Using RPI as a guide:
1. The National Seed with the toughest #2 seed in a regional is: #1 Florida (Jacksonville #19)
2. The National Seed with the easiest #2 seed is: #5 Arkansas (Southern Miss #40)
3. The National Seed with the toughest #4 seed is: #2 Stanford (Wright State #69)
4. The National Seed with the easiest #4 seed is: #8 North Carolina (NC A&T #213)
5. The National Seed with the overall toughest regional: #4 Ole Miss (combined RPI of 147)
6. The National Seed with the overall easiest regional: #6 North Carolina (combined 297)
Note in each case that the better seeded team (1,2,4) has the toughest and the lower seeded team (5,6,8) has the easiest. Isn't that backwards? Was the Committee drinking?
Now for the other regional hosts:
1. The regional host who has a #2 seed with a better RPI:
-- NC State (#20) ... Auburn (#14)
-- Coastal (#17) ... UConn (#16)
Would be very interesting to hear the rationale used here by the Committee to make these pairings.
2. The regional host who has a #3 seed with a better RPI than the #2 seed:
-- Texas ... #3 A&M (#15), #2 Indiana (#29)
-- East Carolina ... #3 Ohio St (#37), #2 South Carolina (#43)
-- Clemson ... #3 St. John's (#27), #2 Vanderbilt (#38)
-- Arkansas ... #3 Dallas Bpt (#36), #2 Southern Miss (#40)
Who in their right mind thinks Indiana is better than A&M? This is 25% of the regionals where this is the case. Who does this? Only drunk people.
3. #2-#3 seed match-ups with the lowest combined RPI (i.e., supposedly the closest contests)
-- Indiana vs. Texas A&M (combined 44)
-- Tenn Tech vs. Mo. State (combined 48)
-- Auburn vs. Northeastern (combined 49)
By all rights Auburn deserved to host a regional but the Committee says no. Instead, they give Auburn one of the toughest opening games. Who does this? Only drunk people.
4. #2-#3 seed match-ups with the biggest differential RPI (i.e, supposedly the biggest mismatch)
-- UConn vs. Washington (47 differential)
-- Louisville vs. Kent St (37 differential)
-- UCLA vs. Gonzaga (36 differential)
UConn also just missed out on hosting so they are given the easiest opening game. Why them but not Auburn? Makes no sense.
Overall conclusion: The Committee was drinking heavily by late Sunday afternoon.
RPI doesn't mean that much any more.
1. The National Seed with the toughest #2 seed in a regional is: #1 Florida (Jacksonville #19)
2. The National Seed with the easiest #2 seed is: #5 Arkansas (Southern Miss #40)
3. The National Seed with the toughest #4 seed is: #2 Stanford (Wright State #69)
4. The National Seed with the easiest #4 seed is: #8 North Carolina (NC A&T #213)
5. The National Seed with the overall toughest regional: #4 Ole Miss (combined RPI of 147)
6. The National Seed with the overall easiest regional: #6 North Carolina (combined 297)
Note in each case that the better seeded team (1,2,4) has the toughest and the lower seeded team (5,6,8) has the easiest. Isn't that backwards? Was the Committee drinking?
Now for the other regional hosts:
1. The regional host who has a #2 seed with a better RPI:
-- NC State (#20) ... Auburn (#14)
-- Coastal (#17) ... UConn (#16)
Would be very interesting to hear the rationale used here by the Committee to make these pairings.
2. The regional host who has a #3 seed with a better RPI than the #2 seed:
-- Texas ... #3 A&M (#15), #2 Indiana (#29)
-- East Carolina ... #3 Ohio St (#37), #2 South Carolina (#43)
-- Clemson ... #3 St. John's (#27), #2 Vanderbilt (#38)
-- Arkansas ... #3 Dallas Bpt (#36), #2 Southern Miss (#40)
Who in their right mind thinks Indiana is better than A&M? This is 25% of the regionals where this is the case. Who does this? Only drunk people.
3. #2-#3 seed match-ups with the lowest combined RPI (i.e., supposedly the closest contests)
-- Indiana vs. Texas A&M (combined 44)
-- Tenn Tech vs. Mo. State (combined 48)
-- Auburn vs. Northeastern (combined 49)
By all rights Auburn deserved to host a regional but the Committee says no. Instead, they give Auburn one of the toughest opening games. Who does this? Only drunk people.
4. #2-#3 seed match-ups with the biggest differential RPI (i.e, supposedly the biggest mismatch)
-- UConn vs. Washington (47 differential)
-- Louisville vs. Kent St (37 differential)
-- UCLA vs. Gonzaga (36 differential)
UConn also just missed out on hosting so they are given the easiest opening game. Why them but not Auburn? Makes no sense.
Overall conclusion: The Committee was drinking heavily by late Sunday afternoon.
RPI doesn't mean that much any more.
