I agree. In a weird way, I think the team most likely to beat them is UAB, just because they create so many matchup problems for UCONN's big people. I don't really see Michigan St. or UNC giving them much of a game.
I agree UCONN gets thru this not easy but gets through it. UCONN is
the best team in the country. Doesn't mean they will win but on paper
they are the best I think.
Oh man! If I'd seen everyone was already on UConn, I probably wouldn't have picked them. No way that many of us here will be correct even if UConn was the best regular season squad this year. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see an All Big-10 regional finals here betwixt Illinois and Mich State.
(1) Connecticut Huskies v. (16) Albany Great Danes Conference(s): Big East v. America East
Common Opponent(s): New Hampshire (UConn won 86-44; Albany lost twice in reg season before winning 67-54 in A-East tourney) … Stony Brook (UConn won 85-52; Albany won twice in reg season)
Conn: Averaged 81.3 points, 45.0 rebounds, 14.2 turnovers, shot 47% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 70% from the line.
Albany: Averaged 68.9 points, 34.0 rebounds, 14.2 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 38% on 3-pointers and 71% from the line.
(2) Tennessee Volunteers v. (15) Winthrop Eagles Conference(s): SEC v. Big South
Common Opponent(s): S.Carolina (Tenn won twice in reg season, lost 79-71 in SEC Tourney; Winthrop lost 68-54 on the road) … Memphis (Tenn fell 88-79 on the road; Winthrop lost 73-63 on the road) … Alabama (Tenn lost 92-79 on the road; Winthrop lost 60-57 on the road) … Auburn (Tenn won 105-89; Winthrop lost 64-62 on the road)
Tenn: Averaged 81.3 points, 33.4 rebounds, 13.0 turnovers, shot 47% from field, 39% on 3-pointers and 70% from the line.
Winthrop: Averaged 73.8 points, 36.4 rebounds, 14.1 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 69% from the line.
(3) North Carolina Tar Heels v. (14) Murray St Racers Conference(s): ACC v. Ohio Valley
Common Opponent(s): None
UNC: Averaged 80.4 points, 40.0 rebounds, 16.6 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 38% on 3-pointers and 70% from the line.
Murray St: Averaged 71.3 points, 36.9 rebounds, 12.5 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 65% from the line.
(4) Illinois Fighting Illini v. (13) Air Force Falcons Conference(s): Big Ten v. Mountain West
Common Opponent(s): UTPA (Illinois won 71-59; Air Force won 81-68 on road)
Illinois: Averaged 70.0 points, 36.0 rebounds, 12.4 turnovers, shot 46% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 63% from the line.
Air Force: Averaged 64.0 points, 24.9 rebounds, 10.8 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 40% on 3-pointers and 74% from the line.
(5) Washington Huskies v. (12) Utah St Aggies Conference(s): Pac-10 v. WAC
Common Opponent(s): Idaho (Wash won 90-67; USU won twice in reg season, 83-58 and 80-42)
Wash: Averaged 82.4 points, 37.9 rebounds, 15.0 turnovers, shot 47% from field, 36% on 3-pointers and 75% from the line.
Utah St: Averaged 72.5 points, 33.7 rebounds, 12.9 turnovers, shot 50% from field, 40% on 3-pointers and 72% from the line.
(6) Michigan St Spartans v. (11) George Mason Patriots Conference(s): Big Ten v. Colonial
Common Opponent(s): None
MSU: Averaged 74.4 points, 36.0 rebounds, 14.2 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 38% on 3-pointers and 77% from the line.
Mason: Averaged 69.4 points, 34.9 rebounds, 13.2 turnovers, shot 48% from field, 35% on 3-pointers and 67% from the line.
(7) Wichita St v. (10) Seton Hall Conference(s): Mo. Valley v. Big East
Common Opponent(s): Providence (WSU won 82-74; S-Hall won 77-74 on the road)
WSU: Averaged 68.8 points, 37.4 rebounds, 12.9 turnovers, shot 44% from field, 37% on 3-pointers and 72% from the line.
S-Hall: Averaged 67.8 points, 36.9 rebounds, 13.4 turnovers, shot 41% from field, 34% on 3-pointers and 74% from the line.
(8) Kentucky Wildcats v. (9) UAB Blazers Conference(s): SEC v. Conference USA
Common Opponent(s): None
Ky: Averaged 70.5 points, 35.9 rebounds, 13.4 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 35% on 3-pointers and 66% from the line.
UAB: Averaged 74.7 points, 31.1 rebounds, 12.8 turnovers, shot 45% from field, 35% on 3-pointers and 65% from the line.
(7) Wichita St Shockers v. (2) Tennessee Vols Conference: Mo. Valley v. SEC
Dance Card: Wichita State had a relatively easy go at it with an 86-66 win over 10-seed Seton Hall in the opener. Tennessee needed a very late bucket to hold off 15-seed Winthrop 63-61.
Common Opponents: None
(4) Illinois Fighting Illini v. (5) Washington Huskies Conference: Big Ten v. Pac-10
Dance Card: Illinois took care of a pesky 13-seed Air Force squad 78-69. Washington built on a 9-point lead at the half for a 75-61 win over 12-seed Utah St.
Common Opponents: Oregon (Illinois won 89-58 on road; Washington won both reg season matches home and away, then lost 84-73 in Pac-10 tourney) … Air Force (Illinois won 78-69 in NCAA Round 1; Washington won 85-74 early in season)
(1) Connecticut Huskies v. (8) Kentucky Wildcats Conference: Big East v. SEC
Dance Card: UConn avoided the most embarrasing tournament loss in history when it rallied to beat 16-seed Albany 72-59. Kentucky got past 9-seed UAB 69-64.
Common Opponents: Arkansas (UConn won 77-68; KY won 78-76) ... LSU (UConn won 67-66; KY lost 71-67 on road) ... Louisville (UConn won 71-58 on road; KY won 73-61)
(3) UNC Tar Heels v. (11) George Mason Patriots Conference: ACC v. Colonial
Dance Card: UNC held on for a 69-65 win over 14-seed Murray St; George Mason made believers out of a few, and left jaws agape on many a Big Ten fan, with a stunning 75-65 upset of 6-seed Michigan St.
Common Opponents: Wake Forest (UNC won 83-72 on road; GM lost 83-78 on road)
Last edited by Willie Bee; 03-18-06 at 06:51 AM.
Reason: Add Uconn-Ky & UNC-GM
(1) Connecticut Huskies v. (5) Washington Huskies Conferences: Big East v. Pac-10
Dance Cards: UConn got a scare from 16-seed Albany before surging to a 72-59 win in their opener, then held off a determined 8-seed Kentucky, 87-83. Washington beat up on 12-seed Utah St in their opener then slipped past Illinois 67-64 in Round 2.
Common Opponents: Arizona (UConn won 79-20 on the road; Washington split conference games, losing at home and winning on the road)
(7) Wichita St Shockers v. (11) George Mason Patriots Conferences: Colonial v. Mo. Valley
Dance Cards: Wichita St had a rather easy go in Round 1 with an 86-66 win over 10-seed Seton Hall, then popped 2-seed Tennessee to reach the Sweet 16. George Mason pulled off impressive upsets over 6-seed Michigan St (75-65) followed by a stunning 65-60 toppling of 3-seed UNC on Sunday.
Common Opponents: Mich St (Mason won in the opening round of tournament; Wichita lost 83-64 earlier in season on the road). Creighton (Mason lost 72-52 at home; Wichita split reg season games, winning at home).
(1) Connecticut Huskies v. (11) George Mason Patriots Conferences: Big East v. Colonial
Dance Cards: UConn beat 16-seed Albany and 8-seed Kentucky. The Huskies then rallied to beat 5-seed Washington, 98-92, in OT on Friday. G.Mason has Cinderella’d their way through the tourney with wins over 6-seed Michigan St and 3-seed UNC before shocking Wichita St Friday by a 63-55 scored after building a 16-point halftime lead.