The Official 2025 March Madness Discussion Thread

[BigOrangeMojo]

Lady Vols also make Sweet Sixteen.

So SEC puts 7 teams in Sweet Sixteen…maybe a good conference after all?

Top half of SEC has been great all year. Yeah, Vandy, MSU, Fake UT, OU and Georgia probably werent tourney teams (play in at best) but got benefit of doubt by grabbing a couple of scalps along the way....

 

[Col_Cathcart]

Top half of SEC has been great all year. Yeah, Vandy, MSU, Fake UT, OU and Georgia probably werent tourney teams (play in at best) but got benefit of doubt by grabbing a couple of scalps along the way....

For them to not be tourney teams, there would need to be more worthy teams who didn’t get in. Considering that UNC made it in, I’d say all of those qualify as tourney teams.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

For them to not be tourney teams, there would need to be more worthy teams who didn’t get in. Considering that UNC made it in, I’d say all of those qualify as tourney teams.

Agree. All of those were better than UNC. I'm still putting in WVU and Boise over a couple of them (FAKE UT and UNC for sure)..

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

What an absolute horrible call right there against New Mexico.
Refs like this just ruin a game.

 

[Delmar]

The panel on the postgame show is doing everything they can to say it wasn’t a walk. Including Gene Sterratore who is supposed to be their officiating “expert”. All while watching the guy in slow motion take 3 steps after picking up his dribble. Sterratore said it wasn’t a walk because he “didn’t have full control of the ball until he started the shooting motion”.

Once again and as with the “Eurostep”, it’s ridiculous. He picked up his dribble and took 3 steps. Don’t care if he fumbled it a little or not. Barkley was very vocal that it wasn’t a walk. Of course he was used to taking 3 steps in the NBA all the time so what does he know. Realistically though, there is no way they are going to make call and wipe off the winning basket. There would have been a riot by the Maryland fans.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Still a big believer that the play in games should be the last 8 at large teams.....

 

[Flogballs]

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of travels in the NBA, but the rule is different than in college. In NBA you get a "gather" step (made while stopping the dribble and gathering the ball), then 2 more steps before it's a travel. That means 3 steps from the last dribble if the first step is made while gathering the ball.

For example, the classic James Harden step back 3 that all the shooters do now is not a NBA travel because the first step is made while the player "gathers the ball in". It would be a travel in college.

 

[The Dog]

Awaka with 12 and 12, early in the 2nd for 'Zona

 

[TrippieRedd]

Went and looked at Arizona’s roster, they have 20 kids.

Someone help me

 

[volnado2]

Gosh I would love to have Blittle in a vols jersey.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

My lord the replays and all make the end of games almost unbearable. I get they want to get it right but geez.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Awaka back in the game.

 

[C-south]

My lord the replays and all make the end of games almost unbearable. I get they want to get it right but geez.

The sad thing is they can review it but due to the “rules” still not be able to get it right.

 

[Plecoptera]

The last 3 minutes have taken a half hour. I need to get up early for work so I’m glad this game is over.

 

[kiddiedoc]

I'm just glad the buzzer beater happened. That alleviates 95% of my anxiety for all games remaining that don't involve Tennessee.

 

[Lukusw]

The top 8 kenpom teams are still alive.

 

[UTK]

We don't match up well with them at all. I think it will take one of our best shooting performances of the year to win and hope they don't hit double digit 3s

Also being in Indianapolis will be like a home game for them.

Kentucky didn’t beat us because “we don’t match up well with them”. They won the first time because we couldn’t hit a shot to save our life. The second time they just shot 50% from 3 despite solid defense, that’s just basketball sometimes. If they shoot well from 3, they will most certainly win again. But I like the chances of them not doing that while we also actually make a few shots. It’s not like they do anything that gives us fits. We’ve yet to play above a C game against a Kentucky, the first time we played them it was an F game and we still almost won. Gotta like our odds if there’s no mental wackiness

 

[Shrimp&Grits&Vols]

If that place seats 35,000 for the regional Kentucky will have 20,000 of them. Purdue will have a ton, as well. The silver lining is anyone not clad in blue will likely be rooting for us. Extremely tough ticket.

How do you come to 20k? Is Tennessee selling their allotment? Are we not willing to pay what KY will?

 

[knoxvol52]

What an absolute horrible call right there against New Mexico.
Refs like this just ruin a game.

Two time National Championship winning Head Coach Jay Wright and two time National Championship winning player Candace Parker BOTH said it wasn't a walk. i think I will trust their knowledge more than others. The best part was when the host of the show thanked both of them for clarifying that was the right call for the millions of refs at home.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

First time ever only major conferences in the Sweet 16. Big 10, Big 12, ACC, and SEC. Big East has become the Big Least.

 

[VolCalls]

How do you come to 20k? Is Tennessee selling their allotment? Are we not willing to pay what KY will?

Kentucky fans are a different breed. When they and Louisville played in the sweet 16 there in 2014 - the Vols were also there, mind you - 2/3 of the crowd was in blue, about 1/4 was in red, and there was a sprinkling of orange and maize & blue (Michigan) aside from that. With UK not having had post-season success in six years, they will turn out in droves.

To answer your question, every fan has a price they're willing to pay. Right now the "get in the door" price for Friday's session for anything in the 200-level or closer is over $600. Anything 300-level and beyond, you may as well stay at home or bring binoculars. I personally wouldn't pay those prices - not because I can't afford it, but because I have no interest in paying through the nose for crappy seats or being around that many Kentucky fans.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Two time National Championship winning Head Coach Jay Wright and two time National Championship winning player Candace Parker BOTH said it wasn't a walk. i think I will trust their knowledge more than others. The best part was when the host of the show thanked both of them for clarifying that was the right call for the millions of refs at home.

What are even talking about? I said New Mexico.
I was talking about a foul call in the New Mexico vs Michigan State game.

I think you talking about the Maryland/Colorado State game, bub.

 

[knoxvol52]

What are even talking about?
I was talking about a foul call in the New Mexico vs Michigan State game.

I think you talking about the Maryland/Colorado State game, bub.

I'm not your bub, pumpkin.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

I'm not your bub, pumpkin.

I don't care what/who you are as long as you get your rants right next time. You made a mistake. Own it.

 

[C-south]

What are even talking about? I said New Mexico.
I was talking about a foul call in the New Mexico vs Michigan State game.

I think you talking about the Maryland/Colorado State game, bub.

He was talking about the blatant travel in the Maryland vs CSU game.