Bear Down Wildcats

Still a #3 seed.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

Got to stay on the 3 line. 4 would mean we’d play a 1 if we got to the S16 and we don’t match up well with any of the projected 1 seeds.

Potential 2nd round rematch with crazy Mick would be funny.

EastCoastCat wrote: Wed Feb 19, 2025 9:04 am Got to stay on the 3 line. 4 would mean we’d play a 1 if we got to the S16 and we don’t match up well with any of the projected 1 seeds.

Potential 2nd round rematch with crazy Mick would be funny.

I actually welcome a rematch with Duke... but yeah... I'd rather stay far away from he tops of the SEC for as long as possible!

Whatever, the SEC is just playing each other a bunch and had a pretty good early season so it's just an echo chamber. Remember the last few years the B1G had lots of high seeds and did really poorly in the tourney compared to their seeding. I'll believe the historical superiority of the SEC when they have 5 teams in the elite 8 and 3 teams in the final 4. Until then im a skeptic.

UofA drops to a 4 seed.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

Cats #4 in the South. Second round game against Xavier. I have a feeling that very well could happen.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

I'd be shocked if Xavier isn't in our bracket assuming they make the tournament. Aside from Gonzaga that's probably the matchup the committee is dying for the most.

What do we think gets us to the 3 line? Win today and make it to the the B12 Finals?

#5 in the west vs Xavier or Ohio State.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

I would not be surprised 1 bit to see AZ vs Xavier in the 1st round

Yeah, they love to look for story line angles to attract viewers. Can't argue with their success, I guess.

Meanwhile, I caught some of the game yesterday where St. Francis punched their ticket...on a Tuesday. The underdog angle in the tourney is great, but there is quite an advantage to qualifying so early. I'd give the players several days off, with the proviso they show up in the mornings for meetings and charted free throws/light shootaround, just so they don't stay out partying too much. And I'd have every coach and analyst put together every bit of tape and scouting report on every team they might play from the various projections. A lot of throwaway work, but a real opportunity to look at individual player matchups, defensive flaws, and offensive tells.

So you've got a rested, prepared, and largely unknown team, maybe even playing close to home. If you can keep it close and make a late run, the crowd, and sometimes the refs, root for CInderella. Meanwhile, players on the favored team overlook the underdog and want to pace themselves for a long tourney run. Then, if it becomes a tight game, they press. A lot of physical, logistical, and psychological advantages there.

Lunardi now would have us playing Xavier or Carolina. Either matchup with great intrigue.

I'd bet money on it being Xavier. Too much of a narrative not to have it be them.

AZCatGirl wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:40 pm I'd bet money on it being Xavier. Too much of a narrative not to have it be them.

Dont want that. Dont want to root against Sean and really dont want to lose in the first round. Hoping we can do some damage starting tonight to improve our seed and avoid Xavier.

Winger wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:43 pm

AZCatGirl wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:40 pm I'd bet money on it being Xavier. Too much of a narrative not to have it be them.

Dont want that. Dont want to root against Sean and really dont want to lose in the first round. Hoping we can do some damage starting tonight to improve our seed and avoid Xavier.

Amen

Winger wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:43 pm

AZCatGirl wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:40 pm I'd bet money on it being Xavier. Too much of a narrative not to have it be them.

Dont want that. Dont want to root against Sean and really dont want to lose in the first round. Hoping we can do some damage starting tonight to improve our seed and avoid Xavier.

Do you think we need to make it to Saturday to avoid them? Or will a win tonight possibly be enough?

AZCatGirl wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:45 pm

Winger wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:43 pm

AZCatGirl wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 5:40 pm I'd bet money on it being Xavier. Too much of a narrative not to have it be them.

Dont want that. Dont want to root against Sean and really dont want to lose in the first round. Hoping we can do some damage starting tonight to improve our seed and avoid Xavier.

Do you think we need to make it to Saturday to avoid them? Or will a win tonight possibly be enough?

Super multifactorial imo. To start X is too close to the bubble for comfort. Feels to me like we need to make the conference final to move up a seed line as well. But its all tough until all the other conference tourney’s play out. What do you think?

I hope X makes the tourney. I loved Sean but I think when he was fired he took the time to study the game and though I haven't seen them a bunch this year he completely changed his offensive philosophy. Although he is still intense he looks happier.

Fuck Sean. He could’ve studied the game and adapted to the talent he had an Arizona. Nope. Do what we do. Blech

TheCat wrote: Thu Mar 13, 2025 9:32 pm I hope X makes the tourney. I loved Sean but I think when he was fired he took the time to study the game and though I haven't seen them a bunch this year he completely changed his offensive philosophy. Although he is still intense he looks happier.

"he took the time to study the game" - more like "he took the time to study CTL's coaching of his recruits..."

Lunardi has the Cats as a #4 seed in the South. If they play in Denver, they will play on Thursday. If they play in Seattle, they will play on Friday.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

Lunardi has us as 4 in South with the 5 seed potential 2nd round matchup vs… Clemson… wouldn’t that be something

could someone please ask the selection committee to not schedule us for a thursday evening game? i don't want to miss the season finale of severance

dirtbags wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 8:16 pm could someone please ask the selection committee to not schedule us for a thursday evening game? i don't want to miss the season finale of severance

I’m hoping for Friday as well - but only cause I’ve got meetings in the AM and mid PM I can’t miss!
I do love severance tho!

I want Thursday only because I spend the First Friday every year drunk off my ass with my friends all day and by the time our game rolls around I’m a fucking mess.

Weird knowing we'll never see Greg Gumbel host the selection show ever again. RIP.

Does North Carolina get in with a 1-12 record vs Q1 teams? Same with Texas who was just a bit better vs Q1’s?

West Virginia on the bubble after losing to Colorado. They probably have better wins than the two above so we will see.

The MWC is a mess with #1 seed New Mexico losing to Boise State and the Colorado St getting the auto bid. Would rather see the Lobos in than Texas or NC

I don’t think Texas or North Carolina get in

MrKyle wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 8:57 pm

dirtbags wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 8:16 pm could someone please ask the selection committee to not schedule us for a thursday evening game? i don't want to miss the season finale of severance

I’m hoping for Friday as well - but only cause I’ve got meetings in the AM and mid PM I can’t miss!
I do love severance tho!

please try to enjoy each tournament game equally.

dirtbags wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 10:37 am

MrKyle wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 8:57 pm

dirtbags wrote: Sat Mar 15, 2025 8:16 pm could someone please ask the selection committee to not schedule us for a thursday evening game? i don't want to miss the season finale of severance

I’m hoping for Friday as well - but only cause I’ve got meetings in the AM and mid PM I can’t miss!
I do love severance tho!

please try to enjoy each tournament game equally.

haha I do for sure, when AZ is out not quite as invested - but I love me some CBB

There are a couple of brackets that have the Cats playing Lipscomb in the first round. USA Today has posted their final bracket before the announcement later today.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 318577007/

Crackin' 1! Let's go selection show!

Irish27 wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:05 pm There are a couple of brackets that have the Cats playing Lipscomb in the first round. USA Today has posted their final bracket before the announcement later today.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 318577007/

I've noticed a few brackets have us playing Oregon in the second round. I'd love a chance to play them again.

Lunardi's final bracket has us as the #4 seed in the South playing Akron in Seattle.
https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story ... redictions

I am guessing Houston as a 1, Tech as a 3, ISU AND AZ as 4’s, Kansas as a 6, BYU as a 6 and I think one of Baylor or WVU get in as an 11 seed

AZCatGirl wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 1:42 pm

Irish27 wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 12:05 pm There are a couple of brackets that have the Cats playing Lipscomb in the first round. USA Today has posted their final bracket before the announcement later today.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/n ... 318577007/

I've noticed a few brackets have us playing Oregon in the second round. I'd love a chance to play them again.

Yeah. Could be worse.

I'm happy to get a 4 seed (if that's what it ends up as) in our first year in the B12. That's a pretty good achievement.

Crackin' 3. Hoping for a Thurs AM game, selfishly for my viewing/gambling convenience. lol

No matter how old I get I'm always super excited today like a kid on Christmas. As long as we don't get some crappy 9am start I'm good.

I predict #3 seed; Denver Pod.

Oh boy here we go. Best time of the year.

Nice tribute to Greg.

Whew. Glad we avoided Michigan.

LOL Michigan did not look thrilled with that matchup.

North Carolina???

Chicat wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:05 pm LOL Michigan did not look thrilled with that matchup.

5 seed is what they are probably pissed about.

EastCoastCat wrote: Sun Mar 16, 2025 3:06 pm North Carolina???

Xavier better be in if they got in.

I think we get East.

Wow wasn't expecting Baylor to be a 9.

Oh damn we got Duke's bracket!

And playing Akron.

Glad we have a chance to play Oregon as well.