GDT: 2015 All Encompassing March Madness (NCAA Div 1 Basketball) Thread

[Alicat]

Figured we could make one thread and all post our picks for both men and women.

I'm rooting for an upset. Way too many people crowning Kentucky the winner before this thing even tips off.

Hoping for UConn on the Women's side. Those match ups will be decided tonight and I'll post them as well.

Local teams are in red italics. Hope they all get out of round 1.

Look who's covering the Harvard game

Full bracket:http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/bracket

Full Schedule: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11837555/2015-ncaa-tournament-schedule-key-dates

Here's a breakdown of the schedule from SB Nation:

Tuesday, March 17 (First Round)

Game: Manhattan vs. Hampton, 6:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: BYU vs. Ole Miss, 9:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Wednesday, March 18 (First Round)

Game: Robert Morris vs. North Florida, 6:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Boise State vs. Dayton, 9:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Thursday, March 19 (Second Round)

Game: Notre Dame vs. Northeastern, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: Iowa State vs. UAB ,12:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Baylor vs. Georgia State, 1:40 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Arizona vs. Texas Southern, 2:10 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: Butler vs. Texas, 2:45 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: SMU vs. UCLA , 4:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Xavier vs. BYU/Ole Miss, 5:10 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: VCU vs. Ohio State, 5:40 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: Villanova vs. Lafayette, 6:50 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith//Lewis Johnson

Game: Cincinnati vs. Purdue, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: North Carolina vs. Harvard, 7:20 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Utah vs. Stephen F. Austin, 7:27 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: N.C. State vs. LSU, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith//Lewis Johnson

Game: Kentucky vs. Hampton/Manhattan, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Arkansas vs. Wofford, 9:50 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Georgetown vs. Eastern Washington, 9:57 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Friday, March 20 (Second Round)

Game: Kansas vs. New Mexico State, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Michigan State vs. Georgia, 12:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Northern Iowa vs. Wyoming, 1:40 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: West Virginia vs. Buffalo, 2:10 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Wichita State vs. Indiana, 2:45 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Virginia vs. Belmont, 3:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Louisville vs. UC Irvine, 4:10 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Maryland vs. Valparaiso, 4:40 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, 6:50 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Duke vs. North Florida/ Robert Morris, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Iowa vs. Davidson, 7:20 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Oklahoma vs. Albany, 7:27 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Wisconsin vs. Coastal Carolina, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: San Diego State vs. St. John's, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Gonzaga vs. North Dakota State, 9:50 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Providence vs. Boise State/Dayton, 9:57 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Click to read more...

 

[KrejciMVP]

Looks like Albany got the 14 seed and will be playing Oklahoma, that could be a first round upset.

 

[Killer B]

Go Bucky!

 

[Stone Clode]

Really awesome stats right here. Lots of parity in the Big Dance the last 5 years.

 

[Joe Zanussi]

My upsets are Stephen F Austin over Utah and Eastern Washington over Georgetown.

I also think Kansas should pay attention (but I'm not brave enough to actually pick the upset).

 

[BigGoalBrad]

I think Northeastern is going to knock of the ACC champs that is my upset and totally reminds me of the year my Orangemen lost to UVM right after winning the Big East Tourney. I love Jerian Grant but I think they go down.


My other shocker is Belmont knocking off UVA. Im a huge Bennett fan and they've been a program I've pulled for last couple years too but they don't like to score and I have a feeling a bunch of the long 3s Belmont chucks are going to drop.

 

[GarbageGoal]

Hoping for UConn on the Women's side. Those match ups will be decided tonight and I'll post them as well.

LOL. Really? I'm at the point they should probably just disband women's basketball because it's pointless now and not good for the sport. I doubt anyone in Connecticut or at ESPN cares though.

 

[GarbageGoal]

My upsets are Stephen F Austin over Utah and Eastern Washington over Georgetown.

I also think Kansas should pay attention (but I'm not brave enough to actually pick the upset).

New Mexico State is a very good team. Have watched them all year. I think Kansas is in big trouble, and I generally root for Kansas to do well.

 

[Alicat]

LOL. Really? I'm at the point they should probably just disband women's basketball because it's pointless now and not good for the sport. I doubt anyone in Connecticut or at ESPN cares though.

Considering my Mom is from CT and my aunt works there, yes really.

Every team can be knocked out and it's time for someone to knock off UConn but until then, keep on dominating.

 

[BergyDGD]

I created a group on espn for any posters here. http://games.espn.go.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2015/en/group?groupID=867017

 

[BergyDGD]

Providence hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1997. Hopefully that changes this year. My heart is picking them to go to the Sweet 16 my head says Oklahoma bounces them in the round of 32. Just get a win Friday vs Boise St/Dayton to temporarily get the taste of the hockey team's loss in the Hockey East tourney.

 

[GarbageGoal]

Providence hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1997. Hopefully that changes this year. My heart is picking them to go to the Sweet 16 my head says Oklahoma bounces them in the round of 32. Just get a win Friday vs Boise St/Dayton to temporarily get the taste of the hockey team's loss in the Hockey East tourney.

I think they can beat Oklahoma and more. I actually have them going to the Elite 8 and losing to Northern Iowa, who I think is going to shock a lot of people. If Bentil continues to play like he has, it gives them three elite NCAA players with Dunn and Hinton and that could be a problem for a lot of people.

 

[PatriceBergeron]

I absolutely hate the East bracket. There are no good teams and it's so hard to pick.

Reluctantly putting Providence and Michigan State in the Sweet 16, Providence in the Elite 8, and Villanova in the Final 4

Really don't understand how some brackets are absolutely stacked and that one is just awful.

 

[BlacknGold77*]

Providence hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game since 1997. Hopefully that changes this year. My heart is picking them to go to the Sweet 16 my head says Oklahoma bounces them in the round of 32. Just get a win Friday vs Boise St/Dayton to temporarily get the taste of the hockey team's loss in the Hockey East tourney.

As a URI fan, I can tell you Dayton is a big threat to knock you out. To me it's a pick em game, especially being a pseudo home game.

Dayton can match you guard for guard. To beat then you'll have to feed Chukwu repeatedly.

 

[Stone Clode]

I absolutely hate the East bracket. There are no good teams and it's so hard to pick.

Reluctantly putting Providence and Michigan State in the Sweet 16, Providence in the Elite 8, and Villanova in the Final 4

Really don't understand how some brackets are absolutely stacked and that one is just awful.

I have Sparty and Northern Iowa in that bracket. As much as I think Wyoming can upset UNI, if Northern Iowa actually does win that game, they match up very well against the rest of that bracket.

 

[BergyDGD]

As a URI fan, I can tell you Dayton is a big threat to knock you out. To me it's a pick em game, especially being a pseudo home game.

Dayton can match you guard for guard. To beat then you'll have to feed Chukwu repeatedly.

I'll take your word for it, but I'd be surprised if they have a guard that can match up with Dunn. Dunn is a great distributor of the ball, can score, and is one of the best defensive guards in the country. He's probably the best NBA prospect on the Friars roster. PC has been hurt this year with Josh Fortune transferring it has left a hole at the 2 guard spot. They've been able to patch it using Lomomba, Harris, and Jalen Lindsey. Lindsey has a nice stroke from the 3 but is a freshman and can be hesitant to shoot and is not a dribble drive threat, Lomomba is pretty much there for defensive reasons, and Harris is a wild card (more a sf) who's 6' 9" frame and athleticism can cause matchup problems but is so inconsistent. The key for Providence will be finding that 3rd scorer to go with Henton and Dunn, sometimes it's been Bentil, Harris has stepped up at times to chip in as well. Bentil will be the x-factor in my opinion, a strong freshman who can hit the boards and chip in 10-15 points and grab 10 rebounds when he's on. But can't have him putting up a goose egg like he did vs Butler if PC wants to make a run. The team is battle tested from battling through the Big East. Who are some of the guards on Dayton that could potentially trouble Providence, I haven't paid much attention to the A10. Interesting note PC's leading scorer Ladontae Henton was originally a Dayton commit before flipping when Dayton's coach was fired his and committed to PC. He was Ed Cooley's first recruit as head coach.

 

[22Brad Park]

Well my Michigan not good enough this year.Guess I will pull for State. .They had Wisconsin beat cept for dumb pass out with 15 secs left.Izzo must felt like killing him lol Love to see Kentuc ky fall.

 

[22Brad Park]

Figured we could make one thread and all post our picks for both men and women.

I'm rooting for an upset. Way too many people crowning Kentucky the winner before this thing even tips off.

Hoping for UConn on the Women's side. Those match ups will be decided tonight and I'll post them as well.

Local teams are in red italics. Hope they all get out of round 1.

Look who's covering the Harvard game

Full bracket:http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/tournament/bracket

Full Schedule: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11837555/2015-ncaa-tournament-schedule-key-dates

Here's a breakdown of the schedule from SB Nation:

Tuesday, March 17 (First Round)

Game: Manhattan vs. Hampton, 6:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: BYU vs. Ole Miss, 9:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Wednesday, March 18 (First Round)

Game: Robert Morris vs. North Florida, 6:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Boise State vs. Dayton, 9:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Thursday, March 19 (Second Round)

Game: Notre Dame vs. Northeastern, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: Iowa State vs. UAB ,12:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Baylor vs. Georgia State, 1:40 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Arizona vs. Texas Southern, 2:10 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: Butler vs. Texas, 2:45 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith/Lewis Johnson

Game: SMU vs. UCLA , 4:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Xavier vs. BYU/Ole Miss, 5:10 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: VCU vs. Ohio State, 5:40 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: Villanova vs. Lafayette, 6:50 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith//Lewis Johnson

Game: Cincinnati vs. Purdue, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: North Carolina vs. Harvard, 7:20 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Utah vs. Stephen F. Austin, 7:27 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Game: N.C. State vs. LSU, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Brian Anderson/Steve Smith//Lewis Johnson

Game: Kentucky vs. Hampton/Manhattan, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Verne Lundquist/Jim Spanarkel//Allie LaForce

Game: Arkansas vs. Wofford, 9:50 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Andrew Catalon/Steve Lappas//Jamie Erdahl

Game: Georgetown vs. Eastern Washington, 9:57 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Kevin Harlan/Reggie Miller/Dan Bonner//Rachel Nichols

Friday, March 20 (Second Round)

Game: Kansas vs. New Mexico State, 12:15 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Michigan State vs. Georgia, 12:40 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Northern Iowa vs. Wyoming, 1:40 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: West Virginia vs. Buffalo, 2:10 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Wichita State vs. Indiana, 2:45 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Virginia vs. Belmont, 3:10 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Louisville vs. UC Irvine, 4:10 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Maryland vs. Valparaiso, 4:40 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Oregon vs. Oklahoma State, 6:50 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: Duke vs. North Florida/ Robert Morris, 7:10 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Iowa vs. Davidson, 7:20 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Oklahoma vs. Albany, 7:27 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Game: Wisconsin vs. Coastal Carolina, 9:20 p.m., TBS
Announcers: Marv Albert/Chris Webber/Len Elmore//Craig Sager

Game: San Diego State vs. St. John's, 9:40 p.m., CBS
Announcers: Jim Nantz/Bill Raftery/Grant Hill//Tracy Wolfson

Game: Gonzaga vs. North Dakota State, 9:50 p.m., TNT
Announcers: Spero Dedes/Mike Gminski//Jaime Maggio

Game: Providence vs. Boise State/Dayton, 9:57 p.m., truTV
Announcers: Ian Eagle/Doug Gottlieb//Evan Washburn

Great job.

 

[Alicat]

Mods, can you move this post under the op?

Women's bracket: http://espn.go.com/ncw/bracketology

Women's schedule:

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/schedule

 

[Alicat]

Great job.

Thanks!

 

[GarbageGoal]

I absolutely hate the East bracket. There are no good teams and it's so hard to pick.

Reluctantly putting Providence and Michigan State in the Sweet 16, Providence in the Elite 8, and Villanova in the Final 4

Really don't understand how some brackets are absolutely stacked and that one is just awful.

What makes the South any better than the East? Because of Duke? I heard this pushed Sunday night that the East is weak and it's nonsense.

I don't see how a bracket being hard to pick makes it weak. I think it makes it fun. You actually have good teams, but also some parity as well. Villanova's a legit FF contender, but they might have to play NC State, and that's not a good matchup for them. Virginia's a bore, but Iowa State is not. Louisville, well this is not a good version of them, but they still have Pitino coaching. Northern Iowa is a good team and so is Providence....Oklahoma, meh, but they aren't bad.

Take that to the South and you have Gonzaga who everyone is gonna pick again to finally show up....same with Gtown....Utah I don't know a lot about....and of course, Duke....we'll see, remember last year....hopefully it happens again although it probably won't.

 

[DKH]

No one is beating Kentucky. I bet they are good enough to get within 25 of the Celtics a good pro team

 

[Shaun]

can't pick against steve austin. you don't mess with the rattlesnake.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Currently have Gonzaga over Kentucky. Will usually change in the final minutes.

Fewest upsets I've picked in a few years, although I do have Providence going a few rounds deep.

 

[PatriceBergeron]

What makes the South any better than the East? Because of Duke? I heard this pushed Sunday night that the East is weak and it's nonsense.

I don't see how a bracket being hard to pick makes it weak. I think it makes it fun. You actually have good teams, but also some parity as well. Villanova's a legit FF contender, but they might have to play NC State, and that's not a good matchup for them. Virginia's a bore, but Iowa State is not. Louisville, well this is not a good version of them, but they still have Pitino coaching. Northern Iowa is a good team and so is Providence....Oklahoma, meh, but they aren't bad.

Take that to the South and you have Gonzaga who everyone is gonna pick again to finally show up....same with Gtown....Utah I don't know a lot about....and of course, Duke....we'll see, remember last year....hopefully it happens again although it probably won't.

IMO, the East has the weakest 1, weakest 3, weakest 4, and a mid-major 5 that really only had to play Wichita State all year and some other meh games against teams like VCU and Iowa. One of their 2 seed's best players is coming back from an injury(and appendectomy) and has scored 0 points in 2 games since returning. I watched a lot of Villanova this year because my team is in the Big East, and while JayVaughn Pinkston gives them some scoring on the inside, they largely live and die by the 3. If they have an off shooting night I wouldn't be surprised if they lose to LSU/NC State. I just think it's a mediocre bracket and would not be surprised if a 6 or 7 like Prov or Mich St make the FF.

Duke makes the Championship game IMO. Iowa State is a legit team, but they're in the south, not the east. I'm not sold on Gonzaga but a lot of people think this is their year to get over the hump. Before Obekpa got suspended I thought St. John's was going to give a 1 seed a real run.

I think the West has 4 better teams than anybody in the East. The Midwest and South both have at least 2 teams better than anyone in the East(and some would argue Kansas and Gonzaga would make it 3 from each bracket.)