[Cracked Sidewalks] Bracketology: By Land or By Air?

[brewcity77]

Today we look at potential landing spots for Marquette when the Selection Committee sets the bracket on March 17. There's one clear front runner, but if things go wrong, we talk about the other destinations to consider for the start of Spring Break.

By Land or By Air?

[mug644]

Today we look at potential landing spots for Marquette when the Selection Committee sets the bracket on March 17. There's one clear front runner, but if things go wrong, we talk about the other destinations to consider for the start of Spring Break.

By Land or By Air?

Thanks for this analysis and speculation. If MU does climb to a 1 seed, where would they likely end up? Not Indy, as they won't pass Purdue on the S-curve, so Omaha? No were else seems very appealing or satisfying for a 1 seed? Is it better be a 2 seed and play closer to home?

[CountryRoads]

Today we look at potential landing spots for Marquette when the Selection Committee sets the bracket on March 17. There's one clear front runner, but if things go wrong, we talk about the other destinations to consider for the start of Spring Break.

By Land or By Air?

Would be insane for Northwestern or MSU to get their protected seed location as a 10 seed.

[cheebs09]

Thanks for this analysis and speculation. If MU does climb to a 1 seed, where would they likely end up? Not Indy, as they won't pass Purdue on the S-curve, so Omaha? No were else seems very appealing or satisfying for a 1 seed? Is it better be a 2 seed and play closer to home?

You could have 2 one seeds in the same location right? They would be in different regionals but same pod.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Thanks for this analysis and speculation. If MU does climb to a 1 seed, where would they likely end up? Not Indy, as they won't pass Purdue on the S-curve, so Omaha? No were else seems very appealing or satisfying for a 1 seed? Is it better be a 2 seed and play closer to home?

Two protected seeds will play in Indy.  It could be two 1s, a 1 & 2, or any combination really.

1st weekend sites are no longer in predetermined regions.  So Marquette could go Indy/Detroit or Indy/Dallas.

[HowardsWorld]

Two protected seeds will play in Indy.  It could be two 1s, a 1 & 2, or any combination really.

1st weekend sites are no longer in predetermined regions.  So Marquette could go Indy/Detroit or Indy/Dallas.

If mu gets a 1 seed it's all but guaranteed to be Indy/los Angeles

[CountryRoads]

If mu gets a 1 seed it's all but guaranteed to be Indy/los Angeles

Yeah? That scenario includes 2 wins over UCONN and likely 2 wins over Creighton. Is there a reason they would automatically get the East over us?

[mug644]

Thanks all. I had forgotten that two 1s could be in the same site for the first weekend.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

If mu gets a 1 seed it's all but guaranteed to be Indy/los Angeles

With Kolek hurt, I'm not expecting to earn a 1 seed.

[Mu8891]

Ok ... guys ... let's get real.

MU has about a 0.01 chance of a one seed. 

[brewcity77]

If mu gets a 1 seed it's all but guaranteed to be Indy/los Angeles

This is correct.

Ok ... guys ... let's get real.

MU has about a 0.01 chance of a one seed. 

If Marquette wins their next 3 and the BET, they'll most likely be a 1-seed, unless Tennessee does the same.

[mugrad_89]

I just want them to be in a Friday/Sunday region because I have tickets for the Omaha games.  😊

[DoctorV]

One of the problems that I've noticed with the seeding process is that they try to keep all teams as close to home as possible.

You'd say well that's logical, why wouldn't you?
Logistically it makes things much easier for both teams and fan bases, crowds bigger, revenue better, etc.

That makes complete sense for the protected seeds, and gives them a competitive advantage in theory.
However, when the lower seed is a powerhouse in the 6-11 seed range and has a massive fan base, and is only several hours from campus, that presents a major competitive disadvantage for the protected seed in Round 2.

We've seen it time and time again, and fans then cry about having to essentially play a road game as a higher seed.
It's a fair argument, and the committee almost needs to consider sending lower seeds further away from home to make this aspect more fair.

They are bogged down with so many rules already though- keeping teams from playing another conference foe, can't play someone you've already played in the first few rounds, etc.
I'd imagine as long as the lower seeds aren't within the restricted distance they probably don't think twice about it, but maybe they should, even if it affects travel plans and crowd sizes.

Money is king though, so I'm sure it won't change

[brewcity77]

They try to balance the top-16 seeds so the regions have approximately equal top tier teams, but usually don't apply balance efforts until the 3/4 lines.

After that, it's regional preference to boost attendance.

[DoctorV]

Brew what do you think it'll take for Illinois or Creighton to pass us on the S Curve and bump us from Indy?

1- Marquette loses the next 3
2- Marquette loses 2 of the next 3 and either of those two win out until their Conf Tourney finals
3- Marquette loses to Creighton in the BET

Marquette gained 2 Q1 wins and sits at 8-6, Creighton now at 7-6, Illinois at 5-5.
Illini have Purdue at home on Tuesday.

It seems a bit of a closer race than I woulda thought it would be, but that's what happens when Creighton crushes UConn and Illinois wins in Madison.

This is the Marquette centric race that I'm looking at here down the stretch when it comes to seeding because I really want Indy- I think MU nation will travel well and really help the team out in those two games, and we wouldn't have that advantage in Pittsburgh or Brooklyn.

[wisblue]

For one thing, Illinois hosts Purdue this week.

A win there would give them a big boost.

Creighton only has one more game before the BET (at Nova).

If MU loses to UConn (I won't say how likely I think that is) it would open the door for both teams to move up some more.

[MU82]

I like to think the fact that we beat Illinois in Champaign will mean something, but maybe not.

[tower912]

Counterbalanced by losing to a circling the drain Wisconsin team.

[wisblue]

I like to think the fact that we beat Illinois in Champaign will mean something, but maybe not.

I think it might in a final scrubbing if the two teams end up next to each other on the initial seed list.

I will have to hold my nose and root for Purdue on Tuesday.

If MU does get placed in Indy I might drive down for the first game.

[SaveOD238]

For one thing, Illinois hosts Purdue this week.

A win there would give them a big boost.

Creighton only has one more game before the BET (at Nova).

If MU loses to UConn (I won't say how likely I think that is) it would open the door for both teams to move up some more.

By the same token, if we beat UConn I think we're a lock for a 2 seed which should be enough for Indy.

It should also help that we are 2-1 against Illinois and Creighton, with the 1 loss being without our two best players. (And our win against Illinois was while they had Terrence Shannon before his suspension, rather than being a cheapy win without him)

[wisblue]

By the same token, if we beat UConn I think we're a lock for a 2 seed which should be enough for Indy.

It should also help that we are 2-1 against Illinois and Creighton, with the 1 loss being without our two best players. (And our win against Illinois was while they had Terrence Shannon before his suspension, rather than being a cheapy win without him)

I agree about MU beating UConn, but will still not say how likely I think that is.

My final decision on that is day to day.

[MU82]

Counterbalanced by losing to a circling the drain Wisconsin team.

Really? We beat Illinois in Champaign, and we'd be directly competing with Illinois for the Indianapolis slot.

Madison can enjoy whatever site their 8 seed is in.

[MuMark]

MU gained 2 quad 1 wins overnight.......Texas and Nova both moved into top 30 of the Net.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

For one thing, Illinois hosts Purdue this week.

A win there would give them a big boost.

Creighton only has one more game before the BET (at Nova).

If MU loses to UConn (I won't say how likely I think that is) it would open the door for both teams to move up some more.

I don't think losing to UConn hurts us much as you think it does.

Creighton and Illinois are likely 4 seeds right now.  I don't think either have a chance to make all the way to a 2 with it being the last week of the regular season

[DoctorV]

I don't think losing to UConn hurts us much as you think it does.

Creighton and Illinois are likely 4 seeds right now.  I don't think either have a chance to make all the way to a 2 with it being the last week of the regular season

I'm pretty sure they do, if one wins it's conference tournament.
We saw the exact scenario last year with Marquette, even though Marquette won the double so that was more obvious imo