The ONE and Only College Basketball...

[Gert T 0]

With 2 weeks to go until Selection Sunday, the races for at larges in the ACC, Big 12, SEC & C-USA are still as logjammed as they were last week even if not more.

 

The ESPN crew of Vitale, Bilas, Frashilla etc. are really pimping Maryland that their psosible 6-10 ACC record will be OK because of that they are one the 34 best teams available. My problem is even though they may go 6-10 in the nation's toughest conference, look at their conference wins.

 

Clemson 2x

at Virginia

North Carolina

Florida State

 

So they've beat the last place team twice 8th place team once with another to play and the 6th and tied for 4th place team.

 

I respect the wins against Florida & Wisconsin, but 6-10 in a tough ACC does not mean too much if 4 of them come against Clemson and Virginia.

[Bored 0]

It's Monday so here is Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology and seed breakdown:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

 

#1 seeds: Saint Joseph's, Duke, Stanford, Kentucky

#2 seeds: Gonzaga, Connecticut, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh

#3 seeds: Providence, Texas, Wake Forest, Oklahoma State

#4 seeds: Illinois, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati

#5 seeds: Kansas, Memphis, North Carolina, Louisville

#6 seeds: Southern Illinois, Wisconsin, Charlotte, Syracuse

#7 seeds: Florida, Arizona, Michigan State, Utah State

#8 seeds: Boston College, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Seton Hall

#9 seeds: Dayton, UTEP, LSU, DePaul

#10 seeds: Missouri, Kent State, UAB, Air Force

#11 seeds: Utah, Florida State, Georgia, Alabama

#12 seeds: Texas Tech, Manhattan, Richmond, Western Michigan

#13 seeds: Virginia Commonwelth, Troy State, East Tennessee State, Colorado

#14 seeds: Boston University, Louisiana-Lafayette, Austin Peay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee

#15 seeds: Princeton, East Washington, Monmouth, Mississippi Valley State

#16 seeds: Valpariso, SE Louisana, Liberty, Lehigh/Coppin State

 

Top 25 teams in the RPI ratings from collegerpi.com, thru Sunday's games.

 

1. Duke 24-3

2. Saint Joseph's 26-0

3. Kentucky 21-4

4. Mississippi State 23-2

5. Stanford 25-0

6. Texas 21-4

7. Wake Forest 19-6

8. Providence 20-5

9. Pittsburgh 24-3

10. Connecticut 23-5

11. Gonzaga 25-2

12. North Carolina 17-8

13. N.C. State 18-7

14. Southern Illinois 24-2

15. Oklahoma State 21-3

16. Florida 17-8

17. Syracuse 19-6

18. Louisville 18-7

19. Kansas 17-7

20. Cincinnati 20-5

21. Seton Hall 18-7

22. Alabama 15-10

23. Wisconsin 19-6

24. Georgia Tech 20-8

25. Memphis 20-5

[Guest Choken One]

4th seed...thats more like it.

 

SIX CUSA TEAMS?

 

Amazing.

[ant_7000 0]

Hopefully Depaul gets in the 65 Tournament. The Cincy game on thursday is big for them.

[cabbageboy 0]

It's funny but I was talking to my dad about this whole CUSA 6 team thing. He said "SIX out of CUSA?? Hell no!" I asked him to name who should go and he said "U of L, Memphis St. (he still refers to them as Memphis St.), Charlotte, Cincinnati.....and that's it." I said "How about UAB and DePaul? Both are 10-4 in conference and ahead of U of L if you can believe it."

 

Know what he said?

 

"Yeah but those teams are whaleshit."

[Guest Redhawk]

I see no problem with six C-USA teams, since the Pac-10 -- which usually would be taking up some of those spots -- is so weak.

[Damaramu 0]

Well Oklahoma State is beating up on Texas right now with a 10 point lead. Looks like OSU is taking the Big XII championship home.

[Gert T 0]

I would love to see Richmond make it, but I think that the A-10 West beats up on each other so much that they have to have a hell of a run (play St. Joe's in A-10 Tourney to boost RPI) to make it.

[lomasmoney 0]

Does anyone think that Michigan can get in. If they win out they will be 9-7 in the conference. I think they need 2 victories in the Big Ten Tourney to get in. I don't see how Michigan and 17-9 doesn't get in over Missouri who has grossly underachieved this year and shouldn't have 5 losses let alone 10.

[Gert T 0]

Missouri's quality wins will get them in over Michigan.

 

I think Michigan has to win out and beat one of the top three Big Ten teams in the tourney (MSU-Ilinois-Wisconsin) to get an at large.

 

Big game tonight with Illinois at Purdue.

[Damaramu 0]

I read that OSU may be a #3 seed.........WTF!?

[C Dubya 04 0]

OSU has a lower RPI (15) and the Big 12 was a pretty weak conference this year. A 3 seed seems right to me.

[Guest Jimbo]

OSU has a lower RPI (15) and the Big 12 was a pretty weak conference this year. A 3 seed seems right to me.

who would you pump up to a 3 seed using hte given projections then?

[C Dubya 04 0]

My 1 seeds would be: St Joe's, Stanford, Duke & Mississippi St.

 

2 seeds: Gonzaga, Kentucky, Pittsburgh & UConn (maybe sub Providence in if they go far in the Big East & UConn stumbles early)

 

3 seed: Providence, OSU, Texas and the winner of the Wake/NC State game

[Gert T 0]

Virginia 84 Wake Forest 82

 

This is why I hate the ACC, Virginia welcome back to the bubble. You have now become Dick Vitale's 8th ACC team getting a bid, and one of 42 at-large teams that should be in.

 

Is there any precedent of a team getting an at-large bid with a worse losing conference record than another (possibly what could happen between Maryland-Virginia)

 

In a perfect world Clemson wins the ACC tourney next week.

[cabbageboy 0]

I think the ACC might be hurting itself in some ways. Let's face it, we can't go back to the days where they'd take half the friggin Big 10. The ACC should get Duke, UNC, NC St., Wake, Ga Tech, and maybe FL St. (though they are iffy since they can't win on the road). They can't take EVERYONE.

 

The Big 12 is having a bit of a down year. OK St. and Texas are both solid, but Oklahoma is weak this year, Kansas weak as well, Texas Tech fading down the stretch. Not really a whole lot there outside of a couple of teams.

[Guest Choken One]

How is taking half the big 10 a bad thing (refering to the past) when thats only what 5-6 teams?

 

The CUSA will be bringing in SIX this year barring any upsets in the Conf Tourny...

 

I say all Conf. should be capped at 7.

[cabbageboy 0]

You have to remember back to the mid 90s when they'd put half the Big 10 in the tourney and all of them would be GONE after 2 rounds. While I don't think the ACC will match that futility I think virtually any conf. maxes out its quality teams after 4 or 5.

 

For instance, the SEC is one of the toughest leagues in the country but after UK and Miss St. what do they really have? Florida has tanked, LSU is tanking without Lloreda, Vandy is just Vandy but slightly better. I can't see how even the SEC would get 6.

 

Here's the thing about CUSA....can anyone here really imagine someone from the conf. going anywhere in the tourney? Unless U of L gets their act together it's not likely. Cincy always tanks in the tourney, they'll be gone after 2 rounds. Memphis hasn't done anything of note since about 1986 and is injury plagued to boot. Charlotte is a nice 2nd round team but not much more. UAB might not even make the 2nd round. DePaul...1 and done.

 

Despite their recent troubles U of L is really the only CUSA team that has any potential to do great things, but I'm just being hopeful.

[Gert T 0]

Well Marquette made it to the Final Four last year, but I do not think C-USA has a team with a dominant player like Dwayne Wade.

 

I think C-USA may surprise some teams in the tourney as most of their teams will be 7-10 so they will be in competitive games.

 

The big games of Illinois at Purdue and Colorado at Iowa State that were to take place yesterday are of course tonight. Damn you espn.com for not updated the schedules for leap day!

 

Anybody here seen Mississippi St. play a lot this season? I have only seen them last night so I can't really say how strong of a final four contender they really are.

[Guest Jimbo]

(possibly what could happen between Maryland-Virginia)

You would have never thought it at hte beginning of the season, but their battle this weekend(?) is going to be HUGE.

[Vern Gagne 0]

God I wanted to strangle Mike Patrick and Dick Vitale. Every damn coach has done a great job. 8 teams in the ACC belong in the tournament. It was sickening watching Patrick cheerleading for Duke, even more so than Vitale. Yes hard to believe. Actin shocked and stuned if Duke was called for a foul, or one wasn't called on Georgia Tech.

 

Than Vitale has to mention Bo Ryan and Wisconsin getting a big road win at Michigan St. What about the players Dick, they didn't have anything to do with it. Oh, and since Ryan and any other winning coach gets all the credit from you. Shouldn't Tom Izzo or the coach that loses the game get criticized? Of course not, when a team loses it's the players fault.

[C Dubya 04 0]

So, is Duke still a lock for a 1 seed, or do you think that they'll need to go deep into the ACC tournament?

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Here's to my fucking alma mater, Georgia Tech and their thrashing of Duke. God Bless Em.

 

A few things. Right now Projections are that 6 ACC teams are guaranteed a spot (Duke, GaTech, NC State, Florida State, UNC, Wake) are all confirmed. Duke *Probably* lost it's number one seed because Tech beat them at home. That's a rough loss for them to handle. Their performance against UNC this weekend is crucial if they want it.

 

Virginia and Maryland are very well battling it out for a 7th spot. Maryland's got some rising stock and if its a very close game...both teams could get a nod.

 

The ACC tourney is a throw-up between about 5 teams right now. Hell, I have no clue what's going to happen there.

 

I think Duke's gotta win the tourney if it wants the #1 seed.

 

But in conclusion.

 

Go Tech.

[CanadianChris 0]

A few things. Right now Projections are that 6 ACC teams are guaranteed a spot (Duke, GaTech, NC State, Florida State, UNC, Wake) are all confirmed. Duke *Probably* lost it's number one seed because Tech beat them at home. That's a rough loss for them to handle. Their performance against UNC this weekend is crucial if they want it.

 

Virginia and Maryland are very well battling it out for a 7th spot. Maryland's got some rising stock and if its a very close game...both teams could get a nod.

Six teams, yes, but it's Maryland, not Florida State, that has the sixth spot after beating NC State last night. The Noles need to beat Georgia Tech this weekend.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

I stand corrected +)

At least the main point is still on...

 

ACC gonna whoop up in da tourney

[C Dubya 04 0]

I think that Georgia Tech has a good chance to go far into the NCAAs. They're a very athletic team, and well, if you can beat Duke in Cameron, you can beat anyone anywhere.

 

I think Duke will still be a 1 seed if they beat UNC and then make the ACC finals.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

I'd agree with that C Dub.

 

What wins the bracket betting is who gets the spoiler team that makes it into the 16 that no one expected...and thats what I'm interested in right now. Got any ideas?

[C Dubya 04 0]

This year I wouldn't really be surprised by anyone with a 12 or better seed making the sweet 16. It's really wide-open. Right now I'm leaning towards taking Stanford to finish the year undefeated. They haven't been tested too much, but have look strong the whole way.

 

My early sleeper pick for the 16 is Mizzou, assuming they make it in. If they do, they'll have continued their hot streak and I'd look for them to ride it a little ways in the tourney.

[CanadianChris 0]

If East Tennessee State can survive the Southern Conference tournament, they'd be a pretty intriguing pick. They almost upset Wake Forest last year in the NCAAs, and everyone came back this year.

 

Of course, as I type that, I look and see that they're currently losing to Furman by 5 with 11 minutes to play.

 

I also think Duke's loss opens the door for Gonzaga to get a #1 seed.

[ant_7000 0]

I saw the Illinois-Purdue game last night, and it was really good game. Both teams were going back and forth scoring. Illinois now have the share of the Big 10 regular title, but if they beat Ohio State then they win it out right. Depaul needs this game tonight against Cincy, hopefully Delonte Holland will show up for this game.