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**DHarris34Phan** · 03-23-2005, 07:05 PM

from espn.com:

Quote:

Call it a statistical quirk, a mildly interesting coincidence or something even less important than that. But for the 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament, this fact remains inviolate:

In odd-numbered years, all four No. 1 seeds advance to the Sweet Sixteen. In even-numbered years, a No.1 goes down early.

(Those who picked Pitt/Pacific to knock off Washington in the second round probably wish we'd mentioned this last week and spared your bracket the damage. Sorry.)

This being 2005, they're all in. Illinois, Washington, Duke and North Carolina will now attempt to make history by all advancing to the Final Four.

There are statistical absolutes at either end of the tournament. No No. 1 seed has ever lost in the first round, but four No. 1s have never won four games apiece.

If it happens this year, we could have the best of times in St. Louis.

A Duke-Carolina Final Four game? Somebody sedate Billy Packer. Even taking (some) of the overarching rivalry hysteria out of that potential matchup, it would be one heck of a 2005 rubber match, after the first two games this season went down to the wire.

Washington-Illinois could be a potential classic, as well, with six fast and fearless perimeter players going at each other. Between Dee Brown and Nate Robinson, there would be plenty of short-man gusto on the court. And it would be a great validating moment for Bruce Weber and Lorenzo Romar, two coaches who have admirably handled their first seasons as true national curiosities.

But you know it's not going to happen. It never does.

So instead of blue-skying about a dream scenario in St. Louis, let's look at this from the pessimist's perspective.

Here are the worst things that could happen to the tournament from this point on:

1) Wisconsin wins it all
Offensive basketball is set back four decades. Bo Ryan becomes an even bigger know-it-all. And those uniforms, with the numbers visible from Mars and no names on the back ...

Wasn't there a resolution passed in 2000, after Dick Bennett's squad scored 41 points in a national semifinal, prohibiting the Badgers' return to the Final Four? Even with a different coach, Wisconsin is still hard to watch, having scored more than 64 points just once in its last nine games.

Enjoying the Wisconsin-North Carolina State game Friday will be a chore. First team to 50 might win that one in a catatonic Carrier Dome. And if the Badgers do win, it could derail a possible North Carolina-N.C. State regional final, which would be fun simply for all the pressure heaped on the Tar Heels.

2) Duke-Kentucky III is pre-empted by Utah-Michigan State
Everyone remembers the two regional final classics of the 1990s – the Christian Laettner shot in 1992 and the less-heralded Kentucky comeback in '98. What people don't remember are the other times post-Laettner that the selection committee unsuccessfully tried to pit the Blue Devils and Wildcats.

In 1994, Duke was a No. 2 seed and Kentucky a No. 3, but the Wildcats were stunned in the second round by Marquette. In 2001, the committee outdid itself, pointing the two toward a regional final in Philadelphia (site of the '92 game), but USC upset Kentucky in the Sweet 16.

Whole Article

This article just feeds into my point of an ESPN bias towards the Big 10, and other parts of the country besides ACC country in general, looking for the better ACC matchup in NC State vs. UNC:

"And if the Badgers do win, it could derail a possible North Carolina-N.C. State regional final, which would be fun simply for all the pressure heaped on the Tar Heels."

Wow, what a travesty should the Badgers win. I am sure people will be up in arms in Wisconsin wins, because there will be "less pressure" on UNC if the higher seed advances....ok?

On hoping Michigan State and Utah not advancing:
It would be another swell matchup this time around. Failing that, CBS would take either of the two as regional-final consolation prizes. It likely would be less pleased by Utes-Spartans.

Utah does have Andrew Bogut as a drawing card, and Michigan State does have Tom Izzo. But Ray Giacoletti could spend all day on a street corner in Austin without being recognized as the coach of the Utes, and the Spartans' players have an odd dearth of charisma.

Since when should the NCAA tournament go by what matchup would have the higher ratings? That is the anti-NCAA tourney mantra. I hope Utah and Michigan State both advance just to piss this guy off.

ATLien · 03-23-2005, 07:19 PM

I agree with you, except that I think he's right so I guess I don't agree with you.

Wisconsin and Michigan State are very boring teams. I'm not saying they aren't good or aren't worthy, but they are blah. Julius Hodge has been a big name in college basketball for two or three years now, and after reading his quotables in that other thread, how could you possibly root against him?

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-23-2005, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheATLien

I agree with you, except that I think he's right so I guess I don't agree with you.

Wisconsin and Michigan State are very boring teams. I'm not saying they aren't good or aren't worthy, but they are blah. Julius Hodge has been a big name in college basketball for two or three years now, and after reading his quotables in that other thread, how could you possibly root against him?

LOL...good point on Julius Hodge...he became one of my favorite players ever after reading that artice....
I just think this guy's reasons to root against teams are way off-base, and is another indicator of an ESPN bias against anything not ACC. He doesn't like Wisconsin because they don't have names on the back of their jerseys? Please. Also, Michigan State is a very exciting team, Shannon Brown is one of the most exciting players in the game, imo.....

HeinzGuderian · 03-23-2005, 08:01 PM

I want to see Utah - MSU

And UNC vs. an instate rival is more exciting than UNC vs. Wisconsin, although I will be happy with UNC vs. anyone, because that means we win Friday. Big rivalry, in an elite 8 game? I think most people would rather see that. I think the guy is right, in that a Kentucky - Duke game has much more history, tradition, and appeal to most people. I don't like ESPN, but I think you are just reaching for things to fuel your holy-war against them.

JuniorNoboa · 03-23-2005, 08:30 PM

As HG said, you are really reaching right now.

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-23-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuniorNoboa

As HG said, you are really reaching right now.

I guess it is reaching a bit...... I am just mad at the coverage of this tournament. UW-Milwaukee still hasn't seen any noterity, they haven't even been praised much for their efforts, and Wisconsin is just being completley overlooked right now by ESPN....it is just a disgrace IMO for the "World's Sports Leader" to turn a blind eye during the biggest stage in NCAA basketball. UW-Milwaukee and Wisconsin have both overacheived greatly this year, they both have great stories to tell, and if they lose this round, they will have gotten almost no publicity for their efforts.

ESPN is too busy prasing Vermont's effort to give UWM any recognition. The only time they even mention them is when they talk about how bad they are going to lose to Illinios.

ATLien · 03-23-2005, 08:57 PM

Nobody wants to hear about Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Madison. Don't matter, no one cares. No offense, it's just how it is in the public eye.

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-23-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheATLien

Nobody wants to hear about Wisconsin. Milwaukee, Madison. Don't matter, no one cares. No offense, it's just how it is in the public eye.

I agree, those teams aren't going to get the big ratings, but if ESPN is the self-proclaimed "World Leader in Sports", I expect them to show almost everything when it comes to the NCAA tournament. Hell, we know every detail that comes out of the Super Bowl. I know that UWM or Wisconsin isn't the most popular team around, but this is the sweet 16, there are 4 days in between games to report, and I have heard almost nothing on ESPN about either team.

JuniorNoboa · 03-23-2005, 09:01 PM

What great story does Wisconsin. They are just a 6 seed that has been on the sweet 16 stage quite frequently, and has been in a final four recently. It's rather Blah to me (it would be like Syracuse being in the sweet 16 - what story is there?) Same with Michigan St, there story is blah.

As for WM they deserve some attention - and I have heard Pearl on Rome, ESPN Radio, so I think they are getting attention.

Now West Virginia is a story. They are from a big conference, but they are never on this stage.

**DHarris34Phan** · 03-23-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuniorNoboa

What great story does Wisconsin. They are just a 6 seed that has been on the sweet 16 stage q

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