FIRST ROUND - THURSDAY, MARCH 19

3/17/2009 1:12:20 AM

the lines are out!

UNC: -26.5
Duke: -21.5
UConn: -21
Memphis: -20
Pitt: -20


Easy money:

Utah: +1

3/17/2009 2:23:45 PM

^Haha, I like how everyone was complaining about Arizona's inclusion and now so many people are picking them they're favored




me included

3/17/2009 5:29:39 PM

what a shitty camera angle

3/17/2009 7:39:23 PM

alabama st goin down

3/17/2009 7:44:37 PM

the Hornets' wing guard is wearing eye liner

3/17/2009 7:50:12 PM

anybody else think i'm not completely crazy to have Missouri in the Final 4?

3/17/2009 7:52:52 PM

I think you are a fucking retard




but then again, I felt that way before you put Missouri in the Final Four

3/17/2009 7:55:52 PM

cool, just so long as its not because of the pick

my gut tells me either memphis or connecticut out of that region, but for some reason i like mizzu

[Edited on March 17, 2009 at 7:58 PM. Reason : .]

3/17/2009 7:57:48 PM

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

WRAL once again fibering over 4 HD and 4 SD feeds to TWC to show every single game.

Main reason I'm so happy (they've done this for a few years now) is because it was rumored CBS was restricting affiliates to showing only 2 games per market.

FIRST ROUND - THURSDAY, MARCH 19

3/17/2009 8:44:40 PM

Just curious, is that only on twc digital or will they do that for WRAL digital over-the air?

I know they usually play two CBS affiliate basketball games on OTA 5.1 and 5.2(SD ), but would be nice if they axed their 24/7 weather channel and other junk channels to play all of the games

MMOD is an option, but we have shitty internet so probably could only stream one at a time on my connection

[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 10:38 AM. Reason : ]

3/18/2009 10:20:12 AM

yeah I can't really see Mizzou getting that far. I don't really know much about them other than they won the Big 12 this year. But still, getting past Memphis first and then UConn seems somewhat unlikely.

3/18/2009 10:38:03 AM

Quote :

"I have way too much confidence in WVU, UCLA, and ASU "

my feeling as well

3/18/2009 10:59:16 AM

I think UCLA is much better than they appear... Their starting five all will be (or could be) playing in the NBA or Europe next year. All have been inconsistent, either really good or really bad at times. They have clicked in a few games this year and looked unstoppable. They got a tough draw having to go to Philly, then probably playing Nova on their "home" court in the second round. I'd looove to see them play Duke.

3/18/2009 11:10:49 AM

^4 they'll have the OTA games like you said for 5.1 and 5.2 but other than that probably not.

Makes the HD channel appear real shitty if they separate it to show all the games.

[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 11:24 AM. Reason : ]

3/18/2009 11:23:54 AM

so what are the best brackets this year?

i literally mean which site's downloadable/printable brackets have the least amount of extra logos and text so that you can easily read picks?

i think i used this one last year for my large scale format bracket http://assets.espn.go.com/i/ncaa/09mens_bracket.pdf

[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 12:11 PM. Reason : .]

3/18/2009 12:05:27 PM

^ that one is pretty good.

i wish i could find one that had how each team made the field (at-large or xxx conference champion) included on the bracket too, just for reference.

3/18/2009 12:18:27 PM

Quote :

"I have way too much confidence in WVU, UCLA, and ASU"

I have ASU and UCLA both going to the elite 8. I don't think WVU will get out of the first round though. Dayton is pretty good. Check out the results of the outcome of regular season games with opponents faced by both schools.

Dayton West Virgina
MARQ W (-14) L (+12)
DSU W (-20) W (-34)
DUQ W,W (-11,-13) W (-5)
MU W (-5) W (-36)
MAR W (-12) W (-11)

Dayton hangs right with WVU and is even a better performer the majority of the time. Just one of a couple reasons I think WVU will be out early.

Sorry, the chart is lined up terribly. Dayton should be over the 1st W/L column and WVU over the second.




[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 12:41 PM. Reason : gh]

3/18/2009 12:39:07 PM

Speaking of Dayton, I'm really annoyed that Ohio State gets to play their first and second round games there. That means if Louisville and OSU both get to the second round, OSU basically has a home game against the number 1 seed.

3/18/2009 12:57:50 PM

It's not that bad. An hour and a half from OSU, and 2 hours and a half from Louisville. I'm sure the Cardinals will have plenty of fans

[Edited on March 18, 2009 at 1:10 PM. Reason : e]

3/18/2009 1:09:39 PM

this is probably going to the best worst thing about living in boone

not having sweet sweet WRAL showing me each and every game

3/18/2009 1:49:23 PM

Goddamn you, Ty Lawson

You're going to fuck my bracket one way or the other

3/19/2009 12:41:42 AM

I think this is only the second year WRAL has had 4 HD feeds via TWC.

If you dont have TWC Digital cable, you can still get the alternate feeds via a QAM tuner if you have any TWC service (standard cable, internet). I did a scan yesterday and found 1 alternate HD channel and 3 alternate SD channels. Didnt check everything, but Im guessing the other HD channels are in there somewhere. Also CBS College Sports is simulcasting a few games live, and possibly doing live look-ins at other times, so that helps if you have Direct/Dish.

3/19/2009 6:20:03 AM

UNC's star PG lacking guts?

http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9351056/Lawson-not-showing-courage-by-missing-tourney?MSNHPHMA

3/19/2009 6:51:36 AM

streaming links?

3/19/2009 10:20:39 AM

http://mmod.ncaa.com/

3/19/2009 10:24:36 AM

Geaux Tigers!

3/19/2009 11:41:50 AM

Toe Lawson

3/19/2009 11:43:01 AM

Quote :

"I think this is only the second year WRAL has had 4 HD feeds via TWC."

Nah, they've done it since at least 2005.

3/19/2009 11:43:04 AM

they haven't had 4 HD feeds since 05, just 4 feeds. last year was the first year they had every feed in hd

3/19/2009 11:46:31 AM

Oh, I missed the HD part

3/19/2009 11:57:18 AM

http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2009/03/16/picking-brackets-a-2009-case-study/

3/19/2009 12:05:12 PM

I can't decide if I want to watch LSU/Butler game (should be a great one) or Memphis beat the fuck out of CSU Northridge.

3/19/2009 12:09:22 PM

Fuck Memphis and their recruit-stealing coach.

3/19/2009 12:24:06 PM

Memphis is by far the most overrated team in this tourney. I have them winning in the first round but not making it to the Sweet 16.

3/19/2009 12:29:24 PM

I agree they are overrated. They could very well prove me wrong absolutely, but at the moment I can't believe the amount of people that have memphis winning this whole thing this year. They just have not impressed me enough at this point in time.

3/19/2009 12:34:56 PM

they're not as good as they were last year

Connecticut will probably beat them in the Elite 8, although I have Missouri beating them in the round of 16

3/19/2009 12:36:25 PM

It's hilarious to me how many people pick Memphis over UConn citing "the last 7 games UConn played without Dyson" where they went 4-3.

Um, yeah... they played Syracuse and Pitt, both Top 12 teams per the tourney seeding, twice each (losing two to Pitt that were one possession games DEEP in the 2nd half and one in 6 OTs) and one game on the road against Marquette... Meanwhile Memphis beat Tulane twice, Tulsa and whatever other plainly mediocre teams they played to win that joke of a conference...

3/19/2009 12:39:39 PM

They impressed me last year by getting to the finals and nearly winning, despite being in a shitty conference, but like I said, I think they had a much better team last year, and three of their players from last year's team are now in the NBA

3/19/2009 12:42:58 PM

According to ESPN's score ticker, they were losing to CS Northridge a moment ago, but just pulled ahead by 1 thanks to some free throws. It's early yet though.

3/19/2009 12:49:43 PM

I picked Memphis to win it all

shrug

3/19/2009 12:51:21 PM

I'd be just dandy with Memphis losing this round, I got Maryland goin' past em the next round.

3/19/2009 12:52:50 PM

I can't imagine Memphis could actually lose to Cal State Northridge, but I guess crazier things have happened.

3/19/2009 12:53:38 PM

haha I loved the arm-fat jiggle from the cheerleader

3/19/2009 12:58:17 PM

Anyone getting crappy reception on CBS?

3/19/2009 12:58:55 PM

i never ever pick the 8/9 games right.

ever

3/19/2009 1:02:21 PM

Northridge in the double-bonus w/ 6:00 left and still has 1 foul to give?

3/19/2009 1:03:56 PM

I felt like Butler was overrated/LSU underrated and I felt like BYU really only plays great at home. Hopefully these trends won't reverse in the second half and make me look stupid.

3/19/2009 1:04:08 PM

Memphis losing would mess up my bracket, but I would love to see it

3/19/2009 1:09:25 PM

->

3/19/2009 1:21:33 PM