A few thoughts:
1. It might be an "easy" path, but Kansas, Syracuse, Ohio State, Kansas State, Georgetown, and Pittsburgh couldn't manage it. Can't blame the Spartans for that.
2. I admit that I don't think MSU would still be in it if the sequence had been New Mexico - Maryland - Kansas - Ohio State instead of New Mexico - Maryland - UNI - Tennessee.
3. This is actually one of my problems with the Tourney. MSU could make it to the final game without playing a team seeded higher than fifth in their region. If they were to win I expect you would hear lots of squawking from Duke/West Virginia that it wasn't fair. But fairness has nothing to do with it.
4. This is also why I'm not a fan of a football playoff. People accept a 5 vs. 5 semifinal in basketball, it would cause a riot in football. And people wouldn't watch.
3 comments:
1. Correct, it's not MSU's fault all those other teams lost.
2. MSU loses probably their best player and yet can advance to the Final Four. Either they are that good, or the path was that easy. If it's the former and they really are that good, they probably shouldn't have had a 5 seed.
3. That is a good point. Teams are given a 1 seed so that essentially they have the "easiest" path to the Final Four. If that is the idea, then I can certainly see them "re-seeding" the bracket at certain points, similar to the NHL playoffs. One can argue, if an 8 seed in the NHL beats the 1 seed, why penalize them with now playing the 2 seed. It's the motivation to beat the 1 seed so the process gets easier? But, I guess it's not about the 8 seeds, it's about rewarding the top teams with the best season the chance at a Stanley Cup.
4. Interesting Point.
Point #4: Look at the flack for Boise St. v TCU in the BCS bowls. Can you imagine if one of those mid-majors played in the championship?
"Uh-oh."
1.) In college football everybody says well if we only had a playoff. Well were the Giants really better than the Patriots? Was NIU really better than Kansas? Probably not, but on that day they were. Everybody idolizes these tournaments and they are good entertainment but really the only league that shows a true champion in my opinion is the leagues that have the "best of" series. After 5 or 7 games you know who the better team is.
2.) The primary purpose for the seeds is entertainment. All anybody talks about before the tourney is what matchups to watch out for. The 5-12, 4-13, 7-10. Thats what people love. The underdogs, the upsets. Was State over Maryland an upset? No but some uneducated fans would call it one.
3.) Fact is State had a easy road. Was it their fault. Absolutely not. Everybody had their shot. I'm rooting for the big ten here, but lets not try an pretend they beat top seeds to get there. If they win the ship it isn't like they beat 3 - #1 seeds to do it like some teams have done.
4.) Party at my place on Saturday...6PM. Dinner and games.
Late
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