Since the field expanded to 64 teams -
A #1 seed has faced a #12 seed 14 times and won all 14. This bodes well for the Cards, the only such match-up this year. Of course, there is a first time for everything.
A #1 seed has faced a #5 seed 32 times and have gone 28-4. This bodes well for UConn, the only such match-up this year. Interestingly the last two times the top seed lost, Duke was the #1 seed. But it also happened to UConn back in 1996 when they were beaten by Mississippi State. You remember Huskies' fans, the team we beat in the Final Four to face Kentucky in the championship game.
A #1 seed has faced a #4 seed 33 times and have gone 23-10. While this also bodes well for Pitt and UNC, it is hardly a slam dunk. It wouldn't surprise me to see either of them lose (Pitt because of the style of their play and UNC because of Lawson's toe and no longer playing in Carolina). There have been 11 years in which at least two 1 vs. 4 match-ups have taken place. In 5 of those years, one of the fours won. However, only one of the 10 wins by a 4 seed over a 1 seed has been by a team outside a power conference - UNLV over Arizona back in 1988-89.
A #2 seed has faced a #3 seed 29 times and is 19-10. There are 4 such match-ups in this tourney. Statistically at least one 3 seed is going to win, possibly 2, but probably no more than 2. There have been 7 years in which at least two match-ups pitted the 2/3 and in 5 of those years at least one 3 seed advanced to the Elite 8.
Of course, this is only a statistical analysis and after Friday, the results will simply be added to the above.
Here's hoping all the 3 seeds win! Or at least the RIGHT 3 seed wins.
LET'S GO ORANGE!!!
Cheers,
Neil