Carnival of the Hoopsters

This week there are two categories of Hoopsters. The first is from the Sweet Sixteen and the second is from the Elite 8. The numbers represent the tournament seed of each team. The winners have an asterick by their number. We hope you enjoy it.
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Welcome Galley Slaves readers. Take a look around the front page if you like.
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Overall Coverage
Good Stuff. And a post about Murray Head who did "One Night in Bangkok' -- cool. Finally, here's BigTenWonk crowing about the conference's Sweet 16 success. At the ACC's expense. We're not mad at ya. Hard luck here.

Are the games badly broadcast? The BasketBlog's take. And this post asks whether CBS stinks. Was Maryland paying for ads? That may be a bridge too far. Deacon thinks it was okay. But CBS has some issues. Even more CBS issues.

Blogspheric Predictions
-OR-
Holding People Accountable
Predictions here. Discussing the games here too. And here. This guy has a theory for next year's brackets. Who has the tougher mascots? Some more predictions. Not worse than most.) And here he's scoring the games at home. Chess and basketball? Okay, we guess.) The BasketBlog refuses to discuss our predictions. They weren't that good. *sigh*

Sweet Sixteen
Chicago Bracket
1*) Illinois
The top-ranked team gets the most press. What does the best Illinois blog have to say? Here's your answer. Previewing the Elite 8 matchup. Enjoying the Tourney--so far. Pensive fans are fun. Praising the propensity to pass. Too much for UW-M. Random thoughts. (Or why having to work Saturday stinks.) Illini Girl says it's a SWEET Sixteen. Objective facts. The BasketBlog doubts it.
12) University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Why are Illinois fans still angry? Hatred? This guy says yes. Sounds awfully harsh.
Stewie in your banner gets a link. Rooting for a UNC UM-W final does not. At least it beats the NBA. Sweet but not elite. The greatest season in UM-W history.

2) Oklahoma State
The BasketBlog's take. MSM misses another one. Celebrating the Olson/Sutton coaching matchup. More on older coaches. Cute kid pics and a basketball fan. We're there.
3*) Arizona
Hating the NBA. Loving the 'Cats. His boyfriend is watching the game. Ed's wife understands the feeling. Conflicted--Is it love or hate? Too close to call. Favorite team moving forward.
Sportsaholic still Jones-ing. Salim hits a big one. More love. Salim Stoudamire is better than JJ Redick, says this guy -- reluctantly.

Albuquerque Bracket
1) Washington
Why did the zone work against U-Dub? Seemingly upset with the result. The BasketBlog sends its condolences.
4*) Louisville
Best overall coverage. Start here. Interesting stuff. UK fan rooting for Louisville. Blasphemy.

6) Texas Tech
Bob Knight called for the firing of another coach. How bush league is that? Very according to the BasketBlog. Bob Knight for President? Who knows? The BasketBlog thinks he'd lose the secretary vote? And finally, why Bob Knight wins. Just not this time.
7*) West Virginia
Wake Forest fan and BasketBlog contributor Ben stuggles with last week's loss.
Meanwhile, the BasketBlog loves Pittsnogle.
Running the gamut. Happy WVU fan. Pointing to the afternoon's game against Louisville. Did they have to burn the couches? And why did it make the Drudge Report? Another take on the couches.
Kinda pulling for WVU, we guess.
Pittsnogle watch. Everybody loves Pittsnogle. Seriously.

Syracuse Bracket
1*) UNC - CH
The BasketBlog's LiveBlogging. First half. Second half.
Handicapping the games while pulling for UNC. Still pulling for UNC. Letters to Coach Roy Williams. What's a dominatrix to do? All the way, baby. Carolina stops the bleeding on Bloody Friday.
NCAA officials suck and Marvin Williams should stay in school. Plus more.
This guy's not a fan. Hating UNC.
5) Villanova
Pulling for 'Nova 'cause I can't stand UNC. (Not the same guy.) Now this blogger has a stomach ache.
Worst call ever at the end of 'Nova/UNC? The BasketBlog asks "What about the 1972 Olympics?" Hating that traveling call. Bias? And a Pittsnogle mention. Analyzing the refs, FT shooting and more.

6*) Wisconsin
I don't care but some do or why professors are hard to please. Pulling for the Badgers. Congrats to the Badgers. Similar congrats. Bragging - 3 Big Ten teams in the Elite 8. Sadly none of them are Big Blue.
10) North Carolina State
The BasketBlog's LiveBlogging. First half. Second half.
NC State fans are happy. But confused by their coach.
Ode to Julius Hodge from the Georgia Tech guy. Interesting. In Julius Hodge we trust. Okay by us. Pulling for NC State? I guess so. By accident, him too. Is it a bad year for the ACC? There's still hope.

Austin Bracket
1) Duke
LiveBlogging. First half. Second half.
Liveblogging with a Coach K thing, maybe. Coach K praise? Keeping score--midway through the games. Asking the right question: What happened to JJ?
Plenty of Duke hatred to go 'round. I hate you Billy Packer. Not exactly a fan here either.
5*) Michigan State
Covering the whole Big Ten(11). Counting the Big 10 teams in the Elite 8.
Not exactly a basketball fan, I think.
More network criticism: Thanks, CBS, for showing me the boring game.

2*) Kentucky
UVa fans hope Coach Tubby Smith looks their way.
Prediction: Kentucky versus Louisville final. (Sorry about that.) Hack-a-Bogut pays dividends. Happy about the win--Bogut's not all that. Talkin' smack about Bogut. The BasketBlog asks: "Is that deserved?"
6) Utah
Utah tried to win. But I'm still in my pool 'cause they didn't. (We hope you win.) Will Bogut translate in the NBA? (We think they speak English in Australia.--The BasketBlog) And who knows better than a random guy on the internet? Australians for Australian 7 footers.

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Elite Eight
General Commentary
ADDED: We missed a great post by the Sportsaholic summing the weekend's games. We regret the oversite.
Random Questions.
The Sports Pundit says it's the best weekend -- ever. The Sports Frog agrees. Best two games ever? Maybe. This guy just loves the effort. And more folks enjoying the games. Law school is boring but at least she got one of eight in her pool.
This guy calls the games choke jobs. That's pretty harsh.
Michigan hater pulling for the Big Ten(11). (The BasketBlog abhors UofM hating. FYI)

Chicago Bracket
#1* Illinois versus #3 Arizona
The BasketBlog's LiveBlogging here.
The fan base is excited. Here too. More emotions. Sad. She dared them. They accepted the challenge. This one was anxious but then okay. Taking a break from Psych homework.
Reactions: Holy expletive deleted. Unbelievable. They agree. The BasketBlog agrees. Divine intervention? The BasketBlog withholds judgment. Dee Brown believes. Basketball mirrors life, or something. Best win ever!! Photos of the comeback.
Illinois thread gone wrong. I think they mean vaunted. Vaulting seems like it'd be illegal somehow.
Plans: Painting STL orange and blue. The BasketBlog wonders if that's legal? Arizona expletive deleted ups.
Angry at Arizona. More anger here.

Albuquerque Bracket
#4* Louisville versus #7 West Virginia
The BasketBlog's LiveBlogging.
Game preview. A Texas Tech blogger LiveBlogging the first half. Dinner gets in the way of the game. Sorry about that. Ramblin's of a fan home from spring break. Backing the alma mater. Congrats. Rubbing it in is not nice. But the BasketBlog understands.
Rick Pitino is pretty good. This guy agrees but then he lives in Lexington, KY.
Unhappy WVU fan eating to cure the pain. Random thoughts. Darn it, kinda. Pulling for the underdogs. Getting drunk, criticizing Louisville, the U, the city, everything.
Speculating about WVU's coach moving.

Syracuse Bracket
#1* UNC - Chapel Hill versus #7 Wisconsin
Pre-game stats here.
The BasketBlog's Liveblogging. First half. Second Half.
It's all about the office pool. Pool news here too. A recap here. Troubling times: Dissertation or Basketball. Dissertation. Basketball.... Happy Carolina fan here. McCants' crossover: he's unimpressed. Interesting.
Somebody please help this guy. He's lost his 'peeps'.
This guy is pulling for Wisconsin even though he's got UNC in his bracket. Bo Ryan resemble anybody? Not exactly a 'love of the game' post. One wins, one loses.
Photo of the Badger drinking gets a link. Always.

Austin Bracket
#2 Kentucky versus #5* Michigan State
The BasketBlog's take
You want pre-game stats. Here you go. This post is slightly less numbers-based: hoping for the Louisville/UK final. Go State?The BasketBlog thinks he meant Michigan State. She's a basketball fan. Happy Easter and a hearty Yeah for Michigan State. Big Ten(11) powerful. Happy about the win.
A pretty good season comes to an end. Taking it hard. The BasketBlog understands the pain. Great game though. Ashley Judd's thoughts.
Loving the game -- the one he missed.

The NIT
Georgetown fans still behind their team. Maryland fans too. And here.