2024 NCAA Tournament Bracketology

[IL Warrior]

Do people think the committee has something against Marquette? Cause it feels like we manufacture outrage over the bracket every year.

I don't think the committee is trying to screw Marquette, but we've had incredibly bad fortune with our placement in the bracket over the past 15 years...
2009: 6 Marquette plays 11 Utah State in Boise, ID (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2010: 6 Marquette plays 11 Washington in San Jose, CA (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2011: 11 Marquette plays 6 Xavier in Cleveland, OH (I'd argue that it's incredibly rare for a 6 seed to play in their home state)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 14 BYU in Louisville, KY (BYU was the #48 overall seed - they should have been a 12, but can't play on Sunday, so we drew an opponent who was severely underseeded)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 6 Murray State in Louisville, KY (6 seed is in their home state against 3 seed)
2013: 3 Marquette plays 14 Davidson and 6 Butler in Lexington, KY (both lower seeds have a slight location advantage - Davidson is 120 miles closer, Butler is 240 miles closer)
2017: 10 Marquette plays 7 South Carolina in Greenville, SC (7 seed plays <100 miles from campus, in their home state)
2023: 2 Marquette plays 7 Michigan State in Columbus, OH (7 seed is 120 miles closer than 2 seed)

[rocket surgeon]

Do people think the committee has something against Marquette? Cause it feels like we manufacture outrage over the bracket every year.

   they'll be just fine

[BrewCity83]

BIG is weak aside from Purdue and Illinois. Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern, Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin are all very average. BUT, i'll take it to Vegas that we find ourselves with a BIG team in rd 2.

Probably three of those teams won't even make the tourney.  Looking like five from the Big1418Ten.  So only 1.25 teams per Regional...

[HowardsWorld]

Probably three of those teams won't even make the tourney.  Looking like five from the Big1418Ten.  So only 1.25 teams per Regional...

They might be weak but they sure have had out number. I'll be honest I want no part of them. I don't want a rematch against Wisconsin because I think there is some mental hurdle that the team cannot get over. Chances are almost 0 that a rematch happens but I would not be happy if it did.

[The Sultan]

I don't think the committee is trying to screw Marquette, but we've had incredibly bad fortune with our placement in the bracket over the past 15 years...
2009: 6 Marquette plays 11 Utah State in Boise, ID (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2010: 6 Marquette plays 11 Washington in San Jose, CA (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2011: 11 Marquette plays 6 Xavier in Cleveland, OH (I'd argue that it's incredibly rare for a 6 seed to play in their home state)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 14 BYU in Louisville, KY (BYU was the #48 overall seed - they should have been a 12, but can't play on Sunday, so we drew an opponent who was severely underseeded)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 6 Murray State in Louisville, KY (6 seed is in their home state against 3 seed)
2013: 3 Marquette plays 14 Davidson and 6 Butler in Lexington, KY (both lower seeds have a slight location advantage - Davidson is 120 miles closer, Butler is 240 miles closer)
2017: 10 Marquette plays 7 South Carolina in Greenville, SC (7 seed plays <100 miles from campus, in their home state)
2023: 2 Marquette plays 7 Michigan State in Columbus, OH (7 seed is 120 miles closer than 2 seed)

This exactly what I mean. None of these seem really ridiculous - outside perhaps South Carolina in Greenville or Murray State in Louisville. And I have no idea if they are actually outliers when compared to how the NCAA usually does business.

I mean, complaining about BYU and playing Washington in San Jose? Or Utah State anywhere?

[Galway Eagle]

I don't think the committee is trying to screw Marquette, but we've had incredibly bad fortune with our placement in the bracket over the past 15 years...
2009: 6 Marquette plays 11 Utah State in Boise, ID (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2010: 6 Marquette plays 11 Washington in San Jose, CA (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2011: 11 Marquette plays 6 Xavier in Cleveland, OH (I'd argue that it's incredibly rare for a 6 seed to play in their home state)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 14 BYU in Louisville, KY (BYU was the #48 overall seed - they should have been a 12, but can't play on Sunday, so we drew an opponent who was severely underseeded)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 6 Murray State in Louisville, KY (6 seed is in their home state against 3 seed)
2013: 3 Marquette plays 14 Davidson and 6 Butler in Lexington, KY (both lower seeds have a slight location advantage - Davidson is 120 miles closer, Butler is 240 miles closer)
2017: 10 Marquette plays 7 South Carolina in Greenville, SC (7 seed plays <100 miles from campus, in their home state)
2023: 2 Marquette plays 7 Michigan State in Columbus, OH (7 seed is 120 miles closer than 2 seed)

The Davidson one and Butler one is a bit of a stretch. As is BYU.

The others I'll give you.

[PGsHeroes32]

The Davidson one and Butler one is a bit of a stretch. As is BYU.

The others I'll give you.

BYU absolutely was a tough break. They were not a 14.

On the flip side tho, we were a brutal match up for them and ineveitably destroyed them.

[MarquetteDano]

I don't think the committee is trying to screw Marquette, but we've had incredibly bad fortune with our placement in the bracket over the past 15 years...
2009: 6 Marquette plays 11 Utah State in Boise, ID (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2010: 6 Marquette plays 11 Washington in San Jose, CA (11 seed is >1000 miles closer to site than 6 seed)
2011: 11 Marquette plays 6 Xavier in Cleveland, OH (I'd argue that it's incredibly rare for a 6 seed to play in their home state)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 14 BYU in Louisville, KY (BYU was the #48 overall seed - they should have been a 12, but can't play on Sunday, so we drew an opponent who was severely underseeded)
2012: 3 Marquette plays 6 Murray State in Louisville, KY (6 seed is in their home state against 3 seed)
2013: 3 Marquette plays 14 Davidson and 6 Butler in Lexington, KY (both lower seeds have a slight location advantage - Davidson is 120 miles closer, Butler is 240 miles closer)
2017: 10 Marquette plays 7 South Carolina in Greenville, SC (7 seed plays <100 miles from campus, in their home state)
2023: 2 Marquette plays 7 Michigan State in Columbus, OH (7 seed is 120 miles closer than 2 seed)

Great analysis.  I recalled getting screwed more often than not but this does a great job of summarizing it.

[The Sultan]

Great analysis.  I recalled getting screwed more often than not but this does a great job of summarizing it.

Only for those with a victim complex.

[Galway Eagle]

BYU absolutely was a tough break. They were not a 14.

On the flip side tho, we were a brutal match up for them and ineveitably destroyed them.

The BYU team that scraped by Iona in the play in game after being down almost 30? Yeah not sold on that one.

[MarquetteDano]

Only for those with a victim complex.

I do not think they are doing it on purpose.  How of many of these games were you at?  Sucks to be the better seed and attend an away game.  That is all I am saying.

[Its DJOver]

And we wonder why our fanbase has the national reputation that it does, complaining about this a decade + later.  You think the Pitt and Kentucky fans are still complaining about having to play us in Minneapolis. Unless the higher seeded teams start playing in their home arena it's not going to be  a perfect system, sometimes it benefits you, sometimes it doesn't.  That's life.

[The Sultan]

I do not think they are doing it on purpose.  How of many of these games were you at?  Sucks to be the better seed and attend an away game.  That is all I am saying.

If you go back in the discussion, that's the entire point. The NCAA isn't out to get Marquette. These are just unfortunate coincidences. And really not worth complaining about.

[The Sultan]

And we wonder why our fanbase has the national reputation that it does, complaining about this a decade + later.  You think the Pitt and Kentucky fans are still complaining about having to play us in Minneapolis. Unless the higher seeded teams start playing in their home arena it's not going to be  a perfect system, sometimes it benefits you, sometimes it doesn't.  That's life.

Amen.

[MarquetteDano]

And we wonder why our fanbase has the national reputation that it does, complaining about this a decade + later.  You think the Pitt and Kentucky fans are still complaining about having to play us in Minneapolis. Unless the higher seeded teams start playing in their home arena it's not going to be  a perfect system, sometimes it benefits you, sometimes it doesn't.  That's life.

As a seasoned traveler not once has anyone said to me Marquette fans have a national reputation of complaining.  No idea where you are getting that from.  Every fan base complains.  It is what they do.

Regarding Minneapolis, I was amazed how Badgers fans cheered for us both against Pitt and Kentucky.  It really was an away game for both teams.  Definitely got a huge advantage that year.

[StillAWarrior]

And we wonder why our fanbase has the national reputation that it does, complaining about this a decade + later.  You think the Pitt and Kentucky fans are still complaining about having to play us in Minneapolis. Unless the higher seeded teams start playing in their home arena it's not going to be  a perfect system, sometimes it benefits you, sometimes it doesn't.  That's life.

Probably. It's what fanbases do -- or at least portions of fanbases. I don't think Marquette is unique in that regard. Remember that there are more people in this thread challenging the notion that the committee is intentionally screwing MU than supporting it.

[cheebs09]

I think when you lose in the tournament, it's easy to find reasons you got a bad draw. Similar to pointing to officials in a loss.

[romey]

If anyone had the time to do it, I'm guessing you could compile a similar list for a lot of teams to point out how their placement in the tournament is biased against them.

[MUfan12]

And we wonder why our fanbase has the national reputation that it does, complaining about this a decade + later.

Oh my God. One writer bitched about Marquette fans 5 years ago on twitter and our reputation is irredeemably broken.

Wanna know our rep? Passionate, travel well, drink like fish.

[Galway Eagle]

Oh my God. One writer bitched about Marquette fans 5 years ago on twitter and our reputation is irredeemably broken.

Wanna know our rep? Passionate, travel well, drink like fish.

And blog well. I've heard multiple unaffiliated podcasts reference Paint Touches and Cracked Sidewalks... not so much Anonymous Eagle

[Its DJOver]

Oh my God. One writer bitched about Marquette fans 5 years ago on twitter and our reputation is irredeemably broken.

Wanna know our rep? Passionate, travel well, drink like fish.

The fact that this discussion is even happening proves that reputation though. 

We're in the middle of arguably the best 24 month stretch in almost half a century, ranked 7th in the country, spent most of the year in the top 10 and this is what folks are talking about.

[MUfan12]

And blog well. I've heard multiple unaffiliated podcasts reference Paint Touches and Cracked Sidewalks... not so much Anonymous Eagle

Right, definitely known as one of the most analytics knowledgeable in the league, if not nationally.

I guess people will make up whatever rep fits their narrative, but the reality is MU's support is really well thought of nationally.

[Viper]

I am going to pretend he is.

Tower/Sultan, you are wound tight. relax...chill...enjoy a cold one.

[tower912]

Were you serious or joking?   I think you were joking.

[Dr. Blackheart]

This exactly what I mean. None of these seem really ridiculous - outside perhaps South Carolina in Greenville or Murray State in Louisville. And I have no idea if they are actually outliers when compared to how the NCAA usually does business.

I mean, complaining about BYU and playing Washington in San Jose? Or Utah State anywhere?

Greenville got the site late after a political correctness reassignment which actually screwed Duke more. But the MU game was 90% Gamecocks. There was something with Davidson's low seed too in Lexington where they got a 14.

As to the location assignments, this is why I stress the importance of winning games in conference and BET. It makes it hard for the selection committee to put MU into a worse location, especially with Kansas and the B1G champion always getting our preferred geography.

The NCAA considers the Big East east (remembering MU was the first BET champion west of Pittsburgh).