WHO WERE THE BIG WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE NCAA WBB TOURNAMENT SELECTIONS?
So, what say you? Who came out the winners and losers in the draw? Feel free to chime in down in our comments section. You can also leave you picks there or e-mail them to cardinalcouple@twc.com
Here's a few thoughts on the 2016 slate.
-- Baylor blasted by the bracket. Kim Mulkey has had a very successful season with the Bears (or Fighting Mulkey's...take your pick) but she had to have been tempted to do another dis-robing act after seeing who was matched up against her in the Dallas region. Lying in wait is the possibility of Florida State, Texas A&M, Louisville, Oregon State or Oklahoma St....all programs who have a legit shot at Indy. Yes, she did get Dallas...which is better than having to go to Sioux Falls...but even if she somehow manages to stumble out of the gauntlet and arrive in Indy...it's likely UConn will be waiting there to deliver the kill shot. This is a #1 seed that is the most likely not to get to the Hoosier state. 
-- Lucky Kentucky. The Cats played their Cards right (excuse the pun) when they bid for and received a Regional hosting assignment for the 2016 Tournament at Rupp Arena...which is not their home court. (Funny, but Rupp Arena didn't seem too neutral to me when I was up there a few months back for the Louisville game). As a #3 they also get to play their first two in Memorial Barnyard. UNC Asheville shouldn't pose much of a threat. Both Oklahoma and Purdue are double-digit loss teams. The road gets quite a bit more tougher when the action switches to Rupp...with the possibility of Maryland and Notre Dame waiting there for Epps and company...but if you have to play them, it's certainly advantageous to be able to do it on a "not-so-neutral" court. 
-- Teams that aren't #1 seeds that have a chance at Indy. Let's face it, the chances of UConn not advancing out of the Bridgeport Region are as likely as me being picked for an astronaut assignment to Mars...but if the Huskies should stumble...South Florida could be that upset horse to hit the line. Good guards, smart coach and aggressive style. Baylor has a tough road to Indy. Louisville is hot, has the coaching pedigree and player skills to emerge from the debacle in Dallas. South Carolina couldn't have asked for a harder trip than suffering in Sioux Falls and Syracuse is playing their best basketball of the year right now. Ohio State is dangerous with Mitchell and neither would be that big of a surprise if they arrived in Indy. Notre Dame is another that doesn't appear likely to stumble...but if Touchdown Jesus waves off advancement, I could very easily see an experience and deep Maryland squad winning the Lexington region and staking claim to a Final Four slot. 
paulie
xxxxx
Blue Lou's Picks:
ReplyDeleteUConn, Seton Hall, Ms. St., Belmont, USF, UCLA, Mo., Texas, Baylor, Auburn, Fla. St., Texas A&M, DePaul, Louisville, Okla. St., Oregon St, USC, Kan St., Albany, Syracuse, West Va., Ohio st., TN, NM St., N. Dame, Georgia, Miami, Stanford, Purdue, UK, Wash., Maryland
UConn, Ms. St., USF, Texas, Baylor, Texas A&M, Louisville, Ore. St.,USC, Syracuse, WVU, TN, N. Dame, Stanford, Purdue, Maryland
UConn, Texas, Texas A&M, Louisville, Syracuse, West Va., N. Dame, Maryland.
UConn, Texas A&M, Syracuse, N. Dame
UConn, Syracuse,
UConn
Also,
ReplyDeleteI remember the commercial and wasn't it Bing Crosby's voice as the bear? I have a cutout Sugar Bears 45 record from the back of one of the Sugar Crisps cereal boxes along with several others from those days like the Archies, the Monkees, Bobby Sherman and others.
God, that was one sweet cereal. Do they still make it? Switched to granola years ago but the sugar rush from it, Cap'n Crunch was all a hyper-active kid needed in those days along with some strong Nestle's Quik.
Blue Lou
Close, Blue:
ReplyDeleteSince the cereal debuted, Sugar Bear, a chill bear with a cool swagger, has embodied the brand. Sugar Bear was voiced by Gerry Matthews in the style of Bing Crosby or Dean Martin for 40 years, during which time he was known to croon the jingle, “Can't Get Enough of That Golden Crisp.”
Any rumors that The Ramones did a remake of the song are just that...rumors.
Paulie
Duke passed on the NIT because of a limited roster. First time in 21 years that the Blue Devils haven't gone post-season dancing. They'll be a tough out next year with Lexie Brown joining the roster and a healthy Becca Greenwell.
ReplyDeleteSo did NC State. It could be an interesting NIT, though...with WKU, Rutgers, Dayton, Virginia, Va. Tech, Ga. Tech and Wake Forest participating.
DeletePaulie
Hello, it's Arthur from Greer, SC. Your favorite Clemson fan. Although I did not do well in the ACC Tournament Challenge, I am back for the NCAA version. Duke would have made a poor NCAA Tournament team with all the injuries there. I think NC State could have surprised a few teams.
ReplyDelete1st Round: Connecticut, Seton Hall, Mississippi St, Michigan St, South Florida, UCLA, BYU, Texas, Baylor, Auburn, Fla State, Texas A&M, Depaul, Louisville, Okla. State, Oregon State, South Carolina, George Washington, Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Indiana, Miami, Stanford, Purdue, Kentucky, Washington, Maryland
2nd round: Connecticut, Mississippi State, South Florida, Texas, Baylor, Fla State, Louisville, Oregon State. South Carolina, Florida, Ohio State, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Stanford, Kentucky, Maryland
3rd round: Connecticut, South Florida, Fla. State, Louisville, South Carolina, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Maryland
4th round: Connecticut, Louisville, South Carolina, Maryland
5th round: (Sorry Cardinal fans!) Connecticut, Maryland
6th round: Connecticut
It has been an amazing season for your Cardinals and nothing would make me happier to see UofL defeat the Huskies but, sadly, I don't see that happening until Breanna Stewart graduates. Your time is coming, though, Cards and it might well be next year.
Arthur
Greer, SC