Bracketology Thread 2023

[TheButlerDidIt]

Bracket Matrix looks to be currently updating. MU is obviously now ahead of Virginia with more current updates.

[swoopem]

What's the Scooper take on the best #2 seed for now?  Zona?

I’ve been saying for a month or so that Arizona and Uconn are the only two teams that scare me. I’d love to avoid them

[JakeBarnes]

USA Today has us as a 2 in Des Moines playing Vermont. Possible secret scrimmage rematch or an ice cream social facing either Mizzou or the fighting Joey Hausers

[BM1090]

I’ve been saying for a month or so that Arizona and Uconn are the only two teams that scare me. I’d love to avoid them

Houston should too.

[Uncle Rico]

USA Today has us as a 2 in Des Moines playing Vermont. Possible secret scrimmage rematch or an ice cream social facing either Mizzou or the fighting Joey Hausers

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨SCOOP MELTDOWN🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

[Dr. Blackheart]

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨SCOOP MELTDOWN🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

Tripping contest between Pal Joey and OMax?

[GB Warrior]

The Athletic has us with a 2nd round match up against Northwestern, and a potential S16 match up with Texas or Texas A&M. Lotta popcorn there

[mileskishnish72]

USA Today has us as a 2 in Des Moines playing Vermont. Possible secret scrimmage rematch or an ice cream social facing either Mizzou or the fighting Joey Hausers

Wouldn't it be sweet to stick it...ah, you know the rest.

[lawdog77]

Wouldn't it be sweet to stick it...ah, you know the rest.

Can Chase Ross's ballsac  play the role of Ja Morant to Joey's mug

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

USA Today has us as a 2 in Des Moines playing Vermont. Possible secret scrimmage rematch or an ice cream social facing either Mizzou or the fighting Joey Hausers

Then I could cheer against daughter number 2's university.

[brewcity77]

What's the Scooper take on the best #2 seed for now?  Zona?

Arizona or Texas. I lean the Longhorns because they don't lose to non-tourney teams. The most suspect 2 I think is UCLA. Metrically great, but no real impressive wins.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Looks like most brackets have been updated on Bracket Matrix.

All but Torvik and one other have Marquette as a 3 seed. T-Rank still has them as a 4

[MuggsyB]

Looks like most brackets have been updated on Bracket Matrix.

All but Torvik and one other have Marquette as a 3 seed. T-Rank still has them as a 4

Who is Torvik?  We're without question a #3 seed with the potential to snag a #2. 

[cheebs09]

Who is Torvik?  We're without question a #3 seed with the potential to snag a #2.

Badger alum so the algorithm is skewed against MU.

In all seriousness, I think his is purely data driven. Maybe by comparing similar resumes to past teams.

I just checked the site and it also states it is a projection of actual Selection Sunday, and isn’t just a “if the season ended today” type of projection. So, there’s projections based on future games.

[bradforster]

Houston should too.

I now live in Houston and took my employees to the game against Tulane on Wednesday.  Seeing the Cougars in person provided plenty of evidence supporting their Vegas favoritism for the tournament

Marcus Sasser and Jamal Shead form one the best backcourt combos in the country.  They are seasoned players who’ve tasted post-season success. The rebounding display from this team was beyond impressive, and the coaching factor also can’t be understated.  Kelvin Sampson lost four starters from the ‘21/‘22 Final Four team and still made a run to the Elite Eight a year ago.

Watching Houston vanquish a fairly good Tulane squad on Wednesday night was quite an experience.  The KenPom numbers match what I witnessed in person - an unrelenting team on both ends of the floor.   I think Vegas has it right.  The Cougars are a good bet to make the FF in their hometown.  I don’t want to be in Houston’s region come Selection Sunday.

[1SE]

Looks like most brackets have been updated on Bracket Matrix.

All but Torvik and one other have Marquette as a 3 seed. T-Rank still has them as a 4

I agree we need some help for a 2 - but some of the help is structural - 3 of the 4 B12 teams are gauranteed to lose one more time and there are a total of 2 gauranteed losses left for UCLA and AZ - I think if we win the BET and neither AZ nor KSU win out we pass them both - I just don't see how the committee keeps a team that has won 9 straight, 14/15 - BE regular season title by 2 games and BET title - which will have included 2 more wins against likely 5ish seeds below the 4th place SEC team or 2nd place Pac 12 team.
 

[HowardsWorld]

One thing that isn't really talked about much that should be is how well the lower seeds have faired in the NCAA Tournament. It was almost guaranteed that if you were a 1,2 or 3 seed that you would be playing in the 2nd round. The highlight reels prove that because they still have the Hampton over Iowa state 15 upsetting a 2. Losses by 2 seeds to 15 just didn't happen. Its almost becoming the normal that a 2 or 3 gets bounced in the first round. With that said because there is more parity and even more so now with the NIL for smaller schools these upsets will occur more often in my opinion.

This leads me to my point that no matter what seed we end up getting 2 or 3 the 2nd round game is by no way a gimmy. No one here has said that but if you are playing in the 2nd round its because you are a good team capable of moving on. Look at Kentucky last year losing to 15 seed St. Peters. Every team needs to bring there A game even for the opening round of they will be going home fast. This is what makes the tournament the best sporting event of the year.

[HowardsWorld]

I agree we need some help for a 2 - but some of the help is structural - 3 of the 4 B12 teams are gauranteed to lose one more time and there are a total of 2 gauranteed losses left for UCLA and AZ - I think if we win the BET and neither AZ nor KSU win out we pass them both - I just don't see how the committee keeps a team that has won 9 straight, 14/15 - BE regular season title by 2 games and BET title - which will have included 2 more wins against likely 5ish seeds below the 4th place SEC team or 2nd place Pac 12 team.

I've had this argument with a few members here. I believe in this logic as well which is why for the last month I have been saying this is a 2 seed team. Everytime time I brough up this argument, I was countered with Net ranking, Q1 wins, resume Etc... And I get all that,  but at the end of the day Marquette won the 2nd best conference by what could be 2 games, and most likely 25-6 before the conference tournament. If they go on to be 28-6 on most years thats a resume of a 1 seed. I get that Texas and Baylor have more quad 1 wins, but at the end of the day they didnt win there conference and Baylor has lost at minimum 3 more games n than Marquette including getting blasted by them by 30. That needs to factor in at some part for a tiebreaker if its close.


Also, to be completely honest im not sold on the Big12 being the best. ESPN will tell you they are and they beat the crap out of each other to boost there resumes but the last time this happened with the B12 if I remember correctly they had to 3 seeds upset in the first round with Baylor and Iowa st. Would not surprise me in the least to see that happen again.

[MuggsyB]

I agree we need some help for a 2 - but some of the help is structural - 3 of the 4 B12 teams are gauranteed to lose one more time and there are a total of 2 gauranteed losses left for UCLA and AZ - I think if we win the BET and neither AZ nor KSU win out we pass them both - I just don't see how the committee keeps a team that has won 9 straight, 14/15 - BE regular season title by 2 games and BET title - which will have included 2 more wins against likely 5ish seeds below the 4th place SEC team or 2nd place Pac 12 team.

Agreed and well said. 

[rgoode57]

No matter which team you play in the second round, you better bring your A game.  The predicted brackets are filled with teams that will be a real challenge for MU. I have watched a lot of b'ball this year and am convinced that Houston is the most likely team to win it all but there is no absolute lock to win it. Kansas has its flaws as do Purdue and virtually everyone else, but there a lot of very good teams out there. I am not sure how the BE compares to other conferences this year, but I have seen enough Big 12 games this year to know that it is better this year than the BE and probably the strongest conference in the country. I am not at all sure that a team like Providence would fare very well in the Big 12. The Big 12 probably has 3 or 4 teams who could win the BE conference, but I am not sure the BE has any who could win the Big 12. So, in the second round, I prefer to see MU avoid Big 12 teams, though that may not be possible.

[PGsHeroes32]

Palm has us as a 2 seed right now.

Unfortunately hes also one of the bigger idiots at this, so its meaningless.

[MuggsyB]

No matter which team you play in the second round, you better bring your A game.  The predicted brackets are filled with teams that will be a real challenge for MU. I have watched a lot of b'ball this year and am convinced that Houston is the most likely team to win it all but there is no absolute lock to win it. Kansas has its flaws as do Purdue and virtually everyone else, but there a lot of very good teams out there. I am not sure how the BE compares to other conferences this year, but I have seen enough Big 12 games this year to know that it is better this year than the BE and probably the strongest conference in the country. I am not at all sure that a team like Providence would fare very well in the Big 12. The Big 12 probably has 3 or 4 teams who could win the BE conference, but I am not sure the BE has any who could win the Big 12. So, in the second round, I prefer to see MU avoid Big 12 teams, though that may not be possible.

I hear what you're saying regarding the B12 but I'm gonna disagree about avoiding them based on the fact that the two most likely 2nd round opponents would be Iowa St. and TCU.  I've watched these two teams pretty closely, they're inconsistent.   I would take Iowa St. in the Rd of 32 just as I would any of the likely 6 seeds if we're a 3.  Frankly, there isn't a single team I'm deeply concerned about as a match-up problem for MU with the exception of Houston. 

[MuggsyB]

Palm has us as a 2 seed right now.

Unfortunately hes also one of the bigger idiots at this, so its meaningless.

Ya....that essentially means 0.0. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

Palm has us as a 2 seed right now.

Unfortunately hes also one of the bigger idiots at this, so its meaningless.

Did Cheeks have lunch with him?

[brewcity77]

I jumped on the Delphi Bracketology podcast tonight with Brian Tonsoni from Delphi and Kerry Miller from Bleacher Report. Talked resumes, teams that confound us, and the bubble.

https://twitter.com/delphibrackets/status/1630383662083584001?s=46&t=i8jd5icqD4ER_Owf-vsv7g