This is what makes

[HillsToSea]

The big dance the best thing in college sports. Go Purple Palidens

 

[KingWard]

Paladins, also.

 

[HillsToSea]

Paladins, also.

My spelling stands corrected

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Princeton beat Arizona.
These two games no doubt blew up just about every bracket.

 

[HillsToSea]

Princeton beat Arizona.
These two games no doubt blew up just about every bracket.

Love it. Im an underdog guy

 

[Uscg1984]

Princeton beat Arizona.
These two games no doubt blew up just about every bracket.

It would be interesting to know what percentage of brackets around the country remain intact. Less than halfway through the first day, I'm guessing it's below 1% at this point.

 

[Uscg1984]

The big dance the best thing in college sports. Go Purple Palidens

It's a lot of fun, but let's not go crazy.

 

[HillsToSea]

It's a lot of fun, but let's not go crazy.

No other venue where even the smaller programs have a chance

 

[Uscg1984]

No other venue where even the smaller programs have a chance

OK, if that's how you define "the best."

Like I said, it's fun.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

My spelling stands corrected

I knew what you meant

 

[atl-cock]

Paladins, also.

Hurricane. also.

 

[atl-cock]

It would be interesting to know what percentage of brackets around the country remain intact. Less than halfway through the first day, I'm guessing it's below 1% at this point.

I never even filled out a men's bracket - just the women's.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Then you

It would be interesting to know what percentage of brackets around the country remain intact. Less than halfway through the first day, I'm guessing it's below 1% at this point.

yep. Can’t imagine many people had Princeton AND Furman winning.

 

[Horseshoe04]

I picked 1 of them .
az has a history of checking out early

except the year Miles Simon ….,,
I love this tournament & I love the entitled being sent home by the humble hungry teams that play for each other!

if you ever played sports, its the greatest thing there is

If I could suit up with my brothers 1 more time I would

 

[KingWard]

No other venue where even the smaller programs have a chance

They have a chance to disrupt at least.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

Paladins, also.

Go Paladiens!

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

They have a chance to disrupt at least.

#5 seed Butler went to the NC game in 2010, so there is always that chance.
On the other hand Gonzaga is not really considered an underdog, but they are indeed a very small school in Spokane. Enrollment <8,000

 

[KingWard]

#5 seed Butler went to the NC game in 2010, so there is always that chance.
On the other hand Gonzaga is not really considered an underdog, but they are indeed a very small school in Spokane. Enrollment <8,000

Gonzaga is not small in the basketball realm. Historically, neither is Butler. Marquette certainly wasn't when Al McGuire was there. No telling how high Davidson would have gone had Lefty not left. Basketball yields opportunities for smaller schools to matter that football never can.

 

[atl-cock]

Gonzaga is not small in the basketball realm. Historically, neither is Butler. Marquette certainly wasn't when Al McGuire was there. No telling how high Davidson would have gone had Lefty not left. Basketball yields opportunities for smaller schools to matter that football never can.

And that's why there is no FBS/FCS equivalent in basketball.

 

[HillsToSea]

I was wrong. Coastal won it all at the CWS

 

[KingWard]

And that's why there is no FBS/FCS equivalent in basketball.

It's way easier to marshal the resources necessary for great Div. 1 basketball than for great Div. 1 football. There's no comparison.

 

[KingWard]

I was wrong. Coastal won it all at the CWS

Pepperdine and Fullerton State were recognized powers in college baseball for years.

 

[HillsToSea]

Pepperdine and Fullerton State were recognized powers in college baseball for years.

Yes. Coastal wasn’t. Pepperdine and CSF are akin to Butler, etc.

 

[Thunderstick]

…Go Purple Palidens

Who?

 

[HillsToSea]

Who?

Figure it out

 

[Harvard Gamecock]

Gonzaga is not small in the basketball realm. Historically, neither is Butler. Marquette certainly wasn't when Al McGuire was there. No telling how high Davidson would have gone had Lefty not left. Basketball yields opportunities for smaller schools to matter that football never can.

Agree, my point is that this is the arena, where smaller schools can take the stage, and not always be at a major disadvantage.

 

[KingWard]

Agree, my point is that this is the arena, where smaller schools can take the stage, and not always be at a major disadvantage.

Oh, it's a good thing, I agree. People don't need to start projecting it onto football, though. Some people will try to do that, especially if the playoffs keep expanding, which is why they didn't need to be expanded.

 

[ScWildthing61]

I picked 1 of them .
az has a history of checking out early

except the year Miles Simon ….,,
I love this tournament & I love the entitled being sent home by the humble hungry teams that play for each other!

if you ever played sports, its the greatest thing there is

If I could suit up with my brothers 1 more time I would

"Simon says Championship!"-1997 one of my biggest memories from the national championship games I've watched since childhood, another one being:

"Rock, Chalk, Championship!" from 2008.

 

[18IsTheMan]

What I love about the opening weekend is seeing how some of the smaller schools with far less talented rosters are able to go toe-to-toe with bigger, more talented teams because they are well-coached and play fundamentally sound basketball. I'm not a student of the game, but it's fascinating to me to see how a well-executed game plan and sound, fundamental play can level the playing field.