So the first round is complete

[CappyNU]

Yeah, I suppose you could call Wisconsin and Iowa State underachieving. The main difference between 4 and 5 i suspect is the much higher prevalence of 12/5 upsets that gives the 4 an easier 2nd round game.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Big Ten is 10-4 against the spread.
SEC is 11-11
Big 12 is 7-5-1

guessing the spreads going forward are going to reflect that. Big Ten was underrated. SEC and Big 12 were properly rated.

 

[CatJones]

Last time was 2018, the Allstate season. Only 4 teams made the tourney and none lower than a 5 seed.

That's the year Nebraska was 13-5 in the conference and didn't make the tourney

 

[GatoLouco]

Just using this thread to state I have no (at least recent) recollection of a less exciting tournament than this year's.

A combo of us having made it the last two years, and not being in it this year, with the fact that it's all #1 to #3 seeds that keep advancing. I have greatly tuned out.

 

[EagerFan]

Last nights Arkansas game was pretty exciting until they gave the game away in the end.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

Just using this thread to state I have no (at least recent) recollection of a less exciting tournament than this year's.

A combo of us having made it the last two years, and not being in it this year, with the fact that it's all #1 to #3 seeds that keep advancing. I have greatly tuned out.

I have seen parts of a few games.

The only game I watched for more than 10 minutes of game time was the Kentucky/Illinois game, but thats because I was out for dinner at a pub and a big screen was directly behind my wife.

I did see Cliff Omoruyi playing for Alabama last night. He missed a windmill dunk.
Mark Sears was shooting the lights out - and to his credit - wasn't mugging for the cameras or trying to embarrass his opponents.
I watched the middle of the 2nd half.
Sears was born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and got no real attention out of high school, starred at Ohio in the MAC for 2 years before transferring back to his home state.

 

[CappyNU]

Just using this thread to state I have no (at least recent) recollection of a less exciting tournament than this year's.

A combo of us having made it the last two years, and not being in it this year, with the fact that it's all #1 to #3 seeds that keep advancing. I have greatly tuned out.

I think this is the end result of the committee seeding teams properly according to the advanced metrics, combined with historically dominant 1 seeds plus a significant drop off after the top 4 seeds in efficiency metrics.

Now, whether the cause of said dominance is related to conference realignment, the transfer portal and NIL remains to be seen as to whether it's the beginning of a trend or merely a blip.