Sorry for the gratuitous Vitale-ism in the title. Can’t help myself.
So dopers - who are you backing? Who do you hope takes a nose dive right about now? Will you actually watch any of the women’s games? Who has plans to actually be at some games?
Well, considering I’ve been a Tar Heel since 8 months before I was born, I’m looking at powerful UNC teams on both sides of the gender question, although I feel that the men’s team has a better shot at cutting down the nets than the Lady Tar Heels. (Man, UConn looks LOADED in the women’s tourney this year, and you can never count out Tennessee).
My personal feeling is that if Ty Lawson’s ankle is back to 100%, that Carolina is one of the, if not THE, favoriteto win it in San Antonio. Tyler Hansbrough may not have the gaudy numbers of Michael Beasley, but he has done something Beasley could only dream of, namely, carrying a national title contender on his back almost single-handedly to cover for a teammate’s injury. Psycho T is averaging 28 and 12 during the 7 games Lawson missed while UNC went 6-1, losing only to d00k (that’s Duke to you non- Tar Heel fans) in the first game without Lawson. The Heels are averaging 90.1 ppg, but allow about 78 ppg on defense. Certainly the Heels can run and score with anybody in the nation, but a bad defensive game could cost them in the NCAAs. One point I feel is not mentioned by the media is that UNC’s choke job against Georgetown in last year’s Elite 8 has certainly toughened them up considerably, as the Heels have pulled off several notable comebacks this year that they would have lost last year. (Against Clemson at Clemson, down 7 with 2 minutes left, rallied, won 90-88 on a last second 3 by Wayne Ellington; against Clemson in Chapel Hill, down 11 with 3 minutes left, rallied to win in double OT; and Saturday against Boston College, down 18 in the second half while BC’s Tyreses Rice was torching them for ultimately 46 points - the Heels rallied to win by 10 - a 28 point turn-around in about 15 minutes of game play.).
If UNC doesn’t win it, then I’d put my money on UCLA. Kevin Love is a fine player, and the Bruins have Final Four experience to spare. However good defensively they may be (and I think they are plenty good), their Achilles Heel may be a lack of offense, I think they may be the mirror image of UNC. UCLA’s problem may be an inability to score with a high-powered offense.
My third pick would be Kansas, as they certainly are as talented as anyone in the country. I have not been impressed by their showings away from Allen Fieldhouse however. If they can be more consistent, then they certainly can win it all.
Memphis and Tenn(men’s) - great talent - can’t hit foul shots. Thatwill cost each of them somewhere prior to the first Monday in April.
d00k - One cold night from 3, and they’re out. They have great atheletes and all 5 starters can shoot the 3, but they can’t stop anyone inside. Quick guards that limit penetration (and there are plenty of teams with that type of backcourt) can cause the Devils fits. BUT, if they can hit from 3, they can beat anyone in the tourney.
Texas is an interesting team, as they are about as good offensively as UNC, but are somewhat young. Augustin is one of the great PGs, and on a good night, the Horns can beat anyone. On an off night, they lose by 15-20 to any of the teams listed above.
I feel that one of the 7 listed will win the title. I just don’t see anyone else cutting down the nets. We might see a Louisville or an Indiana sneak into the Final Four, but I really believe that the champ will be one of the top 7.
Memphis has five back-ups that could start for just about any team in the country. If they stay focused (i.e., don’t let another team out-rebound them–you listening Joey Dorsey?) and somehow miraculously improve their FT shooting by 15%, there’s your winner right there.
I realize that’s a couple of big IFs.
I’m an Oklahoma State Fan.
The women are going to the tourney, and are playing right now for a berth in the Oklahoma City Regionals. The twin rhinos at the University (sic) of Oklahoma, however, are a bit more likely to get it, as we each won against the other at home. If we can win the Big XII tourney, I think we get it. They can make a run, and I’m optimistically dreaming about getting tickets to Florida, but the fact that they’ve come this far from an abysmal record 2 years ago is amazing.
The men, after an ugly start, have managed to make it back to the bubble. They’re incredibly hot right now, breaking their road losing streak against TAMU, and knocking off KU at home. We play OU here on Wednesday, then at Texas. I think we’ll beat the Sooners at home, with them missing Blake Griffin, but I think we’d make it even with him playing. Then, at Texas. I think if we can win that, and a game in the Big XII tourney, we’re in. If we lose in Austin, I think we need to make the semis of the Big XII tourney.
In any case, it’s point guard play that’s doing it for us. Andrea Riley dominates for the women, and Byron Eaton has stepped up and taken this team on his back, letting other guys do a better job as roleplayers.
But only four can make it. Lance Thomas is not much of a threat outside of five feet.
You are correct, however. And all in all a pretty fair evaluation for a Tar Hole. Duke must hit jumpshots to win.
Do we really have to spoil a quality March Madness thread by conflating it with Womens hoops?
Contrapuntal, you are of course correct, I was basing my statement that all 5 could hit the three because often during crunch time, Thomas sits, Singler slides over to the 5 spot, and d00k goes with a line-up of Paulus, Scheyer, Nelson, Henderson, and Singler. All 5 of those guys are fair to excellent shooters.
Don’t worry - you can ignore them in the thread, just like in real life.
Bruins all the way. My ducats will be on it. The problem here is that almost everyone who participates in my bracket is also a UCLA fan, so it makes the other bracket decisions that much more important.
I don’t follow women’s college basketball, but if UCLA is in it, I’ll back them. 
I do follow women’s college basketball, and saw the Bruins at Mackey Arena when UCLA was sent to Purdue’s sub-regional a couple of years ago. I always liked the band’s practice of calling out the names of the players while clapping in rhythm (Or-tal Or-en!), so it was a kick to see that in person.
Since the “Lady Boilers” are only 15-14 on the season, they have to win the Big Ten tourney (which I’ll be attending starting Thursday) or else miss out on the “Big Dance”. We could thus be hosting first-and second-round games on March 23 and 25 (sites are predetermined, as fans know but casual readers may not) without participating in our own party. I’m a fan of the sport (as opposed to many of the local season-ticket holders, who are basically just Purdue devotees) so I’ll be using my tickets regardless of which teams end up squaring off on Keady Court.
That’s pretty cool. I got involved with the Cowgirls when I moved up here. They’re pretty fun to watch, and frankly were more fun than the men for a lot of the season.
I hope they make the OKC regional. I want to be there!
Maryland and Georgetown are my local Favorites. I have been watching some of these kids for 4 years
I would love for Maryland to make the Tourney. Its going to be close.
I would like to see G’Town make the Elite 8, but they aren’t playing their best recently (to say the least).
Once both are gone I would probably pull for the surviving ACC and Big East teams vs. the rest of the nation.
There will be some games at Verizon. Should one of these teams be playing there I might be attend
My Wisconsin Badgers are due for a long run in the tournament after two disappointing years. They can beat anyone in the country on any given night (see Texas game), but just as easily lose to a hot shooting 8+ seed. I foresee them getting to the Elite Eight round and losing a close game to a North Carolina/Duke/Memphis-like team much like the '04. Hopefully Purdue gets placed in another regional because that wouldn’t be fair. 
Well - the field has been selected.
Kansas, UCLA, Memphis, and UNC are seeded 1, with the Tar Heels as the overall 1.
I’m getting excited, and kinda looking at tickets to the women’s final four in St. Petersburg, even though the selection isn’t until tomorrow.