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

[DirtybirdGA]

I see NC state isn't screwing around.

[azcatz11]

Marquette reminds me of Arizona last night…both pathetic shooting displays

[2weekswithpay]

Purdue is getting wide open 3s

[___Rand___]

I may roll with your picks...feel like everyone is going to be on NC State...but I like the Marquette pick...

Marquette is such a better team overall. And I do think sooner or later this run State is on is going to come to an end.

But I will say, they do have 2 things going for them. Crazy high confidence with how theyve been playing over the last month. And Im not sure how Marquette is going to matchup with Burns. Marquette is a tiny team. Are they going to put Oso on him to start the game? He's 6'8 and maybe 215. He's going to get pushed around by Burns, or worst case scenario he gets into early foul trouble. And if they double him, Burns is a damn good passing big man.

I think that game is decided in the first 10 minutes of the game. If State is still in it at that point, I think they will be in it for the rest of the game. If Marquette is up by double digits, they will cruise.

Isn't Oso 6'11" 235? Oso is big, and they have 2 pretty good 3 point shooters. Wolfpack's been defending well. Neither team plays fast. NC State doesn't turn over the ball that much. So this match up will be interesting. I think it could be a close one through out.

I called this game. It is entertaining!

[azcatz11]

Marquette is such a better team overall. And I do think sooner or later this run State is on is going to come to an end.

But I will say, they do have 2 things going for them. Crazy high confidence with how theyve been playing over the last month. And Im not sure how Marquette is going to matchup with Burns. Marquette is a tiny team. Are they going to put Oso on him to start the game? He's 6'8 and maybe 215. He's going to get pushed around by Burns, or worst case scenario he gets into early foul trouble. And if they double him, Burns is a damn good passing big man.

I think that game is decided in the first 10 minutes of the game. If State is still in it at that point, I think they will be in it for the rest of the game. If Marquette is up by double digits, they will cruise.

Isn't Oso 6'11" 235? Oso is big, and they have 2 pretty good 3 point shooters. Wolfpack's been defending well. Neither team plays fast. NC State doesn't turn over the ball that much. So this match up will be interesting. I think it could be a close one through out.

I called this game. It is entertaining!

Boys coming back

[___Rand___]

Refs keeping Marquette in the game. FT disparity is ridiculous. 4 fouled Diarra on the rebound and they didn't call it.

[bwgood77]

It's so crazy that NC State lost 4 in a row, 2 to not so great teams going into their conference tourney and then they won 5 games in 5 days and are making this run. I wonder if that has been done. A team not projected to go to the tourney, not even top 8 in their conference, makes a run to win their tourney and then gets to the elite 8.

They had a losing record in the ACC going into their conference tourney, and needed OT to beat Virginia and Oakland.

[RookieStar]

Alright... a heartbreaker from that Magic game now i get to see my Duke team get eliminated. Perfect.

[___Rand___]

It's so crazy that NC State lost 4 in a row, 2 to not so great teams going into their conference tourney and then they won 5 games in 5 days and are making this run. I wonder if that has been done. A team not projected to go to the tourney, not even top 8 in their conference, makes a run to win their tourney and then gets to the elite 8.

They had a losing record in the ACC going into their conference tourney, and needed OT to beat Virginia and Oakland.

I feel like people are not seeing the team as they are right now. You have to forget what they did during the season and look at how they've been playing since ACC tournament began. I'm not focused on their past but their present. They play with poise and togetherness and smart. They have the right pieces to make things work and match up with most teams. Coaching has been good.

[jkvonny]

Congrats, NCSU Wolfpack!

1st Elite Eight spot since the mid '80s.
The decade that they last won a NC.

Geez, Oakland had them on the ropes last game (lead in OT) .
Marquette struggled all nite long, barely had a lead very early in the game.

[___Rand___]

Onto Elite 8 for my cinderella, NC State! Marquette shut down Burns but they found a way.

[bwgood77]

It's so crazy that NC State lost 4 in a row, 2 to not so great teams going into their conference tourney and then they won 5 games in 5 days and are making this run. I wonder if that has been done. A team not projected to go to the tourney, not even top 8 in their conference, makes a run to win their tourney and then gets to the elite 8.

They had a losing record in the ACC going into their conference tourney, and needed OT to beat Virginia and Oakland.

I feel like people are not seeing the team as they are right now. You have to forget what they did during the season and look at how they've been playing since ACC tournament began. I'm not focused on their past but their present. They play with poise and togetherness and smart. They have the right pieces to make things work and match up with most teams. Coaching has been good.

Well I am. Obviously in the ACC tourney they played crazy good...and it has continued. It's just crazy that they were not even going to be a tourney team at all before that.

[bwgood77]

Onto Elite 8 for my cinderella, NC State! Marquette shut down Burns but they found a way.

You probably vaulted up quite a bit in the pick competition because at least 3 people near the top had Marquette in the final 4. One may have had them in the final.

[bwgood77]

Congrats, NCSU Wolfpack!

1st Elite Eight spot since the mid '80s.
The decade that they last won a NC.

Geez, Oakland had them on the ropes last game (lead in OT) .
Marquette struggled all nite long, barely had a lead very early in the game.

First since the old Jimmy V days.

[jkvonny]

Congrats, NCSU Wolfpack!

1st Elite Eight spot since the mid '80s.
The decade that they last won a NC.

Geez, Oakland had them on the ropes last game (lead in OT) .
Marquette struggled all nite long, barely had a lead very early in the game.

First since the old Jimmy V days.

Yep!

[jkvonny]

Nice win for Purdue, congrats BoilerMakers! Purdue pulled away in the 2nd half.
Good season for the Zags.

2 very good programs, one of the best ones that have yet to win an NCAA Tournament championship game so fae. Zags came close before tho. Matter of time for these 2 to finally get on someday.

Purdue been to Elite 8 last time a could of years ago.

[___Rand___]

It's so crazy that NC State lost 4 in a row, 2 to not so great teams going into their conference tourney and then they won 5 games in 5 days and are making this run. I wonder if that has been done. A team not projected to go to the tourney, not even top 8 in their conference, makes a run to win their tourney and then gets to the elite 8.

They had a losing record in the ACC going into their conference tourney, and needed OT to beat Virginia and Oakland.

I feel like people are not seeing the team as they are right now. You have to forget what they did during the season and look at how they've been playing since ACC tournament began. I'm not focused on their past but their present. They play with poise and togetherness and smart. They have the right pieces to make things work and match up with most teams. Coaching has been good.

Well I am. Obviously in the ACC tourney they played crazy good...and it has continued. It's just crazy that they were not even going to be a tourney team at all before that.

Yeah it is crazy. They weren't good before and shouldn't get in based on that. They finished 10th in ACC! Their coach was rumoured to be gone after this season. So that guy is playing for his job right now lol.

Whatever the reason, they came together at the right time. If you watch them play they know where they're supposed to be who's supposed to do what and they're at the right place at the right time no egos. They play with poise. They don't panic. Marquette definitely challenged them defensively and it was ugly game but they made the right plays most of the game. I'm enjoying following their ride.

[___Rand___]

Onto Elite 8 for my cinderella, NC State! Marquette shut down Burns but they found a way.

You probably vaulted up quite a bit in the pick competition because at least 3 people near the top had Marquette in the final 4. One may have had them in the final.

I was 10th so I don't know where it'll end up. I picked NC State for fun to win it all. I did think they could get to Elite 8, but getting past it will be a real challenge. I think it would be a real tough for them against Houston but if it's Duke they will have a better chance.

[bwgood77]

Onto Elite 8 for my cinderella, NC State! Marquette shut down Burns but they found a way.

You probably vaulted up quite a bit in the pick competition because at least 3 people near the top had Marquette in the final 4. One may have had them in the final.

I was 10th so I don't know where it'll end up. I picked NC State for fun to win it all. I did think they could get to Elite 8, but getting past it will be a real challenge. I think it would be a real tough for them against Houston but if it's Duke they will have a better chance.

You're tied for 3rd. It will all depend on which team wins it all between UConn, Houston or NC State. Now of course maybe none of them will. The thing keeping you down from having a better chance is obviously having AZ get to the championship. But if NC State wins it all you may win it, especially if UConn doesn't even make it to the championship (which would help other brackets).

[___Rand___]

Filipowski just not establishing ANY defense in the interior. Duke is just too soft! I wish I knew Houston's bigs were healthy heading into tournament.