We're Going to the Sweet Sixteen!

[GemStateJim]

So says a social media app on ESPN, and that's good enough, right?

Desperate for some indication that the most frustrating season in the Rick Barnes era shall not have been in vain, I checked out ESPN's NCAA Basketball BracketCaster. (OK, OK--I was just bored.)

The app forecasted Texas reaching the Sweet Sixteen courtesy of a 66-58 victory over Minnesota and a 70-69 upset of Duke before losing a rematch with UCLA, 67-62. It also had top seed Pittsburgh winning the entire region.

Other than that, it was a pretty boring prognostication. There wasn't a single first-round shocker, and the Duke result was just one of two upsets predicted for the entire East Region (the other was Florida State beating Xavier, 67-62).

And, no, I didn't keep reloading the app until it forecast a Duke upset.

Anyway, if you haven't already stumbled upon the app, here's The Link. Have fun.

 

[salonghorn-70]

If we can get by Duke, then I would be very happy.

 

[hudsonhorn]

Very happy is the ultimate understatement. Hook 'Em!

 

[Mesohorny]

depends on which Longhorn team shows up

1st half-of-the-season Horns can get by Minn, possibly the Dookies

2nd half-of-the-season Horns will be one and done

but

nevertheless

 

[p_town_horn]

Understatement of the year for basketball!!! If we pass up the dookies, I will go out to the mail box to collect my economic stimulus check.

 

[hookem1962]

OP must have visited rush limbaugh's drug store...minny may take us tonight but i'm glad your opti-burntorange-mistic!

 

[bevo barry]

...not!

 

[l00p]

If the entire Duke team were to come down with Leprosy before their game I would not lose one second of sleep over it.

 

[GemStateJim]

What's funny is I ran another simulation after creating this thread. Once again, BracketCaster had us beating Dook and reaching the Sweet Sixteen, this time only to lose in the third round to VCU, which it predicted would win the entire region.

Virginia Commonweath? In the Final Four? "Science ain't an exact science with these clowns."

 

[300zx]

Sorry. Not...going...to...happen.

 

[l00p]

There are some people who are very, very hip on VCU. I have them going far in a couple of brackets. I would say they have a better chance at the Sweet 16 than we do given our Sybil like performances. Tonight cannot get here soon enough. Just a couple hours away.

 

[GemStateJim]

In reply to:

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[l00p]

All I expect is for our guys to not quit. They may lose, they may not hit their jump shots and they may not get a lot of rebounds. But as long as they tried and just flat out get beaten, not beat themselves, at the end of the day I am proud for them. I don't know what to expect tonight. I am almost fearful. I almost feel guilty for that.

 

[busterbrown16]

VCU has a better chance of winning the region then we have of beating Dook. When we see that Dook on those shirts, we get scared. Like Baylor against us. That is, until the Big 12 tournament. Oh, wait a minute....

 

[Chest Rockwell]

If we play our best game, I can see beating Duke . . . in any other State than North Carolina. Playing them in Greensboro might as well be Cameron Indoor.

 

[Vol Horn 4 Life]

Hey, Steve Lavin had Texas in his final four a couple days ago. I suppose anything is possible......not that, but still........

 

[VYFan]

It's a game. We have a puncher's chance.

 

[TexanWolv]

Just give the UNC fans a chance to cheer for us and it will get interesting.

 

[iluvthisbbteam]

I kinda hate to admit it but my wish has been fulfilled. Anything beyond the win last night will indeed be unexpected icing on the cake for me.