Comments on Dan Shanoff: Monday 03/12 A.M. Quickie:Break Out Your Brackets

I have been reading up on what the "experts" think...

2007-03-13T13:05:00.000-04:00

I have been reading up on what the "experts" think about the brackets, and not ONE of them thinks Florida isn't going to make it out of their bracket. I understand that Florida is a great team, and their chances are pretty good, but I just don't see them making it to the Final Four. Granted, I'm a UGA fan, but still.

My Final Four:
Oregon
Kansas
Georgetown
Texas A+M

Final Game
Kansas over Georgetown.

Seriously, who watched that Texas-Kansas game? Did anyone see the second gear Kansas has? If they hadn't gone cold and sloppy late in the second half, there would never have been overtime. They're scary.

"Dan Shanoff blogs daily about sports at danshanof...

2007-03-12T23:31:00.000-04:00

"Dan Shanoff blogs daily about sports at danshanoff.com. He is a former daily columnist -- and the former college-basketball editor -- for ESPN.com. You are invited to join his free NCAA office-pool using ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge, group name "Daily Quickie Readers."

Lame...I thought Daily Quickie Readers pool was for people who have been with you since the the DQ? Shit wont even be legit now that you have invited the entire Wall Street Journal fanbase to join. Smooth move Shanoff.

upset pick A&M CC over Bucky Badgerthe four (and e...

2007-03-12T19:47:00.000-04:00

upset pick A&M CC over Bucky Badger
the four (and eight) Oregon (Butler), KU (UCLA -- man, the West lower half is a cakewalk), Texas (Gtown), and Virgina (Lville) subject to change, naturally

Isiah Yeah, it is a real accomplishment to be in contention for a playoff spot while playing .460 ball.

Joakim Noah does that jig after every championship...

2007-03-12T17:34:00.000-04:00

Joakim Noah does that jig after every championship title we win. He does it because it makes coach donovan laugh or so it was reported in todays orlando paper.

I must have the weakest job ever. I can't get anyone to put down money for a pool. Asked everyone at my work and at the two places next to my work and no one wanted to partake. I can't believe I work with a bunch of chefs who don't like to bet. I guess the morning quickie pool is my only one this year and that is just sad.

Is it just me or does it seem like the patriots are making the most moves in free agency. I guess they weren't happy with that all UF wideout corps.

As much as I hate FSU they really got the shaft. They deserve to be in on the simple basis of beating UF and Duke. They might not have a championship but they can say they beat a back to back champ when the gators destroy everyone in the ATL.

Besides VT? There isn't a surer 5/12 upset pick t...

2007-03-12T17:20:00.000-04:00

Besides VT? There isn't a surer 5/12 upset pick this year than VT.

Wow.Simmons needs to stop writing about college ba...

2007-03-12T17:19:00.000-04:00

Wow.

Simmons needs to stop writing about college basketball. It's so painful to read.

...

That's all i have. heh

Regardless, SIU isn't "vastly" overrated. Any team...

2007-03-12T16:29:00.000-04:00

Regardless, SIU isn't "vastly" overrated. Any team out of Virginia (besides Tech) is incredibly overrated. Book it.

The Patriots have been the most active team and se...

2007-03-12T16:12:00.000-04:00

The Patriots have been the most active team and seem to be filling needs with smart contracts. Washington gets pennies this year, and a $4M roster bonus in the off-season, if they want to keep him.

They still have the draft (including 2 first round picks) to shore up other holes, but there aren't many right now. Maybe a back-up running back (if Dillon leaves), and adding depth at both lines....

yeah but... quantity over quality is never good.

2007-03-12T16:10:00.000-04:00

yeah but... quantity over quality is never good.

This is off the NCAA topic for the moment put the ...

2007-03-12T15:55:00.000-04:00

This is off the NCAA topic for the moment put the Patriots just signed another receiver, Kelly Washington, Formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals.

I guess the Patriots are really trying to give Tom some weapons.

@Mills: Ha! Never gets old. Hey, can I join in you...

2007-03-12T15:39:12.523-04:00

@Mills: Ha! Never gets old. Hey, can I join in your bracket pool? I'm not kidding.

I'll give you two mid major teams i've seen up clo...

2007-03-12T15:35:00.000-04:00

I'll give you two mid major teams i've seen up close in action is Davidson and Winthrop.Both teams have solid guard play to give any of them a run for their money.Stephen(spell?) Curry is an animal,yet he is only a freshman.

Dan -- really liked the WSJ article. I think that...

2007-03-12T15:28:00.000-04:00

Dan -- really liked the WSJ article. I think that could be a solid forum for you to be in. Would be cool to get your perspective on business/politics/sports in a platform that fits your interests.

My final four - KU, OSU, Texas (shades of Durant pulling a 'Melo dancing in my head) and Florida.

KU over Florida (just kidding, I know that is not possible) in the finals... KU over OSU.

Though I don't think this KU squad is as good as the Hinrich/Collison/Miles/Simean/Langford squad of a couple years ago. Tell TEM to call me when he stops plowing your wife, will you? And I really would like to see KU with a pure shooter to feel confident in my pick. CMFost for MVP.

I dont think Noah is as bad as Reddick or Laettner...

2007-03-12T15:11:00.000-04:00

I dont think Noah is as bad as Reddick or Laettner. But if he picks a fight with another female cheerleader, he may move up the list. But since he is french, a female cheerleader may be a fair matchup! (Sorry, couldnt resist the french joke)

Va Tech wasn't ranked when they played SIU, they w...

2007-03-12T15:06:00.000-04:00

Va Tech wasn't ranked when they played SIU, they were ranked later in the season. SIU beat Butler when they were ranked, and lost to Indiana. All of their losses were away from home.

So, if Duke beats VCU, they will get to play historical tournament choker Pitt (and on to the Sweet 16), where the only thing standing between them and the final four is a crappy down the stretch UCLA team, then a tourney choking Kansas (Yes, Bill Self will still be there). So honestly, Duke is either a 1 and done, or a Final 4 Team -- and I am hoping for the 1 and done variety.

well, that makes sense verbal.re: Noah. I don't t...

2007-03-12T14:40:00.000-04:00

well, that makes sense verbal.

re: Noah. I don't think he's the catalyst for Florida. he may be annoying, have bad hair, etc. Doesn't matter. Florida will go where Horford and Brewer take them.

Good article Dan. Glad to see the mainstream MAN h...

2007-03-12T14:30:00.000-04:00

Good article Dan. Glad to see the mainstream MAN hasn't gotten you down. Is this series of articles for the WSJ something we can look forward to in the future? Or is it a one-shot deal?

Dan this approved by blog author sucks. Especially...

2007-03-12T14:27:00.000-04:00

Dan this approved by blog author sucks. Especially today. Are you still trying to fix it?

I'm not a whiner or a party pooper or whatever. I...

2007-03-12T14:17:00.000-04:00

I'm not a whiner or a party pooper or whatever. I like debating about brackets in general. Things such as Indiana should be playing Texas Tech, potential upsets/match-ups, who got screwed in seeding, game location, snubs, and even who people think will make it to the Final Four (in general). I really don't like reading people's every exhausting thought on every game and who they're stressing over as it pertains to their bracket. Fine line to be sure, but it's still a line.

dave~ Oh, fantasy teams, by far!!! Bracketology w...

2007-03-12T14:11:00.000-04:00

dave~ Oh, fantasy teams, by far!!! Bracketology will only last two weeks. Fantasy-freakin'-baseball lasts forEVER!

Great Idea cmfost!I really think that 64 teams and...

2007-03-12T14:08:00.000-04:00

Great Idea cmfost!

I really think that 64 teams and 6 rounds is good enough. I also think that the auto bids for every conference champ is part of what makes the tournament fun. Every team in Div I has a chance to win the national championship on the court! Think about that compared to football for example.

However, we realize that some of those teams will never win. Putting an extra 3 teams in a 68 team tournament and have 4 play-in games on the same day. It gives some the weaker teams a more competitive chance. 16-seeds are so happy to just be in the tournament so they can get blown out by a #1 seed. This way they may actually win a game.

Some random tournament thoughts from an often idle...

2007-03-12T14:03:00.000-04:00

Some random tournament thoughts from an often idle mind:

1. Joakim Noah is one of the most annoying players that I can remember, ever. I cannot stand the Dookies but I'm sorry I find him much more objectionable then Redick. Not more than Laettner, in fact IMHO he is the most annoying player since Laettner. I fear Florida is going to win it again, and I'll have to watch him perform another arrogant dance/convulsion (Not to mention tolerate Dan's incessant slurping up to his wife's team even though he attended another D-1 school. I'm not sure which of those 2 things annoys me most about the Gators).

2. As I wrote in another comment section, beware of the Pitt Panthers. You can set your watch by their March gag jobs. They are the only team to exceed Duke every tournament for being wildly over-seeded/under-acheiving. And yes, that means that if Duke beats VCU (which they probably will) then they will take out Pitt. Which will lead to an unbearable few days next week of Dickie V. and the boys blowing smoke up Coach K's ass.

3. I can't get away from Kansas. I just think they have everything. If they can get out of the first weekend (unlike the past 2 years) I think they are in the final game. Of course, beating UCLA in San Jose won't be easy.

4. My teams that are seeded 1-4 but won't see the sweet 16 are as follows: So.Ill (maybe losing to Holy Cross but if not, the Illni or VT will send them packing), Pitt (as noted above), UVA (Albany might do the trick), Texas A & M (playing U of L in Lexington, even though everyone seems to be in love with A & M).

5. Final Four- Florida, Kansas, Georgetown, OSU.

6. Kansas over Ohio State.

Dan, sorry forgot to give you the blog adress...ht...

2007-03-12T13:59:00.000-04:00

Dan, sorry forgot to give you the blog adress...

http://boston-press-box-2.blogspot.com/

Thanks

Dan, love the blog. It is a great way to keep upda...

2007-03-12T13:57:00.000-04:00

Dan, love the blog. It is a great way to keep updated. As a teacher on my spring break and wanna be sports writer I have decided to resurrect my blog from last year when I was in college. I am trying out a little project, me vs. a quarter to fill out my brakcet...I would love for everyone to check it out...

Oh come on all you bracket haters, this is precise...

2007-03-12T13:55:00.000-04:00

Oh come on all you bracket haters, this is precisely what today is for. It's all about making claims about brackets, etc. It's why ESPN has such good ratings showing the "experts" doing their picks, as we hang on their every word.

While I won't talk specifically about my brackets anymore, I will say this, I feel worse about this year's bracket than I have since I correctly called Duke to win over Arizona...