Now that my favorite team Gonzaga has lost the Cinderella subtitle, I think Utah State and Air Force could surprise alot of people in the tournament this year. USU has only lost 1 game, granted they play in a weak conference but most cinderellas do. Air Force has been playing really good ball and have impressive wins over Cal and Utah. Who do you guys think will be cinderellas in this year's tournament?
You have to like what Cardell Butler is doing at <font color="DarkSlateBlue">Utah State</font>, but their schedule just doesn't impress me. Ninty percent of the time, tournament teams have to have experience in previous tournaments or against big teams during the season. Utah State doesn't have much of either. <font color="DarkRed">Southern Illinois</font> has impressed me. Their only losses have come to two tough teams in Murray State (Mid Major top ten; road game) and Charlotte. Also, they're a good road team. They've beaten Wyoming, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (top ten Mid Major), and Creighton outside of their gym. Next, I like <font color="Olive">Western Michigan</font>. Of course, I'm from Michigan so this may be a biased opinion, but I could see them making the Sweet Sixteen. They've only slipped up twice this year, against Detroit and Kent State; however, they've also blown two great Pac 10 teams away, Arizona State and USC. My darkhorse is <font color="Red">Boston University</font>. They won at Michigan and have only three losses. <font color="Navy">Air Force</font> had the 240th best schedule in the nation and still has three losses already. That's not something to write home about. Finally, there's <font color="Indigo">B.Y.U.</font>; they've been on somewhat of a losing skid and they have seven losses, but they have a top twenty-five schedule. So far this season they've beaten the likes of California, Oklahoma State, and USC. They also took Utah State to the last second. They have the talent; I can see them succeeding.
Good picks, but I dont know if i'd call USC and Arizona State great Pac-10 teams. USC is young and ASU is only 9-12 and 3-9 in conference play.
Western Michigan? ASU & USC? I can understand state bias but c'mon...ASU & USC great teams? That's taken it abit far...gettin' beat by Detroit and Kent State should tell ya all you need to know about Western Michigan....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">Western Michigan? ASU & USC? I can understand state bias but c'mon...ASU & USC great teams? That's taken it abit far...gettin' beat by Detroit and Kent State should tell ya all you need to know about Western Michigan....</div> I'm sorry, but you have to question Western Michigan? They only have two losses on the season, are coming close to being ranked, and are the #4 mid-major team according to ESPN. Arizona State and Southern California may be "bad" teams when you look at them through the eyes of a Pac-10 fan, but for a Mid-Major to blow both out (A.S.U. on the road) speaks volumes for that program. I also don't understand why you think being beat by Detroit and Kent State will tell you all you need to know about Western Michigan. Kansas lost to Richmond and Iowa State, does that tell you everything you need to know about Kansas? Detroit is a hard team to play, and keep in mind that the loss was on the road. Kent State is a top five Mid-Major according to ESPN, and that includes Gonzaga. Just because a Mid-Major loses to an average team like Detroit and a great team like Kent State on the road it means they can't be a Cinderella? Here we go again, getting off topic. Do Cinderella teams have to have perfect seasons? Most of the time Cinderellas aren't just overlooked teams; they're teams that slipped up in the regular season a few times but are able to go far in the tournament. This is for predictions and insight on who you fell may be the next Cinderella, not why you think a team won't be the next one.
well,it tells me that Kansas won't be makin' a big splash in March. You need chill playa and not come at me like that in every thread. I was just expressing a point to you,no need to get all bent.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">well,it tells me that Kansas won't be makin' a big splash in March. You need chill playa and not come at me like that in every thread. I was just expressing a point to you,no need to get all bent.</div> Look back, I'm never the agressor. You just say something about college basketball, but off topic, or you put down my opinion. That's when I get defensive. Anyway, in 2001 Wisconsin finished the season with thirteen losses as did North Carolina. Do you know how far they went in the tournament? My point is that you can't base too much off of regular season succes, because teams like Michigan State will have crummy regular seasons and do well in post season play while S.E.C. teams that had great seasons tend to flop. Besides, this is Cinderellas, not the predicted National Champion.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">Look back, I'm never the agressor. You just say something about college basketball, but off topic, or you put down my opinion. That's when I get defensive. Anyway, in 2001 Wisconsin finished the season with thirteen losses as did North Carolina. Do you know how far they went in the tournament? My point is that you can't base too much off of regular season succes, because teams like Michigan State will have crummy regular seasons and do well in post season play while S.E.C. teams that had great seasons tend to flop. Besides, this is Cinderellas, not the predicted National Champion.</div> Where have I ever put you or your opinion down? Show me and I'll apologize.
Wave, I gotta admit when I read your post, my eyes almost popped out when I read <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">they've also blown two great Pac 10 teams away, Arizona State and USC.</div> Those are arguably the two weakest teams in the conference....no way they are "great Pac 10 teams." Perhaps you tried to mean something else, but it just came across as you inflating their abilities to prove a point... Nonetheless, my pick is UTEP.....I really don't have much to back this up, I've always been a fan of the WAC and right now, they are on top of that conference...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Those are arguably the two weakest teams in the conference....no way they are "great Pac 10 teams." Perhaps you tried to mean something else, but it just came across as you inflating their abilities to prove a point... </div> It doesn't matter if they're good in the Pac-10. Arizona State and Southern California are two great teams when you look at the league as a whole. Anyway, why is everyone picking on that one statement? Is there anything else about my posts you want to pick apart?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">It doesn't matter if they're good in the Pac-10. Arizona State and Southern California are two great teams when you look at the league as a whole. Anyway, why is everyone picking on that one statement? Is there anything else about my posts you want to pick apart?</div> It's just the way you worded it...sounded like you were hyping up a couple of bad teams...but the rest of your post was cool tho, very informative :thumbsup:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ravenous:</div><div class="quote_post">What about Vanderbilt...they can play wot the best of them!</div> Vanderbilt is in the South Eastern Conference. They're not exactly Mid-Majors. I don't think they'll go far in the tournament either. They have no experience.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">Vanderbilt is in the South Eastern Conference. They're not exactly Mid-Majors. I don't think they'll go far in the tournament either. They have no experience.</div> Most mid-majors haven't had experience either though.
