The bad coaching in the last 30 seconds edition

8/8.  I just finished watching Valpo lose to Maryland, and I've seen a disturbing trend amongst the lower seeded teams.  Wofford did this same thing last night.  The team is down 3 with around 30 seconds left in the game (so the shot clock is off).  Instead of going for a quick 2 and extending the game by fouling, they hold onto the ball until there's something like 10 seconds on the clock and wind up putting up a desperation 3-point shot.  Who thinks this is a good idea?!?!   The best case scenario there is that you make a 3-point shot (that the other team knows you HAVE to take) and you go into overtime.  In both occasions, the team winning the game just defends the 3 point shot and the underdog tries a terrible shot (or gets no shot off at all).  It's frustrating to watch and I've seen it a few times and it's terrible coaching.  You'd think teams would know better, but apparently not.  I've never coached basketball in my life, so maybe there's a good reason for this "Hit a 3 at the buzzer to force OT" approach, but I just don't see it.  It's terrible.....

Anyway, favorites all won, so we haven't had an "upset" since Ohio State beat VCU.  I hate it.  Gutless brackets are getting rewarded left and right.  It's the worst kind of tournament so far.  IF you picked only by the seeds, you are currently in the top 10.  Yuck.....

As a result, 55 people went 8/8.  That's terrible.  I can only hope for better this afternoon, but with 1 seeds playing, it really seems unlikely.  The best I can hope for is some minor upsets (9 over 8?, 10 over 7?).  Who knows?   Maybe Oklahoma will choke against Albany.  It seems unlikely, but I guess it's possible.  3 seeds have been a little vulnerable.

Here are the standings:

1. John M. #1: 21 (-5)

2. Brent E. #4: 21 (-7)

3. Bret K. #1: 21 (-9)

4. Peter J. #6: 21 (-11)

4. Daisy N. #1: 21 (-11)

6. Marissa W. #1: 20 (-4)

7. Irene H. #2: 20 (-8)

7. Kirt R. #1: 20 (-8)

7. Steve K. #1: 20 (-8)

7. Jonathan M. #2: 20 (-8)

7. Chun W. #3: 20 (-8)

7. Ken P.: 20 (-8)

7. Brandon B.: 20 (-8)

7. Kye G. #1: 20 (-8)

7. Brent E. #2: 20 (-8)

7. Daisy N. #4: 20 (-8)

7. Larry G. #2: 20 (-8)

7. Gigi Q.: 20 (-8)

19. Bhav R. #1: 20 (-10)

19. Ben S. #1: 20 (-10)

19. Steve H. #1: 20 (-10)

22. Mike W.: 20 (-12)

23. Ron B.: 20 (-18)

24. Amber W.: 20 (-20)

25. Peter J. #2: 20 (-36)

25. Bret K. #2: 20 (-36)

27. Szecho L.: 19 (-9)

27. Steve H. #2: 19 (-9)

27. Todd K. #3: 19 (-9)

27. Todd K. #2: 19 (-9)

27. Scott H. #2: 19 (-9)

27. James G. #1: 19 (-9)

27. James G. #2: 19 (-9)

27. Larry G. #1: 19 (-9)

27. Brent S. #2: 19 (-9)

27. Eric V. #3: 19 (-9)

37. Jessica B.: 19 (-11)

37. Kolton D.: 19 (-11)

37. Kansas C.: 19 (-11)

40. Jay K.: 19 (-13)

40. Hutch H. #2: 19 (-13)

40. Chris La. #3: 19 (-13)

40. Rich F. #1: 19 (-13)

40. Rich F. #2: 19 (-13)

45. Hutch H. #1: 19 (-21)

45. James R.: 19 (-21)

47. Shane B.: 19 (-37)

47. Dylan B.: 19 (-37)

47. Ben J. #4: 19 (-37)

47. Chun W. #2: 19 (-37)

51. Michelle R. #2: 19 (-99)

52. Bhav R. #2: 18 (-6)

53. Kai Q.: 18 (-8)

53. Larry G. #4: 18 (-8)

53. Scottt #2: 18 (-8)

53. Scottt #1: 18 (-8)

57. Dennis R. #2: 18 (-10)

57. Angie B.: 18 (-10)

57. Christy K. #1: 18 (-10)

57. Joe R.: 18 (-10)

57. Ben S. #2: 18 (-10)

57. Mark N. #1: 18 (-10)

57. Veronica A.: 18 (-10)

57. Bret K. #3: 18 (-10)

57. Todd K. #1: 18 (-10)

57. Dave M.: 18 (-10)

67. Dan S.: 18 (-12)

68. James G. #3: 18 (-14)

68. Jeff W.: 18 (-14)

68. John B.: 18 (-14)

68. Steve K. #2: 18 (-14)

68. April K.: 18 (-14)

68. Jim D. #1: 18 (-14)

68. Chad L. #2: 18 (-14)

68. Irene H. #1: 18 (-14)

68. Dennis R. #1: 18 (-14)

68. Larry G. #3: 18 (-14)

68. Scott H. #1: 18 (-14)

68. Harrell R. #2: 18 (-14)

68. Justin L.: 18 (-14)

81. Bobby H.: 18 (-18)

81. Alyssa B.: 18 (-18)

83. Daisy N. #2: 18 (-22)

83. Missy W. #1: 18 (-22)

85. Ben J. #1: 18 (-24)

86. Chun W. #1: 18 (-26)

87. Peter J. #1: 18 (-28)

88. Jonathan M. #3: 18 (-38)

88. John E.: 18 (-38)

88. Harrell R. #1: 18 (-38)

91. Mindi W.: 18 (-40)

91. Paul W.: 18 (-40)

93. Marissa W. #2: 17 (-9)

93. Kirt R. #2: 17 (-9)

95. Kye G. #2: 17 (-11)

95. Steve D.: 17 (-11)

95. Ally H.: 17 (-11)

95. Brent S. #3: 17 (-11)

95. Todd K. #4: 17 (-11)

95. Jack Q. #3: 17 (-11)

95. Joseph H.: 17 (-11)

95. Jay H. #3: 17 (-11)

95. Michelle R. #1: 17 (-11)

95. Daisy N. #5: 17 (-11)

105. Alex Q.: 17 (-13)

105. Brad E.: 17 (-13)

105. Jack Q. #4: 17 (-13)

105. Jim D. #2: 17 (-13)

105. Jonathan M. #1: 17 (-13)

110. John M. #2: 17 (-15)

110. Chad L. #3: 17 (-15)

110. Ben J. #3: 17 (-15)

113. Eric V. #2: 17 (-17)

113. Andrew D. #2: 17 (-17)

115. Virginia L. #1: 17 (-19)

115. Matt N.: 17 (-19)

117. Jason G.: 17 (-21)

118. Daisy N. #3: 17 (-23)

118. Sue L.: 17 (-23)

118. Dan D. #2: 17 (-23)

121. Tomas L. #1: 17 (-25)

121. Tomas L. #2: 17 (-25)

121. William G. #4: 17 (-25)

124. Hutch H. #3: 17 (-27)

125. Mason A. #1: 17 (-39)

125. Julie S.: 17 (-39)

125. Mike G.: 17 (-39)

125. Gary W.: 17 (-39)

129. Dan D. #1: 16 (-10)

129. Jim K.: 16 (-10)

131. Becky H.: 16 (-12)

131. William G. #2: 16 (-12)

131. Brent S. #1: 16 (-12)

131. Chun W. #4: 16 (-12)

131. Michelle L. #2: 16 (-12)

136. Dustin B.: 16 (-14)

136. Brent E. #3: 16 (-14)

136. Jack Q. #1: 16 (-14)

136. Taima B #2: 16 (-14)

136. Mark N. #2: 16 (-14)

141. Chris Lu. #1: 16 (-16)

141. Chris L. #1: 16 (-16)

141. Daryl J.: 16 (-16)

141. Carl B.: 16 (-16)

141. Chris La. #2: 16 (-16)

141. Damian M. #2: 16 (-16)

141. Jenny E.: 16 (-16)

141. Ryan W.: 16 (-16)

141. John M. #3: 16 (-16)

141. Scott K. #2: 16 (-16)

151. Ray R.: 16 (-18)

151. Brent E. #1: 16 (-18)

151. Michelle L. #3: 16 (-18)

151. Damien R. #2: 16 (-18)

151. Chris La. #4: 16 (-18)

156. Andrew D. #1: 16 (-20)

157. Chad L. #1: 16 (-24)

157. Taima B. #1: 16 (-24)

159. Jack Q. #2: 16 (-26)

160. William G. #1: 16 (-28)

161. Brian G. #1: 16 (-40)

162. Jay H. #1: 16 (-74)

163. Brandon H.: 15 (-11)

163. Ben J. #2: 15 (-11)

165. Eric V. #1: 15 (-13)

165. Jax Q.: 15 (-13)

165. Marissa W. #3: 15 (-13)

168. Luis B. #3: 15 (-15)

168. Howard S. #2: 15 (-15)

168. Luis B. #1: 15 (-15)

171. Chris Lu. #2: 15 (-17)

172. Brett W.: 15 (-19)

172. Jim W.: 15 (-19)

172. Seth D.: 15 (-19)

172. Joe K. #1: 15 (-19)

176. Michelle L. #1: 15 (-29)

177. Mike S. #2: 15 (-41)

178. Klei R. #1: 15 (-43)

179. Scott K. #1: 15 (-45)

180. Virginia L. #2: 15 (-73)

180. Irene H. #3: 15 (-73)

182. Missy W. #2: 14 (-12)

183. Mike S. #1: 14 (-14)

184. Adam E.: 14 (-16)

184. Luis B. #2: 14 (-16)

184. Peter J. #4: 14 (-16)

184. William G. #3: 14 (-16)

188. Roth W.: 14 (-18)

188. Peter J. #3: 14 (-18)

188. Damien R. #1: 14 (-18)

191. Damian M. #1: 14 (-20)

191. Brad R.: 14 (-20)

191. Joe K. #2: 14 (-20)

191. Damian M. #3: 14 (-20)

195. Mason A. #2: 14 (-22)

196. Howard S. #1: 14 (-28)

197. Joe K. #3: 14 (-30)

198. Jay H. #2: 14 (-66)

199. Peter J. #5: 13 (-21)

200. Christy K. #2: 13 (-29)

201. Brian G. #2: 13 (-37)

202. Michelle L. #4: 12 (-46)

203. Jonathan O.: 11 (-43)

204. Tim N.: 11 (-51)

205. Marc R.: 10 (-32)

206. Sally R.: 9 (-51)

Here are the breakdowns of the next 4 games.  Most of them have already started:

Oregon/Oklahoma State

Oregon: 130

Oklahoma State: 76

Vegas Line: Oregon -1.5

Duke/Robert Morris

Duke:  205

Robert Morris: 1 (my Mom again!)

Vegas Line: Duke -22.5

Iowa / Davidson

Iowa: 107

Davidson: 99

Vegas Line:  Iowa -2

Oklahoma / Albany

Oklahoma: 201

Albany: 5

Vegas Line: Oklahoma -13

Hmmmm....  Minor upsets is all I can hope for here.  I'll still pull for Albany, but that line looks pretty intimidating.

Good Luck (unless you only picked favorites.  I wish you nothing but ill if you did that)!!!!!