2008 NCAA Basketball General News Thread
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Skinny Bastard
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Re: 2008 NCAA Basketball General News Thread
...and March Madness = Heartaches
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Skinny Bastard
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Re: 2008 NCAA Basketball General News Thread
March 12, 2008
Drive for 65 - Forecasting the NCAA Field
Mike Huguenin & Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball Staff
We're less than a week away from "Selection Sunday," and here is our projection of how the NCAA Tournament field will look when it is unveiled that day. We will update this daily through Sunday afternoon.
Teams are grouped by projected seed and listed from strongest to weakest within that seed.
NO. 1 SEEDS
1. Memphis (30-1)
2. North Carolina (29-2)
3. UCLA (28-3)
4. Tennessee (28-3)
THE BUZZ: It's hard – really hard – to imagine Memphis losing the C-USA tourney on its home court. Is the Tigers' resume enough to garner them the overall No. 1 seed? UCLA looks good for a No. 1, too, unless it loses in its first game in the Pac-10 tourney. North Carolina could be the overall No. 1 if it wins the ACC tourney. Tennessee's two best wins came on the road.
NO. 2 SEEDS
5. Kansas (28-3)
6. Duke (26-4)
7. Texas (26-5)
8. Georgetown (25-4)
THE BUZZ: If Texas can win the Big 12 tourney, it will be ahead of Kansas in the pecking order; heck, the Longhorns could have a shot at a No. 1 seed if Memphis or Tennessee falter. It would be hard for Georgetown to move up a spot; moving down one spot, though, is possible. It's hard to see Duke falling below a No. 2 seed, and a No. 1 is possible if the Blue Devils win the ACC tourney.
NO. 3 SEEDS
9. Louisville (24-7)
10. Wisconsin (26-4)
11. Xavier (26-5)
12. Stanford (24-6)
THE BUZZ: Stanford struggled in the last week of the regular season, but a good run in the Pac-10 tourney would erase that. Louisville could be a No. 2 seed if it wins the Big East tourney. Xavier looks like a No. 3 regardless of what it does in the A-10 tourney. Wisconsin could fall to a No. 4 seed depending on what transpires in the Big Ten tourney.
NO. 4 SEEDS
13. Connecticut (24-7)
14. Notre Dame (24-6)
15. Purdue (24-7)
16. Vanderbilt (25-6)
THE BUZZ: Vandy being this high means we think the Commodores will make a nice run in the SEC tourney. They could be a No. 5 or even a No. 6 seed despite that nice RPI. UConn and Notre Dame could move up – or down – a spot depending on what happens in the Big East tourney. Purdue has been a big surprise, and though there's that relatively high RPI, the Boilermakers could earn a No. 3 if they win the Big Ten tourney.
NO. 5 SEEDS
17. Indiana (25-6)
18. Michigan State (24-7)
19. Drake (28-4)
20. Washington State (23-7)
THE BUZZ: Indiana has faded a bit of late and an early exit in the Big Ten tourney might garner them a No. 6 seed. Michigan State has underachieved a bit this season. Drake, on the other hand, has been a monster surprise and won both the Missouri Valley regular-season and tourney titles. Washington State's defense, supposedly the Cougars' calling card, has let them down at times.
NO. 6 SEEDS
21. Clemson (22-8)
22. Butler (29-3)
23. Marquette (22-8)
24. Pitt (22-9)
THE BUZZ: Can Butler, which won the Horizon League, get a No. 5 seed? The Bulldogs have a gaudy record, yes, but they also have zero wins over teams in the RPI top 50. Clemson needs to win once in the ACC tourney, or it could be a No. 7 or even No. 8. The midseason injury to Pitt PG Levance Fields will be taken into consideration by the NCAA selection committee. Like Pitt, Marquette could move up a spot on the seeding ladder.
NO. 7 SEEDS
25. Mississippi State (21-9)
26. Oklahoma (21-10)
27. USC (20-10)
28. BYU (25-6)
THE BUZZ: Mississippi State easily won the SEC West. Oklahoma could move up a spot with a good showing in the Big 12 tourney. The same holds true for USC in the Pac-10 tourney; the Trojans are playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch, and O.J. Mayo has been on fire. BYU won the Mountain West regular-season title.
NO. 8 SEEDS
29. Baylor (21-9)
30. Miami (21-9)
31. Kansas State (20-10)
32. Gonzaga (25-7)
THE BUZZ: Baylor and K-State can move up a spot or two with nice showings in the Big 12 tourney. If BYU can follow-up its regular-season title in the Mountain West with a league tourney title, it easily could be a No. 7 seed. Miami needs to win at least once in the ACC tourney to be this high. Though the ACC is No. 1 in conference RPI rankings, it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see the league get just four bids. Gonzaga was upset in the final of the West Coast tourney but still is an NCAA lock.
NO. 9 SEEDS
33. UNLV (23-7)
34. Kentucky (18-11)
35. West Virginia (22-9)
36. Arkansas (20-10)
THE BUZZ: UNLV's seeding is predicated on winning the Mountain West tourney; the Runnin' Rebels are the host team. Kentucky has played superb basketball of late. A nice run in the Big East tourney would bump up WVU a spot or two. Arkansas could move up – or down – a spot depending on its work in the SEC tourney.
NO. 10 SEEDS
37. Kent State (25-6)
38. Massachusetts (21-9)
39. Ohio State (19-12)
40. Syracuse (19-12)
THE BUZZ: Ohio State picked up two huge wins last week, but the Buckeyes still don't have a marquee road win. Kent State looks good even if it loses in the MAC tourney final. UMass has gotten hot down the stretch. Syracuse meets Villanova in the first round of the Big East tourney in what essentially is an NCAA play-in game.
NO. 11 SEEDS
41. Illinois State (24-9)
42. Texas A&M (22-9)
43. Oregon (18-12)
44. South Alabama (26-5)
THE BUZZ: Illinois State finished second in the Missouri Valley in the regular season and also was the tourney runner-up. Oregon and Texas A&M could use one more win in their league tourneys. South Alabama was stunned -- on its home court -- in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tourney and will be sweating it out Sunday.
NO. 12 SEEDS
45. Davidson (26-6)
46. Saint Mary's (25-6)
47. Arizona State (19-11)
48. Western Kentucky (27-6)
THE BUZZ: Davidson won the Southern Conference tourney after going 20-0 against SoCon opponents during the regular season. Saint Mary's was upset in the West Coast tourney semifinals, and the Gaels would be the third team from the WCC; that league never has had three bids. Arizona State needs to beat USC in the Pac-10 tourney quarterfinals to lock up a spot. Western Kentucky won the Sun Belt tourney.
NO. 13 SEEDS
49. George Mason (23-10)
50. Oral Roberts (23-8)
51. Stephen F. Austin* (25-4)
52. San Diego (21-13)
THE BUZZ: George Mason was the surprise CAA tourney winner; San Diego pulled the tourney surprise in the West Coast Conference. Oral Roberts won the Summit League and will be making its third consecutive NCAA trip. Stephen F. Austin is the top seed in the Southland tourney and is seeking its first NCAA appearance.
NO. 14 SEEDS
53. Cornell (22-5)
54. Siena (22-10)
55. UC Santa Barbara* (23-7)
56. New Mexico State* (19-13)
THE BUZZ: Cornell, making its first appearance since 1988, finished unbeaten in Ivy League play. New Mexico State finished in a four-way tie for the WAC regular-season title and is the league-tourney host. Siena, which won the MAAC tourney, beat Stanford by 12 in November. UCSB, which beat UNLV in November, is trying to its first NCAA trip since 2002; the Gauchos are the No. 1 seed in the Big West tourney.
NO. 15 SEEDS
57. Belmont (25-8)
58. American* (20-11)
59. UMBC* (23-8)
60. Portland State* (21-9)
THE BUZZ: Belmont is headed for its third consecutive appearance. The other three in our projection would be making their first NCAA appearances. American is coached by former Virginia head man Jeff Jones.
NO. 16 SEEDS
61. Austin Peay (24-10)
62. Winthrop (22-11)
63. Morgan State* (20-9)
64. Sacred Heart* (18-13)
65. Alabama State* (19-9)
THE BUZZ: Winthrop is in for the fourth season in a row. Austin Peay is making its first appearance since 2003. Morgan State, looking for its first-ever appearance, is coached by Todd Bozeman. Alabama State and Sacred Heart (hoping for its first appearance) would be the play-in game participants.
*******************************
Of course, we have to wait for selection Sunday to get the actuals, but i thought this might help some of you start to pick out your favorites and your underdogs in preparation for a little madness.....
~ SM
Drive for 65 - Forecasting the NCAA Field
Mike Huguenin & Bob McClellan
Rivals.com College Basketball Staff
We're less than a week away from "Selection Sunday," and here is our projection of how the NCAA Tournament field will look when it is unveiled that day. We will update this daily through Sunday afternoon.
Teams are grouped by projected seed and listed from strongest to weakest within that seed.
NO. 1 SEEDS
1. Memphis (30-1)
2. North Carolina (29-2)
3. UCLA (28-3)
4. Tennessee (28-3)
THE BUZZ: It's hard – really hard – to imagine Memphis losing the C-USA tourney on its home court. Is the Tigers' resume enough to garner them the overall No. 1 seed? UCLA looks good for a No. 1, too, unless it loses in its first game in the Pac-10 tourney. North Carolina could be the overall No. 1 if it wins the ACC tourney. Tennessee's two best wins came on the road.
NO. 2 SEEDS
5. Kansas (28-3)
6. Duke (26-4)
7. Texas (26-5)
8. Georgetown (25-4)
THE BUZZ: If Texas can win the Big 12 tourney, it will be ahead of Kansas in the pecking order; heck, the Longhorns could have a shot at a No. 1 seed if Memphis or Tennessee falter. It would be hard for Georgetown to move up a spot; moving down one spot, though, is possible. It's hard to see Duke falling below a No. 2 seed, and a No. 1 is possible if the Blue Devils win the ACC tourney.
NO. 3 SEEDS
9. Louisville (24-7)
10. Wisconsin (26-4)
11. Xavier (26-5)
12. Stanford (24-6)
THE BUZZ: Stanford struggled in the last week of the regular season, but a good run in the Pac-10 tourney would erase that. Louisville could be a No. 2 seed if it wins the Big East tourney. Xavier looks like a No. 3 regardless of what it does in the A-10 tourney. Wisconsin could fall to a No. 4 seed depending on what transpires in the Big Ten tourney.
NO. 4 SEEDS
13. Connecticut (24-7)
14. Notre Dame (24-6)
15. Purdue (24-7)
16. Vanderbilt (25-6)
THE BUZZ: Vandy being this high means we think the Commodores will make a nice run in the SEC tourney. They could be a No. 5 or even a No. 6 seed despite that nice RPI. UConn and Notre Dame could move up – or down – a spot depending on what happens in the Big East tourney. Purdue has been a big surprise, and though there's that relatively high RPI, the Boilermakers could earn a No. 3 if they win the Big Ten tourney.
NO. 5 SEEDS
17. Indiana (25-6)
18. Michigan State (24-7)
19. Drake (28-4)
20. Washington State (23-7)
THE BUZZ: Indiana has faded a bit of late and an early exit in the Big Ten tourney might garner them a No. 6 seed. Michigan State has underachieved a bit this season. Drake, on the other hand, has been a monster surprise and won both the Missouri Valley regular-season and tourney titles. Washington State's defense, supposedly the Cougars' calling card, has let them down at times.
NO. 6 SEEDS
21. Clemson (22-8)
22. Butler (29-3)
23. Marquette (22-8)
24. Pitt (22-9)
THE BUZZ: Can Butler, which won the Horizon League, get a No. 5 seed? The Bulldogs have a gaudy record, yes, but they also have zero wins over teams in the RPI top 50. Clemson needs to win once in the ACC tourney, or it could be a No. 7 or even No. 8. The midseason injury to Pitt PG Levance Fields will be taken into consideration by the NCAA selection committee. Like Pitt, Marquette could move up a spot on the seeding ladder.
NO. 7 SEEDS
25. Mississippi State (21-9)
26. Oklahoma (21-10)
27. USC (20-10)
28. BYU (25-6)
THE BUZZ: Mississippi State easily won the SEC West. Oklahoma could move up a spot with a good showing in the Big 12 tourney. The same holds true for USC in the Pac-10 tourney; the Trojans are playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch, and O.J. Mayo has been on fire. BYU won the Mountain West regular-season title.
NO. 8 SEEDS
29. Baylor (21-9)
30. Miami (21-9)
31. Kansas State (20-10)
32. Gonzaga (25-7)
THE BUZZ: Baylor and K-State can move up a spot or two with nice showings in the Big 12 tourney. If BYU can follow-up its regular-season title in the Mountain West with a league tourney title, it easily could be a No. 7 seed. Miami needs to win at least once in the ACC tourney to be this high. Though the ACC is No. 1 in conference RPI rankings, it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see the league get just four bids. Gonzaga was upset in the final of the West Coast tourney but still is an NCAA lock.
NO. 9 SEEDS
33. UNLV (23-7)
34. Kentucky (18-11)
35. West Virginia (22-9)
36. Arkansas (20-10)
THE BUZZ: UNLV's seeding is predicated on winning the Mountain West tourney; the Runnin' Rebels are the host team. Kentucky has played superb basketball of late. A nice run in the Big East tourney would bump up WVU a spot or two. Arkansas could move up – or down – a spot depending on its work in the SEC tourney.
NO. 10 SEEDS
37. Kent State (25-6)
38. Massachusetts (21-9)
39. Ohio State (19-12)
40. Syracuse (19-12)
THE BUZZ: Ohio State picked up two huge wins last week, but the Buckeyes still don't have a marquee road win. Kent State looks good even if it loses in the MAC tourney final. UMass has gotten hot down the stretch. Syracuse meets Villanova in the first round of the Big East tourney in what essentially is an NCAA play-in game.
NO. 11 SEEDS
41. Illinois State (24-9)
42. Texas A&M (22-9)
43. Oregon (18-12)
44. South Alabama (26-5)
THE BUZZ: Illinois State finished second in the Missouri Valley in the regular season and also was the tourney runner-up. Oregon and Texas A&M could use one more win in their league tourneys. South Alabama was stunned -- on its home court -- in the semifinals of the Sun Belt tourney and will be sweating it out Sunday.
NO. 12 SEEDS
45. Davidson (26-6)
46. Saint Mary's (25-6)
47. Arizona State (19-11)
48. Western Kentucky (27-6)
THE BUZZ: Davidson won the Southern Conference tourney after going 20-0 against SoCon opponents during the regular season. Saint Mary's was upset in the West Coast tourney semifinals, and the Gaels would be the third team from the WCC; that league never has had three bids. Arizona State needs to beat USC in the Pac-10 tourney quarterfinals to lock up a spot. Western Kentucky won the Sun Belt tourney.
NO. 13 SEEDS
49. George Mason (23-10)
50. Oral Roberts (23-8)
51. Stephen F. Austin* (25-4)
52. San Diego (21-13)
THE BUZZ: George Mason was the surprise CAA tourney winner; San Diego pulled the tourney surprise in the West Coast Conference. Oral Roberts won the Summit League and will be making its third consecutive NCAA trip. Stephen F. Austin is the top seed in the Southland tourney and is seeking its first NCAA appearance.
NO. 14 SEEDS
53. Cornell (22-5)
54. Siena (22-10)
55. UC Santa Barbara* (23-7)
56. New Mexico State* (19-13)
THE BUZZ: Cornell, making its first appearance since 1988, finished unbeaten in Ivy League play. New Mexico State finished in a four-way tie for the WAC regular-season title and is the league-tourney host. Siena, which won the MAAC tourney, beat Stanford by 12 in November. UCSB, which beat UNLV in November, is trying to its first NCAA trip since 2002; the Gauchos are the No. 1 seed in the Big West tourney.
NO. 15 SEEDS
57. Belmont (25-8)
58. American* (20-11)
59. UMBC* (23-8)
60. Portland State* (21-9)
THE BUZZ: Belmont is headed for its third consecutive appearance. The other three in our projection would be making their first NCAA appearances. American is coached by former Virginia head man Jeff Jones.
NO. 16 SEEDS
61. Austin Peay (24-10)
62. Winthrop (22-11)
63. Morgan State* (20-9)
64. Sacred Heart* (18-13)
65. Alabama State* (19-9)
THE BUZZ: Winthrop is in for the fourth season in a row. Austin Peay is making its first appearance since 2003. Morgan State, looking for its first-ever appearance, is coached by Todd Bozeman. Alabama State and Sacred Heart (hoping for its first appearance) would be the play-in game participants.
*******************************
Of course, we have to wait for selection Sunday to get the actuals, but i thought this might help some of you start to pick out your favorites and your underdogs in preparation for a little madness.....
~ SM
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