Good point cview, I forgot about MSU and their run last year.

Duke got the easiest draw, imo.

Not only do they, as the #3 overall 1 seed get to play the play-in winner, but they have no real resistance until the Elite 8 if Villanova gets to them (which I think Villanova would win)...

I believe the committee was unfair to OSU and KU. KU was obviously thr #1 overall seed, yet they get the best #2 and the best #3 in their region.. Granted, they will only have to play one of them, but the point remains..

OSU, as arguably the top #2 seed, could have to go through the top #3 and top #1 if they plan on making it to the title game.. Good luck with that one.

Not only that, but OSU also got a tough second round match up, regardless of who wins between Okie State and GA Tech.

SportsAndLady wrote: It's crazy the turnaround on here from like a week and a half ago, til now.

A lot of people on here were like "Syracuse is the best team in teh country, and will be my pick to win the title"...2 losses later, I don't think i've seen or heard of anyone even having them in the championship game.

Not so fast..

I have them going the entire way.

LTrain23 wrote:Not only do they, as the #3 overall 1 seed get to play the play-in winner, but they have no real resistance until the Elite 8 if Villanova gets to them (which I think Villanova would win)...

I wouldn't discount Louisville. I think Duke's size in the end will be too much for the Cardinals to overcome, but Louisville has a set of quick and versatile wings that, much like WVU in '08 in the NCAAs or Georgetown this season, has been trouble for Duke in recent seasons. The Blue Devils are much better this season because of that size and ability to rebound and capitalize on second chance points and that should be the difference. However, with a veteran leader in Edgar Sosa, a proven threat in the key in Samardo Samuels and active, long wings in Jerry Smith, Jared Swopshire and Reginald Delk, Louisville is a team that can get out and fill it up when hitting. All it takes is that one well executed game. Which Louisville did twice this year against top seeded Syracuse.

We should beat Louisville. But I'm terrified by this game seeing that it's in the second round. Considering Duke's shaky NCAA play of late, I think my causes for concern are warranted.

The right side of the bracket is the easiest road. Duke and UK have the easiest paths, but Duke usually doesnt make it far anymore.

SportsAndLady wrote: It's crazy the turnaround on here from like a week and a half ago, til now.

A lot of people on here were like "Syracuse is the best team in teh country, and will be my pick to win the title"...2 losses later, I don't think i've seen or heard of anyone even having them in the championship game.

I have them winning it all as well.

A few times in the last several years they were the "sexy" pick heading into the NCAA's. Just had a great conference tourney and everybody was sweating them and had them in the Final 4. Now you've got quite a few jumping ship and counting them out. They were the 4th overall #1 seed and got shipped out West for later rounds. Some on here and in the media are already calling for Gonzaga to upset them in the 2nd round. All the while....they're still a #1 seed and except for Gonzaga and a couple other teams they have a relatively easy region. The perfect storm. All year they've been getting patted on the back but after losing to Lousiville in the last men's game ever at Freedom Hall and then to their biggest rival in their 3rd matchup this season.....a lot of people aren't talking about them nearly as much. I understand why.....and I love it......

This is when Jim Boeheim is at his best. There are doubters a plenty out there now. It's not often that a #1 seed has "billboard material" and that, IMO, is going to be what gives Syracuse that extra edge in the NCAA's. I'd be more worried if the were riding high heading into the tournament. It's almost as if they're under the radar a bit now. I really like their chances to make it to the Final 4 and to win it all.

killer_ewok wrote:

SportsAndLady wrote: It's crazy the turnaround on here from like a week and a half ago, til now.

A lot of people on here were like "Syracuse is the best team in teh country, and will be my pick to win the title"...2 losses later, I don't think i've seen or heard of anyone even having them in the championship game.

I have them winning it all as well.

A few times in the last several years they were the "sexy" pick heading into the NCAA's. Just had a great conference tourney and everybody was sweating them and had them in the Final 4. Now you've got quite a few jumping ship and counting them out. They were the 4th overall #1 seed and got shipped out West for later rounds. Some on here and in the media are already calling for Gonzaga to upset them in the 2nd round. All the while....they're still a #1 seed and except for Gonzaga and a couple other teams they have a relatively easy region. The perfect storm. All year they've been getting patted on the back but after losing to Lousiville in the last men's game ever at Freedom Hall and then to their biggest rival in their 3rd matchup this season.....a lot of people aren't talking about them nearly as much. I understand why.....and I love it......

This is when Jim Boeheim is at his best. There are doubters a plenty out there now. It's not often that a #1 seed has "billboard material" and that, IMO, is going to be what gives Syracuse that extra edge in the NCAA's. I'd be more worried if the were riding high heading into the tournament. It's almost as if they're under the radar a bit now. I really like their chances to make it to the Final 4 and to win it all.

Excellent post, ewok, and I 100% agree.

Syracuse is still the dangerous team they were before the 2 losses, and imo, Kansas' #1 threat to win the title.

And as a Kansas fan, I definitely know about them under the radar: 2003

Lunardi called the South a "beefed up NIT field."

Duke as the third #1 is hard to believe, but not worth complaining about it anymore.

Kansas has it tough, but like others have said, they'll most likely take care of business, as they always seem to do.

They're my pick to win it all.

Lunardi called the South a "beefed up NIT field."

Luke Winn of CNN.SI agrees.


• It’s not a travesty that Duke got a No. 1 seed. It won the ACC. It won the ACC tournament. It was the No. 1 overall team in the kenpom.com efficiency rankings (which I care about, but the committee doesn’t). The Blue Devils are a good team with a great statistical profile. What didn’t make sense was giving them the third overall seed and the least-competitive region. The South is like the NIT compared to the Midwest: Villanova is lucky to be a No. 2, Purdue is hardly playing like a No. 4 seed, and Notre Dame is overseeded (by two or three spots) at a No. 6.

• Baylor, the South’s No. 3 seed, got a lot of hype as a sleeper Final Four pick on the Selection Sunday reaction shows. The Bears aren’t a top-50 team in defensive efficiency, though, and no one on their roster has ever won an NCAA tournament game. Is that really a Final Four formula?
Lunardi called the South a "beefed up NIT field."

• Was there really not anyone in the committee room who looked at the South Region and thought it was absurd? Because that’s what I think every time I look at it.

http://tourney.si.com/2010/03/15/bracket-musings-selection-sunday-edition/?eref=sihp

cats gone wild wrote:The right side of the bracket is the easiest road. Duke and UK have the easiest paths, but Duke usually doesnt make it far anymore.

Compared to what, Kentucky's scary runs in the tourney of late?

LOL. You haven't been in a Final Four since Clinton was president. Please.

I think the Duke bracket is weak. So much so that I have Baylor winning that region.

I also have UK bowing out to Texas in the 2nd round.

I think that is the toughest second round game for a #1. But I actually think all of them are tough.

Cuse-Zags
Duke-LVille
UK-Texas

KU is the only one with easy games till the Sweet 16.

It is pretty obvious the committee looks hard at RPI and ranks teams based on that. Why I have no idea.

As a Duke fan I too look at the South bracket and wonder why there aren't more typical powerhouses there. But then again, If I knew so much I would win more bracket pools.

As far as the Midwest goes? I understand OSU beef about being in a loaded bracket. Bear in mind GTown lost to Rutgers and South Florida in the last month. They have 10 losses, they are far from a powerhouse. Ohio State can blitz GaTech and Oklahoma State in round two, as both of those teams are talent rich, but horrible in production. If they Buckeyes got to the sweet 16 and had to play San Diego State while Duke had to play Baylor in Houston, I don't think fans would call the Devils road so easy.

GTown lost to Rutgers and South Florida in the last month. They have 10 losses,

Bear in mind that 2 or 3 of those losses came when Austin Freeman was out. Also bear in mind that Georgetown just beat #1 seed, Syracuse, and manhandled #6 Marquette.

If they Buckeyes got to the sweet 16 and had to play San Diego State while Duke had to play Baylor in Houston, I don't think fans would call the Devils road so easy.

Why would you assume that SDS would beat UT, a team that has defeated both Kansas and Kentucky, and also Georgetown? Why would you also assume that Baylor would survive games with Notre Dame or Villanova?

Given your scenario most OSU fans would be happy. That is a lot of "What Ifs".

I was creating hypotheticals Prescott. My given scenarios were created to illustrate how within the tournament relative ease of schedule can change quite drastically in a few days.

My given scenarios were created to illustrate how within the tournament relative ease of schedule can change quite drastically in a few days.

That is a given, but the teams are seeded the way they are for a reason