March Madness Day One Recap

by Peter Bean on Mar 16, 2007 8:16 AM CDT in Basketball Comment 14 comments

Day one is in the books, 16 teams are headed home, and 16 more will play at least once more, starting tomorrow. Let's recap all the big stories:

Duke Loses The only real upset of the day came from the Rams of VCU, who took down Duke 79-77 behind 20 clutch points from Eric Maynor. I'm not sure which I like more: my mid-game comment to Carolina March, or Carolina March's post-game schadenfreude. Probably the latter.

Trust Yourself, Kids One of the things that frustrates me more each year is the growing number of invitations to various NCAA Pools. I inevitably play in too many of them, inevitably fill out various "scenario" brackets, and inevitably regret half the stupid picks I make. (Next year? I'm capping myself at two: the BON pool and the best proposed pool by my friends.)

At the site yesterday, I picked scores for each game, correctly identifying 14 of the 16 winners. In the BON Bracket, though? My picks went 11-for-16. Looking at the selections, I'm befuddled as to why I went away from several teams I really liked. You live and learn, I guess.

Buy & Sell It's obviously time to bail on all of yesterday's losers, but what about among the winners? Who were the most and least impressive?

Buy: Washington State, VCU, Vanderbilt, Louisville
Sell: Texas A&M, Pittsburgh

The Cougars, Rams, Commodores and Cardinals all had impressive showings that foreshadown Sweet 16 appearances. Of course, Vandy and Washington State will play one another, so they can't both keep rolling. I'm nervous about Texas A&M, though, as they spent a lot of energy holding off Penn, and now get a rested, red hot Louisville team in Lexington. The Aggies will still be in great shape if they survive to San Antonio, but it's certainly not a gimme at this stage.

First Day First Teamers Greg Oden (Ohio State), Roderick Wilmont (Indiana), Eric Maynor (VCU), Aaron Afflalo (UCLA), Tyrese Rice (Boston College)

And that's it. Yesterday is just that, and we've got 12 more hours of hoops today, including Texas at 6:30 p.m.

Schedule of games forthcoming.

--PB--

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Comments

Damn you Marquette!

Mar-quit kept me from getting 100% right on my picks yesterday... although I don't feel too bad about that one because I was really on the fence between them and Michigan State... flipped a virtual coin in my head to pick one when I couldn't decide.

by SelimSivad on Mar 16, 2007 9:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

duke-VCU

is the only game i got wrong yesterday, but i can't say i'm not happy to have gotten it wrong.

by billyzane on Mar 16, 2007 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

VCU played way above themselves or

Duke is really in a down year. I believe the later. This was a more a neighborhood game than a national game. VCU will probably lose by 10+ next game. Don't put the cinderella hat on these pretenders.......

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Mar 16, 2007 9:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

VCU played well enough to beat Duke by more than the two points that they did. I thought they actually -helped- Duke by playing so physically and continually putting them on the free throw line.

With that said, Duke isn't very good, you're right. But I wouldn't let that discount VCU - they have every right to believe they can beat Pittsburgh. They're going to run and run and run until the Panthers are sick of it. . . and then they'll run some more. VCU's not gonna be an easy out for anyone.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Mar 16, 2007 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

That VCU coach is a friggin hottie. Rockin the pink shirt even. Yes sir.

I have a commitment to the truth.

by steezy on Mar 16, 2007 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Duke got big help from the refs. VCU is going to be a tough team to beat.

by boomhauer25 on Mar 16, 2007 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Prospects for Duke?

DeMarcus Nelson and Josh McRoberts probably both go to the NBA, doubtful that Paulus does. Who is coming in next year? Will it be another down year for the Dukies?

Officially a Limey Longhorn

by patienthornsfan on Mar 16, 2007 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

aTm game

Not that I like aggies, but I remember last year when UT was a 2 seed and we drew the same Penn team. Their grind it out style made UT sweat out a victory the same way the ags did. Maybe too early to sell them

by DogTown on Mar 16, 2007 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea but last year's Penn team

hit something like 20 3s

by bamfor on Mar 16, 2007 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Double Disagree

We'll see.. Unless something has changed since I lived in Virginia, VCU is the University of Houston in Va. They have some good players, but none were wanted by other Div 1 schools. ODU is the same way, they'd both love to be in the ACC but can't compete.

Do you think that Rice and TCU will play a little harder against us next september. Hell yea, and if we aren't carefull TCU just might beat us. Just like we're the program to beat in the State of Texas, well Duke or N. Carolina are the schools to beat along "Tabacco Road"

I just think VCU will have a big let down.

Just Remember, No Matter What Happens, ou SUCKS.

by ouALWAYSsux on Mar 16, 2007 10:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As an Aggie...

Yesterday's game really concerned me and here is why:

Josh Carter is a much more crucial element on this team than people would like to believe or know. When he isnt hitting his 3's it puts a serious hamper on our offensive game. What he does is force defenses to move to the peremiter allowing us to open up our inside-outside game. When we cant do that it seriously impacts our ability to score in bunches.

by HMFIC on Mar 16, 2007 10:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yup

When Carter's not chipping in, the offense is a one-man show (Law penetrating). Fortunately for the Aggies, Law's -very- good at what he does, but still, to be at their best, they need Carter chipping in. Think back to the first Texas game, when the Aggies reached 100 points and had a tremendous offensive night - Carter was a deadly offensive weapon.

Because Carter disappeared yesterday, I thought the Aggies had to rely too much on amping up the defense. That takes a lot of energy, and you have to worry that a rested Louisville team is primed to take advantage.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on Mar 16, 2007 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

too early to bail on A&M

1st games are tricky and it's easy for good teams to play to the level of their competition. I expect A&M to settle down and play up to the level we expect from here on out.

by rom on Mar 16, 2007 10:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly

i'm not expecting the Ags to waltz to the final 4 but i seriously doubt we resemble anything near what we showed against penn. we have displayed signs of disinterest the past few games, common for heavy favorites. but from this point out, every team you face will be battle tested and i'm sure our guys are ready.

I expect much more intensity tomorrow. hostile environment, 1 game away from SA. I wouldn't be suprised to see breakout games from Acie, Carter and AK at Rupp.

Plus you know Billy has to put on a good performance for the locals.

by WacArnolds on Mar 16, 2007 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs