Bracketology breakdown

Posted Sunday, March 16, 2008, at 7:50 PM

Coach Bruce Pearl and the Vols were not pleased with their No. 2 seed. (File photo by Danny Parker)

The brackets are out now. The committee did a pretty impressive job of getting the right teams in the NCAA Tournament, but I am not so sure about some of the seeding.

Tennessee didn't do themselves any favors by blowing a nine-point lead to Arkansas in the SEC tournament semifinals but placing them in the same East bracket as No. 1 overall seed North Carolina just ain't right. By the way, the Volunteers were not only regular season SEC champs but also only the fourth team in the last 15 years to hold the No. 1 spot in RPI and not get a No. 1 seed, according to ESPN.com.

Mississippi State won the West Division of the SEC and 22 games but somehow drops all the way to a No. 8 spot and could face top-seeded Memphis in the second round of the Memphis bracket? Come on now.

The committee did it to another SEC West team by putting a talented Arkansas squad at No. 9, where a victory over Indiana would place them against the top-ranked Tar Heels. Head scratcher.

Vanderbilt at 4, Kentucky at 11 and Georgia at 14 are all about right.

Here is the complete bracket.

Comments
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Sorry MTSUFan, I think it maybe his facial expressions, but to me he comes across as a know it all.

I don't know Coach Insell either but I just can't like him for some reason either. Could be because he always had great teams who tended to run over everybody they played and make them look like they didn't deserve to be on the floor with the Eaglettes.

I guess to each his own!

-- Posted by EastSideMom on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 10:08 PM

Go Vols.

-- Posted by darrick_04 on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 3:38 PM

EastSideMom,

I love Coach K, and I am glad he gave his dues up to Coach Knight. How can you not like a Coach who graduates his players and has elevated the game of baseketball to new heights. Coach K is College Basketball!!

-- Posted by mtsufan on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 1:25 PM

GOOOOO VANDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by jaxspike on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 10:10 AM

I think the SEC as a whole got shafted on the seedings. I think the winner of the SEC tournament (Georgia) deserves a higher seed than 14th. I understand that they played their way in and had a terrible record, but doing what they did and winning a major conference tournament under those conditions, warranted at least a 12 seed in my opinion.

Tennessee did get a terrible draw. They have to get through a good Butler and Louisville team before they can worry about North Carolina.

-- Posted by Mike Molder on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 9:46 AM

I would love it if Belmont won. They have a great team, with lots of good talent. Go Belmont.

-- Posted by Sharon22 on Mon, Mar 17, 2008, at 9:35 AM

I feel for Belmont. Don't they have Duke in the first round? What an upset that would be. Go Belmont... I can't stand Coach K.

-- Posted by EastSideMom on Sun, Mar 16, 2008, at 11:22 PM

Vols got ripped off!! By putting us in the east region with overall number 1 Carolina, that means the committee says we are the 4th best number 2 seed. That is complete BULL BUTTER!!

-- Posted by tdc on Sun, Mar 16, 2008, at 10:18 PM

Go Belmont!!!

-- Posted by Sharon22 on Sun, Mar 16, 2008, at 8:39 PM

I agree with you about Tennessee. But it may be that they helped them by placing them in the East where they could bring a lot of people, Birmingham and Charlotte.

-- Posted by cfder on Sun, Mar 16, 2008, at 8:21 PM

Danny Parker

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Danny Parker is sports editor of the Times-Gazette.

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