[Leftcoast]

thought i heard it's the top 16, with possibly one more since Louisville can not host (though I forgot the logic behind that statement).

That must be a recent addition.  Seemed like regional coverage and ability to draw a crowd figured into past hosting decisions.  Of course, we didn't have to pay too close attention to first round hosting choices when we were clearly in the Top 4-6 teams in the nation!

In some ways I'm not that concerned about whether we host or travel.  I'm very much looking forward to how the team responds to a novel (for them) challenge of proving themselves in the first two rounds.  We're not really a NC threat this year so how the team performs in front of neutral/hostile crowds (if that's where we land) in a one-and-done situation will tell us a lot about the next few seasons.

[Leftcoast]

thought i heard it's the top 16, with possibly one more since Louisville can not host (though I forgot the logic behind that statement).

That must be a recent addition.  Seemed like regional coverage and ability to draw a crowd figured into past hosting decisions.  Of course, we didn't have to pay too close attention to first round hosting choices when we were clearly in the Top 4-6 teams in the nation!

In some ways I'm not that concerned about whether we host or travel.  I'm very much looking forward to how the team responds to a novel (for them) challenge of proving themselves in the first two rounds.  We're not really a NC threat this year so how the team performs in front of neutral/hostile crowds (if that's where we land) in a one-and-done situation will tell us a lot about the next few seasons.