2024-25 NET/Bracketology Thread

[throatybeard]

If you were going to let the computers seed the field, one crude, simple, arguably fair way to do it would be to give equal weighting to an efficiency metric like KenPom and a win quality metric like Torvik's WAB.

Well, it turns out that if you take the average of a team's ranking in KenPom and WAB, here's what you get this year (posted on Reddit).

Last Four Byes- New Mexico (37.5), UNC (38), Arkansas (40), Vanderbilt (43)

Last Four In- Utah State (44.5), Texas (45), San Diego State (45), Xavier (46)

First Four Out- Ohio State (47), West Virginia (47.5), Indiana (48), Boise State (51.5)

It precisely maps to the committee's cut line. I doubt this is a coincidence.

Except that Bubba said that every member had his/her own way of evaluating the teams.

Bubba may have been there just to turn the lights on and provide snacks.

He filled the jellybean jar before they got to estimating it.

 

[BrummieDevil]

Looking back at that 1994-95 schedule, I thought the Great Eight (where they lost to UConn that season) was a cool idea and I wish it was something that lasted.

They matched up all the Elite Eight teams (who could participate) from the previous season at one location over two nights. It only lasted a few years though. And for whatever reason Arkansas didn't play in the inaugural '94 edition, so Duke played Sweet 16 participant UConn.

 

[Lurkingdukedog]

Looking back at that 1994-95 schedule, I thought the Great Eight (where they lost to UConn that season) was a cool idea and I wish it was something that lasted.

They matched up all the Elite Eight teams (who could participate) from the previous season at one location over two nights. It only lasted a few years though. And for whatever reason Arkansas didn't play in the inaugural '94 edition, so Duke played Sweet 16 participant UConn.

I remember this, too. I think that a Thanksgiving tournament that had the eight teams from the previous Elite Eight would be a wonderful early season (and generally out of conference) event.

 

[throatybeard]

Looking back at that 1994-95 schedule, I thought the Great Eight (where they lost to UConn that season) was a cool idea and I wish it was something that lasted.

They matched up all the Elite Eight teams (who could participate) from the previous season at one location over two nights. It only lasted a few years though. And for whatever reason Arkansas didn't play in the inaugural '94 edition, so Duke played Sweet 16 participant UConn.

We seem to have more or less substituted the Kansas-Kentucky-Michigan State-Duke thing for this.

 

[brevity]

I think a lot of the Joe Lunardi hostility toward UNC stems from a sentiment of "my predicted bracket was better than the real bracket", but regardless of his intention, I'll allow it.

Joe Lunardi takes parting shot at UNC amid NCAA Tournament, West Virginia outrage

Joe Lunardi took a parting shot at UNC amid their NCAA Tournament early exit on Friday. Check out more about the 'Heels and how they looked.

www.on3.com

"Only one team in the NET era has ever gotten an at-large bid with just a single Quad 1 win. Two games later, North Carolina still has only one Q1 win."

 

[75Crazie]

I think a lot of the Joe Lunardi hostility toward UNC stems from a sentiment of "my predicted bracket was better than the real bracket", but regardless of his intention, I'll allow it.

The <chamber> pot calling the kettle a turd.

 

[OldPhiKap]

I think a lot of the Joe Lunardi hostility toward UNC stems from a sentiment of "my predicted bracket was better than the real bracket", but regardless of his intention, I'll allow it.

Joe Lunardi takes parting shot at UNC amid NCAA Tournament, West Virginia outrage

Joe Lunardi took a parting shot at UNC amid their NCAA Tournament early exit on Friday. Check out more about the 'Heels and how they looked.

www.on3.com

"Only one team in the NET era has ever gotten an at-large bid with just a single Quad 1 win. Two games later, North Carolina still has only one Q1 win."

So — we’re not rewarding consistency anymore? UNC was incredibly consistent.

They are the King Rice of teams.

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

So — we’re not rewarding consistency anymore? UNC was incredibly consistent.

They are the King Rice of teams.

Do you have any idea how hard it is to win exactly one Quad 1 game?

 

[throatybeard]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to win exactly one Quad 1 game?

When they glance back at their schedule, I bet UCLA fans have been like, what happened there?

 

[Maged]

UCLA is the Wally Pipp of college basketball, both as a trivia question and also as the last game before an epic streak.

 

[Indoor66]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to win exactly one Quad 1 game?

Almost as hard a winning exactly 2?

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Almost as hard a winning exactly 2?

Correct!

 

[Matches]

So — we’re not rewarding consistency anymore? UNC was incredibly consistent.

They are the King Rice of teams.

Seriously. Was listening to a Heel fan on a podcast lamenting the team’s inconsistency and thinking “my dude they literally played the exact same game over and over again all season.”

 

[Kedsy]

Wasn't sure where to put this, and I understand how much we all (including me) hate the Heels, but Duke and UNC have combined to go to 43 Elite Eights in the past 48 tournaments. Which is pretty incredible.