents at top of games.

This thread was on Page 2.

Anyway, about the Michigan Zone.

That's a pretty good take. I think he is missing a big component which is that a ton of MI fans are just checking out on the football team. I did this during the RichRod era, and I'm starting to do it again with Harbaugh. I'm not going to sit around for 3.5 hours on a beautiful Saturday to watch them shit the bed. I'll watch in on hyper speed or even just watch highlights.

HaulCitgo wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 9:48 pm Marvin williams ended up being the best pro but I'd put 2005 sean may and mccants and felton against any carolina trio. All three really perfect college talents at top of games.

Yeah, that's a good point. Unlike most great Carolina teams, they didn't turn out any great pros, but McCants, Felton, and May were all fantastic college players. You could put May's run in that tournament up against anyone's.