I don't agree that the bracket was fair. Certainly one could say it was biased in favor of the SEC.
Tennessee (#60 SEC),
TCU (#58 Big 12)
Villanova (#56 Big East)
New Mexico (#55 MWC)
USC (#53 PAC-12)
Clemson (#51 ACC),
Auburn (#50 SEC),
Saint Mary's(CA) (#49 WCC)
Indiana (#48 Big 10)
Michigan (#46 Big 10),
Miami(OH) (#45 MAC)
Michigan State (#43 Big 10),
Cal (#42 PAC-12),
South Dakota (#40 Summit)
North Carolina (#38 ACC)
James Madison (#36 CAA)
UCLA (#35 PAC-12)
Ohio (#34 MAC)
While RPI is not a perfect guide, nor is it (obviously!) what the committee uses, it is at least objective.
Apparently the committee was determined to get 7 teams in for the SEC as they were also considering RPI #67 Arkansas as one of the 8 teams for the last 4 spots!
The ACC was the #1 RPI conference, and got 8 teams in. Congrats!
The PAC-12 was the #2 RPI conference, and got 6 teams in.
The Big 12 was #3 RPI, and got only 4 teams in. Ouch!
The Big Ten was #4 RPI, and got 6 teams in (3 in bottom 6)
The SEC was #5 RPI, and got 7 teams in (2 in bottom 3)
PAC-12 vs SEC seeds
- I've already indicated that I don't think Mississippi State had wins worthy of a #1 seed. Even Iowa had better wins. Mississippi State just played a weaker schedule, or lost when it went against stronger teams.
- South Carolina wasn't in the top 16 by RPI but they got seeded 4, so they get to host.
- As for Tennessee, has a lower rated team ever been allowed to play as an at-large team?
Tennessee (#60 SEC),
TCU (#58 Big 12)
Villanova (#56 Big East)
New Mexico (#55 MWC)
USC (#53 PAC-12)
Clemson (#51 ACC),
Auburn (#50 SEC),
Saint Mary's(CA) (#49 WCC)
Indiana (#48 Big 10)
Michigan (#46 Big 10),
Miami(OH) (#45 MAC)
Michigan State (#43 Big 10),
Cal (#42 PAC-12),
South Dakota (#40 Summit)
North Carolina (#38 ACC)
James Madison (#36 CAA)
UCLA (#35 PAC-12)
Ohio (#34 MAC)
While RPI is not a perfect guide, nor is it (obviously!) what the committee uses, it is at least objective.
Apparently the committee was determined to get 7 teams in for the SEC as they were also considering RPI #67 Arkansas as one of the 8 teams for the last 4 spots!
The ACC was the #1 RPI conference, and got 8 teams in. Congrats!
The PAC-12 was the #2 RPI conference, and got 6 teams in.
The Big 12 was #3 RPI, and got only 4 teams in. Ouch!
The Big Ten was #4 RPI, and got 6 teams in (3 in bottom 6)
The SEC was #5 RPI, and got 7 teams in (2 in bottom 3)
PAC-12 vs SEC seeds
Code:
RPI Seed RPI Seed
4 2 Stanford 8 1 Mississippi State
5 2 Oregon 16 4 Texas A&M
23 5 ASU 17 4 South Carolina
24 4 Oregon St 22 6 Kentucky
35 6 UCLA 30 7 Missouri
42 8 Cal 50 10 Auburn
53 out USC 60 11 Tennessee
81 out Arizona 67 out Arkansas