So, who will lose to UK in the NCAA final? (March Madness Brackets thread)

[dpdx]

As much as I like UF (hoping to go there for grad school), Billy's in danger of a Boeheim-like run of Tournament underachievement. I hope Lee's senior leadership asserts itself during the Gators' run, and that Walsh and Roberson continue to step up like they have in the regular season, and that Billy doesn't get outcoached (again) for at least the first two rounds.

Saw Orien Greene (ex-Gator) carrying UL-Lafayette to a loss against Arkansas-Little Rock on the Ocho a week or two back. Looks like he could at least fill his old role if he were back on the Gators, but he's got a ways to go before he's the "man", even on that squad.

And not for nothing, but as troubled as they were in Gainesville, this team misses the hell out of a J-Will or even Teddy Dupay-type figure at the point.

 

[xmanii]

I think UK will make it to the Elite Eight, not sure who will beat them, but the champ will be Illinois. I think they are having way to good of a season for them to lose.

As long as it isn't dUKe or UNC, that's the important thing to me

 

[Evilhalfling]

UNC gets coach Williams from Kansas, UNC ranked #2
Illini sends coach Self to Kansas, Illini #1

as a kansas fan I have 3 teams in the dance.

I just wish my team was doing better.

Well any of the three would take UK, but it wont be till late in the tournament.

 

[drothgery]

Syracuse, 2005 Big East Tournament Champions.

I hadn't seen that since the first year I lived in Syracuse (when I was a high school sophomore who didn't really understand what Orange Basketball meant to the city). That ought to be worth a #3 seed, no matter what the Bracketology guy at ESPN thinks...

 

[Crothian]

They are all lucky the Buckeyes took themselves out of the Big Dance allowing someone else to win it this year. That's my story, and I'm sticking with it!!

 

[dpdx]

Win or lose, Kentucky's a one seed, at absolute worst, a two. They just about said as much in the interview with the Selection Committee Chair before the championship.

But I have to say, there's no way Tubby wins a national championship with these guys.

Too many teams in the tournament will outboard them, and after that, it's who makes their threes. Granted, Kentucky's got a large advantage in turnover margin, but just one, maybe two guys with a handle can keep it down.

Florida's killing them, Morris notwithstanding, on the boards as I type this. As long as somebody keeps a hand in the face of Sparks and Azubuike, the Gators are your SEC Tournament Champions, and ought to go 6-seed or better. I like Roberson better than I thought (and posted) earlier at the point, and Walsh is a monster - nobody on Kentucky can guard him. Great depth in the paint - it'll be disappointing if the Gators don't overcome Billy's nerves in the first three rounds or better.

It looks like Pitino's guys during the last suspension year (Pelphrey, Feldhaus, Ford) out there. Only this time, it'll be interesting to see what they do in a tournament setting, considering the first two rounds are gonna be greased for them.

Bracket in three hours. This is gonna be fun - it always is.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Two weeks in a row and Gators beat UK both times...who'd a thunk it, eh? Seeing them take the SEC Tournament is good enough for me.

 

[Crothian]

They had the rebounding in the first half and the three pointers in the second, they will not be an easy teams to defeat in the Tourney.

 

[Michael Morris]

The second loss to Florida hurts pretty bad. I'm pretty sure UK willl be 3 or 4 seeded as a result.

All bravado aside, While I'm pretty sure they'll make Elite Eight, I wouldn't be too suprised to see this group go home at the sweet 16. I will be surprised if they make Final 4.

If the NBA doesn't strip the team in the offseason though they'll be the team to beat next year. They're still very young.

 

[drothgery]

Okay, I've created an ENWorlders group on ESPN's Tournament Challenge. In case you're wondering about the question originally posed though, it looks like UK is going to lose to my Orange.

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage
Password is d20atENworld ; anyone who reads the message boards is free to join...

Further note... my "ByTheNumbers" entry is going to be a brain-dead robot that always picks the higher seed to win. I'm guessing this will end up with a better record than "OrangeWest", where I'll actually think about things, except when my Syracuse fandom gets in the way.

UPDATE: You can post your brackets now.