Bracketology 2012-2013

[FearDaTrees]

I think they try to weed out the mid majors as early as possible. It seems like it to me anyways. There is always a few 5/12 matchups im disappointed with cause I dont wanna see one of them go in the first round. On another note, I think Creighton is in serious trouble. They are slipping in everyones eyes and an early loss in the MVC could be a ticket to the NIT.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Just a reaction as I build a bracket...

Does anyone buy into the theory that the committee rigs matchups to create fun matchups, or even pair up mid majors against each other to get rid of them?

Let me know. I have strong feelings. This is a litmus test to see who is a smart cookie and who isn't.

I have never subscribed to this theory. I have filled out my own mock bracket every year for the last 20 years or so and I have accidentally gotten some juicy matchups in my bracketing. But they weren't intentional. I suspect the same thing happens to the committee.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

AsianSensation,

The things that stood out to me in a quick glance at your bracket is firstly I would have Belmont in the Bubble In instead of the Next Four In. They have a good resume to me.

Secondly we don't see eye to eye on Middle Tennessee State. I don't care about their RPI, to me they are NIT bound if they don't grab the Sun Belt auto bid. Just my two cents.

Great work though. It very closely matches what I have at the moment.

[PantherSigEp]

Just a reaction as I build a bracket...

Does anyone buy into the theory that the committee rigs matchups to create fun matchups, or even pair up mid majors against each other to get rid of them?

Let me know. I have strong feelings. This is a litmus test to see who is a smart cookie and who isn't.

I think it's just the way the cookie crumbles that mid-majors normally get matched up in those early rounds of the 6/111's, 7/10's, 8/9's. I mean the highest you normally see a mid-major (other than the consistent powerhouses of Gonzaga, etc...) would be around a 5 or 6. The committee always gives the higher seeds to the very strong power-conference teams as they probably should. This year you will probably see a New Mexico receive a top 4 seed if they continue to play strongly but this just goes to show why we see those mid-majors take each other out early. It's not the committee purposely knocking them down but the power conference teams normally occupy the top spots and take on the weaker mid/low-majors (is that a thing?) who received auto-bids while stronger mid-majors take up the middle spots and play other mids or mediocre major teams.

[CaliRdBrd]

Not so sure they seed teams accoridng to story lines, but there is no doubt that they purposely match up mid majors (i.e. WSU vs VCU) in the 1st round. In addition, I guarantee they love putting mids in thr 8/9 spot to all but guarantee no Sweet 16.

[RoyalShock]

Pairing up 2 non-BCS teams in the round of 64 ensures one will move on. That's the opposite side of the conspiracy coin.

But to believe there's a conspiracy to eliminate them would also mean half or more of the selection committee is purposefully trying to screw their own, since half or more the committee is usually made up of non-BCS representatives.

So, no, I don't believe they intentionally create those matchups.

[RoyalShock]

I would also add that the reason you probably see more non-BCS teams in the 8/9 game is to avoid teams that played one another from meeting up in the round of 32. Since more teams get in from BCS conferences and they dominate the 1-seeds almost exclusively (creating more of a chance to create a round of 32 matchup between former opponents), a non-BCS team might get bumped into the 8/9 game so that one of the 1-seed's opponents can get bumped into a 7/10 seed.

[TheAsianSensation]

I have never subscribed to this theory. I have filled out my own mock bracket every year for the last 20 years or so and I have accidentally gotten some juicy matchups in my bracketing. But they weren't intentional. I suspect the same thing happens to the committee.

I think it's just the way the cookie crumbles that mid-majors normally get matched up in those early rounds of the 6/111's, 7/10's, 8/9's. I mean the highest you normally see a mid-major (other than the consistent powerhouses of Gonzaga, etc...) would be around a 5 or 6. The committee always gives the higher seeds to the very strong power-conference teams as they probably should. This year you will probably see a New Mexico receive a top 4 seed if they continue to play strongly but this just goes to show why we see those mid-majors take each other out early. It's not the committee purposely knocking them down but the power conference teams normally occupy the top spots and take on the weaker mid/low-majors (is that a thing?) who received auto-bids while stronger mid-majors take up the middle spots and play other mids or mediocre major teams.

Pairing up 2 non-BCS teams in the round of 64 ensures one will move on. That's the opposite side of the conspiracy coin.

But to believe there's a conspiracy to eliminate them would also mean half or more of the selection committee is purposefully trying to screw their own, since half or more the committee is usually made up of non-BCS representatives.

So, no, I don't believe they intentionally create those matchups.

You three have passed the test. Congratulations. You each win one internet.

I built a bracket last night and ran into Butler/St Mary's, Wichita St/MTSU, and St Louis/Belmont.

[TheAsianSensation]

AsianSensation,

The things that stood out to me in a quick glance at your bracket is firstly I would have Belmont in the Bubble In instead of the Next Four In. They have a good resume to me.

Secondly we don't see eye to eye on Middle Tennessee State. I don't care about their RPI, to me they are NIT bound if they don't grab the Sun Belt auto bid. Just my two cents.

Great work though. It very closely matches what I have at the moment.

Well, they're going to drop very badly down my S-curve with any loss, so I don't think they're as safe as it may seem to be by glancing at their position. But my hunches on these types of mid-majors in the past is that the NCAA will usually find room for one of them, and elevate them a seed line or two above where they really should be.

I know Belmont beat them, but it was at home. Also, there comes a point where you have to take face value of something - winning eleventy billion games in a row like MTSU has is going to get you places, regardless of quality. That's why Louisiana Tech is creeping up on the bubble with catastrohpic SoS numbers too.

[FearDaTrees]

Just curious about your guys opinion on this matter...do you think a team can go from ranked to out of the tourney with one loss? Akron, Middle Tennessee State, La Tech and Belmont are all bubble teams to me right now but they are also recieving votes. Let's just use La. Tech as an example. They are currently 24th in the AP poll with a record of 23-3, an RPI of 51and a horrible 224 SOS. IMO, they are out if they don't win the WAC tourney. The only "quality" win they have is against S. Miss who is in the same boat as La. Tech. Just want to hear some feedback on this issue.