Forcing UConn to Portland WHY??????

[BostonCanuck]

That's a nice thought but I dont think there's much merit in switching things around to avoid a UCONN/Oregon NCAA game. It's not a heavy weight battle everyone is dying to see. Neither is #1 and UCONN isnt even in consideration for a 1 seed with Maryland winning. When they did play, Oregon beat UCONN by 18 on the road earlier this year. Theyll be a heavy heavy favorite to win a game in Portland should they meet in the Elite 8. I'm not sure anyone but massive UCONN homers think it's a coin flip game. If UCONN beats Oregon in Portland, it'll be one of the only times I can remember where UCONN as an underdog pulled off a massive upset.

Your post certainly does reflect the conventional wisdom out there, and I can't fault you for that. But do you really think UConn is the same tram that lost tone top three teams by double digits? I don't. Now have they improved enough to win the national championship this year? Possibly not. But they will be the toughest of any two seed by a long shot, and no team is going to want to face them in the Elite Eight. Now if that makes me a "massive UConn homer" then I'll wear that label with pride.

 

[Tonyc]

It's hard to say if they're the same team or not. No one in the AAC remotely resembles the caliber of opponent of a top 10 team, let alone a ranked team at this point. Makurat is likely the biggest difference from a month ago til now, but can she bring the same firepower against good teams? We don't know. Williams is still a bit off and on, ONO hasn't proven she can score against a quality big, Walker is playing great but she has been great all season aside from games against ranked foes, etc. I think UCONN is the most dangerous 2 seed largely due to their roster talent and historical precedent, but based on quality of basketball played it's hard to say IMO.

There are alot of teams in alot of conferences that are pretty good. There are some teams that are no better then the AAC teams thats why UConns OOC has been so tuff. This year unfortunately ND and some other teams werent that good and early on UConn wasnt very good. Right now UConn is playing like a NC team and they may revert back to playing like they did against SC Oregon and Baylor. One thing about those 3 games. UConn late in the game made a run and then collasped. Right now I dont see that. It could happen again however UConn is not dribbling the ball all over the court and theyve gotten back to passing and penetrating and ONO Griff and Anna have become scorers and not 0-14. Thats huge. If they had done that in those games UConn may have won but they didnt and thats why right now I like our chances against them alot. IF you continues like they are the could be a Miracle Year.

 

[bballnut90]

2008. UConn was the overall 1 seed. There was a close battle between Rutgers and another school for the last 1 seed. The other school got it. Rutgers as the overall No 5 seed should have played the weakest 1 seed but instead the committee had them play in UConn's region. They claimed it was a geographical decision but they had no problem flying in teams from across the country. It just seems like geography is used when it suits the committee and ignored when it dosn't.
And it's revealing that you have to go back 15 years to find examples. Lots of teams back then hosted regionals. I remember that a Final Four was played in TBA. A little Tenn bias? UConn never got that privilege.

So there is 1 example of where it has negatively affected the Huskies vs. 3 times where it has benefited them.

The last 5 straight years the NCAA has selected a regional site within 2 hours of UCONN's campus. In 8 of the last 9, there has been one within 4 hours. UCONN has (deservedly) hosted there all 8 times.

Compare that to Notre Dame who earned 8 straight #1 seeds from 2012 to 2019. The only times they got to play within 4 hours of home were in 2014 and 2019. Every other time, as a 1 seed, there was no home regional for them. During the same stretch, UCONN had the luxury of playing close to home for 7 of the 8 years. No one else has had the fortune of consistently being able to play in front of home crowds en route to a Final Four year after year like the Huskies have, so to play the 'victim of the NCAA' card just isn't accurate. At all.


And the TBA Final Four was literally 30 years ago when Final Fours were commonly played on home courts, and Tennessee didn't even make it to the Final Four that year. If you want to go the Tennessee route:

-Tennessee had to play USC in LA for a title in 84
-Tennessee didn't get the Chattanooga regional (2 hours from Knoxville) as a 1 seed in 2005, it went to LSU, who they just beat in the SEC Tournament and is 8 hours from Baton Rouge
-in 2006 UT arguably should've been the 4th #1 at at worst the top #2, but was put in #1 overall UNC's bracket, with regionals in North Carolina
-in 2007, as a 1 seed, Tennessee was forced to played at Pittsburgh in the 2nd round in 2007

 

[RogueDave]

It's the Pac-12's fault.

Yeah Thanks Bin Laden!

 

[Alydar]

So there is 1 example of where it has negatively affected the Huskies vs. 3 times where it has benefited them.

The last 5 straight years the NCAA has selected a regional site within 2 hours of UCONN's campus. In 8 of the last 9, there has been one within 4 hours. UCONN has (deservedly) hosted there all 8 times.

Compare that to Notre Dame who earned 8 straight #1 seeds from 2012 to 2019. The only times they got to play within 4 hours of home were in 2014 and 2019. Every other time, as a 1 seed, there was no home regional for them. During the same stretch, UCONN had the luxury of playing close to home for 7 of the 8 years. No one else has had the fortune of consistently being able to play in front of home crowds en route to a Final Four year after year like the Huskies have, so to play the 'victim of the NCAA' card just isn't accurate. At all.

Hey, I'm not claiming UConn is a victim. I'm claiming that UConn got to play close to home because they earned it by being the top team most of the last 12 years going into the tournament. You are the one who seems to think they have gotten favored treatment. And you had to go back 15 years to find it. I say you make your own bed. No one is complaining that S Car is playing in Greenville or that Baylor plays in Dallas or Oregon in Portland. They earned the 1 seed. And UConn won the right to play close for a lot of years. Unfair? Hey, that's the whole point of seeding, to not put the best teams against each other until the later rounds.
If UConn got nice sites in the past it was only because they earned those sites by both winning and by having supportive fans.

 

[browns]

A lot of posters are saying how much better Uconn is since playing the BigThree. While that is true did anyone happen to see Oregon and SC yesterday and what they did to 2 really good teams.I don't think either one will be scared to play Uconn(not this year anyways)

 

[hoopsfan22]

A lot of posters are saying how much better Uconn is since playing the BigThree. While that is true did anyone happen to see Oregon and SC yesterday and what they did to 2 really good teams.I don't think either one will be scared to play Uconn(not this year anyways)

Yeah and sure UConn has gotten better since the games against Oregon and South Carolina, but those teams have improved too. I'd love to keep the final four streak intact, but if we have to beat Oregon or South Carolina to get there, I don't like our chances.

 

[Tonyc]

A lot of posters are saying how much better Uconn is since playing the BigThree. While that is true did anyone happen to see Oregon and SC yesterday and what they did to 2 really good teams.I don't think either one will be scared to play Uconn(not this year anyways)

I agree both were pretty good teams who didnt play well yesterday and lost bad. IMO both lost because of too much dribbleing and panicing. Both SC and Oregon kept their poise and both played good defense. Their opponents didnt. Oregon and SC both had great passing and looked fundementally sound. I watched all the games yesterday. It was a great day for WCBB.

 

[BostonBay]

Maryland doesnt deserve a #1 seed. Who have they beaten?? Would love to crush them as a 2-seed on their side of the bracket.

 

[Tonyc]

Maryland doesnt deserve a #1 seed. Who have they beaten?? Would love to crush them as a 2-seed on their side of the bracket.

If we face MD we will crush them. UCONN is Back

 

[bballnut90]

Hey, I'm not claiming UConn is a victim. I'm claiming that UConn got to play close to home because they earned it by being the top team most of the last 12 years going into the tournament. You are the one who seems to think they have gotten favored treatment. And you had to go back 15 years to find it. I say you make your own bed. No one is complaining that S Car is playing in Greenville or that Baylor plays in Dallas or Oregon in Portland. They earned the 1 seed. And UConn won the right to play close for a lot of years. Unfair? Hey, that's the whole point of seeding, to not put the best teams against each other until the later rounds.
If UConn got nice sites in the past it was only because they earned those sites by both winning and by having supportive fans.

They have had a notable advantage of having the NCAA pick regionals close to Storrs over the past decade. I dont doubt that UCONN likely advances each of those years (besides maybe last year) regardless of where they were sent, but people are quick to complain about likely being sent to Oregon this year and ignore how the regional set up typically benefits the Huskies on an annual basis. I'm sure Notre Dame or other programs wouldve loved to have regionals in their backyard 8 of the past 9 years. Honestly props to UCONN fans for showing up and incentivizing the NCAA to give them a close regional annually but there's no denying the current set up typically helps the Huskies rather than hurts them.

 

[reno tony]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. But UConn is the ONLY team to play all three top teams! ( Baylor, South Carolina, Oregon.) Now, they may be the only team that has to face all three in order to earn a National Championship.

Seems fair to me. NOT!

I like that UCONN might get a chance to revenge all their loses this season.... I wouldn't have it any other way. Final Four here they come.

 

[Tonyc]

The NCAA needs money and UConn is a huge draw. They sellout when near home at $37 a seat and $20 to park at Harbor Yard. If there were more seats they would sell more tickets. Being number 1 allows you to have the regional in your back yard. The next 2 years the East Regional is in Albany and then Bridgeport.

 

[bballnut90]

The NCAA needs money and UConn is a huge draw. They sellout when near home at $37 a seat and $20 to park at Harbor Yard. If there were more seats they would sell more tickets. Being number 1 allows you to have the regional in your back yard. The next 2 years the East Regional is in Albany and then Bridgeport.

Oregon/SC likely do the same this year. My guess is these regionals will be among the most attended ever since 4 hosts will be within driving distance and Oregon/SC have 2 of the strongest fan bases in WBB right now.

 

[jaydee602]

According to Massey, UCONN would be an underdog vs. #1 seeds. Oregon is -9, SC is -7, Baylor is -5, & Maryland is -4 vs the Huskies.
But UCONN is a favorite vs. the #2 seeds. They are -5 over Louisville & Stanford, and -8 over NC State.

 

[Alydar]

They have had a notable advantage of having the NCAA pick regionals close to Storrs over the past decade. I dont doubt that UCONN likely advances each of those years (besides maybe last year) regardless of where they were sent, but people are quick to complain about likely being sent to Oregon this year and ignore how the regional set up typically benefits the Huskies on an annual basis. I'm sure Notre Dame or other programs wouldve loved to have regionals in their backyard 8 of the past 9 years. Honestly props to UCONN fans for showing up and incentivizing the NCAA to give them a close regional annually but there's no denying the current set up typically helps the Huskies rather than hurts them.

The NCAA picks sites close to UConn because those sites successfully bid for regionals because they are confident of drawing a crowd, but all that is contingent on UConn being at or near the top of D1 programs.

I agree that UConn has had a lot of good draws as far as regionals but simply saying that "the current set up typically helps the Huskies rather than hurts them" ignores the fact that it's their level of play and not some "setup" that has resulted in what you see as unfair. Any school that wants the same thing only needs to play better. It's that simple. Go undefeated. Provide a consistently winning program and fans will show up and arenas near you will bid for regionals.

 

[triaddukefan]

So there is 1 example of where it has negatively affected the Huskies vs. 3 times where it has benefited them.

The last 5 straight years the NCAA has selected a regional site within 2 hours of UCONN's campus. In 8 of the last 9, there has been one within 4 hours. UCONN has (deservedly) hosted there all 8 times.

Compare that to Notre Dame who earned 8 straight #1 seeds from 2012 to 2019. The only times they got to play within 4 hours of home were in 2014 and 2019. Every other time, as a 1 seed, there was no home regional for them. During the same stretch, UCONN had the luxury of playing close to home for 7 of the 8 years. No one else has had the fortune of consistently being able to play in front of home crowds en route to a Final Four year after year like the Huskies have, so to play the 'victim of the NCAA' card just isn't accurate. At all.


And the TBA Final Four was literally 30 years ago when Final Fours were commonly played on home courts, and Tennessee didn't even make it to the Final Four that year. If you want to go the Tennessee route:

-Tennessee had to play USC in LA for a title in 84
-Tennessee didn't get the Chattanooga regional (2 hours from Knoxville) as a 1 seed in 2005, it went to LSU, who they just beat in the SEC Tournament and is 8 hours from Baton Rouge
-in 2006 UT arguably should've been the 4th #1 at at worst the top #2, but was put in #1 overall UNC's bracket, with regionals in North Carolina
-in 2007, as a 1 seed, Tennessee was forced to played at Pittsburgh in the 2nd round in 2007

One correction. Their wasnt a regional in NC in 2006. The cheats beat TN in Cleveland that season. Regionals were in Greensboro in 2007 and 2008. 2008 was the year that UCONN and Rutgers were here... and they sent the #1 seeded Cheats down to New Orleans where they lost to #2 Seeded LSU.

 

[BostonBay]

The people, the fans, want to see a OR, SC, Baylor, UConn FF. Those are the 4 best teams right now.

 

[RedStickHusky]

You should realize by now that UConn fans know far more than WCBB analysts....

...and coaches.

 

[Lucelab113]

If you are putting the 5th best team (or 4th?) with the 2nd best team because Louisville is a 4 hour "drive" than you got a screwy system.

 

[triaddukefan]

If you are putting the 5th best team (or 4th?) with the 2nd best team because Louisville is a 4 hour "drive" than you got a screwy system.

its been screwy for a generation, at least

 

[ThisJustIn]

and will stay screwy until "draw" is eliminated.

 

[Huskiegirlz]

Why was it during yesterdays broadcasts that Charlie and some announcers continued to say it doesnt matter UConn to Portland????? Stanford LVille both lost and both have lost more then 2 games over the past month and UConn hasnt. Maryland won and they gave reasons why MD should be in Ft Wayne. Why not UConn? Other teams lost and therefore I beleive it would be fair to rank they in different regions and different seeds because they lost. Thats only fair. UConn is the hottest team in WCBB right now. Over the past month they have looked like a 1 seed and imo with Baylor loosing UConn should be a 1 seed maybe not ahead of Baylor but a 1 seed.

When you look at conferences and their top 3 teams how many are really that good outside the Pac12? Not that much better if at all. Oregon won big, and so did some other teams but some lost to lesser teams......UConn didnt. As poorly as some continue to say UConn has played they havent lost to a lesser team. Think about that and how much better UConn is playing now. IMO UConn is much better then MD Stanford and Lville and I dont think its close...right now not months ago.

The committee will deceide and I hope they take all things into consideration especially the past 3 weeks which in the past has counted heavily. UConn has earned the right to play as a 1 seed over the past month as has MD. I feel from listening to the games yesterday that everybody was making excuses to put UConn in Portland and not giving reasons why UConn should be in Ft Wayne. Maybe its because for the next 2 seasons UConn is close to home and will draw. Well UConn will draw big in Ft Wayne too.

With all the teams that have lost I feel the regions have changed with who goes where. We will see what the committee comes up with on Monday. One last point. Charlie had Tenn in the mix. There are teams in the SEC who have better SOS and RPI then Tenn. Tenn has lost once again to many games and I hear excuses to place them in the NCAAs. That isnt right.

I agree totally regarding uconn to Portland? If they r truly the overall 5 seed, and I'm still not sold on why they have No Shot at the last number 1 seed, why is it the ONLY possible solution. They get punished enough for playing in a weak conference, nothing they can do about that, and have only lost to the 3 best teams.

 

[shiverz45]

Maryland doesnt deserve a #1 seed. Who have they beaten?? Would love to crush them as a 2-seed on their side of the bracket.

Maryland has 14 top 50 wins which is 2nd in the country. So they definitely deserve a #1 seed.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The people, the fans, want to see a OR, SC, Baylor, UConn FF. Those are the 4 best teams right now.

You asked everybody?

 

[oldude]

You asked everybody?

I personally want to see SC, Baylor, MD & UConn.....

 

[nwhoopfan]

I personally want to see SC, Baylor, MD & UConn.....

I have a feeling if you asked a lot of people, you would get a lot of different answers. Believe it or not, there are probably quite a few WCBB fans across the country who would be fairly happy to see UConn NOT make the Final 4 for once. Shocking, but true.

 

[oldude]

I have a feeling if you asked a lot of people, you would get a lot of different answers. Believe it or not, there are probably quite a few WCBB fans across the country who would be fairly happy to see UConn NOT make the Final 4 for once. Shocking, but true.

No way.........

 

[triaddukefan]

I personally want to see SC, Baylor, MD & UConn.....

Me.... I'd settle for Duke, The Big South Champ, The MEAC Champ, and the WAC champ

 

[cbraarj]

That's a nice thought but I dont think there's much merit in switching things around to avoid a UCONN/Oregon NCAA game. It's not a heavy weight battle everyone is dying to see. Neither is #1 and UCONN isnt even in consideration for a 1 seed with Maryland winning. When they did play, Oregon beat UCONN by 18 on the road earlier this year. Theyll be a heavy heavy favorite to win a game in Portland should they meet in the Elite 8. I'm not sure anyone but massive UCONN homers think it's a coin flip game. If UCONN beats Oregon in Portland, it'll be one of the only times I can remember where UCONN as an underdog pulled off a massive upset.

January 16,1995 !!!