For some, Selection Sunday is all about filling out their brackets for the 5 pools they're suddenly in. This of course after instantly becoming expert college basketball prognosticators.
For others it's the sheer joy of seeing their team rewarded for their season's successes and their chance to begin stating their case as to why their team is about to make its run through the tournament.
Then there's the unfortunate. The one's who will have to sit through all the regions and all the commercials, only to realize their team won't be dancing. For anyone that's been through this, as a longtime Syracuse fan I share in your pain (thankfully not too often).
Sometimes we even know the dream is dead long before the selections begin but hey...until that last line is read, the hope is alive, right?
Well. Unless you're a Cuse fan.
Whatever your reason for watching it is, enjoy it tonight and try not to go over-thinking the match ups. Perhaps most importantly, don't go in blind without a little help from your friends at The Bench!
The following is what I'm looking for this Selection Sunday.
My #1 Seeds
The VP of the NCAA's Men's Basketball Championships, Dan Gavitt told CBS in an interview yesterday that coach Cal's Kentucky squad earned the #1 overall seed regardless of their SEC Championship game vs Arkansas this afternoon. Kentucky has been the model of consistency all year and despite a couple of close calls, no other team in the nation has performed at Kentucky's level over the long haul.
With Gavitt's announcement, we are now left with three open spots for the regions #1 seeds. These are the teams most likely to occupy those spots...
Duke (29-4)
Despite bowing out of the ACC conference tournament in the semifinals to Notre Dame and North Carolina, respectfully. Virginia and Duke have both done enough throughout the course of the season to earn a 1-seed. Well I will acknowledge the possibility that the committee may opt to reward teams who won their conference championships, Virginia and Duke took turns throughout the season at being the best team in the nation's best conference. Duke ranks 5th while Virginia ranks 7th in RPI and while Duke lost in the semifinals to the eventual ACC champion, Notre Dame. Virginia captured the ACC regular season title with a record of 16-2. I give the nod to Duke thanks to their 69-63 win in their only head-to-head match.
Villanova (32-2)
Villanova is one of the more entertaining teams you'll find in this year's tournament. The Wildcats are ranked 21st in scoring (76.3ppg) and thoroughly dominated the Big East this season, en route to both the regular season title and conference tournament championship. Although the Big East is no longer the power it once was, the conference still boasts several quality teams and could see as many as 6 make the field. With their impressive overall record, strong RPI rating and their play in the Big East, Villanova would be a surprise omission in the top 4.
Arizona (31-3)
Zona is an extremely dangerous team heading into the tournament and when you look for teams that posses the right mix of athletes/shooting/defense who have the ability to put a stop to Kentucky's historic run, it's the other Wildcats who are likely to show up on a lot of lists. Although the Pac-12 is likely to only send three teams this year (Arizona, Utah & Oregon), the respect for those three is immense and as evidenced by their RPI ranking of 6th, there is no question Arizona is among the nation's truly elite teams.
Outside looking in...
Wisconsin (30-3)
Led by potential Wooden POY Frank Kaminsky and fellow NBA prospect Sam Dekker, the Badgers have their sights set on getting back to their second consecutive Final Four appearance but they may have to do so as the 2-seed again. While a Big Ten championship win over Michigan State would be a big plus in their favour, this year has been a down year in the conference and the Badger sport a loss to Duke on its resume. The likelihood of unseating either Villanova or Arizona seems unlikely.
Virginia (29-3)
See above for explanation. At the end of the day, I can't see the committee giving two #1 seeds to team's who didn't even make their own conference title game. So regardless that they were the top two teams in the country's best conference, expect one of the two to fall to the second line. Due to their home loss to Duke, its the Cavs here.
Gonzaga (32-2)
The Zags saw their chance at earning the program's second 1-seed fade after its regular season finale loss to BYU. Although they got their revenge in the WCC's Championships with a 91-75 win over BYU, all that seemed to accomplish was knocking the Cougars closer to the First Four Out. Gonzaga seems destined for a 2-seed.
Who will be this year's version of the 2014 SMU Mustangs?
Following last year's selection show, the SMU Mustangs sat in shock as the reality of missing out of the NCAA tournament began to set in. Due to a poor non-conference schedule, offering up few quality wins (although they beat the eventual champion, UCONN twice), SMU became the first team since Utah State in 2003 to miss the tournament despite being ranked.
This year SMU is ranked #20 with a record of 26-6 heading into the AAC Championship vs Connecticut and is a virtual lock regardless of that outcome. There is one other team however, that could make it back-to-back years with a ranked team missing the Big Dance.
After winning a share of the Mountain West regular season crown, #25 Boise State was given the top seed heading into the playoffs but they failed to contain the duo of Josh Adams and Larry Nance Jr. of Wyoming, who combined for 47 points in the Cowboys 71-66 overtime win in the semifinals.
While Boise State (25-8) can point to its three wins over RPI top-30 teams (2x San Diego State, Colorado State), their lack of a strong non-conference mixed with
Last Four In
Miami
LSU
Boise State
Temple
First Four Out
BYU
Indiana
Murray State
Tulsa
Automatic bids
(AAC) SMU 27-6
(ACC) Notre Dame 29-5
(America East) Albany 24-8
(ACC) Notre Dame 29-5
(America East) Albany 24-8
(Atlantic 10) VCU 26-9
(Atlantic Sun) North Florida* 23-11
(Big 12) Iowa State 25-8
(Big East) Villanova 32-2
(Big Sky) Eastern Washington 26-8
(Big South) Coastal Carolina 24-9
(Big Ten) Wisconsin 31-3
(Big West) UC Irvine* 21-12
(CAA) Northeastern 23-11
(C-USA) UAB 19-15
(Horizon) Valparaiso 28-5
(Ivy League) Harvard 22-7
(MAAC) Manhattan 19-13
(MAC) Buffalo* 23-9
(MEAC) Hampton 16-17
(Mountain West) Wyoming 25-9
(MVC) Northern Iowa 30-3
(Northeast) Robert Morris 19-14
(Ohio Valley) Belmont 22-10
(Pac-12) Arizona 31-3
(Patriot League) Lafayette 20-12
(Atlantic Sun) North Florida* 23-11
(Big 12) Iowa State 25-8
(Big East) Villanova 32-2
(Big Sky) Eastern Washington 26-8
(Big South) Coastal Carolina 24-9
(Big Ten) Wisconsin 31-3
(Big West) UC Irvine* 21-12
(CAA) Northeastern 23-11
(C-USA) UAB 19-15
(Horizon) Valparaiso 28-5
(Ivy League) Harvard 22-7
(MAAC) Manhattan 19-13
(MAC) Buffalo* 23-9
(MEAC) Hampton 16-17
(Mountain West) Wyoming 25-9
(MVC) Northern Iowa 30-3
(Northeast) Robert Morris 19-14
(Ohio Valley) Belmont 22-10
(Pac-12) Arizona 31-3
(Patriot League) Lafayette 20-12
(SEC) Kentucky 34-0
(Southern) Wofford 28-6
(Southland) Stephen F. Austin 29-4
(Summit League) North Dakota State 23-9
(SWAC) Texas Southern 22-12
(WAC) New Mexico State 23-10
(WCC) Gonzaga 32-2
(Southern) Wofford 28-6
(Southland) Stephen F. Austin 29-4
(Summit League) North Dakota State 23-9
(SWAC) Texas Southern 22-12
(WAC) New Mexico State 23-10
(WCC) Gonzaga 32-2
*Denotes program's first tournament appearance
Remember to check back here at The Bench after the March Madness brackets are released to see our thoughts on the committee's selections & our favourites in each region!
