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NCAA Tournament General Thread

So I've been perusing various team boards reading some tourney coverage, and it's kind of comical to see the number of posts that start out "well I've watched no / almost no / very little west coast basketball this year, but the P12 is clearly overrated and I don't understand how the committee could have ranked Oregon / Cal / Colorado that high..."

I really hope the P12 makes a good accounting for itself in the early rounds.
 
The biggest thing the Pac-12 could do next year is accommodate ESPN for basketball like it does for football. We mix in Thu and Fri football games to get more exposure on ESPN. Likewise, the Pac-12 should build in some staggered scheduling so that we have teams playing the late primetime game for ESPN's "Big Monday" broadcasts. Maybe do it with the rivalry games in those weeks when teams only play a single game. That way, we'd have the travel partner rivalry games available for Monday nights (CU/UU, UA/ASU, UCLA/USC, Furd/Cal, UO/OSU, UW/WSU). That would be great content that would do a lot for both national exposure and also for heating up those rivalries as "EVENTS" every time we played.
 
The biggest thing the Pac-12 could do next year is accommodate ESPN for basketball like it does for football. We mix in Thu and Fri football games to get more exposure on ESPN. Likewise, the Pac-12 should build in some staggered scheduling so that we have teams playing the late primetime game for ESPN's "Big Monday" broadcasts. Maybe do it with the rivalry games in those weeks when teams only play a single game. That way, we'd have the travel partner rivalry games available for Monday nights (CU/UU, UA/ASU, UCLA/USC, Furd/Cal, UO/OSU, UW/WSU). That would be great content that would do a lot for both national exposure and also for heating up those rivalries as "EVENTS" every time we played.
Excellent idea, especially the rivalry game aspect. I would push the rivalry game out to Monday and throw in a quality OOC opponent the previous Thursday or Friday.
 
Richmond ESPN radio telling me that the Pac will have one team left after this weekend

And now another picking Cincy over Oregon

I don't blame VCU for loving their draw against the Beavs though
 
Richmond ESPN radio telling me that the Pac will have one team left after this weekend

And now another picking Cincy over Oregon

I don't blame VCU for loving their draw against the Beavs though

If Tres Tinkle can't go, it's going to be hard for the Beavs. When he's on his game, he does so much for that team. Without him, their offense is too reliant on GPII or Stevie Thompson making something happen off the bounce. I think VCU is a good draw for them, though. Oregon State has the athletes (especially with Payton) to thrive in a disjointed game.

As an aside... Tinkle is going to be such a load to deal with as an upperclassman in a couple years.
 
If Tres Tinkle can't go, it's going to be hard for the Beavs. When he's on his game, he does so much for that team. Without him, their offense is too reliant on GPII or Stevie Thompson making something happen off the bounce. I think VCU is a good draw for them, though. Oregon State has the athletes (especially with Payton) to thrive in a disjointed game.

As an aside... Tinkle is going to be such a load to deal with as an upperclassman in a couple years.

Yeah, they can handle VCU's style. Honestly both of these two are capable of some serious duds. I wouldn't be shocked at a double digit win by either side
 
Interesting note about VCU: in their 6 straight tournament appearances, they've been sent west of the Mississippi every time except once (Detroit, which isn't exactly next door).
 
My Indiana high school Buds, several played at collegiate level, are really curious to see what all the PAC hype is about. I have been braggin up the PAC, so they damn well better show up! LOL ;)
 
Interesting note about VCU: in their 6 straight tournament appearances, they've been sent west of the Mississippi every time except once (Detroit, which isn't exactly next door).
I'm going to suggest a reality check and a fact check on that one.

Reality check: the #1 seeds get to bitch about their regional location. Every other team needs to shut up and play their way to a higher seed.
Fact check:
2011 VCU played in Dayton, then Chicago.
2013 VCU played in Auburn Hills
 
I was taking about the first weeked, so I don't count Dayton since it's always there and not part of the regular first weekend.

Auburn Hills is the same as Detroit (which I mentioned)

Chicago, yes, you're correct. I don't think it takes away from my point of VCU being in for long haul travel. San Diego, Portland x2, Oklahoma City. My point isn't "look at VCU getting screwed" (I don't care about VCU). Just a geographic note in the era of "pods". I consider a closest first round game in 6 years over 650 miles away to be pretty significant travel.
 
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Not that I really care, but it strikes me as odd that Florida Gulf Coast is in the play-in game tonight. Besides being in the Sweet 16 a few years ago, they've got a much better record than Austin Peay (the team we'll be playing after they beat Kansas). I just don't understand why the worst teams aren't in those play-in games
 
Not that I really care, but it strikes me as odd that Florida Gulf Coast is in the play-in game tonight. Besides being in the Sweet 16 a few years ago, they've got a much better record than Austin Peay (the team we'll be playing after they beat Kansas). I just don't understand why the worst teams aren't in those play-in games

I absolutely hate the play in games - especially for the 16 seeds. Listen, no one is under any belief that the 16 seeds are going to win a game. But their championship is making the dance. And them having to go to Dayton to play another ****ty team is horrible. Either drop the damn bracket back to 64 or have the play in games be purely at-large teams.
 
Not that I really care, but it strikes me as odd that Florida Gulf Coast is in the play-in game tonight. Besides being in the Sweet 16 a few years ago, they've got a much better record than Austin Peay (the team we'll be playing after they beat Kansas). I just don't understand why the worst teams aren't in those play-in games

I don't like the setup either. If you want the best teams playing in the most competitive matchups, then it should be seeded 1-16 with all the 16 seeds having to play a preliminary game before meeting the #1 seed. Or just keep the tourney at 64 teams.

This year, it would have moved Tulsa and Wichita State down to the 12 line. That would have not just made the 5/12 games more compelling, but the dominoes would have made for more competitively balanced 4/13, 3/14, 2/15 and 1/16 games.

Also, if you've got your 8 lowest seeds in prelim 16 seed matchup games, it would mean this year that every 15 seed or better was Top 115 RPI and a few of the 16s are Top 150. Teams at that level are capable of pulling an upset.

Regarding FGCU, they come in at RPI 215. That's the 2nd worst in the field after Holy Cross. They deserve to be playing in a prelim game.
 
So I've been perusing various team boards reading some tourney coverage, and it's kind of comical to see the number of posts that start out "well I've watched no / almost no / very little west coast basketball this year, but the P12 is clearly overrated and I don't understand how the committee could have ranked Oregon / Cal / Colorado that high..."

I really hope the P12 makes a good accounting for itself in the early rounds.

This can probably take off into its own thread, but I really think the biggest thing hurting the Pac12 is the timing of their games. Games that start at 8pm PT are completely un-watchable for most people. I know this is unpopular to many that attend the games, but if CU/UU started games at 5pm MT/7pm PT, you are going to get a lot more people watching. Follow it up with a west coast game starting at 5pm PT, 6pm PT with a night cap of 7pm PT you will have multiple west coast games on for people to see.

I grew up in the DC area, and know a lot of people there, and that is the primary reason they don't see any Pac12 basketball, and they want to see it. Now the Pac12 network/DirecTV is also pretty high on the list....
 
This can probably take off into its own thread, but I really think the biggest thing hurting the Pac12 is the timing of their games. Games that start at 8pm PT are completely un-watchable for most people. I know this is unpopular to many that attend the games, but if CU/UU started games at 5pm MT/7pm PT, you are going to get a lot more people watching. Follow it up with a west coast game starting at 5pm PT, 6pm PT with a night cap of 7pm PT you will have multiple west coast games on for people to see.

I grew up in the DC area, and know a lot of people there, and that is the primary reason they don't see any Pac12 basketball, and they want to see it. Now the Pac12 network/DirecTV is also pretty high on the list....

Do you know how poorly attended games would be if they started at 5PM MT or 6PM pacific. The coliseum looked like it was a practice when they started a game that early this year for USC. The most important thing is the viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones because that is where a majority of the fans are. You want full stadiums which means 7PM games and you want good local times.
 
I absolutely hate the play in games - especially for the 16 seeds. Listen, no one is under any belief that the 16 seeds are going to win a game. But their championship is making the dance. And them having to go to Dayton to play another ****ty team is horrible. Either drop the damn bracket back to 64 or have the play in games be purely at-large teams.

Couldn't agree more. I have always hated the play-in game. One one hand, the worst teams should be in them. But also, that means some small school teams are playing in a preliminary game prior to the tournament. It sucks and is purely a money-generating move to get more money from games. I hate it. One of the best parts of the tournament are small school teams that barely ever get to go to the tournament, and MAKING IT IN is their championship. To just have one opportunity to match up against the big boys and play on a national stage...instead they get in... ...but they have to play on a Tuesday or Wednesday before everyone else in order to play someone else. Keep it at 64 in my opinion. Even with all our collective griping about who didn't make it shouldn't be in, it wasn't worse when it was 64.
 
Do you know how poorly attended games would be if they started at 5PM MT or 6PM pacific. The coliseum looked like it was a practice when they started a game that early this year for USC. The most important thing is the viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones because that is where a majority of the fans are. You want full stadiums which means 7PM games and you want good local times.

It all depends on who you are trying to cater to. I personally would prefer the much earlier game as having games end later than 9pm is problematic (yet, I am still there every game), but I understand that others prefer later games.

Lets also be realistic, TV is where the money and exposure is, and people are mostly interested in the late part of the game. So a 5PM MT game, would have its most viewers at ~6:30-7pm MT, 6 PT, 9 ET. That seems to balance out to hit the most markets at once. Its the same story with night time football games, no one is watching.

And to be clear, I would love 5pm basketball games every day of the week. Perfect time for me.
 
The photo they chose of Sean Miller is incredible.

Tad taking the beatles is an interesting choice.
Sean Miller choosing John Mayer is perfect in so many ways.

a couple of nights ago, my mother in law was trying to convince me, my wife, and my father in law that the Rolling Stones were better than the Beatles.

I'd say the fact that Boyle chose the Beatles and Altman chose the Rolling Stones pretty well settles that argument.

Finally, Calipari picking Train is... interesting, and Xavier's Chris Mack choosing Kid Rock is...uh...wow.
 
Do you know how poorly attended games would be if they started at 5PM MT or 6PM pacific. The coliseum looked like it was a practice when they started a game that early this year for USC. The most important thing is the viewers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones because that is where a majority of the fans are. You want full stadiums which means 7PM games and you want good local times.
This can probably take off into its own thread, but I really think the biggest thing hurting the Pac12 is the timing of their games. Games that start at 8pm PT are completely un-watchable for most people. I know this is unpopular to many that attend the games, but if CU/UU started games at 5pm MT/7pm PT, you are going to get a lot more people watching. Follow it up with a west coast game starting at 5pm PT, 6pm PT with a night cap of 7pm PT you will have multiple west coast games on for people to see.

I grew up in the DC area, and know a lot of people there, and that is the primary reason they don't see any Pac12 basketball, and they want to see it. Now the Pac12 network/DirecTV is also pretty high on the list....
probably the wrong thread for this, but WTH: I would like to see CU and the Pac try a few weeknight 6PM MT games at the CEC. The city of Boulder has a very large number of commuters (including Mrs. hokiehead) for which that tip time would be very convenient: leave work, quick bite to eat, park and make it inside for the national anthem. This puts the tip off at 8PM ET and solves the east coast TV viewership issue as well.

I also think weekend games with tip times earlier than 6PM should be looked it. Coloradans place such a high value on outdoor activities, especially during ski season, that evening games on Saturdays and Sundays should intuitively draw more than nooners.
 
I think we keep making this about east coast viewers when it really isn't. Yes, for big games they will watch but for a majority of these games they don't care and the times are catered for those in the mountain and pacific time zones. Also, if you put these at 6PM MT, they will be going up directly with other east coast conference games and will be on Pac-12 network where east coast viewers can't watch them anyways so it doesn't really matter.
 
Wichita State/Vandy has the potential to be one of the better games of the entire week. Vandy doesn't always show up, but this could be a 66-63 type game
 
Blowout city in this one. A 16 over 1 may never happen in our lifetimes, but if it occurred it would seem that a FGCU side that went to the Sweet 16 three years ago would be the best (extremely small) chance to pull it off
 
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