Charlie Creme's latest bracketology... Finally!

[EricLA]

As of Jan 25...

Basically has Tenn as the 4 seed to UCONN's 1 seed in the bracket. Would LOVE to see that, provided Tenn can get past Purdue in the 2nd round. A well rounded and well coached team like Purdue could give Tenn fits.

My only quibble, really, is that Tenn is a 4 seed while USF is a 5 seed. I think at this point, it should be reversed. I'm sure things will change - still a LOT of basketball to be played this year...

 

[vtcwbuff]

"I'm sure things will change - still a LOT of basketball to be played this year..."

Crème has had them in Sioux Falls as the 4 seed. Given the very good possibility that UTenn will lose at 4-5 more games before the tournament a 4 seed seems optimistic.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a 17 spot in the Knoxville region.

 

[Carnac]

I think we would ALL love to see Tennessee in UConn's bracket. Can you imagine the unbridled exhilaration we could experience here in the yard with the limitless speculation and predictions we could have in the days leading up to the game? Winning #11 and having the pleasure of doing so at the expense of Tennessee (and leaving their broken and beaten carnage in our wake) ?. It doesn't get any better than that. I can't speak for others, but I would relish that opportunity.

Other than Arizona State (17-3, #1 in pac-12), I don't see any other team in UConn's bracket that would be cause for alarm or concern.

 

[pacific 44]

Like my fellow so. Cal.residents,E.S.D.,and Carnac probably do,i follow the relative talent level of the Pac 12.Both UCLA and AZ.ST.have a puncher's chance of reaching the final four,however i think the final eight is where the last Pac 12 team makes their final exit.I could see a score of 20-20 or maybe even 30-30,but then....but then....SHAZAM!Captain Marvel (Stewie) and company would lower the gauntlet and things would get real ugly real soon against AZ.ST.or any other PAC 12 team.Once placed into the final 4,only Notre Dame has even an outside chance of defeating the good guys.I'm not even afraid of messin'with the mojo by making these predictions this year.Next year,no such bold prognostications.

 

[j66kicker]

Other than Arizona State (17-3, #1 in pac-12), I don't see any other team in UConn's bracket that would be cause for alarm or concern.

I went to the ASU game where they thrashed Stanford. Nice team, but not even close to UCONN level of play. No way should they be a cause for concern, much less alarm

 

[Carnac]

I went to the ASU game where they thrashed Stanford. Nice team, but not even close to UCONN level of play. No way should they be a cause for concern, much less alarm

Thanks for the update.

 

[tomcat]

I have not seen ASU this year, but the cast of characters is not dramatically different from last year. UConn would have no trouble with them. They are a feisty team, especially on defense, but they do not have enough size and bulk up front to do anything with UConn, and their guards are either athletic and little else or great shooters and not very athletic.

 

[chrissaran]

Syracuse 5th?

 

[Carnac]

Syracuse 5th?

Louisville "punked" Syracuse last night in Syracuse. The Orange ladies looked bad, real bad. Louisville ran out of different ways to score. They were getting whatever they wanted.
It might be better for coach Q (Hillsman) to concentrate on making a serious run in the postseason WNIT. Based on their performance last night, if they get in to the NCAA tournament; they would be a low seed, and would not make it past the 2nd round.

 

[JSB60]

Tennessee would be the worst 4 seed I've ever seen. They're 3-3 in conference, 12-7 overall, 31st in the Sagarin power ratings. I'd love to see them in the sweet 16!

 

[j66kicker]

I have not seen ASU this year, but the cast of characters is not dramatically different from last year. UConn would have no trouble with them. They are a feisty team, especially on defense, but they do not have enough size and bulk up front to do anything with UConn, and their guards are either athletic and little else or great shooters and not very athletic.

I have seen them and you are spot on - "Feisty is a good word for them. All of what you said plus they would be 'stunned' (to quote Rhonda Rompola) and rendered helpless by our speed.

 

[UcMiami]

I think we would ALL love to see Tennessee in UConn's bracket.

Yes, but unless they are a sixteen seed (and they will never get a 16 seed - those go to the automatic qualifiers from the weak conferences) do we think they will win the game required to make it to whatever round they would be meeting us?!
The best case for a rematch would be them getting an 8-9 seeding and meeting them in the second round.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Remember, this is Charlie Creme's bracket predictions. I think that his recent move of UTenn to the Bridgeport regional may be ESPN wishful thinking.

 

[EricLA]

Remember, this is Charlie Creme's bracket predictions. I think that his recent move of UTenn to the Bridgeport regional may be ESPN wishful thinking.

Very true. But Tenn would get to play the first 2 rounds in Knoxville. After that, though, I don't know that the committee pays any attention to where the lower seeds should (or should not) be playing. Ultimately I'd love to see Tenn as a 5 seed in UCONN's bracket. As an 8 or 9 seed, I have no idea what the committee would do - first 2 rounds of games are played in Knoxville but an 8/9 seed faces the 1 seed in the 2nd round and no 1 seed would be placed in Knoxville. What a conundrum! Imagine Tennessee as the 8 seed in Storrs set to face UCONN in the 2nd round should they win, and some other teams in Knoxville. LOL

 

[UcMiami]

Very true. But Tenn would get to play the first 2 rounds in Knoxville. After that, though, I don't know that the committee pays any attention to where the lower seeds should (or should not) be playing. Ultimately I'd love to see Tenn as a 5 seed in UCONN's bracket. As an 8 or 9 seed, I have no idea what the committee would do - first 2 rounds of games are played in Knoxville but an 8/9 seed faces the 1 seed in the 2nd round and no 1 seed would be placed in Knoxville. What a conundrum! Imagine Tennessee as the 8 seed in Storrs set to face UCONN in the 2nd round should they win, and some other teams in Knoxville. LOL

First two games are played on the higher seed's home court - rule change from last year. In Creams example, TN is the higher seed so he has assigned it there.

 

[EricLA]

First two games are played on the higher seed's home court - rule change from last year. In Creams example, TN is the higher seed so he has assigned it there.

Oh... so it's not guaranteed that the 1st 2 rounds are played in Knoxville? If Tenn becomes a 5 seed, for example, then in the scenario he has now, they would go to Purdue to play?

 

[UcMiami]

Oh... so it's not guaranteed that the 1st 2 rounds are played in Knoxville? If Tenn becomes a 5 seed, for example, then in the scenario he has now, they would go to Purdue to play?

yes.

 

[HuskyNan]

My only quibble, really, is that Tenn is a 4 seed while USF is a 5 seed. I think at this point, it should be reversed.

My guess is that Tenn has a better strength of schedule and record vs ranked teams.

 

[EricLA]

My guess is that Tenn has a better strength of schedule and record vs ranked teams.

That makes sense and there is tons of basketball left to play. If I had to guess, I'd say Tenn beats Mississippi State and maybe aTm. I could see them winning the rest of their games this year except for SC. If they do that, they probably move up to a 3 seed. But given their #23 ranking right now and where they stand, a 4 or 5 seed seems about right.

But from the eye test perspective, USF is now 18 while Tenn is 23. The only teams thatare currently ranked that they beat are Mizzou and Oregon State, altho the OS win looks pretty good I think.. They lost to ND, Kentucky, Stanford, and unranked Va Tech, Florida, and Arkansas. Anyhoo - you are correct, though - USF has not beaten a ranked team, and aside from Memphis, their "losses" are not as bad as Tenn's (UCONN, Baylor, Mississippi State and a SJU team that is 16-4...

 

[Carnac]

Yes, but unless they are a sixteen seed (and they will never get a 16 seed - those go to the automatic qualifiers from the weak conferences) do we think they will win the game required to make it to whatever round they would be meeting us?!
The best case for a rematch would be them getting an 8-9 seeding and meeting them in the second round.

That would work for me.

 

[CocoHusky]

Question for those in the know.
The 1 & 2 round games/sites are locked in. What happens if a host team of a locked in site is not selected for the tournament? If Tenn. continues to free fall this might come into play this year.

 

[EricLA]

Question for those in the know.
The 1 & 2 round games/sites are locked in. What happens if a host team of a locked in site is not selected for the tournament? If Tenn. continues to free fall this might come into play this year.

Or what if they are lower than a 5 seed? Let's say they are an 8 or 9 seed - if they win they play the 1 seed in the 2nd round. Storrs, Waco, South Bend, Columbia, Austin, Columbus, Tempe and College Park have also all been selected for the 1st 2 rounds.

Additionally, all the current 3 seeds are hosting in the first 2 rounds as well. If Tenn were to fall below a 5 seed, even to a 6, they'd be shipped off to one of the 3 seeds home courts leaving Knoxville to host other teams in the first 2 rounds. That would really test the support of Tennessee women's basketball beyond support of just the local team... In fairness, I can't imagine attendance for any fan base in Tenn's shoes would be strong in that situation...

 

[UcMiami]

Question for those in the know.
The 1 & 2 round games/sites are locked in. What happens if a host team of a locked in site is not selected for the tournament? If Tenn. continues to free fall this might come into play this year.

Or what if they are lower than a 5 seed? Let's say they are an 8 or 9 seed - if they win they play the 1 seed in the 2nd round. Storrs, Waco, South Bend, Columbia, Austin, Columbus, Tempe and College Park have also all been selected for the 1st 2 rounds.

Additionally, all the current 3 seeds are hosting in the first 2 rounds as well. If Tenn were to fall below a 5 seed, even to a 6, they'd be shipped off to one of the 3 seeds home courts leaving Knoxville to host other teams in the first 2 rounds. That would really test the support of Tennessee women's basketball beyond support of just the local team... In fairness, I can't imagine attendance for any fan base in Tenn's shoes would be strong in that situation...

See my above response - 1st and 2nd round games are played at the highest seeds home court - NONE are locked in. So 1 seed and 2 seed and 3 seed and 4 seed teams all host the first two rounds - the only exception is if those highest seeds have a conflict with their home court - in which case the next highest seed gets to host. Being a 1-4 seed has become very important - dropping to a 5 seed means that you do not host a game in the first two rounds and will play your second round game on the opponents home court (if they have won their first round game.)

There were I think two top 4 seeds last year that had conflicts with their home court. Louisville I think was one of those teams.

 

[EricLA]

See my above response - 1st and 2nd round games are played at the highest seeds home court - NONE are locked in. So 1 seed and 2 seed and 3 seed and 4 seed teams all host the first two rounds - the only exception is if those highest seeds have a conflict with their home court - in which case the next highest seed gets to host. Being a 1-4 seed has become very important - dropping to a 5 seed means that you do not host a game in the first two rounds and will play your second round game on the opponents home court (if they have won their first round game.)

There were I think two top 4 seeds last year that had conflicts with their home court. Louisville I think was one of those teams.

That makes sense. Thank you!