Hats Off To The Committee

The Committee had a lot of pressure on it this year, primarily because there was so much parity across the country.  There were a lot of teams that were so similar in terms of their body of work that seeding up and down the Tournament was extremely difficult.  Usually, there is some controversy as to who gets a number 1 seed versus a number 2 or the last couple of teams to get in (and this year was no different), but it was unusually difficult to seed the bids from 5 and lower.  

Duke received a number 1, but it doesn't help their chances.  They were shipped out West, when they would have been far better off with a 2 seed closer to home.  Yes, I know they're playing in Charlotte the first weekend, but they're going to play Hampton.  They don't need a home crowd during the first weekend.  Duke is the defending National Champion and just won their conference tournament with ease against a top 10 team.  Half their alumni are from Jersey.  The Committee should have thrown them a bone and seeded them in the East, even if it meant a 2 seed.   Duke also has a potentially tough second game with Tennessee who, if they show up, can be dangerous.  Then Texas awaits Duke in all likelihood.  Furthermore, the Committee is handing San Diego State a virtual home game against Duke in Anaheim if they both advance to the regional final.  The Devils won't have it easy.  Obviously, Coack-K and the Blue Devils don't care - they will go about their business as always.

I thought Colorado and St. Mary's should have been given bids.  The West Coast Conference is not a 1 bid league anymore.  St. Mary's was about as good as Gonzaga, and Gonzaga definitely belonged in the field.  Colorado beat Kansas State 3 times and Mizzou once, finishing .500 in the Big 12.  Clemson also lost to UVA and NC State.  If Clemson had beaten Carolina at least once in 3 tries, I could have accepted the selection.   Their non-conference schedule was awful except for South Carolina, Michigan, and Old Dominion, and they lost all those games.

UAB beat nobody and lost to a dismal Arizona State team.  GW beat UAB by 33.  Conference USA was truly a 1 bid league this year.  Memphis would have been enough.  I also question giving VCU a bid.  I don't see the Colonial as a 3 bid league, especially since VCU lost to Georgia State, Northeastern, and USF (who was the only bad team in the Big East). 

I didn't understand the inclusion of Georgia, either.  They beat Kentucky a few months ago and later beat Tennessee, but have no other quality wins.  The SEC was down this year, but 5 bids was too much.  I would have kept Georgia home.

The reality is that the Committee always gets criticized, no matter who they select.  I think the Committee did a great job in a year where there are teams with 12 or 13 losses who can beat 1 seeds.  This year's Tournament is going to be extremely entertaining.