Running 2022-23 NCAA Basketball Thread

I have followed selection for a long time and this used to bother me more, and I think I have tuned out more as a result, but the problem is it has become overly clear how they select teams. It isn't just the NET. It is super metrics based across the board now -- KenPom, KPI, etc. So I don't know how you change it without just making it an eye test thing and that could be even worse for mid-majors.

This year there were only five non-power at-larges, but I am not sure the committee got anything incredibly wrong. And based on the metrics and everything else three of those came from the MW. People can complain about Nevada getting in, but it kept out Rutgers and Oklahoma State. Also, there were some gaudy metrics with some non-power teams who all won their conference tourneys, so that eliminated the debate some. Usually, there is a lot more argument about a non-power team or four, but this year they all won their conference tourneys. You could maybe make an argument about a Bradley or Liberty, but it is a harder one than FAU or Charleston if they hadn't gotten in. The biggest question is seeding. San Diego State and FAU probably both deserved higher seeds, but they have gotten this far despite that.

The next step to really solve this is expanding the tourney, but I don't think anyone wants to do that. See Nevada. I just don't know how to fix the power obsession. As it is you have the ACC commissioner whining they didn't get more. At least this year you had a bunch of non-power teams rise up and make it far. That doesn't always happen, which doesn't help the argument either.

 

As I always say, championship rings and banners don't come with asterisks.
You might not be the best team to ever win a title, but you don't have to give it back.

 

EJ, Kenny the Jet and Barkley reunited on TBS pregame today. As it should be.

 

Between the portal and NIL, and players heading to the NBA after one year - I have to think college hoops might be more fascinating than ever. What's been going on at Oregon has been nuts. Altman seems to bring in a new group every year - the fans don't pay attention until football season is over - the team never seems to gel beyond their individual skill sets. And then at the end of the year, some go pro, some go elsewhere. Your subs want to play more so they go elsewhere too.

 

If FAU makes the Final Four, it'll be the biggest thing to hit Boca Raton since the Florida's Turnpike added an exit off Glades Road.

FAU opened in 1961, the same year they shut down the Africa USA wildlife park where the Camino Gardens subdivision is now located.

 

Howard Schnellenberger disagrees

 

It’ll knock the condo-board elections off the front page of the Boca Breeze.

 

Pinko Commie rag.

 

And if they win the title, they'll bump the pickleball playoffs to an inside page.

 

If UAB had won the C-USA Tournament, I'm not sure FAU would have gotten in, 30-3 or not. And they'd been in the Top 25 off and on for a couple of months.

 

Bad luck for Larry David.

 

The fact that they got a 9 seed says they would have gotten in even if they lost -- and some people think they should have gotten a better seed. Not often you get a one-bid conference champ seed that high (usually a 12 at best) and the safest at-larges are 10s. So you would think they would be in. Plus, I know NET, but their NET was freaking 13, although it would have been a tick lower if they had lost, and that would have been some unprecedented stuff to leave them out. But you never know with the NCAA selection process in the end.