-- I was unable to watch the show "live"
-- The almost "immediate" announcement (Midwest Bracket came second) of Pitt playing the play-in game vs Miss St put me in a mixed mood, but I should've anticipated this when they showed NC State as an 11 vs Creighton in the South. NC State was always ahead of us (still a head-scratcher, IMO), so I figured then we might be in the play-in game. NC State will have a tough go of it in that region
-- UVA as a 4 must've been because Van der Plas (sp?) was not available for the ACCT final, but if I am Duke - as a 5 - I have to be licking my chops. I think their bracket provides them an easy chance to get to the Elite Eight and maybe the FF. The East Region looks very winnable for them
-- UVA on the other hand will have their hands full in the South Region, with a potential matchup with SD State and/or Alabama
-- Miami looks set up to face Houston for a chance to get to the EE, too. Like their draw
-- Clemson's absence is strictly due to their bad losses and SOS. They will certainly be a favorite among the NIT participants
-- Now on to Pitt ...
The positives: 1) Two days off should they win against MSU 2) Iowa State lost twice to WVU, so the tapes will be useful as Coach Capel and staff review their games vs the Hoopies and ours 3) Greensboro - as others have said, this team played two recent games there and will at least know something more about the court/lighting/etc in the first round 4) Possible "chip on their shoulder" mentality having to play an extra game
The negatives: 1) Having to play an extra game 2) MSU plays effective defense, and despite being the worst team in the nation with 3-point FG %tage, it always seems that a poor shooting team can rise to the occasion against our defense
Looking at the "bright side": We are in the NCAAT after a seven year drought; we have a veteran team that may want to prove that their record is worthy of that seed and then some
I hope that there will be a vocal support group for the Panthers in Dayton. Let the tournament begin on Tuesday, and Hail to Pitt!!
-- The almost "immediate" announcement (Midwest Bracket came second) of Pitt playing the play-in game vs Miss St put me in a mixed mood, but I should've anticipated this when they showed NC State as an 11 vs Creighton in the South. NC State was always ahead of us (still a head-scratcher, IMO), so I figured then we might be in the play-in game. NC State will have a tough go of it in that region
-- UVA as a 4 must've been because Van der Plas (sp?) was not available for the ACCT final, but if I am Duke - as a 5 - I have to be licking my chops. I think their bracket provides them an easy chance to get to the Elite Eight and maybe the FF. The East Region looks very winnable for them
-- UVA on the other hand will have their hands full in the South Region, with a potential matchup with SD State and/or Alabama
-- Miami looks set up to face Houston for a chance to get to the EE, too. Like their draw
-- Clemson's absence is strictly due to their bad losses and SOS. They will certainly be a favorite among the NIT participants
-- Now on to Pitt ...
The positives: 1) Two days off should they win against MSU 2) Iowa State lost twice to WVU, so the tapes will be useful as Coach Capel and staff review their games vs the Hoopies and ours 3) Greensboro - as others have said, this team played two recent games there and will at least know something more about the court/lighting/etc in the first round 4) Possible "chip on their shoulder" mentality having to play an extra game
The negatives: 1) Having to play an extra game 2) MSU plays effective defense, and despite being the worst team in the nation with 3-point FG %tage, it always seems that a poor shooting team can rise to the occasion against our defense
Looking at the "bright side": We are in the NCAAT after a seven year drought; we have a veteran team that may want to prove that their record is worthy of that seed and then some
I hope that there will be a vocal support group for the Panthers in Dayton. Let the tournament begin on Tuesday, and Hail to Pitt!!
