Monday Bracketology
Bracket Matrix lives here: http://www.bracketmatrix.com/. 25 brackets have been updated since yesterday and of those our average seeding number is 3.48. If that was our average seed across all brackets (Bracket Matrix still is listing brackets done as long ago as the 18th), we would be a solid 3 seed.
Lundard (all Lundardi disclaimers apply) lives here: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology. He has Michigan as a 3 seed. Other Lunadi notes:
- Minnesota is his 4th team out. He has just 5 B1G teams making the dance. Others are:
- OSU (6 seed); Wisconsin (2 seed); MSU (3 seed); Iowa (6 seed).
- FSU is also out, which would've been a nice win over a tourney team.
Jerry Palm (also Palm disclaimers) lives here: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology . He has Michigan a 4 seed. Lundardi is your mass market bracketologist of the week.
- He also has FSU and Minnesota out; Minnesota is one of his first four out.
- Iowa and OSU are 5s to Palm, MSU a 4.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:41 PM ^
Nebraska is lurking!
February 24th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^
The worst Nebraska should finish in the B1G regular season is 19-11 (11-7), if Wisconsin beats them in the finale. They could even finish at 20-10 because they don't lose in Lincoln to non-Michigan teams, and then they play both of Chicago's Big Ten teams and at Disassembly Hall.
I don't think there's any way they can be denied a bid with that record, even if they lose in the opening round of the B1G tourney. Plus, they are an exciting team and someone who could certainly score an upset in the Dance...all things that should be attractive to the selection committee.
Let's go Nebrasketball!
February 24th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
Nebraska hasn't been very good on the road so far, so I don't know if I'd say they "should" win in Bloomington. They should win their next two, but the final two (at IU, vs. Wisconsin) are tough and will make or break their tourney chances.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:28 PM ^
Izzo and his injury depleted Spartans might disagree with you.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:50 PM ^
Big ten champ is a three seed unless it's Wisconsin or Iowa, then it's a two. If somehow staee wins , with all their injuries they are a one. Make sense? Good it shouldn't.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
I think if UM wins out (and obviously wins the regular season crown) they are a solid 2. Even if they lose the first game of the BTT, I still think a 23-7 (15-3) regular season record gets them to a 2 seed. I agree with Wisconsin being a 2 if they win the regular season title, though I actually think they will be a 2 regardless. I see no way Iowa ends up a 2. Their 2-7 record vs. top 25 opponents will keep them on the 4 line. I see it playing out like so:
Michigan - 2 seed
Wisconsin - 2 seed
Michigan State - 3 seed
Iowa - 4 seed
Ohio State - 6 seed
Nebraska (!!) - 11 seed
February 24th, 2014 at 2:52 PM ^
I agree but hasn't recent history been cruel to conference winners that go far in the big tourney? Meaning early exits in the big dance. I'm sure it won't matter and we will want to keep winning as long as we can anyway.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
And if you look at how Wisconsin has played recently, they deserve a #2 seed. Their overall resume is actually quite good as well, including 5-2 against RPI top 25. And, sense their 1 point loss to OSU on Feb 1, they've won 5 in a row including Minnesota, MSU, @Iowa, @Michigan. Michigan is also hurt by a lack of non-conf wins over RPI 50-100.
I also see pretty much no way Iowa gets a 2-seed unless they win out and win the BTT. I think MSU is stuck at getting a #2 tops as well. #1 seeds are pretty solid right now.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:55 PM ^
I'm fascinated by how you spelled Lunardi three different incorrect ways.
February 24th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
Quite a feat.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
kwite uh feet
/fixed
February 24th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^
me too. i'm leaving it like that.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^
I'd saying Nebraska is "locking" as long as they don't get trucked in the B1G tourney.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:02 PM ^
If we win out (IF, not getting ahead of myself) does it guarantee a 2-3 seed? In that case, I absolutely wouldn't care if we're bounced from the BTT by a Nebraska, Minnesota or above. Love a regular season crown, but I don't really care about the BTT unless there are major seeding implications or a bid on the line.
Almost prefer getting a day off on Sunday to prep for the real deal. Of course, if we do end up playing on Sunday might as well win the damn thing.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:08 PM ^
If we win out the regular season, the BTT will absolutely determine seeding. A loss at the beginning would probably make us a 3 seed, but winning the BTT would likely earn us a 2 seed.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:20 PM ^
Obviously, things become more difficult the further your seed drops. But I feel like the difference between the 3-seed and 2-seed is much smaller than the difference between a 3-seed and a 4-seed.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:47 PM ^
Definitely true as a general matter, but this year, I'd rather be a 4 seed in the region with Wichita State than a 3 seed anywhere else.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
I was also going to say this. 2 or 3 doesn't matter much to me, it's about the location and matchups. If we can play close to home and get Wichita State...yes please.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
Yes getting a draw with Wichita state is what I've been hoping for all year.
February 24th, 2014 at 6:37 PM ^
That's what I'm getting at. 3 seed or 2 seed; you're probably going to be close to home in the first weekend. Eventually you'll need to play a good team. Does it really matter at that point? The specific matchup means more.
I think 1>> 2 ~ 3 > 4 >>> etc.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^
Interesting. A nice run at the end should get us in position for a 2 seed, IMO.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:17 PM ^
IF we win out and win the BTT is there any chance at a 1 seed? I figure Cuse, Duke, Arizona, WSU, and Florida would all be ahead of us, but winning out would give the tourney crew a lot to think about.
February 24th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^
But Arizona, WSU and Florida look very strong. Somebody out of Duke/Syracuse/Virginia is going to come out of the ACC looking very good. The Big East is going to have Creighton/Villanova. Kansas from the BigXII. I don't think I can see Michigan getting past all but 3 of those teams with the time left in the season to get a one seed. Wisconsin's overall profile is probably better than Michigan's at this point as well (wins over Florida, STL and @virginia probably make up for not winning the conference).
February 24th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^
I was going to make a thread but then got distracted at work (stupid work!!), so thank you for putting this out there.
Two quick things: you linked to ESPN's RPI page as opposed to Lunardi's bracketology page, and your link to Jerry Palm's bracket has a period at the end, resulting in a 404 page.
Lunardi: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Palm: http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology
February 24th, 2014 at 3:20 PM ^
thx. work is the reason that the post was so sloppy. i fixed the espn link. i don't get a 404 with the palm link.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:08 PM ^
Id rather have that 4 spot, and be in the bracket with Witchita St. the 1,2 and 3 seeds all being beatable. the ESPN bracket has Michingan in a slug-fest.
February 24th, 2014 at 3:59 PM ^
According to all my Sparty friends, the regular season and BTT don't matter, only March Madness. Perhpas we should adopt this mentality that way losing in the regular season or in the BTT won't matter!
February 24th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^
Did they say that the years they sucked in the tourney but won the Big Ten?
February 24th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^
Will say whatever is in their favor. It makes em feel better.
February 25th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^
our fans never do that.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
Selfishly I hope they end up a 3 seed and play in Raleigh. Then when Dook loses we can buy cheap tickets to that session.
February 24th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
Anyone pay any attention to Florida this year? Based on how we trucked them last year, I wouldn't mind doing it again this year. Yeah, they've won a lot of games, but only one ranked opponent since mid-December. We've had 8 in the same timeframe. Please put us in a bracket with Florida or Wichita. Many thanks.
February 24th, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^
Can't remember the name of their coach ... hmmm where was he for a National Championship?
February 24th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^
The TeamRankings seed projections do have a difference when compared to last week - Nebraska is projected as having about a 1 in 3 shot at a bid and Minesota is out in their view.
They've got the seeds lined up like this:
#1 - Wisconsin
#3 - Michigan State
#3 - Michigan
#5 - Ohio State
#6 - Iowa
#13 - Nebraska
At this point, they have the first five of these as "sure", if you will, for the tournament.
February 24th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
There is no wisconsin will get a 1 seed if they dont win the bt regular season or bt tourney
February 24th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
We need OSU to beat MSU because I have a feeling M will lose one of their four remaining games. Purdue seems like the clear choice but Indiana still males me nervous, even though it is a home game for M.
February 25th, 2014 at 12:14 AM ^
The only team I do not want to see in our region is Kansas. Their size I feel would be too much for us without Mitch.