Seeding thoughts-

[Bear11]

Here is the list of the coaches who vote:

The USA TODAY Sports Board of Coaches is made up of 32 head coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The board for the 2017-18 season: Brian Boyer, Arkansas State; Bart Brooks, Belmont; Mary Burke, Bryant; Cara Consuegra, Charlotte; Bradley Davis, Pacific; Denise Dillon, Drexel; Brittney Ezell, East Tennessee; Bill Fennelly, Iowa State; Jose Fernandez, South Florida; Jason Flowers, Cal State Northridge; Brenda Frese, Maryland; Darrick Gibbs, North Florida; Lindsay Gottlieb, California; Kellie Harper, Missouri State; DeUnna Hendrix, High Point; Quentin Hillsman, Syracuse; Ali Jaques, Siena; Carolyn Kieger, Marquette; Belle Koclanes, Dartmouth; Greg McCall, Cal State-Bakersfield; Kimberly McNeill, Hartford; Regina Miller, Illinois-Chicago; Jon Newlee, Idaho; Brenda Nichols, Sam Houston State; Courtney Pruitt, Alcorn State; Aaron Roussell, Bucknell; Brady Sallee, Ball State; David Six, Hampton; Michael Shafer, Richmond; Joni Taylor, Georgia; Maren Walseth, North Dakota State; Ryun Williams, Colorado State.

This is a pretty diverse set so I think some do see the games.
Why you hatin on the mid-majors? All top 25 teams lose a conference game to lower ranked teams: Texas lost to TCU; Maryland lost to MSU; Tenn lost to Alabama; and I could go on. You can only win the games you play and if top teams, ahem, like Baylor won’t play strong mid-majors these schools are limited. Mercer did play quite a few P5 teams and did well. Let’s be honest about the Big12 which is not a deep conference so many of those wins are terrible as well.

I'm not hating on mid-majors. I realize the trouble they can have establishing themselves with the big boys. There are some mid-major teams that have consistently proved themselves over the years, like Green Bay and Depaul. However, I don't believe Mercer and Belmont are in this category. Mercer played 2 power 5 games, a blowout loss to Georgia and a win over North Carolina, one of the worst teams in the ACC. Belmont was blown out by Oklahoma and Stanford, and had a win over Vanderbilt, the worst team in the SEC. Based on these results, it seems reasonable that those teams are about as good as the lesser teams in the Power conferences. If either team had a win over even a decent power 5 team it would be a different story, but the results don't reflect that.

The coaches poll has reps from every conference, but that does not make them an authority on random schools in Georgia. Maybe 5 coaches on that poll have seen those schools play. I doubt many coaches sit around watching mid-major teams that they won't be facing. Most of those ballots are filled out by assistants and interns anyway.

As for the perceived weaknesses of the Big 12 and Baylor's scheduling, that's an argument for a different thread.

 

[DefenseBB]

You covered a lot of ground here, most of which I disagree. You question "some" of the people on the selection committee as having steered certain decision
and this is contrary to my under standing of how the selection process works.
A second consideration is the payoff in this case the lack of one.
Regarding the SEC Asst. influence, you conclude by saying "ND associate athletic director on the committee who definitely is not a Dawn fan? Why, and based on what?
Lastly I think you are over analyzing Dawn's reason for wanting to be in Mississippi St. region vs being in UCONN's. It is the same rationale for every team that has been in UCONN bracket for the past 5 seasons= UCONN is the favorite, don't want to see them until as late as possible in the tournament. + Mississippi state is a team that SC beat a few days ago.

Actually, I think we are on the same page in most of the discussion. If you have ever been on a committee where consensus is required, alliances are built. So, from the top- yes, members are to leave when their school or schools (if a conference commish) but just like here on the forum, members will “stick up for their alliances” like members logically saying ND derserved a #1. And then when the A-10 discussion comes up, ND advocates for Dayton. That absolutely happens. I am not saying it did here but how coincidental is the questions being raised on certain schools have members on this committee?
Not sure what you think I inferred on payout as I only mentioned attendance, however more attendance doe create more revenue for the NCAA to defray the costs-placing games where more fans go, makes sense. Schools do get to keep concession, parking and facility fees.
Dawn kept bring up the Shepard transfer vs. Cooper Andrew specifically called out the committee on it. That’s puts ND under more (unjust)scrutiny. So yes, I think bad blood could exist. Does it? No one really knows but given the defensiveness ND is exhibiting this year about Walz, Durr, injuries, their schedule, yeah, I sort of believe that. I do think SC should have been put in KC but considering Texas was in the East 2 of the last 3 years, I can see why Texas went to KC
Again, I do think the committtee did a great job with the bracket, better than most years actually. I know our UD colleague above interjected on their behalf (kudos to you), I still think USC and Rutgers deserved in more than them. The A-10was not a good conference this year and did not deserve 2 bids. I also don’t think Creighton deserved a bid.

 

[LoTrader]

@LOTRADER and you are a bit off on location-If OSU beats the LV's in Knoxville, they player the Sweet 16 Game in Lexington, not Texas or Tennessee. I am giving Rueck a punchers chance in both those games as he's pretty good with the x's and o's. Maybe we get to see another jacket toss by Kim!

Better if not in Texas--thanks for correcting. I'll never forget the Kim jacket toss! It was soooo comical.

 

[Gus Mahler]

Better if not in Texas--thanks for correcting. I'll never forget the Kim jacket toss! It was soooo comical.

Which one?

 

[LoTrader]

Which one?

At Baylor vs Oregon State in the elite 8 (2 or 3 years ago). It was the year the Beavers played UCONN in the Final 4 semi-final game. That was my first and only time seeing Kim toss her jacket into the stands.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Under the weather, with my head stuck in a fog, so : 2:1 mixture top soil and peat moss, good starter fertilizer, cautious watering.

 

[Plebe]

Well because they are both ranked in the Top 25 in both the AP and Coaches polls.

Polls are not that good when it comes to evaluating teams with gaudy records against weak competition.

 

[Gus Mahler]

At Baylor vs Oregon State in the elite 8 (2 or 3 years ago). It was the year the Beavers played UCONN in the Final 4 semi-final game. That was my first and only time seeing Kim toss her jacket into the stands.

I remember that one. I think she's had quite a few memorable ones over the years. I'm surprised she didn't rip a bunch of stuff off in that upset loss to Louisville.