Grading is complete for round two of Member Mayhem. The stage is now set for the Sweet 16, where essay length will increase to 250 words, and the competition is sure to heat up!
The next round of essays are due at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 28. Check out the updated Bracket and Message Board for match-ups.
Full grading for the second round is below.
EAST
Dookisevil (UNC)
The ability to adapt to a player that was not their primary nor secondary point guard late in the season, due to injuries. UNC re-worked their style of play while Lawson was out for six games, and Thomas was at the helm. Many teams would have suffered a downward spiral that was unrecoverable; Carolina however, overcame this dagger, by going 5-1 during this stretch. Utilizing their deep bench and ability to forge ahead and work together, enabled them to win the ACC regular season outright, and the ACC Championship, earning them the overall #1 seed in the tournament.
Grading:
Words: 98
Passion: 15
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 3
Penalty: 0
Total: 69
HogsRoll07 (Arkansas)
Why did my team make it to the big dance? In words that only Razorback Nation can understand, these aren’t baby pigs, these are full-grown Hogs. In today’s age of college hoops, it’s rare to see a team with as many Seniors as the Razorback team puts on the floor. The reason why the Hogs are dancing into March is because of Weems, Townes, Thomas, Hunter, Ervin, and Hill. These Razorbacks bring the fire, the heart, and the desire to win every time they hit the court; as many of them are playing for their last 40 minutes. Give ‘em Hell in Raleigh men!
Grading:
Words: 104
Passion: 19
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 17
Penalty: 0
Total: 88
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Doodlebugger (Notre Dame)
Wow, the biggest reason Notre Dame is (was) in the tournament!!! The dynamic duo of Harangody and Brey. Luke Harangody was the Big East POY as a sophomore with 22.4 ppg and 11.9 rpg. Meanwhile Mike Brey was the Big East COY for the second consecutive year (a remarkable achievement in any circumstances, but truly amazing given the presence of Jim Boeheim, Jim Calhoun, Rick Pitino and Bob Huggins in the league. Brey's handling of the young Harangody and the sharp shooting, but previously suspended, Kyle McAlarney led to only the third 24-win regular season in ND history. Here's looking to 2008-09.
Grading:
Words: 102
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 15
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 7
Penalty: 0
Total: 73
IamTheMan (Winthrop)
Seniors led this squad, no doubt! With the loss of 3 starters last year in a very good Winthrop team many wondered how this year would go. With the help of Chris Gaynor, Taj McCullough, and Michael Jenkins, this team proved everyone wrong and once again was crowned Big South champions. Not even picked to finish 3rd in the preseason, this team was on a mission from the very beginning. With Gaynor leading the team is assists, Jenkins led the team with the 3 ball. Taj though was the glue that held everyone together leading the team in points and heart!
Grading:
Words: 101
Passion: 16
Creativity: 16
Clarity: 13
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 13
Penalty: 0
Total: 75
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Dormanium (St. Joseph’s)
Grading:
Words: 0
Passion: 0
Creativity: 0
Clarity: 0
Knowledge: 0
Voting: 6
Penalty: 0
Total: 6
Cardfan Drewski (Louisville)
Is Louisville worthy of March Madness because of David Padgett, A 6'11 post-man amongst post-boys; a teacher seems to win his position every time?
Is Louisville worthy of March Madness because Rick Pitino motivates Earl Clark (skills!), Edgar Sosa (talent!), and Terrance Williams (athleticism!) to buy in to our system...?
No.... those are not the only reasons...
We, Louisville, are not about one man;
We, Louisville, are about not holding back.
We, Louisville, choose to play great defense.
We, Louisville, are a team amongst individuals.
We, Louisville, beat our opponents as a team.
We, Louisville, choose to win.
And we will win.
Thus God blesses and rivals Envy.
Grading:
Words: 108
Passion: 19
Creativity: 19
Clarity: 13
Knowledge: 16
Voting: 14
Penalty: 0
Total: 81
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Misteright1 (Dayton)
Dayton's season this year was like a Jekell and Hyde horror movie. Dayton started out 13-1 rolling over ranked teams like Pittsburg, Louisville, and others before inuries to Freshman sensation Chris Wright and Charles Little and the Flu bug that went through the whole team in mid January. This resulted in them losing 8 of their next 12 and finishing 20-9. First Team A-10 Senior player Brian Roberts proceeded to put the team on his back and has carried them to where they are in Round # 2 (NIT) as we speak! If not for the mid-season injuries, this team would have went deep into the NCAA Tourney!
Grading:
Words: 108
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 12
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 10
Penalty: 0
Total: 74
Awvols1985 (Tennessee)
Shirts off ! . . . I mean, hats off to Coach Bruce Pearl and his staff on transforming Tennessee's basketball team into legitimate contenders in this years NCAA Tournament. Experience mixed with a never give up attitude has become the recipe for success in puting the VOLS at 30 -4 with a shot at the National Championship ! Tennessee's senior leadership and poise has proved to be the deciding factor in big wins over 11 March Madness Members ( including American ), 6 of which are still in the field of 32.
Hungry VOLS ?. . . Why wait!
Grab a Butler Bulldog for win number 12 !
Grading:
Words: 109
Passion: 17
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 12
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 10
Penalty: 0
Total: 75
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MIDWEST
Pinktoad (Portland State)Portland State’s best quality is TEAMWORK. I was going to say heart as well, but that is not a measurable quality. Most everyone at this level has heart and heart can only get you so far. The talent and ability has to exist to get to the next level regardless how high year heart. Portland State plays great together. They have an incredible inside-out game with Morrison in the paint kicking out to the perimeter players. With Dominguez (MVP) running the show, this team works great together. Even the bench contributes.
Grading:
Words: 91
Passion: 16
Creativity: 15
Clarity: 14
Knowledge: 14
Voting: 8
Penalty: 0
Total: 59
UNLV (UNLV)
HEART. UNLV refuses to lose. The starting five is made up of two walk ons, a 27-year old A/C repairman, a kid named Wink, and a 6'7" small forward playing center. The bench goes two deep, but they make me nervous. On most nights they are outsized and have less talent on the floor. Yet through it all they have won 27 games. Their desire to win feeds a defensive intensity that makes other teams just want to quit. Match that with Lon Kruger's coaching genius, and UNLV looking for its second straight Sweet Sixteen--and then some.
Grading:
Words: 98
Passion: 18
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 12
Penalty: 0
Total: 81
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Fwurster (Villanova)
Grading:
Words: 0
Passion: 0
Creativity: 0
Clarity: 0
Knowledge: 0
Voting: 9
Penalty: 0
Total: 9
RJDUB (Vanderbilt)
Grading:
Words: 0
Passion: 0
Creativity: 0
Clarity: 0
Knowledge: 0
Voting: 11
Penalty: 0
Total: 11
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Trojanluver (USC)
Defense!. Unfortunately, the Lack of Defense caused the deserved exit of USC from the tournament last night! KSU earned the win! It was a specific Defensive night that placed USC in the tournament earning USC's berth in the big dance!
In late February, my family and I went to the McKale Center to watch USC play Arizona. Previously, Arizona had crushed USC in the Galen Center with guard Bayless and forward Budinger totaling 39 points!
Coach Floyd had created a special defense frustrating Bayless and Budinger . Both totaled but 15 points! Gibson and Jefferson were the difference, not "star" O.J. Mayo- Proof positive USC is much more than the future NBA star!
Grading:
Words: 113
Passion: 17
Creativity: 16
Clarity: 11
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 2
Penalty: -10
Total: 54
Badgerdiver (Wisconsin)
The name of the game for the Badgers is teamwork. Bucky opened up conference play with five different leading scorers in the first five games, all over twenty points! The unselfish Badgers averaged over 14 assists per game! This cohesive unit has worked wonders together this year on the defensive end of the court, leading the nation in effective defense. The occasionally under-talented, preseason 5th in the Big Ten Badgers, banded together to prove something: Five Great Teammates can beat Five Great Basketball Players any day. They certainly have already proved that, rising to fifth in the nation! GO BADGERS!
Grading:
Words: 100
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 16
Knowledge: 16
Voting: 18
Penalty: 0
Total: 84
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Leafs4life (Gonzaga)
The key factor in The Zags' season has been resiliance.
The Bulldogs showed great heart throughout this season on their way to another tourney appearance.
After every loss this year, the Zags followed up with a win (except once to Oklahoma, and Tennessee consecutively).
It also seems they take out their anger on teams after losses: for instance after a 10 pt. loss to Texas Tech, they beat V. Tech by 18, and after a loss in Memphis, and St. Mary's they won those games after by 38 and 42.
So while other young teams would get down on themselves after close losses, Mark Few's Zags just kept on barking.
Grading:
Words: 110
Passion: 16
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 14
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 8
Penalty: 0
Total: 72
Thomassova4 (UMBC)
Sadly, the Retriever's "miracle" season has ended; however, the key to the Retriever's success was good old fashion teamwork. The recipe for a successful team coming out of a small conference like the America East requires chemistry, passion and a little luck. The most important of those factors being chemistry.
In small conferences, there are very few "superstars" but there are a lot of super TEAMS. In the case of UMBC, that super team included the set-up man Greene, the shooter Barbosa, the inside man, Proctor, and the leader Hodges. The Retrievers will be back!
Thanks for voting!
GO UMBC!
Grading:
Words: 100
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 18
Knowledge: 15
Voting: 12
Penalty: 0
Total: 79
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SOUTH
DaPillCaper (Maryland)
This year, as you all may know, Maryland was not fortunate enough to make it into the field of 65. I can tell you, however, what it will take to make it to next years tourney. Next year we will have three returning players. Vasquez and Hayes (who will have had two full years as guards in Maryland’s system) and forward Lance Milbourne. We seemed to get our freshman players a little bit of experience in the NIT so we will be sorta set in that category as well. The main thing though will be Coach Gary Williams and how he will spin this disappointing year into motivation.
Grading:
Words: 108
Passion: 16
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 16
Knowledge: 16
Voting: 11
Penalty: 0
Total: 76
Rennat13 (Mississippi State)
Defense, Defense, Defense.
That reason alone is why we were invited to the 2008 NCAA Tournament. We ended the regular season as #2 field goal-defense (36.8%) in the country. Our defense is led by "Swat" aka sophomore C Jarvis Varnado, the #1 shot-blocker in the country, with almost 5 per game! We won at least 4 games this season just because of our defense stepping up when the offense was nowhere to be found.
The object of the game is to score more points than the other team. When a team can't hit water falling out of a boat, it's good to be able to rely on their defense to carry them to victory.
Hail State!
Grading:
Words: 116
Passion: 18
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 18
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 9
Penalty: -10
Total: 71
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MainManx (Michigan State)
The component driving MSU's run to the tournament was the frontcourt play of Suton, Naymick and Morgan. The Spartans are highly successful playing up-tempo, transitional basketball, the frontcourt being key.
Playing tight defense. Limiting the offense to one shot. Snatching rebounds, pushing the ball upcourt immediately through Neitzel and Lucas. Moving the ball inside-outside, scoring quickly. Whether setting picks and screens, keeping the ball alive on the offensive glass, driving aggresively to the basket or kicking it outside, the big guys are vital to winning. This is Spartan basketball at it's best, ready to keep playing through March.
Grading:
Words: 98
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 9
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 14
Penalty: 0
Total: 74
Bigsportsfan (Oral Roberts)
Even though my Oral Roberts Golden Eagles lost yesterday they still had a really good season.They won the Summit League reagular season with a 21-8 record and 16-2 in conference play,which gave them the number 1 seed in conference tournament.From there they went on to win the Summit League tournament.The leaders of the team were Shawn King and Robert Jarvis.
Grading:
Words: 60
Passion: 13
Creativity: 13
Clarity: 9
Knowledge: 16
Voting: 6
Penalty: 0
Total: 57
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UK_num_1 (Kentucky)
The single most important factor ushering Kentucky into the tournament was the team chemistry forged in embarrassing early-season losses. During an early game, Crawford tangled with an opposing player, and no fellow Wildcat came to his side.
By season's end, they had melded into a family who genuinely loved each other, and it showed on the court.
It showed in the 12-4 regular season conference record.
It showed in the leadership Bradley and Crawford displayed before their younger teammates.
It showed in the way players picked up their game, especially after Patterson went down. They played each game with grit and heart and established a new foundation for the future.
Grading:
Words: 110
Passion: 18
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 19
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 11
Penalty: 0
Total: 83
Lelandjr (Stanford)
Stanford made it by doing so many things well. Like winning 17 of 27 by double-digits, having multiple award winners (including Brook Lopez, All Pac-10 First Team; Trent Johnson, Pac-10 Coach of the Year; Robin Lopez, Pac-10 All-Defensive squad), shooting over 40% and holding 22 of 33 opponents to under 40% shooting, averaging 39.1 rpg while limiting opponents to just 30.6 per contest.
But the most important reason for Stanford's success and selection is that they play AMAZING team ball. Fresh of their first tourney victory in four years, Stanford looks to advance to the Sweet-16 against Marquette tonight. Watch and be a witness!
Grading:
Words: 104
Passion: 17
Creativity: 15
Clarity: 14
Knowledge: 19
Voting: 9
Penalty: 0
Total: 74
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Miamigregory (Miami)
From the beginning of the season, the experts have been picking the Hurricanes to finish last. “Last in the ACC”, “stuck in a rut”, supposedly destined for yet more failure. Even the mighty Duke would fall to them. Even against St. Mary’s, as a higher seed, the upset was wrongfully predicted.
This doubting, from the beginning of the season, has driven the Hurricanes more than Haith, a superstar’s maturation, or any other factor could. “Proving the experts wrong” has been a continual headline for the season, and the Hurricanes will continue to be defiant, and WILL continue to dance.
C-A-N-E-S-CANES!!!
Grading:
Words: 100
Passion: 18
Creativity: 19
Clarity: 19
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 9
Penalty: 0
Total: 82
Chrisper J10 (Texas)
The most important factor for the Texas Longhorns getting to the NCAA Tournament would be overall team defense. Last year the Texas Longhorns D wasn't all that great, as the four other starters would wait and see what Kevin Durant would do during the big games; Offensively and defensively.
Now this year is a different story. Augustin, Abrams, Atchley, James, And Mason all have improved on their perimeter and post defense. Connor Atchley led the Big XII in blocks (right under 2 PG) and Augustin was top 5 in steals. Damion James was second to Michael Beasley in Defensive rebounds as well.
Rick Barnes has got this team playing the best defense it ever could imagine. Good team defense and talent wins championships, and i think the Texas Longhorns have a great mixture of both. This team could be as good as the 2003 Final four team, only time will tell.
TEEEEEEEEEX - AS!!!!!> >> >> >FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!!
Grading:
Words: 157
Passion: 16
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 14
Knowledge: 19
Voting: 11
Penalty: -10
Total: 67
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WEST
ChadTheChad (Massachusetts)
With the loss of a talented front-court ( Lasme and Freeman), and the realization that this year's team was lacking a low post presence, UMass had to transform their style of play. The result: incorporating a run and gun offense that was scarier than Joan Rivers' facial features! We reached 90 or more points in 10 games, sophomore Ricky Harris hit 72 3's in the regular season, Gary Forbes scored in double-digits every game, and we upset teams like Dayton, Syracuse, and Boston College. Even in not making this year's NCAA Tournament, it was this run and gun style that attributed to UMass's regular season success.
Grading:
Words: 106
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 19
Voting: 7
Penalty: 0
Total: 77
Tejano09 (Texas A&M)
The team's lack of heart and passion towards the end of the season. landed us on the bubble. When the conference tourney rolled around, things happened. Our star freshman DeAndre Jordan got food poisoning. Donald Sloan's mom died the Thursday that we were scheduled to play. The team rallied around these weaknesses, and Sloan had one of his best nights. The next day we took down Kansas State. The day after that we played an extremely close game with Kansas. The team's spirit seemed to rise from nowhere, and I'm confident that without that showing of passion, we would not have made it.
Grading:
Words: 103
Passion: 18
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 16
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 13
Penalty: 0
Total: 82
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Skilz2brn (Nevada)
For the first time in five years, Nevada had to put their dancing shoes away. That doesn’t mean there was no success to talk about. Led by senior Marcellus Kemp and sophomore sensation JaVale McGee, the Wolf Pack put together a solid 20 win season. Their main ingredient for their success was balance. On any given night four of the five starters could go for twenty points. With the likes of McGee and WAC Freshman of the Year, Armon Johnson, to go along with the 23rd rated recruiting class in the Nation, optimism is running high in Reno!
Grading:
Words: 98
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 6
Penalty: 0
Total: 75
Zacky103210 (Iowa)
The Iowa Hawkeyes did not make the NCAA Tournament in 2007-2008, but their biggest strength was their team defense. Obviously experience was an issue, having lost three star players including transfer Tyler Smith (Tennessee). They also brought in a new head coach in Todd Lickliter. However, defense wins championships. And while the Hawkeyes finished with a record of just 13-19 this season, they did hold opponents to just 58 points per game, which ranked 7th in all of Division I. And with more experience and a slightly easier conference in 2008-2009, the Hawkeyes should contend for an NCAA bid.
Grading:
Words: 99
Passion: 17
Creativity: 17
Clarity: 14
Knowledge: 18
Voting: 14
Penalty: 0
Total: 80
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Torn b/w IU/BU (Baylor)
I’d say the most important factor in Baylor making the NCAA Tournament is Scott Drew. This man took on a job no one else would touch and brought the program back from the ashes. Drew brought some of the best recruits from this nation and others to Baylor. He assembled a young team, gave them experience in a tough conference, and now juniors have two years of starting experience to play competitively with some of the best. Additionally, his game day strategies and his ability to spark student interest in the team helped to lead the Bears to their first tournament appearance in 20 years.
Grading:
Words: 105
Passion: 18
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 15
Voting: 9
Penalty: 0
Total: 77
Wayslow1 (Alabama)
Mykal Riley wanted to play in the NCAA Tournament. He hit 8 of 12 three-pointers to help Alabama defeat Florida, the defending national champ, in their first SEC tourney game. Against Mississippi State Riley lead Bama in scoring, including a trey at the buzzer to force the game into overtime.
However, a few tornados interrupted the game and gave Riley’s hot hands time to cool off. Unable to connect on two shots in the final seconds, Riley couldn’t write the storybook ending he wanted to have. The Dance will have to wait until next year.
Grading:
Words: 95
Passion: 17
Creativity: 18
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 15
Voting: 11
Penalty: 0
Total: 78
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Naterb (Arizona)
UofA Sports Dictionary
Team Dynamics (adj.): (a) The common factor for Arizona success this year. (b) The chemistry created by having their starting five accentuate one another to perfection. (c) The absence of success based upon a stellar performance by a singular player.
Arizona’s team dynamics are perfectly visible with their record when healthy compared to when players were injured or had off games. During the season, when plagued by injury, Arizona is 3-8. Whereas when healthy they were 16-6. This team was recruited by design: There’s a passer, a slasher, a shooter, a big man, and a glue guy. If one is piece was missing, the team struggled.
Grading:
Words: 109
Passion: 18
Creativity: 20
Clarity: 17
Knowledge: 17
Voting: 7
Penalty: 0
Total: 79
JusSaySue (Belmont)
Balance is the Belmont success factor.
There are reasons people-remark like Coach Byrd's challenge to the players "Make History" at the beginning of this season (NCAA three consecutive years), the offense spreading the court, three point shooting as an equalizer, unrelenting pressure defense, or Belmont's stability of having staff together eight years longer than other staffs in division I.
However, the main reason for the outstanding NCAA appearance is the season's 33 starting lineups resulting in 10 players with experienced starting mentalities. Summed up by Coach Krzyzewski after Thursday's game, "when Belmont subs its never like going to their (Belmont’s) bench."
Grading:
Words: 101
Passion: 17
Creativity: 15
Clarity: 9
Knowledge: 15
Voting: 13
Penalty: 0
Total: 69
