2021 March Madness Thread

[Omaha1]

I think it's fair to say Creighton is the worst team left in the field. But I think anyone can beat anyone in the field, too.

Maybe I dunno. But this is the team that was percentage points away from winning the league, finished as tournament runner up, and has two ncaa wins. If we are the worst, that not exactly an endorsement for the Big East.

[LMS]

I think it's fair to say Creighton is the worst team left in the field. But I think anyone can beat anyone in the field, too.

Maybe I dunno. But this is the team that was percentage points away from winning the league, finished as tournament runner up, and has two ncaa wins. If we are the worst, that not exactly an endorsement for the Big East.

How do you figure we are the worst team left? Creighton has literally been ranked in every single AP top 25 poll all season long. Every single one. Some of these teams in the tournament accomplished next to nothing all year long until the past week.

[sju88grad]

I think it's fair to say Creighton is the worst team left in the field. But I think anyone can beat anyone in the field, too.

That’s absurd. At a minimum, I don’t believe Oral Roberts, Oregon State or Syracuse are better than Creighton.

[ArmyVet]

Big East will earn at least 8 NCAA units for this tournament. Maybe more. Anyone have a detail of the units earned over previous tournaments and the financial impact thereof?

[ArmyVet]

I think it's fair to say Creighton is the worst team left in the field. But I think anyone can beat anyone in the field, too.

USA Today has Creighton #14 and Villanova #16. I suspect these rankings are at least a reflection of who they expect is moving on and we have the two most difficult matchups ahead.

14. Creighton
No. 5 seed. The Bluejays (21-8) evaded an upset in the first round vs. UC Santa Barbara and then found their offensive rhythm in the second round in drubbing Ohio. All five Creighton starters reached double figures in the win over Ohio, and that's a regularity for this team that ranks in the top 20 nationally in three-point field goals made (10). Marcus Zegarowski has generated the most consistent offense, averaging 18.5 points in this tournament.

15. Oral Roberts
No. 15 seed. The Golden Eagles (18-10) aren't just your happy-to-be-here mid-major. Despite being just the second No. 15 seed to get this far (Florida Gulf Coast/"Dunk City" being the other) this team plays with a swagger. There might not be a better 1-2 punch in the Sweet 16 than guard Max Abmas, the leading scorer in the country with 24.5 points a game, and Kevin Obanor (he's had 58 points and 22 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games).

16. Villanova
No. 5 seed. The Wildcats (18-6) proved doubters wrong by getting here. Villanova lost starting point guard Collin Gillespie right before the NCAA Tournament and had to redefine its team identity as a result. In games against Winthrop (first round) and North Texas (second round), the championship culture that coach Jay Wright has instilled helped carry this team to the second weekend. It also helps to have a dynamic talent like Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (16 ppg, 8.3 rpg), the co-Big East player of the year, to give 'Nova a shot at outplaying its seeding even more.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 792232001/

[kayako]

https://twitter.com/TheAndyKatz/status/1374356062262988802?s=20


Andy Katz has Nova 15 and Creighton 16. As Armyvet noted, they're doing this because we're facing 2 best teams. Man I won't ever shut up on twitter if the Big East takes down these media darlings.

[kayako]

1a. Zags
1b. Baylor
3. Everybody else

The grim reality is that in a year where everything in this tourney is wide open there are 2 sure things IMO. I think we are staring at 2 teams making a methodical march towards an epic showdown. I think both Nova and Creighton are in trouble, as are anyone else in these 2 teams paths. I really hope I'm wrong.

Gotta give credit to Mark Few for being always eager to play anyone, but let's face it they don't really have an elite win in their resume. Iowa, Kansas, and Virginia team that was coming off covid pause. Granted hardly anyone can claim elite wins this season, but I am not certain if we have a situation of 2 teams being way ahead of everyone else. I think Creighton can make the game interesting.

I hate the matchup with Baylor.

[Fieldhouse Flyer]

.
The 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Teams - Ben Kercheval, CBS Sports – March 23, 2021

South Regional
No. 1 Baylor (-6.5) vs. No. 5 Villanova
No. 3 Arkansas (-11) vs. No. 15 Oral Roberts

Midwest Regional
No. 8 Loyola Chicago (-6.5) vs. No. 12 Oregon State
No. 2 Houston (-6) vs. No. 11 Syracuse

East Regional
No. 1 Michigan (-3) vs. No. 4 Florida State
No. 2 Alabama (-5.5) vs. No. 11 UCLA

West Regional
No. 1 Gonzaga (-13.5) vs. No. 5 Creighton
No. 6 USC (-1) vs. No. 7 Oregon

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Teams - Sorted by NCAAT Overall Seed No.

NCAAT Overall Seed No. • NET Ranking • Team • Conference • Difference: (NCAAT Overall Seed No. - NET Ranking) ==> Explanation

1 • 1 • Gonzaga • WCC • 0 ==> Seed No. same as NET Ranking.
2 • 2 • Baylor • Big 12 #1 • 0 ==> Seed No. same as NET Ranking.
4 • 4 • Michigan • Big Ten #2 • 0 ==> Seed No. same as NET Ranking.
5 • 7 • Alabama • SEC #1 • -2 ==> Seed No. 2 places better than NET Ranking.
8 • 5 • Houston • AAC • 3 ==> Seed No. 3 places worse than NET Ranking.
9 • 14 • Arkansas • SEC #2 • -5 ==> Seed No. 5 places better than NET Ranking.
13 • 25 • Florida State • ACC #1 • -12 ==> Seed No. 12 places better than NET Ranking.

17 • 26 • Creighton • Big East #1 • -9 ==> Seed No. 9 places better than NET Ranking.
18 • 17 • Villanova • Big East #2 • 1 ==> Seed No. 1 place worse than NET Ranking.
21 • 19 • USC • Pac-12 #2 • 2 ==> Seed No. 2 places worse than NET Ranking.
25 • 33 • Oregon • Pac-12 #3 • -8 ==> Seed No. 8 places better than NET Ranking.
30 • 10 • Loyola Chicago • MVC • 20 ==> Seed No. 20 places worse than NET Ranking.

41 • 40 • Syracuse • ACC #7 • 1 ==> Seed No. 1 place worse than NET Ranking.
44 • 46 • UCLA • Pac-12 #4 • -2 ==> Seed No. 2 places better than NET Ranking.
46 • 91 • Oregon State • Pac-12 #5 • -45 ==> Seed No. 45 places better than NET Ranking.
61 • 158 • Oral Roberts • Summit League • -97 ==> Seed No. 97 places better than NET Ranking.

.

[gtmoBlue]

Gumby, my man. I feel your concern....I really do.

GumbyDamnit! » Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:04 am

kayako wrote:
ESPN ranks Nova 6th and Creighton 16th of the remaining teams in the tournament. I hope Creighton's fired up.
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... d-sweet-16

1a. Zags
1b. Baylor
3. Everybody else

"The grim reality is that in a year where everything in this tourney is wide open there are 2 sure things IMO. I think we are staring at 2 teams making a methodical march towards an epic showdown. I think both Nova and Creighton are in trouble, as are anyone else in these 2 teams paths. I really hope I'm wrong."

There has not been an undefeated champ since Indiana in 1976. There will not be one this season either.

My guy Adoraz says: "Top tier teams rarely have true "down" years and find a way to stay relevant every year." - Adoraz

Both our Big East teams will 'find a way'...
If I were a betting man, my money would be on us - Nova & Cr8n...
Keep the faith, baby, keep the faith!

[Husky_U]

Go Blue Jays and Wildcats!