My list has pretty much been the same for a long time.
In order:
1. Miami, Flo (as St. David call us
)
2. Any B1G East team (Creighton, Marquette, Providence, UConn, Xavier)
3. Any A-10 team (Just VCU this year)
4. Non-P5 schools
Against
1. FSU and UF (oh wait, never mind
)
2. All other teams in P-5 conferences
1. Houston (New Big 12)
2. Big 12 (New Big 12)
3. Gonzaga (Potentially New Big 12)
4. Miami / FAU (Local)
5. Furman / Iona (My bracket Cinderellas)
Against
1. Alabama
2. PAC 12
3. UConn
For:
1. A&M
Against:
2-68. Everyone who isn't A&M
Slightly less against:
SEC teams that didn't supply guns to murderers this season
(03-14-2023 03:46 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: [ -> ]1. Houston (New Big 12)
2. Big 12 (New Big 12)
3. Gonzaga (Potentially New Big 12)
4. Miami / FAU (Local)
5. Furman / Iona (My bracket Cinderellas)
Against
1. Alabama
2. PAC 12
3. UConn
We'll take it
1) Illinois
2) Any other Big 10 School
3) Montana State
4) Other Western Schools except as listed below
5) Non-P5 Schools except as listed below
6) The rest except as listed below
7) Duke
8) GCU
9) Kansas
For:
Memphis
Against:
Everyone that plays Memphis or makes Memphis' route harder
Refreshing, new brands advancing through the tournament. Early exits for bland, stale brands.
For: Alabama
Against: Auburn
1. Marquette
2. Any Big East team
3. Gonzaga
4. Purdue (would be nice for a B1G team to finally win one)
5. A&M (would be nice for Buzz to take another program far)
Not really rooting against any one. Seems that there can be many teams that make a run.
For:
1. Indiana and Memphis (for long-standing family reasons)
2. Southern Cal (nephew attends and it would be fun to see his reaction if the Trojans made the Final Four)
3. N.C. State (sister attended NCST and this a good year for the Wolfpack to rep the state of North Carolina with the Heels not participating)
4. West Virginia (would like to see Huggy Bear, one of my all-time favorite coaches, get another Final Four for his strong resume)
5. Any non-P6
6. Houston (will always be a "brother" with Memphis and Cincinnati; I enjoy watching the Cougars)
7. Marquette (Shaka offers tremendous positive karma and I've respected the MU program since Al McGuire was the coach)
Against:
None. I stopped "cheering against" teams in about 2009 when I embarrassed myself for buffoonish behavior related to my "loathing" Tennessee and Bruce Pearl. I felt like a fool. So good luck to everybody (even the Vols)!
Rooting for Houston and all big 12 schools
Rooting against? The Big 10 and the SEC
1. A-10
2. WCC/MVC/CAA
3. One-bid conference champs who will probably lose.
4. Mountain West/MAC
5. American
6. Pac-12
7. Northwestern
8. Big East
9. Basketball-first P5s
10. lowest to highest football budgets.
So VCU to Alabama/Texas
I'm rooting for good basketball that I enjoy watching.
I'm rooting against UConn (also Alabama).
The University of Illinois.
I also have a soft spot for any MVC team that can make a run, which would be Drake as a candidate this year.
Duke losing is always a cause of celebration, so Oral Roberts and/or whoever they play thereafter will get my temporary fandom for a couple of hours.
Otherwise, I’m just rooting for my bracket picks.
Root for-
1) UW (not in tourney)
2) Cinderella
3) The BigEAST
Used to root for-
1) The PAC (not any more)
Root against-
1) Bluebloods
2) The ACC (nothing personal)
For:
Houston and Memphis - Both representing Cincinnati's current conference
Auburn - My deceased wife's alma mater
Kent St - Born and raised in Ohio and always appreciated the Ohio MAC schools in hoops
Furman - Attended the SoCon Tournament in Asheville and was impressed with their level of play and talented players
Against:
No one. Cincinnati missed the dance for the third year in a row. I long for a bid, any bid...
Houston obviously and Memphis out of respect to the AAC. After that madness.
I don't have a dog in the hunt this year. I'm rooting for all lower seeds.
The first round of the NCAA tournament is my favorite two days in sports, especially when the little guy wins.
For:
1. Kent St
2. Any G5 school
3. Any FCS school
4. Any non-football school
Against:
Big 10
For
1. Kansas State
2. Colgate
3. Memphis
4. Gonzaga
5. Penn State
6. Northwestern
7. The "little guys"
Against
1. Alabama
2. Kansas
3. Auburn
4. Illinois