Bracketology

[ZachTheZip]

I was browsing around ESPN's website, when I found out that Joe Lunardi has already put up a bracketology for next season.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology?id=2278133Now you might say "It doesn't mean anything. It's too early to tell what's going to happen next season". I agree, but there is one significant difference compared to Bracketologies posted during the regular season. During the regular season, automatic bids are predicted based on who has the best conference record. In the pre-season, before the polls and media picks come out, Lunardi is forced to actually look at each conference and pick a winner based on who he thinks is the best team. He chose Akron to win the MAC and seeded us as a 13 seed. Without any outside influences whatsoever, he chose our team over Can't, Miami, Ohio, Toledo, ect. It shows just a little bit of respect.

[skip-zip]

I see no other MAC teams, which means that if we once again get robbed by a lucky bankshot 3-pointer, when the clock doesn't start on time.....then....well.....we'll be sitting at home again next year.

[ZachTheZip]

Time to raise this thread from the depths. Lunardi still has us penciled in as MAC champs, but the last update was in June, and he may change his oppinion based on the always-erroneous media polls. And we moved up from a 13 to a 12 seed, which I like. There's still the entire season to play yet, but we should be favored to win it all in Alaska, and possibly be favorites for every game we play this season due to our easier schedule. With B-ball season less than a month away, what do you think? I would love a matchup against Gonzaga in the big dance. It sets up nicely with the rumored game against them next season.

[ZachTheZip]

A new thing from Joe Lunardi. Ranking the teams that he thinks will play in the NCAA tournament from #65 down to #1 Akron is number 51, and It's nice to see that members of the media still remember us and how we got screwed. This year, I have a feeling that we won't leave our postseason chances up to fate.For the past few years, one of our favorite Bracketology columns has been the 65-to-1 countdown of teams posted on the eve of the NCAA Tournament. Last March, this gave us three-quarters of the Final Four, seven members of the Elite Eight and the occasional random gem (e.g., "If a No. 1 seed loses before the Sweet 16, it will be Ohio State against Xavier." But the Buckeyes escaped in overtime.). Hoping for a few more gems -- but knowing there are thousands of games to be played between now and April 7 in San Antonio -- a 65-to-1 countdown of teams might be the perfect way to start a new season of NCAA projections. It's also fun, which, after all, is the main reason we're here. 65. ALABAMA STATE. The truth is that it is easier to list the SWAC teams that can't win the league's automatic bid than those that can. The Hornets own two prior NCAA trips this decade (2001 and 2004). 64. MCNEESE STATE. The Cowboys last won the Southland in 2002. This would be the third NCAA appearance in school history. 63. HAMPTON. This would be the fourth NCAA trip for the Pirates since 2001. Who can forget that year's upset of Iowa State? 62. SACRED HEART. The Pioneers look to complete a four-year climb from the Northeast Conference basement and secure the school's first NCAA Tournament bid. 61. BOSTON UNIVERSITY. The America East race is wide open. We like B.U. to resume (and survive) a rivalry with Vermont. 60. MONTANA. The Grizzlies look for their third NCAA appearance in four years out of the Big Sky. 59. CORNELL. The last Ivy League champion not named Penn or Princeton came all the way back in 1988. And it was Cornell. Call it the 20-year itch. 58. BELMONT. Three starters return for the Bruins, who are looking for a third straight NCAA appearance out of the Atlantic Sun. East Tennessee State, which won the regular season title in 2007, is the main challenger. 57. HOLY CROSS. The Crusaders were 13-1 in Patriot League play last season. This season's race figures to be tighter, but Holy Cross has enough to repeat. 56. UC SANTA BARBARA. The Gauchos look to move up one spot after taking second in the Big West last season. UCSB has not been dancing since 2002, and the school's only NCAA Tournament win came over Houston in 1990. 55. SIENA. At least three teams -- Siena, Loyola (Md.) and defending champion Niagara -- would be a legitimate preseason favorite in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. We like the Saints to survive the MAAC and give Syracuse a real scare in the season opener for both on Nov. 12. 54. WINTHROP. Even with all the losses -- players and coach -- the gap between Winthrop and the rest of the Big South still is substantial. 53. ORAL ROBERTS. Valparaiso's move to the Horizon League leaves one less challenger for ORU in the new Summit (formerly Mid-Continent) League. 52. AUSTIN PEAY. The Governors ran away with the regular season Ohio Valley title in 2007. This season, they hope to finish the job with a conference tournament crown and NCAA bid. 51. AKRON. The biggest postseason snub in all my years of Bracketology was Akron (26-7) being skipped for the 2007 NIT. Simply put, somebody goofed. 50. BYU. The Cougars were among the nation's real success stories in 2006-07. This time, we have them as the very last at-large team in the NCAA field. 49. UTAH. The Mountain West is wide open in 2007-08, so why not a return to prominence for its long-time kingpin? The frontcourt is reminiscent of the Majerus years, so the onus is squarely on juco transfer Tyler Kepkay at the point.