[NbanflguyParticipant]

I thought it would be good for us to have one thread to post some of our picks and get feedback on it. Also a good place to come if you are having trouble picking a certain matchup.

I will go first,

What do you guys think of Ohio over Michigan?

I was not impressed at all with Michigan in the Big 10 tournament. They were lucky to get past Minnesota in OT and they got destroyed by Ohio State. Definatly not playing their best basketball come tourney time.

Michigan lives and dies by the 3. When the 3’s are going in they are difficult to beat, but Ohio is one of the best in the nation at defending the 3. They only allow opponents to shoot 29% from 3. Michigan is also very good at taking care of the ball, but Ohio ranks among the nation’s top-10 schools in both steals and turnover margin.

On the offensive end, Ohio does not shoot very well, but they are a very good at rebounding their own misses.

Michigan struggles at offensive rebounding, but Ohio struggles at defensive rebounding.

Michigan had the harder schedule and is more battle tested, but Ohio state did play Louisville strong in a 5 point loss.

This should be a very fun matchup for the fans, but I do not like the matchup for Michigan and am leaning towards Ohio.

 

 

[F_DA_POParticipant]

I’m having the most trouble with the Syracuse bracket. I can’t decide between FSU, Vanderbilt, OSU or Syracuse. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harvard pulled an upset because Vandy has lost to a 12-14 seed 4 consecutive years. Right now I have Vandy vs. FSU in the elite 8.

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 I think Michigan is too talented to loose to Ohio, even if they play poorly, they’d have to play really bad and Ohio would have to play well to win. That said, I see Temple bouncing Michigan in the next round, and making a run against UNC. 

 

I have Ohio St coming out of the east, I think ‘Cuse is weak could fall early to Kansas St.  Sullinger is the best player in that region and nobody will have an answer for him, takes the buckeyes to the final 4.

[ChrisCrossParticipant]

 I’m struggling picking a team from the west. Not overly impressed with Michigan St, I could see them winning their region or loosing 2nd rd to Memphis/St. Louis. I like Missouri, but very impressed with Florida, they match up perfectly, and could see tigers loosing early also. Marquette is an enigma to me, looked poor loosing to UofL, but Crowder and Johnson-Odom are dangerous scoring duo, but at times they struggle to score. Louisville played well and won big east tourney, but I call fool’s gold, kinda got lucky with match up’s. Siva is terribly incosistant, and kills them with turnovers and bad descions, I think they loose to Davidson. I’m not sure with New Mexico, not seen them play, but know they have 3 guys who can score very well. They move the ball well(10th in apg), and strong rebounding (29 in rpg), so they seem solid all-around. Didn’t play any good teams out of their conference, but did go 4-2 vs San Diego St and UNLV, but still not sure how they stack up vs elite teams. For some odd reason I want to pick New Mexico, but for now going to pick Missouri, unless anyone can give me some insight into New Mexico.

[bigblackNbeautifulParticipant]

 The lobos pound people in the paint. Thats there game. They are also very battle tested playing in a mountain west that was very tough. I think at least one mountain west team reaches the elite eight. With potentially UNLV and NMU both getting there. It sucks they drew a very good Long Beach state team that could also make a run. 

 

The midwest is the bracket that I would have loved to see a team like murray state or memphis in because I have zero faith in kansas and unc pretty much snoozes intto the elite 8 then plays kansas. If there still alive. I almost like Belmont making a run.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Vandy have disappointed so many people so many times….They have everything that makes a champion,experience, outstanding shooting,stars,nice guard play and an inside game…This year they might go far or lose in the 1st round…

Memphis is another team,that can beat anybody or lose on the 1st day..They dont have much size,after you get pass Tarik Black…Black and guard Joe Jackson both have played well at the end of the season,after struggling earlier in the year..Before freshman AdonisThomas got hurt, coach Pastner had been begging Thomas to play tougher inside..Will Barton has an unothodox game,how he manges to average 1pts a a game puzzles me,but it works or him..Will is the team’s leading rebounder and the heart & soul of the team…A few things i love about Memphis is that they’re a really close group and once they get a lead on a team,they try to put the pedal to the medal and wont let up…

 

 

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Vandy have disappointed so many people so many times….They have everything that makes a champion,experience, outstanding shooting,stars,nice guard play and an inside game…This year they might go far or lose in the 1st round…

Memphis is another team,that can beat anybody or lose on the 1st day..They dont have much size,after you get pass Tarik Black…Black and guard Joe Jackson both have played well at the end of the season,after struggling earlier in the year..Before freshman AdonisThomas got hurt, coach Pastner had been begging Thomas to play tougher inside..Will Barton has an unothodox game,how he manges to average 1pts a a game puzzles me,but it works or him..Will is the team’s leading rebounder and the heart & soul of the team…A few things i love about Memphis is that they’re a really close group and once they get a lead on a team,they try to put the pedal to the medal and wont let up…

 

 

[NotHamedHaddadiParticipant]

I think Davidson will give Lousiville a run for their money with they way they can shoot the ball. Even if they don’t win, I see Louisville being too tired and losing to New Mexico in the next round.

I also have Vandy in the Final Four because I just see too many flaws in Syracuse and John Jenkins will eat that zone for breakfast.

I think New Mexico State and VCU will both win their first round match ups because New Mexico St. Offense is too explosive and VCU has too much experience for Wichita State

[orangeshadow83Participant]

I have Xavier going to the sweet 16. They are a much more talented team than a 10 seed and were having a great season until the brawl. Other than the St Bona game they had a good conf tourn and they seem to be a team on the up and up. I just dont think Notre Dame is that good and I think Duke is destined to be upset early.

[aamir543Participant]

 I have St. Mary’s taking down Kansas. I love T-Rob but for some reason, ever since the National champ, they’ve been coming up short.

[HadzialijagicParticipant]

Creighton has got a chance over UNC. They have the best player on the court in McDermott. Anotine Young is no slouch either. UNC struggles especially in Perimeter D and it looks like Henson wont be available.

Memphis over MSU. Memphis should have been around a 5 seed first off. Also dont forget they are getting back the nations 9th ranked recruit, Adonis Thomas. They also have the athleticism all around to give Michigan State fits. I cant see anybody being able to handle Will Barton one on one. All of MSU’s guards are 6’2 and shorter and Austin Thornton is just a god awful defender. Only guy that matches up with him size wise is Brandon Kearney but he has very very little experience.

Long Beach State can play with anybody in the country they have lots of talent and veteran leadership. They also have been battle tested having played 7 yes 7 tournament teams. They have some especially impressive games beating Xavier, beating Pitt(not as good as recent years but its still pitt) and playing Kansas and UNC close and only losing by single digits.

Davidson is a team that beat Kansas this year and is going up against Lousiville a team that lost a similar 4-13 game last year.

Iona is a really talented team they run the break and can score at will. They are led by a Big 3 with Glover a 6’8′ big that averages 18-11. The MAAC player of the year and nations leading assistman Scott Machado and Guard Lamont "Momo" Jones who was the starting point guard as a freshman for an Elite 8 Team in Arizona last year before transferring to Iona. Iona would struggle against bigger teams but they get a dream matchup vs Marquette an undersized team whos tallest starter is 6’7.

there are other possible upsets these are the ones that i feel personally are most likely to happen though

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Yeah, I love this pick.  I have them beating Michigan and South Florida to make the Sweet 16.  Michigan looked baaaaad against OSU.

[providencefriars1Participant]

I have USF in my sweet sixteen as well but I have no confidence in any of the MWC teams since they all kindof stumbled to the finish line and beat each other up. Too many of the higher seeds like Michigan, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Duke are hit and miss and will destroy some brackets. Should be an interesting tourney

[aamir543Participant]

 I actually have Cal is my Sweet 16, but USF and Cal are esseentially the same pick for these purposes.

I think that Cal-USf will be a great closely contested game, however Cal will prevail. Both of them matchup well against Temple, and although I like Ohio, I’m picking them over Michigan mainly because of the mathup, and I don’t think Michigan is very good.

Also have the Lobos and Murray St. in the Elite 8, call me crazy, but that’s the way I have it. The only one I might change in Murray St. over Missouri. I really like Missouri, and I think they have a chance to knock off UK, but I have UK winning it all.

But what Scares me about UK, if that they should’ve lost to Florida(Refs won it for them) and they lost to Vandy in the SEC final. But we’ll see what transpires.

[NbanflguyParticipant]

Where is BTPH when you need him? I would have full confidence in getting a perfect bracket if he would look over mine and make any changes he sees fit.

[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

 Picking VCU vs Wichita ST is killing me

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 A lot of potential great potential matchups, including some between NBA prospects:

Anthony Davis vs. Andre Drummond/Doron Lamb vs. Jeremy Lamb/Marquis Teague vs. Shabazz Napier in 2nd round

Andrew Nicholson vs. Bernard James and Florida State in 1st round

Florida vs. Missouri would not only be really exciting to watch in the second round, but each team has a series of marginal NBA prospects, along with a couple major ones on Florida

Doug McDermott vs. high school teammate Harrison Barnes and UNC, with their cront court length.  Tough matchup for McDermott.

Jared Sullinger could face some tough defense potentially from Kevin Jones and W.V. and maybe Bernard James and Florida State

Baylor vs. Duke isn’t necessarily a super likely matchup, but it would be fun to watch two very dissimilar teams.

A potential Indiana vs. Kentucky rematch could be fun, also.

[NbanflguyParticipant]

Booya!!!!!

[McDunkin]

It is so much harder to fully enjoy an upset when you know it murders your brackets

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

McTasty, how far did you have Duke or Mizzou going?

[McDunkin]

Duke – sweet 16

Mizz – elite 8

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