| |
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 16, 2007
|
|
Gary - clever idea, and a good way to spark some debate. But I think coincidence on all, here's why on the ones you swayed towards conspiracy:
UCLA has the easist path to the final four: Your point is that #2 seed Duke lost 2 of it's last 3 = true, but that was to North Carolina & Clemson, two very good teams. Xavier has lost 2 of it's last four games, but both were to a good St. Joseph's team that is also now in the big dance. It's true that Kansas has a tough Midwest bracket with Georgetown & Wisconsin - but I'd argue that North Carolina has a tougher East bracket draw with Tennessee & Louisville. The South bracket is no slouch either - I think the commitee did a good job (as usual).
The highest RPI's eliminated are from non-BCS schools : Your point is that Dayton, Illinois St., and UMass got snubbed because of being in non-BCS conferences. I say it's because Dayton had been slipping for some time, and UMass lost to a bad Charlotte team in it's conference tourney opener, but I thought Illinois St. should have got in.
Quality non-BCS schools paired to eliminate eachother : I'm not buying it - as you stated, some of these teams are or were nationally ranked - therefore substantiating their seeds. I tend to believe Tom O'Conner when he said that all teams under consideration were viewed as being totally independents. Regardless of conference RPI or conference "reputation". Maybe I'm naive - but I believe him.
As far as people complaining about strong teams getting to play close to home : it is well known that the sites are picked far ahead of selection Sunday. They try to seed the top teams regionally for T.V. interest of course - it makes sense. Some day Memphis will host a regional or higher bracket & the way John Calipari coaches - I'm thinking they will get their "home crowd" advantage.
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 9, 2007
|
|
I think the argument for conspiracy is that things like this happen year in and year out. Especially with the two midmajor topics.
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 16, 2007
|
|
*Laughing* I was reading your post at the same time Fishstick - good points made.
|
|
|
Reputation:85
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 28, 2007
|
Speaking of Duke I think WVU matches up about as good as anybody in the country with them, and although there is a different coach and a few different players this is virtually the same WVU team that beat UCLA the past few years(the names aren't the same but the style and talent is about even). I understand the WVU roster has changed a bit and the UCLA roster has added Love to the mix, but this WVU squad could be a problem for UCLA if they can get past Zona and Duke. I don't think they are a lock to do that, but if they do look out because they could definitely make some noise if they make it to the Sweet 16.
Oh yeah I am a Marshall and a UK fan so I hate to say this, but I really think if this WVU team gets by Duke they will have a real shot to get to San Antonio.
|
|
|
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 7, 2007
|
|
correction 3 out of the last 3 years memphis has been put on the road
ucla in oakland-elite8
texas a and m in texas-sweet 16
texas in texas-elite 8
now the vols with #1 rpi and sos @ 29-4 did not get a #1 seed but the lowest #2 seed
conspiracy
|
|
|
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 20, 2006
|
I tend to dismiss conspiracy theories. Conspiracies are almost always a refuge of a weak mind.
The mind searches for rational connections and reasons-- we have to believe there are intentional reasons for things in our lives. Someone we love dies, there must have been a "reason" for it. We lose money or property and there must have been some "reason"-- whether it was evil by some other agent or just bad karma because we must have "deserved" it. Something wonderful happens to us unexpectedly and it must have been the plan of Providence.
Granted, things often do happen to us because of the design of ourselves or others. We get that raise because we worked hard and put in extra effort for the boss. People might attack you because they are envious of you or desperate for some gain. But these aren't conspiracies. Conspiracies require a secret cabal that organizes to manipulate and deceive. And everyone involved has to keep the secret. People are built to keep their mouths shut. One person can, two people might, three people is getting iffy, four or more and you can almost forget it.
Although kaaduge's argument regarding point 1 (the bit about UCLA having an easy road) actually serves to prop up the article's contention (if all three of the other regions are notably tough and the West is not, that actually strengthens his point), I would have to agree that this is coincidence. The top seeds pretty much run in order down the rankings. The fact that the teams who got dropped into the west have faltered is just UCLA's good luck.
I do think there is a bias against mid-major teams, of which the omission of high RPI mid-majors is an example; however, a bias is not the same as a conspiracy. Yes, the committee does genuinely look down its collective nose at mid-majors-- and mid-majors are a financial parasite to the big conferences. However, this shows itself in biases-- natural inclinations of preference whereby the committee genuinely believe that the mediocre big conference teams are better teams. This is not a conspiracy per se. There is no deception nor organized cover-up.
Then again, I wish someone would explain to me how Davidson is ranked 23 in the nation in the USA Today/Coaches poll, and yet is a 10 seed. A pure seeding would have given Davidson a 6 seed (as one would expect for teams ranked 21-24). A seven I could buy-- but a 10? Oh well. It's up to them to win to show they deserve better.
|
|
|
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Dec 20, 2006
|
Oops. I made an error in the third paragraph-- "People are NOT built to keep their mouths shut."
I hope that makes more sense now.
|
|
|
Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Oct 7, 2007
|
|
it is not a weak mind it is paying attention and most people agree:
ucla got put in the weakest region- good 4 la.
the vols did not deserve the lowest 2 seed
the tigers have been put on the road the last three seasons (thats a fact)
|
|
|
Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 9, 2007
|
|
NCSteel:
You have to consider the fact that the brackets were made after the fact. It's not that teams in UCLA's bracket faltered after they were put in, they were put in the UCLA bracket after they faltered. It could be coincidence, but it might not be either. If the brackets were made a month ago, I would throw out conspiracy, but they were made one day ago.
As to the midmajors. What makes the conspiracy is that the committee says that they look at each team independent of conference, yet each year the results are the same: the highest RPI teams that miss the cut are always from midmajor conferences. This could be coincidence, or the committee could be lying about their bias. The committee is not supposed to be biased and lying about such a bias could count as coverup/conspiracy.
|
|
