March Madness
Posted by: matthewr on 16 March 2004
Due to an improved cable package this year I'll be able to watch the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Naturally I am convinced I have all 63 picks nailed.
I have decided to support St Joe's (cos they are great to watch) and Standford (the intellecutals choice).
Should you want to test your skills against my beginners luck go to
http://games.si.cnn.com/signup/signup.asp?game_id=15 and sign up for the "Padded Cell" private bracket. The password is 'mickparry'. It's free but you have to register so just make sure you use a hotmail style e-mail or else untick all the boxes to avoid getting Sports Illustrated golf related spam.
Matthew
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by ErikL
Matthew, I'll sign up later today or tomorrow. I am an absolute college hoops junky!
Stanford are a bunch of pricks, Matt Lottick being the biggest prick amongst them. I like St. Jo's coach because he basically told that dim-witted commentator Billy Packer to go jimmy his johnson.
I shall be pulling for Washington (Stanford's only loss this season
) because they are young (1 senior), exciting (5'7" PG can dunk), I've known most of the kids since they were skinny and awkward high schoolers, and well it's one of my alma maters
. However they must play overall #1 seed Kentucky if they first beat Alabama-Birmingham.
I also like NC State, Gonzaga, and Texas (I watched PF Thomas as a high schooler in NY).
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by John L
There are now 64 games with the additional play-in game on Wednesday night. I used to watch as many games as they would show on TV throughout the tournament. The first two days were non-stop hoops with some amazing finishes. But, in my new career there is no time to watch the games until the Championship. I look forward to the pool and may the best person win(me)!
John Litwin
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by matthewr
Ludwig -- I've got to grips with College Football but College Hoops is still something of a mystery and I'm still getting to grips with the teams let alone individual players and coaches. Apart from Jameer Nelson who I really like.
Nevertheless I am confident that my inate "sports sense" will triumph.
John -- Welcome aboard.
Matthew
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by matthewr
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by ErikL
John,
Tell us about that DePaul team. They're one of the higher seeds about which I know nothing.
Somehow I had a brain lapse and didn't buy 1st/2nd round tix for here in Seattle. Been to the tourney before though- what a blast!
Off to make my picks now...
Posted on: 16 March 2004 by ErikL
Wait
This isn't a proper tourney pick 'em until a perky young woman joins and makes selections based on teams with the most hunks and prettiest uniforms.
(They always win and I always place last.)
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by John L
Litwins Ramblers are ready to take the court! I have quite a few friends who went to DePaul; they weren’t expecting too much from them this year. They are happy! Meanwhile, my alma mater fired their coach again. We have low expectations anyways. Loyola hasn’t been to the tournament since the 80’s. Wait till next year.
John Litwin
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by John L
Ludwig,
I tried to get my perky young gal to fill out a bracket, but she wouldn’t. She doesn’t know how much fun she is missing!
John Litwin
Posted on: 17 March 2004 by Bob Edwards
OK, I'm in--if only to make sure Ludwig doens't come in last. I've got UConn winning it all, against Kentucky. As for the rest--I just picked the teams I like....
Best,
Bob
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by Joe Petrik
I'm in, too.
Go Cats, go!
Joe
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
Which 'Cats?
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by Joe Petrik
quote:
Which 'Cats?
Which cats? Puh-leaze! ;-)
Joe
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
I'm a
HUGE Kentucky fan, but scroll up to see my conflict this year. Tubby's the ultimate basketball god. St. John's is my #1, but let's not talk about them...
Call me crazy, but I've taken today and tomorrow off to watch the games!
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
IIRC In past years Joe has mentioned winning his office pool despite knowing nothing about Basketball. By induction this would indicates that Joe is a "perky young woman".
BTW, Joe, if UK wins a national championship I expect you to be out cavorting around campus at 2am drinking jugs of watery US beer with lots of 19-year olds. And for embarrassing pictures of said events to subsquently appear at
www.drunken-coeds.comMatthew
[EDIT: I made that URL up but it appears to be real and non worksafe so you probably don't want to clink on it]
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
Matthew, are you watching the pre-game right now? Do you get the same analysis and play-by-play as us?
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
Actually I am at work generating tax dollars to pay for Mick's retirement.
My US Sports cable chanel (
http://www.nasn.com/) has NCAA Tournament programming from now until 5am -- but AFAICT it doesn't actually say who is on or give any details of the programing. I thin kit depends on who they did a deal with but we mostly get ESPN coverage plus sometimes a bit of Fox Sports.
Matthew
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by Joe Petrik
Matthew,
quote:
By induction this would indicates that Joe is a "perky young woman".
Damn, my cover is blown.
Josephine
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
I have the Wake Forest Vs VCU game live -- which would be great except I don't even know where Wake Forest is or What VCU stands for and it looks like its not going to be very close.
Matthew
Who was all over the Manhattan Vs Florida 12 Vs 5 upset pick
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
SI sucks- I can't see everyone's picks!
Wake is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and VCU is Virginia Commonwealth University. Wake's backcourt of Gray and Paul is a stud combo.
Ludwig
Currently 1-2 and wanting W Michigan, Louisville, S Illinois, and E Tennessee St to give me some cinderella love
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
No I was expecting to be able to see each bracket once the games started. I guess it might update in a bit or something.
The Wake VCU game is actually hotting up since my last posting.
Go <checks bracket> Wake!
Matthew
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
oooh, there's a VCU player from "Manchester, England". Which is wher I am from. I might have to switch sides.
Matthew
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
<Currently watching the mormons of BYU pound the piss out of the defending nat'l champs!>
Guys, who have you picked for the Final 4, title game, and championship? I have Texas, NC St, Kentucky, and Pitt, with NC St beating Pitt.
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by matthewr
I have Gonzaga Vs Oklahoma St. and Duke Vs Stanford with Stanford winning it all over Oklahoma.
I have your NC State Wolpack losing in a second round upset to W. Michigan (I read something about a dodgy defence and an injury to some key guy whose 3 pointers account for a significant part of their offence).
Matthew
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by Bob Edwards
I have UConn, Kentucky, Duke, and Pitt in the Final Four, with UConn beating Kentucky.
Ludwig--I'm also 1-3 right now--neither Charlotte nor Florida nor Southern Illinois came through...
Best,
Bob
[This message was edited by Bob Edwards on Thu 18 March 2004 at 21:33.]
Posted on: 18 March 2004 by ErikL
Scooter Sherril is indeed injured, but it's only an ankle injury (I say "only" because I imagine he'll be ready Sunday, should NC St win tomorrow). NC State also has Julius Hodge, voted player of the year in the most talented, most competitive conference (ACC).
But this is called March Madness for a reason. We could see a Final 4 of all #4 and #5 seeds, especially given this year's parity.
<See's that VCU is up at the half and notes I have Wake in the Great 8!> 
