#3 Seed: Still a possibility?
So Lunardi hasn't updated bracketology since yesterday afternoon, probably for a reason. Since then, Syracuse had the audacity to look like a 2 seed against Louisville in the first half, and then get monumentally destroyed in the second half, getting outscored by thirty. What I'm getting to is, with 'Cuse's choke last night, could Michigan possibly steal that 3 seed back?
While Wisconsin has looked tough over the last couple of games, it's kind of hard to make a team a 3 seed with 10 losses. Even though, we have looked rough the last 10 -12 games, we are still a team that managed to stay in the top 10 for the entire season playing in argueably the toughest conference in college basketball.
So here I ask for your expert opinions and predictions, not more whining, complaining, and nagging. Even I have come to the realization that this team may not overachieve in the post season, and I never thought I would.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
I would be shocked if Wisconsin got a 3-seed with their 10 losses.
The options to jump Michigan(7 losses) for the last 3-seed are:
Syracuse (9 losses)
Wisconsin (10 losses)
Kansas St. (7 losses)
Arizona (7 losses)
Marquette (8 losses)
March 17th, 2013 at 10:02 AM ^
We're the last on the 3-line according to BracketMatrix but 4 according to Crashing the Dance
I would think we want OSU to win today.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:26 AM ^
here we go again. I hate rooting for them, but if I have to......... I feel dirty already.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:03 AM ^
One thing the committee has been consistent on from year to year is that the Big Ten Championship is played too late. Unless the game paired a team, or teams, that wouldn't make it in without an autobid, the game is meaningless for the committee.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
Given how much money the league now makes from the BTN, I think it's time we stopped letting CBS dictate that late timeslot to us. We don't need that little extra payout that much anymore. Go to ESPN and play the championship game on Saturday.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 12:14 PM ^
You like that our champ has less time to rest than any other conference's, and that winning the BTT means less than winning any other conference tournament because there's no time for the committee to process the result?
March 17th, 2013 at 12:19 PM ^
The comittee has time to process the results.
Yesterday a member said they actually finalize the bracket first thing Sunday morning and then make contingency brackets based on the possible outcomes of the Sunday games. So, all results are not only considered, they are already accounted for. All that's left is to play the games and pick the bracket that corresponds to their outcomes.
That simply isn't true. The B1G championship game is considered. I'd argue even a little more so, since they have to do a preliminary bracket and then potentially tweak it for the result of that one game.
Nowhere can you find anyone on the committee saying the outcome of that game is not considered.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:05 AM ^
I'm not sure if the players haen't responded to the gut check, but I would rather them play with something to prove. This is the kind of team where "you play who you play." They have the potential to beat anyone they face, or to lose to anyone they face. I would rather have the chance to be UCONN from 2011 rather than Pitt from 2011. I honestly think seeding doesn't matter for this team and they will go as far as they decide to go.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:06 AM ^
While you make a good point, I'd personally like to play in Auburn Hills.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
I would agree if we didn't have the opportunity to play two de facto home games at the Palace. We can't miss that.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
I guess I'm personally at that point where I think with the teams style it and demeanor at this point in the season it doesn't matter that much. I think would be really awesome for everyone around the team to be able to go see them, so for that I think its a good thing.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
I think for most college teams, it does matter - a lot - where games are played. All the more so for a team with five freshmen in the rotation.
March 17th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
in fact, it matters who you play. Some paths and kinds of teams will pose a bigger challenge to UM than others. Absolutely right, though, that confidence is going to play a huge part.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:13 AM ^
TeamRankings ran their simulation again this morning, it seems. Here's the team page for Michigan over there - (LINK)
They have our most likely seed estimated at #3 (42% likelhood, per their algorithm), and it is bracketed by roughly 22% probabilities estimated at #2 and #4, so in essence, it is rather unlikely that we are outside the 2-4 range. Their overall bracket projection has Michigan as the #3 in Auburn Hills, more specifically, taking on New Mexico State.
Jerry Palm's has changed some since yesterday. He now estimates us as the #3 in Auburn Hills and taking on Davidson, possibly to face the winner of Notre Dame-Wichita State.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:36 AM ^
No kidding when I say that I had a dream (more of a nightmare) last night after one too many Jameson shots, that we drew Davidson in the first round. Auburn Hills would be great, drawing Davidson would not be so great. I'd be cool with New Mexico St. or Iona.
7ft 5 guys scare me..
March 17th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
Interesting. The last time we were a #3 seed (1998) we also drew Davidson. We seem to play a lot of tournament games against teams from the state of North Carolina.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
amazing (no sarcasm).
March 17th, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
Honestly, I think money talks and putting both Michigan and Michigan State in Auburn Hills guarantees sell outs for the games there. I think that the tourney committee knows this and that keeps us a 3 seed over some of the teams chasing us. Too many times tourney games are played in front of half full arenas. I think thats the tipping point in our favor.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
Why haven't we earned it? A 26-7 record while playing in the nation's best conference doesn't warrant a 3 seed? Some of our fans seem to be developing an inferiority complex. Yeah, we've slumped recently, but our body of work is still very good.
While Indiana finishes 3-3 and has commentators coming out of the woodwork insisting they are the overall #1.
And MSU has finished 3-4, yet is somehow guaranteed to be ahead of us despite having a 25-8 record.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
This is not the correct response. The committee looks at how a team plays down the stretch...we are playing our worst basketball now, and in no way do we deserve a 4 seed, much less a 3 seed. This is a playoff, and in no way should money come into play...Unfortunately, it probably will however.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:54 AM ^
The committee has stated that it no longer uses the last 10 games of a team's season as a criterion.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:11 AM ^
and I thought I was the negative pessimist around here.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:51 AM ^
I believe we've been in the top 10 every week. I don't think we've ever been lower than #8.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^
I think we really, really want OSU to win today. If Wisky captures the conference tourny of the toughest conference in the country it will be difficult for the selection committee to give them anything lower than a three seed. And if they lose they'll have 11 losses and there's no way they get on the three line with that many defeats.
I really don't see any of the other possible three seeds (Syracuse, K.State, Arizona or Marquette) having an impressive enough "body of work" to jump us. But damn this is so bittersweet. It's awesome to not have to worry about getting in again but it sucks that we've dropped to either a #3 or a #4 after our great start.
We were a #3 seed in 1989 though. Not a bad omen if we get it.
March 17th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Winning the conference tournament counts for absolutely nothing, other then the additional games you won. It is not a part of seeding criterita. 10 losses isn't getting a 3 seed in my opinion. We are very likely to get a 3 seed. I trust Palm over Lunardi. Plam works for CBS and I suspect has more access to the committee than anyone.
What about the fact that they got blown out by Purdue and MSU last week? They've played well for two days, no longer.
No, we were #3. We were a #6 in 1992, though.
we were a 3 seed in '89, bank on it
In fact, Seton Hall was a 3 seed as well, the final was a battle of the 3 seeds and DICK vitale picked the Hall to beat us in that game, one of the many times he's been wrong!
March 17th, 2013 at 10:41 AM ^
We suck on the road, and are good at home. We want to be a 3 in Auburn Hills.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
March 17th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
we would be very very spoiled. . . .
March 17th, 2013 at 11:00 AM ^
Spoiled? I'd say the basketball Gods definitely "owe us one".......
March 17th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
has stolen Roberto Duran's nickname.... at least til March ends.
March 17th, 2013 at 12:20 PM ^
51 points in the second half to a team who averages 55 points a GAME in the big ten tournament? Meanwhile in the same game only leading by 3 at the half when the opposition is shooting 18% from the floor? Nik Stauskas admitted to not playing as aggressive defense if his shooting game is off? Starting down double digits against OSU in Columbus and down 31 in East Lansing? Going 6-6 in our last twelve games? Not to mention to losing to a winless Penn State team? Lousy free throw shooting. Atrocious team rebounding. Take your pick . . .
A bad bounce, a bad call, and a lucky shot do not account for the lousy finish to our season.