Live Q&As

Morning, everyone! Let's get right to it.

Well, I don't think your Bobcats will win it all but I'm not happy my boys have to play them all the same. They certainly were good enough yesterday to beat most teams. The 7-9 MAC record makes me think that they didn't play as well this season as they did yesterday, but that's what the tournament is all about. I don't think the media is dismissive of the MAC so much as of a team that finished in the middle of the MAC. That, you must admit, is surprising. And a hot-shooting team can always, ALWAYS pull of a surprise in the tournament.

I'd like to end by wishing you luck, but I can't. :)

Yes, I tihnk there were two surprises here. If Ohio had been the MAC champion, I don't think this would have been nearly as shocking. The MAC, like most conferences, has up years and down years. But for a team with a 7-9 conference record to come up with that performance, that was surprising. The Bobcats didn't just win, they dominated the game.

And Georgetown looked pole-axed. They don't have much NCAA tournament experience and that hurts, but nonetheless ... I saw them in their comeback win against Connecticut and thought all along they could rally and win. I never thought that last night. When they got down by about 12, I thought, "This is over." They seemed to have no strategy, they weren't patient ... it was a singular collapse.

Yeah, that's a hard one to get over.

Tracee! What a beautiful name! There are very few of us out there, so it's nice to hear from another one.

You are right about the Hoyas; they were a team that could beat anyone or lose to anyone. The Big East didn't look too great yesterday, with three of four teams losing. That was surprising to me. And I'm afraid the coaching fell short; they didn't seem to know what to do when they fell behind.

I know just what you mean. You think you should anticipate disappointment so it will be easier to swallow. I honestly don't know what to think about Maryland after yesterday -- seven upsets in 16 games is pretty amazing. Don't you hate playing the late game? Makes for a long day.

I wish I knew. I wasn't able to go. But surely they do, right? That's such an odd name. Every time they said it on TV I giggled.

I wasn't able to get a bracket entered in time, and I must say I found it liberating because I could root for anyone instead of just my picks. Yesterday was very fun. Today will probably be chalk, since these things tend to work that way. But we'll see. Agree that the tournament is perfect the way it is!

Well, that's crazy talk. Of the two teams playing, I'd say Georgetown didn't deserve to be in the second round.

Right.

Oh, a little bit of both. The Big East and ACC always tend to be overrated (I mean in a year the ACC is good) because they are the glam conferences on the east coast with the TV exposure and hype. That said, I thought the Big East was the best conference this season. Now I'm wondering if it wasn't the Big 12 after all.

Fair question. I still say the bigger concern about Georgetown is an inability to keep players in school. The Hoyas' depth was always a problem. But I wasn't impressed with the coaching job yesterday, that's for sure.

I think it hurts on recruiting somewhat, sure. But Maryland has superior facilities, a larger fan base and plays in a well-regarded conference, even when it's a down year for the ACC. The Terps ought to be able to get some of these local kids.

There you go -- Dunkin' Donuts at Dunkin' Donuts Center. I didn't know that DD was so dominant in New England. I was looking forward to seeing Providence for the first time. Then again, if I had made a 7-hour train ride in my condition and had to sit through that game, I'd have been ... unhappy.

I've been in his position many times. I prefer people not to bring it up, frankly. Sympathy just hurts.

I know, you can, and I have, but yesterday had a very different feel for me. Maybe because I've never not had to work the first day of the tournament. Liberating.

Well, this is the problem with a lack of depth. He doesn't have many options. But I don't think they used the inside game enough. Guys were just jacking up shots. You've got to calm them down and make them stick with the system, a la Norman Dale.

HA

I have no data to back this up, because I'm my pajamas in my basement, but I can't imagine the coaches not using yesterday as an object lesson.

Well, I believe focus and composure does fall at the feet of the coach. That's a huge part of his job, after all. However, I'm not advocating firing JTIII and hiring Craig Esherick back, believe me. Oy.

The Monroe question will be intriguing. That is NOT how you want your only NCAA appearance to end. He could improve his NBA chances with another season, one in which he is dominant and impressive on a consistent basis, which this season he wasn't. On the other hand, it's gotta be tempting. I have a feeling he'll go.

But we'll see. Time to crawl back in the La-Z-Boy and resume coughing. Come back Monday for more chatter.