Senser Bracketology: Region-by-Region

[Senser81]

Midwest: Louisville is the #1 overall seed, so the selection committee puts them in the toughest region. I think St. Louis will make some noise, but I don't know if they can get past Louisville. I want to pick against Duke, but they won't face an athletic team until the 3rd round. I have Michigan State coming out of this region, just because they always play their best in the NCAAs whereas Pitino's teams have struggled as of late.

West: Kind of a weird region, with several teams having the potential to win it despite having flaws. Wisconsin could conceivably make the regional finals, which is sad. I have Witchita State in a "no brainer" over Pitt in the 1st round, but then I also have them beating an overrated Gonzaga in round 2. I think the winner of the KSU/Wisc game will face Ohio State in the regional finals, with Ohio State winning. Notre Dame is the only team in the bottom part of the bracket who could beat OSU. I have Belmont over Arizona, because Arizona's coach is an idiot.

South: Wow...was the selection committee made up of Kansas alums? They basically get a bye to the Final Four...I want to pick against Bill Selfish but I just can't. Maybe they'll lose to VCU? This region alone has four of the most overrated teams in the field: Michigan, Georgetown, Florida, and UCLA. Its nice that UNC faces Villanova in round 1, because one of them has to lose. I have pretty much chalk, with VCU beating UM.

East: Another terrible region. Indiana and Syracuse as a 1/4 matchup? I have Miami winning the region, with numerous upsets...Indiana losing to NC State, Syracuse losing to UNLV, Illinois losing to Colorado. I want to pick Davidson, but I can't.

 

[FirstTimer]

Marquette as a 3 seed cracks me up. Count me in as one overrating Michigan but I think they are deserving of a 2 or a 3 seed. Illinois is a grossly overrated 7 seed. I just don't understand the committee anymore.

 

[Senser81]

Marquette as a 3 seed cracks me up. Count me in as one overrating Michigan but I think they are deserving of a 2 or a 3 seed. Illinois is a grossly overrated 7 seed. I just don't understand the committee anymore.

Yeah, Michigan went from possible #1 overall seed to a #4 seed (and getting a terrible 2nd round matchup) because they lost to Indiana (#1 seed) and then lost to Wisconsin in the Big10 Tournament. Kind of a steep drop. Kansas recently lost by 30 to a bad Baylor team, and they get a #1 seed in the easiest region.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Completely disagree, I think the Midwest bracket is a joke. As it was being revealed, I was hoping Georgetown would be the #2 or #3 seed because I think it's super easy and full of teams I don't respect, like Memphis.

And again, we disagree, because I think the South is by far the strongest region. It's a mine field. However, I don't get the VCU love from you and seemingly every expert. I don't see them getting very far.

The East region is a dumpster fire. I think Indiana is the best team, and I like Miami, but there is nothing else there. And Miami is feast or famine.

 

[Senser81]

And again, we disagree, because I think the South is by far the strongest region. It's a mine field.

South teams seeded #1-#11 that won their conference tournament...Kansas!

Teams like Michigan, UCLA, Florida, and G-Town aren't exactly "peaking at the right time".

 

[FirstTimer]

Completely disagree, I think the Midwest bracket is a joke. As it was being revealed, I was hoping Georgetown would be the #2 or #3 seed because I think it's super easy and full of teams I don't respect, like Memphis.

And again, we disagree, because I think the South is by far the strongest region. It's a mine field. However, I don't get the VCU love from you and seemingly every expert. I don't see them getting very far.

The East region is a dumpster fire. I think Indiana is the best team, and I like Miami, but there is nothing else there. And Miami is feast or famine.

Agree a bit on the east. Miami vs Illinois in the 2ND round could be 35_30 or 90_85. A very marginal Illinois team has a pretty decent shot at a sweet 16 birth.

 

[Senser81]

Agree a bit on the east. Miami vs Illinois in the 2ND round could be 35_30 or 90_85. A very marginal Illinois team has a pretty decent shot at a sweet 16 birth.

I would guess Miami vs. Illinois would be 90_30.

 

[FirstTimer]

I would guess Miami vs. Illinois would be 90_30.

True.
Miami should dominate inside. But Illinois is a Brandon Paul hot shooting game away from winning or a bad shooting game away from losing by 60.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Overall, this is the best job the committee has done that I can remember. I'm glad they didn't punish Middle Tennessee State for tripping up in their league tournament by taking shitty BCS teams like Alabama or Tennessee instead. The tournament isn't about middling large conference teams with 12 losses, it gets all of its flavor in the early rounds from schools like Middle Tennessee. Besides, we've seen more strong mid majors make runs in recent years than mediocre BCS league bubble teams anyway.

I didn't have a single gripe with the bubble team selections this year. Not one. I thought they nailed it.

There are some wacky seedings, though. Oregon a 12, while UCLA is a 6? Didn't Oregon sweep UCLA, including a decisive win two days ago in the tournament final? I don't think Oregon is very good, but I think they should have been seeded ahead of UCLA. Maybe 7 or 8 for Oregon, and 8 or 9 for UCLA.

Bucknell an 11 seed? They lost to Penn St. 17-0 vs. 200 RPI or higher. Best wins are last team in LaSalle, & New Mexico St.

Let me get this straight....UNLV (5) played Cal (12) already this year, but they get matched with them again in round one, in Cal's backyard in San Jose. What?

But aside from a few minor seeding gripes and the East region dumpster fire, it's hard to find a ton of complaints.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'll probably change my mind, but as of right now, I have Michigan St, Ohio St, Indiana, and Florida.

I almost took Michigan instead of Florida for the Big 10 sweep, but really I could see Kansas or Georgetown or even one of the lower seeds come out of this too. Michgan could win the entire tournament, or get knocked off by South Dakota St. Like Miami, they are feast or famine.

I think Indiana is the best team in the country. They should win the entire tournament, but probably won't based on how crazy things have been this season.

Michigan St because I think the region is weak. I have no respect for Memphis, Oklahoma St, Colorado St, and even the higher seeds like Louisville & Duke are ripe to be picked off. I like St Louis, but they are overrated too as everybody's darling.

I don't think Ohio St is a great team, but look at that draw. I mean, they have NOTHING in their way.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

South teams seeded #1-#11 that won their conference tournament...Kansas!

Teams like Michigan, UCLA, Florida, and G-Town aren't exactly "peaking at the right time".

Florida & Michigan for sure, but Georgetown has won 13 out of 15, 8 of 10. One of the loses was in OT. UCLA went to their league final and won something like 8 of 10 down the stretch.

The more I look at the East, the more I hate it. And the West is full of ugly teams that I don't want to watch play.

 

[ralaw]

I'll probably change my mind, but as of right now, I have Michigan St, Ohio St, Indiana, and Florida.

I almost took Michigan instead of Florida for the Big 10 sweep, but really I could see Kansas or Georgetown or even one of the lower seeds come out of this too. Michgan could win the entire tournament, or get knocked off by South Dakota St. Like Miami, they are feast or famine.

I think Indiana is the best team in the country. They should win the entire tournament, but probably won't based on how crazy things have been this season.

Michigan St because I think the region is weak. I have no respect for Memphis, Oklahoma St, Colorado St, and even the higher seeds like Louisville & Duke are ripe to be picked off. I like St Louis, but they are overrated too as everybody's darling.

I don't think Ohio St is a great team, but look at that draw. I mean, they have NOTHING in their way.

Thought on Louisville? ALOT of people are picking them, but lately Patino teams have been a let down in the tournament. I really don't trust any team in this tournament, so it really is just picking people to pick them. My final 4 are Duke, Wisconsin, Florida and Indiana with Duke winning it all. I am betting on Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry getting hot.

 

[FirstTimer]

Has there ever been a 1 seed with as bad a resume as Gonzaga?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Thought on Louisville?

#1 overall by default?

I haven't really been impressed with Louisville all year. Don't get me wrong, they are good, but if I was ranking the teams 1-68 i'm not sure i'd have them higher than 7 or 8. Siva stinks, and if you can break their press, you've got them beat because they can't score and are mediocre in their half court defense. Now, beating that press is easier said than done, but that's the formula.

My opinion may also be skewed a bit, because Georgetown tends to own them in recent years, largely because JTIII's teams are very good against the press.

With that said, their bracket IMO is cake (most disagree), and they may not be seriously challenged until they play Michigan St or Duke. But it wouldnt shock me at all if they lose in round two.

But really, isnt that the story with EVERY team this year?

 

[Senser81]

Has there ever been a 1 seed with as bad a resume as Gonzaga?

I think one of those Frank Williams/Robert Archibald Illinois teams got a #1 seed.

 

[Senser81]

I'll probably change my mind, but as of right now, I have Michigan St, Ohio St, Indiana, and Florida.

I think Indiana is the best team in the country. They should win the entire tournament, but probably won't based on how crazy things have been this season.

Michigan St because I think the region is weak. I have no respect for Memphis, Oklahoma St, Colorado St, and even the higher seeds like Louisville & Duke are ripe to be picked off. I like St Louis, but they are overrated too as everybody's darling.

I don't think Ohio St is a great team, but look at that draw. I mean, they have NOTHING in their way.

Agree with most of this. I have MSU and OSU in my Final Four, too, because they have good coaches and there isn't much else to choose from. I disagree on Indiana being the best team in the country...any team that loses to Illinois must have major flaws.

 

[Senser81]

Thought on Louisville? ALOT of people are picking them, but lately Patino teams have been a let down in the tournament. I really don't trust any team in this tournament, so it really is just picking people to pick them. My final 4 are Duke, Wisconsin, Florida and Indiana with Duke winning it all. I am betting on Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry getting hot.

Louisville is like Tim Raines. You spend 20 years watching Tim Raines...then when he's retired you are told that you had been watching a HOF player, you just didn't know it at the time. Much like being told now that Louisville was the best team in the nation this season...who knew?

 

[Vinsane]

I don't get the Buckeye love? This team has peaked at the B1G tournament. I'm not sure if I don't want to believe they're any good, for fear of another let down? Or, if I'm a realist that has sat in front of 20+ games all season and saw a team at times disappear for large stretches of the games?

 

[Cody]

What do you think of Wisconsin/KSU beating Gonzo?

 

[Senser81]

Or, if I'm a realist that has sat in front of 20+ games all season and saw a team at times disappear for large stretches of the games?

You just described every team in the NCAA tournament.