Latest bracketology has Michigan playing in....Columbus!
That's news to me! The last time I checked, we were slated to play in Nashville. That's really exciting to me, since I live in Ohio, and I know a lot of people on this board do, too. Here's to hoping that it works out that way!
I wouldn't get too hyped about it since Lunardi isn't usually right on regions, just teams that get in.
He's 28 of 44 on the bracket project ratings over the last six years, and you've never heard of any of the people who are worse.
The top rated Bracketologist over the last 3 years per:
http://bracketproject.50webs.com/rankings.html
also has Michigan going to Columbus.
Bracket Here:
That's not going to happen. In fact, that exact scenario was specifically mentioned in the article linked below as one that the NCAA would not allow, because it would create a de facto road environment for a high seed.
http://deadspin.com/5890921/for-the-first-time-the-ncaa-selection-commi…
I believe Obama and Cameron will be attending the First Four -- i.e. the play-in round -- in Dayton, not the second round (fka the first round) in Columbus or anywhere else.
That doesn't really make any sense. I think that's the author's interpretation of the rule. I think it's fair to say UM wouldn't be at a home crowd disadvantage playing in Columbus.
My understanding of the rule was that, for example, Duke or North Carolina wouldn't be allowed to play at Greensboro if they weren't a top-4 seed, to avoid the possiblity of a higher seed forced to play them in what would essentially be a road game. I'd never heard anyone mention the possiblity that it would be used to keep teams from playing on a rival's court.
I wouldn't want to play in Columbus. There'd be some U-M fans there, but the "neutral" locals would certainly not be on our side - and only we would face that problem.
I don't know if I agree. Columbus is really supportive of Trey... Even playing against OSU in Columbus, fans cheered and clapped when he made good plays.
A game between UM and just about any potential non-Ohio team would probably result in a non-hostile environment.
Well, no more hostile than you would expect. All NCAA crowds tend to favor underdogs..
I don't want to see Michigan play Akron or ND in Columbus. There will be a ton of ND fans and a ton of neutrals who root for Akron/ND.
I would much rather face Notre Dame in Columbus than Vandy in Nahsville.
Eh, Vandy is usually outnumbered at their own basketball and football games by UT fans anyway. Vandy fans kind of suck at showing up to things.
I would think there would be a strong UM showing, especially if we're a 3-seed. I know I've already made plans with some Vandy kids in my class if indeed Michigan-Vandy play in Nashville.
So while I think you're right that playing Vandy in Nashville would be harder than playing Notre Dame in Columbus, I don't think it would really be that hard.
It has less to do with fan support. I think Vandy is a much better team than ND.
If that's the thing that's specifically not gonna happen then how does Dook keep getting seeded in Greensboro NC every year in the 1st round?
Does Duke face hostile crowds in Greensboro?
I'm not sure what the OC (original commenter) is referring to, because clearly Duke would *want* to play as close to their campus as possible.
I will note, however, that there were a *lot* of North Carolina fans in Charlotte last year rooting for Michigan (or rather, against Duke). I was worried the atmosphere would provide Duke with a significant home-field advantage, but much to my surprise and delight a bunch of UNC fans stuck around (our game was immediately after theirs) in order to root against Duke.
The second-most important thing to Carolina fans is seeing Duke lose. They are possibly one of the most vindictive fan bases I've ever come into contact with, at least as far as college basketball is concerned. It actually pretty funny. Carolina is like the "little brother" of basketball - one that wishes extremely horrible things on their older sibling.
Living in NC has shown me that NC State fans seem to be even worse. They greatly hate everything Duke and UNC. NC State is clearly the red headed step brother of the bunch.
is that their opponent faces a much more hostile crowd than the couple of hundred Ohio State fans that would show up in Columbus just to boo Michigan.
If the other game of the day were a local team that draws well, like Cincinnati or X or Dayton, I can see why this would be a problem, but the first-day crowds are so small that I'd think the extra Michigan fans driving south would more than offset the effect.
There'd be more than a couple hundred OSU fans there. We played at Dayton in 1995 (against Western Kentucky) and it was effectively a road game.
A local team (MIami) was playing at the site, but not at the same session. So maybe you're right....
(obligatory bemusement at what some people here deem to be 'Trolling')
But, yes - Duke has a HC advantage playing the first rounds in Greensboro-somesuch; that was my point. Notwithstanding the exception that Jivas brought up about UNC fans cheering for Duke's opponent on general principle, but that was mostly due to them also playing there.
I can't think of any perennial hoops power arch-rivals who usually get high seeds every year and happen to be only 10 miles away, so I'd imagine this kind of thing is a unique situation. The hardcore OSU fans are at wherever OSU is playing; the hardcore Michigan fans are (hopefully) at Nationwide which isn't far from SE Michigan; it's not like the most rabid Bucknut is going to spring for tickets expressly to root against us.
We do not want Michigan to be in Columbus. People will go to the games just to root against them.
I don't expect anyone to be taking up the bulk of the seats.
Do cities always host multiple regions of the bracket? I don't remember ever seeing this before, although I doubt I was paying that much attention to the locations. And I think that setup would give us a pretty good shot at the sweet 16, and MSU a very good shot at another final four.
From the FAQs: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/2012Bracketolog…
Will teams allegedly play closer to home again this year? For the 11th time, the NCAA men's basketball committee will not predetermine the regional designation of each of the eight subregional sites (what it calls the "pod" system). This gives the committee increased flexibility to reduce travel for teams and fans, as well as create more local interest at subregional sites that may not be traditional basketball areas. For example, the subregional site in Pittsburgh could send its winners to Phoenix (West Regional) instead of, say, the East Regional in Boston, if the committee thinks it makes more geographic sense for the teams involved.
does not know what allegedly means
Tough. Seems like the committee likes putting Duke and Michigan in same region.
None of those locations are correct. I highly doubt they will be playing an east AND west regional in Greensboro, for example.
It doesn't matter where the 1st/2nd round sites are with respect to the regionals (east/south/west/midwest). Last year:
East (Newark):
Cleveland
Tampa
Cleveland
Charlotte
West (Anaheim):
Charlotte (our pod: Duke/Hampton, Michigan/Tennessee)
Tulsa
Washington DC
Tucson
Southwest (San Antonio):
Tulsa
Denver
Chicago
Chicago
Southeast (New Orleans):
Washington DC
Tucson
Denver
Tampa
which were linked to on Deadspin the other day, no 4 seed or higher (1,2,3) can be put in a region where the first two rounds would put it at a home field disadvantage. So I don't think Columbus is happening. Which is a shame, because I'm 10 miles from Columbus and have been hoping/preparing for this scenario since Groundhog Day. When I saw this I was sad kitteh.
If it turns out to be untrue, we can all tailgate at my house
Wasn't there a big fuss a few years ago because North Carolina played in the NC region during the National Championship run?
wouldn't North Carolina playing in North Carolina be an adavantage? I said they are supposed to avoid creating a disadvantage for any of the 4 highest ranked seeds in the first 2 rounds. Michigan in the home arena of their largest rival = disadvantage
They're hosting the regional at Nationwide Arena, not Value City, so isn't on campus.
I didn't even take the time to process that when I read it, I just saw Columbus and ran with it
Obama is actually going to be in Dayton on Tuesday for the First Four with the British PM.
get to play in Nashville? How does the #3 Michigan have to play the #6 Seed (If thats the bracket) in their Home city...TOTALLY UNFAIR
Vandy probably won't play in Nashville, anything beyond a 5 seed can't put the higher seed at a disadvantage, they'll probably be shipped out it they just happened to be the serpentine draw in the Nashville bracket, which is unlikely enough as it is.
anywhere in the East regional is good with me...
(lives 30 min from Boston)
Apparently there is a school called LIU - Brooklyn that is going to be in the tourney this year.
They should come to Pittsburgh instead, so I can go to at least the first game!
first TWO games, mind you. Yes, moar Pittsburgh please
I only said one game because I'm leaving for vacation the next day and won't be in town for the second game. It'll be tough for them to get Pittsburgh with OSU not being allowed in Columbus and Syracuse almost guaranteed a spot, but one can dream.
If Lunardi's brackets are correct (they won't be), Columbus would not only have the local anti-M contingent, but sparty would be playing in the same building, so you'd have to factor in their fan base as well. That's a lot of people rooting against a 3-seed. Could be interpreted as a disadvantage.