March Madness 2022

[ursus arctos]

Oh Texas

[Hot Pepsi]

Yay for the result. Neither team seemed to have their shooting boots on.

But... do people who actually enjoy basketball on a regular basis enjoy the nonsense of the last 2 minutes stretching out over 20 or 30 minutes, or do you find it as maddening as I do?

Main reason I don’t really follow basketball.

The incessant intentional fouls are one of the dumbest things in all of sports (at least the ones I know about).

Maybe give up to three shots to the fouled team after a certain number and don’t allow so many time outs.

[Cal Alamein]

Two 5s, a 9 and a 4.

[Hot Pepsi]

15 out of 16 for the women remains a ridiculous standard

The womens tournament is getting good ratings, apparently.

I think the main thing holding back women’s basketball is a paucity of close games and how predictable it is at the high end.

[San Bernardhinault]

Watching the women’s UConn against Ohio, it felt like the shooting was way better than in men’s games I’ve seen recently. Is that possible? Or is the basket lower? Or is there just much less pressure on shooters? The latter might be true but it felt like the free throw shots were also hit more regularly. Perhaps it’s not real and just my perception.

[Hot Pepsi]

Ohio State, not Ohio. People in Athens (and Columbus) will write us letters if we get that wrong.

The women’s game moves a bit slower and the defenders are a bit shorter. And perimeter shooting might be more valued because not many players can dunk. Depends on the team.

Apparently, women are generally more consistent in their free throw shooting, but the overall percentage is the same for both genders, or so I read.

[Hot Pepsi]

Two 5s, a 9 and a 4.

When was the last time no top 3 seeds made it?

[ursus arctos]

Never

[Hot Pepsi]

That’s interesting.

[Flynnie]

My buddy, who went to SDSU and lives outside Dallas, is beside himself that SDSU made the Final Four. He’s not sure he can make the semifinal on Saturday but is seriously considering what to do if they beat Florida Atlantic, which honestly seems like it could well happen.

I feel like a dick rooting for the only traditional basketball program left in the competition.

[Incandenza]

https://twitter.com/its_whitney/status/1640335766499852288

[Incandenza]

but a triple double in the tournament is history, and the first 40-point one ever. Some of these dimes are so satisfying

[San Bernardhinault]

My loyalties are broad and shallow. My Gamecocks just won nicely tonight. they’re a number one seed who might actually do well.

[ursus arctos]

Only the defending national champions who have won 39 games without losing this season after losing only twice last year

[Incandenza]

South Carolina v. Iowa on Friday night. Might be one of the highest rated women's college games ever.

[Incandenza]

Caitlin Clark, officially my new favorite player. 41 out of 77 points for Iowa. Scored or assisted on every Iowa point in the 4th. This is historic stuff.

[Hot Pepsi]

The three minutes of that game took about 30minutes.

[Hot Pepsi]

Caitlin Clark has scored more points in this offseason than Iowa football scored in all of the 2022 season.

[Incandenza]

Caitlin Clark has scored more points in this offseason than Iowa football scored in all of the 2022 season.

yeah it’s not lost on me that finding an Iowa team to be exciting is very strange.

and again some terrible foul calls down the stretch. Some physical post play for both teams whistles as fouls, whereas Boston wrestling the Iowa player with then ball down to the ground was called a tie up.

[danielmak]

Aztecs are horrible at the line. They are lucky that they can rebound.

[San Bernardhinault]

This is horrible shooting from both teams. But worse from SDSU

[San Bernardhinault]

Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.

[jason voorhees]

Not that bad.

[ursus arctos]

Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.

Neither were FAU

[jason voorhees]

I love any team that is at their most dangerous when they're down 6 with 5 to play like these Aztecs.

They just shut down teams down the stretch.