Special Event: NCAA Basketball tournaments 2019
March 21, 2019 9:51 AM - Subscribe
It begins! Come in here to root on your fave college basketball team, even if you're wrongheaded in your life choices.
Mr Mitten asks, just how dickinson is the team playing Gonzaga?
["so-so" hand gesture] Fairly. Fairly dickinson.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:59 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
["so-so" hand gesture] Fairly. Fairly dickinson.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:59 AM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
(can we NIT here too? :) )
posted by joycehealy at 10:46 AM on March 21, 2019
posted by joycehealy at 10:46 AM on March 21, 2019
Totally!
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Then UNCG won Tuesday! But Furman lost last night (dammit, but the So Con is still having an AMAZING year). But TCU won last night, NCSU won, Clemson won (I don't claim Clemson but I'll woot for them until we run into them), and it's a good week so far.
If things go as they should, UNCG is going to be playing NCSU at home next weekend, which is going to be highly entertaining, since we beat them last time.
Big dance wise men's side, down with Zag, up with Wofford, and honestly, I'm way more interested in the women's tournament this year.
posted by joycehealy at 10:53 AM on March 21, 2019
If things go as they should, UNCG is going to be playing NCSU at home next weekend, which is going to be highly entertaining, since we beat them last time.
Big dance wise men's side, down with Zag, up with Wofford, and honestly, I'm way more interested in the women's tournament this year.
posted by joycehealy at 10:53 AM on March 21, 2019
Louisville making a comeback now, chipping away at what was once a 19 point Minnesota lead.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:06 AM on March 21, 2019
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:06 AM on March 21, 2019
I hate when games (Minnesota vs. Louisville) go down to the final minutes, and teams foul each other to stop the clock and force free throws.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:30 AM on March 21, 2019
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:30 AM on March 21, 2019
I hate when games (Minnesota vs. Louisville) go down to the final minutes, and teams foul each other to stop the clock and force free throws.
It's widely despised!
I don't think it will get widely adopted, but the Elam ending attempts to fix this and would be really cool I think. TLDR: at first stoppage under 4:00 left to play, turn off the game clock; now, first team to [higher score at that moment + 7] points wins the game. So if it's 58-51 at that point, the first team to 65 wins.
There's a summer pro tournament (TBT) that's used it a couple years. I saw some of the games and it was pretty great and refreshing.
Criticisms include: 1) it eliminates buzzer beaters and 2) the game could end on a foul shot. It's true there's nothing quite as amazing as a buzzer beater, but in the games I saw when one team is in a "next basket wins" state it's pretty intense, and when both teams are in that state it's kinda crazy. And every game wins in a made shot. So there is still drama without a clock. As for ending with a made free throw, it can happen, but yaknow refs gonna ref. I don't think there is anything INHERENTLY WRONG to a game ending on a made free throw, but idk it may be a think like the possession arrow where some people just can't abide, despite it being fine.
(I thought about doing a FPP about the Elam ending, but I think MeFites would probably focus on the trivia that the creator, Nick Elam, is in Mensa, which articles about it rarely fail to mention.)
posted by fleacircus at 4:51 PM on March 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
It's widely despised!
I don't think it will get widely adopted, but the Elam ending attempts to fix this and would be really cool I think. TLDR: at first stoppage under 4:00 left to play, turn off the game clock; now, first team to [higher score at that moment + 7] points wins the game. So if it's 58-51 at that point, the first team to 65 wins.
There's a summer pro tournament (TBT) that's used it a couple years. I saw some of the games and it was pretty great and refreshing.
Criticisms include: 1) it eliminates buzzer beaters and 2) the game could end on a foul shot. It's true there's nothing quite as amazing as a buzzer beater, but in the games I saw when one team is in a "next basket wins" state it's pretty intense, and when both teams are in that state it's kinda crazy. And every game wins in a made shot. So there is still drama without a clock. As for ending with a made free throw, it can happen, but yaknow refs gonna ref. I don't think there is anything INHERENTLY WRONG to a game ending on a made free throw, but idk it may be a think like the possession arrow where some people just can't abide, despite it being fine.
(I thought about doing a FPP about the Elam ending, but I think MeFites would probably focus on the trivia that the creator, Nick Elam, is in Mensa, which articles about it rarely fail to mention.)
posted by fleacircus at 4:51 PM on March 21, 2019 [4 favorites]
Woooo I called the Minnesota upset!
posted by chainsofreedom at 5:55 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by chainsofreedom at 5:55 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Let me be the first to say, my bracket is suffering, and Wofford hasn't even played yet. Sigh. :)
posted by joycehealy at 6:16 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by joycehealy at 6:16 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
My first year doing a bracket. So far not terrible, but such a commitment to pick so many games at once!
posted by gryphonlover at 7:51 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by gryphonlover at 7:51 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
This does say “tournaments”, but I just want to clarify before tomorrow—is this a women’s and men’s tourney thread?
posted by epj at 8:23 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by epj at 8:23 PM on March 21, 2019 [1 favorite]
Yes.
posted by fleacircus at 8:50 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 8:50 PM on March 21, 2019 [2 favorites]
Wofford did it woo!
posted by fleacircus at 12:37 AM on March 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 12:37 AM on March 22, 2019 [4 favorites]
As a Virginia alum, I think this thread needs a trigger warning.
I'm going to try to avoid watching the games today.
posted by LionIndex at 7:43 AM on March 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
I'm going to try to avoid watching the games today.
posted by LionIndex at 7:43 AM on March 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
Come on Hawkeyes!!!!! I like this second-half team much more than the first-half team!
posted by epj at 10:30 AM on March 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by epj at 10:30 AM on March 22, 2019 [3 favorites]
Okay, I didn’t think I needed to worry about the Hawkeye WOMEN at all! What is going ON, women?!?
posted by epj at 12:39 PM on March 22, 2019
posted by epj at 12:39 PM on March 22, 2019
I know it's early early in the game yet, but ... go Garder-Webb! (Sorry, LionIndex).
And Wofford did that and then some. I have no idea what they're doing down there... So Con's been dominated by us and ETSU for a couple years now and then all of a sudden, Wofford was hurting everyone's feelings (including ours, three times. Ouch.) I hope they keep hurting feelings all the way up this bracket and putting some light on the great things going on in the So Con. :)
posted by joycehealy at 12:59 PM on March 22, 2019
And Wofford did that and then some. I have no idea what they're doing down there... So Con's been dominated by us and ETSU for a couple years now and then all of a sudden, Wofford was hurting everyone's feelings (including ours, three times. Ouch.) I hope they keep hurting feelings all the way up this bracket and putting some light on the great things going on in the So Con. :)
posted by joycehealy at 12:59 PM on March 22, 2019
I had a lovely drive through the desert east of my hometown, saw a bunch of flowers (and avoided the weekend crowds), and stopped at Dudley's bakery in the mountains on the way back for a sandwich, and picked up a loaf of sheepherder bread. Just got home and checked the score and we won by 15 and THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY NO REASON FOR CONCERN YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH NOW.
posted by LionIndex at 2:55 PM on March 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 2:55 PM on March 22, 2019 [5 favorites]
Dudley's Bakery! We always used to stop there on the way to Girl Scout Camp, or 6th grade camp, or Borrego Springs, or Julian, or really any time we were within radius. Now I am hungry for sheepherder bread.
In basketball news I am sad that you need cable to see the women's games. Rooting for Cal, but the 8 vs 9 game is ripe for upsets and it's been like 6 years since Cal women did anything but underachieve at this level.
posted by expialidocious at 5:37 PM on March 22, 2019
In basketball news I am sad that you need cable to see the women's games. Rooting for Cal, but the 8 vs 9 game is ripe for upsets and it's been like 6 years since Cal women did anything but underachieve at this level.
posted by expialidocious at 5:37 PM on March 22, 2019
... those Liberty guys look like “we’re not sure how that just happened.”
posted by joycehealy at 6:51 PM on March 22, 2019
posted by joycehealy at 6:51 PM on March 22, 2019
Seems like there's been close to the normal amount of upsets, but a lot of the games the first couple days were closer than they should have been. Virginia blowing it is nothing new, but UNC, Duke and MSU all had a bit of trouble early. Duke really turned on the afterburners the 2nd half though.
posted by LionIndex at 3:49 PM on March 23, 2019
posted by LionIndex at 3:49 PM on March 23, 2019
And then the games today have been almost all blowouts.
posted by LionIndex at 7:51 PM on March 23, 2019
posted by LionIndex at 7:51 PM on March 23, 2019
TIL about the Elam ending (thanks fleacircus). It sounds promising and I hope some leagues will give it a chance.
posted by Tehhund at 8:44 AM on March 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Tehhund at 8:44 AM on March 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
This weekend, argh. We watched our men lose at home by $ALot in the NIT, and while they still went further this year than they have before (first postseason win! Wes is incrementally building a great program) that one still stung. Wofford went out. Most of the underseeds went out in the men's big dance.
Sigh.
But my women's card is still looking good (go Wolfpack! And Louisville! And Notre Dame!) and TCU is still in the NIT, so we'll see. (So is NCSU's men, but I'm not rooting for them after how fussy they got about not going dancing. Sorry, dad.)
posted by joycehealy at 10:54 AM on March 25, 2019
Sigh.
But my women's card is still looking good (go Wolfpack! And Louisville! And Notre Dame!) and TCU is still in the NIT, so we'll see. (So is NCSU's men, but I'm not rooting for them after how fussy they got about not going dancing. Sorry, dad.)
posted by joycehealy at 10:54 AM on March 25, 2019
I'm pumped that both Oregon's women's and men's teams made the Sweet 16! I was at the Oregon women's second round game vs Indiana yesterday, and it was the most into-it crowd I've ever seen at a basketball game in Eugene. Huge eruption when Sabrina got her 10th rebound to complete her triple-double; she got it off of her own missed shot and did it on purpose. She had a monster stat line of 29 points / 10 rebounds / 12 assists, tying Dwayne Wade for the most points in an NCAA tournament triple-double, and extending her own record for most triple-doubles in an NCAA career.
posted by bassooner at 12:06 PM on March 25, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by bassooner at 12:06 PM on March 25, 2019 [4 favorites]
One day I may be able to watch a UVA game again without having a cardiologist on speed dial, but tonight was not that night. Bassooner, Oregon’s defense was top notch and if you’d been playing anyone else I would have been rooting for you.
posted by thecaddy at 9:45 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by thecaddy at 9:45 PM on March 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
I was a bit annoyed that Tennessee-Purdue went to overtime because it pushed the start of the UVA game back and meant that I could only watch the first half before needing to go to bed, but in the end it probably did my stress levels a favor.
posted by LionIndex at 10:13 AM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 10:13 AM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Thanks, thecaddy. Virginia's defense was lights-out too -- it's tough to win a game when you don't make a field goal in the final six minutes. Was glad they managed to keep it close. Now 100% of my rooting attention can go to the women!
posted by bassooner at 1:51 PM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by bassooner at 1:51 PM on March 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Kihei Clark! doo doo doo doo doo doo
Kihei Clark! doo doo doo doo doo doo
Kihei Clark! doo doo doo doo doo doo
Kihei Clark!
posted by LionIndex at 12:53 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Kihei Clark! doo doo doo doo doo doo
Kihei Clark! doo doo doo doo doo doo
Kihei Clark!
posted by LionIndex at 12:53 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Just stopped by to say BUH-BYE DUKE!
Seriously, though, that was an excellent game, up there with Purdue-Tennessee for best game I've seen this year. Both teams played great defense, ran disciplined offenses with clever, multi-touch plays and it came down to a couple of quirky bounces and heads-up plays. Just what you'd expect from the best coach in the game.
I'm talking about Tom Izzo, of course. ;)
(K's pretty good too tho it pains me to admit it.)
posted by martin q blank at 4:42 PM on March 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
Seriously, though, that was an excellent game, up there with Purdue-Tennessee for best game I've seen this year. Both teams played great defense, ran disciplined offenses with clever, multi-touch plays and it came down to a couple of quirky bounces and heads-up plays. Just what you'd expect from the best coach in the game.
I'm talking about Tom Izzo, of course. ;)
(K's pretty good too tho it pains me to admit it.)
posted by martin q blank at 4:42 PM on March 31, 2019 [3 favorites]
It's nice to have a mostly non-blueblood final four, with only one team that's won it all before and two teams getting their first trips.
posted by LionIndex at 4:57 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 4:57 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
A Dukeless tournament always feels better!
posted by fleacircus at 5:33 PM on March 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 5:33 PM on March 31, 2019 [1 favorite]
DUCKS TO THE FINAL FOUR!
posted by bassooner at 10:33 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by bassooner at 10:33 PM on March 31, 2019 [2 favorites]
Seen on twitter: Let's go live to the Virginia Final Four celebration
posted by fleacircus at 11:43 AM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 11:43 AM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Speaking as an MSU grad and a current resident of Minneapolis, this is going to be a fun week. I don't get many chances to take my son to Spartan events, this is our Spring Break, there's a bunch of stuff for him to see. Of course, an actual game? It would be fun to go, but I don't have a spare kidney to sell for a ticket...
posted by caution live frogs at 11:53 AM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by caution live frogs at 11:53 AM on April 1, 2019 [1 favorite]
Saxophonist is an interesting choice to do the national anthem for the final game.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:13 PM on April 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:13 PM on April 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Congrats Virginia fans! and belatedly to Baylor fans!
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:55 PM on April 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:55 PM on April 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
Oh my god how am I going to sleep now?
posted by thecaddy at 9:22 PM on April 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by thecaddy at 9:22 PM on April 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Woooooooooooooooooo!!!
posted by LionIndex at 9:37 PM on April 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by LionIndex at 9:37 PM on April 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
[whispered] The regular season has its delights ofc
posted by fleacircus at 7:58 PM on November 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 7:58 PM on November 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by LobsterMitten at 9:57 AM on March 21, 2019