Are you filling out a bracket?
Who do you have in the Final Four?
Whether you like College Basketball or not, you may be filling out a bracket. In fact, you may not even like sports or know what the bracket is for, but you're still filling one out.
i asked my wife if she would fill one out and she said "But i don't know any of the teams"
It doesn't matter really. In fact, it is often the person who has no clue who beats the person who studies and studies the bracket.
Some people- like my friend Ben- picks team based on the mascot, who he thinks would win if they got into a fight.
One year, i had a friend pick based on the most Christian (though not necessarily Christian schools). She had Temple vs Holy Cross in the Final. And she had the Duke Blue devils (#1 overall) losing in the first round...
Others may pick based on favorite colors... or maybe if they have friends who went to a school (i've done that for tie-breakers).
And of course, they give you the seedings, and if you just pick the favorite every time, you'll do pretty well... but you won't get them all right.
And somtimes, those people win it all.
But picking your bracket isn't just luck. There is some skill.
So, here are some tips
First of all the easiest/best way is to watch every game and study everything... but who has time to do that. Not even the so-called "Experts" do- which is why they get so much wrong... but the more exposure you have, the better... Still, this is just for fun... but the most fun is winning it all.
i have been pretty good at picking bracktes, though sometimes my loyalties get me in trouble.
So, here are my tips
1. Pick your Final Four first.
You get more points in further rounds. So, you want to be too daring with the teams at the end. Picking upsets will get you some bragging rights at the beginning, but is quite risky when you're risking big points at the end
2. Think thru your top teams first, list them all out... then look at the match-ups. Match-ups of course are important. A team could beat 63 teams in tourney, but the wrong match-up and they're done.
Ranking the teams
1. Coaching/programs
College sports is more about the coach than the players. That's why the players aren't paid and the coaches get paid millions. There are just some coaches that always win in the tourney and others who just can't coach in the tournament. Some will eventually get their break, but...
for the record, some of the best include
a. Tom Izzo
b. Rick Pitino
c. Tubby Smith (not in this year)
d. Rick Majerus (not in this year)
others: Steve Fisher (even if folks say he can't coach), Matt Painter, Steve Lavin... and though i hate to admit it... Coach K
2. A Super-star to carry a team
Miles Simon, Christian Laetnner, Carmelo, John Wallace, Bryce Drew, Stephen Curry, Magic, Larry Bird... these are the legends...
This year? Jimmer... Kemba... Sullinger
3. Guard-play... especially the point guard
You got to avoid turn-overs... you will face pressure... You need someone who can handle the ball and distribute the ball... and who can defend the ball
3b. Shooters
Since your best shooters are normally your guards, and you good guard play means shooting well, i'll put this as 3b... b/c other people need to shoot well too. You need to be able to hit shots- not just dunks and drives. And 3 point shooting comes up BIG in the tourney. Teams tend to live & die by the 3... look for good 3-pt shooting teams to advance to the sweet 16... then run dry
4. Team Defense
Offense gets all the play, but defense wins championships... always, in all sports
5. Senior Leadership
You don't get much of this anymore, but it is still vital. Senior tend to be more hungry, but also more composed. They hit their free-throws, they cover their assignments, they block out, they don't turn the ball over or make stupid mistakes... and they lead!
6. Midwest is Best
i am biased... but teams from the midwest tend to be more about the fundamental and more tough... which means, better shooters, better defense, better team play
7. Record... especially in the last 3 weeks
It doesn't really matter if you play an easy schedule, you still have to win. And winning a lot produces a culture of winning. You get used to winning. And if a team has built up some momentum, all the better
Bracket tips
1. a 12 seed always beats a 5 seed. Always! It has happened 23 out of 26 years. That is crazy.
2. 7/10 seeds will likely split... and one or two of those teams will beat the #2 seed
3. 8/9 is a draw. There will be some really good teams there... and really could be one of the top 12 teams, but beating a #1 is hard
4. At least one 10 seed or lower will make it to the sweet 16... usually it seems like a 12 vs 13 happens in rd 2
5. Make a couple set of picks..
i will be making a couple different set of picks... but
here is the one i'll share here
Final Four
1. Purdue
2. Ohio St
3. Pit
4. UConn
Elite 8
5. L'ville
6. MSU
7. Duke
8. Washington
Sweet 16
9. BYU
10. SanDiego State
11. Kansas
12. Notre Dame
13. Xavier
14. Arizona
15. K-St
16. Princeton
i'm least sure about Arizona & K-st - they're both 5 seeds... i could see Wisconsin, Belmont or K-St... and maybe even Utah St getting that spot in the Southwest... they're all good & all have their faults...
i don't like Princeton that much (though i do think Harvard had a case for an at-large bid). And i don't really want to put Notre Dame in there( but that is more of a i don't like Notre Dame thing).
While people say the Southwest is the easiest bracket, i think it is one of the most difficult. i already talked about the 4/5/12/13 seeds. but...
i really like St Johns, but i like BYU better. i really like BYU, but i like MSU better-slightly. i would have been content with any of those 3 in my Elite 8
i actually also would have picked Butler or Old Dominion for the Sweet 16... but they play each other, then Pit... yes, in that bracket, i rate them like this (Overall): Pit (3), MSU(5), BYU (6), Butler (11), St Johns (12), Old Dominion (14), Wisc (15), K-St (17), Belmont (20)... oh and Florida, the #2 seed (my 32).
Showing posts with label Ohio st. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio st. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Mook vs Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel.
Sigh
You're supposed to be a man of God. A man of integrity.
There is no integrity in what you have expressed. There is no repentance, no admission of wrong.
And there is the issue of what you did.
You concealed truth. You did not honor your contract.
You were supposed to report this... and didn't.
"Tressel's contract, which pays him an estimated $3.5 million per season, requires that he report any -- the word "any" is underlined in the contract -- possible rules or legal infractions immediately."
And when questioned, you said you were protecting the players. Really? How?
The truth is you thought you could get away with it.
And you did!
Crap.
What a lousy system the NCAA is.
After a week when BYU took a stand and kicked off a player for violating the honor code... Ohio st looked the other way.
Tressel seems like a stand-up guy.
And so, we don't want to lump in with Butch Davis or John Calipari. But he is a cheater.
His teams have been filled with cheaters.
But the NCAA likes that Ohio St makes money.
Jim Treseel won't miss the money he is fined.
The team won't miss him or the players suspended.
Ohio St, well, they just let Tressel and the players get away with it.
i guess if you win, it doesn't matter if you cheat or don't honor your contract.
Why can't he just admit he made a mistake?
for more
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6191585
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6195223
From his character-based books to his conservative sweater vests, Tressel wanted us to believe that he's a straight shooter who follows the rules.
On Tuesday night, we learned Tressel isn't any different from a lot of coaches in college football. He's apparently more concerned about winning games and championships than following rules and doing things the right way.
In fact, Tressel might be even worse than other coaches who are corrupting college athletics. He won't admit he's wrong even after he has been caught.
Facing the biggest crisis of his career, Tressel never once apologized for knowingly breaking NCAA rules during a news conference on the Ohio State campus on Tuesday night. Worse, Tressel never owned up to not telling his bosses or NCAA investigators that he was aware that at least two of his players might have accepted improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor in Columbus, Ohio.
When Tressel was asked if he was worried the scandal would tarnish his reputation, he said he's always been his biggest critic.
"I don't think less of myself at this moment," Tressel said.
How's that for looking in the mirror?
Sigh
You're supposed to be a man of God. A man of integrity.
There is no integrity in what you have expressed. There is no repentance, no admission of wrong.
And there is the issue of what you did.
You concealed truth. You did not honor your contract.
You were supposed to report this... and didn't.
"Tressel's contract, which pays him an estimated $3.5 million per season, requires that he report any -- the word "any" is underlined in the contract -- possible rules or legal infractions immediately."
And when questioned, you said you were protecting the players. Really? How?
The truth is you thought you could get away with it.
And you did!
Crap.
What a lousy system the NCAA is.
After a week when BYU took a stand and kicked off a player for violating the honor code... Ohio st looked the other way.
Tressel seems like a stand-up guy.
And so, we don't want to lump in with Butch Davis or John Calipari. But he is a cheater.
His teams have been filled with cheaters.
But the NCAA likes that Ohio St makes money.
Jim Treseel won't miss the money he is fined.
The team won't miss him or the players suspended.
Ohio St, well, they just let Tressel and the players get away with it.
i guess if you win, it doesn't matter if you cheat or don't honor your contract.
Why can't he just admit he made a mistake?
for more
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6191585
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=6195223
From his character-based books to his conservative sweater vests, Tressel wanted us to believe that he's a straight shooter who follows the rules.
On Tuesday night, we learned Tressel isn't any different from a lot of coaches in college football. He's apparently more concerned about winning games and championships than following rules and doing things the right way.
In fact, Tressel might be even worse than other coaches who are corrupting college athletics. He won't admit he's wrong even after he has been caught.
Facing the biggest crisis of his career, Tressel never once apologized for knowingly breaking NCAA rules during a news conference on the Ohio State campus on Tuesday night. Worse, Tressel never owned up to not telling his bosses or NCAA investigators that he was aware that at least two of his players might have accepted improper benefits from the owner of a tattoo parlor in Columbus, Ohio.
When Tressel was asked if he was worried the scandal would tarnish his reputation, he said he's always been his biggest critic.
"I don't think less of myself at this moment," Tressel said.
How's that for looking in the mirror?
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Mook vs playoffs
Mark Cuban is apparently trying to fix the college football playoff system.
There is a lot of talk of expanding teams in both the nfl and mlb.
The playoffs is a hot topic of sorts
College Football
This is not new. There have been debate and outcry concerning playoff for years upon years.
The last two years, it has been pretty clear. (Though, i suppose Boise St or TCU could have made a case last year or this).
But, there was the year Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech all finished with one loss, exchanging losses with each other... with OU getting in, despite losing to UT...
Or how about Utah's undefeated season a few years back?
Certainly a playoff is needed if we want a true champion
Bowls
Let's not get rid of bowl games. Bowl games are great! They're tradition. They set up some fun stuff and give teams something to shoot for. And when a team finally makes a bowl game or returns to a bowl game it gives fans, alumni, students something to cheer for... and something to do.
But let's get back to the old system instead of all the set conference match-ups... and let's eliminate some of the bowls, there are too many, making bowl-eligibility irrelevant or unimportant.
small-schools vs cash cows
This isn't just about under dogs, though it is. The big name schools will always get more clout and recognition from the media. And often the biggest hindrance a team has is their pre-season ranking.
No, this is about money. Notre Dame will go to a big bowl if they were even half-way decent. Ohio St gets to go always.
This only lets those schools become even more popular, more famous and perpetuates them as good teams. Give others a chance.
And especially let the small schools play. They deserve a chance... and the fan want to see it.
Ohio St
Of all schools to claim another team doesn't deserve to play for a championship game, Ohio St is the one who can't say anything. Or did they forget the 2006 & 2007 seasons?
Also, how is their schedule any better? Big Ten was not that tough. In fact, it wasn't as difficult as Boise St... for the record i think they would have lost to Va Tech (And certainly to Boise St)
None of these teams from major conferences play great non-conference games.
The SEC has been great over the years, but just because they're SEC teams mean they are that amazing.
I would have loved to see Ohio St play TCU in one of the Bowl games.
And i was really sad to see Boise St lose - i thought they deserved a shot at the championship. They're loss to Nevada - should have proved how difficult it is to go undefeated - but it probably didn't
Solution
i say put in the 6 best conference champions + 2 at-large teams. The Big East may or may not be one of the best conferences... ACC for that matter too.
If you can't win your conference, then you didn't earn the right to play for a championship.
All conferences should have a conf championship game - most do already anyway.
8-team playoff
Means 2 more games for the 2 championship teams. i don't think it will take away too much from the school work
1. They practice the whole time anyway
2. Games 2 & 3 can be during their Christmas break
3. Put a limit on in-season games. A lot of teams get 13 or even 14 already before the bowl game. Make the maximum 12 or even 11
This year it could have been
1. Aub vs Stanford 1. Oregon vs Ark
2. Oklahoma vs TCU 2. Wisc vs Boise St
Of course, the issue is money... but i think the fans would go to the game and certainly would watch.
Baseball
There is a lot of talk of expanding the baseball playoffs... if they do we'll be watching baseball in December!
Seriously? Do they not see how awful the NHL is with their long season.
Instead of making the playoffs & the season longer- they need to make it shorter!
Basball should be done by mid-October
Changes
1. Reduce time between games.
Games 1&2 on Tuesday & Wednesday 3-5 on the weekend. Then T&W again. We only need one day for travel. Seriously. Next one can be Sa&Su, T-R, Sa &Su
And if the games are set, let's not wait a week, let's get it over with
2. Shorten the season.
It's too long as it is. Players get hurt. Teams fade. People lose interest. Take 11 games off the schedule, end 2 weeks earlier.
What about more teams?
Why? The season is long. They all play each other throughout the season. If they can't win their division, then do they really deserve to go? Maybe better than a team in another division- which is why there is the wildcard. One wildcard is perfect.
If you add more teams into the playoffs, then what meaning does the regular season have? There has to be a limit or the regular season is just bullshit. Quit crying and win games when it counts -which is all season long!
NFL
The NFL could have more reason to add teams. They don't all play each other. The season is short. We all like football.
Still, why mess with a good thing?
The Super Bowl is already in February.
i don't mind adding games onto the season- b/c i like watching football. And if they wanted to add two more wild cards in each conference, i probably wouldn't mind.
Still, i think it's fine as it is... even if a 7-9 team makes the playoffs this year.
There is a lot of talk of expanding teams in both the nfl and mlb.
The playoffs is a hot topic of sorts
College Football
This is not new. There have been debate and outcry concerning playoff for years upon years.
The last two years, it has been pretty clear. (Though, i suppose Boise St or TCU could have made a case last year or this).
But, there was the year Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech all finished with one loss, exchanging losses with each other... with OU getting in, despite losing to UT...
Or how about Utah's undefeated season a few years back?
Certainly a playoff is needed if we want a true champion
Bowls
Let's not get rid of bowl games. Bowl games are great! They're tradition. They set up some fun stuff and give teams something to shoot for. And when a team finally makes a bowl game or returns to a bowl game it gives fans, alumni, students something to cheer for... and something to do.
But let's get back to the old system instead of all the set conference match-ups... and let's eliminate some of the bowls, there are too many, making bowl-eligibility irrelevant or unimportant.
small-schools vs cash cows
This isn't just about under dogs, though it is. The big name schools will always get more clout and recognition from the media. And often the biggest hindrance a team has is their pre-season ranking.
No, this is about money. Notre Dame will go to a big bowl if they were even half-way decent. Ohio St gets to go always.
This only lets those schools become even more popular, more famous and perpetuates them as good teams. Give others a chance.
And especially let the small schools play. They deserve a chance... and the fan want to see it.
Ohio St
Of all schools to claim another team doesn't deserve to play for a championship game, Ohio St is the one who can't say anything. Or did they forget the 2006 & 2007 seasons?
Also, how is their schedule any better? Big Ten was not that tough. In fact, it wasn't as difficult as Boise St... for the record i think they would have lost to Va Tech (And certainly to Boise St)
None of these teams from major conferences play great non-conference games.
The SEC has been great over the years, but just because they're SEC teams mean they are that amazing.
I would have loved to see Ohio St play TCU in one of the Bowl games.
And i was really sad to see Boise St lose - i thought they deserved a shot at the championship. They're loss to Nevada - should have proved how difficult it is to go undefeated - but it probably didn't
Solution
i say put in the 6 best conference champions + 2 at-large teams. The Big East may or may not be one of the best conferences... ACC for that matter too.
If you can't win your conference, then you didn't earn the right to play for a championship.
All conferences should have a conf championship game - most do already anyway.
8-team playoff
Means 2 more games for the 2 championship teams. i don't think it will take away too much from the school work
1. They practice the whole time anyway
2. Games 2 & 3 can be during their Christmas break
3. Put a limit on in-season games. A lot of teams get 13 or even 14 already before the bowl game. Make the maximum 12 or even 11
This year it could have been
1. Aub vs Stanford 1. Oregon vs Ark
2. Oklahoma vs TCU 2. Wisc vs Boise St
Of course, the issue is money... but i think the fans would go to the game and certainly would watch.
Baseball
There is a lot of talk of expanding the baseball playoffs... if they do we'll be watching baseball in December!
Seriously? Do they not see how awful the NHL is with their long season.
Instead of making the playoffs & the season longer- they need to make it shorter!
Basball should be done by mid-October
Changes
1. Reduce time between games.
Games 1&2 on Tuesday & Wednesday 3-5 on the weekend. Then T&W again. We only need one day for travel. Seriously. Next one can be Sa&Su, T-R, Sa &Su
And if the games are set, let's not wait a week, let's get it over with
2. Shorten the season.
It's too long as it is. Players get hurt. Teams fade. People lose interest. Take 11 games off the schedule, end 2 weeks earlier.
What about more teams?
Why? The season is long. They all play each other throughout the season. If they can't win their division, then do they really deserve to go? Maybe better than a team in another division- which is why there is the wildcard. One wildcard is perfect.
If you add more teams into the playoffs, then what meaning does the regular season have? There has to be a limit or the regular season is just bullshit. Quit crying and win games when it counts -which is all season long!
NFL
The NFL could have more reason to add teams. They don't all play each other. The season is short. We all like football.
Still, why mess with a good thing?
The Super Bowl is already in February.
i don't mind adding games onto the season- b/c i like watching football. And if they wanted to add two more wild cards in each conference, i probably wouldn't mind.
Still, i think it's fine as it is... even if a 7-9 team makes the playoffs this year.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Mook vs Boise St & Oregon
The world & the BCS are against Boise St.
They are pointing to the weak schedule they have ahead - but what about the games they have already played?
Did Ohio St beat anyone? Did Nebraska? Ok Ohio st beat Miami, but they're probably not better than VaTech, and it wasn't on the road.
Boise St has just flat out won. When was the last time they lost a game?
They've beaten the bog programs too. They beat Oregon last year, so why is Oregon so far ahead of them?
Certainly this isn't last year, but Boise St returns almost everyone from last year, so that should give them some credit to at least get a chance...
Oregon did lose to Ohio St last year too - so maybe i should rank Ohio state above them, but i'm not going to. Oregon has killed everyone they have played. They're game against Stanford was impressive- because they were down - big time. And they came back. They're offense is explosive.
The Pac-10 is the best conference. The Big 10 is weak. Hey, i'm from bigten country. i love the big ten. But they're not that good. Arizona crushed Iowa.
The Pac 10 has done well. UCLA killed Texas also.
Oklahoma should have a gripe too. They have played the toughest schedule so far (of teams winning games - Toledo, Oregon St, and probably some other crappy team in there have played a tougher schedule).
But OU killed Florida St- made them look like fodder- but surprise, they may make it to a BCS game and top ten ranking by the time the season is done. They beat Air Force who is getting ranked as they deserve ane Texas - which was at one point top 5
But i don't think the BCS wants Boise St there. They will win. What are they going to do when Boise St and TCU beats all these teams they are supposed to lose to and goes undefeated?
i don't think ESPN wants Oregon there either - it all goes back to East Coast bias.
i'm glad Bama lost, and i hope Ohio St loses and even Oregon (that conference will be tough to escape w/o a loss). Nebraska & OU will at the very least play each other for the conference championship...
Ah, a playoff would be great - but even then i'm sure they'd find a way to screw the small market team - it's all about the Benjamins isn't it?
My rankings
They are pointing to the weak schedule they have ahead - but what about the games they have already played?
Did Ohio St beat anyone? Did Nebraska? Ok Ohio st beat Miami, but they're probably not better than VaTech, and it wasn't on the road.
Boise St has just flat out won. When was the last time they lost a game?
They've beaten the bog programs too. They beat Oregon last year, so why is Oregon so far ahead of them?
Certainly this isn't last year, but Boise St returns almost everyone from last year, so that should give them some credit to at least get a chance...
Oregon did lose to Ohio St last year too - so maybe i should rank Ohio state above them, but i'm not going to. Oregon has killed everyone they have played. They're game against Stanford was impressive- because they were down - big time. And they came back. They're offense is explosive.
The Pac-10 is the best conference. The Big 10 is weak. Hey, i'm from bigten country. i love the big ten. But they're not that good. Arizona crushed Iowa.
The Pac 10 has done well. UCLA killed Texas also.
Oklahoma should have a gripe too. They have played the toughest schedule so far (of teams winning games - Toledo, Oregon St, and probably some other crappy team in there have played a tougher schedule).
But OU killed Florida St- made them look like fodder- but surprise, they may make it to a BCS game and top ten ranking by the time the season is done. They beat Air Force who is getting ranked as they deserve ane Texas - which was at one point top 5
But i don't think the BCS wants Boise St there. They will win. What are they going to do when Boise St and TCU beats all these teams they are supposed to lose to and goes undefeated?
i don't think ESPN wants Oregon there either - it all goes back to East Coast bias.
i'm glad Bama lost, and i hope Ohio St loses and even Oregon (that conference will be tough to escape w/o a loss). Nebraska & OU will at the very least play each other for the conference championship...
Ah, a playoff would be great - but even then i'm sure they'd find a way to screw the small market team - it's all about the Benjamins isn't it?
My rankings
10-10-10
1. Boise St
2. Oregon
3. OU
4. Ohio St
5. Auburn
6. Neb
7. TCU
8. SC
9. Bama
10. Utah
11. LSU
12. Arkansas
13. Stanford
14. FSU
15. MSU
16. Zona
17. Ok St
18. Mizzou
19. Iowa
20. Wisc
21. AF
22. UF
23. UT
24. UofM
25. Miami
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