Please, someone explain to me how UCLA, #2 seed in the WEST BRACKET, played their first two games in Sacramento and now will play the regional semi and possibly final in San Jose, California. They never leave the state until the final four? All the while Kansas, the #1 Seed in that region had to first travel to Chicago, now has to fly to California. WTF?

The Same goes for the SOUTH BRACKET. The #3 Seed Texas A&M Aggies played the first two rounds in Kentucky, now they play the regional semi and possibly final in San Antonio, less than 100 miles from their stadium, while the Number 1 seed Ohio State plays ~1500 miles away from their home in the same final. WTF?

I thought in years past, the regional finals were in locations that benefitted the #1 seeds. Maybe I am wrong about that, but it is clear that UCLA and TEXAS A&M have overwhelming advantages over their opponents this upcoming weekend. btw, I have both in the final four.

thoughts?

3/19/2007 8:30:58 AM

or TA&M playing UL in Rupp.

3/19/2007 8:39:00 AM

Meh. I'm still scratching my head as to how Ohio State is considered to be in the south.

3/19/2007 8:56:45 AM

I like how Carolina's home court is New Jersey in the regional

3/19/2007 8:58:53 AM

^^, ^^^ exactly.

both of these are more examples of what I am saying.

UCLA Deserved a number one seed - West
Florida Deserved a number one seed - East
Kansas Deserved a number one seed - South
Ohio State Deserved a number one seed - Midwest

screw the Heels.

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 9:02 AM. Reason : asdf]

3/19/2007 9:02:02 AM

aren't the venues decided in advance?

with a regional final in california, which #1 seed would you put there instead? or do you think if the #1 seed isn't at 'home' in their region then the lower seeds should be placed out of region intentionally?

3/19/2007 9:21:36 AM

Quote :

"I thought in years past, the regional finals were in locations that benefitted the #1 seeds. "

You're wrong about that, they're pre-determined.

Next year the regionals are in Charlotte, Phoenix, Detroit, and Houston.

They try to keep teams close to home without fudging the seeding. If there is a top 4 seed that is close to a regional, they are probably going to play there. It's not perfect, but they aren't intentionally favoring one team.

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 9:53 AM. Reason : y]

3/19/2007 9:52:47 AM

Quote :

"They try to keep teams close to home without fudging the seeding. If there is a top 4 seed that is close to a regional, they are probably going to play there. It's not perfect, but they aren't intentionally favoring one team."

...but they do favor specific teams. Teams that arent number one seeds.

its not even a slight favor either, its absurd.

3/19/2007 10:00:06 AM

well they aren't going to change seedings based on venue

i'd rather be a #1 seed with less fans in the stands than a #2 seed with quasi-home court

Quote :

"...but they do favor specific teams. Teams that arent number one seeds."

the "home court advantage" is supposed to be more predominant in the opening rounds and is meant to favor the top seeds, not just #1

that's what the pod system is, it allows more flexibilty to put more top seeds closer to home

with the regionals, you get much less flexibility

either way, playing close to home isn't going to win or lose the game for any team

ask rick pitino

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 11:08 AM. Reason : ]

3/19/2007 11:04:43 AM

that may be the case, but watch what I say...

A&M will be in the final four, and the 6th man in the stands will play a huge part in that.

3/19/2007 11:14:57 AM

i'm telling you

fans don't mean shit

http://kenpom.com/blog/index.php/weblog/rabid_crowd_theory/

3/19/2007 11:16:21 AM

/BLOG

I dont pay attention to blogs.

they are like editorials on Page 2.

They only point out stats that are in the authors favor.

3/19/2007 11:21:45 AM

As a side note, I thought there was a lot of under-/over- seeding this year, but after the games played out, they seem to be not bad.

3/19/2007 11:22:09 AM

ahahahah
ahaha
ahahaha

i was waiting for that

that's ken pomeroy

the most credible and reliable college basketball statistician in the world

you just shit on your own argument

3/19/2007 11:23:18 AM

Florida was ranked the #1 seed in the entire tournament, and St. Louis is the closest regional site to Florida in terms of mileage. The other #1 seeds were put into place after Florida. That's why is makes no sense.

3/19/2007 11:31:27 AM

"LOLZ WHO IS THIS KEN POMROY FAG HE IS NOT ESPN I DONT TRUST NUMBERS"

3/19/2007 12:06:03 PM

Quote :

"I like how Carolina's home court is New Jersey in the regional"

You'll be amazed at how many UNC grads are around there... I say, in the NCAA tournaments, UNC has a potential home game anywhere on the east coast.

3/19/2007 12:12:34 PM

Quote :

"Florida was ranked the #1 seed in the entire tournament, and St. Louis is the closest regional site to Florida in terms of mileage. The other #1 seeds were put into place after Florida. That's why is makes no sense. "

Exactly. They don't place teams as a group based on their seed, they place teams individually into regions based on their seed within the 64. Florida got the closest since they were #1. UNC was the #2, so they got the next choice, which was NJ. OSU was #3, so they got the next closest, in TX, while KU was #4 & UCLA was #5, therefore, those 2 were sent west. And so forth.

UCLA getting a close regional match was solely due to Kansas being the weakest #1 & UCLA being the top #2, which sent those 2 teams away from everyone else.

It's the same deal for the other homely seeding/placements. It's just a coincidence that that is where their seeding fell.

3/19/2007 12:27:32 PM

the venues are locked in before the seedings are finalised -- that's why its all messed up

3/19/2007 1:35:02 PM

I understand that, but dont the people making the seedings know where the teams will be sent?

Of course they do.

3/19/2007 1:39:03 PM

So what should they do then?

Penalize teams seeds so that they don't coincidentally end up playing near their home court?

UCLA was seeding #5 overall, so shouldn't they be seeded in the same region as the #4?

Yes it's not fair to Kansas to have the game near UCLA, but conversely, should you penalize UCLA by putting them against a higher #1, just so that they are not remotely near their campus? Doing that would also reward Kansas & penalize that #1 that gets stuck with UCLA, instead of say Wisconsin/Georgetown.

While playing near ones homecourt is a slight advantage, it still is a neutral court and will have fans of both teams.

3/19/2007 1:55:33 PM

I wouldnt call San Jose, CA neutral nor would I say it will give them a slight advantage.

UCLA wins this game. I promise you that much.

3/19/2007 2:02:47 PM

So how do you people who are bitching about this feel about our 1974 NC? You know, the one were we NEVER left the State of North Carolina during the tournament??

3/19/2007 2:02:59 PM

^that was before the current format, DICK.

3/19/2007 2:03:45 PM

^

Sound like you're picking and choosing what you want to bitch about, ASS.


And you never specified current vs. old format.

3/19/2007 2:11:11 PM

Would you be bitching if NC State was a 2-seed playing in Baltimore? Because Baltimore is closer to Raleigh than San Jose is to UCLA.

Home team advantage is 90% about having to travel and play the same night. That won't be the situation for any team in the tournament.

Only using statistics that help the author is one thing. You aren't using any statistics, you either haven't read or don't understand the selection committee criteria, and you are throwing out a guarantee about a 3-point favorite winning. You guarantee this win in spite of the fact that all teams will have been in town for a while, because there will be a few more fans yelling OHHHHHH when UCLA is on defense. Have you watched these games before? Anyone who gets rattled by these regional-round crowds must really hate wine and cheese.


[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 2:32 PM. Reason : d]

3/19/2007 2:32:30 PM

i thought the a team's region was very very loosely determined by location, i thought it was just whatever seed they fitted in with

3/19/2007 2:37:20 PM

hey, I would be the first to admit I dont know something. No problems with that.

maybe I just see it more this year because the locations are so much in the lower seeds favor.

3/19/2007 2:40:23 PM

You do have to admit, it is fishy sometimes. I remember in 05 being in Worcester, MA for the first and second round with UCONN and Vermont being there. Remember, Vermont was a 14 seed, and the Vermont border is not that far from Worcester. According to the people in the UCONN Pep Band that I talked to, it was only a 45 minute drive from Storrs to Worcester and on Sunday, there was a rather large and vocal crowd of Vermont fans.

[Edited on March 19, 2007 at 2:54 PM. Reason : .]

3/19/2007 2:53:54 PM

A big haha to Panthro dissing Kenpom.

3/19/2007 3:11:58 PM

Worcester is 30 miles from Storrs, CT. UConn also played in Hartford, which is 15 miles away, for regionals in the past.

Of course they also played in the Sweet 16 or Elite 8:

- UCLA in Anaheim in '95
- Florida in Orlando in '96
- UNC in Greensboro in '98
- Texas in San Antonio in '03

3/19/2007 3:13:52 PM