Well, here are some unfiltered, unedited initial reactions to the brackets. These opinions might change by Thursday…or tonight…but they are immediate.
- Even I – the ultimate defender of the mid-major – cannot really defend VCU or UAB.
- But, that being said, I don’t mind leaning on RPI, and Alabama, Colorado, and Va Tech really didn’t play ANYONE in the non-conference. I love that the Committee is saying “Play good games in November and December,” You why I like that? Because I like WATCHING good games in November and December. So, we should all applaud the Committee for leaving out teams like Colorado (non-conference SOS of 335).
- I do think St. Mary’s deserved to be in and probably Harvard, too.
- It’s hysterical that Va Tech missed the tournament AGAIN. I just wish we got Seth Greenberg’s immediate reaction. Honestly, what do you think he did when he say VCU up there?
- UConn – Cincy favored to meet in the second round? I guess it’s hard to avoid with 11 teams from one conference, but wow. Also, if Marquette upsets Xavier (certainly possibly), they will take on Syracuse in the second round.
- Missouri falls all the way to 11, while Nova gets a 9?
- Georgia in SAFELY with a 10-seed?
- Utah State got SCREWED with a 12-seed. What are they supposed to do?
- The Southeast (Pitt’s region) is really, really weak. An overseeded Florida, a short-handed BYU, and a Wisconsin team that is going to lose to Belmont. There is a chance – I know it sounds crazy – that Michigan State goes to the Elite Eight and, possibly, the Final Four again. Yes, a 10-seed.
- I think Marquette is a pretty nice underdog Sweet 16 pick.
- Best First-Round games: Vanderbilt-Richmond and Butler-ODU
- Call it wishful thinking: I wouldn’t be completely shocked to see N.Colorado to beat San Diego State. Interesting because there have only been three 15-seeds winning over a 2. And, in two of the cases, that 15-seed ended up playing Temple in the second round. So, the Owls have benefitted from that kind of upset before.
- I love how the Committee never “thinks about matchups,” yet you always get things like this: Josh Pastor against Arizona and the Illinois taking on Lon Kruger in the first round and then, if they win, Bill Self in the second round.
Temple draw could have been a lot worse (nice to be able to say that after the past few years). PSU has one of its best teams in recent years i think, but that’s not saying much.
Oh, and Greg Doyle, CBS Sports’ resident “bracketologist” has TU in the final four!!