# NCAA Tournament Predictions/Picks **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 15, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571 "2010-03-15T18:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/161 "2010-03-27T15:37:22Z")
Let’s see, Duke out-rebounded Purdue 48-27 with a 16-7 margin on the offensive glass. Just think how good they would be if their interior game wasn’t so bad no one on the planet need worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/162 "2010-03-27T15:52:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Its actually hard to believe that in this era that there are any Div I schools that have a basketball program that doesn’t have scholarships. Well, they really are on scholarship. It just isn’t an official athletic scholly. I have a few friends who were offered academic scholarships to various Ivy League schools, and it wasn’t their brains that made them desirable (though they were all quite sharp). ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/163 "2010-03-27T16:28:02Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > Let’s see, Duke out-rebounded Purdue 48-27 with a 16-7 margin on the offensive glass. Just think how good they would be if their interior game wasn’t so bad no one on the planet need worry about it. You’re making an ass out of yourself jumping on a point that you invented. See if you can follow along. **FoieGras** said Kentucky was the biggest team. **spoke** said no, Duke was. **FoieGras** said look how many big man fouls Kentucky has from its contributors. **spoke** said: > [@](#): > > You play Duke, you’re gonna need 'em. > > Starters: > > Brian Zoubek 7’1" > Kyle Singler 6’8" > Lance Thomas 6’8" > > Significant contributors: > > Miles Plumlee 6’10" > Mason Plumlee 6’10" > Ryan Kelley 6’10" “You’re going to need fouls.” An obvious claim that they were offensive threats, because why would you foul a guy who couldn’t score. Subtracting Singler, who does not play on the interior, here’s what those guys did offensively last night: 1 of 2 for 4, 0 of 2 for 1, 0 for 0 for 2, 2 for 3 for 4, 0 of 0 for 2. For christ’s sake, you couldn’t have made up a game that proved the point any better, and you _still_ came in here to crow about it. So since you brought it up, basketball genius, tell me, how was that game an example of the other team needing to use a bunch of fouls against Duke’s interior players? Bonus points if you can tell me how, against a team starting _four_ guards, last night was an example of Duke’s big guys having something other than zero impact scoring-wise. You might also want to observe that **spoke** already clarified that he was talking about defense, and I already said I agreed that they got very good contributions in that regard. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/164 "2010-03-27T16:36:54Z")
Correction: Ryan Kelly was 0 for 0 for 2 points, not zero points. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/165 "2010-03-27T16:39:13Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > So since you brought it up, basketball genius, tell me, how was that game an example of the other team needing to use a bunch of fouls against Duke’s interior players? Bonus points if you can tell me how, against a team starting _four_ guards, last night was an example of Duke’s big guys having something other than zero impact scoring-wise. I don’t need to. Impact scoring wise is not what you said. You said that no on the planet need worry about Dike’s interior game. You were wrong. Decidedly and demonstrably so. An interior game is more complex than how many points are scored by players labeled “forward” or “center.” Having said that, if you don’t understand how offensive rebounds are related to scoring points than I’m not sure what to tell you. It’s Basketball 101. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/166 "2010-03-27T16:53:17Z")
You are a silly boy, aren’t you. Do teams need to use a lot of fouls against Duke’s big men? Is that an important thing that happens? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/167 "2010-03-27T17:00:19Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > You are a silly boy, aren’t you. > > Do teams need to use a lot of fouls against Duke’s big men? Is that an important thing that happens? Does Duke have an interior game that no one on the planet need worry about? That’s what I am challenging you on, and that is what you have so far refused to answer. The words are yours, not mine. Don’t blame me if they are hard to swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/168 "2010-03-27T17:14:42Z")
As I said before you posted: > [@](#): > > I was responding to the assertion that if you play Duke you’re going to need a bunch of fouls from your big men. So you’re being ridiculous, because in context it’s crystal clear what I was saying. Of course, beside all that, actually scoring _is_ what interior game means, anyway, if you bother to think about what’s been conveyed every time you’ve heard it used. Can you throw the ball into the post and score; that is what is commonly contemplated by the phrase, not the ability to rebound missed three pointers and kick the ball back out to Nolan Smith. Because that would be the opposite of interior. And Duke’s is, in fact, an especially terrible one by the standards of a championship contender. If your big guys don’t actually attempt field goals, then no, you don’t have much in the way of an interior game. And that isn’t how Krzyzewski’s teams have played for some time now. But that is all a ridiculous distraction based on an intentionally overly narrow reading of my post, and not at all productive. In addition to being obviously not the point I was trying to make, and I doubt anybody else wants to read it. Feel free to criticize my basketball acumen to whatever extent you require. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/169 "2010-03-27T17:42:20Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > “You’re going to need fouls.” An obvious claim that they were offensive threats, because why would you foul a guy who couldn’t score. And yet, Purdue’s big men got into early foul trouble. Hmm. I wonder how that happened? It’s a mystery. You really don’t seem to understand much about how the interior game works. Here’s a clue: fouls don’t just happen on drives to the basket. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/170 "2010-03-27T18:06:32Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > As I said before you posted: > So you’re being ridiculous, because in context it’s crystal clear what I was saying. Regardless of the question you were asked, your answer was unjustifiable, as is evidenced by your total inability to justify it. > [@](#): > > Of course, beside all that, actually scoring _is_ what interior game means, anyway, if you bother to think about what’s been conveyed every time you’ve heard it used. Perhaps you should bother yourself just a tad more. There is more to an interior game than scoring. How could there not be? > [@](#): > > Can you throw the ball into the post and score; that is what is commonly contemplated by the phrase, not the ability to rebound missed three pointers and kick the ball back out to Nolan Smith. Because that would be the opposite of interior. The two are not mutually exclusive. Sorry. Again, basketball is more than just scoring. Otherwise we would be watching the NCAA H-O-R-S-E National Championship. > [@](#): > > And Duke’s is, in fact, an especially terrible one by the standards of a championship contender. If your big guys don’t actually attempt field goals, then no, you don’t have much in the way of an interior game. And that isn’t how Krzyzewski’s teams have played for some time now. So Zoubek’s 14 points and 13 rebounds against Cal happened how, exaclty? As well as Thomas’ 12 against UAPB? By not attempting shots? Did we watch the same games? > [@](#): > > But that is all a ridiculous distraction based on an intentionally overly narrow reading of my post, and not at all productive. In addition to being obviously not the point I was trying to make, and I doubt anybody else wants to read it. Feel free to criticize my basketball acumen to whatever extent you require. Translation : An indefensible statement is in fact indefensible. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/171 "2010-03-27T20:09:08Z")
Well this is interesting. It looks like it will be Duke vs. Baylor in a regional final in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/172 "2010-03-27T21:04:31Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > And yet, Purdue’s big men got into early foul trouble. Hmm. I wonder how that happened? It’s a mystery. > > You really don’t seem to understand much about how the interior game works. Here’s a clue: fouls don’t just happen on drives to the basket. Its fair to point out that Purdue’s big men can’t hold UK’s big men’s collective jocks. DeMarcus Cousins has 20 double-doubles for a reason…he’s damn good. Patrick Patterson will be an NBA player for a reason…he’s good. And so forth. Hopefully we can have a Duke/UK showdown. Those games are always interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/173 "2010-03-27T22:43:37Z")
Well there’s my only Final Four team left, the Butler Bulldogs. My bracket is officially done collecting points. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/174 "2010-03-27T23:46:00Z")
4 mins left in the first half and West Virginia STILL doesn’t have a 2 pt field goal and they’re ahead. Interesting game… ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/175 "2010-03-28T00:00:16Z")
> [@drm](#): > > 4 mins left in the first half and West Virginia STILL doesn’t have a 2 pt field goal and they’re ahead. > > Interesting game… What I predict will happen is that WVU’s 3’s will dry up at some point and UK will start making some. I agree its interesting, though…UK has zero threes made, WVU has ONLY threes…and a two point lead! Crazy. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/176 "2010-03-28T01:04:50Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > What I predict will happen is that WVU’s 3’s will dry up at some point and UK will start making some. > > I agree its interesting, though…UK has zero threes made, WVU has ONLY threes…and a two point lead! > > Crazy. Well, WVU hasn’t been raining threes…but UK hasn’t made even ONE! And they can’t hit free throws…ugh… Worst showing by the UK offense in quite awhile, and not very timely, either. I can’t recall a game where on team has shot over 20 threes and hasn’t even made ONE! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/177 "2010-03-28T01:33:12Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Its fair to point out that Purdue’s big men can’t hold UK’s big men’s collective jocks. It’s fair to point out that Kentucky is of no further concern to Duke. (And that Kentucky’s vaunted big men were just so many pylons for Mazulla to negotiate on his way to the basket.) I wish John Wall a wonderful NBA career. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/178 "2010-03-28T01:36:34Z")
Death by three-ball. This year it’s more about the three pointer than ever. I did pick West Virginia coming out of the East in both my brackets (beating Kentucky in the main one), but even so I wasn’t sure they could do it with the way Kentucky was playing. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/179 "2010-03-28T01:40:31Z")
And this just in, 5 Wildcat players declare themselves eligible for the 2010 NBA draft. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571/180 "2010-03-28T01:56:15Z")
Hats off to WVU. However, UK shot about as poorly as you can and somehow still managed to stay fairly close towards the end. You can’t expect to win when you go 0-20 from three, the other team shoots them lights out, and then you can’t make a free throw to save your life. Frustrating game for me, to be sure. And the comment on UK’s men being “pylons”…whatever. WVU couldn’t score inside the paint in the first half. Granted, apparently they didn’t need to. I really don’t mind losing when my team plays well. They just didn’t, so it wasn’t really fun watching them clank iron every time they shot from the charity stripe or beyond 10 feet. It was just pathetic. Hey, the NFL draft is almost here! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncaa-tournament-predictions-picks/532571.md?page=10)