Only 3 days of games but man this tourney has been boring.

[RCJCON]

Hopefully today will be more exciting and the Cats get it done!!! GBB

 

[Vol1977]

Lots of chalk

 

[Fox2monk]

There hasn’t been really any craziness yet. No last second shots, or crazy things. McNeese won, Drake won is about it so far. I guess Arky beating St John’s but they have the talent of a 2 seed.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

A lot of people are pointing to NIL creating a bigger gap between the major programs and the lesser ones. But I still wonder (and hope) if this isn't just the final covid year of eligibility giving these major programs that extra year of experience and talent.

Some will say "well doesn't that mean McNeese also gets the same benefit?".. and they do. But I think the 5th year guys on midmajors are just getting an extra year before their basketball career is over.. where as Auburn has a guy like Baker-Mazar who is likely going to be playing ball in a Euro league. So to me, having whats essentially a professional player stick around for an extra year just adds to the gap between the high seeds and the low seeds.

I'm sure the NIL stuff will continue to concentrate talent.. but I'm hoping once this COVID year is finally over.. these power programs will take a a bit of a hit on the experience side, helping to level the playing field a bit.

 

[TheDude73]

A lot of people are pointing to NIL creating a bigger gap between the major programs and the lesser ones. But I still wonder (and hope) if this isn't just the final covid year of eligibility giving these major programs that extra year of experience and talent.

Some will say "well doesn't that mean McNeese also gets the same benefit?".. and they do. But I think the 5th year guys on midmajors are just getting an extra year before their basketball career is over.. where as Auburn has a guy like Baker-Mazar who is likely going to be playing ball in a Euro league. So to me, having whats essentially a professional player stick around for an extra year just adds to the gap between the high seeds and the low seeds.

I'm sure the NIL stuff will continue to concentrate talent.. but I'm hoping once this COVID year is finally over.. these power programs will take a a bit of a hit on the experience side, helping to level the playing field a bit.

Totally agree on this take. Places like Troy Alabama aren't going to have the NIL funds that Bama or some other bigger, larger conference school has. I think the days of the 16-1 / 15-2 upsets are going bye bye.

 

[Ron Mehico]

A lot of people are pointing to NIL creating a bigger gap between the major programs and the lesser ones. But I still wonder (and hope) if this isn't just the final covid year of eligibility giving these major programs that extra year of experience and talent.

Some will say "well doesn't that mean McNeese also gets the same benefit?".. and they do. But I think the 5th year guys on midmajors are just getting an extra year before their basketball career is over.. where as Auburn has a guy like Baker-Mazar who is likely going to be playing ball in a Euro league. So to me, having whats essentially a professional player stick around for an extra year just adds to the gap between the high seeds and the low seeds.

I'm sure the NIL stuff will continue to concentrate talent.. but I'm hoping once this COVID year is finally over.. these power programs will take a a bit of a hit on the experience side, helping to level the playing field a bit.

This year has been one of the strangest years to me watching college ball the last 25 years. The best teams this year aren’t the ones with some returning talent and then future young pros. Only Duke fits that model. They seem to be a team with good, not great, 5th year seniors or 25 year olds. It’s been odd.

 

[Blue_2_the_bone]

Open Portal & NIL lets all the mid major and small school talent transfer to bigger schools. It’s gonna be like this I’m afraid.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Totally agree on this take. Places like Troy Alabama aren't going to have the NIL funds that Bama or some other bigger, larger conference school has. I think the days of the 16-1 / 15-2 upsets are going bye bye.

Those probably are gone, sadly. I hope we can atleasy keep the upsets in the 14 to 10 range.

This sport really needs to find a way to reign in some of this NIL and transfer silliness. Players need to have some "skin in the game" when it comes to transferring. Whether you limit the times you can transfer or make them sit out a year. Do SOMETHING that makes a player think twice about jumping ship everytime a slightly better opportunity arises.

 

[TucsonCat]

We had nil and portal last year and got upsets.
I blame super conference more
Sec taking 14 bids. Inflated some resumes.
Need more Mountain West, aac, and a10 teams to make the Tourney.

 

[FitchandMurray29]

Totally agree on this take. Places like Troy Alabama aren't going to have the NIL funds that Bama or some other bigger, larger conference school has. I think the days of the 16-1 / 15-2 upsets are going bye bye.

Great point. Also the depth of the elite teams is greater than it’s been in ages. Usually some recruiting misses/injuries really created significant weaknesses for teams. Just not the case currently.

 

[gharding07]

It's just an odd year where the top 16 teams are that much better than years past according to kenpom. I think it's been a great tournament. BYU taking down Wisconsin, before almost blowing it, same thing with Houston! Gonzaga could have won in the final seconds.
Arkansas barely hung on, Michigan was down 10 with under 10 to go and came back. Drake battled Texas Tech most of the game. Good stuff.

 

[SemperFiCat]

The Cinderella teams may be a thing of the past. Because of the portal, we just won't see veteran heavy mid majors, that took 3-4 years to build, hit the tournament and catch good teams on a bad night. Gonna be even more rare to see a 1-4 team get upset before the second weekend.

 

[SemperFiCat]

A lot of people are pointing to NIL creating a bigger gap between the major programs and the lesser ones. But I still wonder (and hope) if this isn't just the final covid year of eligibility giving these major programs that extra year of experience and talent.

Some will say "well doesn't that mean McNeese also gets the same benefit?".. and they do. But I think the 5th year guys on midmajors are just getting an extra year before their basketball career is over.. where as Auburn has a guy like Baker-Mazar who is likely going to be playing ball in a Euro league. So to me, having whats essentially a professional player stick around for an extra year just adds to the gap between the high seeds and the low seeds.

I'm sure the NIL stuff will continue to concentrate talent.. but I'm hoping once this COVID year is finally over.. these power programs will take a a bit of a hit on the experience side, helping to level the playing field a bit.

That Baker-Mazar idiot is playing against kids that were in 8th grade when he was enrolling in college. The fact that he plays like a clown when, if he was actually elite, then he would be playing professionally just makes me really dislike that fool.

 

[gojvc]

There hasn’t been really any craziness yet. No last second shots, or crazy things. McNeese won, Drake won is about it so far. I guess Arky beating St John’s but they have the talent of a 2 seed.

You’re not going to see the same level of craziness anymore IMO. The good upperclassmen from these smaller schools that created the craziness have now all transferred to the P5 schools they used to upset in the tournament. Other than our game against Oakland there wasn’t really any craziness last year either.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

That Baker-Mazar idiot is playing against kids that were in 8th grade when he was enrolling in college. The fact that he plays like a clown when, if he was actually elite, then he would be playing professionally just makes me really dislike that fool.

Agreed

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

I love this Tournament. Everyone who loves "CinderFella" forgets how they **** up the Tournament the deeper it gets. The George Mason/VCU runs are the exception and always were. Also has to do with the seeding committee. I watched Bryant play Michigan St--and on the eye test, Bryant looked the part of a team who may have upset a few teams if placed in another bracket. For instance if they played Purdue rather than Michigan St--I could've seen an upset. But they faced Michigan St and even then it was a tight game until Earl Timberlake got his head split open by Michigan St big and had to go get stitched up. Allowed Spartans to get the separation needed and never much of a game after. Put that team in a different matchup-they win.

 

[Cotaay]

Guess it depends on your definition of boring, no signature upset or Cinderella to follow but I’ve found most of the games I’ve watched to be very competitive and enjoy seeing the contrasting styles teams play that is still prevalent in the college game.

 

[9timeChampion]

good thing out of 8 teams that made it yesterday they are combined I believe for 2 championships. 1 from Michigan and 1 from Arkansas.