Special Event: NCAA Basketball Tournament 2018
March 14, 2018 7:55 PM - Subscribe
Discuss the NCAA Tournament here! If you want to get in on the action, a brackets post is up on MetaTalk.
ARRRRRRGH. 4 points. We lost by 4 points.
(We'll be back. Wes won't let this one go.)
posted by joycehealy at 1:39 PM on March 15, 2018
(We'll be back. Wes won't let this one go.)
posted by joycehealy at 1:39 PM on March 15, 2018
Texas Southern started 0-13, but it seemed like they played half the preseason top 25 while doing it. Their out of conference schedule was insane.
posted by LionIndex at 5:47 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 5:47 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Upon further research. That was a bit exaggerated, but they did play 6 RPI top 50 teams, all of which are in the tournament - Gonzaga, Kansas, Syracuse, Clemson, Ohio State, and TCU; plus a handful of other power conference teams like Baylor and Oregon.
posted by LionIndex at 5:59 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 5:59 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah toughest nonconference schedule in the land, acc. to kenpom.
posted by fleacircus at 7:18 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 7:18 AM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Welp, I'm out in my work brackets. They pick for us and I got Iona. Oh well!
posted by cooker girl at 11:29 AM on March 16, 2018
posted by cooker girl at 11:29 AM on March 16, 2018
Wait, what? You have a work bracket where they pick for you, and everybody gets a team, and then the person whose team wins is the winner?
posted by box at 1:17 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by box at 1:17 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
On the one hand that is an outrage. On the other hand, why not it could be fun.
posted by fleacircus at 3:43 PM on March 16, 2018
posted by fleacircus at 3:43 PM on March 16, 2018
Time to settle in and watch TCU shore up my bracket. Go FROGS! :)
posted by joycehealy at 7:02 PM on March 16, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 7:02 PM on March 16, 2018
These announcers are already riding Jim Boeheim's junk and I'm going to need. them. to. stop.
posted by joycehealy at 7:04 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by joycehealy at 7:04 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
It will be sad when Virginia puts the tongs to UMBC and wins by 19. But right now at halftime I just want to dream.
posted by fleacircus at 7:28 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 7:28 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
I cant believe they're up 38-24 with 16 minutes left in the second half.
Is it going to happen? Is this the year?!
posted by cashman at 7:53 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
Is it going to happen? Is this the year?!
posted by cashman at 7:53 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
538 has UMBC at 75% to win.... it can't be...
posted by fleacircus at 7:56 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 7:56 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
If your excitement metric doesn't have this game at eleventy billion, it's a bad metric.
posted by fleacircus at 7:59 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 7:59 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
Has the umbc guard that is 5’8 and 140 lbs played the entire game? I dont recall seeing him come out, and I dont have audio on.
posted by cashman at 8:02 PM on March 16, 2018
posted by cashman at 8:02 PM on March 16, 2018
I really really hope this is the year for y'all; I so want to see someone else's underdog do well. (I am still so sad for my guys, 24 hours later. 4 points. 4 POINTS. And that foul on Alonso towards the end. I cannot believe they called him for that. My actual facts comment to my class (we'd cued up the last couple of minutes to watch while I was handing back their tests, and they got to giggle at how into it I was; my response was that they have no idea and that I could be doing much more worse things than obsessing over basketball this month) was "What the HELL did we end up playing Duke when I wasn't looking? That was some Sir Trips a Lot Mess." I know we'll be back, but this year hurts.)
posted by joycehealy at 8:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by joycehealy at 8:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah 11 has been out there the whole time I think
posted by fleacircus at 8:07 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 8:07 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
UMBC winning screws my bracket but I am kind of hoping they win because I love an underdog.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:08 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 8:08 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Did Jim Boeheim pay off these refs?
posted by joycehealy at 8:14 PM on March 16, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 8:14 PM on March 16, 2018
joycehealy the win % graph for UNCG's game is a tale of hope and heartbreak.
posted by fleacircus at 8:15 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 8:15 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
56-44 UMBC up with 4 minutes left. Virginia trapping, UMBC players cramping and tired. This is crazy. UMBC just has to win. It’ll be devastating if they cant hold on. Come on basketball gods!
posted by cashman at 8:21 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 8:21 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
holy shit that corner 3
538 has UMBC at >99% to win now
posted by fleacircus at 8:23 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
538 has UMBC at >99% to win now
posted by fleacircus at 8:23 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wowwwwwwww
posted by cashman at 8:33 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 8:33 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
holy fuckin shit y'all
posted by fleacircus at 8:34 PM on March 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by fleacircus at 8:34 PM on March 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
fleacircus, thank you for that (I had no idea there were such graphs).
I mean... heck, last year we tied for the regular seasons championship, lost the conference championship, choked in the NIT. This year we rolled up the most wins in program history, schooled ETSU a couple of times, won the regular season (Jordy kissed the floor on senior night, and I about cried), nailed the conference championship (though we have gravity to thank for that Wofford win), went dancing, and held ducking ZAG to 4 points. We are going to be back, and even better, next year.
Wes is building a program, and it's amazing to be here watching it happen.
And I'll stop thread flooding about it now. :)
posted by joycehealy at 8:34 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
I mean... heck, last year we tied for the regular seasons championship, lost the conference championship, choked in the NIT. This year we rolled up the most wins in program history, schooled ETSU a couple of times, won the regular season (Jordy kissed the floor on senior night, and I about cried), nailed the conference championship (though we have gravity to thank for that Wofford win), went dancing, and held ducking ZAG to 4 points. We are going to be back, and even better, next year.
Wes is building a program, and it's amazing to be here watching it happen.
And I'll stop thread flooding about it now. :)
posted by joycehealy at 8:34 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
A 16 seed finally beat a 1 seed. Damn!! Didnt see this coming at all.
posted by cashman at 8:35 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 8:35 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was thinking earlier today about how few stunning upsets there were so far.
(I had no idea there were such graphs)
There's the 538 graphs, which live update. I use kenpom a lot because it is full of stat goodness, but it costs like $20/year.
Don't worry about flooding a thread that's what they're for!
posted by fleacircus at 8:48 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
(I had no idea there were such graphs)
There's the 538 graphs, which live update. I use kenpom a lot because it is full of stat goodness, but it costs like $20/year.
Don't worry about flooding a thread that's what they're for!
posted by fleacircus at 8:48 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
WHAT IS HAPPEN.
WHAT IS HAPPEN.
That is not at all the 16-1 upset I picked!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
WHAT IS HAPPEN.
That is not at all the 16-1 upset I picked!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:50 PM on March 16, 2018 [9 favorites]
Watching UMBC break the press each time was like a heroic journey, watching a little 5'8" navigate around hostile giants doing everything possible, playing smart and ruthless defense (and getting away with a lot of physicality tbh...) In the second half UMBC was killing some time by being slow to inbound or slow to pick up the inbound... By the end, the Virginia players were picking up the ball and pushing it into the UMBC player's hands and shoving him back out of bounds to force them to inbound faster. Just amazing.
I'm a KU fan, and every time KU gets a 1 seed I worry this will be the year. It has always felt like that was KU's special doom. And this year everyone was picking it, everyone was slavering for it. And now the doom is lifted yay.
posted by fleacircus at 9:00 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm a KU fan, and every time KU gets a 1 seed I worry this will be the year. It has always felt like that was KU's special doom. And this year everyone was picking it, everyone was slavering for it. And now the doom is lifted yay.
posted by fleacircus at 9:00 PM on March 16, 2018 [5 favorites]
Damn it, TCU. Just damn it.
posted by joycehealy at 9:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by joycehealy at 9:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
I am 51. I have been watching the tournament in earnest since I was 12. I have never, ever seen anything like UMBC. I cried tears of joy first, then fear next, because my beloved K-State Wildcats face them on Sunday.
posted by donnagirl at 9:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 9:03 PM on March 16, 2018 [8 favorites]
I need Missouri to pick it up.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 9:11 PM on March 16, 2018
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 9:11 PM on March 16, 2018
I need Missouri to pick it up.
What, the pieces of your bracket?
posted by cashman at 9:50 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
What, the pieces of your bracket?
posted by cashman at 9:50 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
What even matters anymore!
posted by cashman at 9:51 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 9:51 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]
I make a joke bracket every year, and pick the team closest to me to win, meaning that, for example, I have URI vs. Providence in the final game.
Underdogs that bracket has correctly picked include Marshal, Butler, Syracuse, URI, Loyola Chicago, Buffalo, and finally, UMBC.
It's currently only running 30 points (and 300 PPR remaining) behind my real bracket.
posted by damayanti at 4:49 AM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Underdogs that bracket has correctly picked include Marshal, Butler, Syracuse, URI, Loyola Chicago, Buffalo, and finally, UMBC.
It's currently only running 30 points (and 300 PPR remaining) behind my real bracket.
posted by damayanti at 4:49 AM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
I’ve never been so happy about my bracket being busted.
I even roused mr. needled out of bed to come watch the last minutes of the UMBC game, telling him history was being made.
posted by needled at 6:24 AM on March 17, 2018 [5 favorites]
I even roused mr. needled out of bed to come watch the last minutes of the UMBC game, telling him history was being made.
posted by needled at 6:24 AM on March 17, 2018 [5 favorites]
UMBC FPP
(I know I mis-punctuated their full name, sent a mod mail about it already)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:23 AM on March 17, 2018 [4 favorites]
(I know I mis-punctuated their full name, sent a mod mail about it already)
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:23 AM on March 17, 2018 [4 favorites]
Woooooo, UMBC!
I didn't pick them, and UVA losing has completely shredded my bracket, but the Terps couldn't even get it together enough to get invited to the dance, so gooooooooooooooooooo Retrievers!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by chainsofreedom at 8:32 AM on March 17, 2018 [4 favorites]
I didn't pick them, and UVA losing has completely shredded my bracket, but the Terps couldn't even get it together enough to get invited to the dance, so gooooooooooooooooooo Retrievers!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by chainsofreedom at 8:32 AM on March 17, 2018 [4 favorites]
I missed all the excitement last night, but I just watched that Florida vs. Texas Tech game and man to have two shots to tie it in the last ten seconds. I don't have a dog in that hunt but I was still shoutin' at my TV, y'all.
posted by ob1quixote at 8:18 PM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ob1quixote at 8:18 PM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Michigan at the buzzer!
posted by Barack Spinoza at 9:29 PM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 9:29 PM on March 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Louisville (women) are shooting 70% against Marquette at the end of the first half... they are so much fun to watch.
posted by joycehealy at 9:49 AM on March 18, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 9:49 AM on March 18, 2018
Dear ESPN: Right now, I don't care about Sam Fury's cats, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
posted by joycehealy at 10:42 AM on March 18, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 10:42 AM on March 18, 2018
I forget whatever men's game I was just watching (it was dull) because I have tuned into the last few minutes of the Oregon women trying, for the first time ever, to beat Tennessee. They are up 54-42 with about three minutes to go. Very exciting! Much turnovers!
posted by rtha at 12:40 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 12:40 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
And that is two ACC tickets punched for the Sweet Sixteen. My Wolfpack are going for the first time since 2007! Let's hope Duke, FSU, UVA, and Notre Dame rolls it up, too. :)
(Seriously, if you're not watching the women's tournament this year, you're missing out.)
posted by joycehealy at 1:22 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
(Seriously, if you're not watching the women's tournament this year, you're missing out.)
posted by joycehealy at 1:22 PM on March 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I know I said this morning that this Chapel Hill team was overrated… But am I seeing what I’m seeing?
posted by joycehealy at 4:12 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 4:12 PM on March 18, 2018
Technically, UMBC's five points in a second-round game is an all-time record for a 16th seed.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:04 PM on March 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:04 PM on March 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
Ticket #3!!!
posted by joycehealy at 6:25 PM on March 18, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 6:25 PM on March 18, 2018
I wasn't near a TV today but I was watching scores, and what the crap... Two bizarre choke jobs by MSU and Cinci, two out-of-nowhere beatdowns of Auburn and North Carolina. This has been a really weird tournament.
The increasing likelihood of a Kentucky/Duke final is depressing, though.
posted by fleacircus at 12:37 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
The increasing likelihood of a Kentucky/Duke final is depressing, though.
posted by fleacircus at 12:37 AM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Dear FSU: please?
posted by joycehealy at 4:46 PM on March 19, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 4:46 PM on March 19, 2018
Dear FSU: please?
Lose in the next round? Yes, of course, dear fan.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:59 PM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lose in the next round? Yes, of course, dear fan.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:59 PM on March 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wait, what? You have a work bracket where they pick for you, and everybody gets a team, and then the person whose team wins is the winner?
Yep! They do a breakfast pick thing, where everyone shows up and they conference in the Dayton office and the head of HR draws the names and the teams. Doesn't cost anything but if you win you get a gift card or something.
In my department, we do the same thing but on a smaller scale. So I was wrong up there when I said I was out. I managed to draw three Texas teams and two of them are still in (Texas Tech and Texas A&M). This one costs $2 per person and I can't remember if the winner gets the cash or a gift card bought with the cash.
I wouldn't participate if it was done in any other way, so it's kind of fun. I just don't care about basketball to make my own brackets.
posted by cooker girl at 1:18 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yep! They do a breakfast pick thing, where everyone shows up and they conference in the Dayton office and the head of HR draws the names and the teams. Doesn't cost anything but if you win you get a gift card or something.
In my department, we do the same thing but on a smaller scale. So I was wrong up there when I said I was out. I managed to draw three Texas teams and two of them are still in (Texas Tech and Texas A&M). This one costs $2 per person and I can't remember if the winner gets the cash or a gift card bought with the cash.
I wouldn't participate if it was done in any other way, so it's kind of fun. I just don't care about basketball to make my own brackets.
posted by cooker girl at 1:18 PM on March 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
It is Thursday and time for allllll the basketball to start again. The men play today and tomorrow; the women play tomorrow and Saturday. Men's side, my doctor yesterday was not feeling warm and fuzzy about her Michigan guys having to go up against Texas A&M, and I am sincerely hoping that FSU's men's team tromples Zag to bits (sorry not sorry, any Zag fans). (I still don't know who to root for in the Duke/Syracuse contest; that one is a bit of a divide by 0 thing).
Women's side, all I can say is go Notre Dame, Louisville, NCSU, and Duke! The way things ended up distributed, we could end up with an all ACC final four, which would be something else. :)
posted by joycehealy at 7:48 AM on March 22, 2018
Women's side, all I can say is go Notre Dame, Louisville, NCSU, and Duke! The way things ended up distributed, we could end up with an all ACC final four, which would be something else. :)
posted by joycehealy at 7:48 AM on March 22, 2018
GO RAMBLERS!! not religious but can't help rooting for more Sister Jean!
posted by repoman at 8:01 AM on March 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by repoman at 8:01 AM on March 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
I cried tears of joy first, then fear next, because my beloved K-State Wildcats face them on Sunday.
Congrats to your cats! It's amazing how they've got to the Elite 8 with hardly any minutes from Dean Wade.
posted by fleacircus at 3:52 AM on March 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Congrats to your cats! It's amazing how they've got to the Elite 8 with hardly any minutes from Dean Wade.
posted by fleacircus at 3:52 AM on March 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
It is amazing. I am not psyched about taking on yet another America's favorite/Madness Cinderella but this is an incredible, improbable run.
posted by donnagirl at 5:22 AM on March 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 5:22 AM on March 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
omfg aaaaaaahhhh
posted by fleacircus at 4:36 PM on March 25, 2018
posted by fleacircus at 4:36 PM on March 25, 2018
Y'all, if you're not watching Notre Dame and Oregon, y'all are missing out. This is a fast tight close game, so far, and if women were taught to dunk... these folks would be dunking it left and right. Damn.
posted by joycehealy at 6:27 PM on March 26, 2018
posted by joycehealy at 6:27 PM on March 26, 2018
Watching the Loyola-Michigan game on TNT, which has a UMich focused broadcast with difference announcers than TBS. There's been a lot of crowd shots of UM fans,who all looked like they were at a funeral for the first 3/4 of the game.
posted by riruro at 5:11 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by riruro at 5:11 PM on March 31, 2018
Congratulation to Layola for getting this far. I think I heard an announcer say this was only the 4th time an 11 seed made it to the Final Four.
posted by riruro at 5:13 PM on March 31, 2018
posted by riruro at 5:13 PM on March 31, 2018
Anike with the two game winners in back to back games incredible.
posted by cashman at 6:55 PM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 6:55 PM on April 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by joycehealy at 4:35 AM on March 15, 2018