NCAA men's bracket time

[RazorOye]

Chalky-arse chalk bracket

Go Gators!

Yea, this tournament has been a bit underwhelming in that regard. Seeing the number of players portal-ing in from other schools has changed the landscape. I mean, making out my bracket I had Duke, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee (had them beating Houston) so I picked all #1s and it was hard not to.

It takes some of the luster off of the tournament.

I can affirm that there is a lot of money out there. A former player of mine is going from a lower-mid major program to a lower-tier Power 5 school and got $200k. Another stands to make more than double that, on the lower end of offers.

There are elements of the NIL I like, but the Wild West approach (because the NCAA dragged their feet and kept their hands in the sand for so long) has resulted in so many unseen, unfortunate dynamics.

 

[saintmdterps]

Yea, this tournament has been a bit underwhelming in that regard. Seeing the number of players portal-ing in from other schools has changed the landscape. I mean, making out my bracket I had Duke, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee (had them beating Houston) so I picked all #1s and it was hard not to.

It takes some of the luster off of the tournament.

I can affirm that there is a lot of money out there. A former player of mine is going from a lower-mid major program to a lower-tier Power 5 school and got $200k. Another stands to make more than double that, on the lower end of offers.

There are elements of the NIL I like, but the Wild West approach (because the NCAA dragged their feet and kept their hands in the sand for so long) has resulted in so many unseen, unfortunate dynamics.

Good to see you back!

NIL and the transfer portal have dramatically changed college sports and not for the better. Coaches are no different than players, as the University of Maryland found out. Willard gives a crappy press conference the week before the tournament where he airs his grievances instead of focusing on the team. I never like the guy personally, he put off a bad vibe. He never wore Maryland colors at the games.

Good riddance, but it's late in the game for Maryland to get the best hires.

 

[El Caliente]

I usually hate going chalk, but going into this tournament every analyst and their mother said “this is the year that you should go chalk”. I didn’t want to believe, but after looking at the matchups, it just made sense.

In our family bracket I am set to come in 3rd to my 9 Year old daughter and to my wife who both went chalk (and sprinkled in a few upsets). They are fighting it out with the 9 y/o choosing the Blue Devils, while my wife has Auburn.

I say, let them fight.

 

[saintmdterps]

I usually hate going chalk, but going into this tournament every analyst and their mother said “this is the year that you should go chalk”. I didn’t want to believe, but after looking at the matchups, it just made sense.

In our family bracket I am set to come in 3rd to my 9 Year old daughter and to my wife who both went chalk (and sprinkled in a few upsets). They are fighting it out with the 9 y/o choosing the Blue Devils, while my wife has Auburn.

I say, let them fight.

So you’re coming in 3rd in a 3-person tournament?

Says the man who picked the Terps to go all the way

 

[El Caliente]

So you’re coming in 3rd in a 3-person tournament?

Says the man who picked the Terps to go all the way

No, we opened the challenge to everyone on both sides of our family, so we have 11 people competing.

2 of my kids made their picks based upon who had the higher seeding, so we have a few brackets where the final 4 was made up of 16 seeds. I feel like I failed as a father by not explaining seedings to them, but welcome to the real world kids. It’s get or get got.

 

[zeetes]

Yea, this tournament has been a bit underwhelming in that regard. Seeing the number of players portal-ing in from other schools has changed the landscape. I mean, making out my bracket I had Duke, Auburn, Florida, and Tennessee (had them beating Houston) so I picked all #1s and it was hard not to.

It takes some of the luster off of the tournament.

I can affirm that there is a lot of money out there. A former player of mine is going from a lower-mid major program to a lower-tier Power 5 school and got $200k. Another stands to make more than double that, on the lower end of offers.

There are elements of the NIL I like, but the Wild West approach (because the NCAA dragged their feet and kept their hands in the sand for so long) has resulted in so many unseen, unfortunate dynamics.

oooooyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[RazorOye]

Good riddance, but it's late in the game for Maryland to get the best hires.

Is this your pitch for me? I've got those High School Provincial Final Fours after all. You don't need to hard sell me on the idea.

 

[RazorOye]

oooooyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

hellz yea baby! There's something super comforting about so many friendly folks still around!

 

[saintmdterps]

Is this your pitch for me? I've got those High School Provincial Final Fours after all. You don't need to hard sell me on the idea.

We hired Buzz Williams, but I’m sure he’s looking for assistants

Seriously, I’m glad you’re back

 

[El Caliente]

Former Pelican Quincy Pondexter is an assistant coach for USC. It’s always interesting seeing where people end up after they are out of the NBA.

Go Wave!

 

[superchuck500]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/03/cnbc-sport-top-seeds-dominate-march-madness-in-nil-transfer-era.html

 

[RaginCajun83]

I’m so hyped and nervous all at the same time. Coogs take on Duke winner makes the finals. UH hasn’t been to the finals game since 1984

 

[Saint Jack]

I got Auburn winning it all.

 

[El Caliente]

Time to finish the job.