What tidbits do you look for when filling out your brackets?

[Quavarius]

My favorite is the Conference tournament predictor. No team that didn’t win a game in their conference tournament has ever gone on and won the NCAA Championship. For this season, those teams would include:

LSU
Texas Tech
Purdue
Baylor
Ole Miss
VCU
UCF
Temple

I don’t know if teams that fit that profile still make deep runs or not, but the national champion will NOT come from either of these teams.

 

[2 skerz 3_rivals208847]

My favorite is the Conference tournament predictor. No team that didn’t win a game in their conference tournament has ever gone on and won the NCAA Championship. For this season, those teams would include:

LSU
Texas Tech
Purdue
Baylor
Ole Miss
VCU
UCF
Temple

I don’t know if teams that fit that profile still make deep runs or not, but the national champion will NOT come from either of these teams.

And a 16 seed will never beat a 1 seed.....

 

[FearTheBeard_rivals208808]

Teams that are top 20 in defensive and offensive efficiency.

 

[SwatX1]

My favorite is the Conference tournament predictor. No team that didn’t win a game in their conference tournament has ever gone on and won the NCAA Championship. For this season, those teams would include:

LSU
Texas Tech
Purdue
Baylor
Ole Miss
VCU
UCF
Temple

I don’t know if teams that fit that profile still make deep runs or not, but the national champion will NOT come from either of these teams.

I go by who has the prettiest uniforms!! Or the coolest mascot!!

In all seriousness, something I like to look at if there is a game that I know nothing about the two teams, or really having a hard time making a pick, is guard play and an older team. Give me a team full of juniors and seniors, with good guard play

 

[SwatX1]

And a 16 seed will never beat a 1 seed.....

I almost posted this same thing, but then decided there is a huge difference in a one game upset, vs what Q is talking about in going on a 6 game win streak and taking it all

 

[2 skerz 3_rivals208847]

I almost posted this same thing, but then decided there is a huge difference in a one game upset, vs what Q is talking about in going on a 6 game win streak and taking it all

I'm well aware

 

[dukiejay]

Is it just me, or does seem as though the top eight seeds have separated themselves from the rest of the field more this year? I mean, I think there's a good chance things get messy like always this weekend, but I also feel that once we're down to eight teams there's a good chance only one, maybe two, teams who aren't one or two seeds are left playing.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

Like DukefanKY said, I like teams with good guard play and leadership. Biggest reason why in 2015 I didn't UK winning it all in any of my brackets, because their guards were inconsistent as hell. Beyond that though match-ups are a pretty big deal, biggest example of match-up issues I see is gonna be UVA and UT, who the hell is gonna check Williams and Schofield, and who can check Guy, Jerome and Hunter? Should be an interesting game if both make it there. With upsets I look for the weakest 5 seed almost every year and any 13-15 seed who can shoot the 3, rebound and/or defend at a high level.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

Is it just me, or does seem as though the top eight seeds have separated themselves from the rest of the field more this year? I mean, I think there's a good chance things get messy like always this weekend, but I also feel that once we're down to eight teams there's a good chance only one, maybe two, teams who aren't one or two seeds are left playing.

It's not just you, the top 8 seeds this year would all be 1 seeds most other years.

 

[Quavarius]

Is it just me, or does seem as though the top eight seeds have separated themselves from the rest of the field more this year? I mean, I think there's a good chance things get messy like always this weekend, but I also feel that once we're down to eight teams there's a good chance only one, maybe two, teams who aren't one or two seeds are left playing.

Yes. It could be the chalkiest bracket ever. Also, talks were more about No. 1 seeds before Selection Sunday than LAST four in this tournament more than any before. Usually the one seeds are settled going into the Conference tournaments.

 

[dukedevilz]

For 1st Round upsets, give me a mid-major with a top 50 offense. Murray State, Yale, and Northeastern all fit this profile. Certainly it helps if the mid-major has already won a quality OOC game or two (ie: Old Dominion has wins over Syracuse and VCU).

I like to use some of the computer models, but specifically seeking data from solely the past month. Certainly it's a lot easier to go with the hot team (Auburn, Iowa State, Florida State, Buffalo, Wofford) when seeking teams that can exceed the seed expectation.

As far as national title contenders, you have to consider top 10/20 teams on both sides of the ball, as well as consider how well they've played in the last 10 games or so - and it also helps to pick a team that has NBA talent.

 

[dukedevilz]

Is it just me, or does seem as though the top eight seeds have separated themselves from the rest of the field more this year? I mean, I think there's a good chance things get messy like always this weekend, but I also feel that once we're down to eight teams there's a good chance only one, maybe two, teams who aren't one or two seeds are left playing.

Seems that way, yes. There aren't a whole lot of experts picking teams outside of the top 8 to reach the Elite 8. The 3 seeds all seemed like really solid teams until this past weekend... LSU lost to Florida in the quaterfinals and will probably have to play in the NCAAs without their coach, Houston looked shaky verse Memphis and they lost to Cincy, Texas Tech lost to a sub .500 West Virginia team, Purdue lost to Minnesota - and honestly, I think Purdue is the weakest of the 3 seeds. So yes, the gap between the top 8 and the rest of the field appears to be quite large.

 

[IPSYCHOSIS]

Like DukefanKY said, I like teams with good guard play and leadership. Biggest reason why in 2015 I didn't UK winning it all in any of my brackets, because their guards were inconsistent as hell. Beyond that though match-ups are a pretty big deal, biggest example of match-up issues I see is gonna be UVA and UT, who the hell is gonna check Williams and Schofield, and who can check Guy, Jerome and Hunter? Should be an interesting game if both make it there. With upsets I look for the weakest 5 seed almost every year and any 13-15 seed who can shoot the 3, rebound and/or defend at a high level.

What was the smallest reason? Haha

 

[FearTheBeard_rivals208808]

For 1st Round upsets, give me a mid-major with a top 50 offense. Murray State, Yale, and Northeastern all fit this profile. Certainly it helps if the mid-major has already won a quality OOC game or two (ie: Old Dominion has wins over Syracuse and VCU).

I like to use some of the computer models, but specifically seeking data from solely the past month. Certainly it's a lot easier to go with the hot team (Auburn, Iowa State, Florida State, Buffalo, Wofford) when seeking teams that can exceed the seed expectation.

As far as national title contenders, you have to consider top 10/20 teams on both sides of the ball, as well as consider how well they've played in the last 10 games or so - and it also helps to pick a team that has NBA talent.

ODU coach has prostate cancer, which adds an emotional element to ODU playing. I like them over Purdue.

 

[IPSYCHOSIS]

My advice for filling out your bracket is get your child to pick everything 2-15. Obviously don’t let them touch the Duke games

 

[Laettner]

Always pick two 12's, one 13 & one 15. Look at last 10 games record & guard stats.

 

[dbav]

Most fun mascots. I have to think the Anteaters win at least one game.

 

[Shatterthesky22]

What was the smallest reason? Haha

I'd say Because I felt they were overrated. They were in some dogfights against some really bad teams, and the SEC sucked bawls. They wouldn't have entered the tourney with less than 3 losses in the ACC.

 

[IPSYCHOSIS]

I'd say Because I felt they were overrated. They were in some dogfights against some really bad teams, and the SEC sucked bawls. They wouldn't have entered the tourney with less than 3 losses in the ACC.

I just thought it was just because it was kentucky

 

[JC CATS]

I'd say Because I felt they were overrated. They were in some dogfights against some really bad teams, and the SEC sucked bawls. They wouldn't have entered the tourney with less than 3 losses in the ACC.

All teams have problem games in conference they shouldn't. Didn't Duke lose to Syracuse with Zion this season? Doesn't mean they are over rated

 

[SwatX1]

If the best team always won, the tournament would be boring.

 

[FearTheBeard_rivals208808]

All teams have problem games in conference they shouldn't. Didn't Duke lose to Syracuse with Zion this season? Doesn't mean they are over rated

They weren’t missing Zion. Just Tre and Cam.

 

[Alaskan_Assassin_21]

I like experience (upper classman) and strong guard play OR post play. Either good from 3 or quality post defense/rebounding

Possibly a strong road resume

 

[QC Dukie]

I like experience (upper classman) and strong guard play OR post play. Either good from 3 or quality post defense/rebounding

Possibly a strong road resume

If it’s a strong road resume, then unx should be a lock. They did win at Wofford and Elon.