Bracket Banter is our daily open thread to discuss all things bracket. Readers can post comments and questions during the night's games, and we will answer those questions as the night goes on.Tuesday's Games
Who's the second best team in the Big Ten? The SEC? The ACC? We'll get at least some temporary answers to those questions tonight.
In the Big Ten, Purdue visits the Kohl Center to play a Wisconsin team looking to bounce back from their loss at Penn State on Saturday. The Boilermakers have a game and a half lead over the Badgers for second place in conference, and if they have designs on catching Ohio State, they probably need this game. That won't be an easy task against a Wisconsin team that is undefeated at home, a mark that includes wins over Minnesota and Illinois. In the SEC, Vanderbilt plays at Florida in a game that features two teams looking to regroup after bad losses over the weekend. The Gators are slightly ahead of Vandy on our S-curve this week, and if they can win this game and they beat Kentucky at home this weekend, an argument could be made for Florida to be the lowest-seeded SEC team.
Finally, in the ACC, North Carolina plays at BC in what is a key game for both teams. The Tar Heels have won eight of nine, are alone in second place in conference, and are up to a 6 seed in our latest bracket. They can put a little more room between themselves and Florida State in the ACC pecking order if than can win this one. The Eagles, meanwhile, have been trending the other way. They've lost three of four (all on the road), and they'll need at least a split this week (they host Virginia Tech on Saturday) to avoid slipping onto the bubble.
The biggest bubble game of the night is Penn State at Illinois. The Nittany Lions jumped into the field this week after their big win over Wisconsin, but their spot is by no means safe. Their road schedule is very difficult from here on out, and they are going to have to win at least one road game to impress the committee and to get to 10-8 in conference. They have to like their chances tonight against an Illini team that has lost four of five, which includes a road loss to Penn State back on Jan. 11.
Also keep an eye on: Kansas at Texas Tech, Kentucky at Mississippi, Wake Forest at Florida State, Wichita State at Indiana State, New Mexico at Air Force
11 comments:
I hardly think it's fair to refer to tonight's game as a battle for second place... Carolina WILL battle to be the second best team in the acc, but the game takes place sunday. Not tonight. Thank you very much.
Looks like Wisconsin gets another marquee home win in conference, FSU cruises, and Kentucky gets a bad loss (I assume Ole Miss counts as a bad loss, right?).
It's definitely a bad loss for Kentucky, especially with a trip to Gainesville looming this weekend.
After Tuesday night's games, Pomeroy predicts Duke to finish the ACC at 13-3, Carolina a gamecock at 12-4, and then a logjam at 10-6 with FSU, Maryland, Clemson, and Va Tech all there and then a big drop to BC and Ga Tech at 7-9 and the rest of the league with 5 ACC wins or fewer.
If it indeed works out that way, do you think all the 10-6 teams get in? Would a 7-9 team have a chance? And of the 10-6 teams what would the approximate seeding look like?
Do you see any realistic chance of FSU winning Sunday at the Smith Center?
I meant to write, "Carolina a game back" not "...a gamecock" ...
I see florida state losing sunday, then winning at georgia tech, home v miami, and at wake, before losing at maryland and winning their final three, home for miami and north carolina, and then at north carolina state. This would make them 12-4, and probably make them the 2 seed in the acc, and with a good tourney showing they could get a 4 seed or so.
If you had to guess how the season will play out, does the Big East get 9,10, or 11 bids?? Assuming Cincinnati, St Johns, and Marquette are the 3 bubble teams, who's your pick?
If that ACC sceanrio unfolded, all of those 10-6 teams could make it. The one in the most trouble would be Clemson, since the Tigers have the worst OOC resume of the bunch.
A 7-9 ACC team isn't making it.
We'd be very, very surprised if FSU won at Carolina this weekend.
The most likely scenario is that the Big East gets 10 bids. Picking which team will get left out is tough because two of the teams woudn't make it because of too many losses (Marquette and St. John's) and the third wouldn't make it because of a lack of quality wins in conference (Cincinnati).
If we consider the schedule each team has left, we'd have to leave out the Bearcats. They still have to play five road games, and all of their home games are tough (St. John's, Louisville, UConn, and Georgetown). Only two of their remaining games are against teams not in our bracket. That schedule gives Cincinnati a lot of chances to solidify their spot, but it also gives them a lot of chances to play their way out. Marquette and St. John's , although they have four more losses already, have easier schedules left.
Same guy who broke down the florida state schedule earlier here... I'd be surprised as well if florida state won sunday, but on the other hand... I was also surprised that florida state won against duke, and carolina is 16-5, not 20-1.
Your Gators areD3 Items usually slightly in advance of Vandy with our S-curve immediately, and if they could win the bingo and so they beat The state of kentucky at home last week, your firm stand out may very well be manufactured for California to become theGuild Wars 2 Items lowest-seeded SEC staff.
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