Lunardi's latest

Seth_C

All-American
Mar 12, 2017
4,150
7,386
96
I don't know how much they care about geography for a 3 seed other than location for the 1st and 2nd round games. I believe it's more about the S curve.
Even if you ignore geography, the s-curve would ALSO dictate we should be in the South with Auburn.

Auburn gets their obvious region as the #1 seed, as does Duke in the East, then Houston getting the preferable location of the two remaining, with Florida being the one sent out west as the final #1 seed. The S-curve would dictate Alabama be paired with Florida, so they were shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Tennessee is next, also shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Michigan State should be next, and by the s-curve should be matched up with the overall 3rd seed, but was moved to the South due to geographical preference. All this results in Florida getting the 8th seed, Texas Tech. Kentucky, by s-curve, SHOULD be matched up against #1 seed Auburn, but instead was swapped with Texas A&M without s-curve OR geographic reasoning.

Suddenly on the 4 seed line the entire s-curve is completely thrown out the window 13 overall Maryland gets their geographic preference instead of being shipped out west as the s-curve would dictate. Wisconsin also gets their geographic preference (which conveniently also matches the s-curve), Purdue gets sent out west despite the s-curve suggesting they should face Duke, but they can't because he has Maryland (an ACC/ACC matchup) slotted where they should be by s-curve, then Clemson lands in both their geographic preference and correct s-curve location.

As far as I can tell, of the Top 16 seeds, Kentucky is the ONLY team not in their geographic OR s-curve location without a shift for avoiding a conference/conference matchup involved in the decision. It looks like the moron in charge only put us there because suddenly keeping the s-curve between the overall 8 and overall 9 mattered. All the rest can be thrown to the wind. Not that it matters, of course, as the actual bracket won't look anything like this. I just like throwing Lunardi under the bus for being bad at the only job he has.
 

ImTheVillageIdiot

All-American
May 18, 2024
3,396
9,017
0
Even if you ignore geography, the s-curve would ALSO dictate we should be in the South with Auburn.

Auburn gets their obvious region as the #1 seed, as does Duke in the East, then Houston getting the preferable location of the two remaining, with Florida being the one sent out west as the final #1 seed. The S-curve would dictate Alabama be paired with Florida, so they were shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Tennessee is next, also shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Michigan State should be next, and by the s-curve should be matched up with the overall 3rd seed, but was moved to the South due to geographical preference. All this results in Florida getting the 8th seed, Texas Tech. Kentucky, by s-curve, SHOULD be matched up against #1 seed Auburn, but instead was swapped with Texas A&M without s-curve OR geographic reasoning.

Suddenly on the 4 seed line the entire s-curve is completely thrown out the window 13 overall Maryland gets their geographic preference instead of being shipped out west as the s-curve would dictate. Wisconsin also gets their geographic preference (which conveniently also matches the s-curve), Purdue gets sent out west despite the s-curve suggesting they should face Duke, but they can't because he has Maryland (an ACC/ACC matchup) slotted where they should be by s-curve, then Clemson lands in both their geographic preference and correct s-curve location.

As far as I can tell, of the Top 16 seeds, Kentucky is the ONLY team not in their geographic OR s-curve location without a shift for avoiding a conference/conference matchup involved in the decision. It looks like the moron in charge only put us there because suddenly keeping the s-curve between the overall 8 and overall 9 mattered. All the rest can be thrown to the wind. Not that it matters, of course, as the actual bracket won't look anything like this. I just like throwing Lunardi under the bus for being bad at the only job he has.
Bro you’re going at it like this is the actual bracket. This is just a guy’s projection
 

SBKY

Senior
Jan 20, 2011
237
411
63
His paragraph is about Kentucky on his updated bracket.

It's not easy to fly under the radar at Kentucky. Yet Mark Pope has done so in the first year at his alma mater. For the first time in forever, the Wildcats are being called overachievers. Even though they won fewer conference games than the past three seasons under John Calipari. Even though they don't have an All-SEC first-team player. What they do have is hope, because a 21-10 (10-8 SEC) record is good enough for a 3-seed out of the loaded SEC. And that kind of tournament placement, backed up by a whopping 10 Quad 1 wins, suggests Big Blue Nation should see the NCAA second weekend for the first time since before the pandemic. It hasn't happened yet, but the ghosts of St. Peter's, Oakland and other recent demons should be buried soon.

 

ImTheVillageIdiot

All-American
May 18, 2024
3,396
9,017
0
His paragraph is about Kentucky on his updated bracket.

It's not easy to fly under the radar at Kentucky. Yet Mark Pope has done so in the first year at his alma mater. For the first time in forever, the Wildcats are being called overachievers. Even though they won fewer conference games than the past three seasons under John Calipari. Even though they don't have an All-SEC first-team player. What they do have is hope, because a 21-10 (10-8 SEC) record is good enough for a 3-seed out of the loaded SEC. And that kind of tournament placement, backed up by a whopping 10 Quad 1 wins, suggests Big Blue Nation should see the NCAA second weekend for the first time since before the pandemic. It hasn't happened yet, but the ghosts of St. Peter's, Oakland and other recent demons should be buried soon.

That was a nice write-up by Lunardi. Respect where it is due
 

ImTheVillageIdiot

All-American
May 18, 2024
3,396
9,017
0
Infowars has us as a 2 seed.
going off alex jones GIF
 

IowaMuse5

All-Conference
Sep 3, 2022
676
1,128
93
If the Cats end up as a 3 seed, just avoid Bama as their 2 seed and I think they can make a run.
 

Cowtown Cat

Heisman
Aug 23, 2015
23,107
52,305
100
Man, I can only imagine what type of seed we would’ve gotten had we been healthy the majority of the season! IMHO, we’d be knocking on the door of a 1 seed! Don’t care about the 10 losses, Pope should absolutely get recognition for NCOY! He had done an incredible job coaching this year! Would love to make the FF!

Also, I love this draw. Only thing I would change would be to swap Florida for Houston. Hate to have to play another SEC team in the EE!
 

bucsrule8872

Heisman
May 30, 2005
24,397
29,352
0
Even if you ignore geography, the s-curve would ALSO dictate we should be in the South with Auburn.

Auburn gets their obvious region as the #1 seed, as does Duke in the East, then Houston getting the preferable location of the two remaining, with Florida being the one sent out west as the final #1 seed. The S-curve would dictate Alabama be paired with Florida, so they were shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Tennessee is next, also shifted to avoid the SEC/SEC matchup. Michigan State should be next, and by the s-curve should be matched up with the overall 3rd seed, but was moved to the South due to geographical preference. All this results in Florida getting the 8th seed, Texas Tech. Kentucky, by s-curve, SHOULD be matched up against #1 seed Auburn, but instead was swapped with Texas A&M without s-curve OR geographic reasoning.

Suddenly on the 4 seed line the entire s-curve is completely thrown out the window 13 overall Maryland gets their geographic preference instead of being shipped out west as the s-curve would dictate. Wisconsin also gets their geographic preference (which conveniently also matches the s-curve), Purdue gets sent out west despite the s-curve suggesting they should face Duke, but they can't because he has Maryland (an ACC/ACC matchup) slotted where they should be by s-curve, then Clemson lands in both their geographic preference and correct s-curve location.

As far as I can tell, of the Top 16 seeds, Kentucky is the ONLY team not in their geographic OR s-curve location without a shift for avoiding a conference/conference matchup involved in the decision. It looks like the moron in charge only put us there because suddenly keeping the s-curve between the overall 8 and overall 9 mattered. All the rest can be thrown to the wind. Not that it matters, of course, as the actual bracket won't look anything like this. I just like throwing Lunardi under the bus for being bad at the only job he has.
If UK is the highest 3 seed, then the West is where they should be placed, if he is using an S-curve.

Auburn is 1 overall. Then Duke, Houston, and UF.

The top 2 seeds are Bama and then UT. Bama goes to the Midwest and UT to the East. That leaves Michigan St. going to the South and Texas Tech going to the West as the lowest 2 seed. The highest 3 goes with the highest 2 on the S-Curve.

So, you get:

South

Auburn(1)
Michigan St.(7)
A&M(10)

East

Duke(2)
UT(6)
Iowa St.(11)

Midwest

Houston(3)
Bama(5)
St. John’s(12)

West

UF(4)
Texas Tech(8)
UK(9)

The strongest 3 should be with the weakest 2.

Not sure about the rules, but I think S-curve trumps geography. I could be wrong, though.

Anyway, Lunardi is probably sticking to the S-curve more than geography.
 

Kingslayer07

Heisman
Jan 23, 2020
8,360
10,147
113
If UK is the highest 3 seed, then the West is where they should be placed, if he is using an S-curve.

Auburn is 1 overall. Then Duke, Houston, and UF.

The top 2 seeds are Bama and then UT. Bama goes to the Midwest and UT to the East. That leaves Michigan St. going to the South and Texas Tech going to the West as the lowest 2 seed. The highest 3 goes with the highest 2 on the S-Curve.

So, you get:

South

Auburn(1)
Michigan St.(7)
A&M(10)

East

Duke(2)
UT(6)
Iowa St.(11)

Midwest

Houston(3)
Bama(5)
St. John’s(12)

West

UF(4)
Texas Tech(8)
UK(9)

The strongest 3 should be with the weakest 2.

Not sure about the rules, but I think S-curve trumps geography. I could be wrong, though.

Anyway, Lunardi is probably sticking to the S-curve more than geography.
The committee also balances the top 4 teams in each region based on their NET. If one region is too high they will swap teams. There is no exact science to it.
 

catsfanbgky

All-American
Oct 18, 2006
18,901
7,622
0
Keep in mind they try to keep from having rematches from regular season and conference season. With so many SEC teams in the field it was be difficult. They would move someone rather than under seed or over seed a team to keep rematches as deep in the tournament as possible.
 

TheDude73

Heisman
Jan 7, 2006
23,933
23,089
113
Everyone should just look at this, chuckle and wait for Sunday. Lundardi is historically pathetic at the actual brackets and regions. He's really only marginal at best on seeding.

Sunday is around the corner. I'd be fine with waiting a few more days for the real deal bracket.
 

macaca

Junior
Feb 1, 2006
431
237
0
He’s got us in Denver for the 1st round which makes no sense. As the top 3 seed, UK would be a lock for Milwaukee