Bracketology: Next four out!

[Balker]

We're right there! Almost back in the tournament and it's only August!

Bracketology with Joe Lunardi

 

[NowInStorrs]

It's never too early for the Bubble Watch! Honestly, I'll take it at this point.

Side note: St. Mary's as a 5? Are they supposed to have another solid year? Guess so.

 

[HawkHusky]

Lunardi consistently performs in the bottom 25% when it comes predicting brackets. How he still has a job at ESPN after all those lay-offs is beyond me.

 

[Balker]

He had us in the bracket after our two early losses (no need to be more specific than that) last year. He should remain employed there for decades for giving us some shred of hope when all else was lost.

But seriously, the dude is probably relatively cheap but generates a ton of web revenue relative to his cost. That's where it's at these days. The people getting laid off were more "on-air" focused. His credibility to the narrow group of hardcore bracket people doesn't matter. It matters that normal people who only pay attention to college basketball for 3 weeks a year think he's worth listening to.

 

[Yankees32123]

Lunardi consistently performs in the bottom 25% when it comes predicting brackets. How he still has a job at ESPN after all those lay-offs is beyond me.

Because people click on his bracket updates and that's all that matters.

 

[HuskyFich]

Because people click on his bracket updates and that's all that matters.

Did he not get 67 of the 68 teams last year?

 

[AntG168]

Did he not get 67 of the 68 teams last year?

That isnt as impressive as it seems. Id say 60 out of 68 are obvious

 

[champs99and04]

Because people click on his bracket updates and that's all that matters.

Exactly. The people who were laid off didn't get laid off because they were bad at their jobs. If anything, it was the opposite - the most respected reporters, journalists, and writers were let go because of the way the industry is changing.

 

[Jerry1714]

Did he not get 67 of the 68 teams last year?

If you follow the sport getting 65 of the 68 is a gimmie.

The Bracket Project - Ranking the Bracketologists

He is no better than average.

 

[awfuldan]

Would love to see Wichita State get a 3 seed and Cincinnati a 4 seed.

 

[HooperScooper]

Lunardi consistently performs in the bottom 25% when it comes predicting brackets. How he still has a job at ESPN after all those lay-offs is beyond me.

I'm pretty sure he's just a part time employee so I doubt he gets paid much anyway.

 

[MadDogRevival]

Lunardi consistently performs in the bottom 25% when it comes predicting brackets. How he still has a job at ESPN after all those lay-offs is beyond me.

Your malady appears to be that you believe that maintaining employment at ESPN is somehow contingent upon having talent.

 

[Jaker]

Can't say I disagree, who knows what this team will be like. They could be pretty good or stink to high heaven.

 

[EastConn'er]

But is Joe's hair real??? That's the real question!
I'm hoping for a "Kemba-Like" Junior year from Jalen. Not a huge stretch, considering they put up similar Sophomore #s & are Alpha-personality type of players. Insert Gilbert as the 2011 Bazz. Larrier as the 2011 Lamb. Add Vital the Sniper. If the current Frontcourt can provide 2011 level defense & intangibles. We've got a lot of depth in the Frontcourt. Someone will evolve in the Frontcourt. Practices should be competitive this year. No expectations are on us, but we've been through that before. Kinda excited for this year.

 

[huskyniner]

But is Joe's hair real??? That's the real question!
I'm hoping for a "Kemba-Like" Junior year from Jalen. Not a huge stretch, considering they put up similar Sophomore #s & are Alpha-personality type of players. Insert Gilbert as the 2011 Bazz. Larrier as the 2011 Lamb. Add Vital the Sniper. If the current Frontcourt can provide 2011 level defense & intangibles. We've got a lot of depth in the Frontcourt. Someone will evolve in the Frontcourt. Practices should be competitive this year. No expectations are on us, but we've been through that before. Kinda excited for this year.

Sorry, but I just don't see that Okwandu x-factor on this year's roster.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Lunardi consistently performs in the bottom 25% when it comes predicting brackets. How he still has a job at ESPN after all those lay-offs is beyond me.

Because we are sitting here, talking about his brackets in August. That's why he has a job.

 

[kobe]

Would love to see Wichita State get a 3 seed and Cincinnati a 4 seed.

The American has only ever gotten one team seeded higher than 5 and that was Uof(many)L's in the inaugural season (who was actually at the time ranked 4th in the AP poll). I don't see it happening.

 

[Kembacity]

Sorry, but I just don't see that Okwandu x-factor on this year's roster.

Did you see it in Junior Okwandu or pre-frosh Brimah?

 

[tzznandrew]

The American has only ever gotten one team seeded higher than 5 and that was Uof(many)L's in the inaugural season (who was actually at the time ranked 4th in the AP poll). I don't see it happening.

The bottom of the league that year was truly horrific. Steep drop off after SMU, IIRC.

I think it's perfectly reason to assume that, if there's a middle class in the league, and the top is as good as we're hoping, those seeds would be possible.

 

[Huskybass]

The bottom of the league that year was truly horrific. Steep drop off after SMU, IIRC.

I think it's perfectly reason to assume that, if there's a middle class in the league, and the top is as good as we're hoping, those seeds would be possible.

Funny man. No way, no how. The conference just doesn't command any respect. It truly gets less respect than the modest amount it deserves.

 

[tzznandrew]

Funny man. No way, no how. The conference just doesn't command any respect. It truly gets less respect than the modest amount it deserves.

Because it's metrics are always terrible.

 

[Wordbomar]

Because it's metrics are always terrible.

Only way to improve that is OOC wins against P5 opponents and avoiding upsets which I don't think anybody in the conference can say they've done well at both of those consistently since the Americans conception

 

[MadDogRevival]

. . . which I don't think anybody in the conference can say they've done well at . . . since the Americans conception . . .

. . . in a van down by the river.

 

[jibsey]

I hate bracketology, Lunardi, the whole thing, most particularly when we are outside of it. We are also on the outside of the ESPN hype machine now and it's a vicious circle.

 

[walkrightier]

If we're in the tourney discussion at the end of the season, I will be pleasantly surprised