Why Wisconsin's Seeding Doesn't Make Sense
The Badgers received a #8 seed in this year's NCAA Tournament.
Since the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket was released Sunday evening, much has been made about Wichita State being chosen as a #10 seed. While the Wisconsin Badgers fared slightly better with an #8 seed they were just as criminally underseeded as the Shockers were.
Wisconsin finished in a tie for second in the Big 10 with Maryland with Purdue taking the top spot. The Minnesota Golden Gophers took the 3rd place spot one game behind the Badgers and the Terrapins. What doesn't make sense then is how a 3rd place Minnesota team got three seeds higher than the Badgers. Futhermore, if looking at conference record only, the Terrapins should have been equal with the Badgers yet they slotted in as a #6 seed.
Take into account the conference tournament and things get even more confusing. Maryland got knocked out way back in the quarterfinal round to a hot Northwestern team. Minnesota was able to advance to the semifinals where they were beaten by a highly motivated Michigan team. And Wisconsin? They made it all the way to the title game where they ended up succuming to Michigan. Not only did they prove themselves in conference play, but they showed their talent again by reaching the Big 10 title game.
In case you were wondering if things could get any more confusing as to why the Badgers weren't seeded higher, think again. When looking at teams around their seed level, #9 Vanderbilt is one of them. This is the same Vanderbilt team that has lost 15 games this season already. Are you telling me that 24-9 Wisconsin is marginally better than a 15 loss Vanderbilt team? One of the Badgers' conference foes, the Michigan State Spartans had 2 more losses in conference and 5 more losses overall, yet they too were only 1 seed behind the Badgers as a #9 seed.
It seems likely that Minnesota will struggle against a trendy sleeper in Middle Tennessee and Maryland will have difficulty stopping Xavier. However, the Badgers face a much more difficult path. Even if they are able to dispatch a tricky Virginia Tech team, they face the reigning national champions in the Villanova team in the next round. It hardly seems fair that a team who has proved itself during the Big 10 season and conference tournament will most likely be out before the second weekend while seemingly inferior teams from their own conference got much easier draws.
