Selection Sunday Thread

[Shock Top]

Also, who wants to bet the main reason (maybe the ONLY reason) that the committee included Vandy in the tourney is because they didn't want the MVC to have as many teams in that the vaunted SEC did?!

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I understand the principle of having 11 seed play-in games, but if you have so many at larges with tournament worthy resumes why not bump some of them to the 12 line, and so on, until you have 16-seed play-in games of teams that really have no business being in the tournament at all except that they won their conference tournaments?

It still makes more sense to me to have more at-large worthy teams than Holy Cross-like teams.

[Stickboy46]

I understand the principle of having 11 seed play-in games, but if you have so many at larges with tournament worthy resumes why not bump some of them to the 12 line, and so on, until you have 16-seed play-in games of teams that really have no business being in the tournament at all except that they won their conference tournaments?

It still makes more sense to me to have more at-large worthy teams than Holy Cross-like teams.

Same reason as everything else with the tourney ... $$$$$$$$.

Who would drive/fly to Dayton, or even Watch the games on TV if it was 8 teams battling for 16 seeds??

[WuShock16]

I understand the principle of having 11 seed play-in games, but if you have so many at larges with tournament worthy resumes why not bump some of them to the 12 line, and so on, until you have 16-seed play-in games of teams that really have no business being in the tournament at all except that they won their conference tournaments?

It still makes more sense to me to have more at-large worthy teams than Holy Cross-like teams.

I am taking WSU out of the equation as I am still ticked that the Shockers are a First Four team.

That said, I would rather make the last at-large teams play for a spot in the tournament than a small conference team. Why? Those teams should feel like they have made the NCAA Tournament. They won their conference's auto bid. Having them play in Dayton is like having them replay their conference tournament final for a chance to dance. Make the last teams on the bubble earn their way in. That said, you have to put them in a 11-13 type seed. Putting those teams as a 16 is a disservice to the #1 teams as an at-large team is not a true 16 seed. The NCAA found a balance, making two of the Dayton games between the worst 4 conference champions and two for at-large teams.

[_kai_]

Also, who wants to bet the main reason (maybe the ONLY reason) that the committee included Vandy in the tourney is because they didn't want the MVC to have as many teams in that the vaunted SEC did?!

I think it could be the same conspiracy line of thinking that they'd match up two mid-majors to get rid of one advancing. Except this is in terms of matching up highly ranked metric teams. Get rid of either the #11 or the #27 KenPom teams, that people argue shouldn't be in the tournament. One less highly rated team on metrics can make a deep run.

Would be interesting to look at all the play-in 11 seeds that went deep and see how their metrics compared to the field for that year. If a team has high metrics, a 10+ seed, and goes deep in the tournament, I think it shows that the seed was wrong and regardless of "resume" the team is a good/great team.

[Shock Top]

I think it could be the same conspiracy line of thinking that they'd match up two mid-majors to get rid of one advancing. Except this is in terms of matching up highly ranked metric teams. Get rid of either the #11 or the #27 KenPom teams, that people argue shouldn't be in the tournament. One less highly rated team on metrics can make a deep run.

Would be interesting to look at all the play-in 11 seeds that went deep and see how their metrics compared to the field for that year. If a team has high metrics, a 10+ seed, and goes deep in the tournament, I think it shows that the seed was wrong and regardless of "resume" the team is a good/great team.

Just put on your tinfoil hat and join in!! ;)

[Kel Varnsen]

Davidson was #14 in KenPom pre-tournament in 2008 and received a 10 seed. Has to be the only thing comparable to our situation, minus the fact they won their conference tournament.

[another shocker]

You are exactly correct. As even Jay Bilas (who I've always thought was a bit of a P5 honk) stated last night that the selection committee sent a clear message to the little guy that it doesn't matter if you do exactly what is asked of you, if you don't get the auto bid, forget about it. After looking at the brackets, I do feel lucky that we got in, but that is only based on the ineptitude of the committee, not on the "superior" mediocre P5 times that they slotted ahead of us.

that whole selection scenario has been a huge turnoff this year, like never before. michigan and syracuse over st mary's and monmouth etc. etc.? what a klunker.

[Tom Servo]

I heard a good argument on how lame it was to include Syracuse in the field.

The NCAA suspended JB for nine games. Punished for running a cheating program.

Then, they state they took into account that the team played those games without their coach.

So..... The same organization that punished a man, throws that out the window when judging that man's team?! *All the LOLs*

So right...the whole thing is just a big farce really. It just continues to get worse and worse every year.

Anyway, just wanted to say good luck in the tourney. We Aces fans will be pulling for you!

[Kel Varnsen]

So right...the whole thing is just a big farce really. It just continues to get worse and worse every year.

Anyway, just wanted to say good luck in the tourney. We Aces fans will be pulling for you!

Thanks! Wish we could have seen DJ and Mock in the tournament or at least in the postseason again. Would have the potential to knock some teams off. The support is appreciated!

[ShockCrazy]

I am taking WSU out of the equation as I am still ticked that the Shockers are a First Four team.

That said, I would rather make the last at-large teams play for a spot in the tournament than a small conference team. Why? Those teams should feel like they have made the NCAA Tournament. They won their conference's auto bid. Having them play in Dayton is like having them replay their conference tournament final for a chance to dance. Make the last teams on the bubble earn their way in. That said, you have to put them in a 11-13 type seed. Putting those teams as a 16 is a disservice to the #1 teams as an at-large team is not a true 16 seed. The NCAA found a balance, making two of the Dayton games between the worst 4 conference champions and two for at-large teams.

A lot of the smaller conferences would actually disagree with having the play-ins all be at larges. Winning the play-in game is worth the same shares as any other tourney games(not insignificant for those schools/conferences). Also it does give those schools a legitimate chance of winning a tournament game, which they would not have had if they all faced the 1's as designed.

[ShockdaWorld]

Anybody else gonna be streaming the Austin Peay game Thursday afternoon cheering for the underdog to pull off the first round miracle? There is a bit of a local connection. A girl that my wife went to high school with has a nephew that is a freshman on the Austin Peay basketball team. Here's hoping he has a great day and kicks some FUKU a$$!!!

[ShockdaWorld]

A lot of the smaller conferences would actually disagree with having the play-ins all be at larges. Winning the play-in game is worth the same shares as any other tourney games(not insignificant for those schools/conferences). Also it does give those schools a legitimate chance of winning a tournament game, which they would not have had if they all faced the 1's as designed.

Not even something I had considered, but probably very accurate.

[WuShock16]

A lot of the smaller conferences would actually disagree with having the play-ins all be at larges. Winning the play-in game is worth the same shares as any other tourney games(not insignificant for those schools/conferences). Also it does give those schools a legitimate chance of winning a tournament game, which they would not have had if they all faced the 1's as designed.

The athletics director might think that, but I would almost guarantee that the coach doesn't.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I am taking WSU out of the equation as I am still ticked that the Shockers are a First Four team.

That said, I would rather make the last at-large teams play for a spot in the tournament than a small conference team. Why? Those teams should feel like they have made the NCAA Tournament. They won their conference's auto bid. Having them play in Dayton is like having them replay their conference tournament final for a chance to dance. Make the last teams on the bubble earn their way in. That said, you have to put them in a 11-13 type seed. Putting those teams as a 16 is a disservice to the #1 teams as an at-large team is not a true 16 seed. The NCAA found a balance, making two of the Dayton games between the worst 4 conference champions and two for at-large teams.

My point is if the at larges have better resumes than the auto bids, then in effect you're penalizing the 11 seed even though they're higher on the S curve. What I'm advocating is that after the S curve has been determined, make #60-68 play the play-in rounds. If we're truly trying to get the best teams in the tourney, then this methodology makes the most sense. If all we want is to just make small conference auto bids the sacrificial lambs to higher seeds, then by all means continue the current system.