TrueGriz
Well-known member
Okay, I am going to make a prediction on the seeding for the Tournament. This will be based on what I would like to see happen. For this to happen, some teams that I consider a favorite will need to lose.
1. EWU - already has clinched
2. PSU - upset Weber State and beat ISU
3. UM - Beat NAU
4. Sac St - Beat MSU to take 4th
5. MSU - Win against NAU earned the 5th spot
6. WSU - Two losses gave them 6th
7. NAU - Two losses kicked them out of tournament
8. ISU - with no defense and lousy free throw shooting has no chance to
make the tournament.
Reason I put UM at third, is because they will be able to play at home on March 6th at 2:00 PM. Advantage of this may not be obvious, but there is a week and a half before the second round and championship game are played. That is a long period to lose any momentum earned at the end of the regular season. In addition, the top 2 seed do not know who they will play until the first round is played, while the 3rd and 4th seeds will know.
I put PSU in second, because if the Griz do win the first round in Missoula, they will play PSU in cheney. Considering PSU beat Griz twice, it will be so much harder for them to beat the Griz three times. Plus, the Griz are playing so much better now then when they played PSU. The second loss to PSU, was when Griz hit rock bottom. Now, the Griz are peaking. Having a game in Missoula first will help the Griz tune up the 3 guard offense and continue the momentum they have now.
The rest of the order of finish is just as good a guess as anybody can make. I do hope for a championship game with the Griz and Eagles. Griz tend to play so well in Cheney, and considering the past, have spoiled the Eagles dreams several times in Cheney. Seems just the opposite when played in Missoula, though.
But, I know this is just a prediction that is based on bias. I consider WSU a darkhorse. A team that can beat anybody in the tournament. In reality, I would have to say they would be a favorite to place higher than I have here. They may have a better chance at earning the second seed than anybody else. But, I have placed them in 6th due to tie breakers (which I really haven't investigated heavily as that 256 possibilities is quite a bit to take in).
Anyway, This is how I would like to see it. Second seed is nice with only two games to play, but a week and a half is a long time to sit around. Have to also consider the first and second seeds will not know who they will play, plus the first round participants will have plenty of time to prepare and recoup from the first round games, it isn't as much of an advantage as it used to be to have that first round bye. It actually may be advantageous to play the first round just for getting the cobwebs out of the system from sitting around for a whole week. I mean, since the first and second seeds will not know who they will be playing, and there is a week and a half, they really will just be sitting around waiting till the first round games are over before they can really plan. I guess they can spend time preparing for more than one team, which is an advantage, but I don't think that will be as big of an advantage as some may think. They all know each other now, and two days preparation should be enough before heading to Cheney.
1. EWU - already has clinched
2. PSU - upset Weber State and beat ISU
3. UM - Beat NAU
4. Sac St - Beat MSU to take 4th
5. MSU - Win against NAU earned the 5th spot
6. WSU - Two losses gave them 6th
7. NAU - Two losses kicked them out of tournament
8. ISU - with no defense and lousy free throw shooting has no chance to
make the tournament.
Reason I put UM at third, is because they will be able to play at home on March 6th at 2:00 PM. Advantage of this may not be obvious, but there is a week and a half before the second round and championship game are played. That is a long period to lose any momentum earned at the end of the regular season. In addition, the top 2 seed do not know who they will play until the first round is played, while the 3rd and 4th seeds will know.
I put PSU in second, because if the Griz do win the first round in Missoula, they will play PSU in cheney. Considering PSU beat Griz twice, it will be so much harder for them to beat the Griz three times. Plus, the Griz are playing so much better now then when they played PSU. The second loss to PSU, was when Griz hit rock bottom. Now, the Griz are peaking. Having a game in Missoula first will help the Griz tune up the 3 guard offense and continue the momentum they have now.
The rest of the order of finish is just as good a guess as anybody can make. I do hope for a championship game with the Griz and Eagles. Griz tend to play so well in Cheney, and considering the past, have spoiled the Eagles dreams several times in Cheney. Seems just the opposite when played in Missoula, though.
But, I know this is just a prediction that is based on bias. I consider WSU a darkhorse. A team that can beat anybody in the tournament. In reality, I would have to say they would be a favorite to place higher than I have here. They may have a better chance at earning the second seed than anybody else. But, I have placed them in 6th due to tie breakers (which I really haven't investigated heavily as that 256 possibilities is quite a bit to take in).
Anyway, This is how I would like to see it. Second seed is nice with only two games to play, but a week and a half is a long time to sit around. Have to also consider the first and second seeds will not know who they will play, plus the first round participants will have plenty of time to prepare and recoup from the first round games, it isn't as much of an advantage as it used to be to have that first round bye. It actually may be advantageous to play the first round just for getting the cobwebs out of the system from sitting around for a whole week. I mean, since the first and second seeds will not know who they will be playing, and there is a week and a half, they really will just be sitting around waiting till the first round games are over before they can really plan. I guess they can spend time preparing for more than one team, which is an advantage, but I don't think that will be as big of an advantage as some may think. They all know each other now, and two days preparation should be enough before heading to Cheney.
