First and foremost, we have locked it up. Book your hotel rooms, we're hosting. 42-16, Top 10 RPI, Potential attendance records. We're in. There is a tight race for the last couple of spots but we are not involved.
Seven teams are national seed locks.
North Carolina
Vanderbilt
Virginia
Oregon State
LSU
Florida State
Cal State Fullerton
One national seed spot left and its a nice race.
Oregon (might have a leg up with Louisville's loss to UConn. At Utah this weekend. If they lost this series, they won't be a national seed)
Louisville (needs to bounce back and have Oregon slip up. They have Rutgers today. Rutgers beat them 2/3 earlier in the season. They lose today and they are out of the national seed picture)
North Carolina State (If they win the ACC tournament, they'll get the last spot. They have Miami and UNC in pool play, but they also have the "will there be a fourth ACC national seed dilemma)
Mississippi State (If they win the SEC tournament, they have a chance)
Three more teams are locks for hosts.
Indiana
UCLA
Kansas State
That leaves two spots. Here are the teams that are in the hunt.
South Carolina (should be nervous if they lose today)
Clemson (a chance to lock if they beat UNC today)
South Alabama (needs to win the Sun Belt Tourney)
Arkansas (watch out, they are back in the hunt with a win over LSU)
Arizona State (seems like the longest shot)
If Vandy beats South Carolina today, and Arkansas beats LSU. I believe that South Carolina is out. That doesn't necessarily put Arkansas in, but it puts South Carolina out.
If South Carolina were to beat Vandy today, that might be enough. They might still need one more. The only team that I think has a chance to lock it up with a win today is Clemson.
South Alabama not only needs to win the Sun Belt Tournament, they will need South Carolina and/or Clemson to fall.
Arkansas is interesting. If they beat LSU today, and Vandy beats South Carolina, they might have a chance to host. They would probably need South Alabama to get beat as well. Another possibility is Arkansas hosts as a 2 seed. Kansas State's stadium only holds 2300.
Arizona State needs everyone in front of them to lose, and they have to sweep Washington on the road after BYU beat them Tuesday. Very long shot, but worth mentioning.
As far as MSU pulling out the last national seed. Here's what I think needs to happen.
1. MSU must win the SEC Tournament. This would make us 45-16 with 23 wins against Top 50 teams.
2. Utah must take 2 of 3 from Oregon this weekend in Salt Lake City. Utah is 20-29 and 0-9 against the Top 50.
3. NC State needs to lose to Miami today and North Carolina tomorrow.
4. Louisville needs to lose to Rutgers today.
Its a long shot, but there's a chance.
Seven teams are national seed locks.
North Carolina
Vanderbilt
Virginia
Oregon State
LSU
Florida State
Cal State Fullerton
One national seed spot left and its a nice race.
Oregon (might have a leg up with Louisville's loss to UConn. At Utah this weekend. If they lost this series, they won't be a national seed)
Louisville (needs to bounce back and have Oregon slip up. They have Rutgers today. Rutgers beat them 2/3 earlier in the season. They lose today and they are out of the national seed picture)
North Carolina State (If they win the ACC tournament, they'll get the last spot. They have Miami and UNC in pool play, but they also have the "will there be a fourth ACC national seed dilemma)
Mississippi State (If they win the SEC tournament, they have a chance)
Three more teams are locks for hosts.
Indiana
UCLA
Kansas State
That leaves two spots. Here are the teams that are in the hunt.
South Carolina (should be nervous if they lose today)
Clemson (a chance to lock if they beat UNC today)
South Alabama (needs to win the Sun Belt Tourney)
Arkansas (watch out, they are back in the hunt with a win over LSU)
Arizona State (seems like the longest shot)
If Vandy beats South Carolina today, and Arkansas beats LSU. I believe that South Carolina is out. That doesn't necessarily put Arkansas in, but it puts South Carolina out.
If South Carolina were to beat Vandy today, that might be enough. They might still need one more. The only team that I think has a chance to lock it up with a win today is Clemson.
South Alabama not only needs to win the Sun Belt Tournament, they will need South Carolina and/or Clemson to fall.
Arkansas is interesting. If they beat LSU today, and Vandy beats South Carolina, they might have a chance to host. They would probably need South Alabama to get beat as well. Another possibility is Arkansas hosts as a 2 seed. Kansas State's stadium only holds 2300.
Arizona State needs everyone in front of them to lose, and they have to sweep Washington on the road after BYU beat them Tuesday. Very long shot, but worth mentioning.
As far as MSU pulling out the last national seed. Here's what I think needs to happen.
1. MSU must win the SEC Tournament. This would make us 45-16 with 23 wins against Top 50 teams.
2. Utah must take 2 of 3 from Oregon this weekend in Salt Lake City. Utah is 20-29 and 0-9 against the Top 50.
3. NC State needs to lose to Miami today and North Carolina tomorrow.
4. Louisville needs to lose to Rutgers today.
Its a long shot, but there's a chance.