Vandy got the *9 seed so the network could get a nice market share in Nashville and Chicago, plus the Big 10 / SEC thing. That's the way the whole thing is organized. The seeds are for market pairings, not for quality of wins or the season's work.

It's no different for the 4 team CFP. They look at regions of the country that could possibly be involved in watching if certain teams play. The advertising dollars are based on that. That's why the committee's seeds always flip flop at the last session.

Where there is money to be made by the corporate entities involved you will find the under belly of NCAA complicity. They both like a buck. The NCAA bankrolls about 70 million a year to endowment out of this tournament. Their holdings now are approaching 1 billion. But hey, I'm sure they are the champion of fairness in the governance of "amateur athletics."

However, to most during the year if you point out the corners of corruption into which the average fan may peer, you get labeled as a conspiracy nut.

Enjoy the first two rounds. Those are usually the only ones I watch!

BTW: If the SEC had 7 worthy schools we still wouldn't get but about 4 or 5 bids. We just don't tune in for basketball. So.....we aren't worth the extra slots.