Number 1 rated Bracketologists Final Projection / Selection Sunday Thread.

[hills5]

My two cents:

UNC got the most loaded bottom half of the bracket, but the easiest top half.

KU got the hardest top half, the easiest bottom half.

Zags got the easiest overall.

Nova has a pretty easy path with only one or two tough hurdles.

Wichita State, as most are saying, are a tough, tough 10 seed.

#1 seed most likely to lose early: KU. They have played close games all year and have a brutal path to the elite 8.

#1 seed most likely to coast to the final four: Zags.

Other thoughts?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

As a bball fan, I like our bracket. A likely rematch between UCLA and Kentucky, followed by a likely rematch between us and Kentucky. That's basketball for fans.

 

[RoseHeel]

There is another thread for this, FYI. Hopefully mods merge.

UNC definitely got a long end of a stick for this one. Anything less than an E8 would be a huge disappointment considering the top

(I believe you're a KU fan?) Hopefully KU goes easy on NCCU, if they win their play in match. I'd definitely be worried against Purdue IMO.

Don't know how dook apologists feels they got "screwed". Baylor as a 3 seed is a blessing for any 2 seed, that is if they don't get Lehigh'd their way out of the tourney 1st week.

Am I the only one who feels the West is pretty weak?

 

[Sk1310]

7th #1 seed under Roy in 14 years. He doesnt know how to coach. Maybe it would be 14 #1 seeds out of 14 if he called more time outs?

 

[RoseHeel]

7th #1 seed under Roy in 14 years. He doesnt know how to coach. Maybe it would be 14 #1 seeds out of 14 if he called more time outs?

He'd certainly have a few more wins against K. Not that he cares. He prefers to curbstomp Moo than our actual rival.

 

[Sk1310]

He'd certainly have a few more wins against K. Not that he cares. He prefers to curbstomp Moo than our actual rival.

Haha, ok

 

[hills5]

There is another thread for this, FYI. Hopefully mods merge.

UNC definitely got a long end of a stick for this one. Anything less than an E8 would be a huge disappointment considering the top

(I believe you're a KU fan?) Hopefully KU goes easy on NCCU, if they win their play in match. I'd definitely be worried against Purdue IMO.

Don't know how dook apologists feels they got "screwed". Baylor as a 3 seed is a blessing for any 2 seed, that is if they don't get Lehigh'd their way out of the tourney 1st week.

Am I the only one who feels the West is pretty weak?

Didn't see the other thread.

I am a KU fan. Miami, Izzo, ISU, and Purdue are all strong loss possibilities.

Agree UNC was given an open road. Losing prior to the elite 8 would be a major stumble.

I agree completely the West is weak, hence my statement that Zags have an easy road (relatively).

I don't think Duke got screwed, but I wouldn't underestimate the strength of Baylor. They are an extremely tough out who is prone to sleepwalking. If they show up motivated and locked in, they are a Final 4 caliber team.

 

[gary-7]

There is another thread for this, FYI. Hopefully mods merge.

UNC definitely got a long end of a stick for this one. Anything less than an E8 would be a huge disappointment considering the top

(I believe you're a KU fan?) Hopefully KU goes easy on NCCU, if they win their play in match. I'd definitely be worried against Purdue IMO.

Don't know how dook apologists feels they got "screwed". Baylor as a 3 seed is a blessing for any 2 seed, that is if they don't get Lehigh'd their way out of the tourney 1st week.

Am I the only one who feels the West is pretty weak?

Pretty much everyone feels the West is weakest. It is.
I don't know that we got the long end of the stick but I've seen worse for us. As for dook, they certainly didn't get screwed in their end of the bracket. I do know I would love to see SMU take them down.

 

[RoseHeel]

Pretty much everyone feels the West is weakest. It is.
I don't know that we got the long end of the stick but I've seen worse for us. As for dook, they certainly didn't get screwed in their end of the bracket. I do know I would love to see SMU take them down.

Everything going right almost guarantees us a fairly nice walk to the E8. Only having to deal with 1 of UK or UCLA doesn't hurt. And that's assuming one or both doesn't get knocked before the E8.

Maybe not long stick, but this is a good bracket for us.

 

[RoseHeel]

Haha, ok

Look at last nights game if you need an example.

 

[CrazyHeel]

In our bracket the 3 has beaten the 2 who has beaten the 1. Go figure. If we play focused we should take on UK or UCLA. I'd prefer UCLA, GO HEELS.

 

[HeelFan58]

In our bracket the 3 has beaten the 2 who has beaten the 1. Go figure. If we play focused we should take on UK or UCLA. I'd prefer UCLA, GO HEELS.

Lonzo Ball seems like a bad matchup , but so was the UK guard.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

Lonzo Ball seems like a bad matchup , but so was the UK guard.

Yeah, Lonzo Ball would be a bad matchup, but, like you said, Malik Monk is a worse matchup.

 

[Tru Blu Tar Heel]

No road to the Final Four is easy. Here are some thoughts:

East
SMU as a 6 seed is GROSSLY under seeded. They could easily make the Elite 8, taking out Duke on the way.
Duke could potentially have to play South Carolina in Greenville. That pod includes South Carolina, Marquette, Duke, Troy, North Carolina, Texas Southern, Arkansas, and Seton Hall. Should the SC/Duke matchup happen, you can expect it to be a seriously pro-Gamecock crowd for the round of 32.

West
Mark my words, Gonzaga with NOT make the Final Four. Arizona will knock them out in the Elite Eight.
West Virginia could easily knock the Zags out in the Sweet Sixteen. They could also just as easily lose to Bucknell.
Northwestern got rewarded with their first EVER tournament bid. Their reward? The Zags in the round of 32.

Midwest
Louisville cake walks to the Elite 8. Don't think Dillon Brooks will be enough alone to get the Ducks past them in the Sweet 16.
Kansas also makes the Elite 8, but don't overlook the Cyclones of Iowa State and a potential Sweet 16 matchup.
Louisville wins their Regional Final in a nailbiter.

South
Carolina/Seton Hall could be an interesting 2nd round matchup. Seton Hall is no pushover and just in the last week took Nova to the wire.
UCLA and UK take care of business advancing to their Sweet Sixteen matchup. I really don't know which way that game will go, but I would prefer to have UCLA (Monk is just a matchup nightmare on the wing and outside of Berry and Pinson, I'm not sure we have anyone else to contain Fox).
Also, a Regional Final in Memphis would be considerably more of a hostile crowd should UK be the Heels opponent.

My Elite Eight
Villanova v Baylor
Gonzaga v Arizona
Kansas v Louisville
Carolina v UCLA

Final Four
Nova v Arizona
Louisville v Carolina

Championship
Nova v Carolina

Winner
Carolina 77-75

 

[alabamaheel]

Pretty much everyone feels the West is weakest. It is.
I don't know that we got the long end of the stick but I've seen worse for us. As for dook, they certainly didn't get screwed in their end of the bracket. I do know I would love to see SMU take them down.

Gary thats a flat out lie. You would LOVE to see TROY take em down. LOL

 

[Sk1310]

Look at last nights game if you need an example.

I dont need one

 

[gary-7]

Lonzo Ball seems like a bad matchup , but so was the UK guard.

Monk was a bad matchup for anyone that night.

As for Lonzo, he may be the one who doesn't like the matchup by the time it's done with.

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

I think that South Carolina could pose a problem for Duke. Could also see a championship game against them for all the marbles, so who knows.

I'd much rather play UCLA, especially in Memphis - luckily I think UCLA will win against UK.

Would prefer Louisville takes out KU to not let Roy start feeling weird about that game.

 

[gary-7]

I think that South Carolina could pose a problem for Duke. Could also see a championship game against them for all the marbles, so who knows.

I'd much rather play UCLA, especially in Memphis - luckily I think UCLA will win against UK.

Would prefer Louisville takes out KU to not let Roy start feeling weird about that game.

I saw SC live and they are very long and VERY physical... something dook might not like a dose of. If the dookies don't get zebras to put them on the FT line it could be a battle.

 

[wilsinnc]

South Carolina doesnt have enough offense ro beat duke

 

[strummingram]

TSU is the first point of order. I hope Arkansas can beat Seton Hall because I do NOT like the prospect of playing them. I also don't like the potential of facing Butler.

UK, or UCLA, I'm not concerned with, really. Those teams we can get-up for playing.

I also share in the sentiment that many have shared that Roy does seem to get intimidated by Kansas. But... I think he has to beat Kansas before he retires. It's like part of his "destiny." May the Force Be With Him.

 

[dadika13]

People who think Gonzaga is going to be a fully loaded Arizona team just simply hasn't watched both teams play.

 

[dadika13]

Soooo...just throwing this out there. I've watched him play about 6-7 times...I don't think Lonzo Ball is that good. At all.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

I love how everyone thinks Dook got screwed. Before the ACC tourny, they didnt have a resume of a top 3 seed. What a joke.

#5 seed in the ACC torurney should NEVER get #2 seed in the Big Dance.

 

[jah420]

TSU is the first point of order. I hope Arkansas can beat Seton Hall because I do NOT like the prospect of playing them. I also don't like the potential of facing Butler.
.

Not sure I want to see Arkansas for the sheer fact that they played EXTREMELY dirty against UK the other day. We don't need another Creighton episode in the tourney.

 

[mikeirbyusa]

The Pundits has never won a tournament game. I think any of the top 3 seeds could win on any given night. Should be alot of fun.

Shouldn't shock anyone for one of us 3 to win it all.

 

[trimbornunc86]

With the assumption (god willing) that it comes down to us playing Kentucky or UCLA. Who is a better matchup for us? I havent seen a ton of UCLA, but obvisouly know about some of the players Ball, Leaf, Alford and the fact that they are a great offensive team that doesnt play any defense. We all know about kentucky and how when they are clicking they are scary good and Monk can just go off for 30 in a half.

 

[gteeitup]

With the assumption (god willing) that it comes down to us playing Kentucky or UCLA. Who is a better matchup for us? I havent seen a ton of UCLA, but obvisouly know about some of the players Ball, Leaf, Alford and the fact that they are a great offensive team that doesnt play any defense. We all know about kentucky and how when they are clicking they are scary good and Monk can just go off for 30 in a half.

ucla doesn't defend, so ucla by a wide margin.

#5 seed in the ACC torurney should NEVER get #2 seed in the Big Dance.

that's nonsense...you don't really believe that.

 

[GoNtheDistance]

both UCLA and Kentucky are high quality teams, however, UCLA is a much better match up for us. As others have said, they play little to no defense especially on the perimeter. They also don't have enough quality bigs to keep us off the boards I think.

 

[Steat]

Berry needs to stay out of foul trouble...period.

 

[ACokeForRoy]

Berry needs to stay out of foul trouble...period.

Hicks too.. for the love of God. And JJ needs to find himself before Friday.

 

[Heeelz46]

#5 seed in the ACC torurney should NEVER get #2 seed in the Big Dance.

Are you for real? they just beat 3 top 15 teams in 3 days to win the toughest league in the country. I never thought they should be a one, but to think they didnt earn the 2 is just biased.

 

[HeelFan58]

Although I did mention Ball being a bad matchup and that was a slip up , from here on out I refuse to speculate our future match ups. It "be" bad mojo to count d'em eggs before they hatch.

 

[notashelbyfan]

Lonzo Ball seems like a bad matchup , but so was the UK guard.

We had no Theo when we played UK I think thathe was a big deal on guarding Monk

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Not sure I want to see Arkansas for the sheer fact that they played EXTREMELY dirty against UK the other day. We don't need another Creighton episode in the tourney.

I thought the same thing. Not sure if there is some bad blood between Arkansas and UK, but when I saw them throwing forearm shivers to kids neck/head area off screens and on layups when that game started to get out of hand, I wanted no part in facing them.

If we do play them, I would welcome some "Roy lineups" with Britt/Brob/7th in towards the end of the game (assuming we have a solid lead) to protect the "precious cargo" from a Creighton-like incident.

 

[dadika13]

We had no Theo when we played UK I think thathe was a big deal on guarding Monk

This.

 

[hills5]

both UCLA and Kentucky are high quality teams, however, UCLA is a much better match up for us. As others have said, they play little to no defense especially on the perimeter. They also don't have enough quality bigs to keep us off the boards I think.

To be honest, Roy's teams, IMHO, have a similar style - slightly above average defense, poor defense on the perimeter, and the ability to score in bunches. If they play a team with a similar style, UNC will win. They are simply too good at the things they do well to be bested at those things. Where they get into trouble - again one man's humble opinion - is when they go up with an equally athletic team that plays hard, aggressive D.

 

[MNT-FIEST]

7th #1 seed under Roy in 14 years. He doesnt know how to coach. Maybe it would be 14 #1 seeds out of 14 if he called more time outs?

Yep and 2 more titles

 

[bluesome]

Butler is not as good as some of their teams in the past but they have had some good wins. Also, the last few times UNC has played them, they have struggled. Nobody has mentioned them as a team to look out for. Any thoughts on a possible Butler match up?

 

[Heeelz46]

Butler is not as good as some of their teams in the past but they have had some good wins. Also, the last few times UNC has played them, they have struggled. Nobody has mentioned them as a team to look out for. Any thoughts on a possible Butler match up?

Yeah they were the team that worried me, if they get there of course. We played them in atlantis a few years back and played absolutely awful and got beat. Then I think they beat us in Maui one year before that. On paper they dont belong on the floor with us, but its a stylistic problem. Those were both early season games obviously and unc is a different beast in march, so Id say if we came out swinging wed handle them but its a concern.