There hasn't been a genuine upset in the NCAA Tourney since they started drug testing

[taterguy]

1985 was the last year a team won that didn't enter the Tourney ranked in the Top 10 (Well, maybe, but I'm too lazy to look it up)

Villanova won that year. Nobody expected them to, not even the most die-hard Philly fan.

How did they win?

Drugs.

Drugs work. Their PG was coked out of his mind and played the best games of his life during the Final Four. I repeat: Drugs work.

When he outed himself in Sports Illustrated, the NCAA mandated that players pee in a cup after all Tourney games.

Ever since then, there might be a few surprises in the opening rounds, but the ultimate winner was someone most people expected.

Drugs work.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar or delusional.

ps: NC State beating Houston two years earlier? Probably an example of drugs not working but since no one's ever confessed I'm not entirely sure.

[TZ]

1. George Mason in the Final Four?

How do you explain that?

[Iggo]

2. Drugs.

[taterguy]

3. Didn't win it all, came close

But "close" only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.

[Forkboy]

5. And sex.

At least how I do it....

[Captain Hilts]

4. Mmmm...no, it's not about drugs. 15 seed ODU upset 3 seed 'Nova. nt

[taterguy]

6. Was that for the Championship?

If not, it doesn't really count.

Early round upsets are just part of the Man's plan to keep you down.

[madinmaryland]

7. Michael Jordan was doing roids? WTF, Francis??

[taterguy]

17. Jordan was clean, because he saw what drugs did to his childhood hero David Thompson

Cocaine's very effective as a short-term performance enhancer.

But it does have some rather unpleasant side-effects.

ps: Jordan only won one NCAA title, and his team was ranked #1 in the preseason.

[Ptah]

8. Just as accurate as your DST gag.

1997 Arizona ranked 15th before the tournament.

[taterguy]

10. DST Gag? Refresh my memory

I don't pay much attention to what I post.

As for Arizona, well 15 is still close enough to be considered an elite school.

It's not as if they shocked the world.

[Ptah]

11. They defeated three number one seeds in that tournament.

"1985 was the last year a team won that didn't enter the Tourney ranked in the Top 10 (Well, maybe, but I'm too lazy to look it up)"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=7910102

[JonLP24]

9. You're probably right and I'm wrong

but what about the whole team? I can find that Gary McLain admitted using often but when it came to the Final 4 he acknowledged that he did only in the semi-finals and not finals. Another thing it appears that Ed Pinckney was the star of the team and the entire tournament but I can't find anything that suggested he used any drugs. Gary McClain was 1 of 4 players from Villanova named to the all-tournament team so he was a factor but it was Pinckney that got the MVP award. I didn't watch the tournament but maybe the team as a whole made a great run mostly w/o drugs and possibly it could be done again.

[wilt the stilt]

12. hopefully, you forgot the sarcasm tag

Villanova was not the upset everyone says it was. The big east sent 3 teams to the final 4 that year/ St.Johns who was good but could never beat G'town but Villanova could. The first two times they played them that year ended up in an OT win for G'town and a 3 point victory. They were not intimidated by G'town and they knew how to play them. Pinckney was too quick for Ewing and they gave him the ball with room to move and not in the post. Massimino knew how to play against Ewing and even his prior center) small tough white guy) knew how to play him. It was no upset.

[Condem]

13. Pretty much agree, Wilt.

Spent that whole winter watching the Big East in North Jersey. Loved Mullin and St. Johns. Moved down to DC in time to see G'town get beat. Everybody forgets who the fourth team was. Heinous Memphis, coached by the late cheater, Dana Kirk.

[Awsi Dooger]

14. Villanova was only an 8.5 point underdog

I was new to Las Vegas and every wise guy was betting Villanova, for the reasons you stated. The money line (straight up odds) plummeted below 4/1. I always shake my head when that game is listed among the all time upsets.

There was actually an obscure USFL game on the same night that was a much greater upset, in terms of actual odds. I think it was San Antonio and QB Rick Neuheisel routing Portland on the road as a 16 point underdog. I knew one huge sports bettor from Tennessee who was going to parlay the two underdogs on the money line for $10,000, but his buddy from Oklahoma talked him out of it. It would have paid more than $330,000.

[trumad]

15. Yeah the upset Meme is legendary

but also bullshit.

[wilt the stilt]

20. Also my opinion

is that Thompson sucked as a game coach and teacher of offense. His teams including the olympic team always had difficulty scoring. He only had one scorer on the Olympic team(Hersey Hawkins)and inevitably we lost that Olympics because we couldn't score. He also never taught Ewing how to really play center. Ewing had to dribble to score. A BIG NO NO for centers.

[joeybee12]

21. I agree also...I recall telling everyone that day Nova would win...

...mainly because it's very difficult to beat a team 3 times in a season...Nova was due...and they outcoached Georgetown who couldn't adapt to their SLOW play.

[wilt the stilt]

16. The white guy

was John Pinone and BC almost beat Memphis that year which would have made it a Big east final. I have that sports illustrated issue.

[era veteran]

18. 1985 NCAA Finals @ Rupp was the best

I saw Villanova beat Georgetown in that great upset. There were a lot of Villanova fans who expected to win. I was lucky to get in. A Villanova fan gave me a ticket. Thanks John W,,,,,,.....Drugs for basketball don't work too long, what a post.

[wilt the stilt]

19. Hardly an upset n/t

[era veteran]

22. Yes, I should have worded that differently

The media really played the upset thing. It was a great game. I was with some Philly folks. Looks like a different Wildcat will win this year. I do see 'Nova in the south finals. Going to be a great tournament. Good luck. RFL

[taterguy]

23. If the Kansas State Wildcats win this year's Tourney it will be a major upset

And I will apologize for this thread

[era veteran]

24. I like that team too

I think this will be a bluegrass wildcat. I see North Carolina going to Starkville in NIT. Appropriate Good luck RFL