OFF TOPIC........Final Four Picks........

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

Okay,
While Baseball is rightly the best sport ever, many of us also live for college basketball too.....being in Louisville, I'm glad our Cardinals are back in the big dance and looks like the Wildcats down the road are going to be hard to beat.

FF Picks

Kentucky (Midwest)
Duke (West)
Florida (South)
Louisville (East) (uncontrollable sentimental pick)

Champions - Kentucky (Hate to make this prediction)

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Posted By: Scott M

Final four -

Pittsburgh
Arizona
Oklahoma
UConn

Champs - Pittburgh

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Posted By: leon

The only Final Four I ever cared about was Phi Slamma Jamma....in about '82 ?, University of Houston (I lived there then)...with Olajuwan, Drexler and crew....that was an awesome team.......

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Posted By: leon

Make that '83, '84 and '85....and never won it

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Posted By: TBob

Midwest- Kentucky
West- Duke
South- Texas
East- Mississippi State

Kentucky over Mississippi State in an All SEC final. The best conference in America by far.

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Posted By: jay berhens

Miss State isn't getting past their first round game

So far, my gut tells me Ky, Louisville, AZ and Tx with Ky winning it.

Jay- whose lone pool win came when picked all but 6 right the whole tourney.

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Posted By: runscott

Also, I'm picking Vermont to lose by less than 50 and I'm hoping Duke gets knocked out in the first round.

KY goes all the way!

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Posted By: Nick

I thought it might be fun to see who makes the best picks! I took the liberty of making a bracket contest through espn.com.

This is just for fun, no Grand Prize!

Here is the link:

http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage

The Group name is: Network
The Password is: 54

Nick

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Posted By: Kenny Cole

OU is getting no respect. By the way, they won the Big 12 championship. While there are some dissenting opinions, the Big 12 is by FAR the best and deepest conference. The SEC doesn't even come close in terms of depth.

I don't know if OU will go all the way, because Ere broke his wrist last weekend. However, they will beat Mississippi State. Whenever they are picked to lose they win. BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Posted By: Jay Miller

Leon---I lived in Houston then and really rooted for that team. Don't forget probably the best college player on the team-Larry Micheaux (sp?). They also, unfortunately, had one of the worst coaches in college basketball-Guy Lewis.

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Posted By: Brian C Daniels

has got to be in there !

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

if not THE toughest conferences out there. I'm not sure I would have chosen OU over KU from Big 12 for a #1 seed. OU finished 3rd in the Big 12 regular season. Granted they did win the conf tourney.....

OU won't have to face MS state, they'll be facing Louisville........Hollis Price versus Reece Gaines......remember the name Francisco Garcia......good luck!

Jay.....Phi Slamma Jamma and Guy Lewis beat my Cardinals back in 1983 en route to the title game where Jimmy V knocked them off. Hopefully the Cards are working their way back to yearly top 5 ranking. Lots of good recruits on the way......

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

couldn't get that to work from that link with that password and id.....

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Posted By: TBob

The last ten years Arkansas and Kentucky have won national championships, (Kentucky multiple titles and Arkansas also has a 2nd place and another Final Four), Mississippi State in the Final Four, Florida in the Final Four, and just this year LSU beats Arizona, Mississippi State beats the overrated Boomer Sooners, etc, etc, etc. The SEC is the best. Kansas will pull their early round choke. Texas is going down and OU will have their hands full with MSU, the most dangerous team in America because they get no respect.
And it will get stronger next year as Arkansas brings in the #3 recruiting class in America and gets back to their usual position in the rankings. Just be glad you Big 12 lovers (yes they are the 2nd best league) don't have to contend with Georgia which down the stretch was better than Florida.

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Mine in Nick's league, come and enter, even you Leon, all you have to do is click some teams.

I WANT NETWORK 54 BASKETBALL BRAGGING RIGHTS!!!!!!!!

I want to beat all of you out there.

Mr. Bowling Shoe Giver Outer Guy

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Posted By: TBob

"Network" and "54" wouldn't work. All I ended up getting after much effort was the Pontiac homepage.

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Posted By: Nick

The steps to join the bracket contest are as follows:

1. Go to ESPn.com
2.Register(it's free, very little info needed).
3.Click on the college basketball tourney button.
4. Click on Men's Tounament challenge.
5. Click on Join Goup.
6. Search for Group called "Network"
7. Fill in Bracket.
8. Realize you can't out pick a guy who lives in Vegas!

Regards,
Nick

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Posted By: jay behrens

Also, make sure when you do the search for group that you look for private groups, otherwise you get about 6,000+ groups with the anme network in them.

Jay

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

Some fodder for the Big 12 versus SEC debate......


-----------------------------------------
Big 12
-----------------------------------------
Average RPI of 12 participants.......52.9
-----------------------------------------
#Teams in top 10........................3
#Teams in top 25........................5
#Teams in top 50........................7
#Teams in top 100......................10
-----------------------------------------
#Teams in NCAA Tourney..................6
-----------------------------------------



-----------------------------------------
SEC
-----------------------------------------
Average RPI of 12 participants.......47.9
-----------------------------------------
#Teams in top 10........................2
#Teams in top 25........................3
#Teams in top 50........................8
#Teams in top 100......................12
-----------------------------------------
#Teams in NCAA Tourney..................6
-----------------------------------------

Don't know that there's definitive proof either way based on those numbers. Overall, the SEC is stronger and I would argue against their depth being weaker than Big 12. The Big 12, however, has the advantage at the top with the Big 3 of the Big 12. NIT teams......one SEC and two Big XII........

Anyway, something to munch on for the statistical nerds out there..........

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Posted By: jay behrens

all I knows is that the Big10 will fold like oragami once again and have only 1 team left after the first round.

Jay

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Posted By: TBob

is that Georgia would have been a #4 seed and that would have given the SEC the most teams in the tourney...

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Posted By: Scott M

Well, Georgia would have indeed gotten in, but lets face it Auburn would have been out - and shouldn't have gotten in regardless - they played a pansy schedule and didn't beat anyone of note. A strong case can be made for Alabama not getting in either - they had some impressive wins this year or should I say last year cause after Nov/Dec they collapsed. Personally I think the big 12 was the strongest conference this year - but at the end it won't matter cause the Big East Panthers will win.

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Posted By: Jay Miller

Jay--Care to make a friendly wager on that?

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Posted By: runscott

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Posted By: jay behrens

Well, since I don't gamle anymore, you area out of luck. The thing that scares is that since there is no expectations for the Big10 this year, they might actually do well instead of folding right away. You are welcome to go join the ESPN bracket group Nick set up so you can try and claim bragging rights. You'll find me there.

Jay

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Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

Having spent a total of about 10 minutes of research (half of which was trying to figure out what IUPUI stands for), my sure-fire, lock final four picks are:

Midwest: Pitt
West: Illinois
South: Texas
East: Wake Forest

Use this information with great confidence.

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Posted By: runscott

I can look at the group and see all the members, but I couldn't find anywhere to enter bracket info.

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Posted By: runscott

I finally got to the brackets, and of course they were locked. So I will have a perfect record of "0-fer".

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Posted By: TBob

Midwest: Pitt
West: Illinois
South: Texas
East: Wake Forest>

Todd I think you are going to be very unhappy if you bet this in a pool as NONE of these 4 make it. If you want a sleeper that NO ONE is talking about, look at Duke. Seems weird to have a year in which no one talks about Duke but they are still dangerous. Coack K is at his best with a lower seeded team. For today, I had Gonzaga, Holy Cross plus the points and Cal, so it has gone well. So far...
As far as Auburn not desering to get in, you'll get no quarrel from me here. They deserved it more than Bama did. THAT was a frigging joke!

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Posted By: runscott

Florida
Wake Forest
Duke
Kentucky

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Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

I'm not wagering anything, except for a few bucks in a pool. We'll see-- so far 2-1 (had Holy Cross to win- close but no cigar). Most overrated conference: Conference USA. Went from getting no respect to getting waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much, IMHO.

West region is far tougher than the others--Arizona, Kansas, Duke and Illinois. That itself would make a great final four. Since I'm a Big Ten fan, and because few others would pick 'em, (despite their toughness) I went with the Illini.

I expect the ususal $&#$#*$^-giving when someone's final four picks get knocked off, and trust you do as well.
Todd

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

After Day One, i admit defeat. I feel like an Iraq over before it started.

Lee

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Posted By: Todd (nolemmings)

One of your four is gone now, and the SEC has lost three times (should have been 4, if St. Joe's knew how to finish). Looks like the Big Ten (5-0)and Pac Ten (4-1) are the underrated conferences.
Damn, if that goofball from Maryland doesn't make that greasy buzzer beater, I'd be sittin OK.
Gotta get my Big Ten bragging rights now-- I sense trouble ahead.
Regards...............Todd

PS Why did you tell me that none of my final four picks would make it when you picked one of them yourself (Texas?)

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Posted By: TBob

One of your four is gone now, and the SEC has lost three times (should have been 4, if St. Joe's knew how to finish).>

But it could have been only two losses if MSU hadn't choked. Oh well, MSU was my longshot pick for the Final Four. I forgot about the curse of the Hogs. Every team in the tourney who lost to Arkansas this year lost their first round game, Bama, LSU and MSU.

Just fiddling until next year's tourney when the Hogs will be back.

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Posted By: TBob

PS Why did you tell me that none of my final four picks would make it when you picked one of them yourself (Texas?)>

Wishful thinking. Every true Arkansas fans detests the Shorthorns.

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Posted By: runscott

I also have to add that results so far are showing the big 12 to be superior to the SEC, but of course those cheatin' Georgians are missing.

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Posted By: Hankron

I predict that the Wisconsin Badgers will win their first two games. Give me a week, and I will make some more predictions.

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Posted By: Nick

We are at the Sweet Sixteen, my handicapping skills have failed me!

Anyway, here is the leader board:
Overall Results

1 wi bucky, John Effenheim
2 Donegal Sage, Keith O'Leary
3 Fighting Illini, Chris Bland
4 Spider Freak, Nigel Behrens
5 Boblitt Entry, Tom Boblitt
5 martinez Nickinvegas, nick martinez
5 Ryan's CrazyPicks, ryan christoff
5 phx tas, Todd Schultz
9 Mos Eisley WretchedHive, Jay Behrens
10 Mr BowlingShoe , Lee Behrens
11 joggerdru t207, drew andrews
12 martinez cherie, Cherie martinez
13 Marietta runscott, Scott Forrest

Nick

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Posted By: runscott

I was 0-32 in the first round, as I signed up after the brackets were locked!!! I actually missed 6 out of the first round, and 11 of my teams are in the final 16. Pretty poor.

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Posted By: TBob

Florida showed why they were the most overrated team in America this year. That darn Auburn keeps on winning! Thank God for Butler and Auburn to keep the tourney interesting and break up everybody's brackets. I still think Kentucky waltzes to the title. Not a great weekend for the SEC with only 2 left but Kansas almost pulled their perennial choke in Round One and Mizzou and OSU were bounced today, so the Big 12 isn't faring too much better...

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Posted By: TBob- Bob Marquette

Even though I am a dyed in the wool Arkansas fan and usually root for the SEC teams against others, I am in 7th Heaven as the Golden Eagles did it the old fashioned way- they earned it. Wow, did they take Kentucky to the woodshed or what? Marquette had to beat the number 1 and number 2 teams in their region to make the Final Four. The only other team left which could say that would be Michigan State if they beat Texas (#1) having already beaten Florida (#2).
I do concede that the Big 12 was the best conference this year with the SEC a close 2nd. Auburn did extremely well for being the 6th best team in the SEC. MSU and Florida and the shouldn't-have-gotten-in Bama all choked.
The best thing about Kentucky losing was all the crying around here as everybody's bracket went KERPLUNK!

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

Bob,

I can't tell you how impressed I am by Marquette at the moment. I love the fact that they ruined everyone's bracket by beating Kentucky. I was probably more impressed by them beating Pitt, though. Pitt looked unbeatable. Suddenly, my picks are alive again.

Not bad for one of the only people whose pick to win it all lost in the first round. I took an 8 seed (Oregon) figuring if they win it, I'd win the Grand Prize and be a super-genius. Only one 8 seed has ever won the tourney (Villanova) and I actually thought it was going to be Oregon that upset Kentucky, not Marquette.

So I figured I had no chance, but now I think if Oklahoma wins it all I can tie for #1. So I'm with Kenny now: GO SOONERS!

Not that it matters, of course. But I was expecting to wind up in last place after Oregon lost so soon.

Marquette has impressed my the most in the tourney, followed by Michigan State.

-Ryan

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Posted By: jay behrens

Actually, Villanova was a #7 seed. That is the lowest seed to win the tourney. Only reason I remember is becuase I won a stupid radio trivia contest with taht answer.

Jay

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

Jay,

Actually Villanova was indeed the #8 seed. No #7 has ever made it to the finals. I believe 8 is the lowest seed to ever win the tournament.

By the way, I'm quite impressed by a few of the board members who picked Syracuse to make it to the Final Four. Nicely done.

-Ryan

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

The team with the most losses to win the Tourney was Danny Mannings Kansas team with 11.

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Posted By: Julie

which is all I've got to say, since I'm rooting for the baseball season to start!

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Posted By: Nick

Here are the final results, I guess I had better stick to baseball betting!My wife almost beat me!
GREAT JOB KEITH!
CHAMPION:Donegal Sage, Keith O'Leary

2 wi bucky, John Effenheim
3 Fighting Illini, Chris Bland
4 Ryan's CrazyPicks, ryan christoff
5 Mr BowlingShoe , Lee Behrens
6 Mos Eisley WretchedHive, Jay Behrens
7 phx tas, Todd Schultz
8 Spider Freak, Nigel Behrens
9 Boblitt Entry, Tom Boblitt
10 martinez Nickinvegas, nick martinez
11 martinez cherie, Cherie martinez
11 joggerdru t207, drew andrews
13 runscott, Scott Forrest

Thanks,
Nick

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Posted By: TBob

They beat Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Oklahoma State this year.
It will be interesting to see if Anthony goes pro. This year proves how much easier it is to make a turn-around in basketball as compared to football. In basketball you can bring in 3 or 4 freshman studs and win a national champioship, not so in football. That is why hope always springs eternal for those of us who suffered through crummy basketball seasons this year but have a Top 5 recruiting class coming in next year.
Go Hogs!