Final Two

[László]

Michigan! Go Blue!

 

[wilerty]

Bummer for me ... but great games.

 

[markie]

I will have to root for Louisville. I have always been a huge Pitino fan. I think he's the best Coach in College Basketball. That being said................ It was a real shame that Wichita State did not win that game last night! Those kids deserved to win IMHO.








Chicks game: Go Irish!

 

[László]

Bummer for me ... but great games.

You bet. I was on the edge of my seat!

I will have to root for Louisville. I have always been a huge Pitino fan. I think he's the best Coach in College Basketball.

Pitino is a great coach, no doubt.

But Belein has taken the youngest team in the tournament -- mostly freshmen -- and gotten them to the final game; I think you saw great coaching in how well-prepared Michigan's kids were for different styles of defenses that had previously shut down some very, very good teams: Syracuse's, Florida's, Kansas' fergodsakes, the "Havoc" defense, etc.

That's some pretty good coaching! In particular, down by a bunch of points against Kansas, Belein's decision not to start fouling, and instead to keep the ball in the hands of his hot shooters was unconventional, ballsy, and it worked.

Whether they can beat Louisville, we'll see, but we should be able to watch a really good game in any case!

 

[vchizzle]

I want Michigan to win so it's a Big 10 champ, but really, in my heart I want Louisville to win.

 

[László]

I want Michigan to win so it's a Big 10 champ, but really, in my heart I want Louisville to win.

Here's my thinking about what happens when B1G teams play outside the conference in a national matchup:

When a team from the conference does a good job (a win helps), the entire conference profile is raised. Fans are more likely to turn out for games, which helps the schools; kids are more likely to find the conference's teams attractive to play for, which helps recruiting; there's more TV exposure, which also helps the entire conference because the B1G shares revenue equitably.

I always, always root for the Big Ten team outside the conference. Even Ohio State.

Intra-conference play? Different story.

I presume you're a Wiscy fan and hate Michigan with the heat of a million suns, but a national title for the conference is good for Wiscy, and I'd feel the same way if another team from the conference was in the finals.

 

[watelessness]

Blue! Blue! Blue!

 

[László]

My team lost, but what a game that was!

Congrats to Louisville fans!

 

[watelessness]

That was a tough loss but hats off to the Cards

 

[vchizzle]

It was a really fun game to watch. I would've been cool with whoever won that one.