Sweet 16 rooting interest

[StllH8L8ner]

This Duke team is not hateable,

 

[rrskyjf]

Guess I'll go against most - I'll take UK with Pope. The guy is so likeable and an up and coming great x and o guy. If not, I'll go with Houston.

Not sure how anyone can pull for Chokeapari. All that talent he had at UK, and only one title, with many choke jobs the last few years. How could you not run him out of there?

 

[TroyHall98]

Anyone except Duke or Purdont. Purdue fans are insufferable and whine about everything UConn or Hurley related.

Neither of these programs are worthy of concern from us so who cares what they do:

Duke-We’ve taken them out in national title and final four games. I say that more than makes up for the elite 8 Leattner shot. Oh, and we’ve matched their back to back.

Purdue—Really? They were supposed to be good last year and we toyed with them in the national title game.

 

[Ewekon]

Having a hard time finding teams I'd like to see win. A few I want to lose, but most I just don't care about.

In order of preference:

16. Duke. Obviously.

15. Ole Miss.

14/13. Auburn/Alabama. Their fans are more interested in spring football.

12. Michigan State. Izzo retires with one title.

11. Kentucky. New coach, not as hatable. Still Kentucky.

10-6. Whatever.

5. Arkansas. I'm not saying I like Calipari, but Kentucky fans are annoying, and watching the coach they ran out of town win a title in year one would at least be entertaining.

4. Florida. There was once a pride in losing to the team that won it all, but I think UConn is past that as a program.

3. Purdue. Painter seems like a good guy.

2. Tennessee. Rick Barnes has had a rough go. Him winning a title doesn't hurt us.

1. Houston. They seem fine. Why not.

Houston

 

[HCCForever]

Now, I have no real passion for the Men's tournament, but I will watch. Duke to lose and Houston and TN to win are good choices. But none of the games are must-see TV for me.

My passion is with Paige and the women's team. I was in a sport's bar on Monday in Florida and fans were interested which was a nice surprise.

And the Men's hockey team in the NCAAs for the first time ever.

 

[superjohn]

That’s a death knell you hear for “March Madness”. Next year no single lower seeded team will make it past the first round.

Nonsense

 

[maple]

I will root for everyone who plays Duke. A coworker of mine (who is a Notre Dame fan, ugh) is from Maine and was obnoxious as hell last year about Cooper Flagg going to Duke. I hate Duke on a good day, so now I am extra petty about wanting to see them get bounced.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

None, but Florida only because UConn lost by just 2 pts to possible champions. Or, relative unknown Texas Tech, because the Red Raiders are non-$EC, non-B1G (MI ST, Purdue, and newby Arizona), not Houston or BYU, and not ¥#&£$ Dook.

 

[Marat]

Forgot that today there are S16 games. I guess I don't care much. Maybe will tune in to see if Florida handles MD.

 

[uconnfan68]

This Duke team is not hateable, but it's still Duke.

I see your point on BYU, but it's hard to pull for a program that is now signing up hot dog OAD's like Dysbantsa to unprecedented NIL. I think it sets a bad trend, and too deeply aligned what's wrong these days. Watching a Mormon empire build with a wealthy tech guy just feels weird for the sport.

Makes you wonder why religion isn’t taxed.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

I'm rooting for AZ so when we play them next season it will be to take back our crown. (I believe we have a home and home starting next season)

 

[gsmooth]

View attachment 108165

This makes for a fun game of guess which team it is for the 16

 

[AZHuskiePop]

This makes for a fun game of guess which team it is for the 16

i wondered why Belmont slipped , Being a mid major coach sucks
Fla Atlantic also
Good for Purdue thats a reason to root for them
I think the SEC teams are easy to pick but not necessarily which SEC team although TT gives them a run
MSU, BYU , DUKE ,Maryland we all easy also

 

[jibsey]

Duke about 8 five star players, the top one getting nearly 5 million, their team paying 20 million and they’re not hateable?
St. John’s leads NIL in the BE with 5 million funded by a billionaire and they’re not hateable?
If we’re going to compete again for a title I guess we’re going to have to be more hateable ($).

 

[dvegas]

As much as I hate Dook, add Tennessee to that list, my cousin in Wethersfield, one of the only UT grads in Connecticut (Pennsylvania carpetbagger) has such hate for UConn (it's banner envy) that I hope Kensucky puts him in deep misery this weekend!

Rocky Flop!!!

 

[superjohn]

Duke about 8 five star players, the top one getting nearly 5 million, their team paying 20 million and they’re not hateable?
St. John’s leads NIL in the BE with 5 million funded by a billionaire and they’re not hateable?
If we’re going to compete again for a title I guess we’re going to have to be more hateable ($).

Duke's NIL is nowhere near that.

 

[jibsey]

Duke's NIL is nowhere near that.

Tell me what it is. I’ve seen written 15-20 million and we know Flagg is at 4.8. They have the rest of team of 5 stars splitting 10 million? Sounds reasonable.
And still there is no indication from anyone here what our NIL actually was or will be next season, or how it will compare to St. John’s now our main rival.

 

[RuffRuff]

Tell me what it is. I’ve seen written 15-20 million and we know Flagg is at 4.8. They have the rest of team of 5 stars splitting 10 million? Sounds reasonable.
And still there is no indication from anyone here what our NIL actually was or will be next season, or how it will compare to St. John’s now our main rival.

Might we assume that if we wanted Flagg, we were also willing to pony up the 5mm for one player?

 

[superjohn]

Tell me what it is. I’ve seen written 15-20 million and we know Flagg is at 4.8. They have the rest of team of 5 stars splitting 10 million? Sounds reasonable.
And still there is no indication from anyone here what our NIL actually was or will be next season, or how it will compare to St. John’s now our main rival.

We offered the same or more to Flagg that Duke did. Flagg has national deals with Gatorade, New Balance, and AT&T. He's in national commercials, he would've gotten these deals at whichever school he picked and even if he didn't play college ball.