SLAYER’S SPORTS AND STUFF!
Hi everybody! Welcome to a very special edition of Slaye’s College Hoops and Stuff! It’s time to go dancing as we bring to you a super preview of the first two rounds. We’re going to have analysts, special guests, and all sorts of surprises in this one. So, get out your brackets, a pen, some paper, and a few bucks as we stroll through the entire world known as The Dance! I know it’s a frightening from a broader glance, but we’ll just take it one mini-bracket at a time. And soon just like in championship week, you will know everything!
So without further delay, we now move to what we call, the Super Preview of the First Two Rounds in the Dance. Also know as SPOTFTRITD. It would not be possible without the paid support of Gloomchen who figured out the HTML formula for most of what you see here today.
Gloomchen
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Let’s talk to Gloomchen about the tournament. What are your thoughts on this yea’s NCAA tournament?
Gloomchen: That’s basketball, right?
Thank you very much.
Before we quest the catacombs of brackets, let’s take a look at some of the effects of championship week. The team getting martyred this year is Notre Dame (oh, I’m going to hell for that little pun). Well there has been lots of arguing back and forth on their worthiness of them. But that’s not important, what IS important is who TOLD you they would not get in. Who? Me! That’s right. Me! Me! Me! In fact, all those guarantees I had, I got them all right. Ha! I am the smartest man alive!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually, it’s no big deal. When you pay attention for a few years, you get the feel of it, you know what I’m saying. Let’s go to the first regional that starts with the #1 team in the country.
CHICAGO REGIONAL
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Alright, here is how it works. We look at the first two rounds and split them up into mini-brackets. Team, conference affiliation with an extra C meaning they are an automatic, why not A for automatic? Because I like C for championship better. Then the times, of course they are only approximations especially the latter ones. But you know all that, because you are all smart and intelligent people. Let’s gooooooooooooooo!
Indianapolis, IN
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Most think Illinois should have no problem getting to the Sweet Sixteen. And I’m sure most of you have them going there but for the sake of semantics, let’s take a peek at the other three because it may not be as much a shoe-in as you think. FDU has never won a game in the Dance and that won’t change. If it’s not a blowout, it would be quite surprising. No one is sure which Texas will show up. The one that went 5-6 in their last 11 and almost fell off the bubble? Or the one that beat Oklahoma St. and the end of the season and was the NCAA’s best rebounding team before then. Nevada which was a sweet 16 last year and was steady in the Top 25 has not beaten a top-caliber team this season, Their biggest wins are against UTEP and Vermont. But this is the same team they had last year except more experience.
Cleveland, OH
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This is gonna be a tough one. Both the Ivy and Horizon have had nice long histories of providing bracket busters and Penn has done it themselves plenty of times. The Tide is a great shooting team but they have little depth, so one injury and their plan begins to fall through. Boston is a smart in-the-paint team that rarely shoots the three, which would be an interesting contrast against Penn. The Golden Eagles were for a few weeks back in December one of the best teams in the game. But they’ve cooled down since then. If they can re-capture that form they should be able to get to the sweet sixteen. If not, this bracket is anybody’s.
Boise, ID
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Arizona is a weird team. They could be one of the best teams in the country if they weren’t always so sloppy. But still, this is one of the fastest teams in the NCAA and if you let your guard down for a second, you could find yourself down by 10 in less then a minute. The Tigers really looked good at the end of the season. That starting five is as good as anyone’s with all players averaging double digits in scoring. An Arizona/LSU match-up is looking mighty sexy right now. But right now they are up against two pissed off teams. UAB is supposedly the last at-large team to make it in, so they are getting the flack from the Nazis as teams like this usually do. But remember, most of the team that went to the Sweet 16 last year is still here and they can be a prolific offense. But don’t overlook Utah St. for the BIG upset. Remember, this is also the same team that got snubbed last year even with a Top 25 ranking.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Oklahoma St. seems to be the popular Final Four pick from this bracket. And why not? They won the Big 12 tournament and four out of the five starters from last year are back. But a warning if you pick these guys as one of your teams to go all the way. They are small and can be out hustled by some of the tougher teams. If you’re curious, SEL’s chances aren’t great. There like to play a slow-paced defensive game and that’s not gonna happen against the Cowboys. The match-up between the two mid-major at large teams is fascinating. Saint Mary’s lives and dies by the three pointer. So if they’re off their game, they lose. If they’re on, they usually win. Southern Illinois on the other hand lives and dies by defense and they rotate ten different players keeping everybody fresh. Either team could give the Cowboys a good game.
So to talk about the Chicago Bracket, let’s welcome special guest Tom Daniels or as I like to call him, Spectre #2.
Hello #2!
Daniels: Hi!
What are your thoughts on the Chicago regional?
Daniels: The what?
The Chicago regional..for the NCAA tournament.
Daniels: Oh no, that’s this week?
Yes
Daniels: I gotta go fill out my brackets on Yahoo!
Thank you Daniels. Let’s take a commercial break!
Welcome back everybody! Without further delay, let’s look at the
ALBURQUERQUE REGIONAL
Pronounced al-ber-ker-kee
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Boise, ID
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With the West Coast Huskies entering the dance with more jeers then cheers, expect them to come in with middle fingers at the media nazis. If you’ve never watched this team play, get ready for OFFENSE. 86.9 points per game to exact. Montana shouldn’t be too much trouble as it’s really just a one man show called Kamarr Davis. I still don’t think the state of Montana really exists. Someone show me proof. Obviously, the 8/9 game is a coin toss. Pittsburgh=defense and Pacific=offense. Pacific may have the edge, because the Panthers depending on the refs may not be allowed to play the rough style they are accustomed too. So the question is can any of these two teams knock off Washington for an early exit. Talent-wise they can’t match up. But if either team brings their A game and has a little luck, it could be a battle.
Nashville, TN
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Georgia Tech has quickly become a Final Four favorite which if history tells anything, may be a curse instead of a blessing. They are the best defensive team in the ACC if you pay attention to statsitics and they do have some big stings (hahahaha) against Wake Forest and North Carolina. George Washington is coming from a league that feels it has been disrespected. Who would of thought we would see the day where the A-10 not only has one lone representative, but their champion is ranked 12. Don’t blow them off, this team is spunky and did score a win against Michigan St. As for the Cardinals, they come in feeling dissed. A championship and a 29-4 record which lands them a 4 seed. This is one of the most balanced teams in the country and if that isn’t enough, they’re have just gotten healthy. Lafayette or the Rajun Cajuns are a sleeper favorite. They actually have been for a couple months. They’re fast and they like to shoot the three. This is a fun little bracket that can really go anywhere.
Tucson, AC
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Now before anyone gets excited and starts writing Gonzaga all over their bracket, I should let you know that this team is not as good as some previous Zags that we’ve seen. Their high in the stats with offense and defense, but have been poor with the rebounding. Winthrop should not be a problem but a little heads up, they have an 18 game win streak and they are young so ‘they don’t know any bette’ as the pundits like to say. Of course, the Texas Tech/UCLA game provides a rare marquis first round match-up. Tech is the typical Knight team we’ve seen in the latter half of his career. Ok on the talent, but strong on the grit. Texas Tech looked good in the Big 12 tournament but like most Knight teams, they are prone to laying the egg. The Bruins are an atypical west coast team relying more on defense then scoring. They are a young team that just began to develop a few weeks ago. They have three freshman starters. A potential Gonzaga/Texas Tech game has $$$ written all over it.
Cleveland, OH
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Yeah, yeah, yeah, Chris Paul and Wake Forest got dissed. Whatever. You play who you gotta play. And in hindsight, they ended up in a somewhat weak bracket. Anyway, as for Chatanooooooooga, remember, they were the team in 1997 that got to the Sweet 16 as a 14 seed. Upsetting Wake Forest may be a bit too much to ask though. Creighton has made waves before in the tourney, and this year they come in off a 8 game win streak and a MVC championship which if you’ve been paying attention is not easy to get these days. Typical perimeter MVC team. They just tend to do it better then others. West Virginia comes to the tourney, HOT. This team is just fun to watch as they love to play a bizarre fast paced, three point offense. It’s a coin toss between West Virginia and Creighton but can either of them beat Wake Forest. It’s not as impossible as you think. Both schools can hold their own. Now before too many of you jump on the Demon bandwagon and more importantly down my throat. Just a little advice. This school has a long history of losing in the early rounds.
Alight, to talk about the Albuquerque bracket, let’s go to Spectre #1, Widro.
Hello, Widro!
Widro: Hi!
What’s your take on the Albuquerque bracket?
Widro: I’m really excited for the Mets this year. Pe-dro! Pe-dro! Pe-dro!
Thank you Widro.
Let’s take a commercial break!!!!!!!!!
We’re back! And we now go to the
SYRACUSE REGIONAL
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Charlotte, NC
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The Tar Heels have become the consensus favorite to win. Most of you reading this probably have them in the middle of your bracket somewhere near the word championship. As for the two teams in the Play In Game opening round game, click on Tom Tone’s columnfor a look at Oakland. Alabama A&M (that’s a mouthful) will be this yea’s SWAC team to get swacked around by a #1 seed. That was horrible. I apologize. As for the Gophers, they have the best defense in the Big Ten if that means much this year and their offense is spearheaded by a strong front court. The Cyclones are the same but different. Good defense with a good back court. This game is a coin toss and it would be somewhat surprising if either could beat North Carolina. Prove me wrong guys, prove me wrong!!!!!!!!
Nashville, TN
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This is one nutty little bracket. After a five year hiatus, the Wildcats are dancing again. They were a sub .500 team and then Kablooie! They beat Kansas and went on a tear in the Big East. This is a team that is athletic, talented, and mature so lots of people are picking this team to not only win the bracket but possibly go further. Because of New Mexico’s 12th seed, one can conclude if they didn’t win the conference, they wouldn’t be here. This gives the Lobos some fuel for the fire. They have won their last nine out of ten and come in the tourney peaking. The Gators are a legitimate ten player team. They love to play a fast game and have slam dunk contests and contrasts the tough Villanova style should these two play. Of course, the lone MAC team in the tournament, Ohio stands in the way, Don’t count them out. They are another team feeling disrespected (it’s a pity party, ain’t it?). If they play at the top of their level, they could frustrate the more talented teams with their spread offense which slows the pace. We’ve seen it happen countless of times in the dance.
Oklahoma City, OK
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Alight, I know more then a few of you have Bucknell in there to be the super-upset of 2005. This mostly has to do with the fact people have gotten sour on the old Jayhawks. Remember guys, this team beat Oklahoma St. and Kentucky at their own court. They were also rated #1 in the RPI for most of the year. It all depends if they can find their game again. As for Bucknell, they do have an impressive win against Pittsburgh so who knows? The Badgers are a defensive team that can’t keep up with a high octane offense. They are 0-5 when their opponent scores more then 70 points. Alot of people are wondering why Norhtern Iowa got picked over teams such as Buffalo and Wichita St. Especially, since they lost in their first game in the MVC tourney. It basically came down to non-conference schedule and their win against Iowa St. put them over the edge. Typical shooting MVC team that could cause issues when they are in the zone.
Worcester, MA
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Whether the East Coast Huskies deserve a #2 seed or not is a moot point as this is the strongest bracket of the first two rounds. We’ll start off with the obvious weak link, Central Florida. This is a defensive team that relies on the three pointer and it’s very unlikely they’ll be able to do much against Uconn. But it should be noted Connecticut has lost to a few teams that Central Florida is better then. Charlotte is all offense and their defense is the worst of the CUSA. They average 78.7ppg but allow 71.9 points against. They like to have shooting battles. As for the Wolfpack, they are two faced. Some games their starting five is one of the most cohesive units in college basketball. Other games they are a turnover machine. Connecticut has been inconsistent all year, and there are no guarantees they can get out of this bracket if Charlotte or N.C. State get hot.
For some analysis, let’s talk to Mistress Rho
Mistress Rho, what is your take on all this!
Rho: Go Gators! I’m not feeling well, I think I’m coming down with something. The opposition will have to maim Matt Walsh in order to have a chance. And they’ll have to do that by playing dirty. And playing dirty (while part OF it sometimes) is less cool than playing clean and pulling off a win (and subsequently acting like you’ve been there before and will go there again so… Go Gators! You weren’t even ranked a week ago. Now look atcha!
Thank you Rho! Let’s do one more commercial break!!!!
And finally, we come to the
AUSTIN REGIONAL
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Charlotte, NC
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Is there anybody here that doesn’t think Duke will get out of this bracket? Ok, didn’t think so. But in case you need reassurance, let’s go over it anyway. I don’t have much to say about Delaware St. except they are one of the original MEAC teams when it formed in 1970 and this is their first dance. Welcome! Stanford actually has wins against the two PAC powerhouses, Washington and Arizona. But they’ve been on a sliiiiiidddddeeee since losing their star player, Dan Drunfeld two months ago to a knee injury. Mississippi St. is somewhat of a dissapointment this year, but the difference between them and Stanford is that they got their star player, Winsome Frazier back. And by the way, Duke and North Carolina playing in the same building. Tough ticket.
Worcester, MA
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This will be Tom Brennan’s last season and many felt Vermont could have made a run. But then they got stuck with Syracuse so people jumped off that bandwagon like it was one fire. Syracuse started off hot, going 20-1. Then they got cold. Then they got hot again and won the Big East tourney. Four players whom were part of the 2003 championship are here as well. Also, Syracuse just has a tendency to do well in the dance. The Spartans are impressive with their consistent offense and won alot of games from their free throw shooting. But people are eyeing that Old D team like candy with their 28-5 record. A potential Syracuse/Michigan St. game is enticing as well, but there is no guarantee that will happen with the other two ready to upset. Nice bracket.
Tucson, AZ
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Yup, even without the big fat guy, Utah makes their annual trip to the Dance. It just wouldn’t be the same without them, wouldn’t it? Andrew Bogut averages a double-double and they have an impressive out of conference win against LSU. UTEP leads the nation in free throw percentage and this team is all juniors and seniors with experience in the dance. They are dangerous. Niagara goes dancing for the first time since 1970!!!!!! And they are also fourth in the nation in scoring. An atrocious defense though but what else is new in the MAAC. Still, they ARE from the MAAC, a conference that loves to bust brackets. As for Oklahoma, this team was once thought to be one of the best especially after a double digit win against Connecticut. But in the thick of the Big 12, they were brought down to earth and for awhile there seemed mediocre. They seem to be back in stride, but who knows which team we will see?
Indianapolis, IN
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Kentucky’s defense is the best in the NCAA. Bar none. But their offense has been shaky at times. While that shouldn’t bite them in the first round (though stranger things have happened) it could bite them in the second round. But many find that unlikely as well. Most feel Kentucky has somewhat of a free ride to the Sweet Sixteen. Let’s look. Iowa has been good these past few weeks. They have some late season wins against Minnesota and Michigan State and also have Louisville and Texas on their fatality list. They can manufacture points by the 70s. The Bearcats are a typical Bob Huggins Cincy team, which is a good thing and bad thing. Their tough physical play tends to hurt them in the Dance as opposed to help them. This Cincy team is also weaker then usual and they don’t have that one big win I can point out too.
And finally, let’s talk to Patrick Nguyen.
What do you think Patrick?
Knight and and the url so i can pastei JUST posted my new article lfmao give me a quote HEHEHHE QUOTE DAMMIT gimmie a l33t quote
ok…………..
On that note, so long, good bye, enjoy the tournament, this took way too long to do.
We are back next week with a look at the Sweet 16 which is much shorter.
Thank God.
