| East (East Rutherford) | South (San Antonio) | Midwest (St. Louis) | West (San Jose) |
|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | Kansas | Florida | UCLA |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | Wisconsin | Ohio State | Georgetown |
| 3 | Memphis | Washington State | Texas A&M | Southern Illinois |
| 4 | Oregon | Virginia Tech | Louisville | Texas |
How much impact does winning a conference tournament have for a team that is a lock to be in the tournament?
- Not much. As long a team avoids a first or second round upset in the conference tournament (Maryland, Virginia, Texas A&M), the semifinals and finals are just playing for the conference trophy. Gun to your head, how many teams from the Colonial get into the tournament?
- I'm going to go with three. The CAA was unspectacular, but very deep with four teams winning 22 games and at least 13 in conference. I think that second round casualty Drexel has a very strong chance of leapfrogging Hofstra and Old Dominion, due to road wins over Villanova, Syracuse and Ivy League champion, Penn. Hofstra's profile is strong as well, but their best out of conference win was St. Joseph's a team that the Dragons defeated. Old Dominion beat Georgetown, but will be hampered by losses to Virginia Tech, Marist, and Clemson.
Same question, but about Missouri Valley; does the so-called deepest conference
in America get more than two bids this year?
- Short of typing "I don't know", I think there will be just two teams. While some MVC teams have quality, even marquee, wins, I don't think any of the profiles jump out and say that this is a tournament team. Creighton's dismantling of Missouri State sealed the fate of the bears.
Who will be a difference maker in March?
- I think one of the most underrataed guards in America is Levance Fields. He reminds me a lot Carl Krauser physically, but gets his teammates involved the way Krauser never did in what seemed like his nine years at Pittsburgh. Aaron Gray is a good college center, but without Fields drawing the defense when he penetrates, he is exponentially less effective. Recently, the Panthers have only gone as far as their point guard could take them, and I do not see 2007 being any exception. His ball control and ability to play lockdown defense will help this tremendously against the higher seeds late in the tournament.
How would you place the top seeds?
- Regardless of what happens this weekend, this is how I see it shaking out:
4 comments:
We've got charts and graphs now at OSM? Brilliant. Midwest regional is St Louis though, Chicago has first weekend games.
The ESPN coverage today is already nauseatingly pro-power conference. It's disgusting.
I don't think the CAA is going to get three. Drexel has some nice wins OOC, but didn't fare very well against the top teams in the conference. Also, the conference plays an 18-game schedule, so the conference win statistic isn't as impressive. Depending on how the rest of the day plays out, I'll say VCU and ODU.
Barring any surprises, I think Missouri State gets in. They're right on the bubble, have a win against Wisconsin, and got screwed over last year.
I am under the assumption that the committee will weigh non-conference road wins very heavily when it comes to time to decide who gets in or out. Beating Syracuse, Villanova and Penn will not, and should not, be held in light regard.
I don't think UCLA gets a #1 seed, and the winner of the Wisconsin/OSU game does. Other than that, I agree.
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