The SEC is down theory is one of the things we discussed while recording radio today. The conference got six bids, one was a surprise automatic bid that went to Georgia.
I think the down theory showed itself in seeding, not in the number of bids. Tennessee as a 2 seed is fine, but the Vols were named the least of the 2 seeds by getting in the bracket with North Carolina, the No. 1 overall seed.
Arkansas and Mississippi State both ended up in the 8-9 games, meaning the winner gets the No. 1 seed in the second round. No doubt State hurt itself by losing to Georgia in the semis, but I didn’t think the Bulldogs should have dropped to the 8-9 game. Arkansas was 8-8 in the regular season and played in the tournament championship.
I liked Vanderbilt as a 4 seed, but Kentucky could have been better than 11. Some people considered Kentucky a bubble team last week, which I thought was crazy. A 12-4 SEC record in any season gets you win. The Wildcats had obvious struggles in the pre-conference schedule but were 9-3 in their last 12 in addition to the strong turnaround in league play.
Maybe seeding doesn’t matter, and Georgia, a 14 seed, will just carry on with its Atlanta momentum and run the table.
– PA
March 18, 2008 at 4:34 pm |
I think an 8 seed is very fair for MSU when you consider who the 7 seeds are. Butler, Gonzaga, West Virginia and Miami all have an rpi of 35 or better and Miami beat MSU in Starkville as I remember.
I am amazed how the committee chair said conference ratings were not considered. I also thought 8 teams from the Big East was too many until I realized they have 16 teams in the conference. They got half in as did the SEC. The Pac 10 evidently did best getting 6 of 10 in.
March 18, 2008 at 7:03 pm |
During our six (6) years in England, UK, horse racing was and still is a very popular sporting event. From my experience with this sport the favorite not a good bet. As far this NCAA tournment is concerned, I would say the Tennessee Waltz would be good listening music. Vols, Memphis, and Vandy. If one savors the refreshments out of those old oaken kegs, then the Kentucky Wildcats.
March 18, 2008 at 8:24 pm |
That conference record garbage is only an argument for the Pac-10 schools. It dang sure didn’t help us when it came down to it. I think that is hypocritical. If they just came out and said, we put Arizona in because they played a tough schedule, had injuries in some high profile games, but are 1 of the best 34 schools available for an at-large bid, I’m fine. But this we didn’t look at Conference record, when Ole Miss has wins against 6 tournament teams, ALL of which were in the same At-large pool minus Winthrop, I just don’t buy it. They could expand the tourney to 100 teams and there’d still be arguments, though. Nevertheless, this is one of the absolute best times of the year from a Sports perspetive. I can definetely put my differences aside with all of the SEC foes, and pull for them. So let’s go State, you can get to the Sweet 16 and oust those overrated Tigers!!! Ding-ding-ding or something.