ChipperF1
03-14-2006, 03:44 AM
After five flight delays, sweating out stand-by at ORD, and reading how I got Giraffespots lost in Big D...here's what I think about the brackets.
1. South Florida? Louisville? Give Me A Break!
Its darn hard to sell me on those two ahead of Western Kentucky or Indiana State. Its really hard to sell me on Missouri to be honest. I could also say the same about Washington and even California.
2. However, Western Kentucky and Indiana State set themselves up for Katherine Harris treatment.
Its a fact of life in the mid-majors. If you don't get the conference crown, you are going to get boofed, and both got beat by teams you don't get beat by. You don't lose to the 6th seed in the conference tournament in a conference people see as a mid-major.
3. Joni Comstock didn't read too well in the post selection press conference.
I didn't get to see her on TV, but I did read the transcript, and she was tapdancing like Mr. Bojangles and seemed to get caught in a lot of contradictions. She's about as bad as Maryalice Jeremiah was as committee chair on a number of selection issues. At one statement she said the RPI weighed in the selection and on another she said it wasn't as big as factor.
It seems to me that RPI matter when it was convenient and didn't when it wasn't. It seems to me that actually games mattered the least of all, and that is what I think should matter first and foremost.
Oh by the way..an example of how Comstock got caught big-time
"Q. And also, just to make sure, you guys don't use an S curve then or you do?
JONI COMSTOCK: Yes, we do. We use -- we put the teams -- we seed the teams and so that places them in the S curve. And the S curve then is used to place the teams in the closest geographical site for the tournament to go into the bracket.
Q. But with North Carolina with the No. 1 that would make Tennessee the number fourth No. 2, is that correct?
JONI COMSTOCK: That's not correct. Tennessee was placed in their closest geographical site, which is what our principles -- we do that from the first line all the way through all of the lines in the tournament. And so the way that it came out this year was obviously on that same line, Connecticut going to Bridgeport and Tennessee, their closest geographical site was Cleveland.
Hello, either you follow the S-Curve or you don't. Although she did clear it up a little bit later, a lot of press blew some holes in her explainations.
I also read the head of the men committee, Craig Littlepage, and for the most part the guy had the story straight and explained it well, and it goes back to my #1 pet peeve with the women's selection committee. Most of the members of the women's selection don't follow the sport strongly and it shows. They are more content to pour over spreadsheets, while the mens committee are looking at teams and watching games. The womens committee has to reach that level of preparation.
Chipper's Pick Hits Of The First Round.
UCLA vs. Bowling Green
A dangerous opener for UCLA. BGSU is a better team that a lot of people think.
Texas A&M vs. TCU
The major conference team hasn't been here before, the Mid-Major kids have been here before.
Boston College vs. Notre Dame
The former member of the Big East returns on home as a Prodigal Son.
St. John's (NY) vs. California
The Battle Of The Former Bi-Coastal Stiffs. These two used to be backfielders, now they are in the Field of 64.
Maryland vs. Sacred Heart
A 15 seed I wouldn't want to play. Sacred Heart will give this battle.
Rutgers vs. Dartmouth
The Big Green's shooting and screening will be interesting against the RU defense. Athleticism is Rutger's best chance..Wouldn't be surprised if the score is 35-34.
Temple vs. Hartford
The Battle Of The Great Point Guard. Dawn vs. Jen. Should be one of the best games of the first round.
Virginia Tech vs. Missouri
Is there life after Bonnie at VaTech? Did Missouri really deserve to be here? This game could answer one question or both.
North Carolina State vs. Tulsa
Possible upset potential here.
And now the truth about me "in the lead"
I didn't ask to be in the lead. I was nominated. Next time, If nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve.
I took a different way to get to US-75 each day, I had no idea, but I did learn enough of the Dallas streets to muddle through. ;)
I needed a satellite to get me to the Arena every day, anyway lol! Those NeverLost GPS things are the best!
A quick note about the WNIT...
I'm not ready to give a prediction yet, but I will give a hint...
The WNIT Championship game will be played in Ames, Iowa.
Also, I'll hint to my NCAA prediction, too.
Two conferences will send two teams each into the Final Four.
1. South Florida? Louisville? Give Me A Break!
Its darn hard to sell me on those two ahead of Western Kentucky or Indiana State. Its really hard to sell me on Missouri to be honest. I could also say the same about Washington and even California.
2. However, Western Kentucky and Indiana State set themselves up for Katherine Harris treatment.
Its a fact of life in the mid-majors. If you don't get the conference crown, you are going to get boofed, and both got beat by teams you don't get beat by. You don't lose to the 6th seed in the conference tournament in a conference people see as a mid-major.
3. Joni Comstock didn't read too well in the post selection press conference.
I didn't get to see her on TV, but I did read the transcript, and she was tapdancing like Mr. Bojangles and seemed to get caught in a lot of contradictions. She's about as bad as Maryalice Jeremiah was as committee chair on a number of selection issues. At one statement she said the RPI weighed in the selection and on another she said it wasn't as big as factor.
It seems to me that RPI matter when it was convenient and didn't when it wasn't. It seems to me that actually games mattered the least of all, and that is what I think should matter first and foremost.
Oh by the way..an example of how Comstock got caught big-time
"Q. And also, just to make sure, you guys don't use an S curve then or you do?
JONI COMSTOCK: Yes, we do. We use -- we put the teams -- we seed the teams and so that places them in the S curve. And the S curve then is used to place the teams in the closest geographical site for the tournament to go into the bracket.
Q. But with North Carolina with the No. 1 that would make Tennessee the number fourth No. 2, is that correct?
JONI COMSTOCK: That's not correct. Tennessee was placed in their closest geographical site, which is what our principles -- we do that from the first line all the way through all of the lines in the tournament. And so the way that it came out this year was obviously on that same line, Connecticut going to Bridgeport and Tennessee, their closest geographical site was Cleveland.
Hello, either you follow the S-Curve or you don't. Although she did clear it up a little bit later, a lot of press blew some holes in her explainations.
I also read the head of the men committee, Craig Littlepage, and for the most part the guy had the story straight and explained it well, and it goes back to my #1 pet peeve with the women's selection committee. Most of the members of the women's selection don't follow the sport strongly and it shows. They are more content to pour over spreadsheets, while the mens committee are looking at teams and watching games. The womens committee has to reach that level of preparation.
Chipper's Pick Hits Of The First Round.
UCLA vs. Bowling Green
A dangerous opener for UCLA. BGSU is a better team that a lot of people think.
Texas A&M vs. TCU
The major conference team hasn't been here before, the Mid-Major kids have been here before.
Boston College vs. Notre Dame
The former member of the Big East returns on home as a Prodigal Son.
St. John's (NY) vs. California
The Battle Of The Former Bi-Coastal Stiffs. These two used to be backfielders, now they are in the Field of 64.
Maryland vs. Sacred Heart
A 15 seed I wouldn't want to play. Sacred Heart will give this battle.
Rutgers vs. Dartmouth
The Big Green's shooting and screening will be interesting against the RU defense. Athleticism is Rutger's best chance..Wouldn't be surprised if the score is 35-34.
Temple vs. Hartford
The Battle Of The Great Point Guard. Dawn vs. Jen. Should be one of the best games of the first round.
Virginia Tech vs. Missouri
Is there life after Bonnie at VaTech? Did Missouri really deserve to be here? This game could answer one question or both.
North Carolina State vs. Tulsa
Possible upset potential here.
And now the truth about me "in the lead"
I didn't ask to be in the lead. I was nominated. Next time, If nominated I will not accept and if elected I will not serve.
I took a different way to get to US-75 each day, I had no idea, but I did learn enough of the Dallas streets to muddle through. ;)
I needed a satellite to get me to the Arena every day, anyway lol! Those NeverLost GPS things are the best!
A quick note about the WNIT...
I'm not ready to give a prediction yet, but I will give a hint...
The WNIT Championship game will be played in Ames, Iowa.
Also, I'll hint to my NCAA prediction, too.
Two conferences will send two teams each into the Final Four.