I know some of you are going to be working, but all the games are streamable so there is no excuse to not be able to catch the games. Here is a quick rundown of games that’ll probably be decent and worth watching.
(6) Butler vs. (11) Bucknell at 9:40am — Bucknell is a solid team and should give Butler a scare. Maybe even beat them.
(4) St. Louis vs. (13) New Mexico St. at 11:20am — Watching St. Louis is a treat. If you want to watch a team that actually plays team ball, watch these guys.
(1)Gonzaga vs. (16) Southern at 1:10pm — Gonzaga starts their quest to not choke this year. I expect them to be playing into the second weekend, but not the third and final weekend.
(5)Oklahoma State vs. (12) Oregon at 1:40pm — A lot of people are thinking this is the big 12-5 upset that happens almost every year. This is a chance to take a look at Marcus Smart in a high pressure game.
(4)Michigan vs. (13) South Dakota State at 4:15pm — If we’re going to watch Smart then we have to watch Trey Burke… A real point guard.
(2)Maryland vs. (3) Denver at 4:00pm — On ESPNU is my alma mater. Watch them stomp Denver. Should be fun. Also, boo to Lorenzo Romar and the Huskies for losing to BYU. Anything to keep ducking Maryland.
“I know some of you are going to be working, but all the games are streamable so there is no excuse to not be able to catch the games.”
Unless your office blocks it.
What heartless boss would do that?
That’s why I brought my laptop!
I have no clue this year been too busy with stuff to pay too close attention to NCAA. I did pretty decent last year though, I have Duke, Gonzaga, Marquette (I just really don’t see Indiana doing it) and Kansas in my Final Four.
Well, Boeing blocks it, so I quit…. not really why I left but its a valid reason lol.
You can get an app for basically any device if you want. I am so glad they are linking it to the cable provider rather than last year (or maybe two years ago) where they made you pay for it. Glad the olympics actually wised up and allowed streaming through xfinity.
I have negative confidence in my bracket
Watching some Michigan State vs Valparaiso right now.
And it even seems like http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness is back working outside the US again. Wasn’t able to watch games with it last season.
So now we can all watch our brackets fall apart :-)
I have zero, zero times zero confidence in my bracket.
Had to switch over to Butler and Bucknell. Valpo has zero chance against Izzo and company.
Honestly this Butler-Bucknell game is why i watch more NBA than ncaa. Over coached half court offenses where no one can make a shot
I really wanted to choose Bucknell in this game then I doubted it after looking over their seasons.
Thank you!
I have been saying this for years! Pass the ball around the perimeter, pass inside, kick back out, pass around the perimeter, 30 seconds later miss mid range jumper.
I love March Madness, it’s definitely one of the best sports events of the year, but college basketball can be so hard to watch as an NBA fan.
Bucknell isnt going anywhere if their best player is going to continue on his pace of 1 for 7. You wanna upset in the tourney, your best players have to play like the best players.
I love this! You actually sound like a tv expert lol.
I kind of love that the UK arena is hosting games that UK can’t play in lol
Especially for “Tru” TV which most of their shows are far from the truth. You ever watch Lizard Lick Towing…….that has to be the most interesting tow company in the history of towing. Then you have the HARDCORE PAWN oooo eeee………..Tru Tv is about as truthful as their spelling of the word TRUE
Hell yeah if Butler and MSU win then Im 2 for 2…….probably the last time I see my bracket perfect LOL
I wish I could get to the Dub Pub in Kirkland because Softy is giving his paycheck away if Gonzaga loses to someone in attendance
Ok the Pitt game needs to start because I cant watch this Bucknell Butler game much longer 21-14 at the half. That sounds like a low scoring Pac-12 football game for the 1st half
That’s like 10 times better than Bill Walton!
I think this is the year Romar reaches the Final Four…………….
Of? Trying to get a local kid to stay local but ultimately losing him to UCLA or Arizona?
He’s shooting with the fear of a hurt gazelle in a staring match with an intrepid unicorn. (in Bill Walton’s voice)
LMAO
Ok I found this video looking up seahawks stuff OMG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQzni6JZuGw
If you have seen it Im sorry….but I got a kick out of it (should tell you my maturity level)
I got in a car accident this weekend due to a snow storm just before Lewisburg, PA, so I will forever hate Bucknell simply because of geography and the bad memory….
Dude! That sucks. I’m sorry. :(
I sent you an email about Terps stuff, but apparently it won’t go through, I will try again with another account.
Got the second one!
That’s terrible. I hope you’re alright!
Do you live in PA?
There was 11 straight misses in the Bucknell-Butler game.
“Honestly this Butler-Bucknell game is why i watch more NBA than ncaa. Over coached half court offenses where no one can make a shot.”
Yup, same with me. The Sonics were what first got me interested in basketball and pro sports in general, but when I tried watching college basketball — bleahh. For exactly the reason you stated. I mean I love it when teams like Butler and Bucknell do well, and I love team ball over superstar 1-on-1 ball, but not when it’s carried to an extreme.
And it was even worse back then, when the NCAA had no shot clock. Snooze city. The rest of the basketball world gradually caught on and eventually all major levels of basketball had shot clocks, even women’s NCAA — except for stupid NCAA mens basketball. And when they finally did install a shot clock, it was too long at 45 seconds and they turned it off when it was needed the most, the last two minutes of a game.
That was the main problem with NCAA men’s basketball but there were others, some of which are still there. The dumb 1-and-1 FT rule, which is an open invitation for teams to foul instead of actually playing defense. A 1-and-1 FT penalty for fouling made sense in say the 1940s when players routinely shot in the low 30s or less percentage-wise. With players now capable of shooting over 50%, plus the three-pointer making shooting even more productive, a puny penalty like the 1-on-1 means foul city at the end of a college game.
There’s also the inherent dishonesty of taking pro athletes and pretending they are students while also refusing to pay them. The NCAA is probably the most successful monopsony (demand-side version of a monopoly) in US history.
And finally the over-coaching, with the super slow-down games being a prime example. Again, well-coached basketball is a joy to watch, and undisciplined gunnery (which sometimes still happens in the NBA) is a pain, but NCAA ball too often takes it too far. When the game becomes about the coach instead of about the players, it’s gone too far (granted that some adjustment must be made for college players, who might be only 18 years old and need more coaching and instruction that polished experienced pro players).
It was worst of all in the 1980s, when NCAA basketball boomed in popularity, and Al McGuire and Billy Packer were the popular TV announcers. Curious to see what the fuss was about, I watched some college ball on TV … atrocious. They spent the most time talking about what the coaches were doing, the second most time talking about what each other was saying and who was right and who was wrong, and the least time talking about the players. Bad announcing, bad rules, bad basketball (bad in the sense of bad to watch, obviously the quality and athleticism of the players was fine). I’ve found it hard to pay much attention to college basketball ever since.
The big exception is going to live games. NBA games are so over-priced that I go to only a handful each year … I’ll probably go to four this year which is as many as I’ve ever gone to. That number might go up now that I live closer to Seattle and when the Sonics come back. But when it comes to live basketball, mainly I’ll go to college games. But usually not NCAA Div I men’s basketball, unless the UW is in town. Instead I’ll go to women’s games or Div III games. For at most $10, I can sit 5 rows up at midcourt.
However even I have to admit that with the 35 second clock and the high skill level of players these days, Div I mens basketball has become much more watchable. But those decades of bad basketball turned me off permanently to NCAA men’s basketball. I’ll go to at most one or two games a year and only glance at it on TV.
Baltimore, but I was at Niagara this weekend, so drove along Highway 15.
Got cut in front of and spun out while breaking on the ice/snow that was there. Hit the back end into a guard rail…other than that all is fine. Thanks.
Bucknell is now on fire!
Glad you’re okay.
Damnit Butler your gonna bust my bracket…..not really but cmon
Oh that’s probably a cool road trip! My sister and her family live in Ocean City, NJ. I love visiting out there!
I know, at least my first round but c’mon!
lol yeah
Okay the Butler-Bucknell game could be fun.
I was just thinking that let the chaos begin
Man, I was hoping that 5’7″ white guy was going to try and throw it down.
They never do. :(
Talk about the tale of two halves with this game….
Me too!! lol.
Love taking off work for the first day of the tourney! It’s a yearly tradition in my apartment. Beer before noon and tons of hoops. What’s not to love?! And love being able to switch between games. Remember back in the day, just a couple years ago, when you had to watch whatever game was on CBS? This is so much better.
Wasn’t trying to be racist, but he needed to throw it down… if he could.
So Miscola, who was a Wooden Award Finalist, has decided to not use his strong hand at all
That was the worst! Never had the game I wanted to watch on. Can’t believe it took them 30 years to figure out what to do.
I just spotted an ugly duck jersey in the arena. I don’t like them being better than UW
Didn’t Butler have possession by the time the shot clock sounded?
Shhhh… There there. Romar can’t hurt you any more for 8 months.
St. Louis and New Mexico State will be an exciting game me thinks
haha, I hate that their football team is so good. The basketball aspect is just icing on the cake. I’m a UW football fan way before I’m a UW basketball fan.
Sonics
UW Football
Seahawks
UW basketball
Mariners
Sounders
That’s my order. I like ranking sports I guess.
Think so too. St. Louis will win, but should be fun.
How large is that OGRE for New Mexico State
SEVEN FOOT FIVE
Ugh, Doug Gotleib is so irritating sometimes…and I actually agree with him most of the time but I think it is just that he jumps to confrontation right away (Pitt-WSU game)
i couldnt possibly rank my teams. i love watchin the m’s on a hot summer night just as much as i love watchin the sonics or uw hoops on a cold rainy night or as much as i love watchin the hawks or uw football on a foggy drizzly afternoon.
That should just about do it for Butler.
Woo hoo!! Undefeated and tied for first in the bracket :)
Alright software developers, I need you to make something:
I have NCAA going on my browser but I need to hide it quick enough when someone walks by at the office, it looks like I am working. Someone needs to come up with a way to use the computers camera to identify movement behind you and switch to an Excel spreadsheet super fast
Me too WOO HOO
Apparently 3 people picked Valpo to beat MSU…
That’s fair, and to be honest there’s from front running in there. In the early 2000s when the Ms were good I watched as many games as I could and wanted a world series appearance. I’d be ecstatic if they reached it. I love good Mariners teams more than good US basketball teams I think, it’s just been so long….
Ogre is a pretty good description of that guy. I’ve seen him once. Slow, not agile, looks so out of place. Kind of like a fat Shawn Bradley.
There should be a boss button at the top right. It brings up a fake email page.
Waaaaaay toooo many people picking Duke to win.
I will dub him the Las Cruces Leviathan
i just really like sports and my teams. not a soccer fan by any stretch but my daughter loves it so i support em. thats probably why i never got into the nhl that deep. i occasionally will watch hockey but without a team i have absolutely no real rooting interest and it doesnt hold my attention. but i have managed to stay a basketball fan even thought we havent had a team the last 5 years. probably the 29 years i have been on this earth and a sonics fan keepin that flame alive i suppose…..
Its so frustrating to watch an untalented 7’5″ guy and makes me wish that I wouldve been blessed to be 7′ tall .
we are about an hour away from the term sheets supposed release…….
Completely agree
I would take the 5 more inches to reach 6 ft myself…
I’m in the same boat for the most part. I’m not a soccer fan at all but I support the Sounders and want them to do well. Also my gf is a huge fan.
I’ve found though that my interest for some teams wanes a bit in down times (Mariners, UW bball, Seahawks) but I will follow and care about the Sonics even when they don’t exist. I also will always tune in to UW football.
I love all Seattle sports and want the best for all of them, but nothing will top Sonics basketball. The others will go up and down depending on what’s going on.
Agreed. Gotleib has a very annoying disposition regardless what he’s saying.
Do they still have the “boss button” on the online console? I remember using it years ago back when I worked in an office. Genius invention. lol.
Im telling you all watch Miami. I respect that team because they are ATTACK on offense at all times. High pick rolls and Shane Larkin is a wizard. I think hes to small to be a good pro but he is fun college player.
Thats the only team i conistently watched all year (louisville too bc I said from day one Siva was far superior to gaddy. Love that guy)
What I hate about college hoops is bad offense is always attributed to good d. C’mon, missed 15 footers and botched jump hooks are not good.
Maybe I’ve been spoiled by the 3 nba games i’ve watched this week (Mia/Bos, Sac/LaC, Mia/Clev). All 3 games were hard fought (felt like playoffs games), guys from both team made huuuuuuge tough shots. And there were big blogs steals etc. I just think the NBA is about guys MAKES the most plays. NCAA is about who fails the least
St Mary’s could upset Memphis if Delavadova goes off. They need to play well and not get trapped into the running game because Memphis is far superior in terms o athleticism
Kevin Pelton @kpelton 20s
Yep. Although he works offline. RT @BrianMFloyd: @JonathanTjarks has nicknamed Sim Bhullar “Sim City” and I’m hoping this catches on quickly
That Sim Bhullar is the Ogre for NMst
Need boss button STAT
Pitt-Wichita is a close one….
Wow!
Marquette better win this. I’m tired of them sucking in the tournament.
Chris Daniels in Sacramento he is the man
Currently a 47 way tie for first in the bracket!
nickmonacelli @nickmonacelli 6m
Per city: arena term sheet still set for 2pm. Follow me for a breakdown as soon as it comes out. #NBAkings #herewebuy
Chris Daniels @ChrisDaniels5 50s
Still waiting on word from Sacramento City Hall on possible #NBAKings term sheet….and if deal has been struck on counter bid.
tick tock
I’m about to lose my first game of the bracket. Never rely on a Jaime Dixon coached team for anything.
We do have a thread for that: https://www.sonicsrising.com/terms-of-a-the-deal :)
Wrong thread for arena talk
Junior Cadugan sounds like a name a four year old makes up.
Maybe I’s starting to see things that aren’t there but hasn’t that Saint Louis player(Cole) a huge blue “highlight” in his hairs?
I mean, it looks like someone painted his room blue and he mistakingly got painted on the head as well. :-)
“Fwankentsien”
So happy this place doesn’t quote movies post 1998.
Michael McCann says that if Hansen has to he can up his bid as long as the Maloofs turn down the original one and quickly re-submit a new bid IF HE WANTS…..so thats the first time Ive heard someone credible say that.
http://www.tailgatingfanatic.com/images/NCAA_logos/Large_logos/New%20School%20Logos/Gonzaga%20Bulldogs.jpg
Let’s go!
lol. I’m always afraid someone won’t get my quotes.
Most don’t get mine, but I still throw it out there. Random history jokes too.
Lobster and seafood sub from Quiznos… That looks soooooooo gross!
I won’t touch that ever. I just had 2x Two Buck Clucks, sweet chili and chipotle. Love being a 3 minute drive from one of the best burger places in the state.
GONZAGA OPENS ON A 2-0 RUN!!!!
you can only hope to contain them!
Where?
EZs in Wenatchee.
I have 20 pounds of wings marinating in my homemade jerk sauce for tomorrow.
Jags take the lead!
GET TO MEMPHIS AND SAINT MARY’S!!!! Channel 7!
Yeah, Saint Marys now down two with the ball and about two seconds left on the clock
and over. Poor kids.
The three current games are a combined three points a part. Finally some tight ones.
Now it’s OK State vs Oregon
Damn those Duck jerseys are green…
That was a fantastic baseline spin and finish with the foul
I want to see an Oregon State vs Oklahoma St game. Same letters and colors!
I don’t like how teams can’t pick what company they want to go through for uniforms. Would love to see a Seattle Sonics Pride uniform.
Rainbow jerseys?
I’ll leave that one alone. Don’t want to get fired. lol
Was thinking of something more like this:
Just more of a Seattle style.
John Stockton’s son is little.
That big for Gonzaga is… really big.
Southern coach having his perimeter defenders going UNDER picks. Saying “Pangos will have to beat us.”
Makes you wonder how much game film the guy watched.
Ohhhh, Seattle pride? Similar to Maryland’s unique jerseys? I genuinely didn’t know what you meant by pride.
Big dude for Southern definitely traveled on that hook shot.
Marquette I know you ain’t tryin to mess with my bracket.
Yeah, those are the Maryland Pride unis. Have them for all sports. I really dig them. Most people hate them, but I love them.
Did CBSSports live feed just shit the bed for everyone?
The last thing I want to do today is WORK.
This. must. be. fixed.
Oregon over Okie State 24-18 at the moment. I’ve picked the Ducks to win this one. Probably the only time I’ll cheer for them.
And this is why I’m not high on Marcus Smart.
Seriously, I’m 5 for 5 so far. Davidson and Oregon could erase my run of perfection lol
I’m rooting for the building to collapse during the Oregon/OK State game.
COME ON MARQUETTE!!!!
OMG!!!
YESS!!!! VANDER BLUE!!!!!
Can’t believe those 3 treyes fell. One more bucket Marquette
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
That last layup attempt by Gardner really sums up what’s been happening well. Smart is getting no help out there right now. Not sure if he’s the kind of guy who can carry a team by himself.
Oh, and thank you, Marquette. About damn time.
HOLY S***
Marquette up 59-58 with one second to go. Looks like I dodged a bullet.
“Going to be looking for a baseball pass over the top.”
Did not realize there was passing in baseball.
Wowwww. Marquette.
Thank you!!!!
Holy crap! What a comeback!
Five people had Davidson winning, which means I’M BACK IN THE TOP TEN!!!!
I’m 6 for 6 thus far!
Mr. Bracketologist Joe Loonardi has only 40 points in his bracket so far.
Does Oregon ever wear the same jersey twice?
It doesn’t appear to be so.
Gonzaga is going to lose.
On Grantland Live, Jalen Rose just compared to Shabazz Muhammad to James Harden, but without a handle. Just goes to show some of us here aren’t the only ones who see the similarity. That said, Harden without a handle is a very different player.
Harden with out handles is a guy who never gets to the line, where he gets half his points a night it seems.
Refs really want Southern to win this.
Hurray for the reverse jinx!
Shabazz also isn’t the play maker, the biggest similarity between Harden and Shabazz is that they’re both left handed. Next year everyone will be comparing future UK wildcat James Young to Harden.
Bill Simmons is now wearing a Sonics shirt and talking up Seattle on Grantland Live right now!!! Love that dude.
Grantland.com/live
I like Young, but he’s not as good as Parker or Wiggins. He’ll probably be the best player on Kentucky next year.
What do you make of Andrew Harrison? Big point guards are always a sexy idea. I’m excited to watch him in the McDonald’s game and next year too.
Also bill Simmons is rocking a Sonic shirt on that grantland live feed
TREY BURKE TIME!!!!
If anyone wants to see Simmons wearing the Sonics shirt.
https://twitter.com/EJJ206/status/314877050936778752/photo/1
To elaborate. He said it’s a Durant shirt. Said that it’s to show his support for the great fans in Seattle and that we deserve a team. Also added that he doesn’t think it should be the Kings, but instead the Bucks or Pacers. Went on to talk about how Sac is fighting for the Kings and how Milwaukee and Indiana seem a lot less passionate about their teams. I can’t really disagree with him. Indiana has one of the most exciting teams in the league and is bottom 5 in attendance right now. Still cool seeing Simmo stick with us. He was the only national guy at all that stood up for us during the OKC nonsense. We need to invite him to the new arena when it opens up.
Good player, terrible attitude though. We’ll see what he does at Kentucky. Not sure he’s going to start. I think Aaron might be the better player.
It was good to see him do that. I agree about the Pacers. There’s more fans there for other teams then for the Pacers.
Trey Burke is making me sad today.
This is definitely the sad part of all of this. Sacramento is fighting, and I do think it would be better if it was a team the city cared less about. You want to be like the Winnipeg Jets where AFAICT Atlanta didn’t seem even slightly upset that their team left. But that’s how it goes, this is the opportunity in front of us.
Harden without a handle is NOT a lotto guy.
I don’t like Shabazz…
Oregon ruined my bracket. I have the PAC 12 losing out in the first round, that may haunt me.
I wish it would be a situation like that. Not sure if it will though. I think Indiana and Milwaukee would put up more than a fight than those in Atlanta did. I wouldn’t even think Atlanta would fight for any of their teams really.
I did too.
Bill Simmons is amazing. I hope there’s a way for us to collectively show our appreciation. He stuck up for us in some dark times!
LaPhonso Ellis is the color guy for the Maryland-Denver game.
I lied, I do have UCLA beating Minnesota then falling to Florida. This may have something to do with my not liking Shabaaz.
I have UCLA losing to Minnesota.
lol. at least you’re not a PAC guy yourself. I went to UW so I’m supposed to rep the Pac or something like that. I like Arizona, very respectable program and we;ve had great rivalries. I don’t care too much about the rest besides maybe WSU since they’re in state and my gf went there.
MARYLAND MOVING ON TO THE NIT ELITE EIGHT!!!!
I have no problem picking against Duke, Carolina, Virginia, NCST. The hatred runs deep for those guys. lol
Good, I never understood the root for this team since they’re in your conference idea. I was celebrating when Oregon lost to Auburn in the championship game.
I think they would fight for the Braves or the Falcons. The Hawks could probably leave without much of a stink.
It’s been a rough day for pretty much all of the top draft prospects. Anthony Bennett can’t seem to do anything right now against Cal.
message from hardwood to ncaa selection committee: the pac-12 doesn’t stink.
message from charliesonic to world at large: basketball is a really great sport.
As an actual 5’7″ white guy, I can confirm this is true. :-D
wow, anyone else surprised with the Harvard UNM score at the half?
With my Aussie hat on, it’s a shame to see Dellavedova’s NCAA career end. It’s going to be interesting to see where he ends up. Probably the best Aussie player on the scene since Bogut (and better than Patty Mills), but not a mortal lock to get drafted into the big dance.
Would be funny to see him turn up in the Aussie league next year, dominating Johnny Flynn. :-D
I’m big fan of the Nuggets’ jersey tonight. They’re down 8 with 2 to play
Commentators are talking about how the Nuggets have home losses to Miami, Minnesota and Washington. Philadelphia might do it too. They’re talking about a few terrible homes losses… reminds me of some of the let down games the George Karl teams would give us.
Galinari (sp?) took a terrible 3 with plenty of time left on the shot clock and about 50 secs to play down by 5. Horrible, contested fall away 3 that clanked side rim.
Brewer with a 3 to pull within 2. Philly misses 2 fts with 8 secs to play! Denver with a shot!
Brewer fouled on the 3. 3 fts with 2 secs to play!!!
Now, he’s right about Sacramento and Seattle both deserving teams, but I would actually feel worse about us taking the Bucks or the Pacers. Those teams started in their respective cities, have been in Milwaukee and Indiana longer than the Kings in Sacramento, and have better histories.
Another team I would feel worse about is Charlotte, since they had a great thing going until George Shinn screwed up the market and then bolted. The Bobcats so far haven’t given them much reason to come back from all that. New Orleans and Memphis I wouldn’t feel as bad about. But those teams appear locked in to where they are for a while.
Brewer hit all 3! Up 1 with 2.1 secs.
Damien Wilkins blocked. Denver wins!!!!!!!
That was one of the more amazing final minutes of NBA basketball I’ve ever seen when you consider the score and the streak.
Damien Wilkins with a stirling final minute of play (fouls Brewer behind the arc, gets blocked on the final play). :-)
I go to dinner with the wife, have a few beers and I come back to Damien Wilkins sucking? I thought I was warped back to 2007.
New Mexico - overrated again.
Yeah Kevin your boys or I guess your 2nd boys Harvard is going to win their 1st tourney game (I believe its their first)!
WOW that part of my bracket sucks I had New Mexico to the Sweet 16 I believe….Arizona may be in for a tough game they dont like gritty teams since the Pac-12 has almost none
Kevin are you dancing in the streets with your Harvard banner?
Harvard shirt under a Maryland sweatshirt lol
Haha!
Now I’m tied with like 20 of you for 17th in the bracket.
Same! At least no one got a perfect round!
Harvard Lampoon @harvardlampoon 1h
America, we are sorry for messing up your brackets and also your financial system and everything else.
Retweeted by Bob Condotta