Predict how your conference's teams will do in the 1st round

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

MSU over Bob Morris
2 over 15. Not much to be said here.

WKU over Illinois
WKU is a solid team with some tourney history and beat Louisville by double digits. Illinois will likely be without their best overall player (Chester Frazier), which would render them a really vulnerable and young(er) team. I like WKU in the 12 over 5 upset.

Purdue over Northern Iowa
I think PU wins this one pretty handily. Purdue will have too many weapons. Hummel's coming back at the right time and their starting 5 is very, very good. Depth could become an issue later in the tourney, but shouldn't be too much of a problem in this one.

Ohio St over Siena
8/9 game, always tough to call, but I think OSU wins in a close one. They're a fairly well-rounded team. Good defense, good outside shooter (Diebler), good post player (Mullens), and a really good all-around scorer (Turner). I think they'll get it done against a pretty good battle-tested Siena team also with some tourney history.

Texas over Minnesota
Just a strong gut feeling on this one. Texas just flat out has better athletes and players than Minny. Both teams have been pretty inconsistent, but I think the starting 5 of Texas will just overpower a Minny team that isn't all that terrific at anything. Could get ugly for Minnesota. I say Texas wins by double digits.

Michigan over Clemson
Toughest one to call for me. Could go either way, depending on which UM team shows up. I predict Michigan will shoot relatively well from 3 point land, easing some of the scoring load off the Harris/Sims show. Belein teams are solid in the tourney, and Clemson seems to be a perennial choker. I'll take UM in a squeaker.

FSU over Wisconsin
I'm most confident in this one. FSU is playing good ball right now, and is just the better all around team by far, with the go-to scorer who can also play defense. Wisky cannot find ways to score the ball, and they can't rely exclusively on D which isn't quite as good as it used to be.

[Shine]

While Frazier is a key to the Illini he is far from their best player. I still think Illannoy wins even without Frazier but I'd feel a whole lot better about that pick if he were playing.

I'll take Clemson to knock off the Wolverines. The problem with predicting Michigan is you have to guess if they'll be hitting their outside shots or not. While Clemson hasn't seen a D like they will in this game I still think they have waaay too much athleticism to not find a way to score enough to win.

I'm, barely, picking F$U to knock off Bucky. I'm a big fan of Bo Ryan as a coach and he typically is dinero when he has time to prepare for a team. I think this one will be close but do agree the scoring issues are too great to pick the W for W.

[Screw_Michigan]

This won't take long:

Miss State over Washington - Jarvis Varnado will abuse the Huskies' Brockman
Oklahoma State over Tennessee
LSU over Butler

Give me a fucking break. Miss State accidentally won yesterday while trying their hardest to play at fifth grade level. On the other hand, Washington actually knows how to win games against legitimate competition instead of the Grand Rapids Public Schools middle school recreation league level competition Miss State played against all season. And the game's in Porkland, no less. Washington by 20. Easily.

Butler over LSU, but by a much smaller margin. Butler by 19.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

While Frazier is a key to the Illini he is far from their best player. I still think Illannoy wins even without Frazier but I'd feel a whole lot better about that pick if he were playing.

Perhaps not "best all-around" but he's their most imporant player, imo.

I'll take Clemson to knock off the Wolverines. The problem with predicting Michigan is you have to guess if they'll be hitting their outside shots or not. While Clemson hasn't seen a D like they will in this game I still think they have waaay too much athleticism to not find a way to score enough to win.

I doubt they'll need to be prolific from behind the line to win. They will need contributions from all the regular components though. Harris is a very good all-around scorer and Sims can do some work in the post. If those guys show up and play well Michigan won't have to live and die by the 3, but will most certainly still have to knock some down.

I'm, barely, picking F$U to knock off Bucky. I'm a big fan of Bo Ryan as a coach and he typically is dinero when he has time to prepare for a team. I think this one will be close but do agree the scoring issues are too great to pick the W for W.

Meh, Bo Ryan's been OK. Nothing too stellar. He has never beaten a team seeded better than him in the tournament at Wisconsin. How's that for preparation? I understand it's hard to do that, but he hasn't even done it once, not even during his elite 8 run as a 6 seed where he knocked off Northern Iowa, Bucknell, and NC St to get there -- not exactly a murderer's row and all seeded in the double digit range.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

7-0 with average margin of victory being 14.7 pts. Okay... Marquette might lose, but still.


Next?

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

7-0

Uhh, looking at the brackets closer I'd have to agree. I also agree that Marquette is the most likely to lose.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Not bragging... the highest seed is a 6 and even Marquette is favored by 4.5

[Arch Angel]

Big Ten

Will go 7-0 or 6-1 (Michigan game worries me a little)


Illinois will not have any issues with WKU even without Frazier due to size and style of defense play against a primary 3 pt shooting team.

If NW can plaster FSU, so can Wisky

Minnesota has the size and depth to give Texas problems

Purdue will win by 20+ unless UNI stalls

MSU will beat the crap out of Robert Morris

OSU will beat Siena in a close one.

Michigan, if hitting, will beat Clemson, if not, it can get ugly for Michigan.

[buckeye_in_sc]

Lot of talk down here in Charlotte yesterday about which Clemson team will show up....


the radio hacks who hate the Big 10 btw all said...if Clemson doesn't come to play Michigan will run them out of the gym...

I think Minny can beat Texas...

OSU will be tested but playing a virtual home game...

Call me crazy but I think the 10 runs the table in the first round...

[Terry in Crapchester]

7-0

Uhh, looking at the brackets closer I'd have to agree. I also agree that Marquette is the most likely to lose.

Another vote for 7-0. Although I think an argument could be made that West Virginia is more likely to lose than Marquette.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I dunno, isn't one of Marquette's best players hurt? They haven't been playing great without him. Although I'm sure some of that has had to do with the fact they've played good teams. I don't know much about Dayton, but I've seen WVU play a few times this year. A team that defends very well and has good shooters - I like their chances.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Although I think an argument could be made that West Virginia is more likely to lose than Marquette.

Only by an idiot who thought ND had a fucking chance at making the tournament without winning the BE.

West Virginia is healthy and playing fairly well, the recent close losses to Syracuse and Louisville notwithstanding.

Marquette is missing their best player and fell apart down the stretch having lost 5 out of 6 without James. Seriously, isn't there an NIT Forum you can dump these pearls of wisdom into?

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Will go 7-0 or 6-1 (Michigan game worries me a little).

Call me crazy but I think the 10 runs the table in the first round...

5-2 if you're lucky, most likely 4-3. Purdue and MSU are solid locks, Wisconsin is a fucking LOSS... and the other 4 are 50/50.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Man, since the Big East is the best conference in the history of organized athletics, they better show everybody what's up. Lots of pressure on you guys to show the world how incredibly awesome you all are. And Pitt wants to prove they can actually get past the Sweet 16.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

Sorry for bringing some levity to thead where two idiots are picking 3 dogs as solid locks to win while a 4th plays an 8/9 game (another lock to win.)

I thought you were supposed to have a legit take in this thread.

Hold on, MGO... let me find my serious face.

[Terry in Crapchester]

Although I think an argument could be made that West Virginia is more likely to lose than Marquette.

Only by an idiot who thought ND had a fucking chance at making the tournament without winning the BE.

West Virginia is healthy and playing fairly well, the recent close losses to Syracuse and Louisville notwithstanding.

Marquette is missing their best player and fell apart down the stretch having lost 5 out of 6 without James. Seriously, isn't there an NIT Forum you can dump these pearls of wisdom into?

I was looking at their opponents. West Virginia drew Dayton, Marquette drew Utah State. Both are 11 seeds, but which one would you rather face?

All of that said, I expect both Marquette and West Virginia to survive the first round.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

The question is which team has a greater chance to lose... you can't just look at the opponent. Match-ups tell me WV should roll. Furhtermore, they've molded into a damned tough team down the stretch. I think they'll go farther than any 6 seed in the tournament.

I was reading something on Yahoo about the Flyers... their offense was described as a quagmire. I'll be shocked if Dayton scores more than 60 pts and loses by less than 10.

Marquette has only beaten St John's since losing James...

[buckeye_in_sc]

Nah we'll just show up and slap the BE champs around again.

Sin,

Minnesota

[Terry in Crapchester]

The question is which team has a greater chance to lose... you can't just look at the opponent. Match-ups tell me WV should roll. Furhtermore, they've molded into a damned tough team down the stretch. I think they'll go farther than any 6 seed in the tournament.

I was reading something on Yahoo about the Flyers... their offense was described as a quagmire. I'll be shocked if Dayton scores more than 60 pts and loses by less than 10.

Marquette has only beaten St John's since losing James...

You can't just look at the opponent, but that certainly is one criterion which goes into determining who has the better chance of losing in the first round. Regardless of what one Yahoo writer said about Dayton's offense, as a general rule I'd consider them a tougher out than Utah State.

Certainly, you want to be playing better in the latter stages of the season, but there are plenty of examples of teams playing well at season's end who lost in the first round of the tournament. Syracuse in '05 comes to mind in that regard. Conversely, there are also examples of teams who weren't playing particularly well at the end of the season who made a deep tournament run.

As for West Virginia, Kansas looms as a potential second-round opponent. There's definitely the potential for West Virginia to exit at that point.

[Shine]

Sorry for bringing some levity to thead where two idiots are picking 3 dogs as solid locks to win while a 4th plays an 8/9 game (another lock to win.)

Arch likes to show up every now and again and drop stool samples of how the typical Illannoy fan thinks.

If you told me right now the Big 10 would go 4-3 in the 1st round I'd take it. I think they've got a shot at 5-2 but that is the ceiling, with the floor being 2-5 as a realistic possibility.


As for the Big East teams, 7-0 should happen with little to no sweat. Marquette is the one looming exception and that's only due to injury.

In terms of West Virginia they are a GOOD team. I have them to the 8 and even wanted to pull the trigger on them knocking off the Cards once there. BTW, I'm not sure that WVU will have to play Kansas. I see KU going down to a very game North Dakota State squad.

[ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2]

In terms of West Virginia they are a GOOD team. I have them to the 8 and even wanted to pull the trigger on them knocking off the Cards once there. BTW, I'm not sure that WVU will have to play Kansas. I see KU going down to a very game North Dakota State squad.

While WV may not have the talent of Pitt and UConn I see less holes in their line-up than the "big dogs." Pitt will be hurt by having a slow assed weeble-wobble for a point guard and UConn's lack of a viable outside thread will hurt them against a team that plays a tough zone. UConn's ability to dominate on D and the boards will take them pretty far, but even I don't think a Final Four is likely. Unless, of course, Walker and Austrie have found the ability to hit a 3 in the last week.

[Mook]

I actually think the Big 12 will fare fairly well in the first round. They really got fairly good match-ups in my opinion.

Oklahoma (W) Obviously they shouldn't have many problems with Morgan State.

Kansas (W) I think Kansas will be OK in this spot in spite of the fact many "experts" think No. Dakota State could spring the upset. True, Kansas has shown the ability to lose to damn near anyone, however I don't think it will be to the Senior-laden Ben Woodside led North Dakota State squad. Kansas just has too much talent at every position including a mis-match at PG with Collins and obviously inside with Aldrich. I think Collins will be on Woodside. Collins is an under-rated defender. I could be wrong about this, but I don't think so. In fact, I think Kansas will not only win, but cover the 10 point spread as well.

Missouri (W) Another game where I think the Big 12 won't struggle. Cornell likes to play at a fairly fast tempo and that should play into Mizzou's hands. Cornell could hang around for a half or so, but the last 10 minutes will be tough for them.

Texas (W) For the record, I don't think that Texas is worth a damn right now as a basketball team. They haven't been for about three or four weeks. They really struggle to score. When Balbay is on the court they are basically playing with four on the offensive end of the court. Pittman has been impressive but he's still to fat to play more than 20 minutes a game. The only reason I think Texas wins is because I'm less impressed with Minnesota than I am with Texas. Minny was very, very tough at home but very weak on the road. In my opinion they will struggle here. That said, I wouldn't be at all surpised to see Minny pull off the win.

Texas A&M (W) aTm has been much better the second half of the season. Interestingly I was very impressed with BYU earlier in the year. Not as impressed lately and wasn't impressed with them at all in the MWC Tourney. I think BYU, Utah, SDSU, UNLV and even New Mexico were all essentially the same team this year. My two eyes tell me A&M is playing better right now and I think they will win. Obviously no lock.

Oklahoma St (W) Another Big 12 playing very well right now. This should be an entertaining game. Tennessee's problem is that they just don't play any defense at all. It's almost like they have an aversion to getting in the way of a player going to the hoop. Tennessee is also VERY careless with the ball. Hell the last 12 seconds of the SEC title game was a clinic on different ways to turn the ball over. I just think Ok State will play better defense and take better care of the ball. That said Tenn probably does have better athletes.....my pick is Ok. State.

My picks here have the Big 12 as 6-0 in the first round. That's probably optimistic, but I think the match-ups are very favorable. In fact, I think 4-2 is the absolute worst that the Big 12 will do in round 1. Now, Round 2 is another story completely. Depending on the match-ups I think the Big 12 could go 0-6 in Round 2 and at best would be 2-4.....so although I'm very optimistic for the first round, I am equally pessimistic for the second round. We'll see.

Remember, just say no to North Dakota State! :doh:

[MuchoBulls]

7-0 with average margin of victory being 14.7 pts. Okay... Marquette might lose, but still.


Next?

Agree 100%!! Marquette isn't that dangerous without James and they have no inside game.

[King Crimson]

James being out is what makes Mizzou's draw potentially pretty sweet. Curiously, Palm had Marquette in the KC regional for a long time, so there may have been some "logic" in shipping them to Boise to compensate for OU getting the KC bid/MU winning the tournament but getting the Boise 3 seed. who knows? speculation.

i agree with what mook's got above, for the most part. the first round should be good to the Big XII teams--but, the second will be the measure. interestingly, OSU and Tennessee have played at least twice in the Bruce Pearl era at Tenn. once in the All-College tournament in OKC, a game i attended (the second session featuring Beilein's WVU team with Pittsnogle and Gansey destroying a pretty good OU team--possibly the worst D performance of the Sampson era--both coaching and playing. I'll never understand why Kelvin had Kevin Bookout as the primary defender on Pittsnogle. though, it really didn't matter Gansey bombed away and WVU had backdoor layups all night).

the Texas-Minn winner got no favors coming out of the 8-9 to play Duke in Greensboro.