Running 2023-24 NCAA Basketball Thread

playthrough · Mar 18, 2024

Cosmo said: ↑

Have some more coherent thoughts after going over the bracket again...
* I was surprised that FAU was an 8 when I saw the reveal. But the Owls are right in line with the other 8 seeds in the NET, which are all in the 30-40 range. That's a pretty interesting draw for UConn potentially in the second round, because FAU is capable of beating anyone while also being capable of losing by double digits to someone like Bryant.
* I went into the day thinking the A-10 champ was going to get a 13, so I was a touch surprised at Duquesne as an 11 seed. DU finished 80th in the NET, VCU 71st, so the difference is negligible once you down to that area.
* I think St. John's has a bigger gripe than Indiana State for not getting in, but I'm also not sure who the Johnnies should replace in the field. I don't think it was very easy to parse between some of those teams down at the bottom of the bubble, but St. John's has some pretty tough losses on its resume -- Michigan at home comes to mind, as does a neutral loss to BC. They also lost 9 of 11 in the middle of the season. The six-game win streak was nice until you consider that three of them came against Georgetown and DePaul. This is where the NET not being the end all comes into play. St. John's is much higher in the NET than say FAU, but there's clearly more to parsing a resume than just that NET number.
* Dayton getting a 7 seed was something. They're actually an underdog against Nevada.
* That McNeese team will give Gonzaga everything it can handle. Saw them at VCU in November and came to the conclusion rather quickly that McNeese is not a typical, smallish Southland team. They're big and athletic and are in a quadrant where they can make some noise, especially if Kansas isn't fully healthy.
* Most vulnerable 2 seed? Could be Tennessee, which can be fantastic but is also fully capable of sharting down its leg as it did against Clanga last week. Arizona was done no favors either. I think they'll get past Long Beach but Nevada might be sitting there next. Tough matchup. Florida is fully capable of giving Marquette fits in round two. An Iowa State-Drake matchup in the second round would be pretty fun.
* I know it's happened a couple of times now, but I'm just not seeing a world where a 16 wins this year. UConn and Houston are too good, Purdue will be on high alert, and I'm not seeing Howard or Wagner taking out UNC.
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I'm in one pool where you can pick up to four teams seeded 9-16, $10 per team, and if they make it to the Sweet 16 you get a share of the pot. Simple as that (in theory). McNeese will be one of mine for sure and Nevada is tempting.

Noholesin1 · Mar 18, 2024

2muchcoffeeman said: ↑

When you have that many teams, they aren't play-in games anymore. It's just the first round.
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I'd hate this if you're still going to announce the field on Sunday. I want the bracket to have some competitive integrity — though we realize the NCAA doesn't give a damn about this — and that's missing if you announce the field on Sunday and tell a dozen teams, "You're playing in 48 hours," and you tell 16 teams scheduled for Friday games, "You're playing in five days." I'm probably the only person in the country who wishes they'd get rid of four teams and go with 64.

MileHigh · Mar 18, 2024

Noholesin1 said: ↑

I'd hate this if you're still going to announce the field on Sunday. I want the bracket to have some competitive integrity — though we realize the NCAA doesn't give a damn about this — and that's missing if you announce the field on Sunday and tell a dozen teams, "You're playing in 48 hours," and you tell 16 teams scheduled for Friday games, "You're playing in five days." I'm probably the only person in the country who wishes they'd get rid of four teams and go with 64.
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Already doing it with four teams who find out Sunday and have to play 48 hours later -- in Dayton. Though I believe play-in schools get a heads up before the announcement so they can start with travel plans. Colorado State (and Colorado) flew out to Dayton this morning ( 2 1/2-hour flights). Shorter flights for Howard, Wagner and Virginia.

Last year, Arizona State had to fly out to Dayton for the late game on Wednesday (against Nevada, no less), won, then went to Denver to play on Friday.

da man · Mar 18, 2024

playthrough said: ↑

I'm in one pool where you can pick up to four teams seeded 9-16, $10 per team, and if they make it to the Sweet 16 you get a share of the pot. Simple as that (in theory). McNeese will be one of mine for sure and Nevada is tempting.
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All CBS guys were talking up Grand Canyon.

da man · Mar 18, 2024

Noholesin1 said: ↑

I'd hate this if you're still going to announce the field on Sunday. I want the bracket to have some competitive integrity — though we realize the NCAA doesn't give a damn about this — and that's missing if you announce the field on Sunday and tell a dozen teams, "You're playing in 48 hours," and you tell 16 teams scheduled for Friday games, "You're playing in five days." I'm probably the only person in the country who wishes they'd get rid of four teams and go with 64.
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Nope. I'm with you!

BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo · Mar 18, 2024

Batman said: ↑

Isn't that the plot of about 70 different bad sports movies?
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Only if they are wearing the other's face.

swingline · Mar 18, 2024

I’d like to see them put all teams in a hat and draw matchups just going down the bracket. If two top teams get matched up, tough shit for one of them. That would bring some drama.

Chef2 · Mar 19, 2024

da man said: ↑

All CBS guys were talking up Grand Canyon.
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They would be the Cinderella this year.
I said it earlier……if they get to play Alabama in Game 2, that will be highly entertaining.

Cosmo · Mar 19, 2024

Too many people on McNeese. Gonzaga wins by 15.

Big Circus · Mar 19, 2024

Della9250 said: ↑

76-team bracket

the last 24 at-large teams in order go into 10-12 play-in slots, top eight for the 10 seeds, next eight for the 11s, last eight for the 12s -- 6 games Tuesday / 6 games Wednesday

This bullshit 16 seeds don't get to play in the tournament is over, the top 36 are locked into the first round so there is an incentive to get as high a seed as possible to avoid the play-ins
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The only thing I'll say to push back on this is that the play-in games still count as a full round share for payment purposes, so the play-in game winners get two (or more) shares instead of just one. That can be a big deal for smaller programs and conferences.

Michael_ Gee · Mar 19, 2024

The first 1 seed ever to lose to a 16 won the title the next season, which I guess would be a good omen for Purdue if I hadn't seem them play and thus am completely unimpressed.

tapintoamerica · Mar 19, 2024

Cosmo said: ↑

Too many people on McNeese. Gonzaga wins by 15.
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I have this same thought about JMU. It's just too easy to assume the Dukes will beat the Badgers. So easy that it can't happen.

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