Musketeer Madness

Hard to believe. ESPN reported that it was the first time ever. So I looked it up and according to USA, it is the first time since 1974.

I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate.

True_Blue wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:53 am

Hard to believe. ESPN reported that it was the first time ever. So I looked it up and according to USA, it is the first time since 1974.

I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate.

rising expectations

True test now facing the "Zags. I do not expect Creighton to prevail but interested to see how huge the talent gap is. Will be a decent barometer of the current state of Big East. But will root hard for those Bluejays

Hmm... there were only 25 schools invited to the 1974 tournament. To get to the regional semi-final, they only had to beat one team (Texas). Then they lost by one to Kansas. But they beat Louisville in the consolation game.

Eddie Sutton was there coach. (Had no clue!!)

I guess it was an even bigger deal to get into the tournament back then.

I suppose ESPN was thinking since the advent of 64+ team tournament. When did the "Sweet 16" become a concept?

tacitus wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:54 pm

Hmm... there were only 25 schools invited to the 1974 tournament. To get to the regional semi-final, they only had to beat one team (Texas). Then they lost by one to Kansas. But they beat Louisville in the consolation game.

Eddie Sutton was there coach. (Had no clue!!)

I guess it was an even bigger deal to get into the tournament back then.

I suppose ESPN was thinking since the advent of 64+ team tournament. When did the "Sweet 16" become a concept?

CBS commentators originally started using the term in the late 1980s after the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams. But before that, the Sweet 16 was the name of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s annual championship tournament. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... tournament.

muskieman wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:32 pm

tacitus wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:54 pm

Hmm... there were only 25 schools invited to the 1974 tournament. To get to the regional semi-final, they only had to beat one team (Texas). Then they lost by one to Kansas. But they beat Louisville in the consolation game.

Eddie Sutton was there coach. (Had no clue!!)

I guess it was an even bigger deal to get into the tournament back then.

I suppose ESPN was thinking since the advent of 64+ team tournament. When did the "Sweet 16" become a concept?

CBS commentators originally started using the term in the late 1980s after the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams. But before that, the Sweet 16 was the name of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s annual championship tournament. https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-me ... tournament.

For what it is worth, Illinois began using the term “ Sweet Sixteen” in 1933 as the 16 teams descended upon the University of Illinois’ Huff Gymnasium to determine the State Basketball Championship.

While there are those in Indiana who seek to make an argument about coining the term “March Madness”, the NCAA shares the term with Illinois. The Illinois High School Associations’ (IHSA) Henry V. Porter authored an essay entitled “March Madness” in a March 1939 publication of the organization. Porter is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, making other contributions to the game itself, such as the Fan Backboard and published the first HS rule book.

Prep hoops have long been important in Illinois.