UConn not in Albany? Portland bracket here (merged)

[jaydee602]

It seldom works out this way. But if all the favorites win, here is UCONN's path to the Championship.
PORTLAND REGION 3
Jackson State (#14)
Syracuse (#6)
Ohio State (#2)
USC (#1)
FINAL FOUR
Iowa (Winner of Albany 2)
South Carolina (Winner of Albany 1 vs. Portland 4)

 

[Urshurak]

Exactly. I blame the popularity of WCBB for UConn not being in Albany. No need now for attendance considerations. Plus it's a little harder with 2 sites instead of 4 to attempt to make the tournament more regional (it's still called a "region" wouldcha know...).

Can ESPN find someone who knows how to pronounce Albany instead of Al-BAIN-knee? Someone must have whispered in her ear that she sounds like a jerk because she did get a little better after a while.

My favorite was "Holly" Cross. I mean come on.....just embarrassing.....

 

[LwrcasefaN]

We could have all we can handle in the first game. Jacksonville is a quick scrappy team, good on OBDs. They beat St Johns and notable losses Texas, K state, Oregon state. We better be ready to go Sat.

Yea...they are, but most of those teams can't put 3 point guards on the floor. Edwards should go off. They have two bigs 6'5"+, but they don't play big minutes. They play small ball for the most part.

 

[BobbyJ]

They haven’t both shown up in a big game this year. Paige fades to the background against the better teams this year so I don’t see it with them. Not Georgia Amoore m/Liz Kitley level or Clark/Cizano level duo that can take their teams far unfortunately. I think our ceiling is pretty low.

In her last full season, Bueckers took her team just as far as Clark took hers last year. And Kitley level? That's amusing.

 

[The deacon]

We could have all we can handle in the first game. Jacksonville is a quick scrappy team, good on OBDs. They beat St Johns and notable losses Texas, K state, Oregon state. We better be ready to go Sat.

Yes, Jackson State edged St. John's by four points in November, but those losses to Oregon State (by 20), and to Texas and Kansas State (both by more than 40), are notable only in that they were all blowouts.

UConn needs to be ready, for sure, but a decent game by the Huskies should provide a comfortable victory.

 

[FairView]

Any suggestions as to best way to sell tickets for Albany games?

I have six all session tickets. I decided not to resell them and leave them as empty seats. Imagine if all UConn fans who bought Albany tickets did that. The Albany games would be played in from of half empty seats. I am happier with the Portland draw -- I just wanted that draw in Albany.

 

[maple]

Without UConn for the second year in a row is disappointing but we‘ll see some really good teams and maybe get to see Caitlin in person. We have been to Albany many times to visit my wife’s relatives. They’re all in the same cemetery.
We’ll go spend a few hours at Stickley’s looking at furniture too rich for us. Maybe go to the Cheesecake Factory for a 4,000 calorie meal. We used to go to Grandma’s but they closed and then we found the Latham Diner. Who says there’s nothing to do in Albany!

Check out Krause's if you have time. Their chocolates are divine. I always grab some when I'm in the area.

 

[OldSchooler]

Game 1 has been scheduled for Saturday at 1PM EST vs. Jackson State.
It will be on ABC!

EDT

 

[browns]

They are two All-Americans with a history of showing in big games. When UCONN was a juggernaut I'd always have some trepidation for a 1st team A/A (especially in which she could be the best player on the court) and a prior A/A like Edwards. Two highly experienced players.

I didn't say win a championship - I said low floor (can get beat in rd 1) - and a high ceiling - I consider a high ceiling at least an E8.

If you think it near hopeless to doubt A prior POY in which over her career she has been an enormous big game performer and Edwards - a very, very athletic talented player to certainly getting drafted in rd 1 in which she has played well vs the elite teams over her career- then that is your opinion.

If I were to use your methodology - I might even look at Auriemma and say "He hasn’t performed well in big games this year too," and thus eliminate him from being capable of drawing up a game plan. Which is not what I'm willing to do.

Adding all this up - along with the history of basketball which tells me to fear 1st team All-Americans (i.e. could be best player on the floor) - especially experienced ones along with a senior in Edwards - another very experienced and highly talented A/A caliber -- all of this equals imo as to what I say; - "High Ceiling."

Tell me if you don't mind -- would you draft Paige Bueckers in 1st 5 picks of WNBA draft if she came out? If so, why?

Unfortuntely AE has been a no show in the last 3 elimination games in the Dance..Arizona,SC and last year Ohio S

 

[HuskyNan]

They haven’t both shown up in a big game this year. Paige fades to the background against the better teams this year so I don’t see it with them. Not Georgia Amoore m/Liz Kitley level or Clark/Cizano level duo that can take their teams far unfortunately. I think our ceiling is pretty low.

Gosh, why bother watching them, then?

 

[browns]

Couldn't hope for a better draw It's time for Paige to do a Caitlin Clark impersonation and carry her team to the FF..she has help in Edwards if she plays up to her AA status
I said a few weeks ago that S16 was the ceiling for this team but I changed my mind now..If they meet Ohio State I feel they can beat them if Paige and AE play like AA..same if they advance and play USC..

 

[oldude]

Unfortuntely AE has been a no show in the last 3 elimination games in the Dance..Arizona,SC and last year Ohio S

Every game is an elimination game in the Big Dance, and Aaliyah has played a number of wonderful games that UConn won. But hey, why not dwell on the 3 losses rather than the 11 victories…….

 

[Rowdy831]

I think that UConn got the best draw they could hope for. No matter where you go you will have good teams to play and with UConn I thought it would come down to match ups and they got about as good in that regard as they possible could. Of all the top seeds I would want to play USC because I think Nika can defend JuJu and make it tough on them.

Iowa on the other hand has almost no chance of making the Final 4 with their draw. CC better her points early because I think they are out after two games. I thought SC got a pretty easy road too with ND who lost a bunch of games as the 2 seed?

 

[GoUconn7961]

The best part of the Albany bracket only 1 out of these three will come out of it.- Iowa, UCLA or LSU.
UConn has won from different regions before, and UConn didn't earn Albany this season. The committee isn't worried about butts in the seats with the teams they put there.

I'd also like to see Bueckers and Edwards take over a game at the same time. So far it's been one or the other and you can't have that this time of year.

 

[Zarathustra]

We could have all we can handle in the first game. Jacksonville is a quick scrappy team, good on OBDs. They beat St Johns and notable losses Texas, K state, Oregon state. We better be ready to go Sat.

Jackson State University ( not Jacksonville). Jackson State, from the Southwestern Athletic Conference, has something
like a 21-game winning streak (after all those early OOC losses).

 

[Surly1]

Gosh, why bother watching them, then?

Yes, it's hard to take someone seriously when they state that a former NPOY, the number one recruit in the nation coming out of high school, who has taken her team to two Final Fours, and has consistently averaged 20 pts a game when healthy and shot over 50% for her career, doesn't match up to the palmares of Georgia Amore.

Don't get me wrong, I love Amore's game, but other than the Hokie fanbase, not one serious women's basketball follower would take Amore over Paige.

As for Kitley over Aaliyah, let's see who the pros prefer.

Lastly, most of his posts are knocks against UConn.

 

[TN-Gamecock]

How many UCONN folks here would love to see a another Carolina vs IOWA matchup in the final four? I'll be pulling for UCONN in the other brackets.

 

[VAUConnFan]

This team has not shown anything to indicate they have a high ceiling imo

1. When you have the talent, the ceiling remains high.
2. There are many more very good teams now that should translate to madness in March.
3. For those who might despair UConn's chances given their losses against the quality non conference opponents, I think back to the 2011 UConn men's team that entered the Big East Tournament as the 9 seed. Then, someone over at the men's board posted an incredible thread about putting on the big boy pants that just took off. UConn has top talent and top coaching. UConn WBB now find themselves in the unfamiliar position of surviving and advancing.
4. UConn would do well to not look past their possible second round matchup against Syracuse. They have beaten Notre Dame twice this season.

 

[Skeets]

I have six all session tickets. I decided not to resell them and leave them as empty seats. Imagine if all UConn fans who bought Albany tickets did that. The Albany games would be played in from of half empty seats. I am happier with the Portland draw -- I just wanted that draw in Albany.

If all the UConn fans did that the NCAA would cry all the way to the bank. Better to let some deserving folks from the corn fields have shot at the tickets. It's the sporting thing to do. The real winners? Ticketmaster.

 

[uconnfan68]

Exactly. I blame the popularity of WCBB for UConn not being in Albany. No need now for attendance considerations. Plus it's a little harder with 2 sites instead of 4 to attempt to make the tournament more regional (it's still called a "region" wouldcha know...).

Can ESPN find someone who knows how to pronounce Albany instead of Al-BAIN-knee? Someone must have whispered in her ear that she sounds like a jerk because she did get a little better after a while.

Yet the mens committee said this was their rational after UConn men chose the East. Apparently that through them for a loop.

 

[browns]

I don't know much about Syracuse but it's ind of scary knowing they beat ND twice..thankfully the game is at Storrs

 

[HuskyNan]

How many UCONN folks here would love to see an another Carolina vs IOWA matchup in the final four? I'll be pulling for UCONN in the other brackets.

Please use the General board to discuss non-UConn teams

 

[Skeets]

I have six all session tickets. I decided not to resell them and leave them as empty seats. Imagine if all UConn fans who bought Albany tickets did that. The Albany games would be played in from of half empty seats. I am happier with the Portland draw -- I just wanted that draw in Albany.

By the way, I sold all 4 Albany sessions in a matter of minutes. Maybe I priced them too cheap? It does sooth the hurt a little bit about Portland.

 

[Dogstar]

Yes, it's hard to take someone seriously when they state that a former NPOY, the number one recruit in the nation coming out of high school, who has taken her team to two Final Fours, and has consistently averaged 20 pts a game when healthy and shot over 50% for her career, doesn't match up to the palmares of Georgia Amore.

Don't get me wrong, I love Amore's game, but other than the Hokie fanbase, not one serious women's basketball follower would take Amore over Paige.

As for Kitley over Aaliyah, let's see who the pros prefer.

Lastly, most of his posts are knocks against UConn.

Haters must hate otherwise they'll fade away into obscurity, not specifically talking abt anyone in particular...ijs

 

[oldude]

How many UCONN folks here would love to see a another Carolina vs IOWA matchup in the final four? I'll be pulling for UCONN in the other brackets.

I believe the way the brackets are set up, should UConn, SC & Iowa all make it to the FF, UConn would face Iowa in one semifinal while SC would face the winner of the other Portland regional where TX is the #1 seed.

 

[Bone Dog]

Oooh it's tournament. I can hardly wait to see what Paige will do this time.

 

[AmeriConn]

Was anyone else annoyed that the announcer kept referring to All-bany as Al-bany?

 

[hoophuskee]

Unfortuntely AE has been a no show in the last 3 elimination games in the Dance..Arizona,SC and last year Ohio S

There are more games than elimination games. When I referred to big games it's more than just them - and also include reg. season.

Throw in the senior factor. Throw in as a senior she is playing with what -would be up to if they were getting to the E8- that Paige would be best player on the floor.

Again - I didn't say "win championship." I said "high ceiling." Edwards is going to go 1st rd in WNBA add in sr with experience and a probable 1st rd pick playing with a guard who is among the best player’s in country playing on a very well-coached team in which we have seen Edwards perform well vs top competition. IMO if you are dismissing that she can't play well because of three past elimination games - then we can agree to disagree.

 

[hoophuskee]

Couldn't hope for a better draw It's time for Paige to do a Caitlin Clark impersonation and carry her team to the FF..she has help in Edwards if she plays up to her AA status
I said a few weeks ago that S16 was the ceiling for this team but I changed my mind now..If they meet Ohio State I feel they can beat them if Paige and AE play like AA..same if they advance and play USC..

Hmmm -- I thought you were disagreeing with me on a prior post. Now you say they cna have the possibility of beating Ohio State? And even USC? Am I reading your point of view, correct? If so, so you think they can get to E8 and FF, so you agree with me that they have a high ceiling, correct? Unless you don't think E8 and FF is considered "High Ceiling? - I do --so that was my point. Maybe it's just semantics.

 

[Redux]

Gosh, why bother watching them, then?

Not much on TV these days. I'll watch a UConn women's game as long as it doesn't conflict with a rerun of "the Newlywed Game" or "My Mother the Car."