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Message: [QUOTE="CamrnCrz1974, post: 2097668, member: 1052"] With all due respect, [USER=7922]@1-of-the-6[/USER] , I am not sure "screwed" is exactly the right word to describe UConn's "overall" situation, but I see your point as to certain parts where I can agree that UConn got screwed. Follow with me (in typical Cam fashion, I will take several paragraphs to post what others will say in two sentences): -- Based on RPI/SOS, Maryland deserved the three seed. Even if Maryland were a two seed, the team would have been the lowest two seed and would still be playing in Bridgeport. With the lowest two seed comes the highest three seed, based on the S-Curve. So Duke and Maryland would both be there. -- Based on the "eye" test (as Rebecca Lobo likes to discuss), however, Maryland looks to be one of the top three teams in the country? Why? Because of how the Terrapins have played UConn the past two years. Both games were incredibly competitive. As I recall, the game last year (think it was in MSG) was a five or six-point game with about one minute remaining - and that was against Stewart/Tuck/Jefferson. This year, MD-UConn was a very competitive game, with UConn pulling away with a large lead, only for Maryland (Slocum) to storm back. And Maryland-UConn was a much more competitive game than UConn-ND (which was VERY competitive in the first half, but not so much in the second half), UConn-SC (after either Gray or Davis missed free throws in the third, UConn went on a massive run), or UConn-Baylor (it seemed only Alexis Jones was not intimidated by UConn, but other players like Nina Davis were frustrated by the Huskies' defense). -- But the "eye" test is not the only test. And this is the same Maryland team (as a #2 seed) that lost in the second round to Washington last year, in a home game. -- I understand Maryland's placement and seeding. That being said, if the Committee were really looking at making the tournament the most competitive possible (and was using this a factor, like it does with attendance), UConn-MD should take place in the Final Four...or many in the championship game. -- UConn has Duke in its bracket. Gail Goestenkors went 2-2 against Geno Auriemma while at Duke, winning both games in the State of Connecticut. Joanne P. McCallie is 0-8 against Geno (while at Duke) and her teams have only scored over 52 points in only one of those eight games while scoring in the 40s in five of the eight. Duke has allowed between 74 and 87 points in seven of the eight games. Duke has lost those eight games by an average of 29 points...notwithstanding the fact that Duke was ranked in the Top 10 for [U]every[/U] single one of those games (and in the Top 5 for four of the eight). Not exactly "screwed." -- UConn is playing its games at home (first and second rounds) and in Bridgeport (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight). Technically, Bridgeport is not a "home" site (not Hartford or Storrs), but Bridgeport has hosted NCAA women's games in 2004 (early rounds), 2006 (regional), 2008 (early rounds), 2012 (early rounds), 2013 (regional), 2016 (regional), and 2017 (regional) - with UConn playing there every single time. Three times in the last five years, UConn has played Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in Bridgeport; no other school can make the same claim for location and amount of times at said location. UConn has a lot more familiarity with that location than any other program in the Bridgeport Regional. Getting "screwed" is a bit much when you factor in that UConn will not have to leave CT to make the Final Four for the third time in the last five years. -- THAT BEING SAID, the placement of Syracuse in UConn's bracket as an 8 seed was shocking (to me, at least). While [URL='http://realtimerpi.com/college_Women_basketball_rpi.html']most of [/URL]the [URL='http://rpiratings.com/womensrpi.php']RPI sites[/URL] had Syracuse at 31, [URL='http://www.rpiratings.com/womrate.php']Sagarin[/URL] had Syracuse at 21. Syracuse went 11-5 in the ACC, arguably the most competitive conference this year. --- AND HERE IS WHERE I CONTRADICT MYSELF...Based on the "eye" test, I thought Syracuse rated higher than an 8 seed. This team made the Final Four last year and has two of the most electrifying players in the country. A good matchup zone can hurt the Orange (see their losses to Duke), but this is a team that can score and score quickly - Notre Dame was down by four points after three quarters before rallying to win by five at Syracuse, 85-80 - AND that was with Brianna Turner going 13-14 from the floor and finishing with 31 points. While I cannot say, overall, that UConn got screwed given Maryland's resume and the location of the games (and the fact that Geno Auriemma beats Joanne P. McCallie's teams like a redheaded stepchild of a mule (pick a reference, combine them, they all work), the second round matchup against Syracuse I would agree is UConn getting "screwed." Again, I am primarily a Duke fan (though have watched UConn for many years and have posted on the Boneyard since 2002). If I were primarily a fan of UConn, might I think UConn got screwed with Maryland? Quite possibly. Heck, I thought Duke got screwed in 2006 when as a #1 seed, had to play UConn in Bridgeport, even though the seedings/S Curve might have justified the matchup. [/QUOTE]

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