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?
March 13th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^
Definitely just you.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:14 AM ^
At first I felt the same agony of playing Duke, but than I thought championships have to be earned, and we've beaten Duke before and we will again! GO BLUE!
No, I think that whatever chance we had at the Sweet 16 was shot with these matchups.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
Fuck it, bring on the challenge. An 8 seed feels better.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:47 PM ^
I agree with you, the 8/9 seeds suck. But, in our 4 games against #1 seeds this year, we've lost all 4 by under 10 points each, and even went to OT once. So, I think IF we get to Duke, we have a chance to win
March 13th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
yeah we got screwed we have to play the defending national champs if we make it out of the first round while msu gets to play an extremely overated 2 seed in flordia smh
yeah that's assuming msu makes it past UCLA which even THAT's a stretch imo
March 13th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
We've been a #1 seed in the NIT too many times for me to complain about an NCAA seed. Let's embrace the chance to make a big splash here.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
I want a shot at Duke no matter how hard it might be. I'm actually a little more worried about Tennessee as weird as that is to write.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^
I feel like Tennessee is a really good matchup for us. They seem very undisciplined, especially defensively, in the games I've seen. I expect lots of Morgan dunks and backdoor cuts.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
I feel better about it already. I need to get off the ledge but I keep having Bruce Pearl UW-Milwaukee flashbacks. Of course Coach B has proven he can coach in the tourney too.
March 14th, 2011 at 10:04 AM ^
They're not nearly as good as last year after losing Tyler Smith and JP Prince.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
I wanted a 10, 11, or 12. However, the logic makes sense. We have a better chance than Sparty to make it out of the first round, simply because we play a lower seed. That is the point of getting the 8 spot. We should win our opener, they should not. Ultimately, though, we have to beat the best teams in the region anyway.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
Exactly, we'll have to play the best eventually, let's get past TENN and DUKE and we'll have a solid path to the sweet 16, elite 8 and hopefully final 4.
In theory, you're correct that MSU should have a tougher time in round 1, but since the committee isn't the best at seeding teams (at least, not based on future expectations), MSU got an opponent in UCLA that is just about Tennessee's equal.
UM and MSU will most likely both be slightly favored. And then MSU will have a much better chance against Florida than we will against Duke, if we both get there. And then they would get a potential matchup against a shaky BYU team or a St John's team that isn't very good away from MSG. MSU got a great draw.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:50 PM ^
a lot of respect from the committee. They are considered to be the top #8 seed in the tourney. It was way higher than I expected and I am pleasantly surprised by it.
The Fab 5 documentary will give the team motivation to beat Duke. lol Wouldn't be great if Michigan somehow makes it to Elite 8 and matchup with SDSU? Talk about a great storyline with Fischer and Michigan.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:52 PM ^
IF we beat Tennessee, playing Duke in Charlotte will be pretty tough.
On the other hand, UNC will also be playing in Charlotte, so we might find a number of new fans.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
WE GONNA SHOCK THE WORLD!
March 14th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
Who's we you got a turd in your pocket?
:)
March 14th, 2011 at 12:10 AM ^
Nevermind, that's gross. You didn't know? I'm on the team!!! /s
Edit: @hailtoA2 I got the joke even if other's didn't.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
lol good cause i use that one in real life a lot when people say "we" and I get some odd looks. rightfully so tho I guess
March 13th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
But the Tourney is designed to be fair/give breaks to the Top seeds, not the middle one's. How you like to be Florida, and if you get that 1st round upset so you can play a lower seed you end up with MSU?
March 14th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
March 14th, 2011 at 12:11 AM ^
Right when everyone's saying MSU and PSU got an easy road, I bet both will lose in the first round. It always seems to work that way.
Temple - 27
Penn State - 22
Last year?
They were B10 champs last year. Their run did not surprise me.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:53 PM ^
If you want to make a run then eventually you'll have to meet top competition. This just means it might come sooner rather then later. Haven't looked at the Tennessee matchup yet, but on first glance I don't think it's terrible. And a win gets us Duke in Charlotte. Nothing to lose there.
March 13th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^
March 14th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
She won't even call me back.
Hi-yoooooohhhhhh!
March 14th, 2011 at 12:02 AM ^
I couldn't quite grasp my mind around why. It's because with an 8 seed, you can't "win" your way to a higher seed. You can't "better" your seed.
If you are a 12 and you win, you essentially take over the 5 seed's favorable draw from there on out. In that sense, if you are confident in your first round chances, you'd rather be a 12.
Now if you're an 8 and you do happen to beat the 1 . . .
March 14th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^
I think it is a good thing that we are where we are. Imagine how much respect we will get when we beat Duke in the second round and then pummell SDSU to make it to the Fnal Four. When we bring home to NC nobody will be able to say that we did not earn it.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:03 AM ^
.....Don't know about you, but after seeing that documentary, I WANT Duke.........that way after the post game victory, the players can say: That was for the Fab Five!!!
March 14th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
I'm more concerned about playing Hampton in the 3rd round.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
So, so this. Damn that was a great documentary. Saved on the DVR for pre-game hype building on Friday.
Edit: and Sunday ldo.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:04 AM ^
When I saw Tennessee, they reminded me of a slightly more athletic Illinois but with bigger propensity to just lose it and look like garbage.
I think we can frustrate them and get a big lead if we are the disciplined team, value the ball, and hit shots early.
So your telling me if we don't turn it over, get a big lead, make shots and frustrate them we have a chance at winning? That is genius Nate, you're like a modern day Wooden.
I believe Tennessee players/fans look at Michigan and can see ways that they can disrupt UM. We've got them all figured out.. I'm sure they got us all figured out. It's time to play!
March 14th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
If you want to roll the dice and shoot for the Final Four, we've got one of the more doable paths for an 8 seed. The East & Southwest brackets are IMO the tough ones.
Might as well get it over and then go on to "Shock the World".
March 14th, 2011 at 12:05 AM ^
I'd rather be a 7 seed.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:06 AM ^
We are an 8 seed in a tournament no one expected us to be in and life is unfair because we potentially have to play a great team in the second round? THIS IS MICHIGAN. EXPECT TO WIN. EXPECT TO BE GREAT.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
To hell with Duke.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:07 AM ^
Since 1985 the 7/10 winner has made it to the Sweet 16 almost three times as often as the 8/9 winner. So yeah, it's probably better to be in that game. Still, I've seen enough of Duke to know they're not invincible.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:13 AM ^
I'd rather be a #1 seed. Hopefully, this happens in the next three years.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^
For a team that was 1-6 in conference play not too long ago, there is no such thing as a seed that blows.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
This is a silly thing to get upset about. The benefit of being an 8 is that we don't need an upset to get to the second round. A 10 seed does. Sure, playing a 2 is a little easier than a 1 in the second round, but playing a 9 is easier than a 7 in the first round. When you're outside of a 5 seed, wins are good. If we get 2 games in the NCAA tourney, that's great for this team.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
Calling it an upset when the 10 seed beats the 7 seed is sooooooooo '90s.
March 14th, 2011 at 12:57 AM ^
After we beat Tenn. Jalen is going to give the pre game pep talk before we stomp those bastards.
Edit: Jalen has blown up Twitter. I think every girl that dreams of an OG late at night has posted.
We're too good for our own good!
Screw that. Take on Tennessee first and go from there. This team doesn't know how to quit.
If someone came up to you before the season and said, "Hey, you want the 8 seed? You'll have to play Duke in the second round if you can get there, though." each and every one of us would have jumped at that offer. This team made it happen.
Win or lose, this season has been a huge success. Can't wait to see the game on Friday, and I'm especially excited for next season.