As a Temple fan, given a 4- or 5-seed, what are you looking for in tonight’s selection? For the first round, do we want a middling big-conference school (like Minnesota or Washington or Illinois) or an upstart small-conference school (like Old Dominion or Siena or Wofford)?
And then (not assuming anything), for the corresponding 4- or 5-seed second-round matchup, would you like to see a pretty good big conference team (Vandy or Purdue or Tennessee) or a very good small-conference team (BYU or New Mexico or Butler)?
Finally, which #1 seed do you think Temple matches up with best as a possible Sweet 16 opponent (again, not assuming anything past the first round)?
Well, of course it depends on the teams we’re talking about, but in general I’d probably make the obvious choice of taking the small-conference schools. I’ve said this before, but I think the one thing Temple doesn’t really have an answer for is a team full of top-level athletes. So I’d take Old Dominion over Illinois or Washington. Tennessee would scare me in the 2nd. I wouldn’t mind Purdue because their looking like a beaten team, and I don’t think Vandy would be a terrible matchup.
As for the 1-seed, I would definitely like Temple’s chances against Duke, assuming they get a 1.
Big-, mid-, or small-conference doesn’t matter as much as late season momentum. Teams like Georgetown, Washingon, and Houston are all ending the season on hot steaks and could be potential nightmares in the big dance. Yes sometimes teams (like Syracuse in recent NCAA tourneys) get hot in conference play and then forget to show up in the first round. I still like Temple against a team like Duke, Texas, Purdue, and even Syracuse or Michigan St in later rounds. Avoid Kentucky, Kansas, West Virginia, and other teams that are clicking when it counts the most.
And in addition to all of this, Villanova sucks once again!
Show me a 3-seed!
Shaft-city, baby.