2013-2014 Bracketology thread

[GoAcesgo]

I will be upset if we get Kentucky in the second round, not because I think they're any good, but it would be another case of us getting screwed.

We get Greensboro, Portland, and SLC. We finally get a 1 and get a close tournament site and then we get stuck with a team that's closer to the site than us and has the best traveling fanbase in the country. Vomit.

You guys might as well prepare for this, they will make your path to the final four the most difficult of any of the top seeds, your 2nd game will be against a team from a bcs conference, just my opinion.

[Cdizzle]

You guys might as well prepare for this, they will make your path to the final four the most difficult of any of the top seeds, your 2nd game will be against a team from a bcs conference, just my opinion.

That does not necessarily make it the most difficult.

The only real drawback to playing Kentucky this year in St. Louis would be that we would lose home-court advantage. WSU and UK are polar opposites in every way.

Honestly, I do not believe the selection committee will "go out of their way" to create a more or less difficult path for WSU. Often those plans would fall apart by the 2nd or 3rd round anyway. Personally, I'd welcome a chance to beat the crap out of BCS teams for a couple of weeks. No need to knock out other good non-BCS teams fighting the good fight.

[RoyalShock]

I thought being a one seed gave you regional home court advantage for the first two games. What is the rule there?

I believe the only rule is that top 4 seeds are protected from a home court advantage in their opponent's favor in the first game.

"To recognize the demonstrated quality of such
teams, the committee shall not place teams
seeded on the first four lines at a potential
“home-crowd disadvantage” in the second
round."

http://www.ncaa.com/sites/default/files ... edures.pdf

Ok, so they're worried that a 13-16 seed might have more fans than a 1-4 seed? Except in a few rare circumstances, I don't see an automatic qualifier from a one-bid league that doesn't have an at-large-worthy resume having more fans at any venue than a top-4 seed. But I guess it's good to have the rule, just in case. Did one of those rare circumstances happen, and now we have the rule?

[TheAsianSensation]

I think the NCAA cares more about the raw impact travel has on a team. Traveling 1500 miles while your opponent travels 50 miles is a disadvantage, regardless of the seeds.

Also, you have to remember, often times, 4 seeds are shipped across the country, since you only have so many regional sites. This year, teams like Creighton, UNC, Cincy, etc might get shipped to Spokane. So the rule protects them from butting up against, say, Weber State in Salt Lake City or Eastern Washington in Spokane.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Is this the "LSU rule" from the 1980s when they made their run after pulling an upset in either Baton Rouge or New Orleans?

[RoyalShock]

I think the NCAA cares more about the raw impact travel has on a team. Traveling 1500 miles while your opponent travels 50 miles is a disadvantage, regardless of the seeds.

Also, you have to remember, often times, 4 seeds are shipped across the country, since you only have so many regional sites. This year, teams like Creighton, UNC, Cincy, etc might get shipped to Spokane. So the rule protects them from butting up against, say, Weber State in Salt Lake City or Eastern Washington in Spokane.

I can buy that. Though I still think a top-4 seed is going to have more fans make that trip than most of those schools average at a home game. Again, I'm sure there are rare exceptions.

It seems more accurate to state that it ensures a home-court advantage for the higher seed than to say it protects the lower seed from having a home-court advantage.

I know, I'm arguing semantics, splitting hairs and over-thinking it. Yikes! I should have more important things to do!

[rlh04d]

The only real drawback to playing Kentucky this year in St. Louis would be that we would lose home-court advantage. WSU and UK are polar opposites in every way.

It'd be interesting to see that game for that reason.

[RoyalShock]

So, TAS, is there any way Oklahoma St. can get off the 8/9 seed lines? I really, really, don't want to play them in the first weekend.

[TheAsianSensation]

So, TAS, is there any way Oklahoma St. can get off the 8/9 seed lines? I really, really, don't want to play them in the first weekend.

I've got them as a 9 seed with no chance to drop. Likely need 2 wins to get to the 7 line.

Saving grace: Kansas St is in the same range as them, and may get geographic priority, so to speak. Also, there may be several Pac-12 teams around the 8-9 line. If Oregon, UCLA, Colorado, and Arizona St all end up there, one of them will line up in Wichita's sub-regional.

[MSUDuo]

Iowa and SMU. Damn man. Going to be sweating bullets come Sunday now.