Sunday's NCAA Tournament Thread (Elite Eight)

[fishwax]

The last two games of the weekend. Winners go to the Final Four.

2:20 PM (11) Virginia Commonwealth vs. (1) Kansas CBS
5:05 PM (4) Kentucky vs. (2) North Carolina CBS

Who’s watching?

:bounce:

[JonLP24]

1. Shit, thanks

Had no idea the games started yet. They started around 1 or 2pm AZ time yesterday. It is around 11:30am over here.

[fishwax]

3. yeah, it seems kind of early

But I think they're always a little earlier on Sunday -- maybe to more closely match what people expect from football or something. :shrug:

Either way, glad I could help! :hi:

[taterguy]

4. They're early on Sunday so 60 Minutes starts close to 7:00 Eastern Time

CBS doesn't care about its Saturday prime-time line-up.

None of the networks do.

[fishwax]

6. ah right, that makes sense n/t

[fishwax]

2. VCU off to a pretty solid start

:bounce:

[WolverineDG]

5. crap

If they win, I'm dead. Not just that none of my picks to the final four will make it, but my friend the Georgetown alum is going to get revenge.... :scared:

:rofl:

dg

[fishwax]

8. uh oh

it's worth losing a bracket, I think, to see an 11 seed make the final four -- but when you bring in rivalries with friends that certainly changes the equation :)

[WolverineDG]

49. In a way, I'm glad the "underdogs" are winning

I do get tired of the same teams & their players getting all the recognition, when many of the other schools have programs & players that are just as good (or as it turns out this year, better). Nice to see them getting their day in the sun. :)

dg

[fishwax]

7. VCU is up 31-17 with 6:21 left in the first half

:wow:

[JonLP24]

9. VCU smoked their teams up until the point they played Florida State

Not sure about their score against USC.

But there is still plenty of time left in the game. :scared:

Go VCU!! :woohoo:

[fishwax]

11. looks like USC was tied at the half and then VCU ran away with the second

kind of like they're running away with this first half :wow: http://espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310750030

You're right, though, about plenty of time. Kansas is bound to make a run at some point, you'd think. But boy are they off right now ...

[JonLP24]

12. I love the first paragraph from the USC game

"DAYTON, Ohio -- VCU sure looked as if it belonged in the tournament Wednesday night."

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[fishwax]

15. lol -- indeed

:rofl:

I thought that was a ridiculous argument from the beginning. Not because a team like Colorado didn't get screwed, but because VCU and UAB had at least as good a claim as USC and Clemson, but everybody was saying how VCU and UAB didn't belong. :eyes:

[Ptah]

10. VCu 39 Kansas 21

:wow: :wow:

[bigwillq]

13. Hoping VCU can hang on!!

:bounce:

[fishwax]

14. I hope so too!

Could be a VCU-Butler national semifinal! :bounce:

[JonLP24]

16. Damn

Kansas creeping back in it. :scared:

[bigwillq]

18. Lead down to 7

:(

[fishwax]

19. I think Steve Kerr is right that VCU is tired

also making poor decisions. That looked like a pretty stupid offensive foul, and now the coach has gotten a technical (but I didn't see why).

[JonLP24]

20. Oh man I'm feeling nervous

and I really don't care about either team. I can't imagine what the coach is feeling right now. Ever since PTAH posted 39-21, Kansas went on a 18-4 run.

[bigwillq]

21. It's all Ptah's fault.

:P ;)

[Ptah]

22. Oh my, what have I done?

[bigwillq]

24. You jinxed VCU for a moment.

But now VCU seems to have things under control again.
:hi:

[bigwillq]

17. That would be an awesome

national semi!!! :bounce:

[fishwax]

23. VCU back up by 9

:bounce:

[JonLP24]

25. Under 4 minutes

3!!!!! SHAZAAM!!!(In honor of Al McCoy)

[fishwax]

27. this is crazy

Each time Kansas starts to get close VCU makes another counter-charge.

:bounce:

[fishwax]

26. VCU up 9 with 3:34 to play

:bounce:

[fishwax]

28. 6 point lead. 1:40 left.

[fishwax]

30. 7 points. 50 seconds.

:bounce:

[fishwax]

31. Make free throws and win the game, VCU!

:wow:

[kentuck]

29. Oh, My!

:-)

[fishwax]

32. .

:woohoo:

[Ptah]

33. Chalk

[JonLP24]

34. !

:rofl:

[fishwax]

35. .

:rofl:

[bigwillq]

39. ha ha ha ha

:rofl:

[Initech]

36. Holy upset Batman!!!

:wow:

[fishwax]

40. .

:woohoo:

[JonLP24]

37. Yes!!

:woohoo:

[fishwax]

41. .

:woohoo:

[bigwillq]

38. VCU!!!!

:bounce:

[fishwax]

42. .

:woohoo:

[underpants]

48. 1996 grad- met my wife there. VCU!!!!!!

:bounce:

[bigwillq]

43. Rooting for UNC in this one.

I can't stand Calipari.

[JonLP24]

44. I don't care who wins in this one

Just rooting for a great game, 10 overtimes hopefully. :D

[fishwax]

45. that's my position too

Go Overtime!

:bounce:

[bigwillq]

47. Yup.

The more basketball the better! :bounce:

[HERVEPA]

46. Me too.

Not the first UKY coach I can't stand.

[Bake]

63. +10000!! Can't stand Calamari either!!

UK made the proverbial deal with the devil when it hired Cal.

We'll see how they do against the Big East. And then we'll see how long before the NCAA erases their 2011 tournament run from the record books becuase of rule violations - and how long it takes for Calamari to land at another school.

Bake
(Yeah, I'm a Louisville fan! What of it?)

[fishwax]

50. North Carolina has made it close again

two-point game at the under-four time out ...

[JonLP24]

51. Looks like it is going to be a good one down the stretch

:bounce:

[JonLP24]

52. That 3 was huge!!

Oooooh looks like foot was on the line

on edit-It was good. From the side you could see it was a 3

[fishwax]

54. wow, that was very close

Looks like Kentucky is going to win this one ...

[pokerfan]

53. I heard they're going to expand the tournament again next year

I say let in everyone: http://www.youtube.com/embed/cxyPeME9TbI (Onion News) :rofl:

[fishwax]

55. So the Final Four is set: Kentucky v. UConn and VCU v. Butler

:bounce:

[JonLP24]

56. Traditional powers on one side

Mid-majors on the other.

Interesting that Butler could be turning into a power. They obviously got a good coach and I imagine more recruits will want to go there after these last 2 years.

[NewJeffCT]

57. Gonzaga has been consistently good for several years now

So, Butler could end up being just as good, if not better, based on final 2 last year and final 4 (so far) this year.

[bigwillq]

59. Gonzaga never made one Final 4, let alone two back-to-back

Just one Elite 8 appearance (1999).

[rurallib]

58. good news also theat Stevens plans on staying at Butler.

Hometown boy made good.
SonIL went to HS with him.

[kentuck]

60. He would be foolish to say anything else...

with his going to the Final Four with a chance to win the National Championship, don't you think??

[rurallib]

61. well, true. But for some reason I believe him.

[Enthusiast]

64. That would make him a hero

in my mind. Butler has been quite an inspiration two years in a row.

[gratuitous]

62. And with the Jayhawk Shock . . .

My last bracket bites the dust. In fact, in our entire office (15 entries, not a lot of participation), 11 entries got totally skunked on Final Four picks, and none of the correct folks has their pick going any further. Our pool is already done for. But I came in third, which was the lowest paid placement.