Bracketology update 2/21

[Vowelguy]

Is that the rule? I thought it was no two teams from the same conference could be on the same side of a regional unless there were more than eight teams from the conference - that two conference teams could not be seeded such that they would meet before the regional final - a 2 seed and a 4 seed would only meet in a regional final.

There is that rule as well.

 

[triaddukefan]

So Tulane moves up from the outside to a 9 seed just by playing UCONN tough? I guess if Temple wins tonight, they probably move up to a 2 seed

 

[Plebe]

Is that the rule? I thought it was no two teams from the same conference could be on the same side of a regional unless there were more than eight teams from the conference - that two conference teams could not be seeded such that they would meet before the regional final - a 2 seed and a 4 seed would only meet in a regional final.

From the championship manual:

• Each of the first four teams selected from a conference shall be placed in different regions if they are seeded on the first four lines.
•  Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional final if they played each other three or more times during the regular season and conference tournament.
•  The committee will attempt to keep conference teams from meeting until the regional final round.
•  If the committee is unable to balance the bracket after exhausting all possible options, it has the flexibility to permit two teams from the same conference to meet each other after the first round.

 

[Vowelguy]

So Tulane moves up from the outside to a 9 seed just by playing UCONN tough? I guess if Temple wins tonight, they probably move up to a 2 seed

Given how concentrated the top teams are in the power conferences , the lesser conference auto bids tend to fill seeds 11-16. That means the bottom at large schools are a 10 seed. So breaking in at a 9 seed is not that unusual. It's like moving from being ranked 42 to 35.

That said, I'm still skeptical of Tulane making it. They will probably face UConn again the AAC tourney and would need to avoid a blowout.

 

[Plebe]

Given how concentrated the top teams are in the power conferences , the lesser conference auto bids tend to fill seeds 11-16. That means the bottom at large schools are a 10 seed. So breaking in at a 9 seed is not that unusual. It's like moving from being ranked 42 to 35.

That said, I'm still skeptical of Tulane making it. They will probably face UConn again the AAC tourney and would need to avoid a blowout.

I'm not convinced on Tulane either, but the bubble is extremely soft this year. Those last 6-7 spots in the field are very precarious. Teams in that range keep dropping games to lesser teams.

 

[toadfoot]

Being in 1st Place in the strongest conference in the country isn't good enough?

Define "strongest". It may be the most competitive top to bottom, but the games I've seen the top of the PAC 10 aren't even top 10. I've seen Oregon St. a few times and I've been totally unimpressed. As I said earlier we'll see when NCAA time rolls around.

 

[Vowelguy]

Define "strongest".

SAGARIN

MASSEY

 

[Vowelguy]

Tulane lost to UCF to fall to 6th in the conference.
Wnit

 

[Jimbo]

Someone on the TN board said they would rather not have them in the tournament than play UCONN

That would be my preference as well. Always nice to find common ground!

 

[Plebe]

Tulane lost to UCF to fall to 6th in the conference.
Wnit

Sad face for Tulane. The conference standings are especially unkind to Tulane because both UCF and Cincinnati (now in 4th and 5th) only play UConn, Temple, and USF once each — and both teams still have their Temple game upcoming — while Tulane has had to play the top 3 twice each.

 

[toadfoot]

SAGARIN
View attachment 20024


MASSEY

View attachment 20023

These ratings present an overall view of the conference, but what they don't accurately show is the strength of the teams at the top. For example, PAC 10 teams are 5-8 against current OOC top 25 teams. No PAC 10 team has played more than 2 OOC top 25 teams and astonishingly, Oregon St. has played none. The PAC 10 is a very well balanced conference top to bottom, I just haven't seen a realistic final four contender.

 

[Vowelguy]

These ratings present an overall view of the conference, but what they don't accurately show is the strength of the teams at the top. For example, PAC 10 teams are 5-8 against current OOC top 25 teams. No PAC 10 team has played more than 2 OOC top 25 teams and astonishingly, Oregon St. has played none. The PAC 10 is a very well balanced conference top to bottom, I just haven't seen a realistic final four contender.

So an OOC top 25 win has merit, but an in conference top 25 win does not. Got it.

 

[nwhoopfan]

These ratings present an overall view of the conference, but what they don't accurately show is the strength of the teams at the top. For example, PAC 10 teams are 5-8 against current OOC top 25 teams. No PAC 10 team has played more than 2 OOC top 25 teams and astonishingly, Oregon St. has played none. The PAC 10 is a very well balanced conference top to bottom, I just haven't seen a realistic final four contender.

It's been the Pac 12 since 2011, not Pac 10. Unlike a couple conferences w/ Big in the name the number of member schools actually matches the conference moniker.

 

[LO TRADER]

I can't understand why Oregon St. would be a #2 seed. Makes no sense at all.

They continue to win. I'm an OSU fan, and I can't believe it myself? They are a much better defensive team this year, and better rebounding team. However, they turn the ball over way to much, and have a very poor team free throw percentage. Lastly, Sydney Wiese is the only dependable late game scoring threat (unlike last year). This will be their undoing in NCAA Tournament, if they cannot overcome these 3 weaknesses.

 

[nwhoopfan]

They continue to win. I'm an OSU fan, and I can't believe it myself? They are a much better defensive team this year, and better rebounding team. However, they turn the ball over way to much, and have a very poor team free throw percentage. Lastly, Sydney Wiese is the only dependable late game scoring threat (unlike last year). This will be their undoing in NCAA Tournament, if they cannot overcome these 3 weaknesses.

I'm an OSU fan too. In spite of having pretty much the same record as last year, it's very apparent they miss Weisner and her ability to manufacture points. She was so fun to watch, she was my favorite player last year. McWilliams, Pivec, Tudor and Kalmer have all had their moments, but totally inconsistent. Throughout much of the year Gulic has basically replaced Hamblin's production, but she's been quiet lately. The Brown/Orum combo has been good. Those 2 have been waiting their turn for 2-3 years and really stepped up this season.

What is up w/ the turnovers? They had a stretch of 3 games in a row w/ 20 or more TO's. Amazingly they still won 2 of those games. But for a team that struggles to score at times, they cannot afford to waste that many possessions.