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(Most Miserable March out of the 68 teams in the tourney)
From an objective standpoint. Because of course, any fan will respond with their own team. Subjectively it is UConn for us. But objectively, so far it is...
1. VCU - Ouch, didn't even get a chance to play. I feel horrible for the players.
2. Ohio St. - I think the Buckeyes are the most miserable this March outside of maybe VCU. Considered a title contender by many, or at the very least, a "shoe-in" for the FFour, they flamed out in the first round vs Oral Roberts.
3. Illinois - Also considered a title contender by many or at least a FFour threat, they were handled by Loyola-Chicago in the second round. Illinois was supposed to be the better team, but never really threatened lower-seeded Loyola.
4. Purdue - Going down to 13 seed North Texas was hard enough. But they had to figure they had a chance of at least, at worst, making it a game vs. a hobbled Nova in the next round, with a very good shot at advancing to the S16. Ooops, gotta get past Noth Texas first.
5. Ok St - One of the best players in the country, a 4 seed, a weak P5 from a weaker than usual Pac10 as a 12....Totally laid an egg, the path to the S16 was paved in gold for Ok St. D'oh.
6. West Virginia - Must be feeling that "smfh" kind of feeling. Huggins flames out too early, yet again, against a very average Syracuse team who again, disrupted a superior team with their gimmick zone. Thank goodness for that 2009-10 FFour, eh?
7. Texas - Maybe not as popular of a FFour threat, they at least had a shot at beating a Bama for an elite 8 birth. I don't recall if UCLA played and won first, but if so, perhaps they were licking their chops at a potential matchup with an 11 seed instead of a 6 seed but Abilene Christian had something to say about that.
8. Virginia - The recent pause did not help, but there were no guarantees they would get past Creighton any way. So I think the previous teams can feel a lot worse.
9. Tennessee got a 5 seed and probably felt pretty good about drawing Oregon St. who snuck in with an auto-bid, because there was no way they were getting an at large. Then the game happened...
10. BYU - Some might say a 6 seed was a gift, and UCLA perhaps deserved better than an 11. More of a tough matchup than a reason to feel totally miserable like teams 1 and 2, but still, miserable just the same.
Honorable mentions: UCSB - "No moral victories" type of miserable feeling. UConn - "Lost an ugly game to a team that played pretty poorly because UConn played even more poorly" type of feeling. 10 over 7 is not uncommon at all, so the top 10 have more of a reason to feel miserable.
Teams that could replace teams already in the Top 10:
1. Gonzaga - This is Gonzaga's year, the field is opening up for Gonzaga in a year where many bluebloods either did not make it or are already out. Now is the Zags chance, take advantage! If they don't...
2. Baylor - Has to be the favorite going into the S16. If they don't win it, they will be wondering "what could have been" for the remainder of college basketball history.
3. UCLA - Imagine going down to a 14 seed for a chance at the S16.
4. Creighton - Must be licking their chops at a 13, Ohio, advancing instead of Virginia. As long as they don't lose.
5. Houston - Many said they were a weak 2 seed, perhaps #4 out of all 4, but now the field is wide open for a Ffour run. Losing to Cuse or Loyola/Oregon St would be about as close to a disaster as you can get for a team who already made it to the S16. Illinois, Ok St and WVU are gone, Houston has no excuse and very well could rocket up the Top 10 with a loss in the next two games.
6. Arkansas - You don't get Ohio St., instead, Oral Roberts. No excuse not to make the elite 8.
Loyola is free of the Top 10 no matter what after their dismantling of a one seed, though a loss to a subpar 12 seed would indeed hurt.
Who is your top 10 (or Top 5) most miserable teams this March?
Most miserable March of teams who did not make it:
Duke (streak ended despite all the top recruits), Kentucky (under .500 despite top recruits), Louisville (covid killed two possible matchups, and possibly "elimination games, with Cuse, ouch, 15-7 with 2 wins vs Cuse would have looked a lot better)
From an objective standpoint. Because of course, any fan will respond with their own team. Subjectively it is UConn for us. But objectively, so far it is...
1. VCU - Ouch, didn't even get a chance to play. I feel horrible for the players.
2. Ohio St. - I think the Buckeyes are the most miserable this March outside of maybe VCU. Considered a title contender by many, or at the very least, a "shoe-in" for the FFour, they flamed out in the first round vs Oral Roberts.
3. Illinois - Also considered a title contender by many or at least a FFour threat, they were handled by Loyola-Chicago in the second round. Illinois was supposed to be the better team, but never really threatened lower-seeded Loyola.
4. Purdue - Going down to 13 seed North Texas was hard enough. But they had to figure they had a chance of at least, at worst, making it a game vs. a hobbled Nova in the next round, with a very good shot at advancing to the S16. Ooops, gotta get past Noth Texas first.
5. Ok St - One of the best players in the country, a 4 seed, a weak P5 from a weaker than usual Pac10 as a 12....Totally laid an egg, the path to the S16 was paved in gold for Ok St. D'oh.
6. West Virginia - Must be feeling that "smfh" kind of feeling. Huggins flames out too early, yet again, against a very average Syracuse team who again, disrupted a superior team with their gimmick zone. Thank goodness for that 2009-10 FFour, eh?
7. Texas - Maybe not as popular of a FFour threat, they at least had a shot at beating a Bama for an elite 8 birth. I don't recall if UCLA played and won first, but if so, perhaps they were licking their chops at a potential matchup with an 11 seed instead of a 6 seed but Abilene Christian had something to say about that.
8. Virginia - The recent pause did not help, but there were no guarantees they would get past Creighton any way. So I think the previous teams can feel a lot worse.
9. Tennessee got a 5 seed and probably felt pretty good about drawing Oregon St. who snuck in with an auto-bid, because there was no way they were getting an at large. Then the game happened...
10. BYU - Some might say a 6 seed was a gift, and UCLA perhaps deserved better than an 11. More of a tough matchup than a reason to feel totally miserable like teams 1 and 2, but still, miserable just the same.
Honorable mentions: UCSB - "No moral victories" type of miserable feeling. UConn - "Lost an ugly game to a team that played pretty poorly because UConn played even more poorly" type of feeling. 10 over 7 is not uncommon at all, so the top 10 have more of a reason to feel miserable.
Teams that could replace teams already in the Top 10:
1. Gonzaga - This is Gonzaga's year, the field is opening up for Gonzaga in a year where many bluebloods either did not make it or are already out. Now is the Zags chance, take advantage! If they don't...
2. Baylor - Has to be the favorite going into the S16. If they don't win it, they will be wondering "what could have been" for the remainder of college basketball history.
3. UCLA - Imagine going down to a 14 seed for a chance at the S16.
4. Creighton - Must be licking their chops at a 13, Ohio, advancing instead of Virginia. As long as they don't lose.
5. Houston - Many said they were a weak 2 seed, perhaps #4 out of all 4, but now the field is wide open for a Ffour run. Losing to Cuse or Loyola/Oregon St would be about as close to a disaster as you can get for a team who already made it to the S16. Illinois, Ok St and WVU are gone, Houston has no excuse and very well could rocket up the Top 10 with a loss in the next two games.
6. Arkansas - You don't get Ohio St., instead, Oral Roberts. No excuse not to make the elite 8.
Loyola is free of the Top 10 no matter what after their dismantling of a one seed, though a loss to a subpar 12 seed would indeed hurt.
Who is your top 10 (or Top 5) most miserable teams this March?
Most miserable March of teams who did not make it:
Duke (streak ended despite all the top recruits), Kentucky (under .500 despite top recruits), Louisville (covid killed two possible matchups, and possibly "elimination games, with Cuse, ouch, 15-7 with 2 wins vs Cuse would have looked a lot better)
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