Bracket Projections

CornellFan · February 26, 2008, 09:16:53 AM

If anyone wants a summary of all of the bracket projections, I posted links on my blog. Consensus seems to be a No. 14 seed, but we are knocking on the door of a 13 seed.

We can probably get a 13 seed if we sweep the remaining 4 games (A VERY DIFFICULT TASK).

It will be hard for the committee to deny us a 13 seed if we close the season winning 16 straight games.

Granted we will have a cupcake schedule and an RPI in the high 60s/or 70s... but a 22-5 record is pretty deserving of at least a 13 seed.

Anyhow... bracket projections for those curious.

For those who hate visiting my blog... don't click the link below.

http://cornellbasketball.blogspot.com/2008/02/big-red-brackets-update_26.html

fatchance72 · February 26, 2008, 09:47:42 AM

Here's a good site too. It takes seed projections from 40+ other bracketology sites and comes up with its own predictions. And it gives links to each of those sites.

http://bracketproject.atspace.com/comparison.htm

Chris '03 · February 26, 2008, 10:25:45 AM

Looks like deadspin is looking for a capsule author (though I suggest waiting to volunteer until a tournament spot is a certainty, lest the woofing gods be angered): http://deadspin.com/360412/just-three-weeks-until-selection-sunday

Josh '99 · February 26, 2008, 11:09:47 AM

[quote CornellFan]We can probably get a 13 seed if we sweep the remaining 4 games (A VERY DIFFICULT TASK).[/quote]It's been an amazing season so far and anything is possible, but given that the basketball team hasn't won at Penn since 1989, and that it's within the realm of possibility that the games at Penn and Princeton will be meaningless (Senior weekend at home against teams that are 2-8 and 3-7 in conference, though Harvard gave the team fits a few weeks ago), I'm not holding my breath.

ugarte · February 26, 2008, 12:56:05 PM

[quote Josh '99]... but given that the basketball team hasn't won at Penn since 1989, and that it's within the realm of possibility that the games at Penn and Princeton will be meaningless ...[/quote]
Cornell is (hypothetically) undefeated in conference, trying to maintain a good seed, playing at an arena that the team hasn't won at in almost 20 years and playing against a team that has been eliminated from post-season contention.

And you are worried that the game will be meaningless to us?

CornellFan · February 26, 2008, 01:41:37 PM

I would add that Penn's team has a HUGE ego. They will play against us like they are playing for the national title.

As for our guys... I think Ugarte has it right.

We have seeding on the line against Penn. Everytime Cornell loses in Ivy play...it increases our chances of getting a 16 seed. Our guys will play to avoid such a terrible seed.

Finally, none of the Cornell kids or Coach Donahue have ever won in Philly. That alone is motivation to win.

Frankly I don't care where we get seeded. I just want to face a mid-major like Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, Butler or Drake in the first round. (of course, assuming we win the League). I think we match up better with those teams than we do with the ultra-athletic SEC, Big 10 and Pac 10 teams of the world.

I have all the respect in the world for those mid-major teams... but Cornell can definitely beat those guys and right now... we have an excellent chance of drawing a team like a Drake or Butler if we are a 13 or 14 seed.

Josh '99 · February 26, 2008, 02:03:24 PM

OK, you're both right. "Meaningless" was an overstatement. Still, I think there's at least the possibility of a letdown if (again, hypothetically and making no assumptions) Cornell wins both games at home this coming weekend and already has the outright title locked up.

CornellFan · February 26, 2008, 02:39:47 PM

Josh,

I don't think Cornell will play any of the four remaining games in a lethargic state. Our kids are pretty hungry and want to make some history.

If we lose a game, it will probably be because we just did not play well-- i.e. the shots did not fall or the other teams was just scorching hot.

Nothing would be more thrilling for our kids then to sweep Harvard and Dartmouth this weekend in front of a sold out Newman Arena and then demolish the "Killer Ps" on their home floors.

We've been tortured by those two schools for the last 20 years. We want some payback.

I know for a fact that our guys want to blow Penn out of the water in Philadelphia.

Don't think they want to sleepwalk through these games.

It is now a new 4 game season. The kids will take each one... just one step at a time.

KeithK · February 26, 2008, 04:09:13 PM

[quote CornellFan]It is now a new 4 game season.[/quote]
Four game season? It's a ten game season!

(I've been making this joke for years wrt hockey, so why not here too?)

Trotsky · February 26, 2008, 08:20:09 PM

[quote CornellFan]Frankly I don't care where we get seeded. I just want to face a mid-major like Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, Butler or Drake in the first round. (of course, assuming we win the League). I think we match up better with those teams than we do with the ultra-athletic SEC, Big 10 and Pac 10 teams of the world.

I have all the respect in the world for those mid-major teams... but Cornell can definitely beat those guys and right now... we have an excellent chance of drawing a team like a Drake or Butler if we are a 13 or 14 seed.[/quote]

I don't doubt you're right -- we don't want to play a factory school where the 6th guy off the bench is more talented than our starting five -- but a mid-major will be ready and disciplined. Jock U. might well be overconfident.

I still don't believe we'll even win the Ivies. That attitude has served me well throughout the season, so I am going to continue to assume we are going to lose every game.

Al DeFlorio · February 26, 2008, 08:38:05 PM

[quote Trotsky]I still don't believe we'll even win the Ivies. That attitude has served me well throughout the season, so I am going to continue to assume we are going to lose every game.[/quote]
Having watched Cornell basketball for 47 years, I highly recommend that attitude. I vividly--and, perhaps, somewhat bitterly--remember a season during my years on the Hill where we also won our first ten Ivy games. It quickly went to hell.

CornellFan · February 27, 2008, 09:32:00 AM

Climbs to No. 70.

http://cornellbasketball.blogspot.com/2008/02/cornell-rpi-update.html

JordanCS · March 01, 2008, 04:10:38 PM

Please educate an idiot. Why haven't we clinched the Ivy title yet? I just started hearing about the basketball team's success this week (living in Ohio, not a basketball fan and 7 years removed from graduation, I'm not exactly up to date on CU hoops). According to ESPN we are 11-0 in conference, and Brown is 8-3. Why, then, do we need to win tonight or have Brown lose to clinch the Ivy title. Why haven't we clinched already?

nyc94 · March 01, 2008, 04:14:14 PM

[quote JordanCS]Please educate an idiot. Why haven't we clinched the Ivy title yet? I just started hearing about the basketball team's success this week (living in Ohio, not a basketball fan and 7 years removed from graduation, I'm not exactly up to date on CU hoops). According to ESPN we are 11-0 in conference, and Brown is 8-3. Why, then, do we need to win tonight or have Brown lose to clinch the Ivy title. Why haven't we clinched already?[/quote]

Because if we lose our last three games and Brown wins their last three we end the season with identical records. The Ivy League does not have tie breakers for league titles. Teams tied in the standings share titles even if one team has a better head to head record e.g. Cornell's two wins over Brown.

Beeeej · March 01, 2008, 04:22:49 PM

[quote nyc94][quote JordanCS]Please educate an idiot. Why haven't we clinched the Ivy title yet? I just started hearing about the basketball team's success this week (living in Ohio, not a basketball fan and 7 years removed from graduation, I'm not exactly up to date on CU hoops). According to ESPN we are 11-0 in conference, and Brown is 8-3. Why, then, do we need to win tonight or have Brown lose to clinch the Ivy title. Why haven't we clinched already?[/quote]

Because if we lose our last three games and Brown wins their last three we end the season with identical records. The Ivy League does not have tie breakers for league titles. Teams tied in the standings share titles even if one team has a better head to head record e.g. Cornell's two wins over Brown.[/quote]

...and the Ivy League has a one-game playoff in the event of a first-place tie, so if we lose out and Brown wins out, Brown could beat us in that one game and go to the dance.