Selection Sunday

[Joneslab]

I don't want to play UNC either, but I also didn't think we'd make it past OSU in '11, for many of the same reasons we're worrying about UNC.

We're a good team, folks. Let it all unfold.

Really it isn't a matter of being a good team or not. We're both good. It's just a bad match-up.

But in all honesty that's not the part that bothers me about our draw. Chances are we would've had to play them, or somebody just as good, in the regional final anyway. I think Kansas is a better team right now. I think Michigan State is better. To get to the Final Four you're going to have to play good teams. Personnel-wise they're a tough draw for us, but they're not the best team in the field.

So my problem isn't really with that, or that we got the 4, it's that Texas A&M's going to be out there in the West getting such an easier path to Houston. Galls me.

[teamchemistry15]

With as bad and crazy as the BCS computer system has been, I wouldn't be opposed to having a computer do the bracket. Just enter in the stats of SOS, RPI, vs top 50, etc etc and let the computer put them wherever.

[Joneslab]

Jeff Drummond ‏@JDrumUK 12s12 seconds ago Calipari: They did not want us in Louisville. That's why they stuck us with a 4 seed.

[Old School]

With as bad and crazy as the BCS computer system has been, I wouldn't be opposed to having a computer do the bracket. Just enter in the stats of SOS, RPI, vs top 50, etc etc and let the computer put them wherever.

That's what it has come to now, really.

The NCAA needs to do one of two things:

1) Understand that, now, everyone recognizes that they don't seed the tournament based on merit, geography, fan convenience, etc., but instead on trying to be clever with storylines, rivalries, etc. Either admit that they're aping pro wrestling and its faces vs. heels nonsense, trying to create an MTV Behind the Music storyline for half of the first week matchups, etc., or recognize that everyone sees it for what it is anyway and pretending otherwise is a farce.

2) Do what they do for conference tournaments and for football: decide on a set of rules before the season starts, and play the season with the understanding that the tournament bracket will be filled in according to those rules. Weight it 5% AP poll, 20% Sagarin ratings, 20% KenPom, 30% RPI, etc.; skew it however you want based on strength of OOC schedule, overall conference strength, greater weight to the last 10 games of the season or whatever. Just set some rules and apply them evenly instead of letting these jokers on the committee get all giddy about setting up Texas vs. Texas A&M, Kentucky vs. Indiana, etc. each year with bogus seeding, and pretending, stupidly, like anyone thinks it's based on how teams played.

Heck, I'd even be for #2, with a subsequent 12 hour period in which any two teams can, by agreement, trade their spots in the bracket if they wish. That way, if the schools wanted A&M vs. UT, IU vs. UK or whatever, and thought it was best for the schools or players or fans, they could make it happen. But don't leave it up to this lame committee.

[85 Fly]

Jeff Drummond ‏@JDrumUK 12s12 seconds ago Calipari: They did not want us in Louisville. That's why they stuck us with a 4 seed.

I won't be surprised for this reason when I watch the game Thursday I'm still going to see a sea of blue! I think we have the best traveling fans, folks hate on us!

[Katmendo]

For the record, and WAY in advance, I want to, again, state that I never want to play Indiana.

It's a "something for them, nothing for us" game, that we can only lose. Even if we win, it's "they were supposed to", and if we lose, it's the upset of the milllenium.

I am glad we don't play them, and I hope to live 99 years and never think we gave them the esteem of getting on the court with them.

I would rather lose to Stony Brook, than step on the floor with IU.

I won't feel differently if we win, and won't if they win.

[85 Fly]

WCN fam I need your help- I see on the schedule we play at 6:40 (ET) on Thurs and channel states ESPN/SEC Network. I'm scrolling through my channels to set up the game to tape (it would come on approx. 3:30 PST time and I'm still at work) but I can't find it! I checked all my ESPN channels (including ESPNU) and the SEC network, nothing. I have cable (Xfinity) which is probably similar to Cox for those of you who have cable I can't find it? Are y'all finding it? Maybe information has not been updated and I'll see it later on this week...

[lilproUK98]

Really it isn't a matter of being a good team or not. We're both good. It's just a bad match-up.

But in all honesty that's not the part that bothers me about our draw. Chances are we would've had to play them, or somebody just as good, in the regional final anyway. I think Kansas is a better team right now. I think Michigan State is better. To get to the Final Four you're going to have to play good teams. Personnel-wise they're a tough draw for us, but they're not the best team in the field.

So my problem isn't really with that, or that we got the 4, it's that Texas A&M's going to be out there in the West getting such an easier path to Houston. Galls me.

Exact same with me. I wanted that 3 in the West soooooo bad as I saw that bracket unfolding. Grrrrr

[Old School]

With as bad and crazy as the BCS computer system has been, I wouldn't be opposed to having a computer do the bracket. Just enter in the stats of SOS, RPI, vs top 50, etc etc and let the computer put them wherever.

If you use the Sagarin ratings as a proxy for a stat-based bracket, this is what you might get this year:

1 Kansas
16 Holy Cross
8 Wisconsin
9 Florida
5 Maryland
12 UNC Wilmington
4 Texas A&M
13 Stony Brook
6 Utah
11 Hawaii vs. Yale
3 Purdue
14 Buffalo
7 UConn
10 St. Joseph's
2 Kentucky
15 Weber State

1 Michigan State
16 Fairleigh Dickinson
8 Cincinnati
9 Syracuse
5 Iowa State
12 South Dakota State
4 Duke
13 Iona
6 Wichita State
11 Dayton vs. Stephen F. Austin
3 Indiana
14 Green Bay
7 Cal
10 Notre Dame
2 Oklahoma
15 UNC Asheville

1 North Carolina
16 Southern
8 St. Mary's
9 VCU
5 Iowa
12 Northern Iowa
4 Oregon
13 Fresno State
6 Baylor
11 Florida State vs. Texas Tech
3 Arizona
14 Middle Tennessee
7 Seton Hall
10 Pittsburgh
2 West Virginia
15 Florida Gulf Coast

1 Virginia
16 Hampton
8 Texas
9 Michigan
5 Gonzaga
12 Arkansas Little Rock
4 Xavier
13 Chattanooga
6 Vanderbilt
11 Southern Cal vs. Providence
3 Miami FL
14 Cal State Bakersfield
7 Butler
10 BYU
2 Villanova
15 Austin Peay

That, to me, looks just as enjoyable as what the committee put together. Probably moreso, since there are so many random matchups. And, a set up like this would make the later rounds more interesting, I think.

You still get in some dubious teams (Florida, Florida State, Texas Tech, BYU) but that last handful of at large bids is always going to include teams who have arguments going both ways. Better to do the seeding and bids by a pre-determined, set, objective criteria than with the completely subjective, revenue-based committee model.

I'd love to see something similar based on RPI or something like that. I'd love even more to see how a bracket would automatically be seeded by some composite formula using RPI, Sagarin and maybe a few others.

[tamme11]

With as bad and crazy as the BCS computer system has been, I wouldn't be opposed to having a computer do the bracket. Just enter in the stats of SOS, RPI, vs top 50, etc etc and let the computer put them wherever.

Its real simple all they have to do is let the odds makers in Las Vegas seed the teams.

[capcat]

WCN fam I need your help- I see on the schedule we play at 6:40 (ET) on Thurs and channel states ESPN/SEC Network. I'm scrolling through my channels to set up the game to tape (it would come on approx. 3:30 PST time and I'm still at work) but I can't find it! I checked all my ESPN channels (including ESPNU) and the SEC network, nothing. I have cable (Xfinity) which is probably similar to Cox for those of you who have cable I can't find it? Are y'all finding it? Maybe information has not been updated and I'll see it later on this week...

Hope this helps:

http://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Where-to-watch-this-weeks-NCAA-Tournament-games-371935742.html?device=phone&c=y

[Matt Dillon]

WCN fam I need your help- I see on the schedule we play at 6:40 (ET) on Thurs and channel states ESPN/SEC Network. I'm scrolling through my channels to set up the game to tape (it would come on approx. 3:30 PST time and I'm still at work) but I can't find it! I checked all my ESPN channels (including ESPNU) and the SEC network, nothing. I have cable (Xfinity) which is probably similar to Cox for those of you who have cable I can't find it? Are y'all finding it? Maybe information has not been updated and I'll see it later on this week...

I don't have cable. I have DIRECTV. For me, the ESPN channels are in the low 200's (206, 207 etc.). The SEC channel is 612 for me. I don't know if this helps, or not.

[Joneslab]

I would rather lose to Stony Brook, than step on the floor with IU.

What in God's name are you talking about?

In the pantheon of awful takes, this has to be the worst.

[Joneslab]

WCN fam I need your help- I see on the schedule we play at 6:40 (ET) on Thurs and channel states ESPN/SEC Network. I'm scrolling through my channels to set up the game to tape (it would come on approx. 3:30 PST time and I'm still at work) but I can't find it! I checked all my ESPN channels (including ESPNU) and the SEC network, nothing. I have cable (Xfinity) which is probably similar to Cox for those of you who have cable I can't find it? Are y'all finding it? Maybe information has not been updated and I'll see it later on this week...

NCAA Tournament is never on ESPN. You're probably going to want to look at TBS. We play at 9:40 Eastern, not 6:40.

[George]

NCAA Tournament is never on ESPN. You're probably going to want to look at TBS. We play at 9:40 Eastern, not 6:40.

85fly is out west, I think.