[Razz]

Who makes the Final 4 from this wide-open region?

[Illusion]

I really like Pittsburgh in this bracket

[imgv94]

My Heart is for UCLA being that I'm from LA. But I like Pittsburgh in here.
Memphis won't win. I think the sweet 16 game between UCLA and
Gonzaga will be fun. Who knows if Gonzaga will get there though.

[bigboydan]

i'll take my chances with Gonzaga.

[Illusion]

I think Gonzaga will make an early exit. They didn't play well this year against top tier opponents.

[imgv94]

No Way Gonzaga gets past UCLA IMO.

[onlooker]

Like I said in the Atlanta thread. It would be nice to see the top two players face each other in the final four, but Gonzaga is going to have some work to do to get there.

[Willie Bee]

I'll give Memphis a punch. A Memphis-Kansas matchup in the regional semi's is a game I'm looking forward to at this time.

[isetcap]

I'm in love with UCLA right now. In fact, they are my sleeper pick to win the whole thing.

[isetcap]

It's exposure time for Gonzaga.

[hanco21]

Call me crazy but I am taking a shot on San Diego State at 125/1 to make it to the final four (out of the Oakland region). This is more of heart play but this is a talented team and their best in years. Their top player had a miserable game in the MWC championship game (Heath) shot 5 for 30 and still won the game. Slaughter also fouled out.

First game vs Indiana---- State will cruise as 2.5 dog.

[picantel]

UCLA chokes every time they hit the big dance. they will be lucky to get out of the first round and no way they get out of the 2nd round. They can kiss my ass for all the times they screwed me in past years.

[Willie Bee]

(1) Memphis Tigers v. (16) Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Conference(s): Conference USA v. Mid-Continent

Common Opponent(s): None

Memphis: Averaged 80.9 points, 42.1 rebounds, 15.8 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 35% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.

Oral Robt: Averaged 74.8 points, 37.2 rebounds, 14.3 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 39% on 3-pointers and 71% from the line.


(2)UCLA Bruins v. (15) Belmont Bruins
Conference(s): Pac-10 v. Atlantic Sun

Common Opponent(s): None

UCLA: Averaged 68.6 points, 33.0 rebounds, 14.5 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 70% from the line.

Belmont: Averaged 81.8 points, 35.7 rebounds, 16.3 turnovers, shot 50% from field, 38% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.


(3) Gonzaga Bulldogs v. (14) Xavier Musketeers
Conference(s): West Coast v. Atlantic 10

Common Opponent(s): Saint Louis (Zags won 60-57 on the road; Xavier lost twice) … St. Joseph’s (Zags won 102-94; Xavier split reg season and won 62-61 in A-10 Finals)

Gonzaga: Averaged 80.1 points, 37.6 rebounds, 13.3 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 37% on 3-pointers and 78% from the line.

Xavier: Averaged 71.5 points, 35.2 rebounds, 13.0 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 37% on 3-pointers and 72% from the line.


(4) Kansas Jayhawks v. (13) Bradley Braves
Conference(s): Big 12 v. Mo. Valley

Common Opponent(s): None

Kansas: Averaged 75.2 points, 39.7 rebounds, 15.6 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 38% on 3-pointers and 67% from the line.

Bradley: Averaged 71.5 points, 37.7 rebounds, 15.2 turnovers, shot 44% from field, 33% on 3-pointers and 72% from the line.


(5) Pittsburgh Panthers v. (12) Kent St
Conference(s): Big East v. Mid-American

Common Opponent(s): Rutgers (Pitt won 76-58 on the road; Kent St lost 55-52) … Syracuse (Pitt split pair including loss in Big East Finals; Kent St lost 78-66 on road)

Pitt: Averaged 72.5 points, 39.2 rebounds, 13.7 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 35% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.

Kent St: Averaged 72.5 points, 33.4 rebounds, 13.4 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 72% from the line.


(6) Indiana Hoosiers v. (11) San Diego St
Conference(s): Big Ten v. Mountain West

Common Opponent(s): None

Indy: Averaged 71.2 points, 33.9 rebounds, 14.6 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 40% on 3-pointers and 70% from the line.

SDSU: Averaged 74.2 points, 35.6 rebounds, 15.1 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 39% on 3-pointers and 73% from the line.


(7) Marquette v. (10) Alabama Crimson Tide
Conference(s): Big East v. SEC

Common Opponent(s): Winthrop (Marquette lost 71-64; Bama won 60-57) … S.Carolina (Marquette won 92-89; Bama lost 67-56 on road) … Notre Dame (Marquette won twice; Bama lost 78-71)

Marquette: Averaged 74.7 points, 36.1 rebounds, 14.9 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 40% on 3-pointers and 73% from the line.

Bama: Averaged 70.0 points, 37.0 rebounds, 13.5 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 34% on 3-pointers and 71% from the line.


(8) Arkansas Razorbacks v. (9) Bucknell Bison
Conference(s): SEC v. Patriot League

Common Opponent(s): None

Ark: Averaged 74.3 points, 35.0 rebounds, 13.4 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 34% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.

Bucknell: Averaged 66.7 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 turnovers, shot 47% from field, 39% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.

[isetcap]

UCLA chokes every time they hit the big dance. they will be lucky to get out of the first round and no way they get out of the 2nd round. They can kiss my ass for all the times they screwed me in past years.

Every time???

Tell that to Ed O'Bannon and the 1995 Bruin squad that was picked by almost nobody to win the championship yet they won.

Tell that to living legend John Wooden whose list of championships makes Coach K look like a JV coach.

Take a look at the 11 banners hanging in Pauley Pavilion that represent every time you are wrong when you say they always choke.

This team won 10 championships in 12 years and 7 in a row during that stretch. That will never be matched again.

UCLA is the greatest basketball program in the history of NCAA basketball and they have the championships to prove it. Simply by the blatant stats, every other team in history has choked more than UCLA.

[imgv94]

Every time???

Tell that to Ed O'Bannon and the 1995 Bruin squad that was picked by almost nobody to win the championship yet they won.

Tell that to living legend John Wooden whose list of championships makes Coach K look like a JV coach.

Take a look at the 11 banners hanging in Pauley Pavilion that represent every time you are wrong when you say they always choke.

This team won 10 championships in 12 years and 7 in a row during that stretch. That will never be matched again.

UCLA is the greatest basketball program in the history of NCAA basketball and they have the championships to prove it. Simply by the blatant stats, every other team in history has choked more than UCLA.

CASE CLOSED

[picantel]

I am talking the last few years not a decade ago. Who gives a crap how players did then. All that matters is now. I picked them bowing out in the 2nd round. Maybe I will win. Maybe I will lose. IT is nearly impossible to pick all the right winners to begin with.

[Illusion]

Great post above Willie.

[Willie Bee]

ROUND 2

(10) Alabama Crimson Tide v. (2) UCLA Bruins
Conference: SEC v. Pac-10

Dance Card: Bama almost blew a 14-point halftime lead before holding on in a mild upset with a 90-85 win over 7-seed Marquette. UCLA routed 15-seed Belmont by a 78-44 count.

Common Opponents: Memphis (Bama lost 87-76; UCLA lost 88-80 on road) … Temple (Bama lost 68-58 on road; UCLA won 54-47)


(3) Gonzaga Bulldogs v. (5) Indiana Hoosiers
Conference: West Coast v. Big Ten

Dance Card: Gonzaga got it going in the second half for a 79-75 win over 14-seed Xavier. Ditto for Indiana who came on late for an 87-83 win over 11-seed San Diego St.

Common Opponents: Mich St (Gonzaga won 109-106 in triple OT on road; Indy split reg season contests winning at home)


(9) Bucknell Bison v. (1) Memphis Tigers
Conference: Patriot League v. Conference USA

Dance Card: Bucknell slipped past 8-seed Arkansas in Round 1. Memphis won 94-78 over 16-seed Oral Roberts.

Common Opponents: None


(13) Bradley Braves v. (5) Pittsburgh Panthers
Conference: Mo Valley v. Big East

Dance Card: Bradley knocked off a hoops giant with a 77-73 upset of 4-seed and Big 12 champ Kansas. Pitt jumped on 12-seed Kent St early en route to a 79-64 win.

Common Opponents: DePaul (Bradley won 75-60 on road in season opener; Pitt won 73-65)

[Willie Bee]

SWEET 16

(1) Memphis Tigers v. (13) Bradley Braves
Conferences: Conf USA v. Mo. Valley

Dance Cards: Memphis rolled to 94-78 and 72-56 wins over 16-seed Oral Roberts and 9-seed Bucknell. Bradley reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in more than a half-century with upset wins over 4-seed Kansas (77-73) and 5-seed Pittsburgh (72-66).

Common Opponents: None


(2) UCLA Bruins v. (3) Gonzaga Bulldogs
Conferences: Pac-10 v. West Coast

Dance Cards: UCLA walloped 15-seed Belmont by a 78-44 count in Round 1, then held off Alabama 62-59 in Round 2. Gonzaga slipped past 14-seed Xavier on their opener before coming away with a 90-80 win over 6-seed Indiana in the second round.

Common Opponents: Memphis (UCLA lost 88-80 on the road; Gonzaga lost 83-72 on road). Washington St. (UCLA won 50-30 on the road; Gonzaga won 67-53 at home)

[isetcap]

I am talking the last few years not a decade ago. Who gives a crap how players did then. All that matters is now. I picked them bowing out in the 2nd round. Maybe I will win. Maybe I will lose. IT is nearly impossible to pick all the right winners to begin with.

Yep, UCLA is choking it up.

[Willie Bee]

REGIONAL FINALS

(1) Memphis Tigers v. (2) UCLA Bruins
Conferences: Conference USA v. Pac-10

Dance Cards: Memphis had relatively easy times with 16-seed Oral Roberts and 9-seed Bucknell before whipping 13-seed Bradley 80-64 on Thursday. UCLA trounced 15-seed Belmont and slipped past 10-seed Alabama before a furious rally Thursday helped them defeat 3-seed Gonzaga 73-71.

Common Opponents: The two teams met each other early with Memphis winning 88-80 at home. Alabama (Memphis won 87-76 on road; UCLA won 62-59 in Round 2 of tourney). Gonzaga (Memphis won 83-72; UCLA beat the ‘zags Thursday in tourney).

[isetcap]

What the hell is UCLA doing in this game? I thought they were supposed to choke out by now. Surely they folded up tent after being down by 17 to Gonzaga.