NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Thread - 2017 Edition

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/844597071336411141

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/gatorhoops/status/844550553770319875

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/844632323589066754

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/844694448797859842

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/844555814039945217

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/844617184060063744

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/CourtneyRCronin/status/844726539539267586

[jbcarol]

 Bruce Feldman‏Verified account @BruceFeldmanCFB Mar 19

2 of the Preseason top 3--Duke (No. 1) & Nova (No. 3)--didn't make it to the Sweet16.. 2nd consecutive year preseason No. 1 lost 1st weekend

Two Sweet 16 teams--#Baylor & #SouthCarolina--were not among the 57 schools that received at least one vote in the Preseason Coaches Top 25.

ACC had 9 teams make the Tourney & only 1 made the Sweet16..Big swing from football postseason where it went 9-3 & was #1 among leagues

[jbcarol]

Michigan started March with a loss

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern's goofy, dated, little home court just north of Chicago, was rocking and rolling that night. It was March 1 and the Wildcats were still lost in the pixie dust of seeking their first NCAA Tournament. Michigan collided with the story elements of the program's real-time fairytale.

That, of course, led to an improbable ending. Nathan Taphorn, a name now etched in history as one helluva bar trivia question, hurled a baseball pass 85-some-odd feet to Dererk Pardon. Michigan botched its defense, allowing the Pardon to catch the ball, turn, and, at 6-foot-9, convert a simple layup.

U-M players dodged Northwestern's delirious student body, pouring forth from the seats, mobbing Pardon. It was a picture of March and Michigan was the faint team lost in the background.

A lot of teams have been in that picture.

According to everyone who was there, no one spoke on the bus ride to the airport.

11 days earlier at Minnesota, U-M was whistled for a historical amount of fouls and lost in overtime.

Both games are now two outliers in Michigan's basketball monthlong tour de force. The Wolverines have won 12 of their last 14 games. They're on a seven-game win streak since the loss at Northwestern. They won the Big Ten Tournament championship and two games in the NCAA Tournament.

On Thursday, No. 7 seed Michigan (26-11) will face No. 3 seed Oregon (31-5) for a spot in the Elite Eight (7 p.m., TV: CBS).

That loss at Northwestern?

"Seems like a long time ago," Robinson said.

[jbcarol]

National Transportation Safety Board says a mechanical issue was found on the jet carrying the University of Michigan basketball team that aborted takeoff and skidded into a field on March 8.

The Boeing MD-83 was supposed to take the team to the Big Ten Tournament in Washington, D.C., but ran off the runway at Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti "after executing a rejected takeoff," according to a preliminary report released by the NTSB on Tuesday

In an update on Wednesday, the department revealed a mechanical issue was found on the aircraft during the ongoing investigation - a damaged component of the airplane's right elevator.

Elevators are the primary way to control a plane's pitch - nose up and nose down, according to the NTSB.

Investigators determined the right elevator on the aircraft was jammed in a nose down position and a component of the right elevator - the right elevator geared tab inboard pushrod linkage -

[jbcarol]

Previewing Michigan's Sweet 16 showdown against Oregon in Kansas City

https://twitter.com/BFQuinn/status/844694612237266944

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/BFQuinn/status/841339908191113218

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/tysonalger/status/844666535444668416

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Dillon Brooks hasn't watched tape from the last time the Oregon Ducks lost in the NCAA Tournament.

It was almost exactly a year ago. Elite Eight. Oklahoma 80, Oregon 68. Season over.

Brooks had just seven points in the loss. He had as many turnovers -- three -- as field goals and fouled out with more than a minute left.

"I just have memories from that game," Brooks said here on Wednesday, the day before the Ducks face Michigan in the Sweet 16. "We were so close to getting to the Final Four. We had so much confidence in getting there. I let my team down, played a terrible game. I lost my mind. I didn't know what I was doing out there."

Brooks has taken a large step forward from the previous year.

For Brooks, a large part of that has come from his adjustment to the spotlight.

In truth, life hasn't really been the same for the junior since that week inside the Honda Center in Anaheim a year ago. That was when Brooks first found national fame, and when he crumbled beneath it.

Oregon fans knew who Dillon Brooks was before March 26, 2016. So did Pac-12 fans and maybe some diehard college basketball fans across the country.

But after Brooks drained a three-pointer in the dying seconds of Oregon's throttling of Duke in the Sweet 16 on that day in March, everyone knew who he was.

He can thank Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski for that. Because after Brooks drained the three, after the Ducks won 82-68 to advance to the Elite Eight, Krzyzewski pulled Brooks aside in the handshake line.

According to Brooks, Krzyzewski told him he was too good of a player to showboat like that. The interaction was caught on camera and the story only grew when Krzyzewski first denied he talked to Brooks before backtracking and calling Oregon coach Dana Altman to apologize the next day.

But the gears to fame were already in motion. Brooks was the player who stuck it to Krzyzewski, one of the most polarizing coaches in the country. Some people loved him for it. Others hated him for it.

Either way, Brooks was now a star.

"It was hard," Brooks said...

[jbcarol]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- For much of the country, Michigan's story began at the end of a runway

"They've got very skilled players, passing, catching, shooting the ball," Oregon coach Dana Altman said. (Beilein) has always recruited very skilled basketball players and that's really obvious with this team. They're all capable of putting it down and bringing it down court. Passing and catching is such an underrated skill, but they do a great job."

Wolverines are one of the most efficient teams in the country, ranking third in adjusted offensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. Like Oregon's last opponent, Rhode Island, Michigan plays at a slow and methodical pace -- a style that gave the Ducks fits against the Rams.

Rhode Island's half court game inspired a second-half press led by Keith Smith to throw the Rams off their rhythm. That may come back into play Thursday against the Wolverines.

Wolverines shoot the three well, they don't defend it well, and they are one of the few teams the Ducks should have an advantage against on the glass.

"They have great guards who get the ball up shooting and they have a lot of guys that shoot and spread the floor," Oregon's Dillon Brooks said. "They got a little size, but I feel like me Jordan (Bell) and Kavell (Bigby-Williams) will hold our own. They have to guard us. They've never guarded anyone like (us)."

Ducks, however, have never played against a team with most of the country rooting for it.

[jbcarol]

WVU offense must be efficient against Gonzaga

SAN JOSE, Calif. — That West Virginia remains in the NCAA tournament indicates the Mountaineers have neither need nor interest in changing what produced 24 regular-season wins and now four more in the postseason.

Fortunately for them, the Sweet Sixteen requires WVU does very little new and unusual, and it begins with the obvious: The Mountaineers better bring some scoring to the SAP Center for the 7:39 p.m. game on TBS. Gonzaga, the No. 1 seed in the West region, leads the nation in fewest points allowed per possession and is Ken Pomeroy's top-rated team for adjusted defensive efficiency.

"No. 1, they do a great job of scouting, so they know what you're going to do," said Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins, who is 0-4 against Gonzaga coach Mark Few, including a first-round loss in the 2012 tournament, when Huggins admits Gonzaga took his best offensive players, Kevin Jones and Truck Bryant, out of the game.

"To be successful in our game is about taking things away from people, and they do a terrific job of taking things away. Then they've got that great size inside — not just size, but they're good. And they limit you to one shot."

Bulldogs are also No. 2 in field-goal percentage defense and No. 2 in defensive rebounds per game, so they do well to minimize scoring opportunities. They allow 61.1 points per game, which ranks No. 5 nationally.

Gonzaga has allowed 80 points once since New Year's Day and not at all in the past 20 games. None of the 35 opponents shot 50 percent from the floor.

"It's a pretty good defensive team," WVU guard Tarik Phillip said. "What they try to do is point out the person who can't score and try to make him shoot the ball the most."

Gonzaga's skill insists WVU make shots and score points when they're available, but those are the same demands that preceded the prior game. The Mountaineers weren't expected to created a plethora of turnovers and subsequent scoring chances against Notre Dame, which was committing turnovers less frequently than everyone else in the country.

Mountaineers responded by making 50 percent of their shots, 57 percent of their 3-point attempts and 81 percent of their free-throw attempts, and a day in which WVU shoots 50 percent from the floor and 3-point range and 80 percent from the foul line had only happened seven other times in school history.

Five players scored in double figures for just the third time all season. WVU moved the ball inside and outside and found success with some quick scores but also by asking Notre Dame to play defense for the duration of the shot clock.

"I think everybody's always over the years focused on Gonzaga's offense," Few said. "And we've been an elite program offensively for years. This team has been great defensively all year. It's had elite-level rim protection and size."

Bulldogs are doing it with a batch of first-year players. Collins is new to college basketball. Williams is a transfer from Missouri, where he led the Tigers in blocked shots in 2015. Guard Jordan Matthews is a graduate transfer from Cal. Guard Nigel Williams-Goss is a transfer from Washington. Karnowski missed the final 28 games last season with back and leg injuries.

Few nevertheless had a hunch the new talent could produce a new strength.

"I think in the preseason he saw how athletic and how long we were, and we all have pretty good defensive instincts individually," Collins said. "He kept telling us in the preseason, before we'd even practiced, we had the potential to be a great defensive team if we kept our heads, so when real practice started, one of the biggest things we focused on was defense, whether individually or as a team, man or zone.

"Every single practice, we emphasized defense. I definitely think it's a credit to Coach to stay on us, but we're also really gifted with size and length and athleticism."

The No. 4 seed, Mountaineers (28-8) will have to deal with all of that

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/GreggDoyelStar/status/844687289087229952

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Purdue junior Dakota Mathias has a pregame shooting routine: Two hours before tipoff, alone unless a student manager joins him, Mathias is on the court. Getting up shots. Making them, making so many in a row you'd wonder: Why is this guy not in the NBA?

Fourth-seeded Purdue can knock off No. 1 Kansas on Thursday night in the Sweet 16.

So Mathias was shooting Wednesday afternoon at the Sprint Center. He shot for all 50 minutes of Purdue's allotted practice time on the court.

Mathias was shooting so well that people courtside were noticing. One of them was a pretty good shooter himself, back in the day. Maybe you've heard of him: Reggie Miller.

Reggie's here in Kansas City, working the game for CBS. Miller was watching Mathias shoot — sorry, Reggie was watching Mathias make everything — and at one point he beckoned Mathias.

After practice a handful of Boilermakers went to the scorer's table to have a picture taken with the Pacers' all-time leading scorer. Spike Albrecht came over. Ryan Cline. P.J. Thompson. When that was done, Reggie summoned Mathias back. He wanted another picture. Reggie did, I'm saying. This time, with his own camera.

"Us 31s have to stick together," Reggie told Mathias.

Indy Star

[jbcarol]

 Chip Miller‏ @BLUEChip_Miller 7h7 hours ago

Thursday Vegas Odds:
- Kansas minus 5 over Purdue
- Michigan minus 1 over Oregon
- Gonzaga minus 3 over WVU
- Arizona minus 7.5 over Xavier

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/DJSchoes/status/843664476641595392

[jbcarol]

Halftime in KC

Michigan 33  Oregon 35

[jbcarol]

 Brendan F. Quinn‏Verified account @BFQuinn 6m6 minutes ago

All these Kansas fans need to pick a side and root for it. Atmosphere is as bland as the action.

[jbcarol]

 Brendan F. Quinn‏Verified account @BFQuinn 10m10 minutes ago

Feels like U-M needs a go-to guy right now. Everyone seems to be looking at everyone else.
The defense, meanwhile, is sound throughout.

Walton hasn't shot since drawing that offensive foul -- when he got up rubbing his right elbow.

[jbcarol]

 Brendan F. Quinn‏Verified account @BFQuinn 1m1 minute ago

Wagner is 2-for-8 at half. Good news for him is he'll lineup alongside Wilson again when 2nd half begins. U-M played the last 7:02 w/o him.

[jbcarol]

 Tyson Alger‏Verified account @tysonalger 5m5 minutes ago

After Dorsey handed it off to Brooks, don't think Michigan was expecting a pass to the 6-2 guy in the paint.

[jbcarol]

 Mike Casazza‏ @mikecasazza 1m1 minute ago

Bulldogs up 21-16 at under-8. Foul trouble affecting both teams. Johnathan WIlliams has 11 points for Gonzaga, just picked up second foul.

[jbcarol]

WVU 22  Zags 22  5:03  tbs

[jbcarol]

 Mike Casazza‏ @mikecasazza 2m2 minutes ago

WVU has its hands on this game now. There's welts and scratches all over it. Score is tied 22-22 as Gonzaga calls a timeout with 4:35 to go.

[jbcarol]

 Mike Casazza‏ @mikecasazza 29s30 seconds ago

WVU took a 24-22 lead, but Gonzaga tied the score. Nate Adrian shoots two foul shots when we return from the media timeout with 2:51 to go.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/CourtneyRCronin/status/845063797614166016

That's cold

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/845069798346153984

[jbcarol]

 Mike Casazza‏ @mikecasazza 3m3 minutes ago

Four straight calls for Gonzaga, each met with scorn from the WVU bench, and six fouls shots have Bulldogs up [30-30 with :5.6] to go.

[jbcarol]

Halftime in San Jose

WVU 30  Gonzaga 30

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/CBSSports/status/845056606333128704

[jbcarol]

 Brendan F. Quinn‏Verified account @BFQuinn 3m3 minutes ago

Walton back in. 9:04 left. Ducks up 2.

[jbcarol]

 Tyson Alger‏Verified account @tysonalger 3m3 minutes ago

3-point play for Ennis. Ducks back up 5.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/mikecasazza/status/845073219086249985

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/aldotcomSports/status/844988377124540416

NBA analyst, who is also working the NCAA Tournament as it heads to the Sweet 16, covered a number of issues, including Auburn's inferiority complex as it relate to Alabama, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, LaVar Ball and killing Skip Bayless.

On Auburn:

"We have an inferiority complex because the greatest football coach in history is over in Tuscaloosa," Barkley told The Dan Patrick Show. "I think Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach in history over there in Tuscaloosa.

"But Auburn is the greatest school. Once you go there, you are a part of a family, a fraternity. Even when I got back now, it's the most amazing thing. When I travel around the country, the world, we say 'War Eagles.' It is pretty special.

"War Eagle is like I love you."

On LaVar Ball:

The father of UCLA's Lonzo Ball has said in his prime he could beat Michael Jordan. That prompted Barkley to throw down a challenge, which Ball responded to.

"He better stay behind at TNT and eat those donuts," Ball said.

On Thursday, Barkley said the conversation should be about the kid, not the dad.

"The dad won't let his son enjoy his glory," Barkley said. "I think his kid is terrific. Mr. Ball is harmless. If he had a Charles Barkley mentality, maybe he would averaged 10 points a game at Washington State than that whole two.

"I wish he'd let his son enjoy this ride. He's only going to be in college one year. We should be talking about his son."

The Larry Bird-Dr. J fight:

On Nov. 9, 1984, the Boston Celtics (4-0) hosted the Philadelphia 76ers (5-0) at the Boston Garden.

However, the showdown will forever be remembered for the fight that broke out late in the third quarter between Larry Bird and Julius Erving.

As the video via the link shows, Dr. J got some punches in on a restrained Bird. Both players ended up being ejected from the game. Dr. J finished six points, while Bird had 42 points in the 130-119 Boston win.

"I'm still mad at the NBA for fining me," Barkley said. They said I was holding Larry Bird so Dr. J could hit him. I was trying to break the fight up. I thought someone had Doc. I didn't know Doc was punching Bird while I was holding him."

Check it out at the 1:25 mark.

[jbcarol]

 ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account @ESPNStatsInfo 56m56 minutes ago

Michigan is 7-1 all-time in the Sweet 16, 3rd best in NCAA tournament history (minimum 5 games).

[jbcarol]

 ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account @ESPNStatsInfo 1h1 hour ago

With a win tonight, Mark Few will become the winningest coach in tournament history without a Final Four appearance.

[jbcarol]

 ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account @ESPNStatsInfo 2h2 hours ago

Oregon is a Top-3 seed for 4th time in school history. In each of previous 3 instances, including last year, @OregonMBB reached the Elite 8.

[jbcarol]

 ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account @ESPNStatsInfo 4h4 hours ago

Gonzaga's opponents are shooting 27.5 percent on jump shots in #NCAA tournament, second-best defense in the field (Florida 23.8 pct).

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/844996923991900160

[jbcarol]

Michigan 66  Oregon 65  3:00  CBS

[jbcarol]

Michigan 68  Oregon 65  1:54  CBS

[jbcarol]

UM  68  UO 67  1:30

[jbcarol]

[jbcarol]

UM 68  UO 69  1:00  CBS

[jbcarol]

 Brendan F. Quinn‏Verified account @BFQuinn 15s15 seconds ago

Derrick Walton Jr. pointing to his wrist and telling everyone, "You know what time it is."

Now it's Tyler Dorsey pointing to his wrist and eyeballing Walton.

[jbcarol]

Wolverine ball under 1 minute, down one.

3 ball misses all.

OU ball.

[jbcarol]

Brooks misses.  Ducks rebound and are fouled with :14.9

[jbcarol]

UM 68  UO 69  :14.9 CBS