Andy KAtz puts us in the Final Four... for now

[CTWarrior]

From today's Andy Kats ESPN chat.  Anybody else think we're moving to the realm of the overrated?  I think we have a great shot (though by no means guaranteed) at the sweet 16, but will need luck and right matchups to get further than that.  I think we're a lot more likely to be bounced in the second round than we are to reach a Final Four this season.

cory Chicago.IL: who will be your final four?

Andy Katz: (12:31 PM ET ) Don't hold me to this:
1. Florida
2. North Carolina
3. UCLA
4. Marquette
I'm sure I'll change this time and time again in the coming weeks.....

[dwaderoy2004]

i think we're moving to the realm of national recognition.  no need to be concerned unless the team itself buys into the hype and stops playing hard.  with the way the teams are losing and the unpredicatablitity of the season so far across the country, i think we have a shot at the final four, just like 30 or so other teams.  i agree, i think sweet 16/elite eight is a more realistic limit to this team, but who knows...

[MUtrain]

Joe (Milwaukee): Andy, your final four is highly unlikey considering Wisconsin and Marquette probably won't be in the same region.

SportsNation Andy Katz: (12:35 PM ET ) They could be if Marquette gets to be a No. 3 or No. 2 seed. I'm not ready to base this on seeding yet until we get further down a few weeks or at least until after we bracket on Wednesday.

Gabby (Canton, OH): Marquette? I love when experts go out on the limb and don't pick all chalk but won't foul shooting and turnovers be a sure downfall? I see them as a potential first round loser depending on the math-up.

SportsNation Andy Katz: (12:36 PM ET ) Could but I love the guard play and Barro is playing sensational for them. Look there are a host of teams that could be there: Wisconsin, Ohio State, Marquette, Oregon, Washington State, Memphis, Texas A&M, Kansas......

I could definitely see the Aggies in there, too, and who knows I may go with the Aggies later in the month.

IMO, this team is very capable of rolling in the tournament.  Its all a matter of which team shows up (as has been repeated many times on this board).  Lately, it's been the better MU team.  Likely to go to the Final Four?  Probably not, but I think when Marquette plays their best ball they can beat anyone, especially on a neutral court.

[tower912]

The props are nice, but 4 short weeks ago, we were out according to Lunardi.   Still a lot of conference play to go.   Get to 12-4 in conference, get to the BE final, win it and get a 2 seed, lose it and get a 3 seed, and let the real fun begin.

[RawdogDX]

From today's Andy Kats ESPN chat.  Anybody else think we're moving to the realm of the overrated?  I think we have a great shot (though by no means guaranteed) at the sweet 16, but will need luck and right matchups to get further than that.  I think we're a lot more likely to be bounced in the second round than we are to reach a Final Four this season.

Yeah but who fills out a final four bracket without at least one team that will need luck and the right matchups to get there?  There is always a team that is in the final four that benefited from luck and matchups, I don't think kats is off for thinking we could be that team.  Otherwise all you are doing is picking the four one seeds.

[NavinRJohnson]

There is always a team that is in the final four that benefited from luck and matchups...

I'd say there are always 4 teams that fit that description to some extent.

[NavinRJohnson]

As long as we're talking about it, at what point does Pittsburgh and/or Marquette enter the number 1 seed conversation? Not saying we belong there right now, but say we manage to win our next two, don't we at least belong in the discussion? Same for Pittsburgh? I will conceed Florida and UCLA as obvious choices, but I have a hard time buying both UNC and UW-Madison as the shoe-ins the appeared to be a week or so ago. Ohio State is probably more deserving than those two at the moment. The way I see it, UW-Madison has two losses left on their schedule. That happens, they are eliminated from consideration and OSU likely solidifies their position (assuming no other upsets). I'd be willing to bet UNC drops at least two more games as well.

So, the way I see it, Florida will end up getting one, UCLA probably will. Either UW or OSU will likley get one (with the other being eliminated from consideration). After that, I'd say UNC leads a group of contenders that could include Pittsburgh, Marquette, Texas A&M - that's probably about it.

[CWSKeith]

Isn't Chicago hosting a regional this year?  Or is it just the Big Ten tourney?

If the answer is yes to the first question, is there any chance of MU getting placed in that regional?  I guess the answer partly has to do with how MU finishes its conference schedule and the BE Tourney, but...

[NavinRJohnson]

Isn't Chicago hosting a regional this year? 

Chicago is hosting 1st and 2nd round games. If we get a high seed, I'd say there is a very good chance we would be placed there. The interesting thing about it, is that Columbus is hosting 1st and 2nd rounds as well, so I'm not sure how OSU would play into that - not sure if they could be placed there or not. That could leave MU, UW, and OSU all with very high seeds, seemingly bound for Chicago. Not sure if there would be room for all three.

The Midwest Regional will be played in St. Louis. So our path to Atlanta almost 30 years to the day from our '77 championship could be

Chicago ---> St. Louis ---> Atlanta

That would suit me just fine thank you.