Forecast RPI has MU #8 seed vs. UCLA then Kansas

[bamamarquettefan]

http://www.rpiforecast.com/bracket.html

While forecast rpi doesn't actually list matchups, they have us as the 2nd best #8 seed, so based on the s-curve they'd try to put us against UCLA (3rd best #9 seed) and then Kansas (3rd best #1 seed).

I cringe when I see UCLA here or even Utah State from Lunardi, I cringe knowing that as the western most school in the Big East we are probably going to be sent out west most years, where we will be focus for charges of "Big East bias".  And I believe the refs call a different games than the mailings our guys adjust to the last two months of every season.

With home court being worth four points, you've got to think that these semi-away settings have been worth a couple of points in each of the last four years against Stanford, Washington, Utah State and even Missouri (I know they are just west of us, but a western crowd will always go with a Big 12 team over a Big East team I believe.  Seeing that all those were either OT or 1 or 2 point games, those are crucial points.

The one game we've played during these three western trips from the east was Kentucky, which we handled very easily in a neutral settting.  Not saying that was the whole game, since KY was borderline that year, but sure don't want to see western schools and a western site when the brackets come out - assuming of course we don't fall badly and miss it.

[jsglow]

Interesting analysis about why we get sent west.  Makes sense to me.

[Canadian Dimes]

easily handled Kentucky?  ... I must have watched a different game!

[muguru]

But, I believe this year MU will HAVE to be in the Midwest. Why?? Because there is a rule, that a team will not be placed out of it's natural region more then three times in 5 years or something like that. So if I am remembering correctly, MU HAS to be placed in the Midwest this year should they make the tourney.

[brewcity77]

If we were to get Chicago, I'd take pretty much any matchups they'd give us. Even if we were an 8/9 seed, I think we'd have decent odds against a Kansas, Texas, or Ohio State type team with the likelihood that we could turn the UC into our home away from home. If we got Chicago, I'm pretty sure I'd find a way to get tickets and stay down there.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

But, I believe this year MU will HAVE to be in the Midwest. Why?? Because there is a rule, that a team will not be placed out of it's natural region more then three times in 5 years or something like that. So if I am remembering correctly, MU HAS to be placed in the Midwest this year should they make the tourney.

I've never heard that, but even if it's true, the first and second rounds aren't placed by region any more.

[ChicosBailBonds]

But, I believe this year MU will HAVE to be in the Midwest. Why?? Because there is a rule, that a team will not be placed out of it's natural region more then three times in 5 years or something like that. So if I am remembering correctly, MU HAS to be placed in the Midwest this year should they make the tourney.

Really?  Never heard of that rule

[marquette99]

Muguru - if there is a rule along those lines, that is great.  They couldn't use it often though, as we are only one of 11 teams to make it the past 5 years.

[dsfire]

I'd never heard of the rule either, but this appears to be the relevant text from the 2009 Principles and Procedures for Establishing the Bracket (pdf):

Additional Considerations
1. If possible, rematches of regular-season games should be avoided in the first and second rounds.
2. If possible, rematches of previous years' tournament games should be avoided in the first and second rounds.
3. If possible, after examining the previous five years' brackets, teams or conferences will not be moved out of its natural region or geographic area an inordinate number of times.

[downtown85]

I'd never heard of the rule either, but this appears to be the relevant text from the 2009 Principles and Procedures for Establishing the Bracket (pdf):

Good Find!

[RawdogDX]

"I cringe when I see UCLA here or even Utah State from Lunardi"

What 8-10 seeds aren't making you cringe?  Just because those teams are out west, or is there something more to that?

[brewcity77]

I'd never heard of the rule either, but this appears to be the relevant text from the 2009 Principles and Procedures for Establishing the Bracket (pdf):

Nice! So that means our most likely locations this time around would probably be Chicago, Cleveland, and Tulsa. Don't think I'd drive to Cleveland or Tulsa, but I'd gladly hop a train down to Chicago for a few days.

[StillAWarrior]

Nice! So that means our most likely locations this time around would probably be Chicago, Cleveland, and Tulsa. Don't think I'd drive to Cleveland or Tulsa, but I'd gladly hop a train down to Chicago for a few days.

Crossing fingers...Cleveland, please let it be Cleveland...

[Marquette84]

If we were to get Chicago, I'd take pretty much any matchups they'd give us. Even if we were an 8/9 seed, I think we'd have decent odds against a Kansas, Texas, or Ohio State type team with the likelihood that we could turn the UC into our home away from home. If we got Chicago, I'm pretty sure I'd find a way to get tickets and stay down there.

I think you underestimate how many Kansas fans are in Chicago.  When KU came to play at DePaul in the 2006-07 season, attendance was 16,922.  Marquette at DePaul that same year drew 14,503.  DePaul's season average was 8739.

At best, we might be able to make it a true neutral court--but don't count on KU fans not showing up because Chicago is too far for them.

[DoggyDaddy]

Which makes Cleveland promising esp. for the many NYC and DC area alums who live out here, like me. Cleveland is about a 6-or 7 hour drive for us and not much more from MKE/Chicago. I've driven both ways often. Tulsa might as well be in Utah. 
Chicago could/should be a second home for the Warrior nation.         

[Eye]

Further clarification from Palm

Other principles that exist, but may be set aside to maintain the hard and fast ones:

Teams will stay as close to their natural regions as possible.
Regular season rematches and rematches of last year's tournament games will be avoided for the first two rounds. Note that this is almost impossible to accomplish.
If necessary, a team can be moved up or down no more than one position from its true seed to help fulfill the bracketing requirements (which I think happened to MU in 06-07 against MSU)
The committee also checks the previous five brackets in an effort to ensure that teams are not moved from their natural region an inordinate number of times.