Bracketology Time



  • @Texas-Hawk-10 thanks for that link. I was curious about how other people graded the prognosticators. I’m basing my opinions about how often I saw Lunardi (and his followers/ESPN) discussing possible first and second round matchups–in February. I know there’s nothing else to talk about except Zion’s breakfast, but… 😵

    Using the final results from past matrices, each site was graded based on a scoring system made by Paymon at PHSports. This rubric awards 3 points for each team correctly picked, 3 points for each team correctly seeded, and 1 point for each team not seeded correctly but within one seed line. With 68 teams, a perfect score is 408. The variance section of the data table below lists the absolute deviation between each score and the mean for that particular year. Thus, a 10 point variance means that site’s bracket scored 10 points higher than the average bracket that year.



  • @DanR Unfortunately, Zion has been having other teams for breakfast, so ESPN’s review will continue.

    For all of our whining about their focus on Zion, he is one of the most amazing college players I have ever seen. Let’s face it: We gripe so much that, if he were at KU, and if they gave him the same level of attention as they do now, we would probably still complain that ESPN was not giving us our due.



  • @mayjay The thing is, if he were at KU, he wouldn’t be getting this much attention. It wouldn’t be the non-stop Zion-fest. I’m not a great complainer on this topic when I see ESPN promote the ACC so vigorously. I understand that ESPN is a money making venture, so they gear their marketing to what might be most attractive to the bigger markets. Middle America is not the bigger markets.

    But the Zion-fest, the focus on one player, is out of control.

    A great example was Michael Beasley. He was a better college player than Zion. He absolutely dominated. There wasn’t 1/4 of this crap we see on ESPN now.

    And I don’t think the point is that Zion is or isn’t “amazing.” We all agree that he is amazing. But what appears to be the singular focus on one player is ridiculous. Men’s CBB is much more than Zion Williamson, or any one player.

    I just turn the channel.



  • @BeddieKU23 “We could beat Duke without Zion”

    Says every team in the country. Lol.



  • IDK Wiggins mania was a bit ridiculous and he wasn’t nearly as good as Zion.

    Zion is amazing; the coverage is too much. The kid is amazing and didn’t ask to be over exposed, so I’m trying not to hold that against him. ESPN on the other hand is a bunch of douche nozzles for thinking we all care about Duke that much. It’s just Zion the casual fans want to see.



  • @nuleafjhawk How about KU with Doke, DeSousa, and a Vick with his head on straight? What ifs, of course. But I think we’d be the favorite. Like Dee Ford lining up offside. What could have been.



  • Wigs didn’t get anywhere near the hype throughout the season as Zion has. Maybe it’s because Zion is better than him but Dook is always getting more media attention than anyone else.



  • I rate Zion as the #2 college player I have ever seen, behind KD. KD wasn’t near the presence down low or the rebounder Zion is but Zion ain’t hitting 30 footers with guys in his face.



  • @HighEliteMajor

    ESPN ran the hype train with Trae Young last year but this years darling is on a much deeper level. Zion is easier to like I think as well and his dunks are exciting so I think fans of CBB, casual fans have an easier time staying in awe over his plays.

    We couldn’t even hide from the Zion train during our own games this past week. Zion updates, Zion features, Zion promo’s, Zion scoring updates, color announcers talking about Zion during our game. Seems like an all out company initiative where their paychecks depend on it



  • nuleafjhawk said:

    @BeddieKU23 “We could beat Duke without Zion”

    Says every team in the country. Lol.

    tou·ché



  • @kjayhawks I don’t know how old you are, but KU used to have a fairly decent guy named Danny Manning.



  • @HighEliteMajor I totally agree. If we had those guys (maybe even without De sousa) we have #15 in hand, we’re a #1 seed - probably THE number one seed and we’re all making travel plans to Minnesota.



  • Pat Forde at his best. Never a dull moment for the IDIOT

    Bill Self (50), Kansas. Better make some hay before the posse arrives. As successful as he’s been, Self’s future would seem to be in doubt going forward.



  • @nuleafjhawk Imagine the hype Wilt would have gotten if there was an ESPN back then! Danny was great but Wilt was a once in a lifetime game changer.



  • BeddieKU23 said:

    Pat Forde at his best. Never a dull moment for the IDIOT

    Bill Self (50), Kansas. Better make some hay before the posse arrives. As successful as he’s been, Self’s future would seem to be in doubt going forward.

    Is he saying the school might fire him?



  • @wissox Can you imagine what it would have been like if they had ESPN and he played for DUKE ???



  • Woodrow said:

    BeddieKU23 said:

    Pat Forde at his best. Never a dull moment for the IDIOT

    Bill Self (50), Kansas. Better make some hay before the posse arrives. As successful as he’s been, Self’s future would seem to be in doubt going forward.

    Is he saying the school might fire him?

    Missouri grad. Enough said!



  • @nuleafjhawk I was born the last year Danny was was here aka Danny and the Miracles he’s great but Idk if he’s the best.



  • @BeddieKU23 I was just making sure I was reading it correctly without the context of the article. Pat is a load of garbage



  • The same Pat Forde that was butt buddies with Rick Pitino? LMAO since when does that fool have a clue.



  • @kjayhawks The best is all pretty subjective. For me, Wilt was the best ever - EVER.

    But, Danny was one of the best at KU for several reasons:

    He was a great scorer.

    He was a great rebounder.

    He was a very good free throw shooter.

    He was a good passer.

    He had a great attitude.

    He was smart.



  • @nuleafjhawk team player, humble, stayed around, not a brotherhood guy



  • @Crimsonorblue22 YES!!

    I’m at work and got busy, but the 4 year thing was going to be one of my main points. Thank you.



  • kjayhawks said:

    The same Pat Forde that was butt buddies with Rick Pitino? LMAO since when does that fool have a clue.

    He has no clue but CBS keeps giving him a platform so its our duty to call him out for it every single time. He’s straight garbage



  • @nuleafjhawk No question Danny would be in my 25 of all time great NCAA players. I think Wilt is the GOAT in the NBA, both guys are top 3 KU greats with Clyde Lovellette IMO. Crazy to imagine how much Wilt could’ve done with a shot clock.



  • Danny Manning has been described as the greatest college basketball player ever. He’s certainly in the conversation, because of all the characteristics mentioned above. But he’s certainly better than any player in the current era because nobody even close to his skill set stays in college 4 years. He was phenomenally skilled, smart, and by the 1988 tournament he had 4 years of playing experience under a hall of fame coach (Larry Brown). We won’t find anybody that skilled and well-developed in the NCAA again, until the NBA bumps its age minimum to 21 (which it would never do).

    Danny may be less well known than others whose NBA careers were not cut short by injury. But as a college player in his 4th year, he’s hard to beat.

    Greatness is a function of both skill and experience. The older I get, the more I value experience (as my skills in everything fade!).



  • @tundrahok u r getting wiser my friend! Stay humble!



  • Zion the greatest ever? Hardly. He’s good…but Durant is, and was, by far a better player and more exciting to watch. If Zion did what Durant did in the following, ESPN would be talking about it…FOREVER.

    Also…if you go to 1:32:13 … merely a preview to “the shot” of 2008.



  • I just watched 2 replays of Northeastern and I’m not impressed. A 2/3 zone defense that’s easily penetrated with a drive. #12 shoots the ball quickly and only 3’s. #22 launches it from everywhere on his side of the court. #30 is the “big” guy who’s responsible for rebounds and doesn’t block out. The other big does the same every time he tries score…get ball in middle of paint…spin left and push in to lay it in with right hand. They’ll shoot 35 3’s…if they make 20…they have their one shining moment. I change my prediction. 23 point win.



  • Little trivia time guys - now without looking it up - can anyone tell us – how many 3’s has AUBURN attempted this yr? - -your just gonna have to take a guess DO NOT CHEAT - - lol.- -ROK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • For a frame of reference we shot 702 threes and our opponents shot 864.

    @jayballer73 I know absolutely nothing about Auburn. So I’ll guess 500. And you’ll probably tell me they shoot a lot and not a little. 🙂





  • @jayballer73 I’ll guess twelve.





  • @Fightsongwriter hmmm thinking maybe you looked it up? - ya thought so lmao



  • @Fightsongwriter na just playing with you - -that’s not it but close





  • approxinfinity said:

    For a frame of reference we shot 702 threes and our opponents shot 864.

    @jayballer73 I know absolutely nothing about Auburn. So I’ll guess 500. And you’ll probably tell me they shoot a lot and not a little. 🙂

    LOL ya coming form the local Radio sports talk coming out of here in Topeka - -Auburn had shot 1,000 3 pt shots - -now if that’s 1003 - -1,050 they said 1000 - -that’s a lot. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • was reported from the local sports talk - -Auburn had shot 1,000 3 pt attempts - -that’s ALOT. - -ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • @jayballer73 To be precise, Auburn has made 1,012 attempts from 3-pt range, for the season. According to ESPN.

    I had to look it up, you made me curious!



  • tundrahok said:

    @jayballer73 To be precise, Auburn has made 1,012 attempts from 3-pt range, for the season. According to ESPN.

    I had to look it up, you made me curious!

    it’s ok my friend - -all I know they shoot a lot. - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • Here’s one tip on picking a bracket upset. Rick Barnes has not made it past the first weekend in his last 7 NCAA tournament appearances which includes last year as a 2 seed at Tennessee and his final 6 appearances while still at Texas.



  • Texas Hawk 10 said:

    Here’s one tip on picking a bracket upset. Rick Barnes has not made it past the first weekend in his last 7 NCAA tournament appearances which includes last year as a 2 seed at Tennessee and his final 6 appearances while still at Texas.

    I think I’ll just go ahead and ride with Ol Ricky boy this year and his cast - -they call me the gambler lol - - ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY



  • 833B7403-7533-46D4-9DB8-F43573C7A169.jpeg

    Please, please, please



  • @KUSTEVE Back from the wilderness, eh?



  • I love how the update says how much time between the last post on the topic. Makes me laugh because I hear it on sponge bob as “a few moments later”. Lol



  • @kjayhawks Hell I’m having a really hard time finding the beginning or the latest on any of these topics I click on the title and it shoots me clear back to the cave days early 2019, frustrating



  • @jayballer73 clicking on the title takes you to the last unread post and clicking on the right side takes you to the end of the thread I believe.



  • Man, I’ll tell you one thing, gotta be quick on your toes to post something when the game thread is real time.



  • I was just scrolling through Bracketology and the Bubble Watch for the first time this year. This is the worst I’ve ever seen it.

    Let’s take a quick look:

    Purdue 13-10- You have 10 losses, how are you currently projected in and it’s February. 10 of 13 wins at home. 4 wins against ranked teams at home. 2-6 on the road.

    Wichita St- a projected #7 seed. best wins against 2 “last four in” teams. 13 wins at home (of 17) a #7 seed?, Ha

    Indiana- #10 seed- 3 wins at home against ranked teams, losing conference record, 12 of 15 wins at home.

    Michigan- #8 seed, 4-7 conference record, 3-6 in their last 9 games. A #8 seed?

    Wisconsin- #8 Seed- 10 losses, 10 of 13 at home.

    Arkansas- #9 seed- best win against Indiana a projected 10 seed.

    They really going to let 11 Big-10 teams in?


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