NCAA Basketball 20-21 Catch-All

Down to the wire! But a terrible shot leads to a rebound and another miss for Michigan.... Free throws for UCLA, and Juzang misses the second!

Michigan gets one last look and misses a 3!

Inbounds play fails, and UCLA goes from the first four to the final four!

Holy crap. UCLA.

Stele wrote:

Holy crap. UCLA.

It was a heck of a game. Way more interesting than the Gonzaga/USC one that preceded it.

Missed free throws again will haunt the losing team. Hunter Dickinson missed 3 in the final minutes of the game.

Despite the Pac-12's resurgence, its equally as disappointing to see what Cal hasn't been able to do during this same period. I get it takes time to build up programs and Cal can't just bounce back maybe the same way a UCLA can but we really are an embarrassment.

We've had 3 coaches in the 7 seasons with all of one tournament appearance which was a 1st round loss despite having NBA All star Jaylen Brown and the #1 California HS Player (Ivan Rabb) on that team.

Over the last 4 seasons we've had a whopping 15 conference wins total. If relegation were a thing in NCAA basketball, we would have definitely traded places with SDSU, Gonzaga, St. Mary's or USF by now.

Roy Williams retiring.
Press conference at 4
Not April fool's.
Whoa.

Stele wrote:

Roy Williams retiring.
Press conference at 4
Not April fool's.
Whoa.

I came here to post this, after exhaustively trying to find the "Ha Ha, April Fools" part of the joke. Wow. Did not see that coming, and definitely didn't see it being announced on April First.

Welp, it's Final Four day... predictions?

I'm still convinced Gonzaga ends UCLA's magic run,

I also think that Baylor struggles with Houston a bit before clamping down in the 2nd half to win out, leading to the Gonzaga / Baylor match we've been itching for all season!

Oh man. Early in COVID, my friends and I started an online D&D game. The DM brought in a friend of his, and now he's a friend of mine as well. He's a die-hard sports NUT, U of H alum, and he's at this game.

So, Houston definitely breaking the tie with Illinois and Oklahoma (5) with most Final Fours without a title after tonight.

Yikes, that was some half.

Stele wrote:

So, Houston definitely breaking the tie with Illinois and Oklahoma (5) with most Final Fours without a title after tonight.

Yikes, that was some half.

Yeah, another instance of one team playing very well and the other playing very poorly.

Houston is making up some ground here in the second, but they have a very deep hole to crawl out of.

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Oh man. Early in COVID, my friends and I started an online D&D game. The DM brought in a friend of his, and now he's a friend of mine as well. He's a die-hard sports NUT, U of H alum, and he's at this game.

I, uh... hope he's doing ok. That first half would have raised my blood pressure to epic levels.

Tyrian wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Oh man. Early in COVID, my friends and I started an online D&D game. The DM brought in a friend of his, and now he's a friend of mine as well. He's a die-hard sports NUT, U of H alum, and he's at this game.

I, uh... hope he's doing ok. That first half would have raised my blood pressure to epic levels.

We have a group chat. I told him we all missed him during our Thursday session, where someone else played his character... and then TheWalt told him the truth about how the other guy piloted his character more skillfully! This is no time for truth, Walt! XD

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Tyrian wrote:
Fedaykin98 wrote:

Oh man. Early in COVID, my friends and I started an online D&D game. The DM brought in a friend of his, and now he's a friend of mine as well. He's a die-hard sports NUT, U of H alum, and he's at this game.

I, uh... hope he's doing ok. That first half would have raised my blood pressure to epic levels.

We have a group chat. I told him we all missed him during our Thursday session, where someone else played his character... and then TheWalt told him the truth about how the other guy piloted his character more skillfully! This is no time for truth, Walt! XD

Brutal!

That's the exact word he used to describe this game at halftime!

Second game much better so far. UCLA up 4 with 4 minutes in half

Stele wrote:

Second game much better so far. UCLA up 4 with 4 minutes in half

UCLA keeps surprising me. They are taking Gonzaga out of their game (or at least slowing them down significantly). I look forward to the remainder of the contest!

4 minutes, 1 point. Wow.

UCLA is having a great offensive game. Gonzaga is missing free throws and threes. Pretty even contest!

Annnnnd OT. Daaaaamn.

Oh my god! What a finish!

Half court buzzer beater for the win! Gonzaga moves on!

That was crazy

No kidding! Now THAT was a final four game!

Best game all season for sure.

And a real back and forth. Biggest lead 7 for Gonzaga and 6 for UCLA. Dozens of ties and lead changes. Felt like any play could make the difference.

Winner was who had the ball last.

Juzang probably regrets not pulling up for a jumper in regulation and getting that charge. Tough break.

Finish was a lot like that Kentucky UNC game a few years ago. Jubilation with a last 10 second shot... Then bam the other team wins at the buzzer. What a swing. I was sure we were getting double overtime.

Yeah, the whole game had a feeling akin to a heavyweight prize fight. Back and forth, back and forth. One team would create a little separation, then the other would close the gap. Absolutely agree, the best game of the season. And there were some good ones in the tournament so far!

Monday night has a lot to live up to now. Gonzaga is gonna need some rest.

43 of 45 minutes the game was within 2 possessions. That's insane.

Women's final was not nearly so well played but it was a close game tonight. Stanford survives Arizona by a point. Contested 3 at the buzzer bricked.

Arizona was down 10 most of the game, cut it to 3 at the start of the 4th. Then back down 9 then cut it to 1 multiple times in the last 3 minutes but never could get the lead.

Results from prior years.

Also, here are the former GWJ March Madness Bracket Challenge Champions:

2019 Champ - ukickmydog
2018 Champ - TheWalt
2017 Champ - Ego Man
2016 Champ - SaintFaucet
2015 Champ - Stele
2014 Champ - Zaque
2013 Champ - Ego Man
2012 Champ - Ego Man
2011 Champ - Apollo0507
2010 Champ - datawang
2009 Champ - oldmanscene24
2005 Champ - Edgar_Newt

So it's tboon or Ego Man depending on tonight's game?

And Ego won the sweet 16 one already but there were only 3 people in it, haha.

Hubert Davis replacing Williams as UNC's head coach. First African American head coach in UNC history.

Definitely a continuity pick, I think. No previous head coaching experience, but not a bad choice regardless (Williams didn't have any when he took the HC job at Kansas).

Hubert has been there for 9 years. Hope he does well.