(03-13-2017 08:30 AM)quo vadis Wrote: My biggest surprises:
1) No real snubs. Usually, I am outraged that some team X didn't make the dance, but not this time. Sure, you can make an argument for a few, like Cuse and Illinois State, but you can also easily make an argument against them. E.g., I saw the ESPN talking heads this weekend saying Syracuse would get in but I didn't believe it, IMO they had to do some damage in the ACC tournament to make it and they bombed out.
Kansas State wasn't even a .500 team in their conference. Xavier, Wake and Oklahoma State were merely .500. Even if you don't think well of Illinois State or Monmouth, they won their conferences outright. And, you have Cal and Iowa with better conference records sitting out. I really think this is because the bubble was so weak, and the work of some mid-majors very clearly questionable. Still, how do you reward some of these guys? How aren't all four of those schools the ones playing in? Why subject USC and Providence to it?
Quote:2) Duke as the overall national #8? Duke has the most talent and now they are healthy. IMO, they are as likely to win the national title as anyone, and they just won the ACC tournament. They should have been the top #2 seed. Villanova got screwed by having Duke in their region.
But, but, but...if they play, they'll be in the Garden! Nevermind Duke took the ACC across the East River.
To me, the ACC protection is alive and well, even without Greensboro, and with Duke and USC in SC. Duke, UNC, FSU, Louisville...what do you know...very friendly territory when they start their journeys.
Quote:3) Wichita State as a #10 seed? This is a 30-win team that played a decent schedule. Should have been a 5 or 6 seed. Dayton got screwed having to face them early.
And they could line up against Kentucky in Indianapolis. Like they did when Wichita was a 1-seed and KY that 8/9 year. It was garbage then. It's garbage now.
The seeding for all four of those 7/10's are questionable. If you're going to follow RPI to justify some of these seedings, how are VCU and Dayton where they are? SMC? SMU and Cincy? Wichita might be the only one that actually fits in that cluster, but, again, see above.