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March 18, 2016

Note, I will be tossing up a second open thread specific for Pitt Wisconsin later in the afternoon. Reed also has some spring football notes. Busy day.

If you are a Cleveland area resident, hopefully I will see you at the watch party tonight. I keep promising to make one of these, this time for sure.

Good first day. Not a complete bracket destroyer unless you somehow had faith in Arizona, Baylor or Purdue making a run. Seriously. You were putting your faith in Baylor or Purdue to make it out of the weekend? You deserve what you get for that.

Arizona got manhandled by Wichita State in the opening round. Seems vaguely familiar. Did anyone make sure Sean Miller got an IV of fluids or something? I’ve never seen a coach sweat like that so quickly before. I was worried he was going to collapse on the floor from dehydration. Nope. Only Tony Bennett did that yesterday.

Have to thank Seton Hall for reverting to type in their loss to Gonzaga. Being down 10 at the half made it easier to call it a night. I really didn’t want to stay up as late as I did, but that Providence-USC game was hypnotic. Especially the end where USC couldn’t make a free throw and Providence kept missing baskets until that pretty inbounds play.

Anyways, here are the early games for today.

Syracuse vs Dayton               12:15 PM           CBS
UNC-Ash. vs Villanova         12:40 PM          truTV
VCU vs Oregon St.                 1:30 PM            TNT
Hawaii vs California             2:00 PM           TBS
Middle Tenn. vs Michigan St. 2:45 PM      CBS
Temple vs. Iowa                     3:10   PM          truTV
Cal St.-Bakersfield vs. Oklahoma 4:00 PM TNT
South Dakota St. vs. Maryland 4:30 PM   TBS

Another early slate that has about half of the games looking pretty competitive. Cuse-Dayton; VCU-Ore St.; Temple-Iowa; and SDSt-Maryland

The evening is another story.

Aside from Pitt-Wisconsin at 6:50 on TNT, the night stuff is kind of dull until after 9:30.

Stephen F. Austin vs. WVU          7:10  CBS
Wisc.-Green Bay vs. Texas A&M 7:20  TBS
Holy Cross vs. Oregon                    7:27  truTV
Weber St. vs. Xavier                       9:20  TNT
Michigan vs. ND                             9:40   CBS
Northern Iowa vs. Texas               9:50   TBS
Cinci vs. St. Joe’s                            9:57    truTV

Hopefully there will be a good reason to watch the Weber St-Xavier game.





Jay Bilas commented that there are more upsets in the 11-6 and 12-5 seedings than 7-10’s. That’s not good history. Perhaps we reverse the trend with a big victory tonight! I expect a good game from our guys with maximum effort.

For Mike Young and Jamel Artis, this could be their national coming out party which will improve their stock in the eyes of the scouts. If we go on a roll, it can only benefit those two guys so that is why I expect a big effort.

Pitt wins by three!

Comment by dhuffdaddy 03.18.16 @ 7:47 am

Happy Tournament Day.
Let’s Go Pitt..

Comment by Justin 03.18.16 @ 7:51 am

I went 14-2 yesterday but the losses, Purdue and Fresno St, damaged my bracket.

Man, I actually was actively rooting against Sean/Zona just because I didn’t want to read a whole summer of posts about how we need to hire him immediately or how he makes our coach look sorry.

I’m expecting JR to take a bunch of shots today.

Comment by tacocat 03.18.16 @ 8:31 am

I love how that other guy keeps jumping your threads. Jerk.

Comment by Midwest Panther 03.18.16 @ 9:10 am

I picked Zona to go to the elite 8 based on the comments on here. Glad I picked Yale, Little Rock and Providence.

H2P!!!

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 9:25 am

LOL tacocat. Same reaction – if that had been Pitt losing so badly to the Shockers we would never have heard the end of it. Oh wait, we did lose to them, and we still haven’t heard the end of the “yet another JD loss”.
Maybe the younger Miller can redeem the family honor.
Expect to see a lot of Luther today. Matches up well.

Comment by Oakland Comet 03.18.16 @ 9:30 am

Two thing stood out in teams that won yesterday….getting to the line and making free throws…and guard play.
JR is the senior…how far Pitt goes I think is really on his shoulders…as it should be if you are senior starting point guard who has started for 4 years.
Here’s hoping he shows up tonight.

Comment by milobloom 03.18.16 @ 10:08 am

Here’s something for you @TacoCat…

Arizona head coach barged into everyone’s Twitter timeline during Thursday night’s game against the Wichita State Shockers. And not in a good way.

Check out this story on azcentral.com: link to azc.cc

Comment by cnorwoodaz 03.18.16 @ 10:47 am

As a Pitt and Buffalo Bills fan, I am not a sports optimist…but today I really feel we will win. This is not last year’s Wisconsin team and we are under the freakin’ radar which is a good thing.

I felt this same optimism when Wanny, Shady, and Pat Bostick beat WVU 13-9. We are playin’ with house money Jaime, let it fly tonight.

Comment by AJ 03.18.16 @ 11:00 am

@milo – and rebounding – link to screengrabber.deadspin.com

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 11:04 am

There’s nothing wrong with Sean Miller. The Arizona Team was dealing with jet lag, time zone changes, and a really good Shocker team. Sometimes the best coached teams play like shit. Hence why I don’t understand the JD sux sentiment coming from a vocal few on here.

H2P!

Comment by Tony in Harrisburg 03.18.16 @ 11:21 am

@TonyinHB

I agree with the second part of your comment about JD, but the first part about there being something wrong with Sean Miller is a hot topic here in AZ. Can you imagine if Jamie Dixon had 15 top 50 recruits (11 5* and 8 4*) and sent 18 players to the NBA with only two Elite 8 losses to show for it? They’d be bulldozing The Pete!!!

Comment by cnorwoodaz 03.18.16 @ 12:34 pm

some good stuff here from Zeise

link to sportsblogs.post-gazette.com

Comment by wbb 03.18.16 @ 12:49 pm

Archie getting hammered.

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 12:51 pm

Upitt’s coaches are 0-3 so far in the tourney.

Damn.

Comment by Upittbaseball 03.18.16 @ 12:52 pm

As for me, I was always behind Pitt hiring Gregg Marshal, not Miller.

Miller and Dixon have been about the same in March. Miller a little more successful with better players. One thing though, he can recruit.

But how about Scott Drew though at Baylor! He lost last year in the 1st round as a 3 seed and this year as a 4 seed.

Comment by Jackagain 03.18.16 @ 12:53 pm

Men against Boys! Boeheim Steamroller versus The Archies!

Comment by wbb 03.18.16 @ 12:57 pm

At least Archie doesn’t appear to be sweating through his shirt.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 12:59 pm

More jet lag, lol

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 1:08 pm

With Syracuse winning by 20 and Pitt beating them by 11, 14, and 1. Does that mean Pitt beats Archie and the Jugheads by 30??

Comment by DionJag 03.18.16 @ 1:14 pm

If Dayton could make FTs this might be a closer game.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 1:14 pm

@DionJag – at least but let’s see how our guys do tonight before gloating too much. Karma is a bitch.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 1:18 pm

Wow the Miller’s teams turn in two of the worst performances thus far. The shine is tarnished.

Comment by Iron Duke 03.18.16 @ 1:20 pm

Malachi Richardson and Leydon contributors at Syracuse, when have we had a freshman take over a game since Blair?

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 1:22 pm

@Iron Duke – and so is my bracket!

H2P!!!

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 1:22 pm

gc, RFr Cam Johnson scored 24 vs same Syracuse team last week.

2 years ago, natural freshman Josh Newkirk scored 20 versus NC State

Comment by wbb 03.18.16 @ 1:28 pm

Pitt Dad, Dayton was 9 for 19 FT (49%), so even if you believe they should shoot 79%, that is only 6 more points. Then Syracuse wins by 13 not 19. Closer but not close enough.

Comment by DionJag 03.18.16 @ 1:29 pm

@DionJag – agreed that’s why I said closer, not close. I think at the time if they had been shooting ~80% Syracuse’s lead might have been single digits – closer but not close.

Another glaring stat – Syracuse had 45 rebounds (15 OR), Dayton had 27 (10).

Syracuse didn’t shoot particularly well (just under 40%) just better than Dayton (~32%).

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 1:49 pm

Uh oh – MTSU up 8 on Michigan State – I have the fighting Izzos winning it all.

BTW – is Arizona now to be referred to as the Sweating Archies rather than the Fighting Archies?

Hmm – hold responses in abeyance. Karma.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 1:57 pm

Cal missing their lead scorer (broken wrist 2days ago) and the players fave asst coach ( fired for sexual harassment yesterday) having a very difficult time w a good Hawaii team.
Wish they’d of let us know this Cal stuff 3 days ago when everyone did their brackets!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 1:58 pm

It was out there, Dan. That’s one of the reasons I went with Hawai’i. Also, the Rainbow Warriors are as good as anyone at getting to the line and making their FTs.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 2:02 pm

I bought into the hype that Cal has elite talent, but definitely liked Hawaii too.

Lots of game to go but MSU is making me pull a Miller sweat-fest over here. Also have them winning it all.

Comment by tacocat 03.18.16 @ 2:12 pm

Would be one the greatest upsets in NCAA history given that MSU is the Vegas favorite to win it all.

Comment by tacocat 03.18.16 @ 2:14 pm

Huge line change. Pitt now favored by 1

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 2:27 pm

Thanks Pitt Dad …. I just missed it. Too busy picking Cal Bakersfield and Steve Austin million dollar man!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 2:34 pm

Hope Big 10 continues to be overrated around 6:50 tonight

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 2:37 pm

Mid Tenn reminds me of the Pacific team that beat Pitt. Throwing in 3’s from the balcony!!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 2:38 pm

Anybody wish we got Dayton instead of Wisconsin in the first round?

Comment by jrnpitt 03.18.16 @ 2:42 pm

@jrnpitt – yup.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 2:53 pm

I wished that when I first saw the brackts

Comment by wbb 03.18.16 @ 3:02 pm

Mid Tenn the real deal. Taking it to MSU. Would be the biggest upset in years! MSU looks stunned

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:03 pm

Will likely be silent over the weekend since I still can’t post from home but…

HAIL TO PITT! Go Panthers! Send the Badgers packin’!

Comment by tacocat 03.18.16 @ 3:08 pm

MSU is overrated. MT has 2 of their best players out too. MSU has Valentine and that’s about it.

Dan, Pacific’s center ate our center for lunch in that game too.

Comment by Jackagain 03.18.16 @ 3:11 pm

Mid Tenn overplaying passing lanes. Every time MSU gets within 2 Mid Tenn goes on 9- 10-0 runs

Never seen a team this hot. Just throwing in one prayer after another. Amazing!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:12 pm

Watch. Wisconsin will be the only Big 10 team to play out of their minds!!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:18 pm

I think this Mich State game is over. Mid Tenn the much better team on the floor!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:31 pm

Say goodbye Michigan State/ Oklahome/ WVU!!!! Buh bye!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:43 pm

And I have Temple beating Iowa. My bracket is starting to look fugly.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 3:45 pm

ITS ALL OVER! Big Ten my ass!!!

Comment by Dan 72 03.18.16 @ 3:52 pm

The sound you hear is brackets crashing everywhere and Vegas sinking into the desert.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 3:56 pm

you guys are going to laugh at me but I picked Mich State to win that game

Comment by wbb 03.18.16 @ 4:05 pm

Can Middle Tennessee beat Cuse? Maybe.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 4:10 pm

Wow that was a big loss for MSU. No question the Pac 12 was not as good as advertised. Big Ten simply lacks elite talent this year. Wisconsin is OK but they were very good last year obviously. Pitt hits the shots, they win.

Comment by Chethejet 03.18.16 @ 4:17 pm

Beautiful win for MT. This is one of the most enjoyable Tournaments I’ve seen so far….

Comment by Jackagain 03.18.16 @ 4:18 pm

Best first two days of the tourney ever. Even better if Pitt comes through.

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 4:23 pm

Temple has Iowa in OT too…

Comment by Jackagain 03.18.16 @ 4:25 pm

2 big turnovers killed Temple…

Comment by Jackagain 03.18.16 @ 4:33 pm

Ugh. Temple goes down too.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 4:34 pm

Sure looked like Iowa’s big guy pushed off before the shot

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 4:35 pm

Not just pushed off, he was camped under the basket for more than 3 seconds. But hey, they had to give the Big 10 something.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 4:38 pm

The 3 second call is a myth. Never see it anymore.

Comment by gc 03.18.16 @ 4:46 pm

@gc – agreed and that sucks because it is still in the book.

Comment by Pitt Dad 03.18.16 @ 4:47 pm

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