A week from the NCAA bracket reveal. Who do you like to go far? Who do you see as likely upsets?

[Cats192]

Curious to see different thoughts.

Teams I like the most: Houston, Florida, Duke (vomit). Auburn is the best team, but they do a lot of stupid stuff.

Teams I think prime to bow out early:
Tennessee (we've beaten them twice by making them beat us from 3. Would think other teams have to use that against them. Though their defense will keep them in games.
Purdue: flaming out to close the regular season.
Michigan
Kansas

 

[CalipariCapo]

I like Auburn and Florida to make it to at least an E8. I see Duke going out in the sweet 16. TN will also be gone before the sweet 16 as well.

 

[Noahtogo24]

Florida my pick to win NC right now.

Maryland goes far

Kansas out first weekend

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It's hard to say when we do not have the bracket yet as matchups and luck are two big factors.

Blindly guessing I think Florida and auburn will go far. Duke doesn't make the final four.

I think UK will make at least sweet 16 and with our injury issues that's saying something.

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

Florida, Duke, Michigan state and Houston are ones I like to make runs
- Michigan, Tennessee, Kansas and louisivlle(TBT on them) area one i think exit early

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Michigan State has looked really good most of the season (besides losing to an awful Indiana team)

Defense, multiple guards that can score. Big guys that play their roles perfectly.

I’ll take them to make the Final 4 and maybe even the whole thing.

 

[Sejonesy]

Michigan State has looked really good most of the season (besides losing to an awful Indiana team)

Defense, multiple guards that can score. Big guys that play their roles perfectly.

I’ll take them to make the Final 4 and maybe even the whole thing.

7 wins in a row. 6 against ranked teams. I think they are playing as well as anyone right now. Good pick

 

[gharding07]

Florida is my champion.
BYU, St Mary's, Clemson, Maryland will be dark horse final 4 teams. VCU, Drake will have a great shot to reach 2nd weekend as a double digit seeds.

Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona done early.
HOT TAKE: Auburn will be the first 1 seed to lose.

 

[BBNinSC]

Every mock bracket I’ve seen looks like we would win our first 2 games.
I’m predicting Tennessee to make a FF run and Rick Barnes last season.

 

[The_Answer1313]

I'm predicting around 4pm EST on Thursday my bracket will already be busted lol.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

Every mock bracket I’ve seen looks like we would win our first 2 games.
I’m predicting Tennessee to make a FF run and Rick Barnes last season.

That’s what scares me. All year we have played down to competition in those “obvious win” type games. I think if we can get to S16 and avoid an upset we could be a nightmare scenario for others

 

[Dontworryboutit23]

That’s what scares me. All year we have played down to competition in those “obvious win” type games. I think if we can get to S16 and avoid an upset we could be a nightmare scenario for others

Our first round game will be very nerve wracking.

 

[gbl97]

BYU, St Mary's, Clemson, Maryland will be dark horse final 4 teams.

That would really suck if BYU has a better tournament than us after we took their coach.

 

[rivercatinfl]

For higher seeds, Akron, VCU and creighton good teams. I hope we don't face any of them.
Mich St, Houston, Florida, Auburn depending for the bracket seedlings are the final four teams.

 

[Wildcats1st]

Duke or Alabama are front runners in my mind for the title.

 

[gharding07]

That would really suck if BYU has a better tournament than us after we took their coach.

They are on fire right now.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Florida is my champion.
BYU, St Mary's, Clemson, Maryland will be dark horse final 4 teams. VCU, Drake will have a great shot to reach 2nd weekend as a double digit seeds.

Michigan, Kansas, Missouri, Arizona done early.
HOT TAKE: Auburn will be the first 1 seed to lose.

Pepperdine plays St Marys tomorrow in semi final,, they're 13-21 and upset Santa Clara today..

 

[jeffky]

They are on fire right now.

You're picking byu over us

 

[Lempface]

That would really suck if BYU has a better tournament than us after we took their coach.

I don't understand this sentiment. This was always going to be a rebuilding year, we literally didn't retain 1 minute of play from the prior roster. Meanwhile BYU had a bunch of guys stay even when their coach left. Them performing so well with many of Pope's guys I think says something.

 

[CapnBlubs]

I agree with others that Florida looks like one of the toughest teams.

But...

Can we just ask ONE more time why Golden didn't get in any trouble or get fired?

Essentially the explanation was "it wasn't part of school activity" so the Title IX investigation was dismissed.

He's a ****ing perv and no one should ever let him off the hook for it. Florida is just making their own rules up because they want to win, as has been done so many times there and elsewhere.

Not someone I'd want as a face of my institution.

 

[jgraf_1]

I agree with others that Florida looks like one of the toughest teams.

But...

Can we just ask ONE more time why Golden didn't get in any trouble or get fired?

Essentially the explanation was "it wasn't part of school activity" so the Title IX investigation was dismissed.

He's a ****ing perv and no one should ever let him off the hook for it. Florida is just making their own rules up because they want to win, as has been done so many times there and elsewhere.

Not someone I'd want as a face of my institution.

issue went away because they had a much better season than predicted. if he was somewhere middle of the pack of the sec, it wouldn't have been dismissed

 

[Cowtown Cat]

I think the two “best” teams won’t make the FF: Auburn and duke. I like Florida and Houston to make the FF, depending on matchups. I also really like Missouri as my dark horse, depending on matchups. Also like Iowa State and Michigan State. Wouldn’t surprise me to see this UK team to sneak into EE, maybe further.

 

[JohnnyGreen1975]

Curious to see different thoughts.

Teams I like the most: Houston, Florida, Duke (vomit). Auburn is the best team, but they do a lot of stupid stuff.

Teams I think prime to bow out early:
Tennessee (we've beaten them twice by making them beat us from 3. Would think other teams have to use that against them. Though their defense will keep them in games.
Purdue: flaming out to close the regular season.
Michigan
Kansas

I would love to see an all SEC Final Four.

 

[rick64]

Duke will be the first 1 seed eliminated. But then again, it's hard to beat 5 vs 8.

 

[JwUKFan11]

Love Florida but so many others also seem to like them that kinda scares me. I think Marquette and Vandy are teams that could go on a run and A&M is my team I think gets upset very early.

 

[Cawood86]

Love Florida but so many others also seem to like them that kinda scares me. I think Marquette and Vandy are teams that could go on a run and A&M is my team I think gets upset very early.

Florida could definitely make a FF run. They have a very deep team. Excellent guard play. Big guy for Florida is legit.

 

[deputy assistant]

Can we just ask ONE more time why Golden didn't get in any trouble or get fired?

Essentially the explanation was "it wasn't part of school activity" so the Title IX investigation was dismissed.

He's a ****ing perv and no one should ever let him off the hook for it.

Ok, well I am a Gator guest here, but I have to ask you where you heard this from, because we follow the story very closely and I have never once heard this explanation you have provided. Not once.

The explanation we received was that, "After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation."

What evidence, other than unproven allegations, do you have that Golden is a pervert or guilty?

 

[CapnBlubs]

Ok, well I am a Gator guest here, but I have to ask you where you heard this from, because we follow the story very closely and I have never once heard this explanation you have provided. Not once.

The explanation we received was that, "After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation."

What evidence, other than unproven allegations, do you have that Golden is a pervert or guilty?

They concluded that he didn't violate Title IX purely because the incidents didn't involve official university activities.

This ridiculously tenuous defense is reminiscent of UNC getting away with its academic fraud because their fake courses were open to all students, not just athletes. And really, since it involves sexual harassment, it's much worse.

There was no outright denial that he'd stalked and perved. That should bother you, and I know why it doesn't (UF is having a great season, is a great team, and Golden is a skilled coach - obviously I won't deny those things...but he's a bad person and should not be on the sidelines).

Here's an excerpt from the ESPN article on the "acquittal."

ESPN on Monday obtained a copy of a letter that the university sent to a female complainant. According to the letter, the Title IX coordinator determined there was no evidence to indicate that sexual harassment "occurred within a university program or activity," and that is why the school had to dismiss the complaint. The letter noted that the complaint was initiated after the university received an anonymous report that "named multiple potentially impacted persons."

Attorney Karen Truszkowski, who represents a 21-year-old college student who did not attend the University of Florida, said that although the reported behavior might not fall under the definition of Title IX, there was "certainly evidence that there was questionable activity that occurred" while Golden was participating in a university event.

The Title IX complaint included allegations that Golden sent photos and videos of his genitalia, made unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requested sexual favors. The school has declined requests to release records of the complaint.

The Title IX investigation is, by nature, limited in its scope. We'll never know what kind of bribery and coercement took place behind the scenes to ensure Golden remained as your coach.

Enjoy the tournament, though!

 

[Edgarman]

Ok, well I am a Gator guest here, but I have to ask you where you heard this from, because we follow the story very closely and I have never once heard this explanation you have provided. Not once.

The explanation we received was that, "After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation."

What evidence, other than unproven allegations, do you have that Golden is a pervert or guilty?

I'm sure the fan who thinks Golden is guilty of all the rumors has the ability to think Pitino would be a good fit for us. I can't believe we trash someone who was not charged and nothing was proven to be true, yet we want a dirtbag, immoral, sleazy Rick Pitino as a coach. I would rather lose than to have a scumbag as a coach. Thank goodness we got Pope. Win or lose, Pope has class and sets a great example for his kids and prepares them for life after basketball. Also he WINS!

 

[Wildcats1st]

I don't understand this sentiment. This was always going to be a rebuilding year, we literally didn't retain 1 minute of play from the prior roster. Meanwhile BYU had a bunch of guys stay even when their coach left. Them performing so well with many of Pope's guys I think says something.

What do you think is happening at ark and byu? It was supposed to be a rebuilding years for both programs. Newsflash. There are no longer any rebuilding years in cbb. You gotta build it right every year. Pope had a nice group of players he assembled as fast or faster than the ark or byu roster. There’s no excuses he has the most complete uk team since 2018-2019.

We have:
The top shooter in the ncaa
A big man who could be dominant if he was tough
A Sf/G who can bully his way to the basket
A pg who led his team to an ncaa final
The best stretch 4 we’ve ever had
4 graduate players start. Our starting lineup are men no doubt.
Then we have the breakout freshman phenom

We have the right pieces so if you think next year is a better team there is no guarantee.

 

[Cats192]

What do you think is happening at ark and byu? It was supposed to be a rebuilding years for both programs. Newsflash. There are no longer any rebuilding years in cbb. You gotta build it right every year. Pope had a nice group of players he assembled as fast or faster than the ark or byu roster. There’s no excuses he has the most complete uk team since 2018-2019.

We have:
The top shooter in the ncaa
A big man who could be dominant if he was tough
A Sf/G who can bully his way to the basket
A pg who led his team to an ncaa final
The best stretch 4 we’ve ever had
4 graduate players start. Our starting lineup are men no doubt.
Then we have the breakout freshman phenom

We have the right pieces so if you think next year is a better team there is no guarantee.

You're missing something.

Cal brought DJ, Thiero, Z with him. That's 3 starters.

BYU returned multiple starters and key role players.

All those other guys had experience together and chemistry. Pope putting together a solid group of transfers isn't the same.

Arkanas was picked above us in the pre-season SEC rankings/polls.