Why is the 5-12 matchup so subject to upsets?

hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
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It happens almost every yea(25 of last 28 years) and often more than one. Why? I have a theory. The 12 seed is usually the winner of a non major (or even middle) conference. Most of these teams are slotted at 14-16 seeds. But especially good teams that they do not know how to slot are put in as a 12. Probably they deserve higher but the committee doesn't know what to do so they just leave them as 5s. A high slot for a minor conference team so no one argues but not as high as many of them probably deserve.. On the other side middling Power 5 teams with some weaknesses get slotted as 5s. Then all it takes is for a 12 to get hot..

Honestly, who knew anything about Little Rock or Yale? So if the committee slotted them where they probably belong, everyone would be up in arms but as a 12 seed nobody says anything
 
Last edited:
Jun 1, 2014
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I was thinking the same thing today while watching Baylor get taken to the woodshed. Seriously, it kinda freaks me out how similar our hypotheses are on this. Everything you wrote is EXACTLY what I came up with with myself... Super weird