Lunardi 2023 Bracketology
Lunardi's very early 2023 Bracketology has us a 4 seed after winning the Big Ten
We can only hope! That would be great.
I think that's the optimistic view of next year's team and I think it is achievable. Assuming Diabate and Houstan leave our starting lineup would be something like:
Dickinson/TWill/one of the Howards or Barnes/Bufkin/Llewellyn
You start with a team that has one of the best players in the country and 4-5 stars at each of the other spots makes for a team that should be a Big10 contender. If you are that the top of the Big10 or close that should give you at least a 4 seed.
I'm in!
At first, I thought it was optimistic as well. But based on some high-level analysis, I don't see any major front runner in the big ten. Portal commitments may change this, but it seems everyone is losing a good amount of talent in the big ten (i.e. Max Christie is leaving MSU), so no team jumps out at me as a clear favorite, not even Illinois.
illinois is bringing in some talent, not overwhelmingly so, but seems like osu and illinois are primed to be near or at the top
Even if Illinois is NOT at the top, they may still claim to be...
Their AD has already filed petitions claiming the championship trophies trophy 🏆🏆🏆 for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
It's called "preparation".
Per 247, we are bringing in more talent on a per recruit basis than OSU this year. And Illinois is just barely ahead of Michigan on a per recruit basis.
So, I’m still not seeing a clear favorite this coming year.
Yeah, I don't see it with OSU this year. They lose their two best players in Branham and Liddell.
They have a few transfers but none that appear all that splashy. Tanner Holden might be decent but the other guys are role players at best. I'd be surprised if they finished in the top 5 of the league.
Torvik has them projected at 61st (!!) in the country and 9th in the conference and I buy that.
He has Indiana as the highest rated B1G team and I buy that as well...if TJD comes back. I didn't realize that's still up in the air. He's a bit like our Hunter. Seems like if IU has any NIL chops, they need to pay him to get him back.
And if he comes back, IU does seem like the favorite, although agree it is a crowded field with likely no elite teams. They'd have basically everyone back and I think Geronimo is perhaps their best pro prospect and he could make a big sophomore leap.
With Branham and EJ Lidell likely gone, Ohio will be fortunate to finish in the upper division. Will definitely be wide open in the B1G this season.
I honestly think that that lineup in college would be better. While Both players leaving are highly talented and very good they way the team plays might be better as a whole without them.
We're going to win the big 10 without houstan and diabate? The b10 loses a lot of players this year, but there's always a reload of new great breakout players. I can only hope Michigan has a couple of those that are not freshman
I'm tempted to print this out and save for comparison with the eventual finished bracket.
I'm waiting on Jerry Palm to weigh in on this. He preaches gospel and is always right.
/s
If that’s Palm in the pic he’s got a hilarious rug.
very optimistic but i will subscribe to this timeline.
My 1st thought is that no way does the B1G champ get a 4 seed. On a technicality though, the automatic qualifier is the tournament champion. I guess I'll give Lunardi the benefit of the doubt
Until the B1G starts to get some non-Michigan teams to make deep tournament runs, it might be difficult to crack the 1/2 seed line.
Gonzaga seems to be just fine getting 1-seeds and it's not like their conference is a powerhouse in the tournament
This has nothing to do with it. Committee cares zilch about the past playoff performance of a conference when evaluating individual teams.
Michigan just had a 1 seed in 2021 and they'd get one if they're a top 4 team this year.
My thought too. Doesn't quite add up.
He's got
4 Pac teams with a #2 & #3 seed
6 ACC with a #1 & #3
7 B12 with a #1, #2, & #4 x2
7 SEC with a #1, #2, #3
7 B1G with #4 champ as the highest
He also has IU as a 5 seed based on a good recruiting class but seems to put a lot of weight into their run to make the tourney since they were most scuttling before then and also lost TJD to the draft.
I think the conference will be down next year but I'd be shocked if the winner only got a 4 seed.
EDIT: Apparently TJD hasn't signed with an agent so he might return. If so then I can see IU being better.
Yep, mentioned it above but TJD seems like their version of Hunter. A guy that without NIL would be crazy to come back, but with NIL, should make a lot more money in college. Will be a potential test of IU's NIL. They should be throwing money at him to get him back.
It's way too early.
Never too early.
First Round - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 12 seed TCU 80-66
Second Round - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 4 seed Texas 78-74
Sweet 16 - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 1 seed North Carolina 79-78
Elite 8 - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 3 seed Arkansas 81-71
Final Four - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 4 seed Houston 70-64
NCAA Championship Game - No. 5 seed Michigan defeats No. 2 seed Kentucky 82-80
Banner night, October somethingorrather 2023.
all good with our road to a smooth easy finish, but we dont want any part of UNC next year. and yes, i believe we play them early.
Man those 5/12 matchups are always stressful.
Go Blue!!!!
What a run it was, back in '23! And whoa, that Arkansas finish, wow. Way closer than the final score...
That Sweet Sixteen game was heart attack inducing. Down by 2 when Kobe finishes at the rim and is fouled with 4 seconds to go. The FT is good!
NC gets a long 3 pointer off but it clangs off the iron.
What a nail-biter.
I want to see some 2032 bracketology.
Arguably just as accurate at this point.
A 4-seed after winning the B1G? Hmmm, okay.
Illinois was a 4 seed after winning the regular season title last year. And the conference should be down quite a bit. Would not be surprised if the B1G winner was a 4 seed.
With no data to support this and a healthy skepticism of any bracket made for a season yet to be played, part of me still chooses to believe this for some peculiar reason.
The winner of the Big Ten will be higher than a #4 seed?