March Madness 2006, WhoDoYaLike?

[ssnyderjr]

I'm running the office brackets this year and am leaning towards picking a Big East team (UConn or Villanova) to go all the way. Who do you like?

Here's some background if you haven't followed all year and need help with your brackets.
My 2 cents:
UNC, Ohio State and Memphis are RED HOT, but not final 4 material.
Duke is overrated, but will make Final 4, and no further. Coach K is a wizard at these tournaments, minus the big games.
Keep an eye on the winner of the Big 10 Tourney (look for OSU, MiSt, ILL, Iowa)
Scarry when hot: Duke (pre-season #1), MI St (deep-pre season top 5), ILL (pre season top 3), Arizona (pre-season top10)
Disappointments this year:
MiSt, ILL, Az - all have lots of good tourney experience and in final 4 last year, just haven't shown up this year.

[JNA]

Have to wait until Sunday Evening before I make my pick.

[mgk920]

I like Lawrence (26-0) to win it all in mens' Division III.



Mike

[Bear Up North]

Even though the brackets are not developed yet, this Bear will take an early stab at a final four....

U-Conn
Duke
Illinois
Villanova

Illinois the winner in a suprise.

(This could all change when the committee groups some of the above in the same bracket.)

Bear.....Baby!

[noottamevas]

Even though the brackets are not developed yet, this Bear will take an early stab at a final four....

U-Conn
Duke
Illinois
Villanova

Illinois the winner in a suprise.

(This could all change when the committee groups some of the above in the same bracket.)

Bear.....Baby!

As much as I like your prediction, I just don't think Illinois has what it takes this year. Tough call....do you put your team in the winners bracket because they're your team?

[cmavis]

Interesting picks indeed Ssnyderjr. I have to say that you made some excellent points, you definitely know your college hoops. However, I have to disagree with the Dukies being in the Final Four. I think they are way overrated and due to take a fall in the sweet 16 or elite 8. It really depends on the seatings. Being a Big Ten fan, you can probably guess who I am going to be picking the majority of. Don't count out WVU and Pittsnoogle, which might be the greatest basketball name EVER. That could almost be a thread all to its own.

My Final Four / Five: Illinois, Ohio State Suckeyes / UConn, UNC, and 'Nova

You gonna be able to handle the reigns now that I have passed the office bracket torch onto you?

[luckless pedestrian]

I'm a Syracuse grad - so when they choke and are out of it, I stop watching - Boeheim should have been fired after the 86 debacle - so for me, it's like being a Sox fan, my heart gets broken more times than not - though I do wear my 2002 win sweatshirt!

But, I have always been impressed with Villanova and UConn

[ssnyderjr]

I'm carryin the torch. I will reclaim the trophies early next week and polish them for the tourney.
Hopefully I'll be able to put my name on the 1st place trophy again. Can't wait.

Currently we have a 1st place trophy with names of past winners on them, a 2nd place trophy with names of past winners and the "You Suck" last place trophy. These prizes go along with cash, usually over $100 for the winner, gives people a reason to watch and get into it. Cmavis sent it by our police chief and law director as to its legality, and they were cool with it, so we have had a blast with it the last 6+ years.

[cmavis]

I'm carryin the torch. I will reclaim the trophies early next week and polish them for the tourney.
Hopefully I'll be able to put my name on the 1st place trophy again. Can't wait.

I forgot about the trophies! Gotta get my name on that this year! As long as Mully the StumpJumpin Fool doesn't win!

Anyone else out there give out trophies along with prize money for winning?

[Bubba]

I like Lawrence (26-0) to win it all in mens' Division III.

I had Oglethorpe winning the women's D3 tournament...and then my beloved Petrels got stomped in the first round.



As for the real March Madness, since it looks like no team in which I have a rooting interest will even get into the tournament, I'll take "Anyone But Duke".

[Gedunker]

I've run our brackets for years and we pay out, but no trophies. Bragging rights for a year, though.

(Anyone that hasn't run a bracket, let me tell you: it is a poop-pile of work! If ever you do volunteer to run one be sure to stay as current with results during the first/second rounds or you'll be in a heap o' trouble...)

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Gonzaga and Adam Morrison. That's a team I'd keep an eye on for sure.

As a philosophy, I always look for the best 4 or 5 seed to go a long way.

[michaelskis]

The female cheerleaders.


I all seriousness, I think that Illinois will take it.

[DCBuff]

I love living in Maryland, because there are "I hate Duke" stickers everywhere.

My final four is going to be Memphis, Tennessee, Nova, Gonzaga. Right now Tennessee and Nova are in the same region (Based on ESPN), so I would pick Georgetown not Tennessee that is the case.

I would like to say Colorado , but saying that just makes me laugh to much! Plus if they don't win today they wouldn't even be in the dance.

[ssnyderjr]

I am disappointed in the lack of interest this thread has drawn. Is there no mild sports nuts out there? Maybe it's just a Midwest thing, but this is a big deal. I feel sorry for you in your office if there is no kind of office pool where you work. This is huge as far as getting to know your co-workers goes. Attached I have a sample of how easy it is to run an office pool. Courtesy of MS Excel

[Bubba]

I am disappointed in the lack of interest this thread has drawn. Is there no mild sports nuts out there? Maybe it's just a Midwest thing, but this is a big deal. I feel sorry for you in your office if there is no kind of office pool where you work.

Oh, we'll have a huge pool here at the office (60+ folks, winner take all, last place gets their entry money back), but I usually can't get geeked up about it until the brackets are released.

[Tide]

I'm a Big East follower, never cared much for the ACC or SEC (both lack hard core defense).

Final Four right now...


'Nova
UCONN
Duke

and let's say....

Memphis, Tenn, or Texas

It really depends on how they are seeded but right now I think that's a safe 4 (or 6)

[Planificador Urbano]

I graduated from Syracuse U "GO-Orange" so that's who I stay with.

[luckless pedestrian]

I graduated from Syracuse U "GO-Orange" so that's who I stay with.

Hey, me too - '86 grad, from ESF actually (Stumpie), how 'bout you?

Do you think we have a chance? I'm afraid we will choke at some point, but we look pretty revved up right now -

[btrage]

How can people start picking Final Four teams when the brackets aren't even out??

Leave that nonsense up to the idiots at ESPN.

Now, as for my pick to win it all.........UCONN.

[spokanite]

Gotta go local...Zags to the Final Four...

[imaplanner]

Gotta go local...Zags to the Final Four...

I dunno about that... but Adam Morrison IS the best player in college right now IMO

[noottamevas]

Illinois lost to Michigan State in the Big Ten tourney
Does this change anyones predictions?

[JNA]

My school is # 12 in Washington Regional.

Local schools in
# 6 - IU
# 8 - Kentucky
# 11 - SIU
# 14 - Murray St

Was local coach (University of Southern Indiana) who moved up to the big time - Bruce Pearl
# 2 - Tenn

[Richmond Jake]

I noticed with interest that nobody listed any Pac10 teams. UCLA and Cal are gonna make some serious noise. Maybe not get into the final four but sure to upset some selections. But then again, I could be wrong.

[mgk920]

I like Lawrence (26-0) to win it all in mens' Division III.



Mike

Lawrence lost to Illinois Wesleyan 71-68 in their Division III 'Sweet 16' game on Friday and are out of the tournament.



Mike