They have an incredibly strong team. There is a reason they are a 1 seed. People didn't think much of them as a 1 seed last year. Who? 1 seed? That was an accident, they'll lose in the sweet 16. They won it all and virtually every game was a blowout (smallest margin 9 points). If we play like we have been playing recently, they will have no trouble with us.
What? Baylor was 1B with Gonzaga all last year. Everyone assumed the Finals would be Gonzaga/Baylor as soon as the bracket was released. Like, there's revisionist history, and then there's whatever this is.
And just like Gonzaga, everyone assumed Baylor would eventually lose. Everyone had them as a 1 seed, but few had them going all the way But the difference between Gonzaga and Baylor was Gonzaga was always at least close. Baylor was just a mediocre Big 12 program until a few years ago.
Everyone had them going all the way! Everyone said that Baylor and Gonzaga were so much better than the rest of the field that it would be a shock if both teams did not make it to the finals! They were not a surprise last year, because they were in the same spot in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled!
Ucla got screwed seeding-wise. Should’ve got TX Tech’s spot in SD and if the selection committee wanted to keep TX tech as a 3 seed, then Wisconsin should’ve been dropped to a 4 seed (or even lower imo).
That said, ucla should breeze through Akron for a tough but winnable Round of 32 game. Not loving Baylor at the Sweet 16 level, but I don’t think they’re too thrilled abt the possibility of ucla in the sweet 16 either.
UCLA has no basis to complain about seeding, especially vs. Texas Tech's three wins over 1 seed. We had the conf championship there for the taking, which would have probably given us a 3 seed or at least a game in San Diego. And we shit the bed on national tv in the second half.
I don’t think UCLA’s resume is much worse than Texas Tech, but my complaint is more about Wisconsins third seed.
According to the NCAA’s own NET rankings, which they said would play a big factor in seeding, ucla and TX tech should be comfortably in the 3rd seed, Duke is the first 4 seed, and Wisconsin should’ve been a 5th/6th seed. The ncaa started using NET rankings in 2019 to replace RPI bc they thought the NET rankings gave more clarity for teams to know where they’re at, but they clearly didn’t follow their own ranking system this year.
Conference tournaments had no bearing on seeding and has not for a long time. Committee has said that the top four lines are typically filled out by Thursday.
This has been the question from every college basketball media person the past week. Tournaments have rarely mattered beyond automatic qualifiers but it is even more egregious in recent times.
I don't know if it's a column I'll write, because the legwork and trying to get financials on the majority of the tournaments would be a bit difficult.
I would assume conferences do it for the revenue, not just from the event itself but because it adds to the TV packages they can sell. Which also is why the Pac-12 Tournament has issues, in that most of the games are on a network no one has, so only a few games in the entire tournament get put on national television, unlike with every other power conference. Math probably works out different for other conferences though.
Tennessee beat Kentucky twice this year (esp in SEC tourney), yet Kentucky a 2 seed and Tennessee a 3. Yeah, tournaments apparently don't mean shit nowadays -_-
I agree that it's our own fault that we're seeded as a 4. Had we beat ASU and Oregon twice, I'm thinking we _may_ have got that 3 seed, but those are 3 bad losses.
Any team can beat (or get beaten) by anybody during March Madness, so hope to see some upsets that will be favorable for the Bruins. Like last season's 11-seeded team, UCLA just needs to find a way to win and survive, one game at a time. Their toughness and postseason experience from last year's Final Four run will certainly help. Go Bruins!
If Juzang and Jaquez rise to the occasion, this team will go far. If they play like they did a good portion of the season, we're out in the sweet 16 if we're lucky.
I have no hate toward Howland though. I've always checked to see how he's doing down there in a no-name school. Alas, I bet the lack of good recruits got to him.
I've always felt that Cronin is a rich man's Howland, but with a better offense.
I like our chances against Baylor. If we get there…
Don't know too much about Baylor, but they did have an early exit in the Big 12 tournament, to a non-tournament Oklahoma team too
They have an incredibly strong team. There is a reason they are a 1 seed. People didn't think much of them as a 1 seed last year. Who? 1 seed? That was an accident, they'll lose in the sweet 16. They won it all and virtually every game was a blowout (smallest margin 9 points). If we play like we have been playing recently, they will have no trouble with us.
What? Baylor was 1B with Gonzaga all last year. Everyone assumed the Finals would be Gonzaga/Baylor as soon as the bracket was released. Like, there's revisionist history, and then there's whatever this is.
Some things are beyond description.
And just like Gonzaga, everyone assumed Baylor would eventually lose. Everyone had them as a 1 seed, but few had them going all the way But the difference between Gonzaga and Baylor was Gonzaga was always at least close. Baylor was just a mediocre Big 12 program until a few years ago.
Everyone had them going all the way! Everyone said that Baylor and Gonzaga were so much better than the rest of the field that it would be a shock if both teams did not make it to the finals! They were not a surprise last year, because they were in the same spot in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled!
lol ok
Anyone who watched Baylor last year could see that they were pretty easily the best and most talented team in the country.
there's a difference between being the best and most talented team and believing they will go all the way. Talent alone does not win in March.
Evan, WTF? Right, 8-2 in the last ten is so fucking terrible. UCLA has no shot against Baylor, for sure.
Baylor defeated Oklahoma in the Big 12 tournament.
Huh? nope:
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401405838
Evan, WTF? Baylor lost in the quarterfinals! Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma!
Let’s get focused and play our game. Tough D will be required.
Ucla got screwed seeding-wise. Should’ve got TX Tech’s spot in SD and if the selection committee wanted to keep TX tech as a 3 seed, then Wisconsin should’ve been dropped to a 4 seed (or even lower imo).
That said, ucla should breeze through Akron for a tough but winnable Round of 32 game. Not loving Baylor at the Sweet 16 level, but I don’t think they’re too thrilled abt the possibility of ucla in the sweet 16 either.
UCLA has no basis to complain about seeding, especially vs. Texas Tech's three wins over 1 seed. We had the conf championship there for the taking, which would have probably given us a 3 seed or at least a game in San Diego. And we shit the bed on national tv in the second half.
I don’t think UCLA’s resume is much worse than Texas Tech, but my complaint is more about Wisconsins third seed.
According to the NCAA’s own NET rankings, which they said would play a big factor in seeding, ucla and TX tech should be comfortably in the 3rd seed, Duke is the first 4 seed, and Wisconsin should’ve been a 5th/6th seed. The ncaa started using NET rankings in 2019 to replace RPI bc they thought the NET rankings gave more clarity for teams to know where they’re at, but they clearly didn’t follow their own ranking system this year.
Big 10 is much stronger than Pac 12.
Conference tournaments had no bearing on seeding and has not for a long time. Committee has said that the top four lines are typically filled out by Thursday.
Then why the conference tournaments? I didn't like them even before the Pac joined the frey.
This has been the question from every college basketball media person the past week. Tournaments have rarely mattered beyond automatic qualifiers but it is even more egregious in recent times.
Does the exposure and revenue merit the tournament downsides? Maybe a discussion for another column. Or maybe not. Thanks.
I don't know if it's a column I'll write, because the legwork and trying to get financials on the majority of the tournaments would be a bit difficult.
I would assume conferences do it for the revenue, not just from the event itself but because it adds to the TV packages they can sell. Which also is why the Pac-12 Tournament has issues, in that most of the games are on a network no one has, so only a few games in the entire tournament get put on national television, unlike with every other power conference. Math probably works out different for other conferences though.
Tennessee beat Kentucky twice this year (esp in SEC tourney), yet Kentucky a 2 seed and Tennessee a 3. Yeah, tournaments apparently don't mean shit nowadays -_-
Then there's no point to playing in one if you are an at large team with over 21 wins.
lol. so you are telling me we were a 4 seed even if we beat Arizona? Ok bud.
UCLA was 10th in the NET. That is not a 4 seed.
I agree that it's our own fault that we're seeded as a 4. Had we beat ASU and Oregon twice, I'm thinking we _may_ have got that 3 seed, but those are 3 bad losses.
Any team can beat (or get beaten) by anybody during March Madness, so hope to see some upsets that will be favorable for the Bruins. Like last season's 11-seeded team, UCLA just needs to find a way to win and survive, one game at a time. Their toughness and postseason experience from last year's Final Four run will certainly help. Go Bruins!
Maybe would be nice if IU wins tonight and upsets St. Mary’s for us. Similar to ACU taking down Texas in the first round last year
1) down, IU won
I'd rather play St. Mary's than Indiana.
If Juzang and Jaquez rise to the occasion, this team will go far. If they play like they did a good portion of the season, we're out in the sweet 16 if we're lucky.
Let's go Bruins! Tonight at 6:50 PDT!
Also, saw that Cronin got a 6-year extension. Last year's FF appearance is really paying off: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33526579/ucla-bruins-sign-men-basketball-coach-mick-cronin-6-year-deal-2027-28-season
And on the same day that Ben Howland was fired at Mississippi State no less...
I have no hate toward Howland though. I've always checked to see how he's doing down there in a no-name school. Alas, I bet the lack of good recruits got to him.
I've always felt that Cronin is a rich man's Howland, but with a better offense.
Totally agree - I felt badly that he so lost his way towards the end here but I don't hold any hate towards him either...
We should've got the CBS game though. Instead CBS is showing murray state vs san francisco :(
We are on TBS (at least not truTV).
Big 10 tournament winners just went down
Yup. Just caught the end. Iowa is a Spider bite victim.