Gator Country

**GothamGator** · 03-08-2013, 09:53 AM

Palm's new bracket this morning had a surprise for me.

Kentucky is still among the Last Four In - they're the very last one in.

I found this pretty surprising given the loss at Georgia, which is Kentucky's first bad loss. The Wildcats are now 3-3 without Noel, with one quality win (Missouri) and one bad loss (Georgia).

Still, when I looked at the other teams below Kentucky on the bubble, I couldn't really argue. Ole Miss has two horrible losses (200+ RPI) and is lower in RPI ranking. Alabama has four bad losses and is also lower. All three schools have the same number of top 50 wins (one). The resume is even worse for other bubble teams like UMass. Only Stanford puts up a fight, with 3 quality wins (albeit over #s 49 and 50) and no bad losses.

Otherwise, things play out very much as they did before, with Duke, Indiana, Gonzaga and Louisville holding down the top line, and Florida still as a 3-seed.

REM08 · 03-08-2013, 10:00 AM

Interesting. This speaks to the theory that its not just the top teams that are down this year, everyone is. There were 3 bubble teams that desperately needed a win last night and each of them lost. This has been the theme for the last week or so.

A tournament of 64 will be fun this year, but its probably a year that warrants 32 in reality.

SmootyGator · 03-08-2013, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM08

Interesting. This speaks to the theory that its not just the top teams that are down this year, everyone is. There were 3 bubble teams that desperately needed a win last night and each of them lost. This has been the theme for the last week or so.

A tournament of 64 will be fun this year, but its probably a year that warrants 32 in reality.

64? It's 68 now, isn't it? Or did they add even more?

HayGator · 03-08-2013, 10:05 AM

They need to do away with the play-in games.

JohnC1908 · 03-08-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HayGator

They need to do away with the play-in games.

I think you have a better chance of seeing 128 than you ever do of 64.

gatorump · 03-08-2013, 10:36 AM

Have the bubble teams play each other in the play in games. Then have the winners be 7/10 seeds in the same bracket. This would eliminate anyone having to try to prepare on short notice.

I have also always hated watching a tounrnament winner get robbed of their experience in the dance by losing in Dayton.

HayGator · 03-08-2013, 10:37 AM

So, no chance at all.

themistocles · 03-08-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by REM08

Interesting. This speaks to the theory that its not just the top teams that are down this year, everyone is. There were 3 bubble teams that desperately needed a win last night and each of them lost. This has been the theme for the last week or so.

A tournament of 64 will be fun this year, but its probably a year that warrants 32 in reality.

Rem - I'm not sure it speaks so much to how bad the teams are, as to how even the competition is, except in a few cases.

I think it also speaks to the power of the home court advantage, which is far too frequently overlooked by many who are trapped in the materialist meta-paradigm.

When I was gambling professionally, the only sports betting situations that consistently beat the 10% house take involved the Home Court Advantage, because it is almost always underestimated in a materialist, capitalist culture such as ours. The power of the human factor.

co_gator89 · 03-08-2013, 11:41 AM

Nothing wrong with a #3 seed. We were a #3 in '06 after all.

**ThePlayer** · 03-08-2013, 11:45 AM

If Michigan and the Zags are upper-tier teams with their SOS, we don't deserve anything lower than a #2.

REM08 · 03-08-2013, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by themistocles

Rem - I'm not sure it speaks so much to how bad the teams are, as to how even the competition is, except in a few cases.

I think it also speaks to the power of the home court advantage, which is far too frequently overlooked by many who are trapped in the materialist meta-paradigm.

When I was gambling professionally, the only sports betting situations that consistently beat the 10% house take involved the Home Court Advantage, because it is almost always underestimated in a materialist, capitalist culture such as ours. The power of the human factor.

Yeah its hard to tell. It just seems to me that there are more clear cut #1's most years and also that the bubble teams are better than they are this year.

You are right about home court. Maybe its due to some sort of cognitive bias, but it seems even more influential this year.

gulfgator · 03-08-2013, 12:33 PM

What's strange is, even though the loss at UGA is being considered a bad loss, I would favor UGA at home against about a 3rd of the top 25,(better than UK) so the "bad loss" stat is not real world accurate to me, especially on the road.

**GothamGator** · 03-08-2013, 01:54 PM

Well, there are certainly different degrees of bad losses. Tripping up at #120 Georgia is one thing. Losing at home to #122 Georgia Tech or on the road to #240 TCU is somethng else.

orlandogator · 03-08-2013, 03:20 PM

I predicted kentucky would be a .500 team after the Noah loss and that is what they have been. I have always felt if you get 20 wins, that is sort of the benchmark for making the tournament and they have that many now.

tilly · 03-08-2013, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorump

I have also always hated watching a tounrnament winner get robbed of their experience in the dance by losing in Dayton.

They don't. Dayton IS the 1st round of the tournament. So they do experience the dance.

VCU had to play a play in game...and made the final four.

gatorump · 03-08-2013, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tilly

They don't. Dayton IS the 1st round of the tournament. So they do experience the dance.

VCU had to play a play in game...and made the final four.

I hear what you are saying and I agree somewhat, but I wonder what the losers of those games feel come Thursday and Friday. I will say this I never called in sick for Tuesday, but almost always seem to come down with something Wednesday night or Thursday before lunch.

lifetimeg8r · 03-08-2013, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlandogator

I predicted kentucky would be a .500 team after the Noah loss and that is what they have been. I have always felt if you get 20 wins, that is sort of the benchmark for making the tournament and they have that many now.

C'mon man!

BengermanV · 03-08-2013, 04:19 PM

Good. If we can beat a bubble team on the road, that will be sure to help us come seeding time. The better Kentucky is perceived, the better we'll be perceived for having beaten them (at least once, that is).

ArtVandelay · 03-08-2013, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifetimeg8r

C'mon man!

Leave him alone...he is probably talking about the Bulls loss...

tilly · 03-08-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorump

I hear what you are saying and I agree somewhat, but I wonder what the losers of those games feel come Thursday and Friday. I will say this I never called in sick for Tuesday, but almost always seem to come down with something Wednesday night or Thursday before lunch.

Fair point...but when the dust settles and they grow up..have kids etc...they will always tell folks how their team made the tourney, and that alone is pretty cool.

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