OPEN SHOT: Discuss the NCAA tournament

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 23, 2008 6:11 PM EDT in Open Thread Comment 56 comments

Easter Sunday and the end of the beginning rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Western Kentucky and Tennessee are teams of interest that have moved on. Georgetown is a team of interest that has not. Louisville and others are still to be decided.

My brackets are embarrassing, but I warned all of you at the outset that I am historically lousy at picking the NCAA tournament. For a guy who watches as much basketball as I do that may seem strange, but quite frankly, it has always been that way. The only years I do a good job are years when Kentucky does really well. Back in the late 1990's, I won two out of three bracket challenges, but when UK's fortunes dip, my picks are always poor. It's some kind of weird synchronicity.

This is an open thread. Post your thoughts.

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Congrats to the Hilltoppers!

That was truly a great game and WIN after losing the big lead!

They made many KY basketball fans proud today!... and Bowling Green must be hysterical!

Coach Horn's first year as head coach and a former basketball player for the Toppers as well...that is very special!

GO WKU!!

by kykat51 on Mar 23, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Actually....

It is Horn's fifth (5th) year as head coach. He took over when Felton left to go to Georgia.

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Mar 24, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Felton and Horn

Ironically... earlier this season, both coaches were on the hotseat at their respective schools. A handful of well-played games in March changes much doesn't it?

by chirop1 on Mar 24, 2008 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Horn ...

was not on the hot seat whatsoever.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 24, 2008 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree....

I never did hear that Horn was on the hot seat, I am in agreement with Tru...he has done pretty well at Western

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Mar 24, 2008 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe not in Louisville...

Maybe at the other end of I-65 he wasn't on the hot seat... but here in Elizabethtown, we have a HUGE following of WKU alums, and trust me... he was on the hot seat.

by chirop1 on Mar 24, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

We have a pretty huge WKU alumni here as well (this being the biggest city in the Commonwealth), and I have never heard anybody say the first negative thing about Darren Horn.

Must be something in the water there in E-town.

:-)

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 24, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could be

But there were definite rumblings about never making the tourney. As I said... all gone now.

The current panic for the local WKU alunmi chapter is that WLKY will be running the Louisville/UT game at the same time that WKU/UCLA will be playing. In the Louisville market, Insight Cable channel 8 will be carrying the WKU game. Here in E'town we are a Comcast market... so currently there is no provider for the game. The Heartland WKU Alumni chapter are all up in arms.

Me being a Murray State guy... I'm a little less panicked, but I'd still like the chance to flip back and forth between the games at will.

by chirop1 on Mar 25, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

WKU game on TV

Looks like it will be broadcast on WMYO out of Louisville so those of us in the Louisville market outside the metro area will get to see it.

by chirop1 on Mar 26, 2008 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coach Horn

Thank you for the correction. I thought I had heard the TV commentator mention the first year status. Guess I heard wrong in the heat of the excitement!

by kykat51 on Mar 24, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

First year...

in the NCAA Tournament maybe but not at WKU

C....A....T....S CATS CATS CATS

by MartinGolf9 on Mar 24, 2008 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UT WOOoo!!11!!1!oNE!!

Just had to get that out. That was a 45-minute heart-attack in Knoxville. Back to civil commenter now.

I wouldn't worry about the bracket though; it's not like anybody else expected two 12-13 matchups in the second round.

by Hooper on Mar 23, 2008 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee ...

has had nothing but heart-stoppers.

Congrats.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 23, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

45-minute heart attack

Better have your nitro on hand against Louisville!

I have to say I am betwixt and between on my fav there as I am a UK fan, but I may just be a Tennessee fan that game...AAAGGHHH! Never thought I would say it.

Congrats Hooper!

by kykat51 on Mar 23, 2008 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks to both you and Tru for kind words.

I was really hoping MSU would make it, though. It would have utterly destroyed my bracket, but I wouldn't mind in the least. (BTW, my bracket is simple: higher seed wins. I am now officially boycotting Tampa.)

Well, I hope UT can do the SEC proud for your sake. It's not easy to pull for a rival (even with conference loyalty), so I'm just hoping they stay classy and represent well. The Louisville game should be a good one. UT will have a week to practice up with Prince at the point, and that should iron out some of the bugs.

by Hooper on Mar 23, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two ways of picking a team for you:

Since you'd really prefer that both UT and UL could lose, here are a couple of ideas:

Who would you rather not see holding a championship trophy in two weeks? Pitino or Pearl?
Who would you rather see face UNC? UT or UL? (That is, which matchup would make that game less repulsive to you?)

Neither option is pleasant, I'm sure, but surely there's a lesser-of-two-evils there somewhere.

by Hooper on Mar 23, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louisville

I personally prefer Pitino over Pearl and 'Ol Roy. Can't stand those two. Plus I can't bear the though of UNC winning and having to listen to their elitist, arrogant fans all offseason.

http://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/register/joingroup ID: 10939 password: wildcats08

by TrickyD26 on Mar 24, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pearl

Hands down I would HATE to see Pearl holding a championship trophy. I still see Pitino as one of the best college coaches out there - even if he is Traitor Rick. Its hard to put into word the negative feelings I have for Pearl - just looking at him is enough to make me nauseous. SEC or not, in a Louisville/Tennessee match up I take Louisville every time. Bluegrass state loyalty plus my feelings on Pearl trump my SEC loyalty.

by kentuckygirl0724 on Mar 25, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL...that really perplexed me until now

http://blog.kentuckysportsradio.com/

go down to Intern's posting...Do we have to?

but I have to admit Pitino has his team right where he wants them...monster

by kykat51 on Mar 25, 2008 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee the lone

SEC member just as it was predicted at the beginning of the season. For my dad's sake I will root for UgLy since they are from Kentucky and I am a Kentucky-team homer first then an SEC homer next.

For some reason Tennessee seems to have lost a bit of their mojo in the last 6 weeks. Anyone else notice this or do you think it is because the rest of the nation is catching up at this time of the year as far as basketball mechanics are concerned?

As for the Hilltoppers it is awesome to see a Sunbelt team kicking butt and that team being of the Kentucky variety!@!!!

Prediction: Louisville, Davidson, Stanford and Xavier in Final Four!!! ha ha ahah ahah ahahahahaahahahahahhaahahaahahhahaa

by bluecrip on Mar 23, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice :)

Even without UT, that'd be a fun F4.

UT has lost some sparkle. I think they peaked during the Memphis game and have been increasingly stagnant ever since. Pearl was right in one thing; the point guard play was suffering and something had to be done. Howell's 4-40 shooting isn't exactly helpful, and Ramar's foul-a-minute program doesn't increase our odds of winning either.

UNC, on the other hand, seems to be peaking at the right time. Yikes.

by Hooper on Mar 23, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Louisville ...

Bah. :-)

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 23, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless Of Upsets (So Far)

I think it will be UNC, UCLA, Kansas, and Memphis (#1 seeds) at FF.

And it will be VERY TOUGH to beat UNC there...

by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 23, 2008 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee

My hubby is a Tenn fan. He was about ready to jump on the ceiling today. He was livid at Prince being point. Why is he at point anyway. I didn't think North Carolina could do it this year but after today I just think they might. UCLA is way overrated. Memphis is too. Kansas is to me the best team in the NCAA. I hope WKU kicks some Bruins tails.

by tenken on Mar 24, 2008 12:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Prince was at point

because Pearl wasn't pleased with the play of Howell or Ramar. Howell seems to have forgotten how to shoot (though he still defends well and manages decently), and Ramar has this odd tendency to forget that there are other Vols on the court. What it came down to (with some paraphrasing and some interpretation mixed in) is that Pearl didn't think they'd be able to win it all with Howell or Ramar at the point; he decided to give Prince a chance and gamble at winning the whole thing.

Prince had run the point before and did a credible job at it, so it wasn't completely out of the blue. Obviously the lack of practice time at point made a difference, as he made a few bad choices (particularly the one leading up to the travel at the end of the game). Yet the team was more dynamic with him at point - something that's been missing for a while. With a few days to practice now, this just might work out.

At least, we're all hoping so.

by Hooper on Mar 24, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Memphis makes the final four...

They will have to take a crash course in free throws and fundametal basketball in general. 40 something percent might cut it against Miss St. in the last seconds, but lets not pretend Miss. St. is even remotely close to the cream of the crop this year. Calipari can recruit, but can he coach? I think that is a relevant question. He gets good players, but can he make them great? I don't know. Bricks at the stripe equal heartache come tournament time. My money is on Tom Izzo.

Go Cards, go Hilltoppers, ... that hurt (the Cards part!), but I completely agree on KY sentiment. I root for state first, conference second. I live in TN now and am offended almost daily by obnoxious TN fans. I know there are good ones, I just haven't met many of them yet. Hooper sounds like he/she could be one though.

I need a Sea of Blue because I am surrounded by Tennessee orange and Vandy gold!

by sleepytimetea on Mar 24, 2008 1:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congrats to the Tops

Raise your hand if you wish Lee was wearing blue.

I think if Horn can find a way to effectively defend Love then they have a shot at upsetting UCLA.

I vote for a rotaion of Evans, Magley, and Siakum defending Love. Hound his arse, deny, and get physical with him. I think Brazelton can defend Collison, and Lee will probably handle Shipp.

It may just be wishful thinking, but the Bruins did not look good against A&M. They defended well, but offensively they struggled. Western will score some points, I'm not sure if UCLA can keep up.

Wouldn't it be great though?

by Ken Howlett on Mar 24, 2008 2:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The question ...

is can they defend Lee and Brazelton. UCLA prides itself on defense, just like Kentucky does, but sometimes you just have to outscore people.

I have doubts that UCLA can defend Lee and Brazelton, especially off the bounce. UCLA has struggled to score lately. That combination of factors could make for a very interesting game.

I'm not picking Western, but wouldn't it be nice if they pulled it off?

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 24, 2008 6:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You are right.

UCLA will have their hands full with Lee, Brazelton, and a comer in Evans.

"but sometimes you just have to outscore people." Exactly the kind of game Horn wants!

Let's hope the Bruins are left in ruins :)

by Ken Howlett on Mar 24, 2008 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes!

I would SO love WKU upsetting the Bruins.

by Clandestine on Mar 24, 2008 8:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

8 On 5 So Not Gonna Happen

All 3 refs are wearing Light Blue and Yellow when UCLA plays.

I'd like to see WKU do well.

by FortyYearCatFan on Mar 24, 2008 6:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now...

that Kentucky is out I'm pulling for....

Tennessee! A state championship and Lofton becoming an NCAA champion in the same year would be great for Maysville!

After that I'll root for Western Kentucky, after them, I don't really care who wins so long as it isn't UNC UCLA or UL

by KYColonel on Mar 24, 2008 7:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UL vs. UT

Where's a good tornado when you need one?

C! A! T! S! CATS! CATS! CATS!

by NYCCats on Mar 24, 2008 8:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

tornado

HA, that's awesome - the exact same sentiment was going around UofL for the UK v Marquette game.

What is worse for cats fans? Vols or cards?

by speedcard on Mar 24, 2008 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a tough question ...

Frankly, I could live with either of them, but I can make a case for neither just as easily.

In reality, what we think does not matter. Our rooting interest, by and large, is sitting at home. Kentucky tends to root against Duke, UCLA and North Carolina winning the tournament for reasons of national championships -- we obviously want to lead in that category, but realizing that goal seems pretty far away at this precise moment in history. We don't want UCLA building up an even bigger lead, and we don't want Duke and UNC gaining on us.

If Louisville wins, for Kentucky fans like me that means putting up with the insufferable variety of Card fans for a year. We have already had to listen to Gator fans stuff it up our hindparts for the last two years, and that was no fun. It would be even less fun if Louisville fans were doing it due to proximity.

Tennessee is really no better, in the final analysis. SEC school, and an actual rival, unlike Florida (yet).

Seems we are left with no good options except maybe Western, at least in my case. Ah, well, for us, there is always "next year."

:-)

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 25, 2008 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm guessing that the UCLA-WKU game

is a pretty easy one for you to pick a hopeful. After the series of favorable calls that UCLA has received in the last month, I'm willing to bet that almost everybody outside of half of L.A. is going to be cheering for WKU in that game.

Or for fair officiating, at the very least.

by Hooper on Mar 25, 2008 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh ...

I think WKU can count on a lot of Pac-10 support, for sure.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 25, 2008 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And SEC

and Big East, and ACC, etc. Everybody's lives would be much easier if UCLA had been properly eliminated by A&M.

by Hooper on Mar 25, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A&M v UCLA

The angle TV showed of the last ditch effort by A&M to score in the lane was very difficult to determine whether there was a foul or not, but after seeing repalys and a few stills of the action it was obvious there was a foul committed. Not by one Bruin, but two.

By my count, that's 3 UCLA wins in the last couple of weeks that were at least aided in part by pitiful officiating in the last few seconds.

Did John wooden announce his retirement...again?

by Ken Howlett on Mar 26, 2008 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

UCLA

Ken, would you be referring to this still:

http://media.scout.com/media/image/53/532752.jpg

Clearly all ball.

by chirop1 on Mar 26, 2008 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

What a picture. UCLA is some lucky SOBs. If we could have had an ounce of the reffing come our way this season. . .

Actually, scratch that. I never want to win games on bad calls. If we could have some bad/no-calls be the good calls/calls that they should have been this season. . .

by blbskue on Mar 26, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL. Yes I would.

by Ken Howlett on Mar 26, 2008 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Teams

Yeah, UK really got the shaft this year when it comes to bball, way too much happened against yall. To be honest though, I was hoping that you would pull it out against marquette - tom crean is just an ass

by speedcard on Mar 25, 2008 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It happens ...

Kentucky has been very lucky up until this year on the injury front. U of L has actually had injury problems dog them the last several years, and are finally completely healthy for the first time since Padgett came.

Just the cycle of things. Hopefully next year, injuries won't be the whole story.

by Truzenzuzex on Mar 26, 2008 6:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Texas

Beats Memphis in Houston, I think.

by olddoc on Mar 24, 2008 8:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I have that on my bracket.

by blbskue on Mar 24, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bowling Green CBS affiliate

I was at my in-laws for Easter yesterday down in Edmonson County... their CBS affiliate comes out of Nashville (and I would assume it is the same as Bowling Green's) and it was showing the UT game instead of the Western game.

My brother says he thinks BG cable has CBS affiliates out of Louisville and Nashville, so he thinks that BG got to see the game... I was curious if anyone is in the area and knew if Western's home city was stuck with regional coverage of UT?

by chirop1 on Mar 24, 2008 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No idea, but I'll expand the thought a touch.

During UT's game, they kept cutting during the game action to show the Texas game. And I'm in Knoxville. I had to load up the online feed or I'd have missed a few minutes of action. I don't think CBS spent enough time thinking through their feeds and looking at the "what-if" scenarios. It wouldn't suprise me to hear that WKU fans got largely shut out by UT broadcasting due to the "bigger conference = bigger ratings" mentality.

/tangent

by Hooper on Mar 24, 2008 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Congrats on the win

but the same thing happened here, where they kept cutting back & forth from UT to the Davidson game (I called that one!), but every time they switched feeds, someone had just called timeout! Lots of footage of people standing around in the final seconds.

Meanwhile, WKU's game kept getting closer & closer, and even though this is a KENTUCKY affiliate station, they never let us see how we did. The producers really whiffed on that whole sequence.

by CW on Mar 24, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Off Season Technical Discussion??

How about during the offseason, we create a FAQ on how to get the game you want on the TV you want, when you want it? topics: CBS, ESPN, DirectTV, regional sports networks, regional feeds, HDTV, special cable company sports packages, internet streaming video, Raycom, blackouts, sports bars, TiVo....

It's amazing to me in this day and age how difficult it seems sometimes just to watch the game you want, when you want. But perhaps I have an entitlement attitude about it.... :)

by johnr on Mar 24, 2008 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My 2 cents

I spent three years living in St. Louis (recently, for law school) and had the ESPN Full Court package the last two years. The combination of that and network broadcasts gave me access to 99% of the games. Once or twice I had to visit a local sports bar to get a game only available on satellite.

I was impressed with the number of 'Cats games Full Court had - I seem to remember even getting the exhibition games, though I could be wrong. I found it to be well worth the $100 for the season.

by blbskue on Mar 25, 2008 8:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Middle of nowhere..

We live out West, in the middle of nowhere actually, and we too got the ESPN Full Court Package. We were able to see all but about 3 of this year's games.
My only complaint about Full Court would be--NO HD! Hopefully that is something ESPN can work on for next year--Guess I have become quite the HD snob! :)

As for March Madness, we ordered the MEGA MARCH MADNESS. It is a package with DIRECTV (probably DishNetwork also) that supplements CBS' coverage of all games being shown outside your region. That way you can watch whichever game you want!

Glad I didn't listen to my husband when he said "are you sure we need those"--WORTH EVERY PENNY!

by BigSkyCat on Mar 25, 2008 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Similar Situation

When I was in Iowa for chiropractic school, we took advantage of ESPN's PPV access to UK games.

I specifically remember 3 or 4 people coming over to watch UK blow out Vandy. Cost us 5 bucks.

by chirop1 on Mar 25, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

PPV for individual games?

Maybe it's just the areas I've lived in, but I've never seen that offered. I've always wondered why, you would think espn, foxsports or whoever had that every year would make a killing.

by wldcatsfreak on Mar 25, 2008 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeap

It was something like $4.99 per game. Mainly I think it was conference games that were available. We certainly didn't pick up a full season's worth that way... but there were a few.

I would think it would be a killer market. I'm not worried enough to buy a "Full Court" or anything like that, but I could certainly be hood-winked into buying individual games. (As evidenced by the fact that I DID buy individual games!)

by chirop1 on Mar 25, 2008 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any game

available on the Full Court package can be purchased on a per game basis for viewing on a computer. Unfortunately, no Full Court per game for individual games on the telly. I did purchase one on the computer a few years back, and it was pretty good quality, which I imagine has improved since.

I was in Ashland (my hometown) around Christmas time, and they had a UK game available for purchase on a per game game basis, but the game cost over $100. Seriously. Ashland always replays them locally around 11pm or midnight. I can't remember the digi-cable company there.

by blbskue on Mar 25, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs