Just looked at who they beat and who they lost to, and I find it strange that they are an 8 seed. They don't have any big OOC wins. All their big Ws are within the Pack-10.
Here's a case where we won't know how good a conference really was until we get further into the NCAA tournament, though seedings and locations where teams play, do have an impact as to how well one conference does over another.
Since the game isn't in the state of CO, I'm not too concerned, though I wonder how well each team's fan base will travel? Considering that each team has the chance to play top overall seed KU in the second round, a team that has a history of being bounced early, maybe that will draw more first and second round fans. I have a feeling that the building will likely be 90% KU fans and 10% everyone else, so I like our chances since I don't think it will be a hostile environment.
Now if we get past CO, expect the building to be packed with KU fans who travel very well.
I know that some aren't happy that we got the 9 seed in the top #1 region, but heck, we were a missed 3/4 court prayer away from playing in the NIT, so I can't complain we got a 9 seed. Considering some of our losses, and not killing it in our OOC schedule, I really can't complain. Eventually we'd have to play one of the top teams, and I don't see KU as being all that much better than most of the 1s through 3s. I might sound crazy, but I'd rather face KU in the round of 32, where they might play tight fearing another early exit to a lower seed, than to face them further in the tournament as they get on a roll with the F4 and Championship within striking distance.
I'm sure many wanted us to be playing closer to home, but there's no way the committee was going to put us in a pod or region close to home in light of our resume.
I don't hold a lot of hope that UConn will go very deep this season, but if they could manage to get on a surprise roll like they did in 11 and 14, and get by KU, we could be in for another entertaining ride.
I realize it's a big if, but if they can get by Colorado then beat KU, knowing our March history, teams in our path would likely feel the fear of God, thinking, not again!!!
Lastly, I'm hoping that finally getting away from the AAC teams that are familiar with how to beat us, and away from the AAC refs who have love affairs with the whistle, that maybe our style of play will do fine in the tournament where we have are full compliment of key players on the floor w/out being a foul trouble, which usually results in our inconsistent play.'
Anyhow, we got into the tournament, something that many of us didn't think would happen, so the team should find themselves playing with minimal pressure. Unless there are some big upsets along the way, we should find ourselves as the lower seed in all the games, which isn't a bad thing since they won't have the pressure of "you're supposed to win" on their backs.
