So Cornell gets 12th seed
[Ed. note: Written by Gonzo, posted here by Cliffy - since Gonzo is apparently more computer illiterate than even Cliffy, and still hasn’t mastered the difficult process involved in posting to OGS. He’s welcome… again.]
Pretty reasonable. I suppose a good argument could have been made for an 11 (yes, Minnesota I am looking in YOUR direction) and there was some guy on CBS who said he could have seen them get a 10, but all in all not too bad.
Should be a good game. Hopefully they pull it off. They ARE getting some love from the pundits (as much love as a 12 can get, anyway) - most have been calling out this game specifically as an intriguing matchup, and some are even picking Cornell!
I heard Bill Self on Dan Patrick’s show this morning, and he specifically mentioned Cornell as a team to watch (not suprising it was him that said it, given he saw them up close and personal).
Not related to Cornell, but my local paper predicted MORGAN STATE to make the Sweet 16. That’s pretty fucking bold, considering the 15 has won what, a grand total of 3 times since the format went to 64? Nevermind actually winning TWO games.
March 15th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Considering that atrocious lost to Penn, I don’t think the committe owes them any favors - and while I’m happy (and am comfortable) with the 12th seed… they could’ve falled to 13th or 14th just as easily as well. I mean… Penn? Fine, it was on the road… but they lost by 15… oh, and, it was one of only *six* Penn wins all season. If my abacus is correct, I count a 6-22 record as a review their schedule. They lose by 5 at Kansas, by by *15* to Penn?
Yeah, clearly they took Penn for granted (who wouldn’t - well excpt for one of Penn’s few other victims: UMBC, whatever that is, and yes, I’m too lazy to look it up) - and got up for Kansas. But if you’re the 25th-ranked team (as they were when they traveled to the Palestra a month ago, you take care of business… period. They only had one loss in their Ivy schedule… which is nice - but it’s an *Ivy* schedule, and that one loss was to a 6-win team.
Yes, I’m harping on one loss because it’s an inexplicable and unacceptable loss. Okay… I think I’m done with that now.
I haven’t seen much of Temple - but what little I have seen doesn’t impress me much. These are not John Chaney’s Temple Owls that Cornell will face in the first round. And yeah, I’ll go ahead and say it… if the Big Red actually deserved that #25 ranking, they’ll dispense of Temple in the first round… somewhat easily, quite frankly. Btw, apparently our head coach was an assistant for Temple’s head coach… interesting subplot there.
As for Morgan State… puh-leeze.
March 15th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Agreed - losing to Penn is simply unforgivable.
March 15th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
12 seed is right…. I actually prefer that to an 8/9 because they avoid a matchup with the #1 seed in round 2. If the goal is a sweet 16… then playing Temple and Wisconsin is a much easier path than Texas and Kentucky.
If they play UW in round 2…. it may get a little ugly at the establishment I decide to frequent….
March 16th, 2010 at 9:13 am
I’d actually consider jumping on a plane out to the Greater Milwaukee are just to see Danny in action, in a Wisconsin bar, should that second-round matchup take place. The only downside is I’d likely be the only one having his back, against a bar full of younger, and necessarily more fit, individuals… who’ve been drinking along with Danny. I’d do what I could do, I’m just not confident it’d be much.
Actually… who am I kidding - “the only one”. BA is clearly going to be there. Now that’s good, in that it provides an additional body to look out for flying punches, bottles, and insults being hurled Danny’s way. Then again, is there any doubt that BA would actually *contribute* to tension… after a few rounds of course - not right off the bat or anything.
As I continue to think this through, I don’t need to be there - in this day and age, (a) someone will capture the video of the brawl on their cellphone, and then (b) post it to YouTube, which means (c) I save air fare and a trip to the hospital and rehabe, while (d) still enjoying the Tourney from the comforts of my own couch.
Okay… in conclusion: Um… good luck to you Danny and BA. I’ll be there in spirit… only in spirit. Sorry.
March 16th, 2010 at 10:45 am
I want to know what Danny’s secret is to getting out of the house. I mean, as you’ve referenced, he’s nearly assembled a youth basketball squad in his house at this point, yet he’s hitting bars to get rowdy with BA and watch sports. Impressive…most impressive.
As for Cornell getting a 12 seed, I have no basis for opining on whether that’s appropriate. And not that I have a basis for opining on the appropriateness of Temple’s seed, but it seems like the A-10 conference champ should be ranked a bit higher than that. Seems like CU is getting it stuck to them a bit in that regard.
FWIW, Dickie V was on Mike and Mike this morning giving Cornell a bit of love, but basically concluded that they aren’t sneaking up on anyone any more and should lose handily to Temple. We’ll see.
March 16th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
I dunno… UMass in the A-10, and they don’t impress me one bit (have had a chance to catch a couple games). Now, they weren’t at the *top* of the A-10, so clearly that’s got something to do with it… but the A-10 ain’t the ACC, SEC, Big 10, et al.
Given how Cornell has performed all year (outside the visit to Penn), and the fact that they were ranked at one point, I’m confident Dickie V is absolutely correct that they won’t be sneaking up on anybody. That said, was Temple ever ranked this season? I seem to recall Richmond was, but don’t recall Temple being there. Now I don’t follow those on any sort of religious basis, so it’s entirely possible Temple is (far) better than I’m giving them credit for.
Then again, as noted, I am confident this is not John Chaney’s Temple Owls we’re talking about here.