Bracketology Thread 2023

[Vander Blue Man Group]

No doubt.  I was proud to die on the John Dawson hill.  Sure as hell beat the alternative of dying on the Derrick Wilson hill.  To this day I've never seen a high major PG disrespected by the opposition's defense as much as was the case with Derrick Wilson.  I mean I got it with Buzz maxing Derrick's minutes as Buzz was giving MU a big F-You on the way out the door.  But Wojo??  LMAO.  That was all the evidence needed to realize Wojo was an absolute idiot.

What year is it?

[panda]

What year is it?

Only the best hoopers end their careers at Liberty with a 91 offensive rating. 

[The Lens]

The fact that 4Ever hasn't entered the Derrick vs. Dawson debate by adding Crean Sucks has me concerned for his well being.

[wisblue]

It's strange, but I feel like the top end is weak but the bubble is strong. I find myself thinking "seriously, these are my options for the 3/5/6 lines?" but when I get to the bottom, there are 3-4 teams I really want to put in but there just isn't room.

Do you publish a bracket somewhere?

Edit: NM. I see it's on Cracked Sidewalks.

[Newsdreams]

The fact that 4Ever hasn't entered the Derrick vs. Dawson debate by adding Crean Sucks has me concerned for his well being.

He's more on the scanner nowadays

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Like moths to a flame.  It's too easy.  Just as it was being the first Scooper to dump on Wojo 10 games in and tell this board he didn't have it.

I know you think this somehow give you credibility. All it does it prove that you based your entire evaluation of Wojo on whether or not he would prove that you had been right along about the Derrick vs. Dawson debate. Making a correct prediction based on insufficient information doesn't make one a genius, just lucky.

[brewcity77]

Can't say without knowing the full history of the bubble.  If MU isn't on it, I usually don't pay attention.

All I know is that Ohio St appears in 49 out of 80 brackets on bracketmatrix, despite being 11-9 overall, 3-6 in the B10, are the only B10 team to lose to Minnesota (at home no less), and should not be projected in the field IMO despite their top 30 NET ranking. A lot of teams near the bubble have similar resumes; good computer numbers with few if any real quality wins and multiple questionable losses. Looking at you Nevada.

Bracket Matrix as of yesterday hadn't updated in days. Was discussing this on Twitter when someone complained about Wisconsin's placement, but their last two losses hadn't been reflected in updates. Until they start updating every 1-2 days (usually mid-February) it isn't always an accurate reflection of what's happened lately. As of last night, only 17/80 brackets reflected Ohio State's most recent loss.

I have Ohio State at the back of the NIT 2-seeds, and they're fading fast. I like Nevada's resume. Boise and New Mexico are good teams. I think the Mountain West currently deserves 4, though they probably only get 3 in at the end of the day. If you look at it from a "who can you beat" perspective, everyone in my last eight (NC State, Clemson, Nevada, Mizzou, ASU, Pitt, Kentucky, Bucky) has multiple wins over tourney teams except UK, who has the best win of all of them. Penn State, TAMU, WVU, and Wake all have enough at the top that I would like to see what they could do with a trip to Dayton, but you can only take 68.

I do think the decline after that is a bit steep. Oklahoma and Utah I can see making a case, but they just don't have enough yet.

[Elonsmusk]

I know you think this somehow give you credibility. All it does it prove that you based your entire evaluation of Wojo on whether or not he would prove that you had been right along about the Derrick vs. Dawson debate. Making a correct prediction based on insufficient information doesn't make one a genius, just lucky.

It wasn't just the Dawson vs Derrick issue.  It was also how Wojo "coached" Deonte Burton.  It was his decision to play Haanif at PG over Traci Carter in Year 2. And how he coached JJJ that year.  And then Jamal Cain. So, while I recognized it early, the evidence continued to stack up, which is why I never relented in my disapproval for him as MU's head coach.

Sorry that you didn't see it early, despite knowing ball.  You're generally on target, but you really missed the mark by being a staunch Wojo supporter for 5 years.  You're welcome to think I was "lucky," and have no credibility, but that's a pretty bizarre statement coming from you - a guy who staunchly supported Wojo for 5+ years.

[brewcity77]

Since it's not Marquette relevant anymore, maybe take the Wojo discussion to the Superbar?

[MU82]

Since it's not Marquette relevant anymore, maybe take the Wojo discussion to the Superbar?

[4everwarriors]

Sometimes, Palm is the best you got

Fore sum itz Rosie Palm and her four friends, aina?

[willie warrior]

It wasn't just the Dawson vs Derrick issue.  It was also how Wojo "coached" Deonte Burton.  It was his decision to play Haanif at PG over Traci Carter in Year 2. And how he coached JJJ that year.  And then Jamal Cain. So, while I recognized it early, the evidence continued to stack up, which is why I never relented in my disapproval for him as MU's head coach.

Sorry that you didn't see it early, despite knowing ball.  You're generally on target, but you really missed the mark by being a staunch Wojo supporter for 5 years.  You're welcome to think I was "lucky," and have no credibility, but that's a pretty bizarre statement coming from you - a guy who staunchly supported Wojo for 5+ years.

It is well known that TAMU, the alledged knower of ball was making excuses and supporting Wojo almost to the bitter end of Wojo. Recall some of the logic that many offered that MU owed too much money to Wojo to dump him or we are trending in the right trajectory or there is nobody else available out there or it would be a blow to the program to cut him now and so on. How soon some have forgotten all that rhetoric and debate. At least we got the guy we needed even after all the excuses cleared.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I know you think this somehow give you credibility. All it does it prove that you based your entire evaluation of Wojo on whether or not he would prove that you had been right along about the Derrick vs. Dawson debate. Making a correct prediction based on insufficient information doesn't make one a genius, just lucky.

Ners will die on this "who was a less sh*tty point guard" hill. And then make excuses why a "good" coach didn't agree with him. It's all very odd.

[brewcity77]

Just trying to save Ners from himself.

[panda]

It wasn't just the Dawson vs Derrick issue.  It was also how Wojo "coached" Deonte Burton.  It was his decision to play Haanif at PG over Traci Carter in Year 2. And how he coached JJJ that year.  And then Jamal Cain. So, while I recognized it early, the evidence continued to stack up, which is why I never relented in my disapproval for him as MU's head coach.

Sorry that you didn't see it early, despite knowing ball.  You're generally on target, but you really missed the mark by being a staunch Wojo supporter for 5 years.  You're welcome to think I was "lucky," and have no credibility, but that's a pretty bizarre statement coming from you - a guy who staunchly supported Wojo for 5+ years.

#Notobsessed

[Newsdreams]

Just trying to save Ners from himself.

Time to waste?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It wasn't just the Dawson vs Derrick issue.  It was also how Wojo "coached" Deonte Burton.  It was his decision to play Haanif at PG over Traci Carter in Year 2. And how he coached JJJ that year.  And then Jamal Cain. So, while I recognized it early, the evidence continued to stack up, which is why I never relented in my disapproval for him as MU's head coach.

Sorry that you didn't see it early, despite knowing ball.  You're generally on target, but you really missed the mark by being a staunch Wojo supporter for 5 years.  You're welcome to think I was "lucky," and have no credibility, but that's a pretty bizarre statement coming from you - a guy who staunchly supported Wojo for 5+ years.

If you want to amend you statement to evidence piled up over multiple seasons, I would gladly agree with you. My comment was specifically about your claim that 10 games is enough evidence to "know" if a coach would work out or not.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It is well known that TAMU, the alledged knower of ball was making excuses and supporting Wojo almost to the bitter end of Wojo. Recall some of the logic that many offered that MU owed too much money to Wojo to dump him or we are trending in the right trajectory or there is nobody else available out there or it would be a blow to the program to cut him now and so on. How soon some have forgotten all that rhetoric and debate. At least we got the guy we needed even after all the excuses cleared.

Nothing alleged about it Willie. My title was granted to me by Goose, the Grand Poobah of the Meat Eaters.

I know it is easy to mistake optimism for support when one tends towards pessimism. When it comes to things outside my control (such as Marquette basketball) I tend towards optimism. Even when a player, coach, or team is not doing well, I'd rather hope for improvement than wallow. This was posted on here not long ago, agree with every word: https://twitter.com/PaintTouches/status/1615464939568734214

If you go through my old posts, you won't find any posts declaring Wojo a genius or claiming that he would take us to the promised land. You'll just find hope for improvement and me repeatedly maintaining that Wojo hadn't done enough to get fired until the middle of year 7...which was the year he got fired. And while it was a painful process, it ended up being for the best. No way we get Shaka if we fire Wojo any sooner. Maybe we would have gotten someone better but I doubt it. Shaka and MU seem like the perfect marriage.

You mentioned the too much money argument. I did say something along those lines in year 7 but I also gave a caveat every time I said it. It was too much money for MU. If a donor or donors stepped in to pay the buyout than he would be fired. That's what happened. If that had happened, Wojo would have been our coach last season.

[Goose]

TAMU


If we could publish a MS org chart you would see that I am way down the list on Grand Poobah of the group. There are some senior members of the tribe that hold loftier positions. I might be the most vocal on MU ball, but far from the leader of the crew.

[Tha Hound]

Nothing alleged about it Willie. My title was granted to me by Goose, the Grand Poobah of the Meat Eaters.

I know it is easy to mistake optimism for support when one tends towards pessimism. When it comes to things outside my control (such as Marquette basketball) I tend towards optimism. Even when a player, coach, or team is not doing well, I'd rather hope for improvement than wallow. This was posted on here not long ago, agree with every word: https://twitter.com/PaintTouches/status/1615464939568734214

If you go through my old posts, you won't find any posts declaring Wojo a genius or claiming that he would take us to the promised land. You'll just find hope for improvement and me repeatedly maintaining that Wojo hadn't done enough to get fired until the middle of year 7...which was the year he got fired. And while it was a painful process, it ended up being for the best. No way we get Shaka if we fire Wojo any sooner. Maybe we would have gotten someone better but I doubt it. Shaka and MU seem like the perfect marriage.

You mentioned the too much money argument. I did say something along those lines in year 7 but I also gave a caveat every time I said it. It was too much money for MU. If a donor or donors stepped in to pay the buyout than he would be fired. That's what happened. If that had happened, Wojo would have been our coach last season.

I don't have a dog in this fight but in my opinion, "thank god we hung on to an underperforming, losing coach a whole 7 years because look how it turned out timing-wise!" isn't a great argument

[Carl]

I don't have a dog in this fight but in my opinion, "thank god we hung on to an underperforming, losing coach a whole 7 years because look how it turned out timing-wise!" is a great argument

Ha!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't have a dog in this fight but in my opinion, "thank god we hung on to an underperforming, losing coach a whole 7 years because look how it turned out timing-wise!" isn't a great argument

Are you sure that it's not a great argument?

I think you'd agree that any earlier we weren't getting Shaka. Maybe we would have gotten someone as good or better, but what do you think the likelihood of that would be? Certainly less than 50%. Personally I think it would be less than 5% given how perfectly Shaka seems to fit here. Maybe he'll prove that wrong on the future but my confidence in MUBB is at an all time high.

Of course that's made with the benefit of hindsight but this is how big boys fire a coach. You fire a coach when you have someone better lined up to replace him. In MUs case, it was Porter Moser. They knew the absolute worst they would do was Porter Moser who would have been an improvement overr Wojo. Luckily. Shaka made himself available and here we are.

[fjm]

YO! So about those brackets? I don't understand why you guys don't block ners and willie. No basketball content from them ever, all they do is talk about Wojo. It's a waste of time reading their stuff.

Let's talk brackets! With all the upsets yesterday, I know there is a seed thread already. But I really think we are ripe for a 4 seed lock. And the badgers are on the outside looking in. Don't hate that

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Thank heavens we were inept.  Otherwise we would be in an even worse situation. 

#scoop

[We R Final Four]

Are you sure that it's not a great argument?

I think you'd agree that any earlier we weren't getting Shaka. Maybe we would have gotten someone as good or better, but what do you think the likelihood of that would be? Certainly less than 50%. Personally I think it would be less than 5% given how perfectly Shaka seems to fit here. Maybe he'll prove that wrong on the future but my confidence in MUBB is at an all time high.

Of course that's made with the benefit of hindsight but this is how big boys fire a coach. You fire a coach when you have someone better lined up to replace him. In MUs case, it was Porter Moser. They knew the absolute worst they would do was Porter Moser who would have been an improvement overr Wojo. Luckily. Shaka made himself available and here we are.

Haha really?