March Madness (free prize)

[HaemishM]

Texas and Wisconsin losing, as much as they hurt me, might end up being a blessing in disguise for me, as a lot of you guys seemed to have picked one of those two teams to go deep.

[WayAbvPar]

Lucky for Vandy that Taylor Rochestie was playing. He pretty much handed them the game with 2 utterly retarded plays in OT (one in each).

[Hoax]

Teams that don't have any real super athletes (read: the Badgers) need to play smart to win.  They completely forgot that rule and threw up so many ill-advised 3's at the end of that game...

I'm feeling pretty happy about how things have played out though, lots of schools I like still in it.  People saying omg big10 sux are idiots, Purdue and MSU both hung very tough against the best teams in the country, hell I think Purdue should have won if they just had a bit more firepower..

Some interesting matchups in this next round, looking forward to it.  The huge question is, how deep can Oregon go?  At any time they might go cold and blow it, also I can't wait for Gtown to be exposed, I think Hibbert is a fucking terrible big man.

[Abagadro]

also I can't wait for Gtown to be exposed, I think Hibbert is a fucking terrible big man.

Ok, you suck too. You also smell funny.

[Paelos]

Anyone else picture Abagadro swigging out of a bottle of Jack Daniels as he curses at these games?

Or is that just me?    :-D

[WayAbvPar]

He is probably extra-irritable because that bottle of Jack cost him double what it would cost if he didn't live in the Beehive State.

[Abagadro]

I'm old and "respectable" now, so I drink Blanton's Bourbon now instead of Jack (which actually was my drink of choice, straight from the bottle with coke chaser, back in the G-town days).

Pure hooch is actually pretty reasonable here. It's the good beer that is outrageously expensive and requires trips to Nevada.

[Paelos]

Georgetown advances on a completely horseshit play. The refs totally blew that call on a travel.

[Abagadro]

No ref is ever going to make that call with 7 seconds left and the guy is double teamed.  Heck, they won't even call a bump or hack unless it is egregious. You probably didn't even see it until the CBS guys started talking about it.

It evened out the multiple charges called under the basket (which I hadn't seen called all tourney) and Hibbert's BS 4th foul on a ticky-tack screen that completely altered the trajectory of the last 4 minutes.

[Paelos]

No ref is ever going to make that call with 7 seconds left and the guy is double teamed.  Heck, they won't even call a bump or hack unless it is egregious. You probably didn't even see it until the CBS guys started talking about it.

It evened out the multiple charges called under the basket (which I hadn't seen called all tourney) and Hibbert's BS 4th foul on a ticky-tack screen that completely altered the trajectory of the last 4 minutes.

You'd lose that bet. I never expected that shot to get off without a whistle for the travel, and if not the travel at the very least contact on the shooter which was also there. I'm not going to blame the game on it because that's armchair crap, but I've fucking had it with people ignoring the rules because time is elapsing. A foul is still a foul with a minute left in the game. I was not impressed at all with the officiating that entire game, including Hibbert's foul.

EDIT: Hell I'll go further than that. I've been pretty pissed at most of the officiating the tournament so far. I honestly wonder if they could recognize a travel or a real charge if they saw one.

[HaemishM]

North Carolina almost choked big time there. It took them almost the whole game to realize they were never going to hit anything farther out than about 10-15 feet. They were chucking it up there, though, tossing brick after brick up until they finally just took it to the hoop. Their shooting was total shit, but they won anyway. I was impressed with USC until they got exhausted. Then it was over, as they choked big time.

[Rasix]

EDIT: Hell I'll go further than that. I've been pretty pissed at most of the officiating the tournament so far. I honestly wonder if they could recognize a travel or a real charge if they saw one.

Ohio State would be watching the game at home if the officiating had been any bit consistent this entire tournament (that was an intentional foul, damnit).  Taking 1.1 seconds off a deflection that took maybe .2 seconds in the A&M game after looking at the replay for what seemed like 15 minutes (thanks too Acie Law for blowing that layup)? 

On that traveling non-call, only the pundits in the studio were crying about it.  People calling the action just didn't see it. People calling later games didn't see it.  I didn't see it until they slowed it down, zoomed in on his feet, and rewind-replayed like it was the Zapruder film.

[Abagadro]

Ya, the later commentators said no on that and it looked to me that his pivot foot was actually kicked by the defensive player.

The 1.1 second thing was accurate though. If you watch the reply it deflected off the dude's hand, bounced in bounds and then bounced about 4 feet into the stands before it actually hit out of bounds. I agree on the Oden foul though.

[Paelos]

I'm hoping for a solidly officiated game tonight with Ohio State and Memphis. Ohio State is a team on life-support barely pulling through at the last second. I believe Memphis will beat them unless something odd happens.

EDIT: Well so much for that plan. It appears any team I actually root for well be sacrificed to the basketball gods.

[HaemishM]

Kansas choked big time tonight. They couldn't hit anything, and that Afalo kid was fucking amazing. I did not expect the Bruins to be that good.

Ohio State just took over once Oden came in and the Memphis big men started having to foul him. Oden is way too graceful with his shots to be that big a man. Memphis kept hitting 3's but couldn't get inside.

[Abagadro]

HOYA SAXA!

[HaemishM]

Georgetown just took over in the last 5 minutes, and North Carolina probably did one of the worst choke jobs I've ever seen. After spending most of the game gobbling up offensive rebounds, it was like they didn't even want to try to work the boards anymore, like they could sit back and defend and it'd all be ok.

And WTF is with all the Hibbert love? He seemed to be in foul trouble most of the night, and when he did do anything, it didn't seem all the spectacular to me.

[Rasix]

And WTF is with all the Hibbert love? He seemed to be in foul trouble most of the night, and when he did do anything, it didn't seem all the spectacular to me.

He gets in foul trouble, because he seems to play with a certain immaturity.  He reaches in a LOT and on really odd plays.  He was doing this with 4 fouls, which was driving myself and the announcers nuts. 

Other than that.. the guy had like 7 blocks and at least 3 of them were when he had 4 fouls.  He can rebound, he can defend, he's got decent footwork, and good touch for a guy his size.  He keeps getting better every year too.  Small improvements that are turning him into someone that might actually make it in the NBA. 

The baffling thing about him is that t-shirt he wears under the uni?  Is he allergic to the uniform's fabric? Does he have a bizarre sweating disorder? Flabby arms? Obscene tattoos? Burned by acid?

I didn't think the Hoyas were going to win this one coming in after watching both teams play.  Luckily NC once again forgot how to run their offense and decided that shot selection is at best a "nice to have".  My friend the NC fanboi is probably seething at the moment.  I'm afraid to call him.

Edit: Hibbert's stat line - 13 pts, 11reb, 6blks, 4assts and a steal. Not shabby.

[HaemishM]

That's not a bad stat line. But for a big guy, I thought Florida's Horford, NC's Hanbrough (in the Hoya game, not the USC game), Oden and Florida's Noah all had better skills. Hell, his own teamate, Green, had a better game, IMO.

And did anyone watch the Florida/UCLA game? Was Lee Humphrey just shooting the lights out or what?

[Paelos]

I'll make some more predictions, so go ahead and bet the other way of whatever I pick. You'll probably win money.

Florida ends up beating UCLA because nobody beats Florida in the last 5 minutes. The game will be close as usual until 5 minutes left, and then Florida pulls away.
Ohio St. really showed up finally against Memphis and blew them apart. Georgetown is coming off a big OT win where they skunked UNC. I have to give the edge to Georgetown because I feel they want it more, but it's a close close call.

Florida v. Georgetown in the championship. Although, Florida v. Ohio State would make the ESPN analysts cream all over themselves with the football/basketball comparisons. One can only hope it doesn't come to that.

[WayAbvPar]

Florida ends up beating UCLA because nobody beats Florida in the last 5 minutes. The game will be close as usual until 5 minutes left, and then Florida pulls away.

I blame this on the fact that there is so much misinformation about transgendered people like Noah. No one understands it, so no one wants to guard him too closely.

[Hoax]

You sir, win this thread.  Bravo.

[Abagadro]

I think people are big on Hibbert because of teh Baby Huey factor. He plays ragged because he hasn't developed all the way yet but still does pretty darn well. The "upside" is potentially huge. He's also 7' 2" yet pretty athletic which doesn't come around much.

On the T-shirt thing, Patrick Ewing did the same thing. If my memory serves, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo did too. I think it is sort of a GU tradition for big men.

[Mortriden]

I'll second the call for solid officiating.  Having watched the Oregon/Florida game Noah got lots of call love.  Especially towards the end of the game. 

Of course if Lee hadn't been shooting the lights out (again, good god) and Porter had done more than just draw iron; it would have been a win the other direction.

[El Gallo]

I'm a big fan of the t-shirts.  Who wants armpit closeups on every free throw?  Good to see Pitt choke in the round of 16 again, some things really do never change.  Especially when you have a 7 footer up against a short but very physical defense who can't even get to the freethrow line.  Go Hoyas.

[Abagadro]

I'm thinking I may execute a "be happy either way" manuever with tomorrow's game because of the line. It appears to have settled with Ohio State +1. So if I take OSU there really isn't any way I can come away unhappy with the game that I can see. I just need to balance how happy I will be if GU wins to determine how much to bet.

[WayAbvPar]

That sounds like a formula for misery. I would go with your heart and then drink heavily if the Hoyas gag.

[Abagadro]

No, it executes quite well in the right circumstances. I use it all the time when BYU plays as I hate them. If GU wins, yay! If GU loses, money! If GU wins by 1, yay and only lose the vig!

[HaemishM]

If I've got this figured right, only Nebu and Runnin' Rebs can possibly beat me. Complete ignorance 4TW!

Hibbert looked better in that game, but Green being a non-factor is what killed the Hoyas.

[Triforcer]

Yay OSU! I want me some Florida revengeance. 

[Abagadro]

Green completely failed to show up. Oh well. Bad thing is I got so into my poker game last night that the sportsbook closed before I couldn't get my money in. Sadness. 

Will be fun watching Florida kick the crap out of OSU again for a title.

[HaemishM]

Welp, this pool is down to me vs. Nebu. If OSU wins, I win, if Florida wins, it's all Nebu. It's been a good tournament.

[Paelos]

Well Florida is going to be favored this time. That might lead to OSU's victory since they were so overrated in the last game.

My money would be on Florida though.

[Nebu]

Welp, this pool is down to me vs. Nebu. If OSU wins, I win, if Florida wins, it's all Nebu. It's been a good tournament.

I really would have rather seen a tournament where like a 7 or 9 seed won it all... still, it should be a good game.

[Paelos]

The more I look at the matchup and all the knobslobbing, "Basketball AND Football powerhouses" talk, and then the announcers comparing them to teams of the past, I'm just saying screw it at this point. I couldn't care less about this game and I HATE Florida.

I won't be watching one minute of this game.