Basketball

Taylor Picker

(3,759 posts) Sun Mar 14, 2021, 06:24 PM Mar 2021

Who do you like in the NCAA tournament?

I'm on the same page as Clark Kellogg & Seth Davis, both of whom have Gonzaga & Illinois in the championship game, with the Bulldogs winning.
There are only 3 teams ranked in the top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency at kenpom, and two of them are Gonzaga & Illinois. The other is Michigan, and their making a deep run probably depends on getting Isaiah Livers back.
The downside on Gonzaga, as always, is that their strength of schedule has been low given their conference. The only time they've been tested lately was in the first half against BYU. I still think they're a great team... and maybe they become the first undefeated team since 1976. They do have the easiest bracket, I think. Iowa could give them trouble.
There are plenty of other very good teams, of course.
Anyone have other thoughts?

13 replies

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Who do you like in the NCAA tournament? (Original Post) Taylor Picker Mar 2021 OP

Illinois all the way questionseverything Mar 2021 #1

I do hope it's Illinois vs Gonzaga in the championship. Taylor Picker Mar 2021 #2

Sleeper pick: University of Houston n/t cloudbase Mar 2021 #3

Mad respect here for Kelvin Sampson. Taylor Picker Mar 2021 #4

Iowa didn't give the Zags trouble in December. rsdsharp Mar 2021 #5

You're right. Taylor Picker Mar 2021 #8

As an Iowa fan, I think the hallmark of a Fran McCaffrey rsdsharp Mar 2021 #9

Zags are my team Sewa Mar 2021 #6

I'm with you - Zags all the way! RainCaster Mar 2021 #10

Illinois will be very tough TheFarseer Mar 2021 #7

Teams have been really inconsistent this year thanks to Covid rurallib Mar 2021 #11

Baylor knocks off the Zags in semifinals nightwing1240 Mar 2021 #12

I wish we had gotten to see them play in the regular season. Taylor Picker Mar 2021 #13

questionseverything

(10,297 posts)

1. Illinois all the way

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 06:36 PM

Mar 2021

Our big man in the middle is a beast and our point has mad handles

Taylor Picker

(3,759 posts)

2. I do hope it's Illinois vs Gonzaga in the championship.

Reply to questionseverything (Reply #1)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 06:52 PM

Mar 2021

That’d be a helluva game.
I’m a Big Ten alum, & I’ve watched Illinois plenty, including thrashing my school... which is not in the field... twice.
Scott Drew to IU! Not gonna happen, but we can dream.

cloudbase

(5,795 posts)

3. Sleeper pick: University of Houston n/t

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 06:58 PM

Mar 2021

Taylor Picker

(3,759 posts)

4. Mad respect here for Kelvin Sampson.

Reply to cloudbase (Reply #3)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:04 PM

Mar 2021

rsdsharp

(10,287 posts)

5. Iowa didn't give the Zags trouble in December.

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:13 PM

Mar 2021

They neutralized Garza, and forced Iowa to shoot from outside. If they are hot with the threes in that situation, they can win. If not, they lose badly. The same thing happened against Illinois. Twice.

Taylor Picker

(3,759 posts)

8. You're right.

Reply to rsdsharp (Reply #5)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:40 PM

Mar 2021

In fact, Iowa was ranked #3 when they played and Gonzaga had just come off a COVID pause that didn't seem to affect their quality of play.
My terrible Hoosiers beat Iowa twice.
I was just looking to see who in that quadrant could give Gonzaga a game. There's not really anyone. I think they cruise to the Final Four.

rsdsharp

(10,287 posts)

9. As an Iowa fan, I think the hallmark of a Fran McCaffrey

Reply to Taylor Picker (Reply #8)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:47 PM

Mar 2021

team is getting a decent lead at halftime (10+ points) and then piss it all away within the first five minutes of the second half. Go stone cold, and don’t play defense. It drives me crazy!

Sewa

(1,351 posts)

6. Zags are my team

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:15 PM

Mar 2021

I’m wearing my Bulldog hat today.

RainCaster

(11,648 posts)

10. I'm with you - Zags all the way!

Reply to Sewa (Reply #6)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:50 PM

Mar 2021

Too much of my family went to Gonzaga, I would be disowned if I chose anyone else.

TheFarseer

(9,519 posts)

7. Illinois will be very tough

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:16 PM

Mar 2021

They have to be the favorite. I think Gonzaga is very good but I think they have flaws. I’m curious how well Alabama will do. They can really score. Baylor looked unbeatable for a while. Maybe they can return to form and win it all. It’s nice there are a bunch of teams that look like they can win it.

rurallib

(63,291 posts)

11. Teams have been really inconsistent this year thanks to Covid

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 07:51 PM

Mar 2021

Illinois seems to be putting a solid team together at the right time.
I am in the "Gonzaga has a weak schedule" group.

Baylor, Michigan and Ohio State have shown flashes of brilliance.

All around right now I am going with Illinois, but I think the virus may mess with things.

nightwing1240

(1,996 posts)

12. Baylor knocks off the Zags in semifinals

Reply to Taylor Picker (Original post)

Sun Mar 14, 2021, 10:17 PM

Mar 2021

Great Zag team but Baylor is loaded and (pardon the pun) loaded for Bear

Taylor Picker

(3,759 posts)

13. I wish we had gotten to see them play in the regular season.

Reply to nightwing1240 (Reply #12)

Mon Mar 15, 2021, 09:44 AM

Mar 2021

Cancelled due to COVID... they tried to reschedule, but it got cancelled again.
Another potentially great game we were deprived of was Baylor vs Alabama.

I'm ready for the games to tip!

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