[Paint Touches] WAY Too Early Bracketology

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://painttouches.com/2017/08/16/way-too-early-bracketology-summer-2017/

It's mostly guesswork (educated guesswork) but what the hell else do we have going on during the summer? Would love thoughts and opinions.

[wadesworld]

I see Arizona, Duke, and Michigan State as 1 seeds.  The 4th is very up in the air.  I might go Nova but I'm not sold on them as a very first tier team.  Dark horse would be Florida.

I think you're too low on Seton Hall, North Carolina, Gonzaga (mainly because they'll lose at most 1 conference game and get 30 wins so they'll get a top 4 seed) and Kentucky and too high on Xavier, TCU, and Providence.  I know people love USC but I'm not a believer at all.  They'll be good, but I don't see them as a top 3 seed personally.

[MomofMUltiples]

I'm not convinced everyone is correct in counting Wisconsin out this year. They always seem to find a way in.  I'm predicting them to have no lower than a 10 seed.

[wadesworld]

I'm not convinced everyone is correct in counting Wisconsin out this year. They always seem to find a way in.  I'm predicting them to have no lower than a 10 seed.

+1.  I didn't even realize that.  They'll be a 6 seed or higher.  They always are.

[Badgerhater]

With all the bad teams in the Big Everybody, all they have to do is be better than average and not have horrible losses.

[We R Final Four]

I'm not convinced everyone is correct in counting Wisconsin out this year. They always seem to find a way in.  I'm predicting them to have no lower than a 10 seed.

+1. They seem to reload year after year.

[PaintTouches]

Did y'all not read the article? Ryan specifically noted the UW exception.

"Wisconsin on paper should not be a tournament team next season after losing four starters. But I can’t disagree with Joe that they will end up making it."

[bilsu]

I guess we will see how valuable a coach is. My prediction is Butler losing their coach will result in them not getting a bid. I am not impressed with their new hire.

[PGsHeroes32]

+1.  I didn't even realize that.  They'll be a 6 seed or higher.  They always are.

Haven't been either of the last two years

[wadesworld]

Haven't been either of the last two years

Fair point.  I should've said they always finish in the top 4 of the B1G and that will always land them in the NCAA Tournament and almost always land them with a top 6 seed.

[PGsHeroes32]

Fair point.  I should've said they always finish in the top 4 of the B1G and that will always land them in the NCAA Tournament and almost always land them with a top 6 seed.

Yup that's true

And I do agree that they will get it

Do think that this is the year they don't finish top 4 though.

[GB Warrior]

You added an extra "1" to our seed.

[brewcity77]

+1.  I didn't even realize that.  They'll be a 6 seed or higher.  They always are.

They have literally never been a 6 or higher under Gard. Selection Sunday was like 5 months ago and they were an 8-seed.

[wadesworld]

They have literally never been a 6 or higher under Gard. Selection Sunday was like 5 months ago and they were an 8-seed.

Thanks.  Already addressed.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not convinced everyone is correct in counting Wisconsin out this year. They always seem to find a way in.  I'm predicting them to have no lower than a 10 seed.

+1.  I didn't even realize that.  They'll be a 6 seed or higher.  They always are.

+1. They seem to reload year after year.

Can't disagree with any of you. In fact, in the article I talked about how I thought Wisconsin was going to be in the tournament. But for the purposes of this article, I really focused on how the teams looked on paper. I didn't include any unwritten rules like "Wisconsin always makes the tournament" or "Kansas always wins the Big 12" (though I do have Kansas winning the Big 12 anyway).

I will push back a little though and say that we don't know that the "Wisconsin always makes the tournament" will apply to Gard. His first season he turned around a struggling squad midseason, but in the end they finished about where most had them in the preseason polls. In his second season, I would say the Badgers got a much lower seed than most expected at the beginning of the season. Gard has yet to prove that he has the same magic that Bo had where he could redshirt a no name three star only to have them come back as a stud the following year. I think they will unfortunately be fine but I'm waiting to pass judgement.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I see Arizona, Duke, and Michigan State as 1 seeds.  The 4th is very up in the air.  I might go Nova but I'm not sold on them as a very first tier team.  Dark horse would be Florida.

I think you're too low on Seton Hall, North Carolina, Gonzaga (mainly because they'll lose at most 1 conference game and get 30 wins so they'll get a top 4 seed) and Kentucky and too high on Xavier, TCU, and Providence.  I know people love USC but I'm not a believer at all.  They'll be good, but I don't see them as a top 3 seed personally.

If it matters, Duke and Michigan State are my top two seeds, so we're not far off on those two. North Carolina might have three seed talent but I'm concerned about their inside presence. Anyone with size from last year's team is gowne and the bigs they bring in are of the "three stars who need some seasoning" variety.

Gonzaga is a tough one to place. Your right about them racking up a lot of wins in the WCC, outside of St. Mary's there are no teams remotely close to tournament worthy. But I based this on who the actual best teams were, rather than trying to guess at who's favorable schedule could get them a higher or lower seed. Gonzaga is a team with 7 seed level talent IMHO but could defintely seem them getting a higher seed simply because no one outside of St. Mary's can beat them. They haven't released their non-conference schedule yet, will be interesting to see how they handle it.

I love the look of USC. NCAA team that returns everyone, adds a former 5 star transfer from Duke, and a top 50 freshman? Yes please.

[muwarrior69]

MU/Wisconsin in the championship game. Hauser and Howard go H-bomb crazy sinking 15 3s each with Rowsey sinking 20 3s. Held has a triple double while Haani has 16 steals. We coast to NC.

I'm nursing a cold Guiness poolside in my back yard having a nice summer day dream.

[Herman Cain]

If Gabe Levin returns from his injury, Long Beach State may make some noise in the Big West.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Dont sleep on St. Johns

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If Gabe Levin returns from his injury, Long Beach State may make some noise in the Big West.

I love me some Gabe Levin but Long Beach State lost all 5 of last year's starters to transfer/graduation. That's a helluva lot to replace.

[hdog1017]

I see Marquette as more of a 12 seed and not an 11. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I see Marquette as more of a 12 seed and not an 11.

What mid major conference do you see having a team good enough to deserve higher than a 12 seed besides the A10 and WCC? With the fall of the Missouri Valley and Mountain West, at large bids should all end up as 11 seeds or lower.

[dgies9156]

A couple of thoughts:

1) Not sure how but the Red Rodent will be there. Just is the way it is. Would love to make the NCAAs and watch the rodent at the NIT but it will not happen.

2) Too much uncertainty right now. Nonetheless, if the predictions bear out and 70 percent of the Big East goes to the tournament, that's saying something about our competition. Are you listening Hillbilly?

3) I see the world through Blue and Gold glasses. I'm cautiously optimistic about this team. The Michigan Trio needs to distinguish itself and Hanni needs to return to freshman form. I think our upside is a 6 seed and our downside is an NIT game at the Al. We have more upside than downside at this juncture, but we shall see.

[Herman Cain]

I see us somewhere between 3rd and 5th in the Big East. Villanova and Seton Hall will be the front runners. We have the capability of being  among the best of the rest.  That kind of performance should get us in the tournament provided we hold our own in the  non conference .

MU, with our proven 3 point capability,  is going to be the kind of team no one wants to face .

I am really looking forward to the season.

[brewcity77]

I see us somewhere between 3rd and 5th in the Big East. Villanova and Seton Hall will be the front runners.

Providence could win the league. They return everyone from last year's team that won their last 6 in Big East play. Will likely start 4 seniors while also adding top-50 recruit Makai Ashton-Langford.