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Is Indiana basketball truly back to it’s former glory?
We’ll find out this weekend. In 2003, Tom Crean led the Marquette Golden Eagles to a somewhat unexpected trip to the Final Four. Ten years later, Crean is looking for a return trip; this time as head coach of the Indiana Basketball.
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For the third straight season, Marquette basketball has advanced to the Sweet 16. Ohio State, Kansas, and Florida are the only other programs that share that distinction. Unlike the Buckeyes, Jayhawks, and Gators though, the Golden Eagles have been unable to take the next step and get to the Elite 8. Thursday night versus Miami FL, MU will try to pass the test and get over the hump.
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For the second straight season, Marquette has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. While last year’s run was somewhat unexpected as an 11 seed, this year’s Golden Eagles were expected to do some damage as the third seed in the West Regional. Thursday evening in Albuquerque, Buzz Williams‘ team will match up with Billy Donovan and the seventh seeded Florida Gators with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line.
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Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy these brackets and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a shout-out on your twitter or facebook page. In my opinion, the West Regional is the deepest and has the most exciting possible match-ups of the four regionals as it features ten teams who won their conference tournaments and enter the Big Dance playing a high level of basketball.
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Friday is usually when I do my updated Big East Basketball Power Rankings. Since nobody cares about the DePaul’s, Providence’s, and Rutgers’ of the world this late in the season, this week’s Big East Power Rankings will an analysis of the teams in the conference who have solidified their status in the NCAA Tournament or are firmly on the bubble and still have work to do. Let’s break down some resumes… (Click here to check out my latest bracketology.)
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My hands still sting from all the loud clapping I did during Marquette‘s third round victory against Syracuse. As winnable as their first two games were, reality sets in a bit as the Golden Eagles have a mountain to climb if they want to complete an improbable run to the Final Four. Ohio State, North Carolina, and Kentucky are all powerhouse programs loaded with NBA talent. Here is my breakdown of the Sweet 16 West Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
By: David Kay
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“This team?” a friend asked me just minutes after Marquette sealed a third round NCAA Tournament victory against Syracuse to earn their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2003. Yes, THIS team.
Not the Golden Eagle group led by the Big Three of Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal, and Dominic James that suffered heart-wrenching second round losses in back-to-back years (Damn you Brook Lopez. Damn you ref who called Lazar Hayward for stepping over the line on that inbounds pass.) Not last year’s overachieving bunch that earned a six seed and just seemed poised to make a run but were instead upset in the opening round by Washington.
THIS team that lost 14 games, finished as the 11th seed in the Big East Tournament, and frustrated the hell out of me far too often this year is one of sixteen teams still standing in the Big Dance.
By: David Kay
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Warning: I will not be responsible if you copy these brackets and are out of your NCAA Tournament pool by by Sunday. However, if you do listen to my college basketball wisdom and win some money, I want 20% of the pot or at least a thank you note or shout-out on your twitter or facebook page.
By: David Kay
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I am a huge college basketball nerd. I know it and if you are a frequent visitor to the Sports Bank, you know it as well. So much in fact, that I create my own bracketology which is seventy times nerdier than making a NBA mock draft.
In my inaugural year of entering this hallowed ground of geeks, my bracketology more than held its own ESPN’s “expert” bracketologist Joe Lunardi; a feat that I consider to be a huge accomplishment.
This year, there is more to take into account with the NCAA expanding the field to 68 teams. That means there will now be four play-in games held in Dayton. Two of those games will feature the final four at-large bids battling to be in the Field of 64. Same will go for the last four automatic qualifiers. Be sure to check back every week for updates on my Field of 68.
UPDATED: 3/13/11 4:30 P.M. CST
By: David Kay
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First off, let me say that I am rather disappointed with my lack of college basketball watching this season. I did say that I was going with a “quality over quantity” approach this year and not watching a game for an eight-day stretch when I was covering the Packers in the Super Bowl did not help my numbers. My goal this week is to watch all 15 Big East Tournament games (you can check out my preview/predictions for that tourney) and hit the 25-game mark this week.
If you are unfamiliar with College Hoops 101, it is a weekly feature here at The Sports Bank that runs every Monday and breaks down everything you need to know going on in the world of college basketball. I will look back at the previous week and peak ahead to some of the key match-ups in the next seven days. Click here to check out my updated bracketology.
By: David Kay
[Read more…]
I am a huge college basketball nerd. I know it and if you are a frequent visitor to the Sports Bank, you know it as well. So much in fact, that I create my own bracketology which is seventy times nerdier than making a NBA mock draft.
In my inaugural year of entering this hallowed ground of geeks, my bracketology more than held its own ESPN’s “expert” bracketologist Joe Lunardi; a feat that I consider to be a huge accomplishment.
This year, there is more to take into account with the NCAA expanding the field to 68 teams. That means there will now be four play-in games held in Dayton. Two of those games will feature the final four at-large bids battling to be in the Field of 64. Same will go for the last four automatic qualifiers. Be sure to check back every week for updates on my Field of 68.
UPDATED: 3/4/11
By: David Kay
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It is the final week of the college basketball regular season and several major conference teams are hanging on to their NCAA Tournament hopes with the slimmest margin for error. Here are some crucial games this week featuring NCAA Tournament bubble teams that could make or break their chances of being selected for the Field of 68. Click here for my latest bracketology.
By: David Kay
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