Seeding the Dominic James-less Marquette Warriors thread...

[NavinRJohnson]

We now have a couple of data points...

vs. UConn - anything in that game to indicate they shouldn't be seeded within 2 or 3 lines of the Huskies?

@UL - anything in that game to indicate they should not be seeded with a line or two of the C-A-R-D-S, Cards?

Much work to do, and plenty to be learned, but I would say they have made a decent accounting for themselves thus far.

[77ncaachamps]

You mean other than 0-2 without DJ?

[NavinRJohnson]

You mean other than 0-2 without DJ?

Against whom?

Would they have been expected to win those games with him? If they lose to Pitt, is it because they don't have James?

[gjreda]

Yea, to be honest, I think we are going to get effed either way.  I HIGHLY doubt that the committee actually watches any of the games.  They check statistics.  They see an L as an L.  My guess is if we lose to Pitt and beat 'Cuse we get a 6.

Why?  Because we get screwed every year.

We're probably going to drop to the 14-15 region in the polls too.  Should we?  Not at all.  We lost two games to teams that we were supposed to lose to.  We proved we can hang with the big boys, but a loss is still a loss.  Coupled with DJ going down, we're really going to get punished this week and in the seeding as well.

I'm optimistic about the skill of this team.  McNeal played poorly, but I was really happy with Mo's handles and ability to run the offense.  However, I'm very pessimistic about the knowledge of the committee and the actual "time and work" they put in.

[NavinRJohnson]

Why?  Because we get screwed every year.

That would imply they do more than just look at statistics though.

[TallTitan34]

Since we get crapped on every year, I guess a 7 seed on either the east or west coast.

With Dom I'd say we'd get crapped on to a 5 seed.

[77ncaachamps]

Against whom?

Would they have been expected to win those games with him? If they lose to Pitt, is it because they don't have James?

I can see the UConn game, but don't run on expectations for the UL game. Look at the end result. It was A LOT closer than some may have expected, heck, it was a WINNABLE game. So hang the L on a team that "lost" this UL game.

Would DJ have been a factor today? Sure. But could we have won today's game without him? Yes.

[Badgerhater]

With regard to seeding.....if MU gets a bye-bye, that will still carry huge weight with the seeding and winning a game or two in the BEAST tourney will also.  MU still has its destiny in its hands.   MU does those things I foresee a 4 seed.

[NavinRJohnson]

Would DJ have been a factor today? Sure. But could we have won today's game without him? Yes.

That's all fine and good, but the question is about seeding. Had we won, should we receive a better seed than UL? Using your logic, I assume the answer would be yes. I am simply asking if they have demonstrated they deserve to be within a line of two of UL? Do they really need to win that game in order to demonstrate that? Seem sto be what you are saying. UL deserves the higher seed - no argument here. How much higher is the question.

[gjreda]

I am simply asking if they have demonstrated they deserve to be within a line of two of UL?

I agree with what you mentioned in terms of seeding with respect to Louisville and UConn, I just don't actually see it happening in the end.

[77ncaachamps]

That's all fine and good, but the question is about seeding. Had we won, should we receive a better seed than UL? Using your logic, I assume the answer would be yes. I am simply asking if they have demonstrated they deserve to be within a line of two of UL? Do they really need to win that game in order to demonstrate that? Seem sto be what you are saying. UL deserves the higher seed - no argument here. How much higher is the question.

Correct. UL is NOT that good. UCONN is VERRRRRRY good.

As for the number of lines, I don't have a clue...I just want to get in and go as far as the tourney can go.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

Right now, without DJ, I would say we're a 4 seed based on what we've accomplished thru today.  

I look at it like this:  every loss from this point out will knock the team down a seed line, but wins will mitigate this impact..  So if you lose to both Pitt and 'Cuse, and get knocked out in the first round of the BET, that'd put you at a 7.  Every win, though, will preserve the seed line, and any win in NYC over a Pitt/UConn/Villanova/Louisville moves you up.  But on the same token, though, I can't see us moving past a 3, even with winning the BET.  

Taking out Pitt, and locking the double-bye up, will certainly help in terms of perception in the eyes of the selection committee in terms of getting us a 4/5 seed.  

[NavinRJohnson]

As for the number of lines, I don't have a clue...I just want to get in and go as far as the tourney can go.

Then why comment in a thread about seeding? Thanks for that non-contribution.

[Blackhat]

Personally I think we're a top 25-35 team without Dominic.   

Now worst case scenario we lose our last two and BE tourney game, I think we're looking at an 8 seed. 

[Badgerhater920]

Unfortunately, if we lose to Pitt, we don't have a win against a top 3 team in the conference and the Nova win is kind of overshadowed by the ugly loss there. I think that may hurt us, along with no marquee non-conf win.  I'm thinking we still have a shot at a 3 if we win the next two. Otherwise, a 5 or 6 wouldn't surprise me .

[DJO's Pump Fake]

At least spell his name right.....Dominic

[NavinRJohnson]

At least spell his name right.....Dominic

Good catch. Fixed.

[MUDPT]

You have to look at the teams behind us, or who we are competing against.

Wake Forest and Washington
Purdue- will probably lose at Michigan State next weekend, then will have to probably beat Illinois in the Big Ten tournament (already lost to them twice)
Arizona St.- lost at Washington State yesterday
Illinois- lost at home today to Michigan State and will probably play Purdue again
Xavier- won't have any wins as good as beating Syracuse or Villanova in the BET
Florida State- could upset somebody in the ACC tournament

Now the teams, that I fear are these:
Gonzaga- however they won't have any more good wins
UCLA- is the best team in the PAC 10, should win the tournament
LSU- the best team in the SEC, could win the tournament

West Virginia is also lurking, but I don't think they can pass us, unless they win the BET.  That was a 22 point thrashing at home.

[pbiflyer]

6, they always seed us one lower than I think, and I think we would get a 5.

[mug644]

Unfortunately, if we lose to Pitt, we don't have a win against a top 3 team in the conference and the Nova win is kind of overshadowed by the ugly loss there. I think that may hurt us, along with no marquee non-conf win.  I'm thinking we still have a shot at a 3 if we win the next two. Otherwise, a 5 or 6 wouldn't surprise me .

This is spot on, showing that in a very tough conference we've only had one slip up, against USF. Otherwise, we've been steady and solid, but haven't had any 'wow!' victories. I think that speaks a bit to the maturity of a core team of seniors, and of Buzz's consistency with approach and rotations.

Still, if we lose at Pitt (then regardless of what happens with Syracuse), we'll have a high quality but not impressive BEast resume, and that along with the loss of DJ could lead to a notable drop in seed, to 6 or 7 or 8.

Then again, a strong BEast tourney showing could be helpful, though I tend to fall in the category of believing that a long run in the conference tournament can be peaking too early, especially given the short bench that we have.

I also think MUDPT's review of teams that might be vying for a similar seed is interesting. At what point do committee members instinctively start pay attention to these kinds of things?