CFE The Board Is All Yours
- Thread starter WVUALLEN
- Start date
But lowly Wisconsin trounced the vaunted UNC. Which I know doesn't matter, just pointing out one possible spin. In CFE's case crowing will ring hollow since he has a record of only being objective when it suits his prior position. I don't bestow credit or credibility to statements, even if they are correct, when that person has a history of only being objective and fact based when those things conveniently back up their preconceived ideas. CFE has tried to spin or deflect criticism when the Big XII or even the old Big East fell flat on their face during the tournaments of old.
Yeah. I get where you're coming from. He doesn't give opponents their just due for big wins nor does he admonish poor play by his own beloved Big 12.
The fact is (IMO) UNC really not that good. But the best of the Big 10 is still around such as Illinois, Michigan and Iowa. Big 12 was unbeaten on the day in first round but does it stay that way. I think OU stands a chance to be a first round loser. They ended the year in a tail spin that was worse than WVU.
I don't think anybody is safe this year. Even the lower seeds are capable of sending you home if you're not hitting shots and turning it over. Typically some of the cream rises to the top, but wouldn't surprise me if an outsider wins it all. Loyola Chicago has a team I wouldn't want to have to face. Think they play Illinois tomorrow. Could be a good one, especially if Loyola is in striking distance at the 8 minutes to go timeout.
UNC isn't any good this year and like I said Wisconsin's win isn't a giant accomplishment. Although their thorough drubbing of UNC is at least a little something. It's just that were it WVU or another Big 12 team instead of Whisky, the prestige of the blue blood program would be highlighted and the lower quality of the UNC team this year downplayed. Everyone has biases and it's impossible to completely eliminate them, but you can try to be conscious of them to minimize their effect. Thus even if you are right in calling a spade a spade, it loses impact if you pretty consistently do not when the shoe is on the other foot.
As for the Big XII, it was a pretty good day yesterday and not just in their games, but the ones around them as well.
Baylor won easily as expected. They have a bit of rough road ahead with Wisconsin playing fairly well yesterday and then all but guaranteed to face Villanova in the sweet 16 thanks to North Texas upsetting Purdue.
TTU overcame a sluggish start to beat Utah State. They have a big test tomorrow in a pretty hot Razorback team. Whoever wins though has an Elite 8 spot that is theirs for the taking thanks to Oral Roberts upsetting Ohio State.
Oklahoma State didn't look great against Liberty, but got it done. That Avery kid is going to be a problem for the rest of the Big XII next year. They get a winnable match up with Oregon State next thanks to Beavers upsetting Tennessee.
WVU pulled a less dramatic TTU play where they overcame a sluggish start. I'd actually prefer SDSU rather than Syracuse because SDSU really hadn't played anyone that good all year. Syracuse is night and day different now than the first half of the season where they weren't a tournament team at all. Coming in the Orange were playing 6 or higher seed ball just to overcome those first 2 months and survive the bubble. Selection committee got their old BE and 2 of the top 5 highest win totals for active coaches facing each other that they set up with this bracket. Then Houston is still likely the next game for whoever wins.
As far as the Big XII today:
Oklahoma is all over the map. Missouri isn't super good or super bad. Oklahoma has been both. They play like the Sooners of January, they win easily. Either way I don't see much hope of them getting past Gonzanga next round even if they do beat the Tigers.
Kansas has a good set up with a very winnable Eastern Kentucky game and then either Drake or USC next. Neither of those teams are as worrisome as the 2 WVU had in it's 6/11 match-up. It's 100% the Jayhawks fault if they do not get to the sweet 16.
Texas is in a similar boat to Kansas. Seems Abilene (sp?) Christian has some people liking them more than the other 14 seeds, but Texas should still win. BYU/UCLA isn't insurmountable either for a round of 32 opponent.
Highly likely the Big XII goes 6-1 in the opening round unless UT or Kansas fall flat on their face. And 7-0 is not unreasonable given a fairly equal game for the Sooners.
I got OU losing to Missouri
Texas and KU win 1st round
Baylor will beat Wisconsin
WVU and Syracuse is a toss up to me because nobody knows which WVU or McBride shows up. Not a good match up for us in my opinion.
Got Texas Tech dropping a tight one to Arkansas. Both teams great defensively but Arkansas better team on offense. So Tech will need to keep the score in the 50's, 60's or low 70's.
Oklahoma State should handle Oregon State.
Texas and KU win 1st round
Baylor will beat Wisconsin
WVU and Syracuse is a toss up to me because nobody knows which WVU or McBride shows up. Not a good match up for us in my opinion.
Got Texas Tech dropping a tight one to Arkansas. Both teams great defensively but Arkansas better team on offense. So Tech will need to keep the score in the 50's, 60's or low 70's.
Oklahoma State should handle Oregon State.