ESPN Picks

[ed4ourgirls]

The six ESPN "experts" are unanimous in picking the number one seeds
except for Raleigh where four of five are picking Maryland (Rebecca recuses
hereself on that game since she's doing the game). (I don't know how to do
links, but go to ESPN's WCBB home page and click on "picks" under the Elite
Eight Set (Midnight Strikes) video.)

Am I missing something here? I don't claim to be an expert, but from what
I've seen Notre Dame is not just better than Maryland - but much better.

I would be delighted to meet Maryland in the final four rather than having
to deal with Notre Dame again. But it ain't gonna happen.

 

[alexrgct]

I think they figure the odds are against all four teams making it and feel that's the likeliest upset because of physical matchups and Frese's championship experience. Just a guess.

 

[easttexastrash]

I guess I don't see what they see. The BE is the toughest conference and ND won that regular season conference title. To me, both ND and UCONN are heavy favorites due to the ridiculously tough conference schedule.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Maybe they are thinking that, with national television scrutiny, ND will have to really get fouled to get to the FT line. And that will make the Irish whine and self-destruct.

I think Alex is right. Maryland is a good 2 seed and is very different from ND--less experienced, not so well coached, but bigger and more athletic. If you pick a 2, this seems like the most logical, though Duke might be a close 2. Are you going to pick against Geno, Nneka, or Britney?

 

[HuskyNan]

I think they figure the odds are against all four teams making it and feel that's the likeliest upset because of physical matchups and Frese's championship experience. Just a guess.

Er, Muffet's team won the championship in 2001.

Brenda Frese, lifetime - 1 Championship, 2 Elite Eights, 1 Sweet 16, 5 NCAA second rounds = 9 NCAA tournament appearances
Muffet McGraw, lifetime - 1 Championship, 1 Championship runner up, 1 Final Four finish, 6 Sweet 16 finishes, 9 first or second round finishes = 18 NCAA tourney appearances
(not counting this year)

 

[uconnfan68]

The six ESPN "experts" are unanimous in picking the number one seeds
except for Raleigh where four of five are picking Maryland (Rebecca recuses
hereself on that game since she's doing the game). (I don't know how to do
links, but go to ESPN's WCBB home page and click on "picks" under the Elite
Eight Set (Midnight Strikes) video.)

Am I missing something here? I don't claim to be an expert, but from what
I've seen Notre Dame is not just better than Maryland - but much better.

I would be delighted to meet Maryland in the final four rather than having
to deal with Notre Dame again. But it ain't gonna happen.

It all depends on which team gets to bring their own refs.

 

[PacoSwede]

They've been on the pump up the Terps trail for quite awhile. Probably just a favored storyline ... they must have a storyline to stick to, after all. Just gives me a reason to root for ND, even though a 4th ND-UConn game would be a drag.

 

[Wonkster]

.
Oh, I don't know - it would be amusing to see the Twerps beat Notre Dame and then get run over by the Huskies. I could settle for that scenario.

I wouldn't cry if Stanford beat Baylor, either.
.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Er, Muffet's team won the championship in 2001.

Brenda Frese, lifetime - 1 Championship, 2 Elite Eights, 1 Sweet 16, 5 NCAA second rounds = 9 NCAA tournament appearances
Muffet McGraw, lifetime - 1 Championship, 1 Championship runner up, 1 Final Four finish, 6 Sweet 16 finishes, 9 first or second round finishes = 18 NCAA tourney appearances
(not counting this year)

They both have championship experience. I think Muffett is the better coach and has been in the tourney more, but she is almost 15 years older and has been a head coach 7 years longer. Comparing resumes that differ in duration is not a fully fair comparison. But I agree that Brenda's is clearly not better.

 

[HuskyNan]

They both have championship experience. I think Muffett is the better coach and has been in the tourney more, but she is almost 15 years older and has been a head coach 7 years longer. Comparing resumes that differ in duration is not a fully fair comparison. But I agree that Brenda's is clearly not better.

I was comparing their level of experience to show Frese doesn't have the advantage there.

 

[magical2]

The six ESPN "experts" are unanimous in picking the number one seeds
except for Raleigh where four of five are picking Maryland (Rebecca recuses
hereself on that game since she's doing the game). (I don't know how to do
links, but go to ESPN's WCBB home page and click on "picks" under the Elite
Eight Set (Midnight Strikes) video.)

Am I missing something here? I don't claim to be an expert, but from what
I've seen Notre Dame is not just better than Maryland - but much better.

I would be delighted to meet Maryland in the final four rather than having
to deal with Notre Dame again. But it ain't gonna happen.

I completely agree with you!
I am not a ND fan! We play them so much,"ya end up hating them". Having said that,I also have
watched them so many times,as I am sure alot of you have! The other day I saw the 6"experts" picking the elite games! I was really shocked to see 4 of the 5 who voted on the ND/MD game picked MD? Rebecca the 6th "expert" was smart enough to not share her pick since she is going to be doing the game!
I really do not want to play ND for the 4th time 2 seasons in a row! Having said that,I happen to strongly believe that ND is a better team than MD. The 3 SRs Novosol,Peters,and Mallory,JR Diggins,SOs McBride and Achowno are really good and IMHO the pick over MD! Offensively and Defensively they are better. Add Muffett and it is a recipe for another game for us against them in the Final Four< Strongly believe we take care of Kentucky> This means .......................

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

The six ESPN "experts" are unanimous in picking the number one seeds
except for Raleigh where four of five are picking Maryland (Rebecca recuses
hereself on that game since she's doing the game). (I don't know how to do
links, but go to ESPN's WCBB home page and click on "picks" under the Elite
Eight Set (Midnight Strikes) video.)

For the poster who claimed that Rebecca Lobo tweeted without knowing the rule regarding leaving the bench, I think he/she shoudl read this post and the link to see just how seriously Ms. Lobo takes her job - that she will not make a prediction on a game she is scheduled to announce.

 

[FairView]

Now only three of the six experts are picking Maryland. Does anyone know who flopped? I don't remember the originals. Also, Rebecca has decided to make a pick and has chosen the Irish.

 

[blackbird]

To me, the Irish are the favorites to win it all.

Yes, Baylor has Griner. But ND easily has the best backcourt in the country. And they've got the BE defensive player of the year up front. And another great defender in Mallory, and a really good scoring option in McBride.

They're a senior team, who has been there before. That's a lot different than Baylor, whose starting point guard is a sophomore.

A lot of disrespect coming here from ESPN commentators.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

To me, the Irish are the favorites to win it all.

Yes, Baylor has Griner. But ND easily has the best backcourt in the country. And they've got the BE defensive player of the year up front. And another great defender in Mallory, and a really good scoring option in McBride.

They're a senior team, who has been there before. That's a lot different than Baylor, whose starting point guard is a sophomore.

A lot of disrespect coming here from ESPN commentators.

I am sorry, but how is picking the other team to win the game "disrespect?" They are asked to make a pick, they evaluate the teams, and they make the pick. How is that disrespectful because some commentators chose a team to win different from the team you think should win?

 

[EricLA]

i think it will be interesting. when the elite 8 was set, i thought the biggest chance for a blowout was Baylor/Tenn and UCONN/Kentucky. i thought the 2 seeds with a slightly higher chance to spring the upset were Duke and Maryland.

i would have loved to have seen Duke or Maryland play Tennessee or Kentucky. i think both ACC teams would have come out on top but they would have been fun games to watch.

 

[blackbird]

I am sorry, but how is picking the other team to win the game "disrespect?" They are asked to make a pick, they evaluate the teams, and they make the pick. How is that disrespectful because some commentators chose a team to win different from the team you think should win?

Fine, maybe I should have just called it stupid. Seeing as ND won by 30. And if they played 10 more times, I'd guess the score would look about the same.

I used "disrespect" because, for what ever reason, they were picking a Maryland team with mediocre guards, and quite frankly, mediocre (but better) post players, to beat an experienced senior laden ND team with probably the most talent in the tournament.

 

[CamrnCrz1974]

Was not attacking you personally. Just think the "disrespect" card is vastly overplayed and it is usually unwarranted.

 

[blackbird]

I didn't think you were. And I agree, "disrespect" is used a lot. But I thought it was accurate in this case. I just thought that the ESPN commentators picking Maryland was borderline ridiculous. If there was to be an upset this round, personally, I would have said ND was the least likely.