Here in Big Blue Nation, the NCAA basketball tournament is big news, and this year the hysteria is even greater, as Kentucky has emerged from the bleak gloom of the Billy Gillespie era, and we're poised to win the whole thing under the capable leadership of Calipari and the phenomenal talent of Wall, Patterson, and Cousins.

I've got Kentucky, Kansas, Pittsburgh, and Baylor[1] in my final four, with UK winning it all. Who do y'all have?

[1]Why Baylor? Because--as a loyal Big Blue fan--ever since 1992 I am compelled to have Duke lose early in the tournament, and Baylor seems like the best choice out there to knock them out.

Nah, you're missing the big story!
Which is that Cornell (my old school) is in it!

Let's see if they manage to lose by less than 30.
It's not if you win or lose, it's if you don't stink!

They play Temple tomorrow at 12:30. Rumor has it that they have a chance to actually win.

Well, Vanderbilt just lost (and deservedly so). There goes my interest.

Believe it or not, ATPP, I had picked Murray St. over Vandy. (I am a Kentucky loyalist. This is the first time in years that three Kentucky colleges were in the tournament [UK, Murray, and that Other Team Coached by That Traitor].) But I also picked Florida over BYU, so I'm only 3 of 4 right now.

Mark, I thought about picking Cornell over Temple but decided that even *I* wasn't that delusional.

Excusable.

BTW......I can't believe they're only 4-point underdogs. That gives me hope.

Haha... (laughing at self)... I read the title of this thread and clicked to find out what the heck Britain had to do with the NCAA tournament.

Lets see Monica. Here's what it says on my bracket.

Ohio St.
BYU
Duke
Kentucky

National Champ............



KENTUCKY

I have Kansas, Kansas St, Kentucky, Baylor. National Champion: Kansas.

Welcome to the forum, BeginnerVA! Even if you do have the temerity to pick somebody other than U.K. to win the championship.

UK looked pretty darned good in our 29-point win over E. Tenn. But I had Georgetown going to the elite 8, so my bracket's busted.

THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO!!

This is weird. I don't know anything about the NCAA tournament. We live and breathe hockey in Canada. I will google all this and find out more about it.

Maybe you shoulda picked what you were thinking of.

Cornell 22, Temple 16

(I know -- it's early and stuff -- but let me enjoy it while it lasts.)

I just heard on the radio that the Fed Sec. of Ed is proposing to implement new radical standards for minimum academic achievment for college athletes, under which most of those currently playing in the NCAA tournament would be ineligible.

Leave it to a damn Washington bureaucrat to screw up a good thing and spoil everyone's fun (not to mention bankrupt the thriving and highly profitable business of certain college sports).

This is totally outrageous - expecting such athletes to actually study and take precious time away from their main pursuit: a career in pro sports. Disgusting and highly unreasonable. Talk about misplaced priorities!

After all - even the nation's First Fan plays the game himself and has his Final Four picked (and maybe even wagered on) - Obama? No. Donald Trump. Slam dunk anyone?

JF

I thought the UK only had girlie netball not basketball teams?

Go Lobos.

-Tom (excited to have two NM teams in it this year -- for the moment)

Great job!

BTW.....Cornell, all of whose players would still be eligible .......ADVANCES!!!

In the meantime, some of you may find this article from the website of the Cato Institute (a Wash., D.C. think tank) pertinent, interesting and informative:

College Football Killing College Basketball?

JF

+1

Cathy

Prediction: University of Northern Iowa will ruin Kansas' run.
You heard it here first.

JF, I wouldn’t mind if our Gov. does that. All our New England teams stink perennially anyway. BC makes some noise in recently, and that’s it, NOISES.

Just kidding… Are you sure you heard it right? That wouldn’t be fun. Imagine there’s no James and Kobe, who would watch Basketball!!!

Go Panthers. Great program.

This is the real reason Kentucky will win it all:

The Onion Sports News on KY basketball



Cathy

Ohmigosh, that was hilarious, Cathy. Thanks for posting that.

For one brief giddy moment this morning I was in sole possession of first place in my departmental pool, but I've now slipped to an 8-way tie for 3rd.

And can you believe that Cornell team?!

Good news for them: they have a real shot at beating Wisconsin.

Bad news: If they win, they probably face Kentucky in the sweet 16.

We do a pool in our own house, and the winner gets to decide on an activity that all of us will do together. Since I live with a husband and three sons, I always threaten to make them go to a very girly place--the local teahouse--if I win. I don't actually have a desire to go to the tea house, but the threat adds a little more risk to a pretty low-key betting pool. Unfortunately, I've lost each year and had to go play miniature golf.

I have Kansas, Syracuse, Kentucky and Duke as the final four with Kentucky winning it all.

Nancy

That's gotta hurt.

Okay, AlphaTerminus, I'm calling you before I place my bets for the Kentucky Derby this year. You are amazing!

Nancy

You can say that again, Nancy! AlphaTerminus, how were you able to make that call when the rest of the nation had Kansas down?!?

This sure is messing up a lot of people's brackets, President Obama's included. Things are looking very good for Kentucky and (shudder) Duke.

I live in Iowa, and have followed UNI. They are underrated because of their conference. They are the best "team" in the nation. They play team ball, and have no fear.

Excuse me while I light my cigar and walk smugly into the sunset