Joe Lunardi's bracketology: Michigan #1 seed
Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology has us as a #1 in Auburn Hills. Can't believe we're being projected as a #1, though it's still very early in the season. We've come a long way.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 2:49 PM ^
However, if that was indeed our bracket, it would be a very tough road to the final four, but then again, it's still very early so there's much more to learn about all the teams in the field. How about that first round matchup with Canisius though?
December 11th, 2012 at 2:53 PM ^
I think that's a favorable 8/9 matchup as well.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:50 PM ^
Can someone explain how the locations work? Are teams 1, 8, 9, 16 in that bracket always in Auburn Hills or if Michigan were a 2 seed, would they still get Auburn Hills? I work a mile from the Palace and I'm thinking about getting tickets. I just don't want to have to scalp them if Michigan doesn't get selected to play here.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^
Two four team pods are sent to each site, and they are based on the highest seed in the pod. They try to keep higher seeds as close to home as possible so expect Michigan to be in Auburn Hills if we're a 1-3 seed, possible as a 4.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
Thanks for the info.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^
He has Minnesota as a 3-seed. Wowzer. That would be something if that does happen.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:23 PM ^
Best news about that is that they are the other pod Auburn Hills, meaning MSU gets shipped somewhere else. Playing at a site so close to home won't be as nice if a significant portion of the crowd is MSU fans rooting for the other team. I think the Minnesota fans are a lot more likely to be pro-B1G.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
Are tickets already available for these games? If so, I bet a ton of Spartan fans have already purchased them in anticipation of MIchigan State playing there. I'm sure their favorite pastime (cheering against Michigan) would be a perfectly acceptable consolation prize.
December 11th, 2012 at 2:58 PM ^
you forgot to add, way way wayyyy too early before bracketology.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:01 PM ^
I'm cautiously optimistic, but we'll see. We haven't really played any great teams this season. The first true test is January 13th in Columbus. After that game, we'll have a better idea of how good this team really is. If we can beat Ohio in their house, the sky's the limit.
December 11th, 2012 at 4:12 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 4:28 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
in the sweet 16. Thanks a lot Lunardi.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^
This would be the year.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
to an extent, but not as a five seed in the Sweet 16. Give me that UNLV matchup instead, eh?
December 11th, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
Michigan is undefeated, ranked 3rd in both major polls, and has looked consistently dangerous thus far. It is only fitting that they appear as a #1 seed in Lunardi's bracket.
That being said, i personally predict (or have a hunch) that no B1G teams end up as one seeds. I think the B1G is just that collectively good. Teams will be beating up on each other all through the conference schedule. I do, however, think Michigan will remain one of the four best teams in the nation (which is what the #1 seeds are supposed to be) but i believe their final record will be surpassed (on paper only) by a team who underwent a much less challenging schedule. Still, anything could happen.
December 12th, 2012 at 7:35 AM ^
While you have sound logic, I don't know that I agree that the B1G will get excluded from the #1 seeds because of how tough the conference is. I would actually lean a little the other way and say that the B1G is GUARANTEED to have at least one #1 for that very reason. Everyone in America that follows college basketball knows that the B1G is the far and away strongest conference and the clear #1 conference is almost guaranteed a #1 seed come tourny time.
If they only get one, it will go to either the regular season champ or the tourny champ, whichever is ranked higher.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 3:13 PM ^
Granted, we're not even 1/3rd of the way through the regular season, but it is nice to see that sort of praise even in a way-too-early bracket. Last year, we were #7 in the West, I think, projected to play in Columbus on his December 2011 bracket, so that's a pretty sizeable jump. We were also 18th on the December 12th, 2011 Coaches' Poll, compared to #3 now.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:13 PM ^
MSU tends to get better by the end of the year, wouldn't be shocked if they ended as a 3 in Auburn Hills. Minny looks good, but I think B1G play will expose them a little bit. Still not sold on having two #1 seeds from the same conference, but I would guess that Indiana/MI/Ohio should end up as a 1, whoever wins the conference, with the other two being 2 seeds as of now. Which is pretty awesome for us.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
I don't know if I'd even want to be a 1 seed, considering the mounting pressure that one will eventually lose to a 16 seed. I'd rather go through the stress of a first round game without that burden, to be honest. If it were to happen, would be The Horror on Steroids.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
December 11th, 2012 at 3:37 PM ^
I can live with the burden knowing that we'd be facing one of the four weakest teams in the field. The #16 seeds are generally mediocre small-conference teams who happened to win their conference tourney.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:46 PM ^
So are the #15 seeds.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:53 PM ^
But they're slightly better. They have won a couple of games against #2 seeds.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:16 PM ^
I have a hard time putting us at #1 given our performance dips midway through the 2nd half every game. We finish strong, but we need to shut down these lesser teams for the whole games. When the competition improves, I can see us getting down by 10+ with 9:00 left in the game and making a lot of mistakes.
In other news, I just talked to Will Campbell. He seems ready to go for the bowl game and the draft.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^
4 loss FSU doesn't look like a tournament team right now. Does anyone think the ACC will get 7 teams in. That seams insanely high. Or the Pac12 6 teams?
December 11th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
Eh, I'm okay with not being a 1 seed as they tend to die off in the tournament (see No. 1 seed curse).
I think we're going to have a tough time through Big Ten play -- Ohio State, Indiana, Minnesota, and Illinois all present a larger challenge than we've seen (or will see) through the first 16 games.
December 11th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
This will be incredibly difficult because of the minefield of the Big Ten schedule. I think the Big Ten will only get one team, the tournament champion, as a #1 seed simply because of the [potential number of losses the #2 team could have. We have a chance just like anyone else, butit will be extremely difficult.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:11 PM ^
How many losses do you expect Michigan to have?
Last season, the four #1 seeds were Kentucky (2 losses), UNC (5 losses), Syracuse (2 losses), and Michigan State (7 losses, but won BTT).
I think that shows it's realistic for UM to get a #1 seed, even with 4-5 losses, especially if they win either the regular season or BTT title.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^
Yeah - I think there will be 2 Big Ten teams with 1-seeds, considering that Indiana, Michigan, OSU, Illinois and Minnesota have two OOC losses amongst all five schools, and they're both to Duke. I'm not saying I know who it will be, but I bet 2 of those schools will finish with 4 or fewer losses, which will be enough for a 1-seed in the nation's toughest conference.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^
How many games is Michigan not going to be favored in? Maybe 3 at the most? The only team we would not be favored at home against is Indiana and that will be a coin flip. I really dont see them losing more than 4 games. Maybe in Bloomington, In Columbus, at home against Indiana (again coin flip) and maybe on the road against Minnesota or Wisconsin. Thats about it.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:42 PM ^
I feel better about us beating Indiana at home than winning all of our road games against MSU, Illinois and Minnesota. I bet we lose one home game, three road games, and probably one game in the Big Ten tourney. That would be 5 losses, and would probably make us a 2-seed, unless other top dogs start losing games. But if we finish with only 4, we're a 1-seed I bet.
December 11th, 2012 at 5:37 PM ^
how dumb is it that anyone even looks into this crap. college hoops is the most volatile sport there is as far as rankings and seasons go. we are only nine games into the season with over half of those being cupcakes. i have watched michigan play a lot and i am very impressed with their team no doubt. they are athletic across the board and have the depth and shooting and ball handlers like never before since the 90s. however, we have not even been truly tested from the bigten schedule when we play teams and coaches that know us better than anyone bc they play us year in year out. lets wait until at least half way through the conference schedule before we start to draw major conclusions on michigan. GO BLUE!!!!
December 11th, 2012 at 6:43 PM ^
Allows College Basketball fans to discuss a topic while waiting the three-four days in between games.
December 11th, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^
That would make for an interesting story.
Michigan does have a real shot at being a number 1 seed. They should be undefeated heading into their matchup against Ohio then its the tough Big 10 stretch but I see only four teams with opportunities to beat them (OSU, Indiana, MSU, and Illinois). I don't think Minnesota nor any other team in the Big 10 will. Michigan gets its fair share of wins over the four then they will be a number 1 seed.
December 11th, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^
December 12th, 2012 at 12:53 AM ^