Creme with new #1 seeds

[boontonbomber]

IMO UConn should go to Nebraska. One it would be great for WCBB and attract a lot of casual fans. Second they've earned the position to not face a top ranked team on their own floor. Its UConn and everybody else so let everybody else fight it out to see who will face UConn in the FF.

no, it's uconn and nd, and everybody else.

 

[Phil]

Really? Since when? The previous women's rule was that the committee would "try" to avoid teams meeting in the regional semis.

As you know, there are some "if possibles" as well as some absolute rules. I sometimes misremember which is which.

However, this one sounds absolute:

Conference teams shall not meet prior to the regional

final
Unless a ninth team is selected from a conference.​

 

[Phil]

Maybe "distance" should be measured travel time. Maybe "distance" should be measured using intervals of time or miles rather than points. Maybe two or more destinations where flight times or miles are within say, I don't know, +/-10% of each other should be considered the same "distance" and match ups should be determined by the S-curve.

The rule says

most geographically compatible​

which I think gives them the ability to consider time. It may or may not give them the flexibility to allow minor difference to be ignored. I fully support the intervals approach, in fact I sent a letter to Carolayne Henry(chari of sleciton scommittee) last week proposing such a measure, which would give them a little more flexibilitythan they have now. Charlie Creme told me I was too late, but I'm not sure he fully followed my email to him.

 

[Vowelguy]

As you know, there are some "if possibles" as well as some absolute rules. I sometiems misremeber which is which.

However, this one soudns absolute:

Conference teams shall not meet prior to the regional

final
Unless a ninth team is selected from a conference.​

Ok thanks. Gonna be tricky with the number of quality ACC teams.
Getting to be kind of a silly rule given how big conferences have become. Is it really a big deal to face a "conference" foe that you only play 1x a year? I would amend the rule to "Teams who played >1 time that year can't meet before the regional final."

 

[Phil]

Ok thanks. Gonna be tricky with the number of quality ACC teams.
Getting to be kind of a silly rule given how big conferences have become. Is it really a big deal to face a "conference" foe that you only play 1x a year? I would amend the rule to "Teams who played >1 time that year can't meet before the regional final."

That's an intriguing proposal.

The old BE did have 9 teams one year, IIRC. Creme projects 8 ACC this year, but next year, it could easily be 9 or maybe even 10.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Not much, but Louisville even dropped in Sagarin, falling from 6th to 7th.

When employing a ranking measurement, movement isn't strictly a function of one team. If Louisville moved from 6th to 7th, another team had to move to 6th. Perhaps it was the performance of the other team that affected the rearrangement more than anything Louisville did.

 

[Phil]

When employing a ranking measurement, movement isn't strictly a function of one team. If Louisville moved from 6th to 7th, another team had to move to 6th. Perhaps it was the performance of the other team that affected the rearrangement more than anything Louisville did.

Exactly. As I noted upthread, it was more the movement of MD up than Louisville down.

 

[RegisteredUconn]

Exactly. As I noted upthread, it was more the movement of MD up than Louisville down.

Which I read not two minutes after I posted. I swear! You are indeed a wise man.

 

[easttexastrash]

no, it's uconn and nd, and everybody else.

ND beat MD by only 4 points. It's still UCONN and everybody else. To put ND on the same level as UCONN just simply isn't a good assessment, unless UCONN can't get healthy.

 

[UConnCat]

The rule says

most geographically compatible​

which I think gives them the ability to consider time. It may or may not give them the flexibility to allow minor difference to be ignored. I fully support the intervals approach, in fact I sent a letter to Carolayne Henry(chari of sleciton scommittee) last week proposing such a measure, which would give them a little more flexibilitythan they have now. Charlie Creme told me I was too late, but I'm not sure he fully followed my email to him.

Which #1 seed that is not hosting will be most geographically compatible with Lincoln, Nebraska? I can't wait for that explanation.

 

[easttexastrash]

Which #1 seed that is not hosting will be most geographically compatible with Lincoln, Nebraska? I can't wait for that explanation.

Baylor. Louisville will lose two more times to UCONN and will end up a 2 seed, which will end up sending UCONN to play Louisville on their home court.

 

[UConnCat]

Baylor. Louisville will lose two more times to UCONN and will end up a 2 seed, which will end up sending UCONN to play Louisville on their home court.

That would make the committee's job easier.

 

[UcMiami]

Ok thanks. Gonna be tricky with the number of quality ACC teams.
Getting to be kind of a silly rule given how big conferences have become. Is it really a big deal to face a "conference" foe that you only play 1x a year? I would amend the rule to "Teams who played >1 time that year can't meet before the regional final."

It has never been that difficult to arrange to separate 8 teams into four regionals and make sure the teams are on different sides of the regional draws - By the time you get past the first 4 or 5 teams you are getting pretty low in the seeding and no one really questions dropping/raising a 6 seed one level or shipping them across the country to avoid it.
What people generally complain about more is putting a conferences best two teams into the same regional as a 1 and 2 seed which is quite likely to happen based on the geography rule - Uconn/Rutgers, Baylor/A&M, and I believe Uconn/ND and probably some others as well in instances where they had already played 2 or 3 times.

 

[ASweet3781]

Baylor. Louisville will lose two more times to UCONN and will end up a 2 seed, which will end up sending UCONN to play Louisville on their home court.

Oh yeah and Baylor is a lock to win every game huh?

Didn't they lose to Kansas?

If Louisville loses by 10 to UConn it's more impressive than anyone Baylor has defeated this year.

 

[ASweet3781]

So Charlie Creme has #5 Stanford and #8 Tennessee as the 1-2 seeds in the West.

That makes sense. If your constructing the weakest bracket imaginable.

Duke with 3 blowout losses on their home court gets the privilege of a neutral court, while UConn goes to play the #3 team in the country on their home court for a 4th time in 7 weeks.

Hooray Women's Basketball!

 

[Vowelguy]

So Charlie Creme has #5 Stanford and #8 Tennessee as the 1-2 seeds in the West.

Yes it's Charlie Creme's fault.
Do you understand what "prediction" means?

 

[Phil]

That would make the committee's job easier.

I was thinking that Walz might not want UConn in his region, but I had a chat with a friend who challenged that assumption, and made an interesting case.
Only a handful of coaches can say, with a straight face, that their goal this year is to win a National Championship. Walz is in that group.
If he is realistic (and I think he is) he will concede that winning the NC probably means beating CT. (Obviously, there can be exceptions – last year many might have thought the path to an NC meant beating Baylor.)
If Walz thinks he has to beat UConn to win an NC, where do you think he wants to play that game? Nashville or Louisville? It isn't much of a stretch to say he has a better shot in Louisville than he does in Nashville.
Interestingly, it isn't the match up he would want if his goal is to maximize his chances of making the FF, but it is the match up that might be best for a chance at an NC.

 

[Phil]

So Charlie Creme has #5 Stanford and #8 Tennessee as the 1-2 seeds in the West.

That makes sense. If your constructing the weakest bracket imaginable.

Duke with 3 blowout losses on their home court gets the privilege of a neutral court, while UConn goes to play the #3 team in the country on their home court for a 4th time in 7 weeks.

Hooray Women's Basketball!

How would you construct the bracket? (Please indicate whether you do so following the rules or ignoring the rules.)

 

[ASweet3781]

Yes it's Charlie Creme's fault.
Do you understand what "prediction" means?

Yeah and I think your friend Charlie is full of it. He also downplayed Louisville's performance against us. It was a 7 point game with 15 to go. Geno put back an injured KML. He didn't feel safe. Anyone who watched knows UConn was working hard out there to get what they got. Stewart was great and that extended the lead to safe but it was around a 10-12 pts game for most of the game. That's not a bad first performance for Louisville in Gampel without a starter.

I think it's too bad you are more concerned with Charlie Creme and criticism of his "predictions". If he doesn't want criticism he should get another job.

I am more concerned with Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley playing the role of Kara Wolters in 1997 when her career ended prematurely. And I think playing Louisville in Louisville and giving a coach as good as Jeff Walz a 4th crack at us on their home court could be an even harder task than beating undefeated Notre Dame for the first time.

And the most unfortunate part of it all? It doesn't have to and should not happen.

 

[Phil]

Yeah and I think your friend Charlie is full of it. He also downplayed Louisville's performance against us. It was a 7 point game with 15 to go. Geno put back an injured KML. He didn't feel safe. Anyone who watched knows UConn was working hard out there to get what they got. Stewart was great and that extended the lead to safe but it was around a 10-12 pts game for most of the game. That's not a bad first performance for Louisville in Gampel without a starter.

I think it's too bad you are more concerned with Charlie Creme and criticism of his "predictions". If he doesn't want criticism he should get another job.

I am more concerned with Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley playing the role of Kara Wolters in 1997 when her career ended prematurely. And I think playing Louisville in Louisville and giving a coach as good as Jeff Walz a 4th crack at us on their home court could be an even harder task than beating undefeated Notre Dame for the first time.

And the most unfortunate part of it all? It doesn't have to and should not happen.

I can understand being unhappy with the possible outcome. What i don't get is why you blame Charlie.

Do you blame the weatherperson when they predict snow?

 

[ASweet3781]

How would you construct the bracket? (Please indicate whether you do so following the rules or ignoring the rules.)

Easy.

First I ignore the rules. The committee rendered their rules flexible when they granted home courts to 3 of the preseason top 5 teams. I expect 3 of those sites to be sell outs. So geography/attendance concerns should go out the window right there. Especially when considering a school in Connecticut and their proximity to Kentucky and Nebraska. Here's a clue to SelCom- Neither are close.

Second I use common sense and watch these teams in contention. Like last year, when everyone and their mother knew Stanford was going down, I'd have a team waiting in their bracket better than a Georgia team who on a good offensive day couldn't break 60 points and a good but not great Cal team. That would eliminate a situation where you had a JV game in one semi-final and a national title game in the other.

I know it's tough and all, but I actually call on the committee to understand the sport they are bracketing. I mean really, by all means let's watch Louisville and UConn for a 4th time instead of the renewal of UConn-Tennessee. That's great for the sport.

South Bend- 1. Notre Dame 2. South Carolina

Louisville- 1. Louisville 2. Duke

Lincoln- 1. UConn 2. Tennessee

Stanford- 1. Stanford 2. Baylor

If South Carolina, Baylor, or Duke finish strong they'd get the 1 in Louisville with the Cards as a 2.

 

[UConnCat]

I was thinking that Walz might not want UConn in his region, but I had a chat with a friend who challenged that assumption, and made an interesting case.
Only a handful of coaches can say, with a straight face, that their goal this year is to win a National Championship. Walz is in that group.
If he is realistic (and I think he is) he will concede that winning the NC probably means beating CT. (Obviously, there can be exceptions – last year many might have thought the path to an NC meant beating Baylor.)
If Walz thinks he has to beat UConn to win an NC, where do you think he wants to play that game? Nashville or Louisville? It isn't much of a stretch to say he has a better shot in Louisville than he does in Nashville.
Interestingly, it isn't the match up he would want if his goal is to maximize his chances of making the FF, but it is the match up that might be best for a chance at an NC.

Jeff touched on this issue recently but understandably didn't say where he'd prefer to play UConn.

"I suppose there is a chance, if we lost three times to UConn, that the NCAA would make us a No. 2 seed and send it [UConn] to Louisville [for the Regional final]," Walz said. "But is that the best thing for the game? I don't know. Do we worry about sending teams to the closest regional [Lincoln, Nebraska is next in line] or do we make it the best tournament we can make it? Would any more UConn fans travel to Louisville than they would Lincoln? You're flying there anyway, so what's the difference?

 

[ASweet3781]

Jeff touched on this issue recently but understandably didn't say where he'd prefer to play UConn.

"I suppose there is a chance, if we lost three times to UConn, that the NCAA would make us a No. 2 seed and send it [UConn] to Louisville [for the Regional final]," Walz said. "But is that the best thing for the game? I don't know. Do we worry about sending teams to the closest regional [Lincoln, Nebraska is next in line] or do we make it the best tournament we can make it? Would any more UConn fans travel to Louisville than they would Lincoln? You're flying there anyway, so what's the difference?

Spot on there by Walz. This year will be a real test of SelCom's ability to reason and use common sense. And to see if they really know what's good for the game or not.

 

[easttexastrash]

SUCONN appears headed to Louidville due to the proximity rule. If you beat Louisville three times you get rewarded by a chance to beat them again in the regional final. It's virtually a guarantee of getting to the FF.

 

[ndmb]

SUCONN appears headed to Louidville due to the proximity rule. If you beat Louisville three times you get rewarded by a chance to beat them again in the regional final. It's virtually a guarantee of getting to the FF.

Yeah? How'd that work out for Baylor against Texas A&M?

 

[ASweet3781]

SUCONN appears headed to Louidville due to the proximity rule. If you beat Louisville three times you get rewarded by a chance to beat them again in the regional final. It's virtually a guarantee of getting to the FF.

Rather silly statement on your part but not surprising coming from you.

Beating a good team for a 4th time is incredibly difficult. Both Baylor and UConn found that out in 2011. And those were on a neutral court.

 

[easttexastrash]

Oh yeah and Baylor is a lock to win every game huh?

Didn't they lose to Kansas?

If Louisville loses by 10 to UConn it's more impressive than anyone Baylor has defeated this year.

Baylor has a better chance of winning out in the Big 12 than Louisville has of beating UCONN. Would you disagree?

IF Louisville plays UCONN as close as Baylor did, I'm ready to debate. I suspect that the next loss for L-ville will be 25 plus.

 

[UConnCat]

Rather silly statement on your part but not surprising coming from you.

Beating a good team for a 4th time is incredibly difficult. Both Baylor and UConn found that out in 2011. And those were on a neutral court.

Notre Dame found it out last year, although the emergence of Stewart for UConn completely changed the matchup. UConn was a different team than the one ND beat in the previous 3 games.

 

[ASweet3781]

Notre Dame found it out last year, although the emergence of Stewart for UConn completely changed the matchup. UConn was a different team than the one ND beat in the previous 3 games.

Yup, another good example of it. 4 out of 4 against a good team is difficult. UConn got so fed up the way they lost those ND games last year they became a better and stronger team and won the one that mattered.

 

[easttexastrash]

Yeah? How'd that work out for Baylor against Texas A&M?

Baylor is not UCONN and doesn't have the greatest coach in the history of the game. It would be a lock for UCONN.