2015 Bracketology

[Slalomshocker]

The ACC is comprises 1/3 of the top 15 on that list. It is going to cannibalize itself imo. Duke and UVA are going to be at the top and the rest are going to falter along the way. UNC will lose bad games and win good ones. ND is solid and L'Ville is talented but thin. If WSU just takes care of business & doesn't take any bad losses, the seed will be a small number. If the Shox end up 14-4 or better with losses only to UNI/ISUr/Evansville, I think a 5 seed is the floor. Parody is the theme in college basketball, this year maybe more so than even last year.

I completely agree that its tough to argue with any of the teams ahead of WSU on the list.

[WSUwatcher]

When it's all over, I'd be perfectly content with a #6 seed. The key is exactly who the #11 and #3 in the bracket will be -- are they good matchups or bad ones? Because there will be some #3's whose only edge over the Shocks is that they get to wear home white, and others with a really strong inside presence who will be much tougher to beat.

In any case, the good thing about #6 as opposed to #5 or even #4 is that it postpones the matchup with #1 for one more game. Nothing wrong with that.

[shocker22]

We willbe a 3 seed at tourney time.

[ShockTalk]

We willbe a 3 seed at tourney time.

That will probably take only one more loss, maybe 2, including the Valley postseason. 2 losses should be a solid 4 seed. Life in the MVC.

[Perezident]

We may deserve a 3 seed, which typically translates to us getting a 4 or 5 seed, depending on just how badly the committee feels like jobbing the non-BCS schools this year.

[Remember'70]

I'm just expecting to be in Omaha with anything less than a 9 seed. You know, since the NCAA set precedent last year by sending KSTATE and Kentucky to a convenient location in STL.

Rolls eyes.

[WSUwatcher]

We willbe a 3 seed at tourney time.

Hope you're right, 22, because everything good about being a #6 also applies to being a #3, with the further advantage that you play a lesser team in the opening round. I'd be pleasantly surprised -- the Shocks will have to do awfully well from here on out -- but the solid road win over Loyola (now up to #50 in Warren Nolan's RPI rankings, by the way, which makes WSU 4-2 against the top 50, compared to 3-11 for the six other MVC teams at .500 or better in conference play) gives reason for encouragement as the young guys continue to develop.

If FVV could just play all of his games in Wichita or the state of Illinois...

[shockerfanmas]

We may deserve a 3 seed, which typically translates to us getting a 4 or 5 seed, depending on just how badly the committee feels like jobbing the non-BCS schools this year.

I would expect at least 3 or 4 non-BCS schools to be drastically underseeded, and probably 2 or 3 first round match-ups between non-BCS schools. The committee seems to have this theory of "If we make em play each other in the first round, we'll get rid of half of them right off the bat."

[Cdizzle]

I would expect at least 3 or 4 non-BCS schools to be drastically underseeded, and probably 2 or 3 first round match-ups between non-BCS schools. The committee seems to have this theory of "If we make em play each other in the first round, we'll get rid of half of them right off the bat."

I don't like these matchups, but I am biased. I want to see how these teams stack up on a neutral court against teams that generally won't play them on even footing. However, as a counterpoint, while pitting 2 non-P5 teams against each other eliminates one, it also guarantees one advances. I get just as frustrated when I see matchups between 19-12 Miami and 18-13 Illinois or whatever. Two teams that wouldn't stand a chance against the VCUs of the world but one of them gets to advance. It happens. I feel like the past couple of years haven't been as bad. Has looked more like the selection committee is trying to follow the rules instead of setting up matchups.

[MadaboutWu]

Here is a link with historical data of seeds. 6 seeds do outperform 5 seeds but 4 seeds do better than both, just a little better than 6 seeds in terms of reaching the elite 8 but significantly better in terms of reaching the 2nd round and sweet 16. 3 seeds significantly outperform the lines 4-6. I don't know how reliable the data is but it all looks plausible:

http://mgoblog.com/diaries/historical-performance-ncaa-seeds

For the record, I want as good a seed as possible as it measures how we have done throughout the year. But given the data if it is a toss-up between a 5 and 6 preferring a 6 is reasonable.

[shockerfanmas]

I don't like these matchups, but I am biased. I want to see how these teams stack up on a neutral court against teams that generally won't play them on even footing. However, as a counterpoint, while pitting 2 non-P5 teams against each other eliminates one, it also guarantees one advances. I get just as frustrated when I see matchups between 19-12 Miami and 18-13 Illinois or whatever. Two teams that wouldn't stand a chance against the VCUs of the world but one of them gets to advance. It happens. I feel like the past couple of years haven't been as bad. Has looked more like the selection committee is trying to follow the rules instead of setting up matchups.

Very good points sir, there's always a positive way to look at things. I tend to agree, last year wasn't as bad, except for the whole WSU-Kentucky thing which I still say was done on purpose and I still consider it a slap in the face. Personally if it were up to me, the 2 First Four games for seeds 11, 12, 13 (there always seem to be 2 of those games for a 16 seed and the other 2 for an 11, 12 seed give or take) would be a strong non P5 team against a weaker P5 team, kinda like you mentioned, a VCU against Miami or something like that. We'll see how this year goes.

[im4wsu]

The ACC is comprises 1/3 of the top 15 on that list. It is going to cannibalize itself imo. Duke and UVA are going to be at the top and the rest are going to falter along the way. UNC will lose bad games and win good ones. ND is solid and L'Ville is talented but thin. If WSU just takes care of business & doesn't take any bad losses, the seed will be a small number. If the Shox end up 14-4 or better with losses only to UNI/ISUr/Evansville, I think a 5 seed is the floor. Parody is the theme in college basketball, this year maybe more so than even last year.

I completely agree that its tough to argue with any of the teams ahead of WSU on the list.

Isn't parody what SNL does?

[Slalomshocker]

Isn't parody what SNL does?

SNL, and Duke last night. And on multiple occasions each season, the refs at Koch Arena join in the fun.

My bad, Parity. Thank you for the correction.

[shocks02]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

New bracket from Lunardi.

[wsushox1]

That bracket we are in is not that challenging if you ask me. Other than the stud scorer from UW-GB there shouldn't be any issue.