March Madness Discussion (Men's Nat'l Championship Game: Mon 4/8: Purdue vs UCONN)

[UcanUwill]

Is UCONN game worth watching? My feed has it/

[jkvonny]

Zaga and Creighton aren't "small" basketball schools though.

Clemson Baylor is better. Bama Grand Canyon could be interesting because Bama is small and are poor in defense this year.

Oh, they are small lol. Compared to most Power Conference schools.

Def basketball schools tho. Benn for years/decades.

I'm a fan of Nate Oats coaching. But this year he went to uber small backcourt with Sears and Estrada, and Griffin. Two of whom are barely 6'. Basically 3 guards and 2 PFs. He lost a few players unexpectedly to the draft (Bediako) and in the transfer portal due to pot possession so he's rolling with whatever he got. He's getting more size on the perimeter next year, but they're gonna be young.

Agreed.

Also, this Grand Canyon /Bama game is pretty good so far!

[bwgood77]

NC State has been playing really really well lately. Late season momentum is one factor (they beat Duke and UNC on their way to winning SEC tourney). They've also been play tough defense. They got a good front court with size and athleticism who can stand up to bigger teams. And they have been playing with poise and maturity that I like. The team LOOKS well-coached despite the record.

Now they will need some luck to beat UConn or AZ. And UConn and AZ are better bets to win it all. But picking NC State is more fun. I think they can make it to elite 8 in this bracket if they continue to play well.

Well it probably helped playing Oakland in the 2nd round. I would say Marquette would be really tough but they did struggle with Colorado, who's fairly tough, but not that great. Houston seems like a different beast though (of course they'd still have to win today and beat Duke).

We're going to have trouble if we play Clemson with their 2 bigs and the way they slow the game down.

You think Baylor would be easier?

What makes Clemson tough to me is that teams that start a lot of seniors that have experience and have played together a while tend to do well. AZ starts 4 seniors and one sophomore. Clemson 4 seniors and one junior. These are the type of teams that usually more know what it takes and have more chemistry and experience in these tourneys.

Whereas often the schools with big name one and done freshman get upset early like Kentucky did.

Baylor does start two freshmen.

[jkvonny]

Is UCONN game worth watching? My feed has it/

Yes. Very good squad. Defending champs.

Also, Northwestern is a pretty good squad and fun to watch.

[Marrrcuss]

March Mid-ness continues.....

[jkvonny]

March Mid-ness continues.....

Don't be so harsh on your team (Lakers).

[___Rand___]

Oregon also wouldn't be in the tourney if they didn't win their conference championship. NC State either, who I see you picked to win it all. What made you pick them?

NC State has been playing really really well lately. Late season momentum is one factor (they beat Duke and UNC on their way to winning SEC tourney). They've also been play tough defense. They got a good front court with size and athleticism who can stand up to bigger teams. And they have been playing with poise and maturity that I like. The team LOOKS well-coached despite the record.

Now they will need some luck to beat UConn or AZ. And UConn and AZ are better bets to win it all. But picking NC State is more fun. I think they can make it to elite 8 in this bracket if they continue to play well.

Well it probably helped playing Oakland in the 2nd round. I would say Marquette would be really tough but they did struggle with Colorado, who's fairly tough, but not that great. Houston seems like a different beast though (of course they'd still have to win today and beat Duke).

I think you're underestimating Oakland. I think Oakland would have given any team not AZ UConn UNC (i.e. teams with big front courts) a real problem. That zone defense they run is extremely tough to break down. Yes they'd have to beat Marquette Duke/Houston. Im looking at Houston's injuries to be a factor but so far it hasn't hurt Houston yet so they may not survive Houston.

[jkvonny]

Is UCONN game worth watching? My feed has it/

Yes. Very good squad. Defending champs.

Also, Northwestern is a pretty good squad and fun to watch.

Well.... UConn is runnin all over Northwestern so far.

[___Rand___]

Clemson is choking... smh

[DirtybirdGA]

Clutch free throws by Clemson.

[UcanUwill]

Is UCONN game worth watching? My feed has it/

Yes. Very good squad. Defending champs.

Also, Northwestern is a pretty good squad and fun to watch.

Well.... UConn is runnin all over Northwestern so far.

Ugly game. At least they have nice looking WILSON basketball. That #0 suppose to be good, but he cant do anything.

[___Rand___]

Clutch free throws by Clemson.

by 56% free throw shooter!!! LMAO. He made all 4 in the final 30 seconds!

[Michael Doleac]

Ja'Kobe Walter

[azcatz11]

GCU is scrappy. Hope they pull this out

[Chuck Everett]

This is the worst I've ever done in the tournament. I just didn't see this much chalk happening after that regular season where no one could win on the road.

[Zeno]

GCU is scrappy. Hope they pull this out

Me too. But regardless, this game is awesome.

[Dan33185]

That kid screaming in the background is giving me a headache

[___Rand___]

GCU is scrappy. Hope they pull this out

Bama is in trouble. they were tight to start. when they're missing 3s, and too small to guard anyone, yeah that's a problem.

[___Rand___]

Bama played their best defense of the season in the last 4 minutes of that game to pull it out.

[jkvonny]

That was a good back and forth game between Grand Canyon and Bama.
Grand Canyon is really good and scrappy. Had a chance of a huge upset.
Growing program in the D-I.