March Madness

[jusplay4fun]

One of the great sporting events in the USA, NCAA March Madness for Mens College Basketball (D-1) has begun..!

So has the Tournament for Division 1 Women. There are other divisions and other sports going on, but from mid-March to early April, this is a great spectacle. I think much of the appeal is based on watching the progress in the Brackets, picking teams to win, betting, and the drama and pagentry that is college sports (bands, mascots, cheerleaders and dancers, crazy fans and crazy colors and traditions; GOTTA LOVE all that).

I had my students in my Chemistry class draw schools randomly and we are playing for....COOKIES. ...JUST for FUN...! One male student wanted to do it for MONEY, but that is a BIG NO in school. (interestingly, the English teacher had printed copies of the Brackets, so I borrowed one from her, rather than print a set of BRACKETS.

The March Madness bracket is the visual representation of all the teams in the tournament and the path they have to follow to the Final Four and the championship game.

And we love to watch the underdogs do well, the Davids that slay Goliaths. And who will be Cinderella this year? (I think two #12 seeds won in Round 1.)

Locally, VCU (Richmond college) made the Final Four in 2011; this year VCU lost in round 1 Thursday night. I have my Master's degree from VCU. I have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Virginia Tech and we have not done well in Mens Basketball lately. I did cheer for our big rivals, UVa, when they won the National Championship in 2019. UVa became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16, but gained redemption in 2019.

Shocking the basketball world twice in two years, Virginia lost to 16-seed UMBC in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament only to come back and win the 2019 NCAA tournament championship the very next year.

[HitRed]

Cheering any Texas or Big 12 teams. All roads lead to San Antonio!

https://www.finalfoursanantonio.com/

[Dukasaur]

So, I've never watched a professional basketball game before. Today we were having lunch in a bar and the game was on pretty much right in my face so couldn't help but watch some of it.

I couldn't get why the coaches (on both teams) seemed so very pissed off. Not just one or two, but three or four coaches, and on both teams, with such very pissed-off looks on their faces.

Hockey and baseball coaches get pissed off sometimes, of course, but most of the time you see them looking either neutral or enthusiastic, but these basketball guys look like they have a serious case of "I hate the world and every fucking person in it." Is that some kind of basketball tradition, that a coach has to practise his grumpy look to work there?

[KoolBak]

Never watched. Couldn't care less...

Don't understand how grown people get SO wound up over college sports.

Some would say bass fishing is one of the great sporting events as well.....

Anyhow...back to thread!

[jusplay4fun]

So, I've never watched a professional basketball game before. Today we were having lunch in a bar and the game was on pretty much right in my face so couldn't help but watch some of it.

I couldn't get why the coaches (on both teams) seemed so very pissed off. Not just one or two, but three or four coaches, and on both teams, with such very pissed-off looks on their faces.

Hockey and baseball coaches get pissed off sometimes, of course, but most of the time you see them looking either neutral or enthusiastic, but these basketball guys look like they have a serious case of "I hate the world and every fucking person in it." Is that some kind of basketball tradition, that a coach has to practise his grumpy look to work there?

Is that why it is called March Madness?? LoL (yeah, I know Pro [NBA] vs. college, so sue me...LoL)

I have liked to watch Pro basketball, especially as the Celtics won so many championships. When your team is doing well, watching is more enjoyable. I started to watch the NBA again recently as the Celtics started getting closer to a championship; #18 (most in the NBA, one ahead of the Lakers) in 2024.

Champions
As of 2024,(...) with their most recent being the Boston Celtics who have won 18 titles, the most of any team in the league

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_champions

[jusplay4fun]

Sweet 16 is set for the Men's Tournament.

Thursday, March 27 (Sweet 16)

(2) Alabama vs. (6) BYU, 7:09 p.m. | CBS
(1) Florida vs. (4) Maryland, 7:39 p.m. | TBS
(1) Duke vs. (4) Arizona, 9:39 p.m. | CBS
(3) Texas Tech vs. (10) Arkansas, 10:09 p.m. | TBS
Friday, March 28 (Sweet 16)

(2) Michigan State vs. (6) Ole Miss, 7:09 p.m. | CBS
(2) Tennessee vs. (3) Kentucky, 7:39 p.m. | TBS
(1) Auburn vs. (5) Michigan, 9:39 p.m. | CBS
(1) Houston vs. (4) Purdue, 10:09 p.m. | TBS

The lowest seed left is #10 Arkansas, who defeated #2 St. John's.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/mml-official-bracket/2025-03-23/latest-bracket-schedule-and-scores-2025-ncaa-mens-tournament

[theelkspeaks]

So much for all the talk that the Transfer Portal and all would help level the playing field and create even more madness than usual. Instead, we got ... Arkansas and a close call for Colorado State - and beyond that, barely a shred of madness. TBH it's a disappointing year but this Duke team is not to be missed!

[jusplay4fun]

So much for all the talk that the Transfer Portal and all would help level the playing field and create even more madness than usual. Instead, we got ... Arkansas and a close call for Colorado State - and beyond that, barely a shred of madness. TBH it's a disappointing year but this Duke team is not to be missed!

The transfer portal has really disrupted college sports, especially Football (American, NOT soccer) and men's Basketball, two sports I follow more than a bit. Thought it does have some benefits, there are lots of negatives, too, with that. It makes predicting one team's success from one year to the next even more difficult and makes it difficult to develop and/or continue loyalties to a school, coach, and program. And while the portal make it easier to find a "plug for a gap" we have trouble watching a freshman or walk-on develop over time to become a really valuable member of the Team.

And I will not comment much on NIL, other than that college athletes should get SOME money for their NILs, as college SPORTS is a very large business (NOT as large as the NFL or NBA, per athlete). But this TOO is a major disruption of college sports, for GOOD and BAD.

And while I am complaining about college sports, I am very sad to see the end of the PAC-12 Conference. It makes no sense to me, other than BIG MONEY, for Rutgers and Univ. of Oregon to be in the same conference, or the same for Stanford and Virginia Tech.

ALL this has led to TRUE Madness. I have very little interest this year in the March Madness and the Men's Tournament, but I did force myself to pick a team to follow and to cheer for, for this year. I watched only 1-2 complete games because of ALL this.

Sports is good to watch, but having some stake in a team, franchise, perhaps a coach, BUT especially player, is what creates REAL and lasting interest for most sporting events I want to watch and for enough interest to really invest my emotional energy, i.e., to cheer for. Cheering for the embodiement of GOOD values, as incorporated in a program, can also build loyalty, but in a more abstract way. VALUES certainly do not sell JERSEYS.

[theelkspeaks]

So much for all the talk that the Transfer Portal and all would help level the playing field and create even more madness than usual. Instead, we got ... Arkansas and a close call for Colorado State - and beyond that, barely a shred of madness. TBH it's a disappointing year but this Duke team is not to be missed!

The transfer portal has really disrupted college sports, especially Football (American, NOT soccer) and men's Basketball, two sports I follow more than a bit. Thought it does have some benefits, there are lots of negatives, too, with that. It makes predicting one team's success from one year to the next even more difficult and makes it difficult to develop and/or continue loyalties to a school, coach, and program. And while the portal make it easier to find a "plug for a gap" we have trouble watching a freshman or walk-on develop over time to become a really valuable member of the Team.

And I will not comment much on NIL, other than that college athletes should get SOME money for their NILs, as college SPORTS is a very large business (NOT as large as the NFL or NBA, per athlete). But this TOO is a major disruption of college sports, for GOOD and BAD.

And while I am complaining about college sports, I am very sad to see the end of the PAC-12 Conference. It makes no sense to me, other than BIG MONEY, for Rutgers and Univ. of Oregon to be in the same conference, or the same for Stanford and Virginia Tech.

ALL this has led to TRUE Madness. I have very little interest this year in the March Madness and the Men's Tournament, but I did force myself to pick a team to follow and to cheer for, for this year. I watched only 1-2 complete games because of ALL this.

Sports is good to watch, but having some stake in a team, franchise, perhaps a coach, BUT especially player, is what creates REAL and lasting interest for most sporting events I want to watch and for enough interest to really invest my emotional energy, i.e., to cheer for. Cheering for the embodiement of GOOD values, as incorporated in a program, can also build loyalty, but in a more abstract way. VALUES certainly do not sell JERSEYS.

Yeah the demise of the Pac-12 was pretty sad (even as someone whose favorite team is in the conference the top teams from that league joined). That said, I also have had a soft spot for BSU ever since the 07 Fiesta Bowl too and they look poised to contend in the new Pac-12 - but it's whack to have Stanford and co in the ACC on top of what you said.

The '02 championship and Jim "Fear the Vest" Tressel definitely make up a lot of a young elk's falling in love with football. Chris Peterson on Boise (and later Washington), Coach K in basketball, can definitely remember lots of memorable coaches. (And obviously Lebron, Jim Thome, and CC Sabathia for pro sports - even though I'm a lot less into baseball than I used to be). From my POV, it tends to be more about the coaches in college sports and the players in pro sports

[jusplay4fun]

So much for all the talk that the Transfer Portal and all would help level the playing field and create even more madness than usual. Instead, we got ... Arkansas and a close call for Colorado State - and beyond that, barely a shred of madness. TBH it's a disappointing year but this Duke team is not to be missed!

The transfer portal has really disrupted college sports, especially Football (American, NOT soccer) and men's Basketball, two sports I follow more than a bit. Thought it does have some benefits, there are lots of negatives, too, with that. It makes predicting one team's success from one year to the next even more difficult and makes it difficult to develop and/or continue loyalties to a school, coach, and program. And while the portal make it easier to find a "plug for a gap" we have trouble watching a freshman or walk-on develop over time to become a really valuable member of the Team.

And I will not comment much on NIL, other than that college athletes should get SOME money for their NILs, as college SPORTS is a very large business (NOT as large as the NFL or NBA, per athlete). But this TOO is a major disruption of college sports, for GOOD and BAD.

And while I am complaining about college sports, I am very sad to see the end of the PAC-12 Conference. It makes no sense to me, other than BIG MONEY, for Rutgers and Univ. of Oregon to be in the same conference, or the same for Stanford and Virginia Tech.

ALL this has led to TRUE Madness. I have very little interest this year in the March Madness and the Men's Tournament, but I did force myself to pick a team to follow and to cheer for, for this year. I watched only 1-2 complete games because of ALL this.

Sports is good to watch, but having some stake in a team, franchise, perhaps a coach, BUT especially player, is what creates REAL and lasting interest for most sporting events I want to watch and for enough interest to really invest my emotional energy, i.e., to cheer for. Cheering for the embodiement of GOOD values, as incorporated in a program, can also build loyalty, but in a more abstract way. VALUES certainly do not sell JERSEYS.

Yeah the demise of the Pac-12 was pretty sad (even as someone whose favorite team is in the conference the top teams from that league joined). That said, I also have had a soft spot for BSU ever since the 07 Fiesta Bowl too and they look poised to contend in the new Pac-12 - but it's whack to have Stanford and co in the ACC on top of what you said.

The '02 championship and Jim "Fear the Vest" Tressel definitely make up a lot of a young elk's falling in love with football. Chris Peterson on Boise (and later Washington), Coach K in basketball, can definitely remember lots of memorable coaches. (And obviously Lebron, Jim Thome, and CC Sabathia for pro sports - even though I'm a lot less into baseball than I used to be). From my POV, it tends to be more about the coaches in college sports and the players in pro sports

I did have lots of faith in Jim "Fear the Vest" Tressel, until it was revealed that he had trouble with the NCAA Rules and was discredited. That was very disappointing to me and many fans. I did enjoy the 2002 National Championship of the Ohio State Buckeyes. (I lived a few years in Columbus, Ohio.) I had to endure the many losses by OSU to UM during the tenure of John Cooper while UM fans were enjoying those wins. I volunteered at an event that weekend where there were several prominent UM fans. I did have a tough time cheering for OSU as they defeated the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on January 20.

And you are correct, the focus is on Coaches in college sports more so than on the individual players; the opposite is true, generally in pro sports. That has to do, I think, with how long the individual spends with the team. The Coach gets much blame for a bad season and the pros are more likely to change (fire) the coach/manager.

Ohio State was one of the few teams (besides Clemson of the ACC) to challenge Alabama, and more recently UGA, for the National Championship in College Football. Nick Saban is certainly an excellent coach. I love his commercial for vrbo rentals. I am sure he displays some of those traits ("NO FUN" and "this is not a spa") while coaching. Among the many coaches (including Kirby Smart now Head Football Coach of UGA) he mentored is Deion "Prime Time" & "Coach Prime" Sanders. I am sure their time together working on AFLAC commercials was critical to Sanders' career as a coach.

I have some friends who LOVE Notre Dame Football; one in particular was not a fan of Brian Kelly, despite his good teams and record at Notre Dame. Kelly did not join the Pantheon of Great ND Football Coaches and win a National Championship. Marcus Freeman ALMOST got there.

Back to the Main Topic, I really enjoyed watching Coach K's Basketball Teams at Duke. The 1992 NCAA tournament game between Duke and Kentucky is still, for me, an amazing game. It went to overtime and the last second, dramatic win is still a great sports memory for me. And

I drew (actually, was left with) Duke in my brackets. I allowed students to draw, in groups of four, brackets of four teams. The last two sets of four teams left included Duke. Honestly, I do not recall my other group of 4 teams without looking.

[HitRed]

Texas Tech, Houston and BYU

[jusplay4fun]

So much for all the talk that the Transfer Portal and all would help level the playing field and create even more madness than usual. Instead, we got ... Arkansas and a close call for Colorado State - and beyond that, barely a shred of madness. TBH it's a disappointing year but this Duke team is not to be missed!

The transfer portal has really disrupted college sports, especially Football (American, NOT soccer) and men's Basketball, two sports I follow more than a bit. Thought it does have some benefits, there are lots of negatives, too, with that. It makes predicting one team's success from one year to the next even more difficult and makes it difficult to develop and/or continue loyalties to a school, coach, and program. And while the portal make it easier to find a "plug for a gap" we have trouble watching a freshman or walk-on develop over time to become a really valuable member of the Team.

And I will not comment much on NIL, other than that college athletes should get SOME money for their NILs, as college SPORTS is a very large business (NOT as large as the NFL or NBA, per athlete). But this TOO is a major disruption of college sports, for GOOD and BAD.

And while I am complaining about college sports, I am very sad to see the end of the PAC-12 Conference. It makes no sense to me, other than BIG MONEY, for Rutgers and Univ. of Oregon to be in the same conference, or the same for Stanford and Virginia Tech.

ALL this has led to TRUE Madness. I have very little interest this year in the March Madness and the Men's Tournament, but I did force myself to pick a team to follow and to cheer for, for this year. I watched only 1-2 complete games because of ALL this.

Sports is good to watch, but having some stake in a team, franchise, perhaps a coach, BUT especially player, is what creates REAL and lasting interest for most sporting events I want to watch and for enough interest to really invest my emotional energy, i.e., to cheer for. Cheering for the embodiment of GOOD values, as incorporated in a program, can also build loyalty, but in a more abstract way. VALUES certainly do not sell JERSEYS.

Yeah the demise of the Pac-12 was pretty sad (even as someone whose favorite team is in the conference the top teams from that league joined). That said, I also have had a soft spot for BSU ever since the 07 Fiesta Bowl too and they look poised to contend in the new Pac-12 - but it's whack to have Stanford and co in the ACC on top of what you said.

The '02 championship and Jim "Fear the Vest" Tressel definitely make up a lot of a young elk's falling in love with football. Chris Peterson on Boise (and later Washington), Coach K in basketball, can definitely remember lots of memorable coaches. (And obviously Lebron, Jim Thome, and CC Sabathia for pro sports - even though I'm a lot less into baseball than I used to be). From my POV, it tends to be more about the coaches in college sports and the players in pro sports

I did have lots of faith in Jim "Fear the Vest" Tressel, until it was revealed that he had trouble with the NCAA Rules and was discredited. That was very disappointing to me and many fans. I did enjoy the 2002 National Championship of the Ohio State Buckeyes. (I lived a few years in Columbus, Ohio.) I had to endure the many losses by OSU to UM during the tenure of John Cooper while UM fans were enjoying those wins. I volunteered at an event that weekend where there were several prominent UM fans. I did have a tough time cheering for OSU as they defeated the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame on January 20.

And you are correct, the focus is on Coaches in college sports more so than on the individual players; the opposite is true, generally in pro sports. That has to do, I think, with how long the individual spends with the team. The Coach gets much blame for a bad season and the pros are more likely to change (fire) the coach/manager.

Ohio State was one of the few teams (besides Clemson of the ACC) to challenge Alabama, and more recently UGA, for the National Championship in College Football. Nick Saban is certainly an excellent coach. I love his commercial for vrbo rentals. I am sure he displays some of those traits ("NO FUN" and "this is not a spa") while coaching. Among the many coaches (including Kirby Smart now Head Football Coach of UGA) he mentored is Deion "Prime Time" & "Coach Prime" Sanders. I am sure their time together working on AFLAC commercials was critical to Sanders' career as a coach.

I have some friends who LOVE Notre Dame Football; one in particular was not a fan of Brian Kelly, despite his good teams and record at Notre Dame. Kelly did not join the Pantheon of Great ND Football Coaches and win a National Championship. Marcus Freeman ALMOST got there.

Back to the Main Topic, I really enjoyed watching Coach K's Basketball Teams at Duke. The 1992 NCAA tournament game between Duke and Kentucky is still, for me, an amazing game. It went to overtime and the last second, dramatic win is still a great sports memory for me. And

I drew (actually, was left with) Duke in my brackets. I allowed students to draw, in groups of four, brackets of four teams. The last two sets of four teams left included Duke. Honestly, I do not recall my other group of 4 teams without looking.

[jusplay4fun]

Back to the Main Topic

I drew (actually, was left with) Duke in my brackets. I allowed students to draw, in groups of four, brackets of four teams. The last two sets of four teams left included Duke. Honestly, I do not recall my other group of 4 teams without looking.

I also have left Arizona in my 2 brackets (of 8 drawn or left for me)

[HitRed]

Texas Tech won

Houston won

Both in elite 8

[jimboston]

Never watched. Couldn't care less...

Don't understand how grown people get SO wound up over college sports.

Some would say bass fishing is one of the great sporting events as well.....

Anyhow...back to thread!

+1

-1 for the bass fishing

[jusplay4fun]

The main point:

This year’s national semifinals will feature a star-studded cast — and a chalky, historic one at that. For just the first time since 2008 and just the second time in NCAA Tournament history, the Final Four will be all No. 1 seeds: Florida, Duke, Houston and Auburn.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2025/03/30/march-madness-winners-losers-final-four/82733954007/



For two guys (KB & jimB) who claim they do not care about college athletics, they do want to post in this thread about Mens college basketball. (I thought jimb might start a post and thread about the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics, or even the Pats. I have not seen any here.)

I think in the case of jimb, this is likely because no one pays him any attention in real life. He craves attention and seeks it here, even if it is negative attention.

jimb has yet to learn how to elicit attention as does pee rat, by posting SO MANY interesting and relevant and important tiktok videos.

[jusplay4fun]

What a GAME..! Houston (Univ.) wins over Duke 70-67. Houston closes the game 25-8 and ONLY leads 3:43 of the game, BUT was up when it counted most, at the end.

Congratulations to Houston Cougars, who battled back and NEVER gave up. An Improbable win for U of H.Wow.

btw: they knocked off my Tournament Draw, Duke Blue Devils...DAG..!

And Houston plays Monday night in the Finals vs. Univ. of Florida Gators for the Championship; U of F beat Auburn.

[theelkspeaks]

As someone who had Duke over Auburn in the finals and had recovered decently after some garbage failed upset picks (High Point and Colorado State to the sweet 16), today was brutal

[HitRed]

Houston

[jusplay4fun]

As someone who had Duke over Auburn in the finals and had recovered decently after some garbage failed upset picks (High Point and Colorado State to the sweet 16), today was brutal

I feel your pain, TheElk.

It seems now that the Duke Coach, Jon Scheyer, went too soon to "milk" or use the Clock and slow the game. Flagg missed a last shot and Proctor missed a key 1 and 1 down the stretch that could have changed the outcome. Duke did not score enough down the stretch.

[jusplay4fun]

Houston

Four #1 seeds in the Final Four, so the Championship had 4 worthy teams.

I may or may not watch. I feel deflated now.

[HitRed]

Houston got to the final two. Congratulations Florida.