RealGM

This is the discussion thread of games in the East Region.

This is Pittsburgh's region to lose. No doubt they are the most talented and best team. My concern is whether they can keep Blair out of foul trouble. If he's off the floor they are a different team, and very beatable. I expect any of the teams in this region that are 10-seeds and higher could challenge Pitt of they get Blair off the floor.

A very intriguing matchup is the potential Pitt-FSU in the Sweet 16. Toney Douglas has been playing amazing, and is also an outstanding defender. Fields can have trouble handling pressure and has also had back problems of late (though supposedly that's no longer an issue). If FSU can win the PG matchup they could actually take the game, despite having huge disadvantages at SF and C.

Irrational Duke hatred aside, I think they are in decent shape in this bracket. The only other high seed who really poses matchup problems for them is Pitt (and by the time you reach the Elite 8 any remaining team will be pretty good). A Duke-Villanova game would be extremely entertaining, and is basically a tossup.

Darkhorse for this region is UCLA. They just have such an efficient offense. The Collison-Maynor matchup in the opening round could be outstanding, but I expect UCLA to survive simply because they are all-around more talented. After that, they have the tools to take down 'Nova and Duke, and if playing up to the level they are capable could even challenge Pitt.

Congratulations to Binghamton, making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament. I say they beat Duke.

As a Duke fan the bracket couldn't have possibly set up worse. They got the one 1 seed they have absolutely no chance of beating and IMO the most dangerous 3 seed in the tourney. Texas -> Villa -> Blair...ouch.

I still think they make the elite 8 but I can't see them doing well against Pitt. They would need to get Blair in serious foul trouble early and even then it'll be tough. Pitt will probably roll through their first round match up and then Tenn and while FSU is good I see Pitt pulling away to win comfortably in the second half.

At the bottom I think we're looking at Duke-Villa. I don't see Duke being challenged before that and I don't see UCLA beating Villanova, I just think they're overrated. However, I''m definately not buying the whole VCU over UCLA trendy upset pick. I think a lot of people are going to get sucked in by that but its not going to happen.

So Pitt over FSU and Duke over Villanova in a squeaker with Pitt going to Detroit.

as a Binghamton alum, i gotta go with the upset. Duke who?

While it is unlikely, Binghamton has the firepower to pull off this upset. (one of the few midmajor teams that actually is a candidate imo) DJ Rivera is an outstanding scorer and Tiki Mayben (the UMass transfer) keeps getting better and better.

It would not be the greatest shock in the world considering Duke's near loss to Belmont a year ago.

Still, while I think it may be closer than some expect, you have to go with the Blue Devils imo. Just too talented.

I have Duke losing in the East Regional final to Pitt, I'm a Duke fan and I think we could have had a worse draw and can't really complain!

Nova down 10 to American at the half. WTF?

Da Schwab wrote:Nova down 10 to American at the half. WTF?

And in Philly too. But American almost knocked off Tennessee last year in the first round as a #15 seed.

Corey Stokes has been terrible in this game. Nova is simply not attacking the basket. Their perimeter D isn't there either.

I originally picked American in the RealGM brackets, but chickened out at the last second. That looks like it will end up being the good kind of chicken. Carr has been very impressive, though. Nova always has great talent, but I don't trust their coaching.

I picked UCLA to get to the Sweet 16 (not because they're good, but I thought they were just a bit better than VCU/Nova), but still, I'd love to see VCU win this.

UCLA are home

Duke wins 86-62.

these refs mustve had VCU winning in their brackets.
sanders is ratliff jr or maybe another birdman.

Collison is better than Maynor. Can't believe CBS said Maynor was the best player on the court.

Damn VCU. My bracket went to hell this last 3-4 hours.

T-Mac United wrote:Collison is better than Maynor. Can't believe CBS said Maynor was the best player on the court.

Were we watching the same game?

jman3134 wrote:

T-Mac United wrote:Collison is better than Maynor. Can't believe CBS said Maynor was the best player on the court.

Were we watching the same game?

lol That's what I'm thinking, Maynor dominated that game down the stretch until that last play when Collison D'ed up. If Maynor could of gotten a better screen up top and gotten in the lane for his floater, it would of been game over but oh well

Hopefully Nova keeps playing like they did yesterday, it makes me feel a lot better about my Dukies chances.

And thank god I stayed away from that VCU upset pick. My bracket is teetering on the edge of disaster right now.