NCAA Tourney Talk

[UK8STL11]

All the 4/5 seeds are either playing in San Diego or Boise. So those that keep saying UK got screwed by getting shipped out west have no idea what they are talking about. There was no other option for 4/5 seeds.

[J.Jennings]

Every year the NCAA leaves me scratching my head in regards to Kentucky and the path we have to take while UNC has the red carpet rolled out for them, it absolutely blows my mind. If i didn't love Kentucky, i would boycott this crap and never watch another NCAA game again.....
'

[J.Jennings]

All the 4/5 seeds are either playing in San Diego or Boise. So those that keep saying UK got screwed by getting shipped out west have no idea what they are talking about. There was no other option for 4/5 seeds.

Well hell the least they could do is send us some vaseline......

[J.Jennings]

North Carolina and all it's losses, all it's scandals, it's a freaking joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KCKUKFan]

Really in only two years (2011 and 2014) have I felt like we've gotten really shafted. Ironically both those years ended up with a tournament run.

But I think generally with Kentucky they love that Saturday/Sunday game on the first weekend with us against a marquee team. The NCAA swears everything is seeded without match-ups in mind, but that's a crock if you look at the match-ups.

And really I don't mind that in most years. But when we beat Florida two out of three times and see them get a 2 seed like it went down in 2011, it leaves you pretty enraged.

This year I don't think there's much of anything to get enraged about.

I think every time we get lumped into one of those second round "marquee matchups," it's a screw-job.

I don't have the exact stats in front of me, but I'd venture to say that we've been involved in more of those games in the second round than any of the other blue bloods. And that's not paranoia talking, it's just fact.

Seems pretty screwy to me. Meanwhile, I can't even remember the last time Duke and North Carolina were on the same side of the bracket, let alone in the same region. But we get West Virginia, Indiana, or Louisville every year, it seems.

I'm not complaining about this year, because, frankly, we made our bed.

[KCKUKFan]

East Tennessee State
Wake Forest
Cornell
West Virginia
Princeton
West Virginia
Ohio State
North Carolina
Connecticut
Western Kentucky
Iowa State
Indiana
Baylor
Louisville
Kansas
Kansas State
Wichita State
Louisville
Michigan
Wisconsin
Connecticut
Hampton
Cincinnati
West Virginia
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Stony Brook
Indiana
Northern Kentucky
Wichita State
UCLA
North Carolina
Davidson
Arizona?
Virginia?

I'd like to see who Kansas, North Carolina, Duke, etc. has had to play in their tournament runs in the same time frame.

[Blue Heaven]

I think every time we get lumped into one of those second round "marquee matchups," it's a screw-job.

I don't have the exact stats in front of me, but I'd venture to say that we've been involved in more of those games in the second round than any of the other blue bloods. And that's not paranoia talking, it's just fact.

Seems pretty screwy to me. Meanwhile, I can't even remember the last time Duke and North Carolina were on the same side of the bracket, let alone in the same region. But we get West Virginia, Indiana, or Louisville every year, it seems.

I'm not complaining about this year, because, frankly, we made our bed.

We used to get Utah all the time. Lately it has been WVU. If there was nothing to all of this, then why does Cal always cry foul after our seed comes out? He isn't crazy. It is blatant hate for our Cats and I think it's rather obvious.

[Joneslab]

One thing Kentucky has really not had are any upsets to give us an easy road. Outside the championship game against UCONN in '14, we've pretty much had to play the best seed since Cal has been here. What this means w/r/t our draw is anyone's guess, but it does seem like we've gotten some bad luck as far as this goes.

In fact in Calipari's seven NCAA Tournaments at Kentucky, we've played 31 games. In those 31, we've played the best possible seed 22 times. That's 71% of the time we've gotten the best team we could've played. Much higher than the norm. There was a time where Florida went four consecutive seasons feasting on lower seeds.

Many of these lower seeds have been only marginally off, such as playing a 5 when we could've played a 4. The only real upsets we've gotten ahead of us have probably been Cornell in the 2010 tournament and UCONN in the 2014 championship game.

[KevinHall]

One thing Kentucky has really not had are any upsets to give us an easy road. Outside the championship game against UCONN in '14, we've pretty much had to play the best seed since Cal has been here. What this means w/r/t our draw is anyone's guess, but it does seem like we've gotten some bad luck as far as this goes.

In fact in Calipari's seven NCAA Tournaments at Kentucky, we've played 31 games. In those 31, we've played the best possible seed 22 times. That's 71% of the time we've gotten the best team we could've played. Much higher than the norm. There was a time where Florida went four consecutive seasons feasting on lower seeds.

Many of these lower seeds have been only marginally off, such as playing a 5 when we could've played a 4. The only real upsets we've gotten ahead of us have probably been Cornell in the 2010 tournament and UCONN in the 2014 championship game.

IIRC, UConn was a higher seed than UK in 2014. They were a 7 and UK was either an 8 or 9. But I know what you mean. You don't usually see a 7 in the championship game. In fact I think they are the only 7 to win the NCAA's.

One trivia thing I saw today was that a 5 seed has never won the NCAA. That was a little surprising. Good time for UK to break that trend.

[Joneslab]

5 seeds have a lower winning percentage than 6 seeds in the history of the tournament.

5 seeds have a significantly lower winning percentage than 4 seeds.

In the history of the tournament, 5 seeds have really not done well at all against 1 seeds. Only 8 wins ever. Four seasons have three times that.

Basically, you don't want to be a 5 in this tournament.

[teamchemistry15]

All the 4/5 seeds are either playing in San Diego or Boise. So those that keep saying UK got screwed by getting shipped out west have no idea what they are talking about. There was no other option for 4/5 seeds.

Two things:

Did you end up going to the tournament? I hope you did and got to enjoy it.

Did you send George his shirt yet for us being higher than a seven seed?

[KevinHall]

5 seeds have a lower winning percentage than 6 seeds in the history of the tournament.

5 seeds have a significantly lower winning percentage than 4 seeds.

In the history of the tournament, 5 seeds have really not done well at all against 1 seeds. Only 8 wins ever. Four seasons have three times that.

Basically, you don't want to be a 5 in this tournament.

That's some good information. I could have swore Arizona was 5 seed when they beat UK in 97. But if what I read was correct I guess they weren't.

[Joneslab]

That's some good information. I could have swore Arizona was 5 seed when they beat UK in 97. But if what I read was correct I guess they weren't.

They were a four.

Five seeds have six Final Fours and zero titles in tournament history. Four seeds have thirteen Final Fours and one title.

Eight seeds have performed about as well as five seeds when you look at what they've done to get to the Final Four and win it once they're there.

[UK8STL11]

Two things:

Did you end up going to the tournament? I hope you did and got to enjoy it.

Did you send George his shirt yet for us being higher than a seven seed?

Thank you. Yes, I was able to get tickets for Friday and Sunday. Had insane seats on Friday - just off center court, about 10 rows back. Took my 8 year old to his first ever UK game. He loved it.

Sunday was awesome as well. My oldest went with me and we had a great time!

You are correct, I do owe DVZ a UK shirt. I will be happy to pay up on the bet!

[teamchemistry15]

Thank you. Yes, I was able to get tickets for Friday and Sunday. Had insane seats on Friday - just off center court, about 10 rows back. Took my 8 year old to his first ever UK game. He loved it.

Sunday was awesome as well. My oldest went with me and we had a great time!

You are correct, I do owe DVZ a UK shirt. I will be happy to pay up on the bet!

Awesome. I am glad you not only got to see us win two games but enjoy them with your kids!