NCAA Tournament 2024

[AlOerter]

I actually really like our bracket. If we can get past our 13 seed I like our chances of making a run. Just praying it's not one of those days where they come out and hit 7 early 3s or some shit

I agree. As good a bracket as any for us to be in. Even Purdue and Tenn. have shown to be beatable at times. I think we take care of business in the first round after rest but I am concerned about playing anyone on 2 days rest.

[randylahey]

The draw is intentional; the NCAA will continue to have a hard-on for KU as long as Bill is the HC.

No it's not
The ncaa tournament is full of good teams

[AlOerter]

Every year everybody thinks they have the toughest bracket. The idea is to beat whoever you draw. If you don't beat them then you don't deserve to be champion.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

The draw is intentional; the NCAA will continue to have a hard-on for KU as long as Bill is the HC.

Whatever the heck you and I want the word "intentional" to mean, I agree the draw/s are intentional.

Meanwhile, the "intentional" draws are only a valid accusation BEFORE the games are played. Teams have to win (or lose) for the "draws" to be "intentional" after the round of 64.
I am yet to see a tournament where after the champion is crowned, EVERY team ends up with what some/many/most/all people felt were "intentional" matchups.

One more thing of note, "the NCAA" isn't "the committee". Right?

[pdub]

Every year everybody thinks they have the toughest bracket. The idea is to beat whoever you draw. If you don't beat them then you don't deserve to be champion.

Not true.
I liked our bracket in 2022.
Thought Creighton and Providence were good draws.

[pdub]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... -explained

Kansas

“ After Kevin McCullar Jr. suffered a bone bruise in his knee in early February, the Jayhawks finished 4-5 in their last nine games, their postseason hopes dwindling by the week. That record included falling to Cincinnati by 20 points in the Big 12 tournament opener -- right after the 30-point loss at Houston, during which Bill Self lost Hunter Dickinson (dislocated shoulder) and McCullar (again). The good news? Self announced his star players would return in time for the NCAA tournament. It's unclear if he truly believes it, or if this is just a message to the selection committee to grade his team on the idea it will be at full strength when it matters. It might not matter: Dickinson and McCullar also played in multiple games the Jayhawks lost. A healthy Kansas squad has wins over Kentucky, UConn and Houston. But a short-handed Kansas squad might not survive the opening round.”


Samford

“ Whenever you assess an underdog's shot at an upset, the first question should be this: Does this team do something at a really high level that could continue in the NCAA tournament? For Samford, the answer is yes. This team has connected on 39% of its 3-point attempts -- Jaden Campbell (48%) is one of eight Bulldogs who have shot at least 38% from 3 -- a top-10 mark in America. Bucky McMillan's squad also plays at a top-15 pace. Translation: This is a fast team that launches 3-pointers all over the floor. It might not be a fun first-round game for the opponent.”

[DeletedUser]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4oz-eCt ... Vva2hsOQ==

[pdub]

St Johns probably has the biggest gripe but Pitino sucks so I don't care.

[AlOerter]

Every year everybody thinks they have the toughest bracket. The idea is to beat whoever you draw. If you don't beat them then you don't deserve to be champion.

Not true.
I liked our bracket in 2022.
Thought Creighton and Providence were good draws.

By "everybody" I meant teams and coaches not fans or posters here. I think coaches say it just to motivate their team and to not disrespect any potential opponent.

[MICHHAWK]

we got a great bracket. unfortunately we won't be able to take advantage of our great bracket with a great path.

we have a great bracket.

[pdub]

I like Purdue as our 1.
I even like Tennessee as our 2.
So yes, our top teams in our bracket are favorable.

But on a team that's been on a downward path since the first week in January we should be concerned more about our first opponents than the future ones.

[MICHHAWK]

that's kinda sorta why i said "we won't be able to take advantage of our great bracket."

[pdub]

To just further show what I think is our biggest weakness this season ( defending the 3 ) here are how teams have shot against us in wins vs losses since we lost to UCF ( i.e. were ranked no. 2 in the nation with only 1 loss to Marquette ).

This is why a team that'll shoot 35 3's ( and they will ) and shoot it at 39.3% ( which is 7th in the country just ahead of McNeese ) is troublesome.

WINS
6-20
6-21
3-18
8-29
9-29
8-26
8-23
9-26
8-24

65-216
30% 3FG
7.2 3PT per game


LOSSES
7-20
12-21
14-30
9-26
10-26
13-34
7-17
11-29
9-26

92-203
45.3% 3FG
10.2 3PT per game

Of course we can beat Samford - they lost by like 50 to Purdue to start the season - but my god do we have to cheat out on the perimeter...and i'll be nervous for their big to just let it fly vs a slow closing Hunter.

[TDub]

I'd say it's probably our best bracket in 10-12 years. and it won't matter

[DeletedUser]

I can't help but pick us to win it all in the 2 brackets I've done so far.



I just won't pick against us. I try, but I can click the button.

[DeletedUser]

and i'll be nervous for their big to just let it fly vs a slow closing Hunter.

Makes me wonder if we can steal some minutes with Kj or Parker at the 5 to mitigate some of that risk.

[pdub]

2022 was a way better bracket.

We had the weakest 2 ( Auburn ).
We had the weakest 3 by far ( Wisconsin ).
We had the weakest 4 by far ( Providence ).
Our 8 was good ( San Diego State ) but got upset and we got to play the 2nd weakest 9 whose metrics were skewed bc they were down their best player at the end of the season.

This year?
Our 1 is probably 2nd or 3rd.
Same with our 2. I think Tennessee is better than ISU but not Zona ( metrics have ISU best ).
We have the 1st or 2nd best 3 ( I think 1st - metrics have them neck and neck, Bartorvik has them best ).
We have the best 5 ( by all measures ).
We have easily the best 13.

[twocoach]

To just further show what I think is our biggest weakness this season ( defending the 3 ) here are how teams have shot against us in wins vs losses since we lost to UCF ( i.e. were ranked no. 2 in the nation with only 1 loss to Marquette ).

This is why a team that'll shoot 35 3's ( and they will ) and shoot it at 39.3% ( which is 7th in the country just ahead of McNeese ) is troublesome.

WINS
6-20
6-21
3-18
8-29
9-29
8-26
8-23
9-26
8-24

65-216
30% 3FG
7.2 3PT per game


LOSSES
7-20
12-21
14-30
9-26
10-26
13-34
7-17
11-29
9-26

92-203
45.3% 3FG
10.2 3PT per game

Of course we can beat Samford - they lost by like 50 to Purdue to start the season - but my god do we have to cheat out on the perimeter...and i'll be nervous for their big to just let it fly vs a slow closing Hunter.

Apply that same logic to Samford.

Samford has padded their stats against some truly horrific teams.

17-35 against LaGrange
12-22 against Merrimack
11-25 against North Carolina A&T
18-30 against Alabama A&M

3s vs. good teams. This is more like I expect them to shoot against KU:

5-31 vs. Purdue (lost by 50)
8-26 vs. VCU (lost by 10)

I don't see Samford playing up to their metrics.

[pdub]

But both Purdue and VCU are good at defending the 3.
41st and 44th in the nation.
We are 169th in the nation.

I'm just saying this Samford is the type of team that has a better chance to upset KU because of the way they play. I'd rather a team that tried to run it or a team that rebounded it well than a team that has their first 7 guys in minutes played averaging 34% or better from 3.

All but one of those 7 shoot a better 3 point percentage than any of our contributors ( Harris shoots a better % than one of em ).

[Back2Lawrence]

The fan bases of other teams are saying it’s their best bracket, too, having the softest 4 in the tourney.