Bracketology: March 5th: Big Changes!

Sorry I haven't been responding to comments on the last 2 bracketology posts.. I was out of town for a few days, and couldn't check things like usual. But I'm back so feel free to ask any questions or post the usual criticisms. I'll have another update tomorrow, followed by one's on Sunday, Monday, and next Wednesday..

"Kansas' loss to Missouri pushes Louisville up the #2, while Missouri helped solidify their spot in the 3rd tier."

Don't you mean Kansas' loss to Texas Tech? KU's loss to UM was like three weeks ago and they have since beat them.

Meant Texas Tech, fixed it above.

Can you discuss why Providence is in when they are 3-7 vs the top 50 and 4-5 in their last 9? I see other bubble teams that are more worthy.

Do you honestly believe Michigan State is better than Memphis? I don't, and I doubt most objective Spartan fans would believe so either. I understand the fascination with BCS conferences, but there is nothing hokey about the talent Memphis consistently recruits and the wins they continue to notch.

Regardless, I am waiting for Sparty and the Big 10 to prove itself worthy on the court. Thus far this year, all they have been is a BCS conference in name only. The basketball has been horrible.

In terms of whose better, I genuinely dont know. But for purposes of bracketology, MSU has the higher RPI, higher SOS, higher non-conference SOS, a ridiculous 11-2 record against Top 50 teams vs 4-3 for Memphis, leading a higher RPI league, and hence every indicator points to them being seeded ahead.

Watch our for these group of seniors who all red-shirted their freshmen year so they could play in the schools first year of tournament eligibility. This group has upset No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 7 Marquette in recent years. They have dominated the Summit League and would not surprise me if they won their first and second round games. GO BISON!

In response to the previous post; I completely disagree with Memphis being better than Michigan State. If we are talking about last year, then perhaps there is precedent for that argument, but we aren't. The Big ten has been rated the RPI #2 conference all season long, ahead of the ACC, and just behind the Big East. I am not sure where this big ten criticism is coming from? The league is extremely deep and competitive with a shot at 7 teams getting into the tournament. Conference USA is at a respectable #10 in the conference RPI rankings. This is not to infer that Memphis is not a good team, which they clearly are, but using objective perspective Michigan State's resume is more impressive. Michigan State at 24-5 has the most wins over RPI top 50 teams in the country with 11. If they beat Purdue and advance in the Big Ten tournament, then they deserve consideration for a #1 spot. Who has Memphis beat in the past 10 games besides Gonzaga? A better question would be, what would Michigan State's record be in Conference USA?

The B10 has done nothing? Apparently you have not watched any games other than Memphis. B10 has the #2 rpi. State crushed Kansas, Minnesota beat Louisville on a neutral court, Illinois crushed Missouri in St Louis, Michigan beat Duke & UCLA, Northwestern beat Florida State, etc. MSU has 11 wins against the top 50 rpi, Memphis has 3. Get some facts if your going to critcize the B10.

I'm a very objective Michigan State fan, and I don't believe there is any evidence that Memphis is better then Michigan State unless we are talking about last year (which has no bearing on this year). As above posters have mentioned, MSU has a far better resume, which is what the committee goes by. Personally, I think if the two meet up this year, it would be a great game & I'm not sure who would prevail. But if you say Memphis is definitely better, you just haven't followed college hoops this season.

Why doesn't URI get a bid? They led Duke for all but 5 minutes AT CAMERON,and were it not for the generosity of the refs, should have won that game. Lost to Providence by 1 when Baron was sick, and beat Dayton. They've also won 6 straight and 10 of their last 11, they're second in the A10, and they're 2-5 against the top 50 (compared to Providence's 2-7). If Providence and Dayton are in, why shouldn't URI be???

Why doesn't URI get a bid? They led Duke for all but 5 minutes AT CAMERON,and were it not for the generosity of the refs, should have won that game. Lost to Providence by 1 when Baron was sick, and beat Dayton. They've also won 6 straight and 10 of their last 11, they're second in the A10, and they're 2-5 against the top 50 (compared to Providence's 2-7). If Providence and Dayton are in, why shouldn't URI be???

Why doesn't URI get a bid? They led Duke for all but 5 minutes AT CAMERON,and were it not for the generosity of the refs, should have won that game. Lost to Providence by 1 when Baron was sick, and beat Dayton. They've also won 6 straight and 10 of their last 11, they're second in the A10, and they're 2-5 against the top 50 (compared to Providence's 2-7). If Providence and Dayton are in, why shouldn't URI be???

Michigan State has played 1 team with similar talent as Memphis...UNC. The result was similar to last years Sweet 16 game.

I watched Michigan State lose to an average Northwestern squad at home and struggle to beat an abyssmal Indiana team. The notion this Spartan squad is any better than last years is optimistic.

Michigan State would lose, in my opinion, 2-3 games in C-USA. I don't think you would win at either UAB or UTEP, and certainly would lose at Memphis. Personally, I think Memphis would beat you on your own floor. Northwestern did.

you guys forgot to mention that michigan state is 10-1 on the road, does any other team have an absurdly good road record like that?...7 of those wins came against teams in the RPI Top 72. Thats why their resume is so gaudy.

You probably would beat us on our own floor if our star player went 0-17! That's the only reason you beat UAB.

By equating Memphis as having equal talent to UNC you just destroyed any shred of objective credibility you had to begin with. Michigan State got slammed by UNC, and there is no changing that. It was early in the season and MSU was playing without 2 starters essentially. Suton was out, and Delvon Roe played 9 minutes coming off of double knee surgery, that is the starting front court right there. With how good UNC played we still don't win that game, but with our current roster it would at least be a game worth watching now. Same deal with the Maryland loss except that was mostly on MSU playing horribly. Bringing up last year has nothing to do with this year. MSU plays a 10 man rotation when healthy...it would be a good game between Memphis and MSU, but I highly doubt Memphis would outlast MSU...maybe we will all get lucky and find out for sure!