NCAA Tournament Thursday Open Thread: Window #1

Thursday, March 20, 2008


Okay folks. Here's what we've got for the start of the Tourney.

(12) Temple (21-12) vs (5) Michigan State (25-8) 12:20 PM South (Denver): Gus Johnson and Len Elmore
(14) Georgia (17-16) vs (3) Xavier (27-6) 12:20 PM West (Washington, DC): Craig Bolerjack and Bob Wenzel
(16) Portland State (23-9) vs (1) Kansas (31-3)
12:25 PM Midwest (Omaha):
Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner

Spreads: Xavier -8.5 (O/U 129), Kansas -22.5 (O/U 146), MSU -7 (O/U 135)
AA's Picks: GA =8.5, Kansas -22.5, MSU -7

I'll have Temple-MSU on the tube and if I can get on the MMOD I'll put on whatever game is closer (presumably GA-Xavier).
_____________________________________

20 minutes until tipoff! Who do you like today??? Oh and thanks to everyone who signed up for the Pick 'Em contest....we're up to 320 and you've got a little bit of time left to sign up.

And we're live!

"It's the time of the year when Seth can't sleep and Clark can't eat."- Greg Gumbel

And there's the tip....Georgia and Xavier is off. 2-0 Xavier on a dunk. Oh and for those of you watching online there appears to be no announcer feed. That stinks.

Slightly annoying, but our CBS affiliate in Hawaii isn't showing the game in HD. We have PSU / Kansas....booooooooo. (Via JManrulez1)

That's horrible. I'm sorry.

"How about Gaines leads the team in Points, Rebounds, Assits, and Steals. He also sells hot dogs."- Bob Wenzel

Boo....not funny. Xavier looks good early (up 4) and Kansas-PSU just got underway. And I've been officially sent to Gus in Denver. Weeeeee.

11-3 Kansas and 11-10 Georgia.

Ooooooooooooooooooh I have Gus Johnson on MMOD. I think I just popped wood. This could be the greatest work day ever!! (Via Jeremy)

That's what it's all about. I also like the way Gus is pronouncing Goozman (Guzman) from Temple.

CBS shows a graphic about how "it's not easy being green" (all of the first-timers are playing 1 or 2 seeds), and Len Elmore completely misses the point (talks about Michigan State and Notre Dame wearing green, which isn't even true for the latter.) (Via Wilmott)

Yeah I couldn't even try to understand that one. I seriously tune him out when he's talking.

"Dave, don't try to block shots, Bliss! You're better when you're on the floor, fella!" - Craig Bolerjack (Via S2N)

I have Jay Bilas, my wood is gone and my dick totally popped off and ran away. (Via Anon)

Touche'. Portland State is only down 7 now with under 10 to play and Georgia is up six.

For those watching MSU/Temple, I assume the score really isn't 0-0 with 11 minutes left? (Via Paco)

11-11 under 11 minutes. Boring game. Gus seems rather subdued.

If I got fired right now, I wouldn't even mind because it'd give me a good excuse to leave and get twice as drunk. (Via Mez)

Here come the Spartans...they're up seven. Kansas up 8 and Georgia up 3.

Craig Bolerjack: "And a turnover off the inbounds, after the time out. As a former coach, what does that do to you?"
Bob Wenzel: "Gives you grey hair."
Craig Bolerjack: "As clearly evidenced."
(Via S2N)

Okay that's your first half for Temple-MSU. Spartans up 9 at the break. GA is up 9 at and Kansas is up 23. Also does anyone have any idea who these two guys on MMOD are?



Okay so that's Columbia's Coach? He looks like Alonzo Bodden from Last Comic Standing. Xavier is slowing coming back and Bob Wenzel's laugh is starting to creep me out. Down 4 now. The other two games are blowouts.

"No one uses the dribble on Georgia unless they're going somewhere."- Craig Bolerjack

Ummm....yeah.

Are the MMOD guys broadcasting live from a bathroom? (Via MarkCiz)

Looks like it doesn't it? And we have a tie game between Xavier and Georgia under 8 to go.

Xavier just keeps the run going - up 8 with 5 minutes to go. Temple has closed it to 14 with 7:30 to go, and Kansas leads by 24 with 2 minutes. (Via Spartan Dan)

Looks like we're coming down to the wire in this GA-Xavier game. 5 point game with 3:13 left.

"Those games played at Georgia Tech which if you didn't know is a rival of Georgia."- Bob Wenzel

No Shit!? 1:50 left...4 point game. And Damn.....Miss Bliss just threw down on Xavier!

64-61 with a minute to go.

68-61 with 51.1 to go.

And that's the ball game.....Xavier moves on along with Kansas and Michigan State. Good game. New thread time! Switch it up.

NCAA Window #2

Posted by Awful Announcing- at 11:40 AM

65 Comments:

I wish my beloved Spartans weren't playing in the first game....if something bad happens it may ruin the rest of the next two days for me!

Matt said...
Mar 20, 2008, 11:49:00 AM  

Hey just thought AA would like to know what anyone who has a bracket on ESPN, their servers are down so good luck trying to make last minute changes. I just spent 15 minutes trying to get into my bracket and couldn't get it w/o seeing that the "services are temporarily unavaiable". Great Job ESPN.

Noce said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:01:00 PM  

Mark Champion and Glenn Consor for Westwood One on Georgia/Xavier

TJX said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:05:00 PM  

I am stuck with the constant Kansas-Portland State early. NOT HAPPY.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:07:00 PM  

did CBS just go black for anyone else!?!?! oh god no!

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:19:00 PM  

slightly annoying, but our CBS affiliate in Hawaii isn't showing the game in HD. We have PSU / Kansas....booooooooo

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:22:00 PM  

Does MMOD lack announcers by design? Because I'm kinda digging this while watching Georgia vs. Xavier.

Fred said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:29:00 PM  

I'd like to say fuck you to CBS MMOD or to the DSL line at my work because I can't watch the Georgia-Xavier game and it's pissing me off. So Eff you to whoever deserves my anger. That is all.

Mez said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:31:00 PM  

The announcing is back argh.

Fred said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:31:00 PM  

dude

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:32:00 PM  

Ooooooooooooooooooh I have Gus Johnson on MMOD. I think I just popped wood. This could be the greatest work day ever!!

Jeremy said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:32:00 PM  

CBS shows a graphic about how "it's not easy being green" (all of the first-timers are playing 1 or 2 seeds), and Len Elmore completely misses the point (talks about Michigan State and Notre Dame wearing green, which isn't even true for the latter.)

Oy.

Willmott said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:40:00 PM  

Jeremy, just don't take "rise and fire!" too literally. Your co-workers might look at you funny.

The UGA-Xavier game was better without announcers.

"Dave, don't try to block shots, Bliss! You're better when you're on the floor, fella!" - Bolerjack.

See what I mean?

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:41:00 PM  

I am here all by myself today so I can rise and fire all I want. The only ones who might get annoyed are customers then again they may buy something. Gus Johnson is going to be responsible for me making money.

Jeremy said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:45:00 PM  

I have Jay Bilas, my wood is gone and my dick totally popped off and ran away.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:46:00 PM  

For those watching MSU/Temple, I assume the score really isn't 0-0 with 11 minutes left?

/czctgbe

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:48:00 PM  

No, it isn't, Paco, that was a glitch.

Not far off, though.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:53:00 PM  

I have yet to see a single second of the Georgia-Xavier game that I'm sure already has Gus Johnson entering insanity mode, yet I've seen Gumbel in 3 different 15 second commercials. Ridiculous. If I got fired right now, I wouldn't even mind because it'd give me a good excuse to leave and get twice as drunk.

Mez said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:55:00 PM  

Anyone else hoping Erin Andrews goes to CBS in the near future so we'd have a college basketball boner for all eternity?

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:56:00 PM  

Watching the Georgia-Xavier game makes me feel pretty confident that Bob Wenzel is the worst fucking analyst there is.

"We talked about Xavier increasing their seed each of the last three years, and they did that by winning more games. They also did that by playing a tougher nonconference schedule."

I mean, really? I could very easily that shit.

Willmott said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:57:00 PM  

After realizing Gus wasn't doing Xavier-Georgia and seeing and seeing the last comment from willmott, I feel strangely better.

Mez said...
Mar 20, 2008, 12:58:00 PM  

Just got sent to Gus and Len. Better than watching Eye-an commentate a blowout.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:00:00 PM  

There's supposed to be a "come up with" in that post up there. Bob Wenzel is so awful that my rage towards him is affecting my ability to type.......

Willmott said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:01:00 PM  

Bolerjack: "And a turnover off the inbounds, after the time out. As a former coach, what does that do to you?"
Wenzel: "Gives you grey hair."
Bolerjack: "As clearly evidenced."

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:04:00 PM  

Stanford in the championship game? Really AA? Reeeeeally? I don't mind, I just worry about you. And your sanity.

Zak said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:05:00 PM  

Well I already had them in the Final Four and just to counteract all one million of the UCLA people I picked them to beat them.

Mar 20, 2008, 1:08:00 PM  

Someone forgot to tell UGA they're supposed to suck right now.

/has Xavier in the Elite Eight

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:09:00 PM  

Georgia's beasting through this game, by the way. I don't know why everyone thought Georgia would be too tired to keep rolling. And the confidence they got from the SEC tournament had no chance at wavering over 4 days. Maybe they'll get reality checked in the 2nd half, but I'm starting to legit wonder if they can ride this into the second weekend. Purdue/Baylor better watch their ass.

Zak said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:11:00 PM  

Ah, online commercials: showing me Gwen Stefani talking about creativity.

"Creativity: you never know when you're going to find another culture to rip off."

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:11:00 PM  

One of my friends has Stanford winning it all, too. Doesn't seem completely ridiculous to me, but I think they'll have a hard time with Texas. The South seems the most wide open region - I could see four different teams out of there (Texas, Stanford, MSU, or even Memphis if they avoid a FT brickfest long enough).

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:12:00 PM  

S2N: yeah, I've got Xavier in the Elite Eight too. Worse yet, I picked a 14-over-3 and that isn't it. (And there are almost never two of them.)

On a less depressing note, we have an IDunk IBlock sighting! (That's our nickname for Idong Ibok, because ... well, he dunks and blocks, and that's about it unless you count turnovers and the occasional lane-violation-inducing wacky FT attempt.)

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:15:00 PM  

xavier better come back.. that game could screw me really quickly

i guess id have to pay attention to a different bracket if they lost

joek said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:15:00 PM  

This guy also has GA in the Sweet Sixteen so Go Dawgs! I also don't have Stanford winning it all...they lose to UNC in the Final.

Mar 20, 2008, 1:17:00 PM  

I think the mile high altitude is having an effect on GuJo.

And AA, it's MSU by 9, not 10. Every point for the Owls counts, lol.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:21:00 PM  

The person in the picture on the right is Jason Horowitz. He does the hosting for the cbssports.com fantasy shows during NFL season and also hosts MSG NY

Jeff Wirtheim

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:24:00 PM  

Nice to see them bring back the old CBS This Morning set for March Madness On Demand AT&T At The Half.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:26:00 PM  

If anyone had 1:20 as to when my bracket would be ruined, you get a prize. Thanks Xavier!

Cam said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:26:00 PM  

thats a ridiculous commercial, student athletes don't study.. they should show how hard it is to practice when you are hung over

joek said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:27:00 PM  

The guy on the left is Columbia head coach Joe Jones. The kid on the right is Jason Horowitz.

St. John's head coach Norm Roberts joins them later today.

therod said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:28:00 PM  

This may be a dumb question, but is it legit to count the play-in game in scoring for pools?

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:29:00 PM  

Is it strange that all three teams that are losing at halftime have 26 points...and two of the winning teams have 35 points? Or am I the only one that gives a hoot about stupid stuff like that?

Unknown said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:31:00 PM  

Anon at 1:29: Maybe as a tiebreaker. That is all.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:32:00 PM  

The studio guys for MMOD are Cedric Daniels and Tommy Carcetti. And Daniels refuses to juke the stats for the MSU-Temple game.

Hazel Motes said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:32:00 PM  

anon @ 1:29 - no, I'm in a pool that counted the play in game for a point.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:33:00 PM  

What the hell is Xavier doing? I'm not watching the game, are they playing bad or is Georgia just playing well?

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:45:00 PM  

Aaaand we've been cut away from MSU/Temple. Time to start up MMOD.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:46:00 PM  

@ joe d: It was both in the 1st half. Now Georgia's playing a liiiittle worse, and Xavier's playing a little better. Still looks good for Georgia, though.

Zak said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:49:00 PM  

Immediately following that, Xavier starts a run that puts them close. I are jinx.

Zak said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:50:00 PM  

UGA's defense has been amazing today, but all of the fouls are starting to catch up to them

Sam said...
Mar 20, 2008, 1:56:00 PM  

This Xavier-Georgia game is screaming for Gus Johnson (no pun intended)

Matt Barnes said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:02:00 PM  

Are the MMOD guys broadcasting live from a bathroom?

MarkCiz said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:03:00 PM  

And Xavier takes the lead off consecutive 3 pointers. D: Ugh. Dawgs are starting to play like they did in the SEC now.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:06:00 PM  

Xavier takes the lead!

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:06:00 PM  

Xavier just had the "ONIONS" play with those transition buckets.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:16:00 PM  

wheels are coming off for UGA

Sam said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:16:00 PM  

Xavier just keeps the run going - up 8 with 5 minutes to go. Temple has closed it to 14 with 7:30 to go, and Kansas leads by 24 with 2 minutes.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:16:00 PM  

"Gaines is the last man up the floor. Tired is that young man."

OK, Yoda Bolerjack.

Signal to Noise said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:18:00 PM  

Ok, How about this AA. You email random blogs like Big Lead and Deadspin, and say " MY BLOG IS BETTER THAN YOUR BLOG " and " BLOGGIE BLOG BLOG BLOG ".

That new commercial with LT and all the dumb sayings is... well.. DUMB!

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:21:00 PM  

Why should I do that again Marc?

Mar 20, 2008, 2:25:00 PM  

Before the commercial: Xavier takes a timeout, and they say it's a good timeout.
After the commercial: They spend a minute talking about how the biggest factor now is that Xavier now has no timeouts left.

Huh?

/kqtxmeq

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:32:00 PM  

Hey Gus ... Naymick is the big redhead, not the little guy with the buzz cut. Just so you know.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:35:00 PM  

Carter Blackburn doesn't exactly have that great "announcer voice" but it can't be worse than Enberg screwing up 50 names and being behind two full possessions.

Anonymous said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:36:00 PM  

Yeah...they couldnt keep Naymick and Neitzel straight all day....

Did Dick Enberg suck helium before his game or was he replaced at the last minute?

Matt said...
Mar 20, 2008, 2:36:00 PM  

New Thread

Onto Jay Bilas....ugh.

Mar 20, 2008, 2:43:00 PM  

Good Information..

Nike Air Force One

Apr 6, 2009, 12:06:00 PM  

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