Going by results and not by rep or preconceived evaluation, there are quite a lot of teams that given the right match ups and timing ( bit of good fortune as to when they catch a team ) are capable of not only making the final four, but winning it all. Any number of teams have as good a chance to make it as anyone else.
Being that no team has shown itself to be so solid that they would not have difficulties against a number of teams on any given day, when picking the one seeds it should go on result and merit and not on still hanging onto perceptions ( reputation ) that existed at the beginning of the season. At the beginning of the season we have no results to work with so reputation and preconceptions is all their is.
RPI and other analysis should only be a factor or starting point because non of them are detailed enough to give a true picture of what a teams won/loss record really shows. All it does is allow Creme ( and others ) to cherry pick to find justification for their presuppositions. It is a fact that it is harder to change a perspective than to initially create one. The early preseason perspectives are still hanging on strong despite information to the countrary.
In respect to the choice between Miss St and Uconn I would have to take the side of Miss St. Take away ND, which because of their recent defeats, is not the victory it once was. Uconn's best former victories were DePaul , which at the time was 16, but is now unrated and Cal which at the time was 14 and is also now unrated. Their two losses came two top five teams. They also had a number of close wins against some very weak teams. In the past the Uconn teams used to blow out every team that was not in the top ten and even then many were blowouts. I don't hold much to RPI rankings because it does not take into account margins of victory, so a team can rise their ranking just by playing and getting blown out by a top rated school.
Miss State, on the other hand, only has a loss to a top four school and actually still have victories over multiple rated teams, Kent. Marquette, etc. The tie breaker to me is the better record and their not being challenged at all by any non rated teams. This takes into account the flaws in the RPI rankings in which Uconn has the advantage.
I just do not like the assumption that a number on seeding is just between ND and Uconn. If it were between the two I would pick Uconn, but it is not. Miss St record is such that it deserves that spot at this time based on record. Both teams still have games left with SC. MS plays them twice and also has to face TA&M againd, not to mention the SEC tourn at the end of the season. Where as Uconn has a far easier road to travel with only SC being a major roadblock. Even if all things were equal MS schedule will test if they are rated too high while Uconns will not. Because MS will probable face 5 more chances to be knocked off, they should be given the benefit of any tie breaker at this time.
I realize this perspective will not go over too great on this board. I am not really a fan of Miss St and if I had a choice between Uconn and Miss St. I would want Uconn to win. But logic and reason impel me to stick up for Miss St in respect to who should be ahead for the number one seed at this time. I basically think Miss St is getting shafted based on preconceived bias.
