5 seed - Bracketology

[twistedredbird]

Not that I put a whole lot of stake in Creme for his bracketology, RBTL - East Coast bias, but here it is:

Bracketology - ESPN

I guess I just can't fathom why KSTATE is a 4 seed, Texas a 6, and ISU a 5.

KSTATE - no significant non-conference wins - SOS 219
ISU - non-conference - SOS -42 Minnesota, Vandy, San Diego St.

KSTATE - RPI 25
ISU - 16

KSTATE - SOS - 57
ISU - SOS 18

KSTATE - Top conference wins - ISU, OSU(ONLY top 50 RPI wins of their whole season)
ISU - KSU, A&M, OSU (almost Texas, still upset about that loss)

And now to Texas, 14 RPI, yeah Creme they lost 3 of their last four games, to BU, A&M, and OSU. Not "terrible losses" and they were all close games. Oh, Lehning was sick, not when A&M blew them out on their home court.

I think ISU's resume, other than the early losses to Iowa and Stanford, is quite good. And those games were when ISU hadn't figured out its line-up yet and Wieben hadn't found her legs yet. Everyone keeps talking about NU, MU, KU, and Colorado being "bottom dwellers" to beat and makes ISU's schedule "easier", but winning in Boulder, Lincoln, Columbia, and Lawrence is tough. Only one of those teams has a losing record for the year.

Anyway, I think ISU and Texas are stronger arguments for a 4 seed than KSU.

[mj4cy]

You should email him that stuff.

[hurdleisu24]

I also think its interesting. I thought that maybe K-State hosted but they don't they have them in Lubbock and why is Texas not there that doesn't make any sense to me. The problem with ISU is that the committee knows its fans are going to travel and because of that they may end up lower as a seed because they will bring fans to a "pod" that may not be exactly a great place because of the teams in it to get revanue. I would hope that if they do that thou they are atleast a little bit nicer and not make ISU play Maryland in North Carolina.

[Clone_12]

I'd be happy with that draw...although Bowling Green would be a tough 12seed.

[mj4cy]

I also think its interesting. I thought that maybe K-State hosted but they don't they have them in Lubbock and why is Texas not there that doesn't make any sense to me. The problem with ISU is that the committee knows its fans are going to travel and because of that they may end up lower as a seed because they will bring fans to a "pod" that may not be exactly a great place because of the teams in it to get revanue. I would hope that if they do that thou they are atleast a little bit nicer and not make ISU play Maryland in North Carolina.

Austin and Lubbock or no where close.

[Tornado man]

K-State has a big game at home tomorrow against Texas - big for both teams.
I don't see a difference between a 4 and a 5 anyway. We probably would have been a 4 in his eyes if not for that loss to KU. Keep in mind, K-State swept them.
I also agree with him - the two power conferences seems to be the Big East and ACC. The Big 12 has a lot to prove this year.

[jdoggivjc]

I do like your argument.

That being said, take a look at the rankings. Now granted, rankings aren't the "end-all-be-all" authority to NCAA Tourney seedings, but when you take into account that for most of the season we have been located in the 20-25 range (if ranked at all), well, that's 4-5-6 seed territory. Now granted, K-State isn't even in the rankings and they're a #4 seed, but first this is one man's opinion, and second the team is probably better off being concerned about taking care of their own business and less concerned about comparing where they're being projected versus other teams. Take care of business and let the seedings sort themselves out.

[twistedredbird]

K-State has a big game at home tomorrow against Texas - big for both teams.

I don't see a difference between a 4 and a 5 anyway. We probably would have been a 4 in his eyes if not for that loss to KU. Keep in mind, K-State swept them.
I also agree with him - the two power conferences seems to be the Big East and ACC. The Big 12 has a lot to prove this year.

Conference RPI -

1 Big 12130280.82280.60680.53480.6080
2 ACC144360.80000.59100.52140.5971
3 Big East167400.80680.58900.51640.5909
4 SEC132420.75860.58640.52890.5884
5 Big Ten74430.63250.59790.58630.5646
6 Pac-1071380.65140.57650.55150.5581

Other than UCONN and Louisville, I think the top tier of the Big 12 is stronger than the rest of the Big East. Pittsburgh is good, but can also be hot/cold - see loss to last place 10-19 Providence. I even think OU, BU would give Louiville a run for their money.

ACC- Again, I think the top tier Big 12 OU and Baylor could beat any team in the ACC. This is a tough comparison, because ACC is a run and gun conference, Big 12 teams put more emphasis on power, position, clean ball and defense. It would definately be interesting to see some Big 12/ACC match-ups, and Big 12/Big East match-ups.

But, frankly, all eight Big 12 teams to make the dance last year(and all won their first round games) are stronger or on par with last year except OSU, and that's a big ??? They really suffered with their Big 12 schedule. Yes, last year, the Big East beat the Big 12 in the second round matchups, but those, for the most part were higher seeds, ala Rutgers/ISU.

As far as KU, KU has been an underacheiving team until late and I projected ISU would lose that game. They have had major turnover problems, but are a good team when those are down. Hendrickson has always matched BF schemes well, and he has admitted that in his pressers.

The Texas/KSU game is an important game for both parties. Knowing Goestenkors fighting moxi, I say Texas by a mile.

Of course MU on Senior night, and KU at home are what ISU needs to be focused on.

[hurdleisu24]

Austin and Lubbock or no where close.

Aren't they closer than what Manhatten is to Lubbock?

[mred]

Aren't they closer than what Manhattan is to Lubbock?

Surprisingly, the drive-time difference is only about 3 hours.

Austin to Lubbock: 393 miles -- 7:16
Manhattan to Lubbock: 669 miles -- 10:25

Most of the Austin route is non-limited access highway, not interstate or limited access highway.

[Tornado man]

Yes, last year, the Big East beat the Big 12 in the second round matchups, but those, for the most part were higher seeds, ala Rutgers/ISU.

There were four second-round games between Big East and Big 12 teams. The Big East won all four. In half of those, the Big 12 team was seeded higher:
Baylor was a #3 and lost to Pitt, a #6.
Oklahoma was a #4, and lost to Notre Dame, a #5.

Thank god for Texas A/M for playing so well last year, in pounding Duke and giving Tennessee a very good game.
It's time for the Big 12 to put up or shut up. Yes, it starts with our name programs - Baylor and OU, but also Iowa State. We have a very experienced team, and have not won more than one game in the NCAA for a long time...

[MidwestZest]

I guess I just can't fathom why KSTATE is a 4 seed, Texas a 6, and ISU a 5.

and to top off the injustice....KSU is still ranked higher than us in this weeks Coaches poll. *WTF MATE?*

NCAA College Basketball Polls, College Basketball Rankings, NCAA Basketball Polls - ESPN

We are also ranked AHEAD of Tennessee - for the first time since..... the dawn of time?
If ANYONE thinks KSU is better than tennessee right now, they should be shot.

[twistedredbird]

There were four second-round games between Big East and Big 12 teams. The Big East won all four. In half of those, the Big 12 team was seeded higher:
Baylor was a #3 and lost to Pitt, a #6.
Oklahoma was a #4, and lost to Notre Dame, a #5.

Thank god for Texas A/M for playing so well last year, in pounding Duke and giving Tennessee a very good game.
It's time for the Big 12 to put up or shut up. Yes, it starts with our name programs - Baylor and OU, but also Iowa State. We have a very experienced team, and have not won more than one game in the NCAA for a long time...

True. I have wondered why with the success we have had, why we haven't been able to step up the caliber of our recruiting classes and take the program higher. Look what Mulkey and Coale have done in less time.

Yes, I think we have a decent class coming in(Prins & Zimmerman), but I would think that would be more than a few top players that want to play for a team that has a top five attendance in WBB.

However, is the problem we love BF so much, and the type of people he recruits, that we all have become complacent with this level?

BF had talked in one his press conferences that ISU was getting hurt in recruiting because the team played mostly zone defense. Perhaps this new change will bring about other changes.

[twistedredbird]

I'd be happy with that draw...although Bowling Green would be a tough 12seed.

Guess I don't know much about BG, but their resume is pretty pathetic. Perhaps the MAC isn't great, but then they need to step up and try to schedule some real non-cons.

[Tornado man]

Yes, I think we have a decent class coming in(Prins & Zimmerman), but I would think that would be more than a few top players that want to play for a team that has a top five attendance in WBB.

However, is the problem we love BF so much, and the type of people he recruits, that we all have become complacent with this level?

I agree. How many other campuses have their womens basketball players treated as such celebrities? I watched the Texas players scanning the crowd during their pre-game warm-ups - looked like they were impressed, maybe jealous.
What I love about BF is how honest he is; he has attributed his early success in the conference in part to the fact that some of the schools - OU, Texas A/M, K-State - didn't really care about the sport. Now that they all have big-time programs, he admits that winning over that last several years is a lot tougher.
Ames, Iowa is Ames, Iowa. I don't know how many of the top national recruits BF even gets an interest from.