Happy March Madness Everybody!!!!

[xubrew]

This is somewhat premature since the conference tournaments have not officially started, but it is somewhat belated in the sense that we actually have had some elimination games. The win-and-advance portion of the season has begun.

304 teams remain. I want my Final 304 Shirt!!!!

http://hoopshd.com/2013/02/28/list-o...nated-to-date/ (not the best asthetlically looking blog, but still good reading)

I think my favorite part of the season is November because it's the time when you have the longest expanse of season in front of you. I love how the regular season takes shape every year. I think it is one of the best and most meaningful regular seasons in major sports when you look at all of the important games.

Having said that, there is something special about the knockout format. There are 304 teams that can still technically win it all. A fun way to look at it is that it is one big 304 team tournament. Granted, there are about 40 of the 304 teams that have locked up byes into the round of 64, but still. The madness is here. And yes, I actually do like watching the opening rounds of the smaller conferences. Me and about ten other people around the country.

[MADXSTER]

I'm with ya Brew.

[Xman95]

This year will be more like March Anger. I hate when we're not in the Dance and, barring a Tourney Championship, we won't be this season. Then again, what better way to leave the A-10 than giving one last reminder that the league has been our bitch?

[Stephen FriarFan]

At least this year I will have an easier time pulling for the C7 & new members. I could never pull for Uconn, even though they were a fellow Big East team.

[Titanxman04]

This year will be more like March Anger. I hate when we're not in the Dance and, barring a Tourney Championship, we won't be this season. Then again, what better way to leave the A-10 than giving one last reminder that the league has been our bitch?

They only need to glance to our rafters... the reminders hang there.

[GoMuskies]

Love this time of year. 'brew, when is the first conference tournament game? Tuesday? Wednesday?

I'm pissed that my Racers are completely fading down the stretch. Nice win over South Dakota State in the Bracket Buster and then completely in the tank. They'll probably lose their OVC semifinal this week.

[X-band '01]

OVC starts tomorrow night, I think.

[GoMuskies]

Big South and Horizon are the first to get things going tomorrow. A few others (including the OVC) start Wednesday.

As a matter of fact, Pat Kelsey and Winthrop actually kick off the Madness at noon Eastern against Radford. Both had very bad seasons (13-16 (6-10) vs. 13-18 (7-9).

[xubrew]

If Harvard and Princeton are tied, there are no tiebreakers. The one game playoff will be at the Palestra a week from Friday, so even though there is no Ivy tournament, we still sort of have the equivelant of one with those elimination games. Harvard has really improved since Tommy Amaker got there, but they have a tendency to make things much harder on themselves than they have to be.

What's crazy is that the last regular season game, as always, is Penn vs Princeton. Everyone else will be done on Sunday. That game is on the following Tuesday. It coulc potentially be a hugely important game.

Big South and Horizon League get underway tomorrow. The HL games will have a free stream. Same with the OVC on Wedensday. Not sure if the Big South is streamed or not. I'm not up on my Big South hoops this year. It's one of two leagues that I saw virtually none of this year. I saw Gardner Webb a few times earlier in the year. and I know Charleston Southern won the league, but that's about it.

[xubrew]

I've got an interesting note about the America East for all you who enjoy the ironic.

Boston U finished second in the standings, but is banned from the conference tournament becuase they are leaving for the Patriot League next year. This means everyone moved up a spot.

The format is interesting. The opening round, quarters and semis are at a predetermined spot. The championship game is on the home floor of the highest remaining seed.

This year, the quarters and semis are at Albany (there is no opening round 8v9 game due to Boston U being banned).

Albany was in fourth place going into the final game of the season, which would have earned them the #3 seed. They're a fairly decent team who beat Washington earlier in the year. Stony Brook is the top seed, and they'll host the championship game if they get there. What's funny is that Stony Brook's win over Albany knocked them down to the #4 seed, which means they'll have face Albany at Albany in the semifinals. It's ironic. Stony Brook would have probably been better off losing because that way they could have avoided having to face Albany in what will essentially be a true road game.