Winning today might get us to a 7 seed (more likely Indianapolis)
- Thread starter Grafcat
- Start date
Tougher for fans I agree, but for the team... I'll love the bracket the Lunardi just put out.
Face 8/9 Wichita state... Gonzaga (1), Butler or Virginia (4/5). With a chance to face Duke in the elite 8!
I'll take that over facing Lou or Ken in the second round.
If Duke beats UNC tonight they might take the 2 seed from Lou and thus we might be in Greenville with a second round match up vs Duke. Don't fool yourself if you don't think the committee wouldn't love a Coach K vs Collins matchup
I don't think tonight will get us to a 7. I'm not even sure tomorrow will. It's hard to jump so much so late in the game. That said, NU is only a nine seed now because a bunch of "experts" say so. It's possible the committee thinks of NU differently. My feeling on this:
LOSE TONIGHT - 9 seed
WIN TONIGHT - 8 seed
WIN TOMORROW - 7-8 seed
WIN SUNDAY - 7 seed
Yes, it seems like winning the Big 10 should be worth more than that, and the team will get a little boost for being "hot," but I'd be shocked if they jumped so many teams this weekend.
LOSE TONIGHT - 9 seed
WIN TONIGHT - 8 seed
WIN TOMORROW - 7-8 seed
WIN SUNDAY - 7 seed
Yes, it seems like winning the Big 10 should be worth more than that, and the team will get a little boost for being "hot," but I'd be shocked if they jumped so many teams this weekend.
Thinking back to November when I'm reading this thread, and many others on the Board... wondering how many of us were wondering if we'd be participating in arguments about whether or not the Cats would be getting a 9th, 8th or 7th seed in this year's Big Dance? Watching last night's game highlights I can reach but one conclusion, we are really a pretty good tournament team. Given continued health, we can actually compete at the highest levels of the collegiate game. Our athletic wings are as good as a whole bunch of really good teams. Let's do some damage and enjoy the ride...
Since going into last night, we were a projected 9, I don't see tonight getting us to a 7. Maybe a win on Sat.
Eh the committee tends to reward the teams that get hot in conf tourneys a decent bit. Plus it would be adding more quality wins (maybe not if Indy beats Wiscy). It's oversimplified, but I'm thinking:
Lose tonight 9
Beat Maryland 8
Make it to championship 7*
Win the whole thing 6*
* predicated on the higher seeding teams being the ones we beat... eg if the path is Indy and MSU rather than Wiscy and Purdue then I would say 7 instead of 6
But for any of this to matter it has to start with a win tonight!
Incidentally I do agree that people may be underestimating the potential variability in seeding... just cause all the bracket gurus are convinced 8-9 doesn't mean the committee will think the same thing... every year there are a couple teams that people think are 6 and end up 4, or think are 8-9 and end up 11. And then the ESPN crowd will chatter on about being under or over seeded.
While I'm not at all worried about getting in, all of our guesses on seeding are still just that -- guesses.
No way I would want to face Wichita State. In fact, I suspect no top team wants to be facing Wichita State in the second round. That is a very good, under-rated team, and would not be surprised to see them in the Elite 8.
And 8 or 9 are basically the same. So basically unless we win Sat, no difference. In any event, we avoid being in the dreaded 5-12 matchup.
If given a choice between an 8 or 9, give me the 9 so we can wear the gothic jerseys.
Agree with this - WSU is very very good. Then again, if NU gets hot, people on other message boards will be saying "No way I would want to face Northwestern."
If we were to make it to the B1G Championship game. Would there be any rest before the Big Dance?
As an alum of a Missouri Valley Conference school (Bradley), I'm not sure playing Wichita State in the first round is the best thing for Northwestern. That is one TOUGH team to play against, and as we have seen in recent years, they beat great teams in the tournament. I know they are a little younger this year after graduating Van Vleet and Baker, but the Shockers are peaking at the right time. Having seen them play Bradley three times this year, this team is loaded, and Greg Marshall recruits depth. They play tenacious defense, and Northwestern will have to earn a win against them.
All that said though, that would have the makings of a terrific first round game, and some of these possible second round matchups (Collins vs. Coach K) sound really intriguing if NW can get past the first round.