Bracket Predictions

[D-West & PO-Z]

Gotta couple tough ones I cant decide between for my bracket. Anyone have any insights into these teams or any real big feeling about who will win?

Texas/Nevada----think I am leaning Nevada

Houston/SD State---- pretty sure going SD State

URI/Oklahoma---- leaning URI

Thanks for any help!


PS......is there a xavierhoops bracket pool this year?

[Emp]

Nevada lost their point guard.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Nevada lost their point guard.

Yeah I knew that back in Feb. Texas has some guys dinged up too.

My biggest reason leaning towards Nevada is their shooting. And Texas is a pretty poor shooting team from 3 and FT line.

Bamba scares me though.

[X-band '01]

Yeah I knew that back in Feb. Texas has some guys dinged up too.

My biggest reason leaning towards Nevada is their shooting. And Texas is a pretty poor shooting team from 3 and FT line.

Bamba scares me though.

That would explain why Nevada lost twice to San Diego State.

[OTRMUSKIE]

Whatever team can beat UC pick them. I chose Nevada for that reason

[D-West & PO-Z]

Whatever team can beat UC pick them. I chose Nevada for that reason

Yeah I mean whoever I pick I will be picking to beat UC.

[GoMuskies]

I think Oklahoma massacres Rhody. URI has been awful down the stretch.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I think Oklahoma massacres Rhody. URI has been awful down the stretch.

OU been pretty awful too. Is the difference maker that they have the best player?

[GoMuskies]

OU been pretty awful too. Is the difference maker that they have the best player?

Yes, and when they were good they were much better. And when they sucked at least it was against good teams.

[muskiefan82]

You can't pick a team with a fan base I like to call URInation.

[bleedXblue]

Nevada lost their point guard.

Xavier lost their point guard last year and went to the Elite 8. Just sayin.....

[X-band '01]

Xavier also had more time to adjust a new PG than Nevada did, though.

[THRILLHOUSE]

I've watched most of Texas' games this year and went to a couple so I can provide some insight on that one. I've gone back and forth on it, really is a coin flip game. Complete contrast in styles - Nevada has a good offense/bad defense, Texas a bad offense/good defense.

I'm leaning towards Nevada even if they haven't been as good after their PG went down. The Texas offense can be outright dreadful, which makes it hard for me to trust them. I think it will come down to pace. If it can be a slower, lower scoring game, Texas will take it. If Nevada's offense is clicking, then the Horns will be in trouble since they can go long stretches without scoring.

One positive for UT is, Mo Bamba appears to be healthy again. He's not 100%, but reports are he shouldn't be limited. So their defense should be at about as full strength as it can be. While I have UC in the S16, I actually think if Texas gets past Nevada, they'd have a shot vs. UC. Since the bearcats also have a weak offense, even with UT's offensive struggles, the horns should never be completely out of that one. And they'd have the frontcourt to deal with Gary Clark. UT might need an uncharacteristically good 3 point shooting night to pull that upset off though. (One of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the nation.)

[D-West & PO-Z]

I've watched most of Texas' games this year and went to a couple so I can provide some insight on that one. I've gone back and forth on it, really is a coin flip game. Complete contrast in styles - Nevada has a good offense/bad defense, Texas a bad offense/good defense.

I'm leaning towards Nevada even if they haven't been as good after their PG went down. The Texas offense can be outright dreadful, which makes it hard for me to trust them. I think it will come down to pace. If it can be a slower, lower scoring game, Texas will take it. If Nevada's offense is clicking, then the Horns will be in trouble since they can go long stretches without scoring.

One positive for UT is, Mo Bamba appears to be healthy again. He's not 100%, but reports are he shouldn't be limited. So their defense should be at about as full strength as it can be. While I have UC in the S16, I actually think if Texas gets past Nevada, they'd have a shot vs. UC. Since the bearcats also have a weak offense, even with UT's offensive struggles, the horns should never be completely out of that one. And they'd have the frontcourt to deal with Gary Clark. UT might need an uncharacteristically good 3 point shooting night to pull that upset off though. (One of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the nation.)

Thanks!

[THRILLHOUSE]

Thanks!

No problem!

As far as your other games go - I also struggled with UH/SDSU. I went SDSU, but that could be due to my anti-aac bias. Both OU & URI sucked down the stretch and neither is going to beat Duke, so this one shouldn't really hurt you even if you get it wrong. I went OU but didn't put much thought into it.

[GetUp5]

Xavier also had more time to adjust a new PG than Nevada did, though.

The loss of Lindsey Drew hurts Nevada more from a depth standpoint. He was easily the least important of their 5 starters. The Martin brothers, Jordan Caroline and Kendall Stephens are Nevada. They'll only have a 6, maybe 7 man rotation so if Texas/UC can get them in foul trouble, goodnight.

[D-West & PO-Z]

No problem!

As far as your other games go - I also struggled with UH/SDSU. I went SDSU, but that could be due to my anti-aac bias. Both OU & URI sucked down the stretch and neither is going to beat Duke, so this one shouldn't really hurt you even if you get it wrong. I went OU but didn't put much thought into it.

Oh yeah I have the AAC bias as well. I have UC and Wichita both losing round 2.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Oh yeah I have the AAC bias as well. I have UC and Wichita both losing round 2.

I have Wichita losing to the Fightin' D'Antonis of Marshall!

[GoMuskies]

I have Wichita losing to the Fightin' D'Antonis of Marshall!

Wichita State will beat Marshall by however many they feel like. Then they'll narrowly beat Murray State in the second round. Villanova will crush the dreams of all of Shockerdom in the Sweet Sixteen.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Wichita State will beat Marshall by however many they feel like. Then they'll narrowly beat Murray State in the second round. Villanova will crush the dreams of all of Shockerdom in the Sweet Sixteen.

As much as I like Gregg Marshall, I'm just not that big on this years Shocker team. But again, I totally admit anti-aac bias is partially clouding my judgment.

[GoMuskies]

They're not that great. But neither is Marshall. And Murray State's only got one upset in them.

[SemajParlor]

Wichita St is such a better team than Marshall. But I don't know - they're going to have to be ready to score. Not very well trained for that in the AAC!

[SemajParlor]

Going with the upset no one sees coming - UNCG over Gonzaga. Beat Wofford twice, (who beat UNC) beat NC State at NC State. Beat a pretty good, as we know, Eastern Tennessee team. Would make me very happy!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Going with the upset no one sees coming - UNCG over Gonzaga. Beat Wofford twice, (who beat UNC) beat NC State at NC State. Beat a pretty good, as we know, Eastern Tennessee team. Would make me very happy!

That would be AWESOME! Hoping to see a UNCG vs SD State matchup in the second round.

[drudy23]

Some upsets concerning Mich, UNC, and Gonzaga would be even better. The bracket luck gods have been with us at times...I'd take some more.

[xu82]

Some upsets concerning Mich, UNC, and Gonzaga would be even better. The bracket luck gods have been with us at times...I'd take some more.

Sometimes the most important stuff happens in games you are NOT in. That is so true.

[GoMuskies]

The bracket luck gods have been with us at times

Though not often enough. We've been in three regional finals. Three #1 seed opponents. Dammit.

[markchal]

Though not often enough. We've been in three regional finals. Three #1 seed opponents. Dammit.

Eh, I think we've gotten a fair share of luck. Like Duke losing to a 15, and I think we got some help for our last s16 (although no favors last year).

[GoMuskies]

No favors any of the three Elite Eight years other than #7 WV beating #2 Dook. We've gotten some help to the Sweet Sixteen, but that's not that exciting anymore.

[SemajParlor]

Hoping us having to play 6,3,2,1 last year erases any recent good luck we've had!

[SkyWalker]

Though not often enough. We've been in three regional finals. Three #1 seed opponents. Dammit.

We will not have to play a #1 seed this year in the regional finals!!!

[GoMuskies]

We will not have to play a #1 seed this year in the regional finals!!!

Nice!

[Snipe]

I am such a homer when it comes for picking and rooting for Big East teams. I have the Hall over Kansas.

I am afraid that UC has a great path for them. They are going to the Elite 8 and will play the winner of UVA, Zona & UK for a chance to meet us in the Final Four. That will be something special for the rivalry.

[Emp]

I am such a homer when it comes for picking and rooting for Big East teams. I have the Hall over Kansas.

I am afraid that UC has a great path for them. They are going to the Elite 8 and will play the winner of UVA, Zona & UK for a chance to meet us in the Final Four. That will be something special for the rivalry.

Especially the post game handshake.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I'm a BE homer as well. Hasnt served me well in tourney in the past though.

I made last minute switch this morning. HAd the ASU/Cuse winner beating TCU but now that I know its Syracuse I switched to TCU winning.

[SemajParlor]

It's tough not to be a Big East homer when you watch some of the other conference games. We're all spoiled by how the BE teams run their offenses.

[xu koop scoop]

Hoping us having to play 6,3,2,1 last year erases any recent good luck we've had!

We didn't get a break in any rounds last year, which makes sense being an 11 seed. This year we're looking at a 16, 8, 4 & 2 if all top seeds win. And all 3 Elite 8's we were taken down by a #1. We might win it all if we don't have to play any #1 seeds. Any prayers for me appreciated as facial pain, as in it feeling electrocuted or on fire causing little ability to talk & I eat/drink Ensures. Surgery coming up 2 days after finals. I have to travel to Orlando,FL for surgery.

[xu koop scoop]

I always root for Big East teams. We came from smaller, "mid major" conferences so I can't have any bias against AAC teams or A10 teams as they are what we were. My biggest bias is against Kentucky. I have many UC friends as well as many XU friends. Most like both teams. The UC friends, in particular, hate UK with a passion. I am surprised I don't read anti-UK comments much on this board.

[XUFan09]

Yes, and when they were good they were much better. And when they sucked at least it was against good teams.

Yep. Really, if you take Oklahoma's first 16 games and their last 16 games as separate entities, the average of the two comes out to a reasonable resume on the back-end of at-larges. The Committee views all games the same, no matter when they happened. They were really good...and then they weren't.

Remember that they were #16 on the S-curve in the early reveal. That was appropriate at that time if you looked at the Nitty Gritty sheets. Everyone knew they were on a downward trend, and I bet if you asked Committee members, they would have expected them to drop from there as more games were played. Oklahoma went 2-5 since that reveal with no more bad losses, and they dropped all the way from #16 to the #37-40 range. With the new games, the Committee clearly determined that the weak conference start was part of a larger trend rather than a temporary fluctuation and adjusted accordingly, but Oklahoma had already built up their resume enough to not be excluded altogether.

[Xavier]

It's tough not to be a Big East homer when you watch some of the other conference games. We're all spoiled by how the BE teams run their offenses.

Ever since Creighton a few years ago bowing out early I haven't really picked many Big East teams outside of X/Nova.

[SemajParlor]

Going with the upset no one sees coming - UNCG over Gonzaga. Beat Wofford twice, (who beat UNC) beat NC State at NC State. Beat a pretty good, as we know, Eastern Tennessee team. Would make me very happy!

Hey now.

[atljar]

Going with the upset no one sees coming - UNCG over Gonzaga. Beat Wofford twice, (who beat UNC) beat NC State at NC State. Beat a pretty good, as we know, Eastern Tennessee team. Would make me very happy!

Looking like a real possibility. UNGC up by 2, 1:40 left

[GoMuskies]

I think I can go ahead and throw my bracket away if Gonzaga loses. I only have them winning twice (like most others probably), but between them and OK it will just show me how this year's going to go for me.

[xudash]

Looking like a real possibility. UNGC up by 2, 1:40 left

And they probably managed to just piss it away on a stupid lob pass attempt, followed by an even dumber drive effort.

Then the Zaga freshman acts like he's a cold blooded killer.

[atljar]

I think youre safe. UNGC giving it away, including the dumbest offensive foul Ive seen in quite some time.

[paulxu]

My bracket sucks. I thought for sure Oklahoma was good for one round.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Gotta couple tough ones I cant decide between for my bracket. Anyone have any insights into these teams or any real big feeling about who will win?

Texas/Nevada----think I am leaning Nevada

Houston/SD State---- pretty sure going SD State

URI/Oklahoma---- leaning URI

Thanks for any help!


PS......is there a xavierhoops bracket pool this year?

Went URI, SD State, and Nevada.

1-0 so far but SD state down 10 at half, Nevada tips tomorrow.

[THRILLHOUSE]

I have Wichita losing to the Fightin' D'Antonis of Marshall!

My bracket sucks thanks to Arizona, but I got this one. Woo!

[Snipe]

I'm a BE homer as well. Hasnt served me well in tourney in the past though.

I made last minute switch this morning. HAd the ASU/Cuse winner beating TCU but now that I know its Syracuse I switched to TCU winning.

I did the same thing because I hat Jimbo. And dammit I got the same result as you too.


Ever since Creighton a few years ago bowing out early I haven't really picked many Big East teams outside of X/Nova.

Creighton shit the bed and missed a great chance in the first round. Man do they suck in the Tournament. Truly awful.

[X-man]

I picked Nevada (I also have them beating UC), URI, Marshall, and Butler in my bracket. I also had UVa going to the Final Four and as a Big East homer, had all BE teams (including the Friars and Creighton) winning. After the first round, I am 25-7 with more losses only coming from picking UVa to win 3 more games.