(03-17-2013 08:51 AM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  UC's early dominance saved their collective butts this season.
Glad for it. March Madness sucks if your team isn't in the NCAA tourney.
(Hope UK fans get a taste that bitter drink tonight.)

I don't spend a lot of time rooting against teams or programs, but I gotta admit that after UC getting in with a good matchup, my second fondest realistic wish for the brackets this year is that UK not get in.

(03-17-2013 09:14 AM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 08:51 AM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  UC's early dominance saved their collective butts this season.
Glad for it. March Madness sucks if your team isn't in the NCAA tourney.
(Hope UK fans get a taste that bitter drink tonight.)

I don't spend a lot of time rooting against teams or programs, but I gotta admit that after UC getting in with a good matchup, my second fondest realistic wish for the brackets this year is that UK not get in.

So true. No Xavier and no Kentucky this season. Would love to see the Cats raise their game to Louisville and Ohio State's level this season.

No WVU, rough year for Huggins.
Ole Miss might get in, does Kennedy make it automatic today?
Frank Martin left a potential sweet 16 team to coach an SEC loser.

(03-17-2013 09:46 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 09:14 AM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 08:51 AM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  UC's early dominance saved their collective butts this season.
Glad for it. March Madness sucks if your team isn't in the NCAA tourney.
(Hope UK fans get a taste that bitter drink tonight.)

I don't spend a lot of time rooting against teams or programs, but I gotta admit that after UC getting in with a good matchup, my second fondest realistic wish for the brackets this year is that UK not get in.

So true. No Xavier and no Kentucky this season. Would love to see the Cats raise their game to Louisville and Ohio State's level this season.

No WVU, rough year for Huggins.
Ole Miss might get in, does Kennedy make it automatic today?
Frank Martin left a potential sweet 16 team to coach an SEC loser.

Frank Martin left KSU only because him and the AD hated each other.So this is old news as espn and yahoo had the story this past BBall offseason..

John Currie denies Frank Martin rift
Updated: March 27, 2012, 6:27 PM ET
Associated Press

MANATTAN, Kan. -- Kansas State athletic director John Currie admitted to having some differences with coach Frank Martin over the years. The two men didn't always see eye to eye.

One thing they agreed on Tuesday: There was no rift in their relationship.

"John has been great," Martin said during a conference call shortly after being introduced as the new coach at South Carolina. "It's unfortunate that I make a difficult decision and everyone's got to figure out a way to blame someone for the decision. That's not fair to anybody."

Currie said he wished Martin well as he tries to turn around the Gamecocks.

"We've always had interest in Frank Martin being part of the long-term fabric at K-State. That started from the time we got here," Currie said during a morning news conference at Bramlage Coliseum attended by university president Kirk Schulz.

Currie said he tried to restructure Martin's contract several times over the course of the season, but Martin said he wanted to focus on his team. Currie even made a last-minute pitch on Monday, when Martin called to inform him he would accept the offer from South Carolina.

"They wanted me at K-State," Martin said. "That was never in question."

Currie said he would begin the search immediately for a new coach. He would not say whether he has a list of potential candidates and declined to offer a timetable for the hiring, though the relatively late start in the process puts him at a disadvantage.

This will be the first time Currie has hired a coach of a major sport since taking over in 2009.

"Transition is part of life," he said. "I completely understand how much many of our fans appreciate coach Martin. I, too, share that appreciation."

Currie has been widely criticized for Martin's decision to leave an up-and-coming basketball school for one with scant success in a league known primarily for its football.

Much of that stems from the public perception that a rift had developed between the athletic director and the high-profile coach, and the relationship became fractured to the point that it could no longer be repaired during the third round of the NCAA tournament.

That's when senior forward Jamar Samuels was suspended for the Wildcats' game against top-seeded Syracuse for receiving impermissible benefits. Martin stood in his player's corner before and after the game, while Currie said he did everything possible to get Samuels cleared to play.

"There was a violation of NCAA rules in that circumstance," Currie said, alluding to a receipt for a wire transaction that showed up in the Kansas State compliance office, ultimately triggering a hasty investigation that could not be completed by the start of the game.

"It would have made my weekend a lot better if a receipt hadn't shown up in our compliance office," he said. "Once it came into our possession, for us to do nothing would have risked the integrity of the institution, the integrity of our men's basketball program."

Currie refused to elaborate on the suspension citing privacy laws.

Martin said several times he did not leave Kansas State because of the Samuels incident, and that South Carolina simply offered a "new challenge." It wound up being a big enough challenge to leave a school that gave a nondescript assistant the chance to be a head coach.

"I don't make decisions based on one experience," he said. "Jamar might have played and we might have won and I still might have made this decision. The decisions I make and everything I do does not have a single thing to do with the decision that anybody else makes.

"In life, you go through things and sometimes for no reason whatsoever, a new opportunity, a new challenge gets put in front of you, you make a choice," he said. "That doesn't mean one choice is better than the other, one place is better than the other."

Schulz said he had not spoken to Martin in several weeks, even while the Wildcats were making their NCAA tournament run, and refused to speculate on the reasons for Martin's departure.

The president did say he supports Currie's leadership.

"He has good working relationships with our coaches. Are there disagreements at times? Absolutely," Schulz said. "We're going to be judged by the quality of individual that we bring in, but I feel good that we have the right guy to go out and find somebody."

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...ank-martin

Current Projected Field

1 Seeds: Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga, Kansas
2 Seeds: Miami (Fl), Duke, New Mexico, Florida
3 Seeds: Ohio State, Georgetown, Michigan State, Wisconsin
4 Seeds: Kansas State, Marquette, Syracuse, Michigan
5 Seeds: Arizona, Oklahoma State, St. Louis, NC State
6 Seeds: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, North Carolina, UNLV
7 Seeds: VCU, Butler, Colorado State, Creighton
8 Seeds: UCLA, Memphis, Oregon, Illinois
9 Seeds: SD State, Minnesota, Villanova, Colorado
10 Seeds: Boise State, Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma
11 Seeds: Cincinnati, Temple, Wichita State, California
12 Seeds: St Marys / Tennessee, Belmont, La Salle / Ole Miss, Bucknell
13 Seeds: Valpo, Akron, Davidson, South Dakota State
14 Seeds: Montana, Harvard, New Mexico State, Florida Gulf Coast
15 Seeds: Iona, Northwestern State, Albany, Pacific
16 Seeds: WKU, Southern, LIU / Liberty, James Madison / NC A&T

Last Four In:
St Marys
Ole Miss
La Salle
Tennessee

Others in Consideration:
Middle Tennessee State
Kentucky
Virginia
Maryland
Umass
Southern Miss
Iowa
Bama

Observations:

1 Seeds: I gave Louisville the number 1 overall seed on the strength of their performance down the stretch and their overall body of work. I thought their resume was fairly close to Indiana and just watching Louisville play I don't think there is anyone better in America right now. Indiana by virtue of being the number 2 overall seed, does not get the Indianapolis regional. I could easily justify putting Duke as a 1 seed based on their overall body of work, but I simply could not put them ahead of ACC regular season and tournament champion Miami. That said I think Miami and Duke are both possible one seeds, even though I went with Gonzaga and Kansas.

2-3 seeds: The only additional thing I will note about the 2 seeds is I think Ohio State can get there if it wins the Big Ten tournament AND Ole Miss beats Florida. Otherwise I like my 2 and 3 seeds as they are right now.

4-6 Seeds: I think Arizona has a good case for a 4 seed, but I think a lot of that was based on early season luck. As a result I ultimately went with Michigan and Syracuse for the final four seeds. I could even see the committee making the leap and putting St Louis there. If North Carolina wins the ACC today, I may bump them up to a 5 seed, knocking down NC State. Likewise if VCU wins the A10 I may flip them and UNLV.

Some Specific Teams:

Villanova- There is plenty of weakness to their resume, but I ultimately decided to see them on the high end of where they may be seeded, because I value, and I think the committee has historically valued, really strong wins. Now if really strong wins come with a bad resume that is one thing, but Villanova's wins come with at least an alright resume. Because of this, I think the wins keep them in the 9/10 range.

Boise State- I like what Boise State accomplished in the number 1 RPI conference. I think that is going to matter to the committee. I think Boise is going to be a 10 seed, further away from the bubble than many experts have them.

Cincinnati- You may notice I moved Cincinnati up a couple spots on my bracket and are now the highest 11 seed. Essentially I made the decision that Temple and Wichita State should be behind Oklahoma and Cincinnati. I could, however, see the committee going the other way. I think Cincinnati is going to likely wind up with either the 10 or 11 seed. I know many people have them as a 9 and there is an outside shot at that, but honestly I don't think they will be there (which is probably a good thing).

Last Four In: I am really comfortable with St Marys, La Salle and Ole Miss at this point, though it would not shock me if either of them were left out. As I mentioned in my ranking the bubble piece, St Marys has a flimsy resume based on RPI wins, but their advanced numbers (Ken Pom) are really good and scream tournament team (and probably a higher seed than I have them). Frankly if the committee seeded them as high as a 10 seed I would be 100% Ok wit that. La Salle to me is a closer case, but I just think their overall resume is better than the rest of the bubble. I think Ole Miss played their way in by taking 2/3 from Missouri and making the finals of the SEC tournament. I did not necessarily think this would be enough at the beginning of the week, but none of the bubble teams around them did anything to warrant a bid. Ole Miss, of course, can beat Florida to earn the automatic bid, and avoid being in the first 4.

The last spot, however, is a nightmare. I ultimately went with Tennessee because I think they have more meat on their resume when it comes to beating tournament caliber teams than anyone but Virginia. Virginia would be an interesting case, but they did too much damage to their resume and closed the season poorly. There is a lot of talk about Middle Tennessee State, but wow is their body of work uninspiring. I'd be fine with them getting in, but I ultimately could not put them in over Tennessee. I do think switching Tennessee for MTSU is the spot I am most likely off.

I will put up my final bracket just before the selection show, after the games have finished.

http://bearcatmark.blogspot.com/2013/03/...ld_17.html

(03-17-2013 11:08 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Current Projected Field

1 Seeds: Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga, Kansas
2 Seeds: Miami (Fl), Duke, New Mexico, Florida
3 Seeds: Ohio State, Georgetown, Michigan State, Wisconsin
4 Seeds: Kansas State, Marquette, Syracuse, Michigan
5 Seeds: Arizona, Oklahoma State, St. Louis, NC State
6 Seeds: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, North Carolina, UNLV
7 Seeds: VCU, Butler, Colorado State, Creighton
8 Seeds: UCLA, Memphis, Oregon, Illinois
9 Seeds: SD State, Minnesota, Villanova, Colorado
10 Seeds: Boise State, Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma
11 Seeds: Cincinnati, Temple, Wichita State, California
12 Seeds: St Marys / Tennessee, Belmont, La Salle / Ole Miss, Bucknell
13 Seeds: Valpo, Akron, Davidson, South Dakota State
14 Seeds: Montana, Harvard, New Mexico State, Florida Gulf Coast
15 Seeds: Iona, Northwestern State, Albany, Pacific
16 Seeds: WKU, Southern, LIU / Liberty, James Madison / NC A&T

Last Four In:
St Marys
Ole Miss
La Salle
Tennessee

Others in Consideration:
Middle Tennessee State
Kentucky
Virginia
Maryland
Umass
Southern Miss
Iowa
Bama

Observations:

1 Seeds: I gave Louisville the number 1 overall seed on the strength of their performance down the stretch and their overall body of work. I thought their resume was fairly close to Indiana and just watching Louisville play I don't think there is anyone better in America right now. Indiana by virtue of being the number 2 overall seed, does not get the Indianapolis regional. I could easily justify putting Duke as a 1 seed based on their overall body of work, but I simply could not put them ahead of ACC regular season and tournament champion Miami. That said I think Miami and Duke are both possible one seeds, even though I went with Gonzaga and Kansas.

2-3 seeds: The only additional thing I will note about the 2 seeds is I think Ohio State can get there if it wins the Big Ten tournament AND Ole Miss beats Florida. Otherwise I like my 2 and 3 seeds as they are right now.

4-6 Seeds: I think Arizona has a good case for a 4 seed, but I think a lot of that was based on early season luck. As a result I ultimately went with Michigan and Syracuse for the final four seeds. I could even see the committee making the leap and putting St Louis there. If North Carolina wins the ACC today, I may bump them up to a 5 seed, knocking down NC State. Likewise if VCU wins the A10 I may flip them and UNLV.

Some Specific Teams:

Villanova- There is plenty of weakness to their resume, but I ultimately decided to see them on the high end of where they may be seeded, because I value, and I think the committee has historically valued, really strong wins. Now if really strong wins come with a bad resume that is one thing, but Villanova's wins come with at least an alright resume. Because of this, I think the wins keep them in the 9/10 range.

Boise State- I like what Boise State accomplished in the number 1 RPI conference. I think that is going to matter to the committee. I think Boise is going to be a 10 seed, further away from the bubble than many experts have them.

Cincinnati- You may notice I moved Cincinnati up a couple spots on my bracket and are now the highest 11 seed. Essentially I made the decision that Temple and Wichita State should be behind Oklahoma and Cincinnati. I could, however, see the committee going the other way. I think Cincinnati is going to likely wind up with either the 10 or 11 seed. I know many people have them as a 9 and there is an outside shot at that, but honestly I don't think they will be there (which is probably a good thing).

Last Four In: I am really comfortable with St Marys, La Salle and Ole Miss at this point, though it would not shock me if either of them were left out. As I mentioned in my ranking the bubble piece, St Marys has a flimsy resume based on RPI wins, but their advanced numbers (Ken Pom) are really good and scream tournament team (and probably a higher seed than I have them). Frankly if the committee seeded them as high as a 10 seed I would be 100% Ok wit that. La Salle to me is a closer case, but I just think their overall resume is better than the rest of the bubble. I think Ole Miss played their way in by taking 2/3 from Missouri and making the finals of the SEC tournament. I did not necessarily think this would be enough at the beginning of the week, but none of the bubble teams around them did anything to warrant a bid. Ole Miss, of course, can beat Florida to earn the automatic bid, and avoid being in the first 4.

The last spot, however, is a nightmare. I ultimately went with Tennessee because I think they have more meat on their resume when it comes to beating tournament caliber teams than anyone but Virginia. Virginia would be an interesting case, but they did too much damage to their resume and closed the season poorly. There is a lot of talk about Middle Tennessee State, but wow is their body of work uninspiring. I'd be fine with them getting in, but I ultimately could not put them in over Tennessee. I do think switching Tennessee for MTSU is the spot I am most likely off.

I will put up my final bracket just before the selection show, after the games have finished.

http://bearcatmark.blogspot.com/2013/03/...ld_17.html

I agree with your 1 seeds. Buckeyes have a shot for a two today depending. I think you overvalued Villanova by a lot. I know they have the great wins but puts them in the field but doesn't earn than anything more than a double digit seed. They will have the most losses by any at large team. Some of those losses included Columbia, a sweep by Providence, and a loss to Seton Hall. Their work against like resume teams is awful Losses to Temple, Notre Dame, LaSalle, Pitt (x2), Cincinnati, and Alabama coupled with a win @UConn. Home wins against Georgetown, Louisville, Syracuse, and Marquette get them in but its going be below Cincinnati because they didn't do anything outside of the league.

So in your scenario, Mark, UC could only play N.C. or UNLV. What's our chances ?

(03-17-2013 12:17 PM)CincyBro Wrote:  So in your scenario, Mark, UC could only play N.C. or UNLV. What's our chances ?

Not necessarily. Yes, most of the time, if UC is an 11 seed and those are the 6 seeds, but it's pretty easy to be off by a seedline one way or the other with any team. Hell, being off one spot with teams on the boarder can change their seed. I have UC as an 11, but think a 10 is almost as likely.

Hell even if my seedline are 100% right, the committee is allowed to move teams 1 seed line for bracketing purposes. So UC could be a true 11 and get moved up. or Notre Dame could be a true 6 and get moved down. You never know.

(03-17-2013 11:08 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Current Projected Field

1 Seeds: Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga, Kansas
2 Seeds: Miami (Fl), Duke, New Mexico, Florida

Mark, the more I think about it I can see Kansas ahead of Gonzaga. They beat 5 tournament teams in the non-conference and have a very impressive win at OSU. They also have the most top 50 wins with 13.

Then it comes down to who gets the final 1 seed, Gonzaga or Miami? UNC can put an end to that in the next 30 minutes though. I just can't see the outright winner of the ACC and its conference tournament getting a 2.

I'm amazed at some of the games this Mississippi team has lost. So many players who can handle the ball, so many athletes and some really good scorers. They have been impressive at time this year. looking great right now

I think Andy Kennedy just got himself a contract extension.

(03-17-2013 12:21 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 12:17 PM)CincyBro Wrote:  So in your scenario, Mark, UC could only play N.C. or UNLV. What's our chances ?

Not necessarily. Yes, most of the time, if UC is an 11 seed and those are the 6 seeds, but it's pretty easy to be off by a seedline one way or the other with any team. Hell, being off one spot with teams on the boarder can change their seed. I have UC as an 11, but think a 10 is almost as likely.

Hell even if my seedline are 100% right, the committee is allowed to move teams 1 seed line for bracketing purposes. So UC could be a true 11 and get moved up. or Notre Dame could be a true 6 and get moved down. You never know.

Understand all this, I just took your scenario as if all this had happened, then we would either play NC or UNLV. What do you think our chances would be against either team ? My guess, 10 seed against Creighton out West.

(03-17-2013 01:40 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm amazed at some of the games this Mississippi team has lost. So many players who can handle the ball, so many athletes and some really good scorers. They have been impressive at time this year. looking great right now

Good for Ole Miss! It's nice to see a bubble team actually play its way in to the field. I'd love to have a big like Murphy Holloway. He averages 14/10 and he's a career 54% shooter. Just a 3-star recruit too.

(03-17-2013 02:08 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I think Andy Kennedy just got himself a contract extension.

I bet he'd settle for a significant upgrade in funding for the basketball program or a better job.

(03-17-2013 02:10 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 01:40 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I'm amazed at some of the games this Mississippi team has lost. So many players who can handle the ball, so many athletes and some really good scorers. They have been impressive at time this year. looking great right now

Good for Ole Miss! It's nice to see a bubble team actually play its way in to the field. I'd love to have a big like Murphy Holloway. He averages 14/10 and he's a career 54% shooter. Just a 3-star recruit too.

Always thought Kennedy did a nice job with the bigs, we don't seem to have that much anymore. Congrats to Ole Miss.

(03-17-2013 02:08 PM)Bruce Monnin Wrote:  I think Andy Kennedy just got himself a contract extension.

No way. He sucks. Everyone hates him down there. His teams always choke, He hates black peope. He served the great satan huggins, yada yada yada. Don't you know anything Bruce!?!?!

The Ole Miss win probably puts Middle Tennessee into the field as well. Gives them a legit top 50 win to go along with the 9th best OOC SOS.

Great to see AK get his first NCAA tournament bid. Did not let the committee screw him out of a bid this time, like in 2006. Also delivered Ole Miss it's 2nd SEC Championship in basketball ever...very impressive. Good for him.

Very happy for AK! He may have his naysayers but I was always a fan.
Wish UC had bigs (or developed bigs) like we used to have.
Will be cheering for the Rebs (Black Bears) in the tourney.

What's the chance they put Ole Miss and UC in the same bracket in the hopes they might meet up? (I understand they will both be hi seeds so them meeting up would be highly unlikely.) The committee does seem fond of putting together matchups that yield good storylines. AK versus UC would provide media fodder if it happened.

Final Bracket
(Conference Champions in BOLD)

1 Seeds: Louisville, Indiana, Gonzaga, Kansas
2 Seeds: Miami (Fl), Duke, New Mexico, Ohio State
3 Seeds: Florida, Georgetown, Michigan State, Wisconsin
4 Seeds: Kansas State, Marquette, Syracuse, Michigan
5 Seeds: Arizona, Oklahoma State, St. Louis, NC State
6 Seeds: Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, North Carolina, UNLV
7 Seeds: VCU, Butler, Colorado State, Creighton
8 Seeds: UCLA, Memphis, Oregon, Illinois
9 Seeds: SD State, Minnesota, Villanova, Colorado
10 Seeds: Boise State, Iowa State, Missouri, Cincinnati
11 Seeds: Oklahoma, Temple, Wichita State, Ole Miss
12 Seeds: St Marys / Tennessee, Belmont, La Salle / California, Bucknell
13 Seeds: Valpo, Akron, Davidson, South Dakota State
14 Seeds: Montana, Harvard, New Mexico State, Florida Gulf Coast
15 Seeds: Iona, Northwestern State, Albany, Pacific
16 Seeds: WKU, Southern, LIU / Liberty, James Madison / NC A&T

Last Four In:
St Marys
California
La Salle
Tennessee

Others in Consideration:
Middle Tennessee State
Kentucky
Virginia
Maryland
Umass
Southern Miss
Iowa
Bama

A few final notes. Louisville is the number 1 overall seed. I debated Florida v. Ohio State for the final 2 seed and ultimately went with Ohio State. They have better wins and better losses. It really was that simple. Regardless of what happens in the Big 10 Championship that will be the same. I swapped UC and Oklahoma as the more I look at UC's resume the more I think it is ever so slightly better. That makes UC the last 10 seed and Oklahoma the top 11. I decided to value Tennessee's wins and put them in, but would not be surprised if MTSU ultimately got the last mid. I'd be fine if they gave the last bid to Virginia or Iowa, but I cannot fathom that given their non-conference SOS and some of UVA's awful losses. I'd also be fine if UMass got the last bid.

Lastly, I have done my attempt at bracketing based on region and where the first and second round matchups will be. The city between the two games designates the 4 team pods for each region. I'm not positive, but I believe the East will match the Midwest and the South will match the West in the National Semis.

East - DC

1. Indiana
16. LIU / Liberty
Dayton Pod
8. Memphis
9. Villanova

4. Syracuse
13. Akron
San Jose Pod
5. Oklahoma State
12. California / La Salle

2. Duke
15. Albany
Philly Pod
7. Colorado State
10. Cincinnati

3. Michigan State
14. Harvard
Auburn Hills Pod
6. Notre Dame
11. Wichita State

West- LA

1. Gonzaga
16. Southern
Salt Lake City Pod
8. UCLA
9. Colorado

4. Kansas State
13. South Dakota State
Kansas City Pod
5. NC State
12. St Marys / Tennessee

2. Miami (fl)
15. Pacific
Lexington Pod
7. Creighton
10. Boise State

3. Wisconsin
14. Montana
Auburn Hills Pod
6. Pittsburgh
11. Ole Miss


Midwest – Indy

1. Louisville
16. James Madison / NC A&T
Dayton Pod
8. Illinois
9. San Diego State

4. Michigan
13. Valpo
San Jose Pod
5. Arizona
12. Bucknell

2. Ohio State
15. Iona
Lexington Pod
7. VCU
10. Missouri

3. Florida
14. Florida Gulf Coast
Austin Pod
6. North Carolina
11. Oklahoma

South – Dallas

1. Kansas
16. WKU
Kansas City Pod
8. Oregon
9. Minnesota

4. Marquette
13. Davidson
Salt Lake City Pod
5. St. Louis
12. Belmont

2. New Mexico
15. Northwestern State
Austin Pod
7. Butler
10. Iowa State

3. Georgetown
14. New Mexico State
Philly Pod
6. UNLV
11. Temple

http://bearcatmark.blogspot.com/2013/03/...acket.html