OK so maybe the B1G did kinda blow this year ....

olsh

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Oct 6, 2001
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Since the start of the B1G Tournament, this has to be the first time the two finalists both lost in the Round of 64.

Ugh.
 
Sep 15, 2006
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Spartans apparently read too much of the media hype. A rare epic fail for an Izzo team that made me glad I didn't fill out a bracket this year. Except for Indiana, B1G teams so far look as if they think the season ended with the tournament. And Iowa damn near lost that game when a senior fouls a three-point shooter with two seconds left in regulation, sending the game into OT. Not looking good as MSU had the best seed out of the conference. Funny, I remember some years back when the B1G didn't have a tournament, and when they lost early round games commentators would always say it was because they weren't tournament tough. Oh well.
 
Jun 19, 2001
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Since the start of the B1G Tournament, this has to be the first time the two finalists both lost in the Round of 64.

Ugh.
Lightning in a bottle happens now and then.

I didn't see the MSU game, so I don't know the particulars, but it seems to me that a "decent" Div 1 team with two guys playing the game of their lifetimes right from the opening tipoff, they can be competitive in that game with a top-ranked anyone. And if three of them play the game of their lives (including two who are on fire at the outset) and no one else plays like a complete dunderhead, the big underdog can beat the prohibitive favorite.

It's just that the odds are SOOO long against that happening in any particular game.
 

julescat

Junior
May 29, 2001
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Lightning in a bottle happens now and then.

I didn't see the MSU game, so I don't know the particulars, but it seems to me that a "decent" Div 1 team with two guys playing the game of their lifetimes right from the opening tipoff, they can be competitive in that game with a top-ranked anyone. And if three of them play the game of their lives (including two who are on fire at the outset) and no one else plays like a complete dunderhead, the big underdog can beat the prohibitive favorite.

It's just that the odds are SOOO long against that happening in any particular game.

I suggest you watch the game if you have a chance. About the least fluky "greatest upset" that I have ever watched.
 

Alaskawildkat

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Dec 28, 2005
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Well I am am going to enjoy being in the top ten for the moment, even with Purdue and Michigan State accounting for two of my six wrong picks to date.

However, since I had Michigan State going all the way it can only get worse from here on in Lou's group -- unless everyone else here on Wildcat Report was as wrong as I was about where Izzo's team was headed.
 
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Sep 15, 2006
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Heard one of the announcers say tonight that there wasn't a single perfect bracket left in the CBS bracket contest. I imagine Stephen F. Austin over West Virginia added to the carnage.
 

Catreporter

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Sep 4, 2007
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Uh, the BIG still has FIVE teams left if Michigan holds on. Lots of upsets in a year of parity. How about the Pac-12? Now there is an overrated conference. 2-5!
 
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Jun 19, 2001
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I suggest you watch the game if you have a chance. About the least fluky "greatest upset" that I have ever watched.
Thanks, julescat. I also picked up that thought from some of the talking heads, i.e. that it wasn't really an inferior team rising up and enjoying a rare 40 minutes of serious overachieving. I won't be watching the game, though, as I've had enough TV basketball for this season, and I don't give two poops about any team that's still competing.
 
Sep 15, 2006
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Uh, the BIG still has FIVE teams left if Michigan holds on. Lots of upsets in a year of parity. How about the Pac-12? Now there is an overrated conference. 2-5!

And the SEC only had three teams in to begin with. Not a vintage year for the B1G, but it's certainly not the worst power conference this year.
 

Medill90

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Iowa got bailed out by a bunch of missed calls.

Gessel fouled a player badly on a strip....no call. Before the final basket the Iowa center blatantly pushed the guy blocking him out across the lane to open some space. A couple additional bad misses that went Iowa's way. All together, game changers. Iowa is usually on the wrong end of those calls.
 

Deeringfish

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It will be interesting to see if the B1G teams get a bunch of "breaks" going forward. It wouldn't do to have such a large fan base lose interest.
 
Aug 31, 2001
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And the SEC only had three teams in to begin with. Not a vintage year for the B1G, but it's certainly not the worst power conference this year.

This. Not getting all the hate. We did win the ACC/B1G challenge, no? A conference that "sucks" wouldn't do that.
 
Sep 15, 2006
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It will be interesting to see if the B1G teams get a bunch of "breaks" going forward. It wouldn't do to have such a large fan base lose interest.

Well, having watched the tournament for more than 50 years, I've never noticed the B1G getting an exceptional amount of breaks. If anything, the conference's physical style of play has usually worked against it when refs start calling touch fouls in the tournament. In the Maryland game yesterday, Carter couldn't even post someone up without getting a foul call. The announcers even commented on it.
 

Catreporter

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Sep 4, 2007
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Big win for Indiana, although they will likely have to face North Carolina in the next round. The BIG is 6-3 so far. That's not "sucky." ACC is having quite a tournament run, but yes, the BIG did beat them in the Challenge. If Utah loses to Gonzaga tonight, the PAC-12 will be 2-6 with one team left in the tournament. That is "sucky." The mighty Big-12 has already lost three teams just like the Big10 so far.
 
Sep 15, 2006
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Big win for Indiana, although they will likely have to face North Carolina in the next round. The BIG is 6-3 so far. That's not "sucky." ACC is having quite a tournament run, but yes, the BIG did beat them in the Challenge. If Utah loses to Gonzaga tonight, the PAC-12 will be 2-6 with one team left in the tournament. That is "sucky." The mighty Big-12 has already lost three teams just like the Big10 so far.

Yeah, and Utah is a 3 seed and Indiana's a 5. Go figure. Oregon is the only Pac 12 team that looks at all impressive.
 

LeftyLarry

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Nov 11, 2003
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3 Big ten members left in the final 16 and the ACC teams received very easy draws, as usual.
I don't trust Crean or Yogi, Badgers are too thin but Maryland can hang with anyone.
 

hdhntr1

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Sep 5, 2006
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Thanks, julescat. I also picked up that thought from some of the talking heads, i.e. that it wasn't really an inferior team rising up and enjoying a rare 40 minutes of serious overachieving. I won't be watching the game, though, as I've had enough TV basketball for this season, and I don't give two poops about any team that's still competing.
That MSU started down 15-2 would indicate that it was some overachieving.
 

hdhntr1

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Sep 5, 2006
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3 Big ten members left in the final 16 and the ACC teams received very easy draws, as usual.
I don't trust Crean or Yogi, Badgers are too thin but Maryland can hang with anyone.
The BIG got screwed on the seedings.