Who Gives a Hoot? WE DO!

[IdaGriz01]

Are we the only ones watching other teams play? Seems like.

Another terrific game: In the Big East, Xavier (2-seed) trailed DePaul (10-seed) for most of the game ... down by 13 at one point. They finally went ahead with 1:49 to go, but it could have gone either way from there. They pulled it out, after trading foul shots, 89-84. Hell of a game!

 

[IdaGriz01]

Was not planning to bump this thread (doesn't seem to be much interest), but a “story” has developed in the Big Ten … so I couldn’t resist.

Ohio State (13-18, 5-15 in the regular season), the 13-seed, just knocked of the Michigan State (19-11), the 4-seed. They are now 3-0 in the tournament, having previously won over Wisconsin (17-13, 12-seed) and Iowa (19-12, 5-seed) – three games in three days. They get Purdue tomorrow, and: Who’s gonna put money against them?

 

[IdaGriz01]

For those interested, here’s a wrap-up:
Although half the 1-seeds failed to win their conference tournaments, only five teams with seeds below #2 won championships. So, overall, the conference seeding process looks not that bad. What does not show in those numbers was how many close calls there were. Example: In the Big Ten, Purdue escaped by just two points from an upset by 10-seed Penn State. A last-second hope-shot trey goes in, and that goes the other way.

Of course, five “losing” 1-seeds from the power conferences – Houston, Kansas, Miami (FL), St. Mary’s (CA) and UCLA – also got bids to the Big Dance and won't be "relegated" to the NIT.

One anomaly: In the NEC, Merrimack won both the regular season and the conference but was ineligible for the post-season because they are still in transition to D-I. I assume that also keeps them out of the NIT, but I’m not sure.


FWIW: I missed one of my bid predictions this time around (less than 3%, by the way) … Nevada. That was mainly because I didn’t think the committee would give the Mountain West four teams, even though the conference had a really good year. (Ye of little faith!)

At least the Big Sky did get a #14 seed. But Montana State will be traveling cross country to Greensboro, NC, to face Kansas State, which was ranked #12 in the country, the last I looked.