The S curve

[bluedevil]

Can someone expain how the S curve will work for the WBB tournament? Thanks..

 

[rford53]

Can someone expain how the S curve will work for the WBB tournament? Thanks..

All 64 tournament teams are seeded 1 - 64. Teams 1,2,3 and 4 are the #1 seeds. On the S curve, in the brackets the next 4 are the 2 seeds; team 5 would play 4, 6 would play 3, 7 plays 2 and 8 plays 1. Next line 3 seeds 9 lines with 8, 10 with 7, 11 with 6, and 12 with 5. This is the S curve at work as this pattern continues all the way to the 16 seeds. I hope this explanation is clear.

 

[JoePgh]

All 64 tournament teams are seeded 1 - 64. Teams 1,2,3 and 4 are the #1 seeds. On the S curve, in the brackets the next 4 are the 2 seeds; team 5 would play 4, 6 would play 3, 7 plays 2 and 8 plays 1. Next line 3 seeds 9 lines with 8, 10 with 7, 11 with 6, and 12 with 5. This is the S curve at work as this pattern continues all the way to the 16 seeds. I hope this explanation is clear.

I believe it has been agreed that there can be deviations from a strict S curve to prevent two teams from the same conference from facing each other before the Elite 8. And if there are four or fewer teams from a conference among the top 16 seeds, each of those teams will be placed in separate brackets, even if that requires a deviation from the S curve.

 

[bluedevil]

So does a 1seed play a number 16 seed to begin with? Isn't that how it always is?

 

[rford53]

So does a 1seed play a number 16 seed to begin with? Isn't that how it always is?

Yes, 1 plays 16 to start the tournament, and 2 plays 15, 3 plays 14, etc.

 

[Vowelguy]

Rank the teams 1-64.
Then place them in the bracket so that 1 vs 64, 2 vs 63, 3 vs 62. Here's an example. If you draw a line from 1 to 64 in numerical order (the red line), note how it kinda looks like an S.
Voila. The S-curve.

The S-curve is used every year, but there are more deviations allowed for geography to keep teams closer to home. Not an issue this year, so we will get much closer to a true S-curve being used.

 

[bluedevil]

So nothing changes.Just wondered why I keep hearing about this S curve when its just same ole same ole...

 

[bluedevil]

Rank the teams 1-64.
Then place them in the bracket so that 1 vs 64, 2 vs 63, 3 vs 62. Here's an example. If you draw a line from 1 to 64 in numerical order (the red line), note how it kinda looks like an S.
Voila. The S-curve.

The S-curve is used every year, but there are more deviations allowed for geography to keep teams closer to home. Not an issue this year, so we will get much closer to a true S-curve being used.

View attachment 65558

Thanks...

 

[Vowelguy]

So nothing changes.Just wondered why I keep hearing about this S curve when its just same ole same ole...

Because normally there are a lot of deviations for geography. This year will be close to a true S curve.

 

[oldhusky]

The most significant part of this is it matters not just if you are a number 1 seed, but your rank within the number 1 seeds. If #1 gets #8 (the lowest 2 seed) and #4 gets #5 (the highest 2 seed) that could make a difference. Having said that all the prospective 2 seeds look very good to me, and I don't know if I could pick one for Uconn's Elite 8 opponent, who the easiest opponent would be. I think the difference between all the likely 1 and 2 seeds is much closer than most years.

 

[Plebe]

The NCAA bracket S-curve, explained

One of the keys to understanding the 2021 NCAA tournament bracket is the "S-curve." Here's how it works — and what it means.

www.ncaa.com

 

[Plebe]

So does a 1seed play a number 16 seed to begin with? Isn't that how it always is?

Yes, always.
1 vs. 16
8 vs. 9
5 vs. 12
4 vs. 13
etc. etc.