I've been looking over the NCAA selection committee's final work, and I must say there are some interesting things about this tournament...

First off, look at the brackets. It's like the committee was trying to pave the way for Duke to the Final Four. The South region is the weakest of the 4 regions, and Duke was install as the South Region's #1 seed...

Oddly enough, both teams that beat Kansas, Oklahoma State and Tennessee, happen to be in the Midwest regional. It's like the committee wanted to toss an obstacle in their path to meeting Duke in the Final Four...

West Virginia got snubbed when the committee made Duke a #1 over the Mountaineers much more impressive resume, and then furthered the snub by placing them in Kentucky's bracket. WVU should have been in Duke's bracket. But Villanova, a team that has lost 5 of its last 7 games was installed as the #2 in the South regional. It makes for an impressive East Regional final. But it looks like the committee is doing its best to ensure Duke's march to another title is without incident...

Syracuse is the West Region #1 seed, and should make the Final Four unless Onuaku is unable to play, which is probably just what the committee wants.

If anyone wants to dispute my conclusions, feel free. But I think this smells to high heaven, and somebody is feeding us sh!t...

(03-15-2010 10:41 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I've been looking over the NCAA selection committee's final work, and I must say there are some interesting things about this tournament...

First off, look at the brackets. It's like the committee was trying to pave the way for Duke to the Final Four. The South region is the weakest of the 4 regions, and Duke was install as the South Region's #1 seed...

Oddly enough, both teams that beat Kansas, Oklahoma State and Tennessee, happen to be in the Midwest regional. It's like the committee wanted to toss an obstacle in their path to meeting Duke in the Final Four...

West Virginia got snubbed when the committee made Duke a #1 over the Mountaineers much more impressive resume, and then furthered the snub by placing them in Kentucky's bracket. WVU should have been in Duke's bracket. But Villanova, a team that has lost 5 of its last 7 games was installed as the #2 in the South regional. It makes for an impressive East Regional final. But it looks like the committee is doing its best to ensure Duke's march to another title is without incident...

Syracuse is the West Region #1 seed, and should make the Final Four unless Onuaku is unable to play, which is probably just what the committee wants.

If anyone wants to dispute my conclusions, feel free. But I think this smells to high heaven, and somebody is feeding us sh!t...

The NCAAs are about matchups, as much as anything else. I don't care what the expects say, I don't think Duke can't beat VU. Duke is unathletic and slow on the perimeter. Duke's guards can't stay with Reynolds, Stokes, etc. Duke will have to play zone, like they did against MU in 07-08 and 08-09. MU split with Duke and MU wasn't a great shooting team. MU beat them fairly easily once, lost a close one the second time. If VU plays small, it would not surprise me if they blew Duke out. Terrible matchup for Duke. Just terrible.

Now, I am not sure VU will get the opportunity to play Duke. Anything can happen before that, but I can't be happy if I am Duke. Frankly, if I am Coach K, I would have preferred to see Ohio State or WV. OSU and WV may be better teams, but Duke matches up better with them, especially OSU.

I think you are dead on... Duke getting the 1 seed and then by far the easiest Bracket is an absolutely joke. I will say though... they are likely to draw the toughest of the 8/9 seeds. Texas is in the mix too, but they have just been downright awful lately whereas Louisville and Cal have been very good.

I'm glad they at least didn't put that fraud Virginia Tech in the tourney.

I hope Louisville gets to stomp Duke. All they need to do is get by California first. I don't anticipate the Cards having much trouble with the Pac Tin champs...

Duke got an easy draw, but they also drew the stiffest 8/9 opponent if Louisville beats Cal.

Anyone else notice that the committee broke their own bracketing rules by placing ND, UofL, and Villanova all in the South region, while the top half of the East has no Big East teams? I had not seen any mention of this elsewhere. The Irish and WIldcats could play in the Sweet 16, a round earlier than conference matchups should occur when 8 teams or less make it from the conference.

Well they used to let Duke or UNC play 1st couple games in Greensboro. It was like a free pass to the Sweet 16. Duke won't last long in this tournament.

(03-15-2010 03:03 PM)CollegeCard Wrote:  Anyone else notice that the committee broke their own bracketing rules by placing ND, UofL, and Villanova all in the South region, while the top half of the East has no Big East teams? I had not seen any mention of this elsewhere. The Irish and WIldcats could play in the Sweet 16, a round earlier than conference matchups should occur when 8 teams or less make it from the conference.

It's a new rule change which came about after last year's results. It was always a possibility if the Big East sent 9 into the Dance, but last year after the Big East sent 4 teams to the Elite 8, they changed the rule to protect only 6 teams. Above 6, they can now do it.

It's OBVIOUS why they came up with the rule.

I just posted a thread on this very topic.

Cheers,
Neil