Still Legitimate!

[JK]

Out of the remaining sixteen teams, five are from the Big XII. The SEC has three, the ACC two, and the other six teams are sole representatives of their respective conferences.

Did we deserve SEVEN host of sub-regionals? Obviously we did. All of our #4 Seeds held serve. Though none of us questioned it, I'm sure some across the country didn't think UT, Tech, and Colorado deserved to host. Well, they all won their sub-regionals in big fashion. As far as La Tech being upset about their seeding -- so much for that.

Let's go Big XII - - keep it rolling!

[grojc]

Absolutely,

I really wasn't sure that Tech or ISU deserved as high as their seed (ISU fans - I thought a 4 was more fair) but the rest were totally justifiable. I can't believe Baylor lost. I'm not surprised at ISU - too many times they showed they were beatable this year. I am thrilled that the Horns - who also showed that they are very beatable, but also put themselves in a tougher schedule - finally came through. And I'm also happy that Tech proved women's college hoops wrong because they were bugging me about the tournament in general.

I really think CU and OU have a good chance at playing each other for the Final Four. I hope KSU makes the elite eight as well and I will absolutely scream for joy if they are the ones to bring down UCONN. I won't comment on the UT came except that anything is possible.

[schooner2]

If KSU can get past ODU, their matchup with UCONN should be so much fun. That would mean KSU has made it to the Elite 8. KSU would have absolutely nothing to lose in this matchup. They should play with absolute abandon. They should be Sarah Hughes for a night - a reference Coach Coale really likes to refer to right now. I hope Koehn hits many from well beyond the 3-point arc and scare UCONN silly!

[Jennifer]

Originally posted by schooner:
I hope Koehn hits many from well beyond the 3-point arc and scare UCONN silly!

Forget scaring them silly. Beat 'em! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Wouldn't that be huge?
Now if they only get away with scaring them silly...I'd sorta hate to be Uconn's next opponent. But if it's Tennessee, all the more reason to say scare em silly!

[RaiderPower1]

Originally posted by grojc:
And I'm also happy that Tech proved women's college hoops wrong because they were bugging me about the tournament in general.

I think just about every team has proved WCH wrong. They were pitiful in picking the games for the tournament.

[cycofan]

As an ISU fan, I am feeling somewhat guilty. Never mind that the Big 12 beat THREE SEC teams this weekend, the big press is that two of us lost. Stay on a roll ladies, people in Iowa are cheering for you! I only wish there were a Big 12 team playing in Ames that I could cheer for on Saturday!

By the way, you will get no argument from me that a four seed may have been more appropriate for the Clones. Past success finally caught up with them this year, and they couldn't keep up with the hype. I think when people get over the loss last night, we will see that maybe ISU overachieved this year for the talent that they had. I've said it before, they played 3 on 5 most nights, and winning 24 games that way is pretty impressive!

[ChipperF1]

About WCH.com...Its based in Connecticut. How much do they really know beyond the Hudson River? They are out of touch like most people on the East Coast.

Why they still doubt the Big 12 eludes me. 7 teams in and 5 of them are still alive. That ain't bad. The SEC started with 8, and ended with 3 at this stage. The Big East started with 4 and ended with 1 (albeit, they'll be the one that'll most likely win).

The only way the Big 12 will get the respect is simple. Win the whole darn thing.

No whining about late game times
No whining about ESPN not giving us our "love"
No excuses

None of the candypants stuff will wash.
Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Colorado, Texas. Five very good teams. Anyone who says they are "overrated" hasn't been paying attention or they are from Storrs.

Baylor played a great ballgame, but they fell short to another good ball team. Just because Robin, Vera and Nell haven't heard of Drake, doesn't mean Drake can't play ball. Us folk in the midwest know what Mo Valley ball is. It isn't to the level of the Big 12, but the teams do rise up and compete.

Iowa State? They gave it away and BYU took it. But to say, "Iowa State isn't very good." would be nonsense. That team has been playing above its capability ever seen Bill Fennelly got there.

I don't mean to go on a rant here, but there are three things I cannot stand in sports.

1. Quitters. The team I root for is an example of a bunch of quitters.

2. Whiners. Some fans who have lost a game in this tournament have whined about "waaah! we didn't the calls" "waaah! It was late!" "waaah! We ran out of Flintstone Chewables."
This is the National Championship. Win, or go home. NO EXCUSES ALLOWED.

But what I can't stand the most is

3. Haters. Win or lose, the Big 12 teams that made the draw played darn good basketball. ALL OF THEM! I can't stand to see people who couldn't hold their jogbras ridicule them.

The kids know it. There's only one way they'll get the respect. JUST WIN, BABY.
No matter what, no one can say that the Big 12 doesn't quality basketball. They've proved all year, and they'll prove it this weekend and in San Antonio.

I'd love to see an Oklahoma (or TTU, Colorado) , Drake (I love the MVC as much as the Big 12.), Kansas State, Tennessee Final Four. All "flyover country" Final Four down in Texas.

As for the game times. I agree, they are ridiculous, but I feel it more due to the 16 subregional game sites. When you are scattered all over 4 time zones, you are going to have overlap unless your stagger, and ESPN likes stagger. I wish they could make it a neater dispersal, BUT it is better than it used to be. They used to have Final Four games at 7 and 9 Friday night, then an 11:30 am Saturday tipoff for the National Championship. I am glad they changed that.








[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-19-2002).]

[This message has been edited by ChipperF1 (edited 03-19-2002).]

[horntooter]

Well Chipper, I'll cheer for Drake to beat South Carolina, but I'd love to see KSU, Texas, Vanderbilt and OU or Colo in the final four. Someone's gotta beat Duke to get there, and hopefully Texas will be the ticket. It's not a geographically diverse, but four teams that aren't Final Four regulars would be a real thrill.

[Bball Girl]

Let's all put some money on BYU...a Mountain WEST team that beat a pretty decent Florida team and a very good ISU team.

I'd absolutely LOVE to see BYU beat Tennessee and then Vandy and make all that whining stop.

A KSU vs. BYU and a OU/TTU/CU vs. Texas Final Four would shut up all the yapping for at least a couple of weeks.

Drake's a great story too...

These so called Cinderella's with the best point guards that no one has ever heard about are what make the NCAAs such a blast to watch. These kids who play their hearts out night in and night out and don't even get the attention that the Big 12 are what makes college sports so much fun. I was so impressed with BYU last night (even though I hated to see a Big 12 team lose)..they were playing in hostile place against a very good team. Course they play in the Pit against UNM every year so they're used to it.

[horntooter]

Absolutely, BBall Girl - I overlooked BYU. I'll be looking for KSU vs BYU; three Big 12 teams in the Final Four would make some noise, and maybe Texas will get a rematch with KSU.

[JK]

I was a bit surprised that Baylor was taken out by Drake. However, I was aware of Drake's capabilities. Still, didn't think it would happen in Waco. I didn't see BYU coming in to Ames and making noise either -- but they certainly did. I thought Florida, with their quickness and size, would be the ones that would present a dangerous match-up for ISU. Oh well, you just never know.

I predicted Purdue not making the Sweet 16. I just haven't been impressed with them this year. ODU played with a lot of heart in that game, but I think KSU's spread and motion offense (and the inside/outside punch) will be too much for the Monarchs. I would turn flips if KSU knocked off UConn. I, too, am sick of WCH. Hell, what do they know? I don't even think UConn has a single player from the state of Connecticut on their roster!

I think the OU and TTU game will be closer than a lot of people think - - it IS true that it's difficult to beat a good team three times in one season. On the other hand, OU beat Baylor three times. The Sooners are in control of their own destiny. Colorado is playing well right now. Although Stanford had a weak conference this year, they are still a very good team. The Buffs will have to really bring it to get by the Cardinal. Nicole Powell is about as good as anybody. Man, is there some talent across the nation in this year's sophomore class or what?!

As for my Longhorns and Duke... I really don't want to say much. No result would really shock me in that one -- unless we were to win by a lot. I don't really see much of an advantage for us in this one besides their lack of depth and our being battle tested. Should those two things become a factor in the game, I like our chances. We will have to play superb TEAM defense, rebound, hit free throws, and have a decent day from the field. It will take a TOTAL team effort on our part, as the Blue Devils are just TOO talented individually. Well, I've said mre than I wanted to, so enough on that.

GO BIG XII !!! SHAKE THE HATERS OFF!!!!

[Jennifer]

Here's a person who thinks it will be a close game. Those last two games where OU beat Tech don't really mean much now. Tech is playing good ball, Tarr is healthy (as far as I know), and Cisti has really come along. Should be a good one.
Go http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/ou.gif, though like someone said, it sucks to have to cheer against a Big 12 team right now.

Originally posted by JK:
I think the OU and TTU game will be closer than a lot of people think - - it IS true that it's difficult to beat a good team three times in one season.

[swok34]

It's the Ritchie/Tarr 3-ball connection that I see as the key to this game....Ritchie's one of my fav players on the TT team.
And Ellison is playing with a fervor unmatched by anyone in the tourney.

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 03-20-2002).]