Comments on: Thoughts on the 2008 NCAA Tournament Bracket http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/ NCAA Tournament Predictions and Projections Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:23:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Allen http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-11436 Allen Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:20:39 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-11436 Great job on 65 of 65. I have to agree slightly on your #3 gripe. The Sun Devils were (being the key word) a deserving team. But the last 6 games in my opinion added not to it. You just can't lose that many games at that time of year and be considered. Not sure how many years you go back with the stats but as a Memphis fan I remember watching Darius Washington miss 2 free thows that would have put us in the Dance. I believe if you look at the numbers they were a lot better ASU have. They had 11 losses that year and eveyone said that was too many and they probably were correct. But belive me nobody was playing as well as they were. I think Louisville went to the Final Four that year. Anyway enough of the soap box 2 years in a row now. At least they didn't give Kentucky another shot at it. Great Job again. Great job on 65 of 65. I have to agree slightly on your #3 gripe. The Sun Devils were (being the key word) a deserving team. But the last 6 games in my opinion added not to it. You just can’t lose that many games at that time of year and be considered. Not sure how many years you go back with the stats but as a Memphis fan I remember watching Darius Washington miss 2 free thows that would have put us in the Dance. I believe if you look at the numbers they were a lot better ASU have. They had 11 losses that year and eveyone said that was too many and they probably were correct. But belive me nobody was playing as well as they were. I think Louisville went to the Final Four that year. Anyway enough of the soap box 2 years in a row now. At least they didn’t give Kentucky another shot at it. Great Job again.

]]> By: John Smith http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-11358 John Smith Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:02:04 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-11358 Ohio State as an 8 seed? Having to play the number 1 overall in the second round assuming they both advance? OSU by far showed they can hang as they beat Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. At the very least they deserved a 6 or 7 seed. Especially being that Marquette draws a 6 seed playing without their star player, James. That should have set them back and allowed OSU the move up in the bracket. Ohio State as an 8 seed? Having to play the number 1 overall in the second round assuming they both advance? OSU by far showed they can hang as they beat Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament. At the very least they deserved a 6 or 7 seed. Especially being that Marquette draws a 6 seed playing without their star player, James. That should have set them back and allowed OSU the move up in the bracket.

]]> By: David Mihm http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2035 David Mihm Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:23:15 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2035 Re: Butler, I disagree entirely. As I pointed out in my <a href="http://www.bracketography.com/championship-week/key-thoughts-heading-into-selection-sunday/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">"Key Thoughts"</a> article over the weekend, a 7 seed is entirely consistent with what the Committee has done in previous years. I happen to think Butler is a really good team, much better than a 7, but the fact is their resume did not warrant anything higher than a 6. I would not be at all surprised to see them upset Tennessee in the second round. Re: Butler, I disagree entirely. As I pointed out in my “Key Thoughts” article over the weekend, a 7 seed is entirely consistent with what the Committee has done in previous years. I happen to think Butler is a really good team, much better than a 7, but the fact is their resume did not warrant anything higher than a 6. I would not be at all surprised to see them upset Tennessee in the second round.

]]> By: Phil Cooper http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2034 Phil Cooper Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:00:54 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2034 Butler took an abolute screwing and you know it. The only team to give Florida a game last year and come back with a better team and they get a #7. Xavier a # 3. Come on, Must be all Catholics on the committee. Xavier gets beat by St. Joes twice and Miami of Ohio. Ask St. Joes coach who had the better team when they were beat by 25 points by Butler in preseason. This is all about money and politics and to heck with the kids who play their hearts out and get screwed. Last year Butler had an at large with a #5. This year a better record ,win their conference and win their tournament and get a #7. The committee ought to be absolutely ashamed of themselves even though I know they won't since all they care about is them selves. What a joke!!!!! Butler took an abolute screwing and you know it. The only team to give Florida a game last year and come back with a better team and they get a #7. Xavier a # 3. Come on, Must be all Catholics on the committee. Xavier gets beat by St. Joes twice and Miami of Ohio. Ask St. Joes coach who had the better team when they were beat by 25 points by Butler in preseason. This is all about money and politics and to heck with the kids who play their hearts out and get screwed. Last year Butler had an at large with a #5. This year a better record ,win their conference and win their tournament and get a #7. The committee ought to be absolutely ashamed of themselves even though I know they won’t since all they care about is them selves. What a joke!!!!!

]]> By: Tom http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2033 Tom Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:52:42 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2033 I think the com. did a pretty good job putting togeather this years bracket (much better than last year). However, I they did make a couple flaws. First, Wisconsin should have been a #2 taking Dukes place. Also, Ariaona State should have taken Arizonas spot and VT should have had S. Alabama's spot. Besides that nice job im looking forward to a great tourney I think the com. did a pretty good job putting togeather this years bracket (much better than last year). However, I they did make a couple flaws. First, Wisconsin should have been a #2 taking Dukes place. Also, Ariaona State should have taken Arizonas spot and VT should have had S. Alabama’s spot. Besides that nice job im looking forward to a great tourney

]]> By: ryan http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2030 ryan Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:05:24 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2030 butler being a top 15 team, getting a 7 seed, and opening in birmingham against south alabama, follow that with tennessee, that seems a bit hard on them don't you think? i think's that's probably 2 to 3 seeds to low. butler being a top 15 team, getting a 7 seed, and opening in birmingham against south alabama, follow that with tennessee, that seems a bit hard on them don’t you think? i think’s that’s probably 2 to 3 seeds to low.

]]> By: Mike http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2012 Mike Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:27:49 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2012 and Bill, they populate the #2 seeds on an S-curve but Duke couldn't be with UNC and Texas couldn't be with Kansas. If you think that Duke and UCLA or UNC and Tennessee were trying to make some "subtle" statement that they think UCLA is the best, you're crazy. Especially when the best team in the Pac 10 has allowed their opponents to shoot over 50% 12 times this season and over 60% 3 times . . . that's worse than Kansas, Memphis, Wisconsin, Georgetown, Louisville and Stanford. The Bruins have shot under 50% themselves 9 times and under 40% 3 times. That's worse than Kansas, Duke, and Georgetown. They're the only one of the top 8 seeds who's lost to teams that's RPI average isn't even in the top 50 (51.7) with a loss margin of 7.7 points. That's worse than Kansas, Memphis, Wisconsin, UNC, Duke, Texas, Georgetown, Louisville, Stanford, and Tennessee. UCLA would have 2 more loses if not for officiating calls that went in their favor in the final seconds of both games. You can say "a win is a win" but a #1 team should have already been up on a #92 RPI team by double digits and that call should have been a non-issue. UCLA is NOT the best of the #1 seeds, they are the worst. You can "read" whatever you want into the bracket placement but you're wasting your time. They will be the 1st #1 to go out and it could happen easily in the 3rd round. and Bill, they populate the #2 seeds on an S-curve but Duke couldn’t be with UNC and Texas couldn’t be with Kansas. If you think that Duke and UCLA or UNC and Tennessee were trying to make some “subtle” statement that they think UCLA is the best, you’re crazy. Especially when the best team in the Pac 10 has allowed their opponents to shoot over 50% 12 times this season and over 60% 3 times . . . that’s worse than Kansas, Memphis, Wisconsin, Georgetown, Louisville and Stanford. The Bruins have shot under 50% themselves 9 times and under 40% 3 times. That’s worse than Kansas, Duke, and Georgetown. They’re the only one of the top 8 seeds who’s lost to teams that’s RPI average isn’t even in the top 50 (51.7) with a loss margin of 7.7 points. That’s worse than Kansas, Memphis, Wisconsin, UNC, Duke, Texas, Georgetown, Louisville, Stanford, and Tennessee. UCLA would have 2 more loses if not for officiating calls that went in their favor in the final seconds of both games. You can say “a win is a win” but a #1 team should have already been up on a #92 RPI team by double digits and that call should have been a non-issue. UCLA is NOT the best of the #1 seeds, they are the worst. You can “read” whatever you want into the bracket placement but you’re wasting your time. They will be the 1st #1 to go out and it could happen easily in the 3rd round.

]]> By: Mike http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2011 Mike Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:14:26 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2011 "The Big Ten was bad this year, no way around the truth." Are you kidding me? Wisconsin is one of the best teams in the nation. They have a win over Georgia (SEC tournament champion), Texas (beat UCLA, Kansas, and Tennessee). They are ranked #4 on the Pomeroy ranking structure with the #1 Defensive Efficiency in the nation. Their only weakness is their offensive efficiency but even that's #23 in the nation. They are 6-4 against RPI top 50 (same as Georgetown) and haven't lost a single game to anyone that's not in the RPI top 50. They've only allowed their opponents to shoot over 50% 5 times this entire season, the average RPI ranking of the teams that have beat them is 29.3, better than Kansas, UCLA, UNC, Duke, and Texas. There are 5 teams in the Big Ten that are top 50 RPI and one of them got passed over for teams like Arizona who's 10-12 in their last 22 games and Kentucky who lost to Vanderbilt by 41 points and lost to #98 Georgia this weekend. What "at large" team has lost to anyone by 41 points before? That's crazy. The conferences that got too many were the SEC (stole 2 spots that teams like (32) Dayton (21-10 and 4-4 against RPI top 50) deserved) and the Pac-10 (Arizona's schedule strength was only high because of who they played and they lost the games that were to the highly ranked teams (5-8 vs RPI top 50, 10-12 against RPI top 100). If you want to bash an overrated/weak conference, pick one of them. “The Big Ten was bad this year, no way around the truth.”

Are you kidding me? Wisconsin is one of the best teams in the nation. They have a win over Georgia (SEC tournament champion), Texas (beat UCLA, Kansas, and Tennessee). They are ranked #4 on the Pomeroy ranking structure with the #1 Defensive Efficiency in the nation. Their only weakness is their offensive efficiency but even that’s #23 in the nation. They are 6-4 against RPI top 50 (same as Georgetown) and haven’t lost a single game to anyone that’s not in the RPI top 50. They’ve only allowed their opponents to shoot over 50% 5 times this entire season, the average RPI ranking of the teams that have beat them is 29.3, better than Kansas, UCLA, UNC, Duke, and Texas.
There are 5 teams in the Big Ten that are top 50 RPI and one of them got passed over for teams like Arizona who’s 10-12 in their last 22 games and Kentucky who lost to Vanderbilt by 41 points and lost to #98 Georgia this weekend. What “at large” team has lost to anyone by 41 points before? That’s crazy.
The conferences that got too many were the SEC (stole 2 spots that teams like (32) Dayton (21-10 and 4-4 against RPI top 50) deserved) and the Pac-10 (Arizona’s schedule strength was only high because of who they played and they lost the games that were to the highly ranked teams (5-8 vs RPI top 50, 10-12 against RPI top 100).
If you want to bash an overrated/weak conference, pick one of them.

]]> By: Brian http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2010 Brian Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:34:45 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2010 Is this jon guy that posted the same fool that thought flordia was good enough to get in ... then I got to personal my bad b/c I said girls I got 100% of my picks right me and joe from espn hang out a lot... so close dave so close... only if this was horseshoes Go Badgers! Is this jon guy that posted the same fool that thought flordia was good enough to get in … then I got to personal my bad b/c I said girls

I got 100% of my picks right me and joe from espn hang out a lot… so close dave so close… only if this was horseshoes

Go Badgers!

]]> By: Bill http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2009 Bill Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:31:44 +0000 http://www.bracketography.com/blog/thoughts-on-the-2008-ncaa-tournament-bracket/#comment-2009 K State caught a break playing so close to home, but my Trojans will beat them. Wisconsin plays that deliberate, slow down style, so if SC & UW hook up the final could be in the 40's. USC has beaten more high caliber teams than K State: UCLA, Stanford, Oregon 2x, Arizona, ASU, Oklahoma. After Kansas, K State's next best win was Oklahoma. The guy bagging on the Pac 10 is clueless. There was only 1 bad team in the league. Oregon State. The rest were all solid. Oregon? They beat K State @K State. UCLA got a better seeding than UNC. No question with Tennessee being placed in there. The committee basically said we think the Bruins are the true #1. Don't go by the polls, or first team released in the Brackets. Go by who are the 2,3 & 4 seeds in the #1's region. UCLA if they get good guard play, is the favorite. No question. Shooting is an issue for them. The vulnerable #1 is Memphis. My Trojans badly outplayed them in the Garden. Only a missed free throw at the end of regulation prevented SC from beating them. Watch out for that Pitt team, good momentum coming out of the Big East Tourney. Clemson too has some nice size, and could make some noise. Stanford's twins are formidable. If they can get out of the early rounds, they could go deep this year. K State caught a break playing so close to home, but my Trojans will beat them. Wisconsin plays that deliberate, slow down style, so if SC & UW hook up the final could be in the 40’s. USC has beaten more high caliber teams than K State: UCLA, Stanford, Oregon 2x, Arizona, ASU, Oklahoma. After Kansas, K State’s next best win was Oklahoma.

The guy bagging on the Pac 10 is clueless. There was only 1 bad team in the league. Oregon State. The rest were all solid. Oregon? They beat K State @K State.

UCLA got a better seeding than UNC. No question with Tennessee being placed in there. The committee basically said we think the Bruins are the true #1. Don’t go by the polls, or first team released in the Brackets. Go by who are the 2,3 & 4 seeds in the #1’s region. UCLA if they get good guard play, is the favorite. No question. Shooting is an issue for them.

The vulnerable #1 is Memphis. My Trojans badly outplayed them in the Garden. Only a missed free throw at the end of regulation prevented SC from beating them. Watch out for that Pitt team, good momentum coming out of the Big East Tourney. Clemson too has some nice size, and could make some noise.

Stanford’s twins are formidable. If they can get out of the early rounds, they could go deep this year.

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