Is it just me, or does the 8 seed blow?
Seems like everyone was predicting a 10 seed for us and I was generally excited considering that 2 seeds are usually significantly more beatable than 1 seeds are. Then I saw the 8 and was a little confused as to how I should feel. Initially I was psyched that we went up, but then (in typical UM fan fashion) started to see the negative side of the jump.
I gotta think it's almost worse that we climbed to the 8 line. Assuming we beat Cheaty McOrangeblazer, would you rather have Florida / San Diego State / Notre Dame waiting for you, or Duke / OSU? It's almost like we get punished for being better than Sparty. Basically they get a much more winnable game in round two should we both win our respective openers.
How are all of you guys feeling about the draw? Anyone else rather be a ten?
And I think Duke is obviously a very difficult match up if Michigan beats Tenn, much tougher than say MSU would face if they made it to the next round in Florida.
I'm not complaining about it, they gave Michigan an 8 seed which is a great accomplishment. But in my mind it is a tougher draw. Either way I'll be pulling for Michigan and I think their style of play, especially on a Saturday/Sunday game, allows them to have a real chance of beating either team.
WE DIDNT EVEN THINK WE'D BE IN THE FIELD OF 64! GOODNESS MAN THIS IS AWESOME. I DID A BOOTY DANCE ON 2ND AVE. I AM HAPPY. WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
If history is any indicator, I'll take the 8 seed over a 10 seed...
Two 8 seeds played in the 2000 final four.
Villanova won the championship as an 8 seed in 1985.
No 10 seed has ever made the final four.
With all things OSU. I understand that it supposed to be easier for the 1 seed but come on, the east is so weak. Like I said, maybe im just paranoid, but it doesnt help that the chairman of the selection committe is the OSU AD.
Supposedly Gene Smith is retiring this year after 20 years at the helm. Maybe that explains the B1G lovefest in the seedings.
I agree with you. Would rather play the likes of Florida or San Diego State than Duke... O wellz though, only one thing to say:
I think this will put fire in the bellies of our players. They know what time it is. GAME TIME!
i HATE Duke. They can play as rough as they want and will never get fouls called on them because they are so "fundamentally strong". The way the Fab 5 players felt about them is how I feel about them.Especially in ACC play, that conference clearly makes it so UNC and Duke can play in every Championship game. I just hope if we make it past Tennessee that there are non-ACC refs for the game against Duke.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
Would you rather have ACC refs or a B1G crew with Hightower?
must be sweating at the prospect of playing Michigan in Round 2.
We don't have anything to lose. They have. We are in the best position to play the Final Four.
History is in our favor.
It's Thelma & Louise time. If we go down we go down in a blaze of glory!
The 8/9 seeds get hosed. Not only do they play the 1 seed, but they play them in a virtual home environment.
Ah well. Bring on our 4th game against a number seed this season.
Anyone else think we were made an 8th seed so we had a potential 2nd round match-up against Duke in a made for tv type special to promote the recent Fab 5 documentary on ESPN???? Kind of an interesting coincidence, eh?
March 14th, 2011 at 10:32 AM ^
I understand the frustration about being the 8 seed and having to potentially play duke in the 2nd round. However, it only feels this way because we don't feel like this team has a shot to make a title run. Theoretically if we beat Duke, we would play a 4 seed in the sweet sixteen game at best. It's kind of like MSU getting Iowa in the BTT and then Purdue. Sure they got to play Penn St in the semis but they had to beat the 2 seed to get there. Kind of like the hard work early in the tourney affords you good matchups should you make it further.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
Any stat masters know how often a 8/9 has beaten the #1 seed in round 2?
March 14th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
13 times in 104 chances.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
Unfortunately, one of those 13 times happened to be when Villanova beat Michigan in the 1985 tournament.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
Ok...I'll take those odds. At first, I was not super happy about our path (especially compared to MSU's gift), but I'm fine with it now. Let's beat Tenn and then do work on Duke. I hate Duke. I was a freshman with the Fab 5 and hate Duke more than any other team in the game (ok...maybe State a bit more...but that's just proximity). I wish we had a beast like Webb, but maybe that'll come in the next couple of years.
Time to become team #14.
March 14th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
If Northern Iowa can beat Kansas in 2010, then Michigan can beat Duke in 2011
I like comments like these. And kitten pictures. You've got this "MGoBlog" thing down.