THE All Things NCAA Bracket Thread

[Hawg Red]

ESPN Bracketology - http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology/_/iteration/231 - Usually updated every 3-4 days

CBS Bracketology - http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology

We go to the Sweet 16 in the CBS bracket, IMO. Northern Iowa a 4 seed? Please give us that matchup.

[-Blu]

We go to the Sweet 16 in the CBS bracket, IMO. Northern Iowa a 4 seed? Please give us that matchup.

That's what I was thinking, that would be a very favorable bracket for us. 

I'm really hoping we can get a 4 Seed though, some of those 12's will be pretty good teams, and teams I wouldn't be really excited to see in the first round. 

I'm thinking if we can go at least 5-1 to close the regular season with no bad losses,  then get to the SEC tournament finals we would be seriously considered for a 4 Seed.  Finish 5-1 and win the SEC tournament and I think we're a lock for a 4 Seed or better.

[HawgTrough]

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_353_Men.html

here's a link that some will like

[Fayettechill14]

Teams to AVOID in the first round:

Valparaiso: excellent three-point shooting and rebounding team. Would be a tough matchup for us.

Stephen F Austin: Good team from an awful conference (Southland). Top-25 nationally in field goal percentage and offensive efficiency. Upset 5-seed VCU in the first round last year.

William & Mary: 5th nationally in two-point percentage and 33rd in three-point percentage. Also has excellent three-point defense. We can probably pound them inside, but they'll shred our defense.

All of those teams will be seeded 11, 12, or 13.

[The_Iceman]

Credit Iceman with the idea.

Post all articles, blurbs, thoughts, etc. on potential Razorback seeding and tournament projections here.

Thanks. It will be a lot easier to keep track of this way week by week, instead of having a new thread for each bracket (there are like 20 of them).

[Atlhogfan1]

http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-tournament/bracketology/

http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/team/arkansas-razorbacks/bracketology
Most likely seed = 4 (20.7%)
29% chance of getting to the Sw 16


http://kenpom.com/   Some info is subscriber only.


These sites give some insights on the different teams when you are discussing possible matchups. 

[GatorHog]

GatorHog Analytics Services peg the over/under on Big XII's win total at 8 7.5.

For purposes of nostalgia, here's the pre-season bracket:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/11/2015-ncaa-tournament-preseason-bracket

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

GatorHog Analytics Services peg the over/under on Big XII's win total at 8.

For purposes of nostalgia, here's the pre-season bracket:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/11/2015-ncaa-tournament-preseason-bracket

Very interesting.

Looks identical to our actual draw in the 98 NCAA if you flipped the seeds.

[Cloften]

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/

This website links to 89 bracketology blogs and sites and then averages the seeding for every team

[razobak]

Hogs up to a 5 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest bracket. Although he put us in the same bracket as Kentucky...

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

[GoHogs1091]

Hogs up to a 5 seed in Joe Lunardi's latest bracket. Although he put us in the same bracket as Kentucky...

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

Joey Brackets is failing to realize that if Wisconsin wins the Big 10 Tournament, and if Duke wins the ACC Tournament (probably the ACC Championship game will be against Virginia), the following will be the four #1 seeds.

Kentucky
Duke
Wisconsin
Gonzaga

If Virginia beats Duke in the ACC Championship game, then replace Duke with Virginia as a #1 seed.  The only way both Duke and Virginia are #1 seeds is if Wisconsin doesn't win the Big 10 Tournament.  Surely Joey Brackets doesn't feel that Wisconsin will lose in the Big 10 Tournament (his above bracket scenario essentially shows that he feels Wisconsin won't win the Big 10 Tournament).

[Kevin]

don't see us in same bracket with kentucky

[GoHogs1091]

don't see us in same bracket with kentucky

I have a bad feeling that we will be in a bracket with both Wisconsin and Virginia (if Virginia isn't a #1 seed), or that we will be in a bracket with both Iowa State and West Virginia.

We actually match up better with Kentucky than we do with Wisconsin and Virginia (regarding style of play match up).

[GuvHog]

Joey Brackets is failing to realize that if Wisconsin wins the Big 10 Tournament, and if Duke wins the ACC Tournament (probably the ACC Championship game will be against Virginia), the following will be the four #1 seeds.

Kentucky
Duke
Wisconsin
Gonzaga

If Virginia beats Duke in the ACC Championship game, then replace Duke with Virginia as a #1 seed.  The only way both Duke and Virginia are #1 seeds is if Wisconsin doesn't win the Big 10 Tournament.  Surely Joey Brackets doesn't feel that Wisconsin will lose in the Big 10 Tournament (his above bracket scenario essentially shows that he feels Wisconsin won't win the Big 10 Tournament).

Well said and another thing: How in the world does Northern Iowa Merit a 4 seed???

I can understand the other three #4 seeds but Northern Iowa?

[Sportster365]

Although I'd much rather play Valparaiso in the 1st round than either UCLA or Illinois, but I must say the Lunardi's bracket that has us in Midwest with Kentucky looks to be a bit more appealing than being in a bracket with Virginia, Villanova, Iowa St., SMU, West Virginia, Ohio State, Georgia and Illinois.

And can someone please explain as to how on earth is Oklahoma a 4 seed? The Big 12 has some pretty good decent teams, but they're largely overrated.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

Although I'd much rather play Valparaiso in the 1st round than either UCLA or Illinois, but I must say the Lunardi's bracket that has us in Midwest with Kentucky looks to be a bit more appealing than being in a bracket with Virginia, Villanova, Iowa St., SMU, West Virginia, Ohio State, Georgia and Illinois.

And can someone please explain as to how on earth is Oklahoma a 4 seed? The Big 12 has some pretty good decent teams, but they're largely overrated.

Any team that gets swept by K-State has no business being a 3 or 4 seed.

[ErieHog]

Well said and another thing: How in the world does Northern Iowa Merit a 4 seed???

I can understand the other three #4 seeds but Northern Iowa?

They're a very good basketball team.   You see the Northern name, and think 'Small school, small conference, small time team.'

On the floor, they're a solid second tier team nationally.     They've beaten 3 different 'major conference' teams by more than a dozen points,  have only a 3 point loss and a double OT pair of road losses.   They're  4-2 in games decided by 6 points or less (including both losses),  and 21-0 in all other games, showing just how well they've played on a very consistent basis-- and they're not a high scoring team.   

[GatorHog]

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/

This website links to 89 bracketology blogs and sites and then averages the seeding for every team

I am really really glad I live in the internet times.

Also, anyone else hear Bobby Knight yelling at fans to sit down while calling the SMU game, lolol - he can't help himself.

[Razorback4]

Wow. Guy has us as a 3 seed....

http://whiteandbluereview.com/category/mens-basketball/

[popcornhog]

We go to the Sweet 16 in the CBS bracket, IMO. Northern Iowa a 4 seed? Please give us that matchup.

I'm curious -- have you watched NIU?

[rzrbackrob]

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/

This website links to 89 bracketology blogs and sites and then averages the seeding for every team

Thanks for the link
The Hogs are thought to be anywhere from a 3 to a 10 seed with average of 5 seed.
Hogs also rated as the last 5 seed.

[BorderPatrol]

I'm curious -- have you watched NIU?

No, but i have watched UNI, and they are a solid team. 4th seed solid? Doubtful.

bp

[jbcarol]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  59 minutes ago

Bubble watch http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/bubble-watch ... Mobile-friendly version http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/bubble

Has Arkansas as a 5-seed in the Midwest in with Ole Miss.

[opineonswine]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  59 minutes ago

Bubble watch http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/bubble-watch ... Mobile-friendly version http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/bubble

Has Arkansas as a 5-seed in the Midwest in with Ole Miss.

I'll take it!  Not much difference in a 4 or 5 as far as the opponents in the first weekend.

[gmarv]

this new one doen,t make sense 3 sec teams in 1 bracket I don,t think so.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  59 minutes ago

Bubble watch http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/bubble-watch … Mobile-friendly version http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/bubble

Has Arkansas as a 5-seed in the Midwest in with Ole Miss.

Not sure how serious I can take that when he puts four SEC teams in the same region.

[bbulhogfan]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bubblewatch

Hogs projected as a lock now per ESPN Bubble watch with a nice write up.

[jbcarol]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  2 hours ago

Just worked out that way RT @NotFakeStephen: why so many SEC teams in one bracket?

[jbcarol]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  23 hours ago

1) Kentucky 5) Arkansas 9) Ole Miss 9) UGA 10) A&M 11) LSU The latest from Joey Brackets » http://es.pn/19D8Vka 

[FreshHog]

http://realtimerpi.com/rpi_353_Men.html

here's a link that some will like

I actually prefer this sites version of the same thing: http://www.rpiforecast.com/teams/Arkansas.html

It provides % chance to win based on the RPI formula which is pretty neat. It also lists the current vegas spread.

[opineonswine]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  2 hours ago

Just worked out that way RT @NotFakeStephen: why so many SEC teams in one bracket?

Whatever...that is NOT going to happen.

[Adam Stokes]

Been a long time since we've seen this.  Arkansas just upgraded to lock on the bubble watch.  I feel if we were to lose out we would not make the tournament, but I think it is safe to say that we won't lose out.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bubblewatch

One-team league? How dare you! Not only does the SEC have a handful of good-to-decent teams in the hunt for NCAA tournament spots, but it also sports two locks. Yes, the 21-5 Razorbacks join Kentucky in the safe confines of lockdom this week thanks to a resume with five top-50 wins (including three on the road), no embarrassing losses, and plus records in every nitty-gritty breakdown except against the top 25, where they're 1-1. Mike Anderson has gotten SEC Player of the Year-level stuff from sophomore forward Bobby Portis, who happens to possess the perfect blend of skill and sheer athleticism for a system that gets up and down the floor as quickly as any in the country. The Razorbacks' best wins aren't eye-popping, but Anderson has had a great, underrated season all the same.

[Pigasaurus]

Oklahoma a 3 seed??

[Danny J]

Oklahoma a 3 seed??

That is absurd.....while the Big 12 is a good conference there is no way a team with what will end up being at least 9 losses and likely 10 is a 3 seed. What has happened is the Big 12 is so highly ranked that every time they play each other, win or lose, it barely affects their RPI. Only two really bad teams in that league which is what happens when you only have 10 to begin with. Think of it like our football schedule. Should we have been ranked in the top 20 being 6-5 after the Ole Miss win? I don't remember the pollsters making that case. We certainly played the toughest schedule in the country. Every SEC team we played, when we played them, was ranked and most were inside the top 15. I would LOVE to get OU on a neutral court. I would also love to get WSU. I just hope we are in a bracket with those two teams and Gonzaga as the one.

[V-town Hog]

SEC Network @SECNetwork  ·  23 hours ago

1) Kentucky 5) Arkansas 9) Ole Miss 9) UGA 10) A&M 11) LSU The latest from Joey Brackets » http://es.pn/19D8Vka 

What do we have to do to get in that South bracket?

[Fayettechill14]

UNI plays at the nation's 349th pace. Only Virginia and American U are slower. They have ridiculous efficiency scores, but in making the games so short, they leave themselves in a lot of close games that would be blowouts if they could play faster. If we could speed them up, we'd win. That's a big if, though.

[Hawg Red]

I'm curious -- have you watched NIU?

Have not.

Have, however, seen their resume. Kudos to them for beating Wichita State (who is nowhere near as good this year but still pretty good) and Iowa, but they also lost to Evansville. Again, I'm scoffing at them being a 4 seed, not them being a good team. I don't need to have seen them play to know they aren't a 4 seed with a loss to Evansville and only two good wins. Compare Arkansas and Northern Iowa and it's clear who should be the 4 seed.

Would you say NIU is better than any team we've beaten? I doubt that they are. I doubt they've faced anyone the likes of Bobby Portis all season. I'm just not impressed with that resume. Also not impressed with them being ranked #11 in the country and having lost Evansville. That conference isn't very good. I just feel like we've played and beaten better.

[razobak]

UNI plays at the nation's 349th pace. Only Virginia and American U are slower. They have ridiculous efficiency scores, but in making the games so short, they leave themselves in a lot of close games that would be blowouts if they could play faster. If we could speed them up, we'd win. That's a big if, though.

So what you're saying is that they play basketball similar to the way we play football. Slow, methodical, effective but not flashy.

[ErieHog]

UNI plays at the nation's 349th pace. Only Virginia and American U are slower. They have ridiculous efficiency scores, but in making the games so short, they leave themselves in a lot of close games that would be blowouts if they could play faster. If we could speed them up, we'd win. That's a big if, though.

The thing is they don't play a lot of close games.   They're kicking the crap out of people, even at their slow pace--  Arkansas plays way more close games this year, than NIU.

[ErieHog]

Have not.

Have, however, seen their resume. Kudos to them for beating Wichita State (who is nowhere near as good this year but still pretty good) and Iowa, but they also lost to Evansville. Again, I'm scoffing at them being a 4 seed, not them being a good team. I don't need to have seen them play to know they aren't a 4 seed with a loss to Evansville and only two good wins. Compare Arkansas and Northern Iowa and it's clear who should be the 4 seed.

Would you say NIU is better than any team we've beaten? I doubt that they are. I doubt they've faced anyone the likes of Bobby Portis all season. I'm just not impressed with that resume. Also not impressed with them being ranked #11 in the country and having lost Evansville. That conference isn't very good. I just feel like we've played and beaten better.

I'd take them over any team we've beaten this year, without much question.

I would give them being a pick 'em vs. Iowa State, if at NIU,  make them road dogs to ISU, and slight underdogs at a neutral sight vs. ISU-- and would consider them categorical underdogs against Kentucky. Possibly a pick'em @ SMU, but other than that....yeah.  NIU is very good.

[Fayettechill14]

The thing is they don't play a lot of close games.   They're kicking the crap out of people, even at their slow pace--  Arkansas plays way more close games this year, than NIU.

Missouri Valley Conference. That style historically doesn't do as well in the tournament. Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan had never beaten a team seeded higher than his until last year. Georgetown has famously been an upset victim on numerous occasions, namely against Florida Gulf Coast in 2013. The Mountain West, especially teams like New Mexico and San Diego State that play very deliberate styles, tends to underperform.

[-Blu]

I'd take them over any team we've beaten this year, without much question.

I would give them being a pick 'em vs. Iowa State, if at NIU,  make them road dogs to ISU, and slight underdogs at a neutral sight vs. ISU-- and would consider them categorical underdogs against Kentucky. Possibly a pick'em @ SMU, but other than that....yeah.  NIU is very good.

I'm with Hawg Red, their resume isn't impressive at all.  They are 1-1 against the RPI top 50.  And have a loss to a 100+ RPI team.  If that's the qualifications for a 4 Seed, we need to see about joining the Missouri Valley conference, because I'm sure we could do their schedule every year and it'll look about the same as NIU's look now.

And it's kind of a double standard, because the committee always stresses SOS and playing someone. Yet, every year you'll see a mid-major like NIU and Wichita State get a great seeding and they only play 1 or 2 decent teams all year.

[WarPig88]

So what you're saying is that they play basketball similar to the way we play football. Slow, methodical, effective but not flashy.

We were 7-6 in football this year. Not sure that your definition of effective and mine are the same.

[alaback]

In the first part of the bolded quote, that would (likely) assume a regular season loss to Kentucky and then a tournament championship loss (also likely to Kentucky).  If that were the case, Arkansas would not be considered for a 4 seed - more likely a 3 seed with 4 seed being the worst possible outcome.

In the second part, assume a regular season loss to Kentucky AND the SEC-T championship could mean a 2 seed - no worse than a 3 seed. 

The RPI (and other current rating numbers) suggest this IMO.   

I don't see the tourney championship have that much impact. The seeds are pretty much set at that point. A win at UK would be much more impactful.

[jbcarol]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  1 hour ago

new bracket http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology ... mobile-friendly version http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/bracketology ...

Hogs are still a 5 seed; SEC has six in; and A&M is one of the last four in.

FWIW, moves Hogs to the South Regional.

[3kgthog]

He lost me with Texas as a 12 seed. They have a losing conference record, have lost 2 in a row, and have more than one 20 point loss on their resume along with a few others by double digits. N...I...T. And no, I didn't take the time to look up their RPI. You are what your record says you are.

[AugustaHog]

I could get behind that bracket there.  I don't see much in the way of a Sweet 16 berth vs. the Dookies.  Okafor would be a handful, but I think we would have something for them.

[Cresthog]

I could get behind that bracket there.  I don't see much in the way of a Sweet 16 berth vs. the Dookies.  Okafor would be a handful, but I think we would have something for them.

That guard with the nasty facial hair worries me. If Beard got into foul trouble, he would shred us.

[Sportster365]

Jerry Palm @jppalmCBS  ·  1 hour ago

new bracket http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology ... mobile-friendly version http://mweb.cbssports.com/ncaab/bracketology ...

Hogs are still a 5 seed; SEC has six in; and A&M is one of the last four in.

FWIW, moves Hogs to the South Regional.

The South Regional looks a lot more favorable than others I've seen the Hogs placed in.  An Okafor vs Porter matchup could get real interesting.

[12247]

I admit I don't know much about college basketball nationwide but if the SEC gets 6 in the tourney, I would be very surprised.  I think 4 is a stretch but likely.  I realize that several teams will still play themselves in while several will play themselves out even at this late date.

Our possible staying power in the tourney may be better though if the SEC deserves 6 entrants.  That indicates the tourney will be overall weaker than normal.