Will Louisville jump us in seeding?

[jsglow]

The battle for the last 1 is almost as contentious as figuring out the last 6 teams in. I'm not sure one ever has, but Mizzou having 30 wins is another factor in their favor.

I'm really not sure, and I wouldn't have a problem with either team getting the 1, but the one thing I do feel pretty confident about is that I think either KU or Mizzou will get the last 1-seed over the B1G. I just think that's too late in the day to make a big change.

Brew, I personally think that the last #1 is reserved for the winner of today's B10 championship with the loser slotted on the #2 line.  This allows the committee to do a quick final without having to worry about future prospective conference opponents during the NCAA while still rewarding the best RPI conference with a #1.  I think they also have decided who loses their tentative bid in the event St. Bonaventure steals the last dance card.  I'm glad I'm not sitting in the Seton Hall student union right now.  Having watched them, I personally feel that Drexel is deserving.

As to Louisville, they may have played their way onto the end of the #3 line putting Georgetown or Michigan at risk of moving down.  Again, the logic is two open slots last night at 10 PM with Louisville getting the better if they win.  Now it's possible that both those slots may have been on the #4 line so it may be transparent to the TV viewers.

One man's guess I suppose.

[brewcity77]

Re. the B1G winner, it wouldn't be that big of a change, would it?  Just make it an either/or scenario.  Winner gets a 1, loser gets a 2.  They would probably be placed in the same locations.

It depends...the committee tries to avoid regular season rematches in the first two rounds, and tries to avoid rematches from the past 2 years of the tournament. I also think they'd rather avoid putting a 1 and 2 together that played each other in the regular season, but I'm not certain about that one.

It'd take a lot more work to make sure the bracket worked for both teams regardless of where they ended up, and if you shifted them between regions, moving one team could have a domino effect that impact a dozen teams or more. That's why I think they'll end up placed before that game even tips off.

Also, don't forget that Columbus is actually closer (by 17 miles) to Pittsburgh than they are Louisville, don't be surprised to see the Buckeyes playing there.

[romey]

I've read the argument for the winner of the B1G tourney getting a one seed because all season long the experts have touted the B1G as the top conference in the country, and how do you NOT put the champ of the best conference in a #1 slot?  Just passing along what I've read.  But to me, you could argue - well, just because they "said" it was the number one conference doesn't mean it was, and that doesn't mean they necessarily couldn't be the top conference without a top four team.

[dwaderoy2004]

It depends...the committee tries to avoid regular season rematches in the first two rounds, and tries to avoid rematches from the past 2 years of the tournament. I also think they'd rather avoid putting a 1 and 2 together that played each other in the regular season, but I'm not certain about that one.

It'd take a lot more work to make sure the bracket worked for both teams regardless of where they ended up, and if you shifted them between regions, moving one team could have a domino effect that impact a dozen teams or more. That's why I think they'll end up placed before that game even tips off.

Also, don't forget that Columbus is actually closer (by 17 miles) to Pittsburgh than they are Louisville, don't be surprised to see the Buckeyes playing there.

Good points.  Really, I'm just excited to see the Big Ten only get 6 teams in vs. a possible 10 for the Big East.

[romey]

Good points.  Really, I'm just excited to see the Big Ten only get 6 teams in vs. a possible 10 for the Big East.

Yeah, that's awesome.

[brewcity77]

Good points.  Really, I'm just excited to see the Big Ten only get 6 teams in vs. a possible 10 for the Big East.

That's a virtual lock. The 6, not the 10. I think USF and SHU should be in, especially if injuries are factored in because USF would likely have an even better mark had Collins and Poland been available all year.  But the Big East will have at least 8 teams in, and no other conference will have more than 6. I feel confident saying that.

[brewcity77]

One thing in the Big East's favor for 10 bids...Jeff Hathaway is the chairman of the Selection Committee and also chairman of the Big East. Could very well help the league having the strongest voice on the committee.

[Nukem2]

One thing in the Big East's favor for 10 bids...Jeff Hathaway is the chairman of the Selection Committee and also chairman of the Big East. Could very well help the league having the strongest voice on the committee.

Excepthat he has to recuse himself vis-a-vis BE teams due to committee rules.

[jsglow]

One thing in the Big East's favor for 10 bids...Jeff Hathaway is the chairman of the Selection Committee and also chairman of the Big East. Could very well help the league having the strongest voice on the committee.

Something tells me that USF gets the 9th and Seton Hall is on pins and needles for the 10th.

[brewcity77]

Excepthat he has to recuse himself vis-a-vis BE teams due to committee rules.

Yeah...but do you really think that happens as simply as that? Having league officials on the committee is one of those things that will help a league. He may not be able to champion the cause during debate, but he can do plenty in private conversations. I'm sure there are back-door deals between committee members for votes. "I'll vote for BYU if you vote for USF and SHU", that type of stuff.

One more thing favoring USF...their 12-6 record is 4 games better than UConn, 3 games better than WVU, and 2 games better than Louisville, all of whom are in. I don't think league record should be a deciding factor, but that's awfully impressive.

[dwaderoy2004]

I think USF is in.  They proved their worth over their last 6. They only went 3-3, but the 3 losses were to cuse, wvu and ND, and all were extremely close throughout. Seton hall will be the odd team out if the Big east doesn't get 10, imo.

[MUMac]

Excepthat he has to recuse himself vis-a-vis BE teams due to committee rules.

They might have changed the rules this year for Hathaway.  Allow him to discuss the BE, but recuse himself from the ACC and Big 12 discussions.