BuzzerBeater Forums

USA Tournament Coverage is back for Season 18!! 16 teams are alive in the hunt for a USA Cup Championship.

Last season, manager Coco and the #8 World Ranked Lake Merritt Arrows (23075) won the Cup Championship in dominating fashion, winning every single cup game by a double digit margin.

This season in the Sweet 16, the defending Champions are back, and they want to add to their impressive trophy case.

Last season 8 of the final 16 were NBBA teams, this time only 5 NBBA teams remain, including the Season 15 and 16 Cup Champion Silverbacks (23223). Division II teams dominate the field, 8 teams from Division II, including the most storied franchise in US BB history, the #20 King Drive Ballers (22817) led by manager brian. 3 Division III Teams are also still fighting to move on to the Elite 8.

Can the Arrows win their 3rd Cup Championship in team history? Or will we crown a new champion? Please follow along every week as we will be posting previews of each game, and watch the games on Thursdays at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific!!

1/5

#9 NBBA Rocket Science vs #13 NBBA AirBallers

#25 II I'll Replace You With Machines vs #31 II Black Mambas

#11 II Dog River Dogs vs #1 NBBA Lake Merritt Arrows

#4 NBBA Milwaukee Lethargy vs #22 II Grubbses & Scrubbses

#140 III Farfrompukin vs #146 III Failboat

#24 II Technical Fouls vs #48 II Imperial Phantoms

#20 II King Drive Ballers vs #53 II Visionaries

#54 III Wisconsin Grizzly Squirrels vs #2 NBBA Silverbacks

Last edited by jfarb at 12/30/2011 11:14:59 AM

My spreads for the sweet sixteen, "Strictly for entertainment purposes"


Rocket Science Pickem V. Air Ballers

I'll replace you with machines -17 V. Black Mambas

Dog River Dogs V Lake Merritt Arrows -4 1/2

Milwaukee Lethargy -24 1/2 V. Grubbses & Scrubbses

farfrompukin -5 1/2 V. Failboat

Technical Fouls V Imperial Phantoms -22

King Drive Ballers -12 V. Visionaries

Wisconin Grizzly Squirrels V Silverbacks -29 1/2



Last edited by jfarb at 12/31/2011 4:51:24 PM

#11 Dog River Riverdogs (II.4) vs. #1 Lake Merrit Arrows (NBBA)

No surprise here, the defending champs are back in the sweet 16, and ready to make another run for the title. Coco’s Lake Merrit Arrows (23075) have been unstobbale of the late, defeating every team that stands in their way easily by more than 30 points. Teams can't seem to stop the three time NBBA champion and two time cup champion. If one things certain, it’s cup time again fellas, and Coco’s not going to rest until he has another trophy to add to his impressive case.

It won’t be a breeze for him though, for he’s going to have to go through Pappy ODaniel’s Dog River River Dogs (24118) . Coming from league II.4, the Riverdogs have managed to be successful in one of the most challenging leagues in the US, for the exception of the NBBA. After a second round cup loss in Season 17, Pappy and the Riverdogs have managed to swim their way to their first ever Sweet 16 appearance. One thing's for sure Pappy means all business this season, and hopes the current will carry him and the Riverdogs to victory. Should be a good one!

Tipoff takes place at 8pm Eastern, you won't want to miss it!


Last edited by SREZ at 12/31/2011 1:50:30 PM

#25 I'll Replace You With Machines (II.4) vs #31 Black Mambas (II.1)

Despite being made in America, the Machines are once again operating efficiently this season in both the cup and II.4. This is the second straight Sweet 16 appearance for manager darykjozef, and the 4th Sweet 16 in team history. Holding steady in 5th place in the Big 8 of the notoriously difficult II.4 league, the Machines are led by former US National Team guard Dan Billingsley (4484235) and guard John Sexton (6627569).

To reach the Elite 8, the Machines will have to defeat the #31 Black Mambas. The Mambas had a rough offseason, after getting swept by the Mavericks in the playoffs (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/14820e72b5/kobe-byrant-s...) they waited through the lockout (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ec61f8a82f/kobe-bryant-o...) and currently going through a nasty divorce (http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3ff4ef3248/kobe-divorce-...). Despite that the Black Mambas are 8-7 in their first season in II.1 and have reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in their short team history.

Who will advance to the Elite 8? Find out Thursday, 8pm Eastern on NBBA TV.


Last edited by jfarb at 12/31/2011 4:07:12 PM

#20 II King Drive Ballers vs. #53 II Visionaries

He’s back, the most successful U.S. manager brian leads his team King Drive Ballers (22817) against Peluin’s Visionaries (29656). Looking for his 7th U.S. cup, Brian will have his troops ready as he has been here many times before. King Drive Ballers have cruised to season 18’s sweet 16, and have defeated each cup opponent by 20 or more. They are led by the “Nemesis” Nemesio Xermade, and the young U.S. guard duo of Laverne Goddard, and Dane Valenzuela.

King Drive Ballers will have tough task of playing the Visonaries, with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line. The Visionaries are making their sweet sixteen debut and what a challenge they have in their first appearance! Peluin and his Visionaries have their eyes set on an Elite 8 bid, but will have to go through the most successful U.S. team ever. Will the youth of the Visionaries team pull it out, or will experience take it again don't miss this exciting matchup Thursday, 8pm Eastern see you there.


Last edited by PublicEnemy#1 at 12/31/2011 2:59:44 PM

The story of the rise and fall of the northern Minnesota mining industry is a long and tedious...what? Fine. Whatever.

*Ahem* The unriveting match up of #22 Grubbses & Scrubbses (22793) vs #4 Milwaukee Lethargy (23424) on Thursday has a forgone conclusion that is barely worth your attention. The Lethargy so far have pranced through a cup schedule softer than brie on a barbecue. Aren't you jealous? They've only had to bring out the starters for two games so far, although they're sure to do so for this game, as they'll need the talents of ballhog Tõnis Alas (8856826) to get past the inbred Grubbs clan. As for the Grubbses, manager Charles has been benignly neglecting his team for quite a while now. So along with the problems caused by recessive genes the team's lineup has serious game shape issues. Why they're still in the cup or ranked #22 is beyond my comprehension, but it's a win streak that will end this week.

Preview:
1. Grubbses with run LI/m2m/normal. Like every other damn game they've played this season.
2. Lethargy will run LI. Like every other damn game they've played this season. shikago will normal this game.
3. Lethargy wins comfortably.

There, saved you the effort of seeing how it turns out. Yer welcome.


Last edited by fewmit at 12/31/2011 5:24:12 PM

Where do I make my picks?

AirBallers pick
Machines -17
LMA -4.5
Lethargy -24.5
Failboat +5.5
Technical Fouls +22
Visionaries +12
Silverbacks -29.5

:)

#140 Farfrompukin (III.13) vs #146 Failboat (III.5)

It's a battle of Division III squads as Farfrompukin and manager Hurricane will face Failboat and manager...Failboat. Hurricane and the Farfrompukin (22993) are making their first appearance in the Sweet 16 in team history. A deep team with no superstars, the Farfrompukin will rely on balanced scoring to win this one. Sitting at 8-8 in 3rd place in the Big of III.13, Hurricane has his options open for this one.

To get to the Elite 8, Hurriance will have to get by manager Failboat and the Failboat (23369). Known throughout the offsite community for training US National Team star Paul Owens, and for that one time he and I got into a fistfight (don't worry we're cool now), Failboat has remade his team to succeed in III.5. This is the first appearance in the Sweet 16 in the history of Failboat. Led by Colombian center Patricio Quinteros (7582934), Failboat sits at 8-8 as well, in contention for a playoff spot in the Great 8 of III.5.

Which Division III team will advance to the Elite 8? Friday, 10 AM Japan Standard Time, BSPN Radio.

#24 Technical Fouls (II.4) vs #48 Imperial Phantoms (II.4)

II.4 has had an impressive showing in the cup this season. 5 II.4 teams remain alive for the Cup, equaling the number of NBBA teams remaining. At least one II.4 will not advance to the Elite 8 however, as the #24 Technical Fouls take on the #48 Imperial Phantoms.

Manager lathrop has reached the Elite 8 before in Season 15, to get there again the Fouls will need a big game from star big man Dilermando Negreiro (9239522). Basically locked into 5/6th place in the Great 8 of II.4, lathrop has options available to make another run in the cup.

In his way is manager Azariah and the Imperial Phantoms. The Phantoms are enjoying their best season to date in the Big 8 of II.4. Tied for 2nd place with 11 wins Azariah is in good position to contend in both the league and the cup. This is by far the deepest cup run in team history for the Phantoms, who will need a huge game from USA U21 star Charles Parsons (17741471) if they hope to reach the Elite 8.

II.4 bragging rights on the line, tomorrow 8pm Eastern.

Didn't have time to finish all the previews this week, sorry.

Basically whats left is the D3 Wisconsin Grizzly Squirrels vs the NBBA's Silverbacks, and me vs Rocket Science.

nice shiny new title. Can you wield the banhammer now?