The never too early ESPN Bracketology

Submitted by robbyt003 on

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Well it's Tuesday, so that means ESPN came out with a new bracketology.  

Duke, Kansas, Syracuse, and Michigan get the 1 seeds.  It has Michigan playing the winner of Norfolk State and Southern U and then playing the winner of Baylor/Pitt.

Louirville is the #2, Butler #3, and Creighton #4.  I'd love to have that 3 and 4 in my side of the bracket.  

Big Ten

Indiana, 2 seed

Minnesota, 3 seed

Ohio, 4 seed

Michigan St, 4 seed

Wisconsin, 7 seed

Illinois, 11 seed

Wolverine In Iowa

January 22nd, 2013 at 12:50 PM ^

I would rather avoid Butler and Creighton completely until the Final Four.  Those two teams make U of Ohio look like Bradley (yes, I know we're much better than last year, but Creighton is legit and Butler is good too).

drewro02

January 22nd, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^

About Creighton. I live in Omaha and watch Creighton often. They've always had problems with long and athletic teams. Boise was too athletic for them earlier this year, and it's the same reason they have been on the losing end against Wichita St the last few years. Michigan would be far too athletic for them, and I'm confident we would beat them rather handily. McDermott is a good ball player, but he always struggles against athletic teams as well. He would be a first or second team player in the Big Ten, but it would be a shame if he wins NPOY because he's at Creighton.

JCV16

January 22nd, 2013 at 12:53 PM ^

They are the perfect 3 if Louisville is the 2, because even though they're terrifying, they might because of said terrifyingness knock off louisville, who is even more terrifying.  Terror.

chewieblue

January 22nd, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^

if we truly have a shot at that one seed.

The looming gauntlet of at IU, Ohio, at Wisky, at Sparty will determine if we are one seed material.  I would think a team deserving of a one seed would go 3-1, at worst maybe 2-2 in that stretch.  Anythying less and I think our chances drop significantly.  1-3 wouldn't mean we'd have no chance, but it would make it tough to get back up there.

Either way, Go Blue!!!!

ijohnb

January 22nd, 2013 at 1:16 PM ^

Lousville would be an epic regional final.  In the West, that would be a very fortunate draw for Staee.  I think Syracuse is overrated (really a one person show) and I think I actually might have Sparty coming out of that region believe it or not.

Laser Wolf

January 22nd, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^

Don't they try to avoid potential rematches until the Sweet 16, meaning Pitt being on the line below Michigan is not feasible? Or is it just conference opponents where this applies?

Yes, I realize it's just a rough prognostication.

TruBluMich

January 22nd, 2013 at 1:46 PM ^

Really hard to take these things serious, when they give MSU the Auto Bid for the Big Ten and have them at a 4 seed.  I know, I seen the part about current confrence leader and they are up a half game.  But, if your going to put out some way to early brackets at least make some way to early predictions.

ryanlove12

January 22nd, 2013 at 2:34 PM ^

This plays out for a 1 seed. Doesn't mean much yet, but it's encouraging and fun to talk about. This team is good enough to make a long run, and obviously a 2 seed or better is likeu

Mr. Yost

January 22nd, 2013 at 2:47 PM ^

Not sure you could ask for a better bracket. Maybe switch Louisville for Florida and it would be one of the "easier" roads. But once you get to the 1v2 matchup it's going to be tough no matter who you play.

cheesheadwolverine

January 22nd, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^

It would be huge to be in Auburn Hill/Indy -- perhaps even bigger than getting the 1.  There are also a lot of us alumni here in DC, so that could be a nice home-court if Indiana bumps us out of the Midwest 1 seed.  Also it's January, I can't believe I just engaged in speculating about our bracket.

mistersuits

January 22nd, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^

If i'm reading that correctly, he's predicting MSU to be the B1G autobid? I would not want to face Louisville or Butler before the Final Four.

You can pencil in Florida for a #1 seed too. There's not a team that's going to challenge them on their schedule the rest of the way. Florida will knock Duke or Michigan off the top line depending on who stumbles more in conference play. Unless Kansas loses at KState they also will likely not lose more than twice the rest of the way.

Needs

January 22nd, 2013 at 3:43 PM ^

The SEC is so down, though, Florida's resume's not going to look very good. Right now, they have 3 RPI top 50 wins, with one in the top 25. They'll likely pick up another when Wisconsin moves up from #51, but they only play two more top 50 teams, and those are middling (Mizzou @ 26 and Ole Miss @ 33). They also have 4 games against SEC teams that are 200+ in the RPI.

Compare to Michigan, which also has 3 top 50 wins, but two of those are top 15 (with one on the road). More importantly, they have 7 games left against the top 50 (plus Wisconsin) and no games against teams ranked lower than 188.

If Florida sweeps the league, they'll probably get a one, but anything else, and they're likely a 2 seed, even though they'd only have 3 losses. Just not enough good wins.

Needs

January 22nd, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^

Kansas has a far better case if they win the Big 12. Already have 6 top 50 wins (including a win @ OSU), with 8 top 50 games left (only one of them top 25 but still a far stronger schedule than Florida).

CLTBuckeye

January 22nd, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

I wasn't 100% sold on Michigan going into the season with the amount of freshman that were going to be getting key minutes, but the more I have seen of them this season, I have changed my mind.

The NCAA Tournament always comes down to matchups, but you have to like the fact that you have two guys (Burke and Hardaway) that can create their own offense at anytime in a game along with a having some knock down shooters.  I can't imagine anything less than an Elite 8 appearance for Michigan right now.

As for the Buckeyes, I wouldn't mind their seeding falling somewhere in the 3-5 range.  They just struggle way to much on the offensive end of the floor (except for Thomas) to make a real deep run this year, but again, you never know come tourney time.