NCAA basketball "sleepers"

[SniperSB23]

Why does the Selection Committee make rules for structuring the bracket and then blatantly disregard them when putting it together? They are never supposed to give a lower seed homefield advantage in the first round yet they have 10 seed South Alabama playing in Birmingham against Butler and 10 seed Davidson playing in NC against Gonzaga. That should never happen. The most ridiculous part of it is that they could have simply switched South Alabama and Davidson and eliminated the issue. It isn't like moving them would have violated other rules and forced them to shuffle around the entire bracket. And it isn't like the games aren't selling out where they need regional teams to draw interest.

[SniperSB23]

Can sometimes be of slight value when filling out your brackets, not a ton to get here this year but a few things worth noting.

Combined record between NIT and CBI:

MVC 4-0
SEC 3-0
ACC 2-0
CUSA 3-1
P10 2-1
MAC 2-1
A10 2-2
B10 1-1
B12 1-1
BEast 1-1
MWC 1-2

[horseofcourse]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Why does the Selection Committee make rules for structuring the bracket and then blatantly disregard them when putting it together? They are never supposed to give a lower seed homefield advantage in the first round yet they have 10 seed South Alabama playing in Birmingham against Butler and 10 seed Davidson playing in NC against Gonzaga. That should never happen. The most ridiculous part of it is that they could have simply switched South Alabama and Davidson and eliminated the issue. It isn't like moving them would have violated other rules and forced them to shuffle around the entire bracket. And it isn't like the games aren't selling out where they need regional teams to draw interest.

The Butler seeding is bizarre beyond belief. I was looking back at last year and they were 27-6...didn't win the Horizon LEague tourney...I'm not sure even if they won the regular season outright?? But they were a 5 seed. This year they go 29-3...win the regular season outright...conference tourney and are a 7 seed playing an Alabama team in Alabama...after making the sweet 16 last year giving Florida their toughest game. And no bad losses either...lost by 1 point and 4 points on the road to the two other 20 win teams in their conference (clev state and wright state) and to Drake.

Their situation is quite odd to say the least. How they were seeded two slots higher last year than this year makes no sense. I thought they and Drake were 4 or 5 seeds at the lowest this year both of them. Butler by far got the biggest shaft in the NCAA tourney this year.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

The Butler seeding is bizarre beyond belief. I was looking back at last year and they were 27-6...didn't win the Horizon LEague tourney...I'm not sure even if they won the regular season outright?? But they were a 5 seed. This year they go 29-3...win the regular season outright...conference tourney and are a 7 seed playing an Alabama team in Alabama...after making the sweet 16 last year giving Florida their toughest game. And no bad losses either...lost by 1 point and 4 points on the road to the two other 20 win teams in their conference (clev state and wright state) and to Drake.

Their situation is quite odd to say the least. How they were seeded two slots higher last year than this year makes no sense. I thought they and Drake were 4 or 5 seeds at the lowest this year both of them. Butler by far got the biggest shaft in the NCAA tourney this year.

Their RPI was also 17 this year compared to 27 last year. They are #10 in one poll and #11 in the other. Getting a 5 would have been a tough seeding. Getting a 7 and a road game is a joke.

[declansharbor]

Take the points with Temple and run. Dionte Christmas and company will try to prove their worthiness. A week ago, the stories around here were that no team in the BIG 5 was going to get into the dance. We now have 3 going, all with a chance at some buzz, save St. Joe's. Look for NOva as well to put on a good showing, Jay Wright has a tough little team.

Go Owls!! Go Wildcats!! (Not homerish picks, I swear)

[declansharbor]

Originally Posted by declansharbor

Take the points with Temple and run. Dionte Christmas and company will try to prove their worthiness. A week ago, the stories around here were that no team in the BIG 5 was going to get into the dance. We now have 3 going, all with a chance at some buzz, save St. Joe's. Look for NOva as well to put on a good showing, Jay Wright has a tough little team.

Go Owls!! Go Wildcats!! (Not homerish picks, I swear)

Had the worst game of his career and down goes my alma mater...In flames....Fran Dunphy should teach these kids to not pick up their dribble every time down the court. Horrible effort...

[horseofcourse]

Miserable tourney so far through the first set of games and first half of 2nd games. Nothing but chalk and no really even interesting games other than Georgia/Xavier. Marq/Kent ok so far but not much of an upset if Ky wins.

(my big 10 losing theory is proving to be working out quite well!! )

[skippy3481]

I fail to see how that makes it miserable. Higher seeds should win most of the games.... thats why they are higher seeds in the first place. The big ten had a down year but come on temple... they beat exactly no one this year.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by horseofcourse

Miserable tourney so far through the first set of games and first half of 2nd games. Nothing but chalk and no really even interesting games other than Georgia/Xavier. Marq/Kent ok so far but not much of an upset if Ky wins.

(my big 10 losing theory is proving to be working out quite well!! )

I think it's been just fine so far for me. The Xavier game was exciting, it seems like the teams who should be winning are winning, and I got to see my alma mater play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in history....or at least a few minutes of it, not that it was worth watching anyway