Let the Madness begin!!!!

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Bracket Here (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/bracket)

I'm sure a few of you have also filled out you're brackets. I got Duke, BC, UCONN, and Kansas in my Final Four. I'm taking the Huskies to win it all.

Should be a good tourney this year. It usually is.

I think Allen Ray is expected to play this weekend, even though he suffered a nasty eye injury last week in the Big East tournament.

Speaking of the Big East, Gerry McNamara had an unbelieveable tourney, leading the Orange to a Big East championship. Within a week, they went from a bubble team that might not make it to a fifth seed. They could make some noise, but will probably have to face a very good Duke team in the Sweet 16.

I hope my Gonzaga Bulldogs are able to win the Oakland bracket, but aside from Morrison and Batista I don't think this team has enough to play with the big boys. I hope they step it up because, if Duke takes care of their business, it would set up a classic Redick-Morrison showdown in the Final Four. I got Kansas in that bracket though, and will be happy if the 'Zags can make it to the second weekend of the tourney for the first time in several years.

UCONN should win the Washington bracket. I think they easily have the best team in the nation. UNC has been surprisingly good at times this year though, and could make a run. They did beat Duke recently on the road. Also, MSU is another solid team with some talent that could give UCONN a run for their money. They'll get some good guard play, and they have a solid big man in Davis.

There's several good teams in the Minny bracket that you could make an argument for. I personally aren't a big fan of 'Nova. They have great guard play, which can carry you far in this tourney, but I think they're a good pick to get upset. OSU has had a solid season this year, and will get some support from some, but I like Boston College in this bracket. Their performance yesterday against Duke, in a losing effort, was enough to make me a believer in this team.

Any thoughts?

[charlio lemieux]

First time I've ever filled out a bracket. With the exception of Duke I was completely guessing. Maybe I'll have some beginners luck.

[J.R.]

This tournament is a large reason why March is the best sports month (of course October is second).

Duke, Kansas, Connecticut and Florida (that Minneapolis bracket is wide open) are my Final Four teams - the Blue Devils to win.

Before Thursday I'll post my official completed bracket.

[J.R.]

Okay, it's completed.

Click:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/th_NCAABracket2006.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/jrthesportsczar/NCAABracket2006.jpg)

I use the same bracket for all contests/games/pools (which is about six or seven this year) I enter online and off. I already know that I didn't make enough first round upsets. I'm hoping for at least a 60% correct rate. I've only cracked the 70% mark and that was three years ago.

12 hours until tipoff! :boogie:

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Well, after several heart attacks in the past hour, BC finally pulled out the victory over a hungry Pacific team. It took until the second OT, but they finally played like the team I thought they were when I put them in my Final Four.

[J.R.]

Well, after several heart attacks in the past hour, BC finally pulled out the victory over a hungry Pacific team. It took until the second OT, but they finally played like the team I thought they were when I put them in my Final Four.
I watched the second half at a Boston Pizza location and was thinking of your Final Four prediction several times as Pacific fought back to tie it in regulation, then take the lead in the first OT, only to run out of gas in the second. Great game.

The other really good game was your Bulldogs hanging on for the win against Xavier. Tennessee nearly fell to Winthrop.

Syracuse looks to be in some trouble right now. Last year they were upset early by Vermont. Could Texas A&M be the second No. 12 to move on today?

ADD - Anwser: Yes. (GAH, I had the Orange going to the S16.) It's amazing how often those fives fall to twelves.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

I'm guilty of putting the Orange in my Sweet 16 too. It was hard to see them going out early after their performance in the Big East tourney last week.

[charlio lemieux]

Iowa just got bounced. Big upset.
3 of my Sweet 16 Teams are gone already.
2 of my elite 8 are gone too. I'm toast!

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Albany was up by as much as 12 midway through the second half. I thought we were gonna witness history tonight, but then UCONN made some big shots and completely owned Albany in the last 10 minutes.

Even though it would've killed my brackets (I have UCONN winning it), it would've been nice to see a 16 seed win.

[J.R.]

Even though it would've killed my brackets (I have UCONN winning it), it would've been nice to see a 16 seed win.Most people would have been in the same boat. Like I have them going to the final, and it would be worth sacrificing to see a first getting knocked in the first round.

At halftime:
#2 Texas trails by a point.
#3 North Carolina trails by a point.
#4 Kansas trails by ten.

Still 20 minutes to play in each, but something could be brewing.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Well I went with inexperience and got burned. Kansas meets their defeat to friggin Bradley. Hopefully BC holds up in their bracket because it'd suck to lose 2 of my Final Four teams (I'm pretty confident Duke will make it, and UCONN should be better the rest of the way).

My feature game on tv tonight was Murray State-UNC, and UNC had their hands full for most of the night. The young team showed why they're a 3 seed in the second half and were able to hold off Murray for the win. Also, I gotta give tons of props to Tyler Hansbrough. This kid is a player. You can't tell he's a freshmen when you watch him play, and will be a star in Chapel Hill for the duration of his college career.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

On a night where Morrison struggled, the Bulldogs still managed to pull out a victory over Indiana. Batista, Mallon and Knight all had strong games, while Raivio was big at the free throw line.

Looks like UCLA will win, but I'm hoping Alabama can make some magic happen here.

[J.R.]

Crazy couple nights:

Duke is ousted by LSU in the worst game I've ever seen them play last night.

UCLA storms back to take down Gonzaga. Texas hits a long three to beat WVU.

Villanova escapes with a one point win over Boston College (Eagles should have won).

Washington should have beat UCONN too, but the blue Huskies got several calls down the stretch to survive.

No. 11 George Mason is in the Elite Eight.

I said the Oakland bracket was wide open and it turns out it's No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the final.

Absolutely unpredictable.

[swflyers25]

My alma mater beat the BC Eagles, very exciting game. We are now going to the Elite Eight. Nova didn't get many calls go their way but they kept battling.
Let's go NOVA!!!!!!!!!!!

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Well, my bracket is in the garbage. I still have UCONN to win it, but them alone won't get me out of last place :(

Oh well, there should still be some good bball for the rest of the tourney to enjoy.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

With GMU's win today over UCONN, you could hear 95% of North Americans tear their brackets to shreds at the same time.

[J.R.]

I at least had Florida in the Final Four and I'm damn proud of it. :D

I'm one of the few people I know who got one. Most are oh-for.

[J.R.]

Any Final Four predictions?


3. Florida - 72
> Florida
11. George Mason - 60

2. UCLA - 59
> Louisiana State
4. LSU - 64

Gators over Tigers on Monday night in an all-SEC final.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Funny how in an off-year for the SEC they'll have both of the teams in the championship game.

I got LSU over Florida on Monday night. I like Noah a lot, but Davis and Thomas will be too much.

[J.R.]

The Madness is over.

Florida is the champion. The Gators ripped apart UCLA tonight in Indianapolis to claim its first ever NCAA basketball championship. Hardly a good game after four minutes into the first half.

I watched the game with a buddy who's favourite school is the University of Florida and his second favourite is Texas, so he has the collegiate bragging rights for a long time now. :hammer2:

[leaferfan87]

First NCAA Basketball championship in the history of the State of Florida. I wonder if this will begin a new tradition in the sunshine state.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Disappointing weekend, after what was shaping up to be the best tourney ever!