Madness '07

[jeff4bucks]

Florida has lost 3 straight, they may lose their #1 seed-unless they can win SEC Tourney. UCLA is a lock in the West, OSU and UNC may be the other top seeds.
Any bold predictions for conference/NCAA tourney?
We need some board activity...

[gobigblu]

Big game for Mich. on saturday. #1 team coming to town and a NCAA berth on the line. And possibly Amaker keeping his job. OSU has the 1 seed all but locked down and the Big Ten title in hand. A loss wouldn't affect them at all.
The way they played against MSU last night, I think they have a shot.

[Rupturedduck]

coach 3,S.H. DR.Buckeye,heck i even miss billie,nabie and freddie.

Watch out for Kansas,could be a # 1 seed.Still in shock that my 'Orange' upset G'town,but 'hoyas' still dangerous.Can't wait for Memphis to be revealed for the 'pretenders'they are ,cup cake city.Think the 'bucks' might be going into a 'hornets' nest on sat.if not on their game i see a loss here.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

To me, the unknown is which teams currently in the middle of their BCS conferences will make the tourney and be ranked 6-11. A hot team could definitely upset a 2-4 seed before the first weekend ends. History has informed us that 1 seed is not much different than a 2 or 3, but it's key to avoid the 4,5,8 and 9 seeds to enhance the likelihood of longevity as compared to the teams ranked just above or below you.

[jeff4bucks]

agree on that last point, Victors. Not a huge difference between a 1 or 2 seed. Michigan will give it all they have on Sat. shouldn't affect their seeding though you never know. I really don't see Michigan pulling it off against OSU, not after a huge win against Wisconsin. OSU is playing better ball right now then they did even 3 weeks ago.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

I'm happy to have OSU at 8-1 to win it all and Kansas at 10-1. While Michigan will very likely have to either win at OSU or make it to the Big Ten Conference championship game in order to avoid another trip to the NIT, both of which are unlikely, I have never in my lifetime witnessed a Wolverines defeat of Spartacus occur so quietly. There was barely an article about the game on ESPN.com and ESPN televised the game to a national audience. Even Dick Vitale was saying up until the game that Michigan needs to defeat a visiting MSU to get considered. Then they did by double digits and not a sound from these so-called pundits. Maybe pontificating Izzo during the prior week left them speechless when seniors Dion Harris and Cortney Sims left in winning fashion.

[Gilligan]

Early prediction: The MWC will get four teams (Very underrated league)

#1's
East - Ohio State
Midwest - Kansas
South - UNC
West - UCLA

I could see OSU,KU, and UNC swapping spots, b/c OSU is the best #1 out of those 3 and they 'should' go to the MW. I think Florida is officially done as a #1. Tex A&M may have had a shot by winning the B12 Tourney, but after that tough loss last night not sure. I see Wisky as a #2. Pitt as well.

[Hail to the Victors Valiant]

As Kansas defeated Florida early in the season, they should be seeded ahead Florida as you predicted unless only Florida wins its conference tourney. Last night was the first time I really watched Acie Law IV and he is a player. However, Texas is on the rise and could win the Big 12 tournament. As long as Afflalo and Collison are on the floor, UCLA should win Pac 10 tourney and earn the #1 seed in the west. While UNC seems like a #1 seeded team, they have a knack of losing close games, but another win versus Duke and a trip to the ACC final should seal a #1 for them. Memphis is likely a #3 bases on their relatively weak RPI and SOS. The battle for the 3 thru 6 seeds should be something and the round of 32 should be accompanied by some big time 'upsets' of better-ranked teams as the parity amongst the top 30 teams in the country has been quite evident all season long.

[ZOOMBAG]

On average, only 2 #1 seeds ever make the final four. Many years only 1 make it. The last three years the average final regular season AP ranking of the final four has been near 15.