They Got it Right.......Almost
Every single year the Jay Bilas' of the world and the Seth Davis' have countless bones to pick with the selection committee. Over the years countless teams have been wrongfully excluded, mostly mid-majors. This year the team that everyone seems to be up in arms about is Syracuse. The Orange were 18-14 this season - while going 10-8 in the ACC, the nation's toughest conference. While that record is very mediocre, so were the resumes of the other bubble teams. It was just that kind of year, regardless of the parity in college basketball 68 teams must be selected.
Yes, Syracuse did beat 6 top 50 teams, but they also got housed by 33 AT HOME to a St. John's team that finished the season 14-19 not within smelling distance of the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse also lost by 15 to Boston College, who was hands down the worst team in the ACC, and might be the worst team in any power conference. Did I mention that Jim Boeheim's team was 2-12 away from the Carrier Dome? While I can understand why Syracuse and their fans are upset, I do not believe they were worthy of a bid to the dance.
Selecting the proper teams is one thing, seeding them correctly within the field is entirely another. Teams that were "mis-seeded" (i.e. a 10 seed who really should be a 6 seed or an 8 seed who really should be a 12 seed) create collateral damage that the rest of the bracket has to deal with. Here are three teams who I feel the Committee mis-seeded and could cause chaos come Tourney Time.
1. Wisconsin as an 8 seed. The Badgers finished the season tied for second in the Big Ten, with an overall record of 25-9. They also made it to their Conference Championship Game. In a vacuum, Wisconsin getting an 8 seed isn't that noteworthy - until you see that Minnesota received a 5 seed and Maryland received a sixth seed. Not only did the Wisconsin finish above each in the Big Ten Standings, they beat both teams in their head-to-head meetings (Maryland once, Minnesota twice). Led by seniors Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig, the Badgers will be fine as an 8 seed. It is just unfair to Villanova; the team Wisconsin would be matched up against in the second round. A game that should be a relative cakewalk for Jay Wright and company has the potential to be a barn-burner.
2. SMU as a 6 seed. After winning the AAC Tournament, the Mustangs, led by Duke Transfer Semi Ojeleye, are legit. Riding a 16-game winning streak, they are as hot as any team in the country. A six seed? Please! SMU should be a 3, maybe a 4. Either way the Mustangs were mis-seeded.
3. UCLA as a 3 seed. The Bruins were in the top-five all season. Then they got a 3 seed? The South region is loaded with blue-bloods: North Carolina, Kentucky, and UCLA all vying for a spot in the Final Four. UCLA beat Kentucky head-to-head in Lexington and they're a 3 and Kentucky is a 2? Yes, Kentucky won the SEC, but the SEC might as well be the Southland Conference because outside of Kentucky, there's not much competition.
