Hoops HD

For the first time in recent memory (and perhaps forever), HoopsHD has convinced Chad to prepare a bracket prior to the start of the New Year. This is nothing more than his snapshot of where things stand if today was Selection Sunday. Below the bracket are a few of his notes on why he chose the teams he did, and potentially some reactions from other staff members.

CHAD’S NOTES

• Even though most of the non-conference season is over, there is still way too little data to make any form of informed choices in a bracket like this. While I based my choices on team resumes, there are some great teams on this list that are way under-seeded due to simply not having picked up top-level wins yet (Houston for example) — and a few teams that are over-seeded due to one or two wins (or a lack of losses) carrying them.
• When it comes to great wins at the top of the profile, I have to tip my hat to Memphis. The Tigers are not ranked in either poll, but have 3 Tier 1A wins and 7 total wins in the top two tiers, with only ONE of those having come at home. I may not even have them ranked high enough on my 4 line.
• The SEC representation is almost insane. 7 of my 16 protected seeds and 3 of my 4 1 seeds are SEC teams. The conference has 13 of 16 members in the field and had 2 others (Vanderbilt and LSU) at least get a look. But that Big Ten is not far behind at all. 12 of 18 Big Ten teams made my field, though only 2 of those teams made the top 4 seed lines. A 13th Big Ten team, Northwestern, was among my top four teams out.
• As for the rest of the leagues — 7 Big 12 teams are in, 5 ACC, 4 Big East and 2 Mountain West. All other conferences are single bid leagues, including the American, A-10 and West Coast. My top two teams out were, however, both from the WCC (Oregon State and St. Mary’s) and Washington State was not far off the pace.
• The exact order of my First Four teams was Nebraska, Iowa, Texas Tech, and Arkansas. My top four teams out were, in order, Oregon State, St. Mary’s, Northwestern and Arizona State. My next four out were Colorado, Vanderbilt, Washington State and Louisville. I also took at least a look at San Francisco, Bradley, BYU, UC-Irvine, Georgetown, Boise State, UCF, St. Bonaventure, Rhode Island, LSU, New Mexico, Indiana, Arizona and VCU.
• In conclusion, I don’t expect the final bracket on Selection Sunday to be anywhere close to this. But the staff here made me build a bracket — so this is what you get! Enjoy!

COMMENTS FROM DAVID:

• Chad rarely does anything right, but I actually do agree with some of the things he did here. Auburn clearly has the best resume (and perhaps the best team) of anyone in the country. They have the best wins, and their only loss was to another #1 seed in a true road game that was close. We still have a long way to go, but the Tigers are already noticeably good enough to win it all.
• UC San Diego on the #11 seems insane to me! And it’s not that he has them too high! He has them too LOW! For instance, they beat Utah State at Utah State, and for some reason Chad has them four lines higher. UCSD has just two losses, and one of them was a close loss on the road to San Diego State. To go 1-1 in true road games to teams that are wearing white in the Round of 64 and only be seeded 11th seems nuts! But, we are talking about Chad here!
• I think Houston will shoot way up the seedlst between now and March, but as of now I can’t disagree too much with placing them on the #5 line. In fact I don’t even think I had them in my last bracket at all.