The Madness of March is upon us . . . . .

[Grace]

Anyone else a college basketball fan?

This past week has been filled with conference championships - so many exciting games. And Tuesday the road to Houston begins. This time of the year is fantastic :love:

[pomtzu]

Sorry - I've never been a basketball or hockey fan. It's baseball and football for me (pro teams) - and even then I don't follow my teams religiously. :eek::(

[Grace]

Ellie, I've been a big college basketball fan since the days of Jimmy Walker at PC. I used to listen to the games on the radio - now it's high def TV :)

When my son was just a baby, he heard what I heard - that's why he is also a huge fan. When I was working, I used to take the days off at the beginning of the tourney - now Michael keeps up the tradition :D

I do love baseball - the Tigers and the Red Sox. So I sign up for MLBEI every year - I can watch all the games I want - even the ones broadcast by NESN (New England Sports Network). That is really fun, 'cause all the commercials are local to New England. You wouldn't believe it - some of them are for places that were in business when we were growing up :)

[pomtzu]

Gretchen~~~

I do remember when in h.s. watching PC in the NIT tournament, but that's about my extent of my basketball enthusiasm.

Of course, living where I do, I'm now a Phillies baseball fan. It's rather nice to have a winning team in your own back yard. I can remember my father and oldest brother faithfully listening to all the Red Sox games on the radio. Boy - does that take me back a couple of years. :rolleyes::p

See if you ever notice a business advertising - Archie's Pizza in Pawtucket. My Uncle Archie was the founder and owner for many years before he sold it in the early 70's (?) due to declining health. I notice that they have expanded now, but when it was his, it was just the one shop - and one that made the best pizza you ever tasted! :)

[lizbud]

I watch a little of some games, but don't know anything about the
rules of the game. My brother is a big fan and was a coach for many years.
His oldest daughter(my neice) has the bug also. It's a treat to watch them both when a big game is on.:)

[Grace]

The tourney begins on Thursday (actually there are play-in games Tuesday and Wednesday nights) at 12 noon. I don't cook for the next 4 days. I sit in front of the TV - switching back and forth - watching 3 games at a time. Pure Heaven :love:

[RICHARD]

It's serendipity, Bah bee........................

[kuhio98]

Thank you for this thread!

I've seen references to March Madness on a couple of websites and had no clue what they were talking about.

March Madness.....sports related.... No wonder I had no idea.
I have absolutely no interest in professional sports -- and Bobcat is even less interested (if that's possible). :D

[Grace]

Thank you for this thread!

I've seen references to March Madness on a couple of websites and had no clue what they were talking about.

March Madness.....sports related.... No wonder I had no idea.
I have absolutely no interest in professional sports -- and Bobcat is even less interested (if that's possible). :D

You're very welcome. You did notice that March Madness is college basketball, not pro :)

[cassiesmom]

I started following college basketball in 1995 when Valparaiso won the Mid Continent Conference but weren't in the NCAA tournament. They call it Hoosier Hardwood Hysteria and it affects not only college but high school teams. It's quite contagious :)

Then there was "The Shot" in 1988...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shot_(Valparaiso_University)

Valpo now belongs to the Horizon League, which gets an automatic NCAA bid. The Horizon League teams are all in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. This year Butler University (in Indianapolis) is playing in the NCAA for the Horizon League. Go, Butler!

[kuhio98]

You're very welcome. You did notice that March Madness is college basketball, not pro :)

Ooops! See what I mean -- clue free/interest free about sports.

[Grace]

I remember The Shot - Bryce Drew (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZiJWVoQvJM) :love:

[MoonandBean]

3 years ago, I picked Kansas and won our work tournament. Then, I picked UNC the next year and took 3rd. Didn't have Duke last year so didn't place. I have my bracket on my desk......I will fill it out tonight :) LOVE March Madness :)

[cassiesmom]

Butler won their first game by a heartbeat! I hope they win more!

My dad was watching the Gonzaga and Saint John's game last night- John Stockton's son David plays for Gonzaga. John Stockton played with Jeff Hornacek (who's from Chicago :) ) for the Utah Jazz. The college players all look so young! Guess I am getting really old.

[boomersooner]

Watching it as I type!!! My husband, son, and I always have a dinner bet on it...The games have been really good so far!!

[RICHARD]

MM is a welcome distraction from the real shiat happening in the world.


What the hell is a Gonzaga?:confused:;)

[cassiesmom]

MM is a welcome distraction from the real shiat happening in the world.


What the hell is a Gonzaga?:confused:;)

It's a Catholic college in Washington -- Jesuit, actually, named for Aloysius Gonzaga, Jesuit priest and missionary. They have a pretty good basketball team ;)

[Cincy'sMom]

It was a great first (er, sorry, second round) wasn't it? So many close games!!! And both my Bearcats (University of Cincinnati) and Wolverines (Michigan) made it to the second round. I'd love to have to choose who to root for between them in the regional finals, but I am not sure that will happen. Pretty tough teams between now and then.

Madness Day 3! Here we go!

[Grace]

Denver was definitely the place to be on Thursday -

#12- Richmond - over #5 - Vanderbilt

#13- Morehead State - over #4 Louisville

#11 - Gonzaga - over #6 - St. John's


Another 11 over a 6 last evening: VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University) beat Georgetown

I don't have any specific favorites this year. I'm inclined to think Kansas could win it all, but can't give any reasons why.

I love the exciting finishes, especially when Bill Raftery is announcing. He may be 68, but gets as crazy as a 10 year old doing the games :)

[Grace]

The first big upset - Butler over #1 seed Pitt.

No offense to the Pitt fans, but I couldn't figure out why they were a #1.

[Cincy'sMom]

Michigan sure gave Duke a fight at the end. Man, I wish they coulda pulled that one off!

[Grace]

Michigan sure gave Duke a fight at the end. Man, I wish they coulda pulled that one off!

Curious - how did you become a Michigan fan, living in Ohio and all?

Douglas is one - being born and bred in A2. Not me, though. I like the Green and White of MSU.

[Cincy'sMom]

Curious - how did you become a Michigan fan, living in Ohio and all?

Douglas is one - being born and bred in A2. Not me, though. I like the Green and White of MSU.

I may live in Ohio, but I am about 1.5 miles from the MI border and only 40 minutes from the U of M campus. (Versus about 2 hours from C-bus) Most of NW Ohio is pretty split in the OSU/UM battle. I sided with UM when I was around Junior High and have stayed loyal to the Maize and Blue ever since.

[cassiesmom]

Illinois' season ended by #1 Kansas. Oh, well...

[cassiesmom]

Butler won again! Yeah, Butler!

[lizbud]

I don't know why anyone would watch Pro ball when it's the college
games that have all the action & drama.:) So many good games so far.

I'm crossing my fingers for Butler. :)

[Grace]

Games tomorrow - Saturday on CBS -

4:30 PM (8) Butler vs. (2) Florida
7:05 PM (5) Arizona vs. (3) Connecticut

[Grace]

The late games are full of surprises - the top ranked #1 seed, OSU, is out - leaving Kansas as the only #1 left. And VCU, a double digit seed, is rolling right along.

[Grace]

Oh boy - Butler and UConn are in the Final Four. Bet that's screwing up some brackets :)

[Grace]

Anyone watching the Women's Basketball?

Tonight Gonzaga beat Louisville, making Gonzaga the lowest seed in NCAA history to reach the Elite Eight.

The Zags have this player, Courtney Vandersloot - she is the first player in Division I history, men or women, with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 assists in her career.

[Grace]

It's truly Madness this year. Who would have believed that none of the #1 seeds would make it to the Final Four? And how do you decide for whom to root - Butler or VCU?

[lizbud]

And how do you decide for whom to root - Butler or VCU?


That's not a hard decision for me. Go Dawgs.:) one of their star players
has a 3.8 gpa , so they really are student athletes & good kids.:)

[Grace]

The Kentucky freshman who had the winning shot against Ohio State the other night - Brandon Knight.

He has a 4.0 GPA, and is now taking sophomore level classes.

Nice to see some of these kids care about their studies, also.

[3Catcondo]

I'm rooting for VCU of course, it's my city's team!!! Super excited about them making it this far. Who would've thought!!! :D



Amy

[Cincy'sMom]

I wish Butler and VCU were in different brackets, so we could possibliy have those 2 for the Final game. Whichever one wins this weekend will be who I root for in the Final. Ont he other side, I'll go with UConn, for the sake of the Big East.

[Craftlady]

It's a great day to be a Kentucky Wildcat Fan!!!

[Grace]

I wish Butler and VCU were in different brackets, so we could possibliy have those 2 for the Final game. Whichever one wins this weekend will be who I root for in the Final. Ont he other side, I'll go with UConn, for the sake of the Big East.

I thought of that, also. But there would then be the possibility that both would lose, and we'd have a final of UConn and Kentucky.

I'm hoping for VCU - UConn in the final - then I don't know which I would root for. Probably both :D

[Grace]

Women's Final four -

UConn - Notre Dame
Stanford - Texas A&M

Great games the past two nights.

UConn, with Maya Moore playing, has gone 150 - 3 the past 4 years. Not too shabby.



UConn Men and Women in the Final Four.

[lizbud]

Big game tonght. :) Everybody about to bust with anticipation here in Indy

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d1

[Grace]

Monday night in Houston -

Bulldogs vs the Huskies :)


Perfect topic for a pet board :)

[moosmom]

Go huskies!!!!!!!:)

[Cincy'sMom]

Good games last night! Looking forward to Monday.

Congratualtions to the University of Toledo Lady Rockets, winning the WNIT yesterday afternoon, over the USC Trojans! Go Rockets!

[Grace]

Looks like the state of Indiana is the winner - with one in the men's final (Butler), and one in the women's (Notre Dame).

[Grace]

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfhXupgRBJrPzLbJfkRwhNYnPJuupc9 jzWckNUsM5m4nHdrChqaw

[Cincy'sMom]

A little justification for the Big East. Some felt the conference was over rated when 11 teams got in and most were out after 2 or 3 rounds, but our champ won it all!

[moosmom]

Huskies rule!!!!!

[cassiesmom]

Big game tonght. :) Everybody about to bust with anticipation here in Indy

http://www.ncaa.com/sports/basketball-men/d1

I'm mightily bummed about the outcome. But I heard on the news that Butler is having a pep rally for the team today anyway. Good on ya Butler Bulldogs!

[lizbud]

I'm mightily bummed about the outcome. But I heard on the news that Butler is having a pep rally for the team today anyway. Good on ya Butler Bulldogs!



Yes, it was planned to go on win or lose.:) They are still #1 to us in Indy.:)

[Grace]

And tonight the women's game - MUCH better than the game last night.

Their very first trip to the Championship Game, and they won 76-70 over Notre Dame.


http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVuNNjRTDxDvvYPtM4AYepHmRUENlPR nPNsThmHvpy8UFNLKsn

[cassiesmom]

Halftime... Michigan State 35, Valparaiso 18

This is disappointing for me because I graduated from Valpo in 1987. They moved up to NCAA division 1 after I graduated, though.

[Grace]

I'm a BIG State fan, but have nothing against Valpo. I remember when their current coach was on the team and made that spectacular shot to win the game :)

[cassiesmom]

Halftime... Michigan State 35, Valparaiso 18

This is disappointing for me because I graduated from Valpo in 1987. They moved up to NCAA division 1 after I graduated, though.

The bad news- Valpo lost, 65 to 54. The good news- it was not a huge defeat. And I got to see my team go to the Big Dance, which was pretty cool in itself!