Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Sense and Sensibility
Tom Oates at the Wisconsin State Journal sorts through history for useful facts and figures.-Over the last seven years, an average of three double-digit seeds have reached the Sweet 16 and they're almost always Nos. 10, 11 or 12 from major conferences or high-end mid-majors.
-At least one No. 2 seed will fall in the second round.
-When picking the Final Four, follow the lead of the NCAA selection committee. In the last seven years, 13 of the 28 available spots have gone to No. 1 seeds. Since 2000, the Final Four has had five No. 1s, three No. 2s, three No. 3s and a No. 5.
Wendell Barnhouse of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram serves up "Bracketology for Dummies." Of use:
-The last time at least one double-digit seed didn't advance to the Sweet 16 was 1995.
-Maryland went from a bubble team to an automatic qualifier by sweeping three games and winning the ACC tournament for the first time since 1984. Good for the Terps. But when it won the national championship in 2001, Maryland "lost'' in the ACC semifinals.
