Jay Bilas' Expert Predictions

[cyclone22]

Recently announced on ESPN:

Elite 8: 1 v 2, 1 v 2, 1 v 2, 1 v 2

Final 4: 1 v 1, 1 v 1

National Championship, the two top 1 seeds Kentucky and Syracuse.

The winner: Overall #1 Seed Kentucky

Must have used all his expert analysis to make those daring predictions....Can I please have his job?

 

[CYlent Bob]

I thought Duke was supposed to provide a top-notch education? I can see the attraction of picking all the #1 seeds to advance, since they ARE seeded #1 for a reason, but ALL the #1 and #2 seeds advancing? Has that ever happened? Ever?

(I probably should have done something more grandiose for my 1,000th post, but this will have to do)

 

[KFitzy87]

Recently announced on ESPN:

Elite 8: 1 v 2, 1 v 2, 1 v 2, 1 v 2

Final 4: 1 v 1, 1 v 1

National Championship, the two top 1 seeds Kentucky and Syracuse.

The winner: Overall #1 Seed Kentucky

Must have used all his expert analysis to make those daring predictions....Can I please have his job?

Well it's not like he's going to just throw in a 3 seed or higher for the hell of it.. Obviously there's good reason he made those picks...

 

[istater7]

This bracket really isn't set up for much of an upset, I could see this being close.

 

[kingcy]

This bracket really isn't set up for much of an upset, I could see this being close.

It never is, but they happen every year.

 

[megamanxzero35]

He made fun of himself for doing it and said last time he went chalk, 07 or 08, he was completely right.

 

[kucyclone]

He made fun of himself for doing it and said last time he went chalk, 07 or 08, he was completely right.

'08 was the Kansas/UNC/Memphis/UCLA #1 seed superfecta.

It was pretty clear that year that those were the four best teams. The separation between the 1s and 2s are a little more blurry this year, in my opinion. Except for Duke. Duke sucks.

 

[cyclones500]

"This bracket really isn't set up for much of an upset, I could see this being close."

It never is, but they happen every year.

Exactly. It almost always looks like the seedings will hold true - for a reason; it's seeded pretty much how it's expected to go.

Sometimes it plays out closely to that, occasionally it completely blows apart. Usually, it's a combination.

A smart analyst would figure out where to go chalky, and where to find surprises. Picking the top seed to win it and high seeds to reach Final 4 is no place for criticism, since that's a typical good guess. Going too far the other way (no No. 1's in Final Four) is grasping at straws.

 

[tm3308]

This bracket really isn't set up for much of an upset, I could see this being close.

It never is, but they happen every year.

I've never seen a bracket like this before. Obviously upsets happen every year; but this year there aren't really any games that you circle and say "prime upset candidate". The only two that are even close to that for me in are the Harvard/Vandy (my 12/5 upset) and Purdue/St. Mary's.

This has easily been the toughest bracket I've ever filled out, simply because I feel like such an idiot for picking so few upsets.

 

[tm3308]

"This bracket really isn't set up for much of an upset, I could see this being close."



Exactly. It almost always looks like the seedings will hold true - for a reason; it's seeded pretty much how it's expected to go.

Sometimes it plays out closely to that, occasionally it completely blows apart. Usually, it's a combination.

A smart analyst would figure out where to go chalky, and where to find surprises. Picking the top seed to win it and high seeds to reach Final 4 is no place for criticism, since that's a typical good guess. Going too far the other way (no No. 1's in Final Four) is grasping at straws.

That's actually not true, statistically speaking. All four #1's have made it to the Final Four just one time ('08). There have been three occasions when none of the #1's made it (1980, 2006, and 2011).

 

[cyclones500]

I've never seen a bracket like this before. Obviously upsets happen every year; but this year there aren't really any games that you circle and say "prime upset candidate". The only two that are even close to that for me in are the Harvard/Vandy (my 12/5 upset) and Purdue/St. Mary's.

This has easily been the toughest bracket I've ever filled out, simply because I feel like such an idiot for picking so few upsets.

It might not apply at the top end, but beyond that I would attribute that in part to so many "non-power" conference teams being seeded higher than big-6. (6) SD State vs. (11) NC STate; 7-10 St. Mary's-Purdue; 7-10 Gonzaga-West Virginia. ... and so many "little guys" being at 5 (Wichita State, New Mexico & Temple). Upsets will happen, but some of them won't "feel" like upsets.

What that might mean in 7/10 vs. 2 range, though — we could see 10's like WVa & Purdue and 11's like Texas & NC State blast through to Sweet 16.

 

[cyclone22]

Well it's not like he's going to just throw in a 3 seed or higher for the hell of it.. Obviously there's good reason he made those picks...

Anybody who has never watched a college basketball game could make those picks. Like this is the final 4 because these are the 4 best teams. Solid prediction bro.

 

[tm3308]

It might not apply at the top end, but beyond that I would attribute that in part to so many "non-power" conference teams being seeded higher than big-6. (6) SD State vs. (11) NC STate; 7-10 St. Mary's-Purdue; 7-10 Gonzaga-West Virginia. ... and so many "little guys" being at 5 (Wichita State, New Mexico & Temple). Upsets will happen, but some of them won't "feel" like upsets.

What that might mean in 7/10 vs. 2 range, though — we could see 10's like WVa & Purdue and 11's like Texas & NC State blast through to Sweet 16.

I'd agree with this completely. I've picked Purdue in a couple brackets, and NC State in one. Like I said, I can't remember a bracket like this, with so many mid-majors with higher seeds.

 

[Wesley]

I thought Duke was supposed to provide a top-notch education? I can see the attraction of picking all the #1 seeds to advance, since they ARE seeded #1 for a reason, but ALL the #1 and #2 seeds advancing? Has that ever happened? Ever?

(I probably should have done something more grandiose for my 1,000th post, but this will have to do)

What is even funnier is how many of the top 8 teams lost this week....:v_SPIN:

 

[letsCYber]

Jay Bilas is garbage. Just a good-for-nothing Duke homer. Does anyone follow him on Twitter? I unfollowed him b/c he never tweeted about basketball. Only rap lyrics and tweets about being "trill".

 

[mj4cy]

I actually think Syracuse will be the first #1 out.

 

[Cydwinder]

I actually think Syracuse will be the first #1 out.

I think this is probably true. I think K-state would have a solid chance against them actually.

 

[canker2323]

Jay Bilas is garbage. Just a good-for-nothing Duke homer. Does anyone follow him on Twitter? I unfollowed him b/c he never tweeted about basketball. Only rap lyrics and tweets about being "trill".

I like Bilas a lot. I think he's funny and does a good job explaining his position. I think him and Hubert Davis are great.

I also like Bilas doing games with Bill Raftery and Sean McDonough (not sure on spelling).

 

[Cyclonepride]

I like Bilas a lot. I think he's funny and does a good job explaining his position. I think him and Hubert Davis are great.

I also like Bilas doing games with Bill Raftery and Sean McDonough (not sure on spelling).

I like Bilas too, as far as being really informed on the teams that he is covering when he announces.

Hubert Davis is funny- every time I watch he is laughing his *** off about something.

 

[tm3308]

I think this is probably true. I think K-state would have a solid chance against them actually.

I've picked that upset in several of my brackets now. Syracuse almost always underperforms in the Dance. I'm having a hard time picking against the other three #1's, though. It really sucks that Mizzou ended up in MSU's region. I've been having Mizzou as one of my main contenders for the title, but I have a lot of trouble picking against Izzo in March.