2014 March Madness NCAA Tourney thread!

for supposedly being the #2 overall seed, Wichita State drew the toughest region by far. (imho)

just gonna sit back and root for the improbable undefeated run to the title.

the odds are stacked against us...

My Final Four matchups:
Kansas vs. Wisconsin
Iowa State vs. Wichita State.

The Championship:
Kansas vs. Wichita State = SHOCKERS winning it all!!

Good opportunity for me to learn somethimg here, as I only have a vague idea as to what's going on.

Am I right in thinking that there is a College League with teams from all over, and this is all taken pretty seriously?

Yes, Lordy.

I haven't entered the brackets - for example, on yahoo.com - too late now, except for this thread. Haven't even looked at teams yet (except for the University of New Mexico Lobos and the news about the tough schedule of the very good Wichita State (all sorts of immediate challenges from other good teams)...
because I'm all caught up in baseball fantasy game decision making.

Ooh, I'll go and find a list and pick four, just to see how a complete idiot fares.....

You could be surprised - sometimes us idiots do well enough.

OK, so far I've gleaned that there are four areas/regions....mid west, west, south and east.

I'm presuming (from the bracket diagram) that I have to select one team from each.
I shall be back with my selections in a mo, and will probably make people snort their coffee by picking some backwoods no hopers, but never mind...

Back soon.

I don't remember (doh!) Tico or others will verify. I'm about to hit the baseball websites.

North Carolina
Duke
Arizona
UCLA.




No sniggering at the back Tico.

That's quite true. They are in the toughest bracket, and many around these parts are predicting they won't make it out of the second round when then will likely face Kentucky (assuming things go as planned), a former #1 team this year, and if they win that anticipated matchup, they would likely have to face Louisville, last year's champion, in the Sweet Sixteen, and if they happen to win that, they would perhaps face Michigan or Duke in the Great Eight round. Tough, tough road. But as a complete homer, I have faith! 40-0, baby!!

Of course it would be cool if Kansas won too!!

<snort>

Actually, not horrible picks. I don't follow college basketball in depth, but each of the teams you listed are either current or former powerhouses. Who the hell knows. Of your picks, I think Arizona has the best chance to win the title, if they can sneak past Wisconsin.

As deadly serious as Brits and their love for Premier League.

UCLA will be one of mine, once I get to it - for sentiment; don't know where they are on the favored ratings. Also UNM Lobos, thinking they're something like 9th. Oddly, in contrast to football and baseball teams, I'm on the sentimental curve re basketball. I went to UCLA when Wooden was there, nuff said. It was also very close to free back then, thus I could go. $19.00 the first semester, going up to $26.00 the next, ending at a whopping $76.00 at graduation.

Bliimey!

Are these guys paid? Or is it a way of getting a good college place for free/subsidised arrangements.

I saw the Harlem Globetrotters when I was almost a teenager, and played three gsmes at school. I was in the school rugby team and football...er...soccer team and had to go out and kick and punch people whilst getting covered in mud and blood, whilst my mates were back indoors, nice and warm chucking a ball about.

I must admit to enjoying the watching of it though, on the telling vision.

It's the NBA's version of the minor league but the player's are paid. In theory, it's " a way of getting a good college place for free/subsidised arrangements."

But like the SuperBowl, the NCAA Tourney makes a hell of a lot of money for their respective team colleges , for the NCAA, and the TV networks that broadcast the games.

Harvard upsets 5th-seed Cincinnati 61-57
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens-basketball/2014/03/20/harvard-upsets-seed-cincinnati/XSALCKHCOEWg44ermBvMaK/story.html

Didn't you mean aren't paid?

Yes, I believe it's illegal to pay for players to play other then scholarships, etc....

Duke's upset loss to #14 Mercer is a kick in my bracket's stomach. ((Blerg))