Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
[Moderated by Matt Jones]
The fine folks at Mr. SEC have an interesting look at this idea, which was also mentioned during the broadcast Sunday and would have surely been bounced around SEC focus groups and thinktanks, if those were real. This down year for the SEC West is the driving force of the argument, as the top two teams in that division still get byes despite both of them having lesser records than all four top teams in the East.
Mr. SEC’s main argument is that the current system causes the best teams to play each other too early in the tournament, thus affecting its competitive balance. That is absolutely true but doesn’t go far enough. The system doesn’t even help the teams that get the byes, and instead manages to do a disservice to all the conference teams. Good teams in the better division may have to play an extra game, while teams at the top of the weaker division may be denied a chance to get the single extra win it would take to get into the dance. Take Ole Miss this year, for example. This season, they have a bye through the first round and a likely date with Tennessee (another screwed team) in the second. They’ll lose and their bubble will burst, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
The solution Mr. SEC and others propose, and one I wholeheartedly agree with, is to instead seed the tournament 1-12 based on conference record, regardless of division. In this setup, Ole Miss could get a first-round win against Georgia and move on to face Vanderbilt, a game that they probably would drop but whose impact would be softened by the preceding win. Of course, this is just an example, and not even a particularly good one, but it’s hard to argue that both Tennessee and Ole Miss would be better off in the alternate system. Tennessee would get the bye they earned by finishing with the 3rd best record in the conference, and the Rebs would get a win to improve the committee’s perception of them over what it would be if they simply lost their first game of the tournament. That’s win-win.
Now, relative strength of schedule could be an issue, since the West teams will still play each other more and obviously have an easier conference slate as a result. However, if the East teams handle the head-to-head matchups, as they did this season, they would still get the byes so long as they didn’t poop the bed against their own division. This year, none of the West teams would have stolen byes under the alternate system despite having easier schedules. If there really is a disparity between the two divisions, the potential schedule strength question should resolve itself like this every year.
The proposed system would benefit everyone, as good teams are rewarded, teams that need a win get the opportunity, and the most competitive tournament bracket is the outcome. In fact, there seem to be few reasons to keep the tournament structured the way it is, or at least few reasons that I’ve heard while sitting in my living room writing this. But, then again, that’s what you all are for. Please, explain to me why I’m wrong in the comments. Or just enjoy the fact that Kentucky is way better than everyone in the SEC and this will never actually be an issue for us. Either way.
[powered by WordPress.]
Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
29 queries. 1.675 seconds
March 8th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
mE fIrSt?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
1st
March 8th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
1) CONGRATS, NOW ALL U NEED IS A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
THANK GOD, A NEW THREAD ON THIS SITE. The others have gotten a little muddy. Please, no talk of rumors?!?!?!?!?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Does this mean that eventually UK will get Byes all the way to Sunday and all the other teams will fight it out on the other side of the bracket to see who gets crushed by the mighty Cats?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
have you guys heard the RUMORS……..that we’re 29-2?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Can’t we just get rid of the divisions in general in SEC basketball? The Big East doesn’t have divisions, the Big 12 doesn’t have divisions. Gives us a chance for some more home and homes with West teams (a.k.a. more wins and cheap road tickets).
March 8th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
This is 2 weeks old. Why haven’t I seen this yet?
http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=4909339
March 8th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I think the tourney format change is a good idea. Was the current format created for any particular reason?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
I don’t like getting rid of the divisions completely. I personally think it gets sloppy in other conferences and gives some teams WAYYYYY easier schedules than others. I like the balance the divisions provide.
However, I think the 1-12 straight up seeding is a great idea, for all the reasons mentioned above. It makes no sense for a team like Tennessee to have to play an extra game when they defeated both Mississippi State and Ole Miss (the teams with byes from the West). And it doesn’t make sense for Ole Miss to have to get such a tough opponent early. It just doesn’t make sense all around.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
SEC Sports are giving away tickets to the Championship game. Only takes a couple seconds to enter.
http://www.secsports.com/contest/hoops_hysteria.aspx?referral=googlyi@ hotmail.com
March 8th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
I was expecting some satire about adding teams to the SEC tournament.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Other prizes as well, but these are the most intriguing. Alas, free is free. I’ll take anything free, except crabs.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
11-and you get extra entries by using that link….will do my own, thanks.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
I agree with the above, as well. TN’s RPI will suffer by playing LSU, who is currently 222. Ugh. Keep the divisions for regular season, but reseed. The fact is that the top 4 teams in the SEC East are UNDEFEATED against the ENTIRE SEC West.
Boo SEC. Boo.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
We must reseed!
March 8th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
i just tweeted a response out that indicated that he needs to make a decision soon to beat T. Jones to the punch. All indications seem like he is a Wildcat.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Ps. I get nasty and I will be a good get.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Dont think it matters as Kentucky will win this year and will continue to win for the rest of the decade atleast
March 8th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
I think the tourney should start on Tuesday and UK should line them all up and play everyone in the league. sometimes playing two teams in a day. My money would still be on the C-A-T-S cats cats cats!!
March 8th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
This just in, there is not competitve balance in SEC basketball. UK has won 44 SEC titles, all the others have a total of 46. Re-Doing the tourny will not change that. As for the others, It evens out. LSU, MSU, Ark, and Ala are historically pretty good as are Vandy, FL, and UT. UK is great. USC, GA, Ole Miss, and Auburn suck more often than they are good. Not much else you can do. Keep it like it is.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Does anyone know who the blonde hottie is who holds the clipboard on the Lady Cats’ bench? No pic/name on web site.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Reports are saying Josh Selby is down to Tennessee and Kansas.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Aaron’s UKBasketball blog has a source saying Josh Selby is down to either Kansas or Tennessee. I personally hope he goes to UT because it would strengthen the SEC. And I despise Kansas more than Tennessee.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
14. Dang dude, just trying to help. That was the link I was given. Chill.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
23.) Damn It! Stop copying off me.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:44 pm
that reminds me … i need to reseed my lawn in a few weeks
March 8th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Sitting in Cincinnati Airport next to Urban Meyer, the guy has yet to stop making recruiting phone calls. I thought he retired? http://twitpic.com/17fgcf Why is he flying Delta? What’s wrong with the Gators’ jet?
March 8th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
#3 - what’s worse? the guy that claims first or the guy that doesn’t ignore him and calls him a name or tells him he needs a life?
Answer the guy that is #29 of course.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
11) Thanks for the link–Having major trouble finding 2 tourney tickets and maybe I will get lucky from your post. Anyone have 2 to sell e-mail me at ukyblue35@hotmail.com. We go every year but Damn near impossible to find tickets. I would appreciate any help. Go Big Blue!!
March 8th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
SEC just sucks….plain and simple. UK should join the Big East where they would be in the best basketball conference AND they would be more competitive in football. What do you all think?
March 8th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
#31–No way the CAT$ leave the $EC. $everal rea$on$. Tradition, hi$tory, geography, etc. It would be $illy for them to con$ider a move.
March 8th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
I have been seeded enough
March 8th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Macon, I think I $ee what you are trying to $ay.
March 8th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
31-stupidest thing i ever heard come out of a persons face
March 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
#34-I thought I might be $ufficently tran$parent. Tenne$$ee, Mi$$i$$ippi, Mi$$ $t. et al. All would be $tupid to con$ider the $hift to another divi$ion.
March 8th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
#29 What’s worse? The guy that claims first?, or the guy that doesn’t ignore him and calls him a name or tells him he needs a life?, or the guy that ask the guy that tells the guy that claims first, what’s worse? the guy that claims first or the guy that doesn’t ignore him and calls him a name or tells him he needs a life?
Answer: I dunno, Where am I?
March 8th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
#35 If your computer monitor is a persons face, I’de suggest calling Ghost Busters.
“If there’s somethin’ strange in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call (ghostbusters)
If it’s somethin’ weird an it won’t look good
Who ya gonna call (ghostbusters)”
hm, hm hm
March 8th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
#37 - what were we talking about again?
March 9th, 2010 at 8:29 am
No. Keep it just as it is.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:48 am
7… The Big12 does indeed have divisions, North and South.
38.. I ain’t afraid of no ghosts..
March 9th, 2010 at 8:50 am
This year it didn’t work out so well, but these sorts of things are cyclical and any change will bring about its own problems.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:52 am
Correct me if I’m wrong (I know you will), but the SEC Women don’t have divisions. The tourney was seeded 1-12 and in the reg season UK played Auburn and Arkansas twice.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:52 am
I am all for the 1-12 seeding…great idea….it’s one of those ideas’ that is so good….it will never happen.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:54 am
42.. I agree. It is what it is.
March 9th, 2010 at 11:37 am
I love the idea of re-seeding based on based on conference record. 2 thoughts:
1. Make the first tie-breaker wins against teams in the other division. This helps teams hurt by being in the better division and helps with the “pooping the bed” phenomenon.
2. Give the top team in each division a bye (but not necessarily one of the top two seeds) so that division rivalry games still carry some extra importance.