Couch Power 16: Bettering the NCAA's Questionable Bracket Preview
"Come get you some, Grayson." - Joel Berry, probably.
This last week was a wonderful week of college basketball. The wildness continued, with 6 (SIX!) of the AP Top 10 losing, including the Top 3. Oh, and by the way, North Carolina beat Duke. All is right in the World again.
Yes, I was still crowing about that victory late into the night and through the weekend, which brings us to Sunday: the NCAA, for the 2nd year in a row, released their preview of what the brackets would look like if the season ended today. Long story short: there were some weird decisions. As is my natural reaction, I said "Ha! I can do better!" So, in lieu of a typical Couch Power 10 this week, we instead present the Couch's Top 4 Seeds (TM).
Here's my somewhat less futile attempt at a Top 16:
1-SEEDS
Midwest (Omaha):
Michigan State - I’ve mentioned my skepticism on this Spartans team’s quality before. But, in a week in which Villanova and Virginia were both upset on their home courts and Michigan State beat the #3 team in the country, it seems silly to not bump MSU up to the top spot. It seems LUDICROUS to slot them as a 3-seed, which is exactly what the NCAA Selection Committee did in their preview. Sure, they may not be playing the most consistent basketball, but they quietly have a 8-game winning streak, which is priceless in a year like this one.
South (Atlanta):
Virginia - Despite losing at home to underdog (and rival) Virginia Tech, the Cavs moved up to #1 in both the AP Poll and the NCAA's early bracket preview. I still think UVA may be the closest thing to ' the team to beat', but I also believe in not ascending to #1 two days after getting upset on your home court. Consequences, people!
East (Boston):
Villanova - Villanova had even more of a shock loss, losing to suddenly-rampant St. John's in Philadelphia. The loss (as well as SJU's recent form) is inexplicable, but only slightly mars the Wildcats' resume, especially compared to the rest of the field.
West (Los Angeles):
Xavier - The Musketeers needed an extremely fortunate call in the final second to beat Creighton. But hey, they keep eking out the tough wins, and they still have that crucial W over Cincinnati. Also, the Tar Heel in me has no sympathy for Creighton. May they flounder eternally. #JusticeForKendallMarshall #NeverForget2012
2-SEEDS
Midwest (Omaha):
Cincinnati - The Bearcats play in an easy league, but they just keep rollin’. They’ve won 16 in a row, and are chock full of bona fide talent.
East (Boston):
Ohio State - Out of nowhere, Ohio State has rapidly climbed in the last month and shot to the top of the Big Ten. It doesn’t hurt that they pasted Michigan State in Columbus, and then last week, ended Purdue’s 19-game winning streak in the latter’s home arena.
West (Los Angeles):
Purdue - The Boilermakers’ run had to come to an end some time. That last week held back-to-back losses will leave a bad taste in their mouth, though. Not because the opponents in question weren’t great, but because Purdue missed a golden opportunity to assert themselves at the top of the conference.
South (Atlanta):
Auburn - Home loss to Texas A&M notwithstanding, Auburn is clearly the toast of the SEC, in a surprisingly deep year for the conference.
3-SEEDS
South (Atlanta):
Clemson - I said it last week, and I'll say it as long as it stays relevant: people are sleeping on this Clemson team. Top 10 schedule strength, only 4 losses, and 2nd in the ACC? They deserved better than the committee's 4-seed.
West (Los Angeles):
Texas Tech - Avoided a trap game situation by closing out a tough win over Kansas State just hours after Kansas capitulated against Baylor. As it stands, the Red Raiders are alone atop the big 12.
East (Boston):
North Carolina - I don't know how to explain it, but just 2 weeks after it looked my beloved Tar Heels' season was going down the drain, they're on a 4-game roll (one of those wins was against Duke), and projected as a 3-seed in the tournament. They have 7 losses, sure, but the #1 strongest schedule will keep them in contention as long as the quality of play keeps up.
Midwest (Omaha):
Kansas - Schedule strength is the only thing keeping the Jayhawks above the 4-line, currently. They probably deserve to be lower. Something is clearly going on with this Kansas team, whose oodles of talent may not be enough to salvage their streak of Big 12 titles.
4-SEEDS
East (Boston):
Rhode Island - The schedule strength isn't the strongest, but the Rams are on a tear right now, becoming the mid-major force many expected at the start of the season.
Midwest (Omaha):
Duke - The Blue Devils lost to North Carolina last week. Did you know that? I did. Anyways, they've now lost a game each of the last 4 weeks, and their once-vaunted schedule strength is slipping, too. And the NCAA projects them as....a 2-seed! And they wonder why America hates Duke.
West (Los Angeles):
Gonzaga - I'm not buying into Gonzaga's resumé one bit, but I do think they're a talented, solid team, enough to at least make the Top 16 cut here. NOT the Top 10 (eyeroll at the AP).
South (Atlanta):
Tennessee - Tennessee's home loss to Alabama was ugly, and it seriously hurt their chances of winning the SEC. But it doesn't change their impressive record with a Top 15 schedule strength. I still think this is going to be a tough side to oust in March.