RaceToTheTop

My God Renee Montgomery is really unlistenable.

The one team I have in that I feel really shaky about is St. John's.

They would not be using POM (45th overall). Under that metric they would not be one of the top 36 at large teams. 304th non-conference schedule and 129th overall on POM. Only one quad 1 win (had 5 opportunities). 22 of their 27 wins were quad 3 and 4. While I personally would prefer them in over a couple of teams that will get in, there are metrics that support them not being in. Don't think there would be any at large team in the field with fewer quad 1 wins or fewer combined quad 1 and 2.

Just expected more leaks I guess.

A little surprised we haven’t heard more solid info on IU players portaging/staying/testing the waters yet.

6’5” guard Roger McFarlane from SE Louisiana. 14.8 points and 8.6 rebounds last season. 123 of 335 (37%) from three in three years

Just my opinion, but if it's West Virginia and not Louisville and I'm Dusty, I'm waiting until next year.

At the same time, we have kathywithac saying that Dolson is incompetent and it's the board's fault. Neither accepting blame and just pointing fingers.

Ohio State hiring Diebler is an Ohio State short sited issue. After Tony Bennett retired early into the season at Wisky, Brad Soddeberg took over and took Wisky to the tournament. But Wisky didn’t retain him as their head coach.

Lot of similarities to my WAR calculations. I don't calculate every team -- I don't normally calculate it for teams that I expect to have negative WAR values -- but my straight WAR calculations agree on Indiana State and Princeton being worthy of bids (I know they won't get one -- different criteria for selection). Will DM you a spreadsheet showing a comparison between your and my sheet. Biggest individual difference I see is in South Carolina, which WAR likes.

My bracket (past history says it in no way will be as accurate as USPS's) U Conn, Purdue, Houston, North Carolina Iowa State, Marquette, Arizona, Tennessee Auburn, Illinois, Baylor, Creighton Kansas, Alabama, Duke, South Carolina Florida, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Kentucky Utah State, San Diego St, St. Mary's, BYU Nevada, Dayton, Washington State, Gonzaga Clemson, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado State Northwestern, Boise State, Colorado, TCU Oklahoma, New Mexico, first four: Florida Atlantic, Michigan State, St. John's, Mississippi State Oregon, Drake, NC State, Grand Canyon James Madison, McNeese State, VCU*, Samford UAB*, Charleston, Vermont, Oakland Yale, Morehead State, Akron, Western Kentucky Colgate, Long Beach State, South Dakota State, Stetson St. Peter's, Longwood, Montana State, Wagner, Howard, Grambling *: UAB at 12 if VCU loses today. If both UAB and VCU lose, leave the AAC winner (Temple) at 13

So many bids stolen that the bracketmatrix has the first four games all being 10 seeds. Matrix as of this morning has: last four byes: Northwestern, TCU, Florida Atlantic, Mississippi State last four in: Colorado, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M first four out: St. John's, Virginia, Seton Hall, Indiana State. St.John's as a first four out is still in 74 of the 106 brackets; Virginia is in 46.

Not sure what you are trying to get at with the “fire Holtmann with a month left only to replace him with someone on his staff.” If they know they are going to fire him, best do it army to get a jump on your search. And what do you want to do to replace him, someone not on staff?

Tough decision for those final spots tomorrow. I see 29 that I would consider at large bid locks: Purdue, Houston, UNC, Tennessee, Arizona, Marquette, Baylor, Creighton, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Alabama, BYU, San Diego State, South Carolina, Texas Tech, Wisconsin, Utah State, Clemson, Nevada, Florida, Washington State, Gonzaga, Dayton, Boise State,Texas, Nebraska, Colorado State, Northwestern. For 7 spots: Florida Atlantic, TCU, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Michigan State, Colorado, St. John's, Indiana State, Virginia, Texas A&M, Seton Hall, Providence, Pittsburgh. Personally: Florida Atlantic: in. Were easily up the cut line prior to their bad loss today. Could possibly slip into the first four if the committee takes that loss from today into account but seem them slipping out of the tournament TCU: an enigma. 21-12 record good enough. 11 of 12 losses are quad 1; 16 of their 32 games were quad 1. But horrible non-conference SOS 357 on POM. But think the # of quad 1 games plus only one quad 2 loss no Q3 or 4 keeps them in. Oklahoma: basically in the exact same boat as TCU. Think they are in. Colorado: 24-10 is good enough. While bracket matrix does not have them being very safe, I have them in. Michigan State: Pains me, but I think the committee puts them in. Excellent NET and POM will get them in despite a 19-14 record. Down to two more teams. Don't think Indiana State makes it. Just too many things didn't go there way in the conference tournaments. Pittsburgh's two Q3 losses and don't think they have enough eye catching wins to survive the cut. Virginia....I personally like their resume more than I think the NCAA will. Did beat Florida and Texas A&M but lack any real impressive wins. Don't to Seton Hall, Providence, St. John's, Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Two spots left. Remove A&M first. Two from the group of Seton Hall, Providence, St. John's and Mississippi State......I am going with St. John's and Mississippi State. Seton Hall and Providence out. Last four byes: Northwestern, Colorado, TCU, Oklahoma. Last four in: Florida Atlantic, Michigan State, St. John's, Mississippi State. Last team in -- Mississippi State. First four out: Virginia, Seton Hall, Providence, Indiana State. First team out -- Virginia.

Oregon up 6 under 30 seconds and going to the line This one is over.

Oregon up 4 on Colorado with 1:55 left. Could be yet another stolen bid.

Just so many bids stolen. Oregon and Colorado looks like it is going down to the wire....could be another.

Still think FAU is safe, but I think the only team that they beat that is safely in the tourney is Arizona (unless you count Charleston who wont their conference tourney).

Fire Dusty May

Ouch. Thought Daniels should have went up with it. Someone just lost a bid.

Temple just IU'd and fouled a three point shooter. If he hits all three, it's a one point game. Temple had free throws to go up 7 and missed the one and one.

Wanted to watch SD State/New Mexico but have to turn into the Temple/FAU game now. Unless FAU can come up big here in the last minute, looks like a bid is stolen -- hopefully Michigan State's.

Skyy Clark IMO is an option further down the list than that. Quit on Illinois midseason last year and looking at the guys that have left Louisville last year and went to new places....they didn't fare very well.

Just as an FYI, I post about pretty much every decent player in the portal. It won't mean I think they are an IU fit.