2012 Bracket Thread

[brewcity77]

I put together the breakdown below and thought it was interesting (sorry for the lack of formatting). Big East had the 2nd highest percentage of teams in the tourney, but only the 6th best average seed behind the B10, ACC, SEC, B12, and Ohio Valley (obviously deceiving since only 1 team). Not bad for a "down year" in the Big East.

Code Select Expand


Conf    AvgSeed  TeamsinNCAA #teams  %
B12 5.67 6 10 60.0%
BE 6.11 9 16 56.3%
B10 4.17 6 12 50.0%
MWC 7.00 4 8 50.0%
ACC 5.40 5 12 41.7%
SEC 5.50 4 12 33.3%
WCC 9.33 3 9 33.3%
A10 9.50 4 14 28.6%
MAAC 14.50 2 10 20.0%
MVC 6.50 2 10 20.0%
CUSA 8.50 2 12 16.7%
P12 11.50 2 12 16.7%
IVY 12.00 1 8 12.5%
Patriot 15.00 1 8 12.5%
WAC 13.00 1 8 12.5%
America East 16.00 1 9 11.1%
Big Sky 13.00 1 9 11.1%
Big West 12.00 1 9 11.1%
Atlantic Sun 14.00 1 10 10.0%
Horizon 15.00 1 10 10.0%
Summit 14.00 1 10 10.0%
SWAC 16.00 1 10 10.0%
Big South 16.00 1 11 9.1%
Ohio Valley 6.00 1 11 9.1%
CAA 12.00 1 12 8.3%
Northeast 16.00 1 12 8.3%
MAC 13.00 1 13 7.7%
MEAC 15.00 1 13 7.7%
Southern 13.00 1 13 7.7%
Southland 16.00 1 13 7.7%
Sun Belt 16.00 1 13 7.7%
Total 68


edit: slightly better formatting

The average seed is also deceiving, because the Big East gets knocked in that category for teams like UConn, WVU, and USF making the field, while a league like the B1G gets overinflated because their next-level teams (Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota) weren't good enough to get in. If the B1G had landed the 9 bids they were touting back in February, their average seed would have come up lower than the Big East's, but because those teams weren't as good as advertised, it actually makes that league look better when the opposite is the case.

[Benny B]

18 hours to think, sleep, digest, etc. the bracket.  My thoughts:

1) I am still stoked about MU's draw.  As a #3 seed, it doesn't get better... stronger teams 4-14, weaker teams at 1 & 2.  I'll take that any day.

2) Of the 58 team seeded 5-16, there is only one team that can beat Kentucky... and that team happens to be the 9-seed in their region.

3) I woke up this morning liking NFSU vs. Mizzou even more.  In a bracket competition that gives credit for picking upsets, I'd take UCONN to the S16 and NFSU to the third round.

4) No easy paths in the south.  KY vs. UCONN in round three, and then 50% of the teams that beat them this year in the S16.  Duke is always a tough out, but Baylor could be a headache.  UNLV could give Baylor fits.  IU vs. Kentucky and Duke back-to-back.  And Kentucky and Duke has epic struggle written all over it.  It may not be the strongest region from top to bottom, but it's a potential match-up nightmare for everyone.

5) The draw for the Big ? suck rhino.  Possibilities: OSU vs. WVU on their "home" court.  Ohio over Michigan (sexy upset on the circuit).  Wisconsin vs Festus. IU vs. could-have-been-a-3-seed Wichita State, and I still have yet to find someone picking MSU out of the west.  Purdue may actually go as far as, or further than, three of their five conference brethren.

6) The Big East draw aren't that far behind on the spectrum of suck.  MU vs. MU has Bizarro World written all over it (although the winner likely goes to Nola).  Cincy vs. Texas is like a schizo competition.  Cuse (potentially) having to go through KSU then Vandy then OSU would be the resiliency test of a lifetime for Fab Melo.  Belmont over GTown is another sexy upset pick.  BTW - Thanks for winning the BET, Losers; your prize, an all-expense paid trip to PORTLAND.

At least the Bulls are smiling... for now.

7) Who is happy?  The mid-majors.  I'll be shocked if Wichita St isn't in Atlanta next week.  X has to feel good about their upset bid vs. ND.  Same with Memphis and their first two opponents.  I'd take 2:1 on Temple being in St. Louis, and Murray State may have been slighted on their seed, but they've got to love the opportunity to play either MU or Iona/BYU on a "home" floor.  I'm putting the over/under on mid-majors in the S16 at six.

[ringout]

Digger's an a$$.  Any questions?

At this point, I just LMAO when Digger picks against MU.  He doesn't even think about it. 

Would'nt you like to be a fly on the wall when the camera is off.  Bilas probably laughs it off, but maybe that is why he's a consistent MU supporter over the years.  He knows what a thoughtless douche Digger is.