This is not likely to do much to slow the bracket bashing and second guessing that has increased to epic proportions over the last few years.  As the difference between the 75th and 50th best college basketball team continuing to shrink, these calls will increase.  Fortunately, the likelihood of leaving the eventual winner of the tournament to the NIT is very low.  There are three ways to reduce this risk, none of which I recommend.

1.  Increase the number of entrants.  Let’s hear the presidents defend this while protesting against increasing the college football post-season.

2.  Eliminate some of the automatic bids.  Let’s face it, the debates are not about who should be a 13th or 16th seed, they are about 11th and 12th seeds.

3.  I don’t recommend this approach, but it would allow a few more teams to participate.  Have four games to play in for the 16th seeded slots.  This would allow the conferences to continue their automatic bids while adding 3 at-large teams.  In essence you simply move the bubble 3 slots and do little to quiet the furor.  Bottom line: someone always get left out.  And that team can look at 2, 3, maybe 4 games where they had the chance to make it a no-brainer for the selection committee.

“In the grand scheme of things it really means nothing,” Brian Butch said. “Those are all great things to achieve, don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to downplay them, but right now we’re on a mission.”

Meanwhile, Joe Lunardi’s Braketology over at ESPN shows only five in the latest rundown.  They have a long way to go.

Media attending the 2006 ACC Football Kickoff in Jacksonville picked Florida State and Miami to win the league’s Atlantic and Coastal Divisions, respectively.

The Seminoles were the media favorite a year ago and tied Boston College in the regular season title. Florida State went on to win the inaugural ACC Football Championship Game 27-22 over Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes claimed the media’s choice to win the Coastal Division, ahead of last year’s Coastal Division champion Virginia Tech.

Miami also edged Florida State as the favorite to win the 2006 ACC Football Championship Game in Jacksonville on December 2.

I applaud the committee, their process, and especially their outcomes. Low seed championship miracles do not come around often. Hoping to find a 12 seed that just might go all the way is that path to ruining this tournament, not improving it. Choosing a 12 seed that might just stun the world, if given the chance, now that is what makes this tournament like no other.

You can always count on drop your jock shock somewhere in the first two rounds. Can’t predict them, can’t plan for them, can’t RPI analyze your way to them. All you can do is create an environment where they can happen. That means you have to invite some teams that could become a Cinderella.

This year’s annual complaining about too many mid-major at-large selections is ridiculous. Billy Packer and a host of other CBS analysts should know better. 8 of 34 at-large slots for mid-majors is a good mix for the tournament, and essential to keeping March the raving Mad wonder that it always is.

You can complaint about Cincy’s snub, but look to why Seton Hall was chosen rather than complain that Air Force was undeserving. And the reason the committee doesn’t explain why Air Force was more deserving than Cincy is because they probably can’t; and shouldn’t. Some Big East low life beating Illinois is pedestrian, but give Air Force a shot and a miracle may materialize before our eyes.

Want proof. Billy Packer’s way of packing the tourney full of power conference players would be like re-running the conference tournaments, just inter-major conference. But look at the rating difference between conference tournaments that the big dance. And it is due to the chance to see Cinderella every year. We know we will see her. She shows up every year because she was invited. We just don’t know her name yet.

So Billy, the bottom of the at-large list is not about the deserving, it is about inviting two fists full of possible Cinderella’s so that America can watch a few teams every year somehow find a way to make the slipper fit.

Helen Craft and Chris Kendall are awaiting Monday’s game to see who joins the other nine.

It’s not selection committee with egg spread across face by Rick Maese of The Baltimore Sun

Mid-Major Commissioners Came of Age Together, and So Have Their Conferences By John Feinstein of The Wahington Post

Iris Blake, leading since day one and with yes a George Mason Final Four selection (actually a runner-up choice) continues to lead holding a 15.5 point lead over Leslie Paine. Glenda Corley, also a George Mason Final Four selector, in third and Neil Hammer in a tie for tenth join Iris and Leslie as the only four who can win the tournament. With eight possible outcomes, Iris wins under 5 outcomes, tying Neil in one of these. Glenda takes the title in three scenarios and if LSU tops Florida in an SEC shootout for the title, Leslie Paine holds the Sports Crossfire Challenge Title. Each of the Final Four teams was selected by 1.6% of the pool.

In the Sweet 16 Challenge Pool, seven participants are still in the hunt including Tara Blakemore and Ben Hawk currently tied for first and third place uber bracketeer, Iris Blake. Iris, tell us your secret!

What gives?

Bottom line: It’s great for the fan and the sport, even the selection committee can be seen smiling.

Now look at the UConn-Washington game. UConn gets a 2:1 advantage from the charity stripe (47 vs. 23) resulting in a 16 point advantage for the East Coast Huskies. Why then did Coach Calhoun receive a technical for passing the ball over the head of one official to the hands of another? I suggest the official let his frustration get to him. It should have been a no call. Alternatively, it is often suggested the coaches of the “Big Name” teams get away with too much and no one wants to say they allowed that in the NCAA Tournament.

Biggest jump in standings from round 2 to round 3
- Earl Forrester: + 20 (from 31st to 11th)
- Tara Heel: + 16 (from 53rd to 37th)
- Mitch Wenger: + 11 (from 22nd to 11th)
- Allison Smith: + 10 (from 19th to 9th)
- Tim Stans: + 10 (from 42nd to 32nd)