NCAA Bracket Observations
1. Sure, I suppose UofL would rather be in a 7/10 game, but I think this is pretty dang close to being best-case for UofL. Cal, which is probably the most overseeded team in the tournament, is from the Pac-10 and UofL has beaten the tar out of the last 3 Pac 10 NCAA opponents (h/t to Mike). Plus, Cal has to travel to just about the farther place in the US from their campus in Jacksonville. Duke is a great team, but a very beatable team. I think UofL could beat every team in the tournament at least 3 out of 10 times, with the exception of UK and KU. I don't think UofL could beat either KU or UK 3/10 times. In other words, great to play Duke!
2. I continue to be confused about the "benefits" of being the #1 or #2 overall seed. KU and UK get to potentially face the top two #2 seeds. Or, said a different way, this is really unfair to the top #2 seeds in OSU and WVU because they are the ones who have to face KU or UK. Last year, UofL was the so-called #1 overall seed but almost had to play OSU in Dayton and then had to play Michigan St. in Indy. Again, where are the "benefits?"
3. I always try to figure out how much a single loss costs a team. Take UTEP for example. If they beat Houston in the CUSA final, I think that they are likely a #6, #7 or #8. So, effectively, the Houston loss costs UTEP 4-6 seed lines.
4. I think Cornell got the worst end of the stick of all the teams. Not only are they the most underseeded team in the tournament, but they have to go against a team that can really mitigate their strength in Temple. Cornell's coach came from Dunphy's staff at Penn so Dunphy clearly knows all of Cornell's tricks. I think Cornell could have been a massive problem for almost every other team in the tournament (reference the @KU game that Cornell almost won). I just can't believe Cornell is one seed line above Wofford.
5. Syracuse gets to play UVM which beat them in the first round in 2005 (played at the same time as the UofL/UL-Lafayette near upset. I'm sure that wasn't great news for all Orange fans.
6. Once again, my rule of thumb of "never, ever, EVER listen to a word Digger Phelps says about the NCAA tournament because he doesn't have a CLUE about how the selection works" holds true.
7. I'm a little puzzled how Virginia Tech is out yet its ACC counterparts like Wake as a #9 and Clemson as a #7 (which finished beneath the Hokies in the standings) were such safe picks.
8. I thought Richmond could have been a great sleeper pick, but they got the wrong team paired up against them in Nova and there's no way Richmond wins that game.
9. Marquette's last 3 NCAA's have been held in Anaheim, Boise and now San Jose. Yek.
10. Great call by CBS to play last year's One Shining Moment right before the selections. I think the only thing bad about the Vancouver Olympics was the lack of a One Shining Moment equivalent to wrap everything up at the end.
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agree on all accounts
Cornell was the biggest loser tonight w/ seeding and opponent. Temple is a terrible matchup for them.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 7:48 PM EDT reply actions
Re #2
WVU’s assignment is really puzzling to me. Assigning the 1 and 2 seeds should be really simple.
Selection chair dude said that they were considered for the last #1, so that confirms they were the top #2. So, why not pair them against Duke since they can’t get Syracuse’s bracket. There is no explanation. Only logic I can think of is that WV is closure to Syracuse location than Houston, but come on.
Tred lightly grasshopper... don't overlook the enemy
CAL is a decent team, not great but decent. Sam Sam should be more then capable of dropping a double double on these guys. They don’t have shit in the post. T.J. could be a factor. They have no real depth so we gonna put the press on and run em till they shit. Keep their shooters off the charity strip, and get defensive rebounds. There gonna come out gunnin. Overall… we should win, I think.
by bjack357 on Mar 14, 2010 9:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I swear
I keep looking at our region and I’m trying to be really objective. I swear I am! And I’m telling you, if we find a way to win the first weekend games (BIG IF!), I can see us in the Final Four. Don’t laugh! Pitino is very very good when he knows the opponent well, and he never loses in the Sweet Sixteen. It’s the Elite Eight that trips him up. And we will likely face a Big East team there if we make it that far. OK, I’m seeing through rose-colored glasses, but this is not a tough bracket for this team! Not nearly as tough as just about any other region would have been with the same 9-seed.
Oooh
I just noticed ours is the late game on Friday. Ouch. This team doesn’t like night games. I hope RP has an awesome X’s and O’s night. Yikes.
The team needs to start having night practices now
I was looking forward to a mid day game. Dammit!
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Mar 14, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree 100% CardsFanTX....... I think its a combination of things that could set us up for a deep tourney run
For one I feel like we got a good draw……The teams in our path are nothing were not used to night in and night out playing in the nations best conference….Two I think you will see a maximum effort from everyone knowing everythings on the line….Three we will be well rested and fresh even though I know they’ve probably been going hard in practice preparing for the tourney…And four ….. this year we will be the hunter not the hunted like last year when we had that #1 overall target on our back….Being that no one is really talking about us this year I feel that takes away alot off pressure and allows the players to play loose and relaxed which wasn’t the case last year with all the final four talk…
I hate to be Debbie Downer.
But I just don’t see it happening. These are the things we’ve been saying all year. “We can beat that team. We can beat this team.”
But we don’t.
We didn’t beat Pitt. We didn’t beat West Virginia. We didn’t beat Kentucky. We didn’t beat Villanova. We didn’t beat Georgetown. And guess what? We got trounced by St. John’s, Marquette, and Western Carolina.
Look, I get it. I’ve done the same bracket-watching and had the same thoughts. We CAN beat these teams. Just like we COULD have beaten Pitt, West Virginia, Villanova, and Georgetown. But we didn’t. Yes, we beat Syracuse twice, but that’s like Stanford beating USC in football or some random mid-major beating Duke in the Sweet Sixteen; it’s almost a given at this point. This team has the potential to win a lot of games and go deep into the tournament. But their potential and effort have yet to cross this season, and I think it’s too late to hope that it will.
I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it happening.
We did beat WV, and at their place to boot
The refs took it away from us and handed it to the ‘eers. Just sayin’.
I do agree with that.
However, it doesn’t give us another W. And it still has nothing to do with the other games I mentioned.
Ok. I understand how you all feel about the Pac
However, we can’t overlook Cal. I went to both ASU and UofL and have watched both conferences a fair amount. I know Mike is not a fan of the Pac, but I am not sure he has watched the conference in a significant amount. I have watched both conferences a good deal and do have a good perspective on our situation.
The conference is not as bad as everyone has made it out to be. The Pac dealt with significant losses and nearly every team was integrating freshmen. The teams that lost to sub-par teams at the beginning of the season are not the same teams now. Cal has a solid backcourt in Christopher and Randle. I would not be terribly surprised to see them beat us if they dominate our backcourt. Cal is completely competent to do so.
Anyways, go Cards, but do not sleep on Cal just because they are from the Pac.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
Curious to see the line from Vegas
I’m guessing the #9 seed UofL is going to be a 4 point favorite over the #8 seed Cal.
Curious to see where that settles...
…otherwise I’m taking UofL + 1
I wouldn't assume that Richmond will beat St. Mary's
I think St. Mary’s wins that game and then gives Nova all they can handle.
...just apologize for not thanking me.
Depends
on which Nova team shows up. One of them can beat anyone in the nation. The other can lose to a team like St. Mary’s. Kinda like our guys.
Looks like...
…we get Nantz/Kellog for the announcing crew. I guess the main crew just follows Duke?
I guess if we win, we'll have a nationally highlighted game in the second round
against the play in game winner.
Man
I hope we beat Cal and somehow beat Duke. I just saw that the next round games for us would be in Houston! I’m 3+ hours from Houston. I can do that! I WILL do that! That would totally rock. C’MON CARDS!!!
how did ND end up with a 6 seed?
Cal may be overseeded, but a 6 seed for a team that wasn’t even in the tourney a week ago?
Worried about California
As I said on another thread, they are exactly the kind of team that gives us fits. Not great size but lots of 6-6, 6-7 athletes. One terrific guard. I fear we’re one and done if Good Edgar and other good guys don’t show up for the Cards on Friday night.
theoldman
Both teams can shoot, defense will be key
We need Jerry & Preston to harass Cal’s ballhandlers/jump shooters.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 15, 2010 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

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