Leaving out ND since I'm a rep, I'd go with OSU, KU, Pitt and Duke as my top 4, with BYU, Purdue, Texas and Wisconsin the next 4. After that in some order are Syracuse, SDSU, Georgetown and UNC.
At the risk of sounding like a giant homer, it seems to me that there are 6 teams left with a shot at a 1 seed. Ohio State, KU, Pitt and Duke are probably the 1s right now in that order. And the other two in contention are Notre Dame and Texas pending the results of conference tourneys. ND could get a 1 but it would probably take a Big East tournament title unless Duke or Pitt craps out early. Texas I feel is a long shot, but still in the discussion if they win the Big 12 tourney. Purdue could be included as a super-long shot but after that brutal loss I'd think mass carnage in the conference tourneys for the other potential 1s would be the only way they get in. Thoughts? BYU or SDSU still in the discussion for a 1 and I'm not giving them enough credit?
Kemba Walker is a tremendous player, but he simply will not let anyone else win the game. He got them the lead, and then he blew it. ND goes 14-4 in the league and can win the Big East if Pitt goes down - which is unlikely, but who knows.
As opposed to the awesome weeks 15 and 16 right now where the good teams totally don't do that! There will be more games like that now, though. Ironic considering Goodell practically crapped a brick trying to stop that from happening by hastily shoving all division games in Week 17.
He has the Titans taking Patrick Peterson at 8. No way he falls that far, but I cannot express how happy I'd be on draft day if the Titans got Peterson. So they're completely giving up on Claussen already? I can see us getting a QB but I'd still be rather surprised if it's Newton. I'm hearing that Ron Rivera likes him but I haven't heard any mention of him meeting with the team at the combine or anywhere else.
C, A, B and G in that order would be my #1 seeds. And if Team D is San Diego State, which I believe they are, I'm pretty sure they aren't in consideration for a 1 seed. And I think Team A is BYU, and they're probably out too after tonight.
Also, the latest Lunardi bracket, which has ND facing the winner of Mason and Mich St in round 2, is pretty terrifying. I don't want any part of either of those teams, especially MSU, in the dance.
Thanks Tim McCarver less than two weeks ago they were routed by West Virginia... I'm not going to tell you ND is going to make a deep run, because I have no idea, but you keep referring to these ND losses by 12 or 14 points as 'routs', and I have to wonder what your standard is for a rout. That game wasn't decided until about 4 minutes were left. Also, Tim Higgins and Co. officiated that WVU game like a football game. No tournament refs - I hope - are going to be calling games like the steel cage matches that occur in Morgantown. Anyway, that game was fun, though I wish we could have saved that shooting for @UConn on Saturday with possibly the Big East title on the line.
Man, every time I say anything about college basketball it's like the college hoops world demands I get egg thrown on my face within 24 hours. I for one welcome our new college basketball overlords. Enjoy the 1 seed, Purdue.
I hope Purdue can be the top #2 seed and be in BYU's bracket. A win at MSU tomorrow would help. Purdue doesn't have to be the top 2 to be in BYU's bracket, but I'd guess they have plenty of work to do for that spot. They're in a cluster of 3 or 4 teams for the last couple of 2 seeds at the moment.
This is all why ND needs to wake up and take care of Seton Hall in the 2nd half. There is ground to be made up in the NCAA seeding race. This year's tournament is going to be crazy.
Gil Brandt, former Cowboys personnel guy, says he'd be surprised if Cam Newton wasn't the first overall pick. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/22/gil-brandt-would-be-shocked-if-cam-newton-isnt-taken-first-overall/ He'd better have been traded for if that's the case. Newton is no JaMarcus Russell, but he's not anyone I'm enthused for in the pros.
I damn well hope IU would storm the court if they won tonight. Purdue is 8th in the country and a rival, and IU sucks. Regardless of prior occurrences, a court-storm would absolutely be called for. That being said, Purdue is not going to lose.
They've been blown out by three un-ranked teams in their last 10. They're 19th in the Pomeroy rankings. They shouldn't be a 2 or a 3. St. John's has beaten four top 10 teams this year at home and ND was without its 2nd best player in that game as well as the Marquette game you reference. I think that's a valid data point especially since every Purdue fan I know has pissed and moaned all year about Hummel being injured.
I really could've done without Purdue winning. ND has to stay in front of Wisconsin in the tourney pecking order or they'll lose their Chicago slot and probably get launched far away again.