(03-05-2023, 11:41 AM)mbdude Wrote: If VTech wins they have more wins against top 25 then stanford, and would be 11th win in a rowYes, and they did win, and seem to be the media darlings too. They seem to be the biggest threat right now.
Maryland, Iowa, VTech, Stanford are Creme's current 1 and 2 seeds that are competing for the 2 remaining spots, if we assume South Carolina and Indiana are in.
Here is the NET for them as of last night:
4 Stanford
6 Iowa
9 Virginia Tech
13 Maryland
Here is Massey as of last night:
2 Stanford
6 Virginia Tech
7 Maryland
8 Iowa
Here is Strength of Schedule"
1 Maryland
2 Iowa
4 Stanford
18 Virginia Tech
(40 LSU)
I also think the committee would have a hard time putting 3 teams from the Big 10 as one seeds, so if we assume South Carolina, Indiana, and either Maryland or Iowa get the third, then it comes down to Stanford vs. Virginia Tech for the 4th.
While there is disagreement that the Pac 12 is the "best" league there is no doubt that it is at the very least the second best league and it would make sense to have one Pac 12 team as a one seed. Plus we are rated better than Virginia Tech in all these categories, especially strength of schedule.
On the other hand, Virginia Tech won its tourney, is the hotter team right now, and is more the Cinderella story.
We really won't know until the selections are announced. Will we be the last 1 seed and Virginia Tech the highest 2 seed? Or will Virginia Tech be the last 1 seed and Stanford the highest 2 seed? If either of those two happen, then we will probably wind up playing the same opponent if we make it to the elite 8: most likely Virginia Tech (or maybe Iowa) assuming that we win three in a row to get there.
In short, this is a case, similar to 1998, where being a 1 seed or a 2 seed is nearly irrelevant. Being the lowest 2 seed would make more of a difference--but not really when we are on the knife's edge for a 1 seed. The only thing that matters as a 2 seed is NOT having to play South Carolina just to go to the final four. Any other 2-seed spot is about as good as any other, and given the parity at the top, being a 2 seed is not any worse than being a 1 seed unless it means you do get stuck with South Carolina.
