Blog Entry

Here's how I see the Field of 65

Posted on: March 15, 2009 4:36 pm
Edited on: March 15, 2009 4:36 pm
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NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh, North Carolina and Louisville are locks for No. 1 seeds, and I think Memphis will get the fourth No. 1 seed even though the Tigers do not have one of the best four bodies of work in the country. Why? Because I believe the committee will discount UConn because of the loss of Jerome Dyson and put an asterisk next to Duke's ACC tournament title based on the fact that Ty Lawson didn't play for UNC.

So Pitt, UNC, Louisville and Memphis will be the top seeds.

Connecticut, Duke, Oklahoma and Michigan State should be the No. 2 seeds.

Here's the full field, best I can tell:

1. Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Louisville, Memphis
2. Connecticut, Duke, Oklahoma, Michigan State
3. Wake Forest, Villanova, Missouri, Kansas
4. Florida State, Gonzaga, Syracuse, Washington
5. UCLA, Xavier, Purdue, Butler
6. West Virginia, Illinois, Arizona State, Utah
7. Clemson, Marquette, Ohio State, LSU
8. Texas, Oklahoma State, BYU, Tennessee
9. California, Boston College, Wisconsin, Michigan
10. Texas A&M, Maryland, Minnesota, Southern California
11. Siena, Creighton, Temple, Dayton
12. Northern Iowa, Mississippi State, Western Kentucky, Utah State
13. Akron, VCU, Stephen F. Austin, Cleveland State
14. American, Robert Morris, North Dakota State, Binghamton
15. Cornell, East Tennessee State, Portland State, Radford
16. Morehead State, Cal State-Northridge, Morgan State
Play-in Game: Chattanooga vs. Alabama State

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Category: NCAAB
Comments

Since: Feb 2, 2009
Posted on: March 16, 2009 9:28 am
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

I've been saying all along that UConn would get a #1 seed.  Granted, UConn's #1 seed would have been the second #1 if UConn had won the Big East tournament and UNC had won the ACC tournament, but neither of these outcomes came to pass.  And if UConn had won the Big East tournament and UNC had lost the ACC, then UConn would have been the overall #1 seed--but that didn't happen either.  I would have considered Memphis if, among their 31 wins, they had beaten a bunch of teams in the Top 25 or Top 50, but that wasn't the case. 

So even though UConn had sort of gone mediocre following the loss of Jerome Dyson, the overall record and the fact that UConn had only lost to Big East teams (one loss at home to a then-ranked Georgetown, two losses to another #1 seed, Pittsburgh, and a six-OT loss to Syracuse in the Big East tournament) and had an away-from-home record of 13-2, not to mention a drubbing of the overall #1 seed at Freedom Hall, UConn deserves the #1 seed.  I think the committee may also have looked at just what UConn still has in the way of talent.  Hasheem Thabeet, despite the latest tactic of opponents' driving into his chest to inhibit his shot blocking, is still a major deterrent on defense, and he's getting better offensively.  Jeff Adrien, he of the 44 (or more) career double-doubles, A.J. Price, who is capable of 30+ points on any given occasion, and Stanley Robinson, who is finally beginning to demonstrate the ability that's been simmering since his freshman year are the other significant weapons that UConn brings to the court.  Yes, the bench is rather thin at this point, but Craig Austrie and Kemba Walker are solid at the guard positions, and Gavin Edwards has become a reliable sub at the forward positions.

It is unlikely that UConn will fold its tent before the Regional Final, which should be against Memphis on March 26.  That's why they are a #1 seed.

 

 



jamammy
Since: Feb 15, 2009
Posted on: March 16, 2009 2:43 am
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Since: Feb 19, 2009
Posted on: March 16, 2009 2:39 am
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

 one) .

Seriously?

I thought the last thing you guys would care about on the same Sunday night that the NCAA tournament bracket was unveiled is an updated Top 25 (and one) , and it really never even occurred to me to do one. For that, I apologize. But just so you know, I will never update the Top 25 (and one) on Selection Sunday, and for two reasons:

1. It seems unnecessary.

2. I've got way too much other stuff to do.

But, if you want, I'll compromise this time.

How about a Top 10 (and one) ?

1. Louisville
2. North Carolina
3. Pittsburgh
4. Connecticut
5. Memphis
6. Duke
7. Oklahoma
8. Michigan State
9. Missouri
10. Kansas
11. Wake Forest

One more thing before I go: Like the rest of the world, I got 64 of the 65 teams in the NCAA tournament correct. As I've said many times, we hear all this talk about "Bracketologists," but everybody with half a brain and an updated RPI can project the bracket fairly well. Almost anybody will get 63 teams correct, most will get 64 and a handful will get 65 ... except for when then selection committee includes somebody like Arizona. Honestly, do you think there's a chance the committee included Arizona because the Wildcats were out of nearly every projected bracket, that way most of us would miss at least one at-large bid? That's the only explanation, I think....well whatcha think?



jamammy
Since: Feb 15, 2009
Posted on: March 16, 2009 1:04 am
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Since: Mar 1, 2009
Posted on: March 15, 2009 10:55 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

Even with that body of work I think Creighton would deserve the chance to prove they can compete with the top teams in the nation.  We already know Wisconsin really can't, why would we want to see a 19-12 team play the same caliber of teams they played in conference.  I know I want to see if a 27-6 team from a mid-major can compete with the like of the power conferences, but I guess we'll have to watch what they do in the NIT an determine it from that.

 




Since: Mar 14, 2009
Posted on: March 15, 2009 9:36 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

 How did Wisconsin get in over Creighton?

SOS: WI 16, Creighton 111... Fla 86.




Since: Mar 9, 2009
Posted on: March 15, 2009 8:51 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

Very close on your top 8. I agree it would have been nice to have 1 more win and 1 less loss to be a 1 but the top 2 is ok with me.

I see you didn't have AZ in either. What do you think now that they are in? 




Since: Jan 8, 2008
Posted on: March 15, 2009 8:16 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

So the Great Defender of Saint Mary's bailed on them in the end.  I know that the upsets in conference tournaments caused everyone to change their selections, but come on Gary, Creighton over Saint Marys?  Did I miss the piece you wrote begging the committee to take another look at Creighton.... Saintt. Marys should have been in, Arizona should have been out and Creighton should have been the team that you took out, to make room for Saint Marys.

 

 




Since: Mar 1, 2009
Posted on: March 15, 2009 7:16 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

I totally agree, when I saw Arizona come up I was pulling my hair out wondering how.  Other than Maryland no one accomplished anything they needed to accomplish in their conference tournaments.  How did Wisconsin get in over Creighton?  I can understand St. Marys not making it, but wow this makes me so mad.  I only see Michigan and maybe Maryland making it out of the first round, pathetic.

 

 

 




Since: Mar 1, 2009
Posted on: March 15, 2009 7:13 pm
 

Here's how I see the Field of 65

I totally agree, when I saw Arizona come up I was pulling my hair out wondering how.  Other than Maryland no one accomplished anything they needed to accomplish in their conference tournaments.  How did Wisconsin get in over Creighton?  I can understand St. Marys not making it, but wow this makes me so mad.  I only see Michigan and maybe Maryland making it out of the first round, pathetic.

 



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