Newest Bracketology: KU #5 seed, TX #1

[banyon]

bracket looks like this:

Greensboro
(1) DUKE (25-1)
(16) ALBANY (16-9) / Amer East

(8) Cincinnati (17-9)
(9) Kentucky (17-9)

San Diego
(5) LSU (17-7)
(12) UAB (18-5)

(4) KANSAS (18-6)
(13) WISC.-MILW. (17-8) / Horizon

Dayton
(6) North Carolina (17-6)
(11) Arkansas (17-8)

(3) Pittsburgh (20-4)
(14) MURRAY ST (19-5) / OVC

Dayton
(7) Washington (20-5)
(10) So. Illinois (18-8)

(2) Ohio State (19-4)
(15) IUPUI (16-7) / Mid-Con
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology
________________________________________________

moves up one spot to a #4 seed. Wow. I thought we'd have to beat Texas to get that high. Now we have LSU as 2nd round opponent instead of G. Washington. Probably a better team for us to match up with IMHO. But I really like the benefit of moving up one seed in the 1st round. Now we draw Wisc-Milwaukee instead of UAB. That's much better. Usually the worst seed an at large team will get is a 12, so as a 4 we'd be guaranteed a conference champ, which is usually a little easier. Still in San Diego. Texas and Memphis still get the Dallas pod. Still in the Duke bracket. Oh well.

[HolmeZz]

LSU's been more consistent lately and are starting to round into form. They just lost @ Alabama and fell a spot out of the polls, but they had been playing as well as any top 15 team in the country for the last month. Iowa has a nice resume, but they haven't done jack shit on the road. That's more indicative of how a team will fare in the NCAA tourney. LSU's played pretty tough on the road.

[sedated]

We went from bubble to a 6 seed?

All because the sooners choked at the fieldhouse?

we need some more big wins before I buy that one.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by sedated

We went from bubble to a 6 seed?

All because the sooners choked at the fieldhouse?

we need some more big wins before I buy that one.

We were a 9 last week and "next four out" the week before. It's all too fast!!

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by sedated

We went from bubble to a 6 seed?

All because the sooners choked at the fieldhouse?

we need some more big wins before I buy that one.

It's not because Zero U choked. If KU would have won the two rival games the 'Hawks should have won, they would now be riding a 14 game winning streak. They improve steadily every week. There aren't 20 teams in the country that can beat KU consistently. And there are fewer of them every week.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by HolmeZz

I wasn't talking about resumes. I was stating I don't think they're better than any of the 3 seeds.

Like I said, they already beat Illinois. Until they play them there, that's all you have to go on.

And look at LSU's road schedule and tell me again how "tough" they are.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

It's not because Zero U choked. If KU would have won the two rival games the 'Hawks should have won, they would now be riding a 14 game winning streak. They improve steadily every week. There aren't 20 teams in the country that can beat KU consistently. And there are fewer of them every week.

The Jayhawks are gonna be tough come tournament time.

They're getting the freshman mistakes out and the talent is starting to seep through...

[greg63]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

It's not because Zero U choked. If KU would have won the two rival games the 'Hawks should have won, they would now be riding a 14 game winning streak. They improve steadily every week. There aren't 20 teams in the country that can beat KU consistently. And there are fewer of them every week.

Originally Posted by htismaqe

The Jayhawks are gonna be tough come tournament time.

They're getting the freshman mistakes out and the talent is starting to seep through...

I think so too; they are begining to peak. IMO

[TRR]

Originally Posted by HolmeZz

LSU's been more consistent lately and are starting to round into form. They just lost @ Alabama and fell a spot out of the polls, but they had been playing as well as any top 15 team in the country for the last month. Iowa has a nice resume, but they haven't done jack shit on the road. That's more indicative of how a team will fare in the NCAA tourney. LSU's played pretty tough on the road.

How can you possibly say life on the road, especially in the Big Ten, has anything to do with how successful a team will be in the NCAA Tourney? If anything, the Big Ten Vs ACC Tourney would be a better indicator of how a team might do in the NCAA Tourney...Being it's a neutral court and all. Iowa played great in the Big Ten Vs ACC Tourney, beating Kentucky and North Carolina, and playing Texas tough.

If you look at road games as an indicator of how well a team is going to do in the NCAA's...Especially from the Big Ten...Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan would all lose in the first round.

No comparison.

[HolmeZz]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

And look at LSU's road schedule and tell me again how "tough" they are.

?

They beat West Virginia. They barely lost to UConn. And they blew leads at Cincy and OSU, two games they easily could've won. They also have a nice win at Arkansas They play well on the road.

Iowa got beat by 30(which is more margin of victory than LSU's 6 losses combined) by Michigan State, lost by 14 at Wisconsin, and also lost at Iowa State and at Northern Iowa. They don't have a single quality road win. The committee looks at that.

[HolmeZz]

Originally Posted by TRR

If anything, the Big Ten Vs ACC Tourney would be a better indicator of how a team might do in the NCAA Tourney...Being it's a neutral court and all. Iowa played great in the Big Ten Vs ACC Tourney, beating Kentucky and North Carolina, and playing Texas tough.

The ACC/Big Ten Tourney is not a neutral court, and the team Iowa played was NC State.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by HolmeZz

Iowa has a nice resume, but they haven't done jack shit on the road. That's more indicative of how a team will fare in the NCAA tourney.

Iowa is .500 on the road, so is LSU. How is one "jack shit" while the other tough?

Iowa is already one of the best defensive teams in the country. Horner finally looks like he may be 100% and Haluska and some of the other guys are finding their shot. If the Hawks continue to play defense like they have, and start shooting like they can, they'll be a #2 seed come tournament time. And they would wipe the floor with LSU the way they are playing right now.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by banyon

I was about to blast your lovin', but then I looked at their schedule and decided I couldn't back that up. They have beaten some pretty good teams.

IMO,

Quality Wins: Kentucky, N.C. State, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio St., Michigan

Bad Losses: @Iowa St (by 12); @Michigan St (by 30)

Quality Wins: @West Va, Tennessee, Alabama

Bad Losses: Houston (good Loss? @ UCONN by 1)

After reviewing the resumes, I believe you just may be right about these two teams.

Northern Iowa beat both of them.

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by greg63

I think so too; they are begining to peak. IMO

Beginning to peak is right. They still throw the ball away too much and need to improve their free throwing. The defense continues to improve. They have 5 guys (that play) that are 6'8 or bigger. Three of them are more than 235#. They're beginning to look like a "Bill Self" team. Thugs in training. And with so many of them, fouls aren't a problem. If they get a #6 or worse, they could really surprise some highly ranked teams. I sure wouldn't want to face them if I were a #2 or #3 but didn't play a very tough schedule.

[HolmeZz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Iowa is .500 on the road, so is LSU. How is one "jack shit" while the other tough?.

If you're just going to ignore the actual teams they played AND margin of victory...

EDIT: I have Iowa at 3-4 on the road, with those 4 losses coming by 60 points. LSU is 4-4, with those 4 losses coming by 11 points. LSU also played a much tougher road schedule.

[banyon]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Northern Iowa beat both of them.

Yeah, the Panthers are tough this year!

(note: that's why I didn't consider it a bad loss for either team)