Sunday, March 28, 2010

Butler's No Cinderella


Just another registered complaint against the stupid seeding this year. Everyone's astonishment at Butler's run to the Final Four is based, I believe, on its 5 seed. This is the time of year, where the NCAA Tournament Committee's entire re-ranking of the nation's teams completey skews our perspective of the field. Butler is a case in point. Theoretically, the top three seeds in each region should encompass the top 12 teams in the national rankings. Butler began and ended the season ranked #11. The following teams, ranked behind Butler in the final poll, were seeded higher than the Bulldogs: Georgetown (#14, 3 seed), Tennessee (#15, 4 seed), Wisconsin (#16, 4 seed), Pittsburgh (#18, 3 seed(WTF!)), Baylor (#19, 3 seed), Maryland (#19, 4 seed), Vanderbilt (#20, 4 seed) (Texas A&M, Michigan State, and Temple - all ranked below Butler, received 5 seeds as well).

Now I understand that strength of schedule is certainly a factor, but Butler played a number of ranked opponents throughout the season, and dominated the Horizon conference. Okay, okay their advancement to the Final Four can be called unexpected, but Butler's success should not be a surprise and should not be equated to the Cinderella runs of George Mason or Villanova. After all, you take down the top two seeds in your region, you deserve some props.

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