My 2 Cents

[Sun Tzu]

FInally got to do some analysis. Not too impressed with the job the committee did. Some questionable teams, and some very odd seedings and geography. I really think, as in the last 2 years, the top seeds are in for some trouble. Tough road for a UNC plying uninspired ball. Illinois gets o essentially play at home, but potential to see teams that could be troublesome for them. And it seems as if the NCAA talked with Coach K and asked him what he wanted - they wont get there but man they should with that weak- ass bracket. My shots in the dark:

Austin - Syracuse
Syracuse - UConn
Chicago - Okie State
Albuquerque - Georgia Tech

I do think UNC can get through, but gonna have to beat UConn for a 2nd time on a friendly court for the Huskies. In Alb it doesnt much matter - could put anybody in that blank. If they show GT can get through.


Champs: Okie State over UConn (man I hate saying that.

 

[gman2]

im not as anti-duke as most are, but definitely agree that duke not only got a gift as a #1 seed, but also got an incredibly favorable bracket to go along with it. im sitting on a huge future on wake forest and agree that georgia tech is the only team that truly scares me in albuquerque. not saying wake is invincible but definitely like their draw

 

[gjn23]

duke got a gift?

when it happens every year, it's not a gift it's a right!

that region is the worst...by far...their road is paved..oh and they get to start in nc for their first two games.....

 

[lenniethelock]

duke will never get by the cuse

 

[gman2]

duke got a gift?

when it happens every year, it's not a gift it's a right!

that region is the worst...by far...their road is paved..oh and they get to start in nc for their first two games.....

are you at all worried that your cats stand a realistic shot of getting bounced in the first round?

 

[Sun Tzu]

I am figuring a Wake-GT final out there. Would have liked to have seen the no-depth Pukies put in New Mexico. Gift seed, gift bracket, and gift location - only team in bracket remotely close to Austin is OU who sure wont get any love.

As for Illini, I am not trying to slight them. But I think having to play Okie State or AZ was probably the worst draw they could have gotten for the 2-3 seeds. Put them in another region and I would have begrudgingly had to pencil them in the title game.

 

[gjn23]

as far as the seedings go...i also think they did a terrible job, however nobody did the committe any favors by winning this weekend (arizona, kentucky, kansas).

uconn a 2 seed was the worst seeding in a while....i like that team and wouldnt want to see them, but their rpi-sos-ranking all scream 3-4 seed.....throw in the fact that they got blown out in the big east semis and i have no idea how they got a 2 seed

 

[jpblack34]

Speaking of OU Sun, where do you see them getting bounced? I kinda like there seeding.

 

[gjn23]

arizona can win six games or lose to utah state.....was hoping for the austin region with duke and not the chicago region with ill.

az drew the toughest 14 seed by far in utah state and its not a good matchup for arizona (spreads show that as we are a 6.5 fav as a 3 seed while all other 3's are dd fav's)

lsu would be another tough matchup
ok state will also be tough
ill in chicago (i think they are beatable, but would rather play them at another "neutral court"....maybe in champaign

that said.....i'd rather have arizona in an "under the radar" approach than in the fav role....you wont hear anything about arizona from the media until the elite 8, if we get that far....all the attention will be on unc-ill-duke-kansas,etc.....

dont have many

 

[Sun Tzu]

gj I think they had already penciled in UConn on Friday. With all the logistics - like tv issues - doing much changing is a real problem for them. For example, Wake had to play in a Thursday -Saturday bracket because UNC/PUke/NCST already playing friday. 3 windows on Sunday - so who get s the solo national game between PUke/UNC while the other gets split 4 ways?

I also think they took the easy path - they simply flipped WF-Wash and KY-DUke as 1-2 in their regions. Essentially meaningless except in appearance. Kentucky probably has an easier path as a 2 than Duke as a 1.

Bottom line is way too much emphasis on conference tourneys - WVa wasnt even in 4 days ago and now a 7 seed? GaTech a 5 from probably a 10? Fla 8/9 to 4?

 

[Sun Tzu]

As for Az I think they lose to Okie State. Experienced tourney team. Dont see anyone else in the half even threatening them, if they show. Lute's teams generally play great or lose to someone they have no business to.

As for OU, keep in mind I have been forecasting their demise. Keep telling people they arent all that and I was right about the conference tourney. But the draw isnt too bad for them. Utah is not a good team for them to play. But OU could handle the rest of their bracket, especially Kentucky with some mo going in.
I like Niagara and the points. But as of now I project OU in the regional final, but will look some more as draw aside they are not a regional final type team imo.

 

[gjn23]

i guess i'll put it this way

i'll have more confidence in a week playing ok state and ill than i have this week playing utah state in boise and possibly lsu......arizona usually shows up vs top teams in march , especially as perceived underdogs....and occasionally plays down to lesser teams.

not the worst draw for arizona but would trade for ou road (as a 3 seed) to the final four.