Tourney talk
College basketball has the shortest regular season -- in terms of being the center of attention -- of just about any sport out there.
Heck, in this part of the country you have to get past the Super Bowl and signing day to get anybody to pay attention.
I say all of this because both the Super Bowl and national signing day are in the past. And, what do you know, people in Louisiana may start paying attention to college basketball because LSU is relevant again.
The Tigers defeated Alabama today, 76-62, for their sevent straight win.
At one national sports web site, there was discussion about how many SEC teams would make it. One observer said Tennessee and whichever team won the tournament.
Personally, I don't see the SEC ever getting fewer than three. But if there was ever a year, this would be it. Still, I don't know if Tennesee is a lock even though the Vols have some of the most impressive nonconference wins in the SEC.
LSU's schedule -- while it helped the Tigers gain confidence early in the year -- is killing the Tigers now. They're still at 52 in the RPI. And if you say no big deal, there will be 65 teams in the tournament, you're missing one important point. Only 34 slots are up for at-large selection.
I've got to believe if LSU wins the West in impressive fashion then the Tigers will make the tournament. I don't think winning the West is a guarantee for making the tournament. I think it has to be won rather convincingly -- and by that I mean no more than three losses, maybe four in the league.
Anyway, at least we have something to occupy our attention until March.
Heck, in this part of the country you have to get past the Super Bowl and signing day to get anybody to pay attention.
I say all of this because both the Super Bowl and national signing day are in the past. And, what do you know, people in Louisiana may start paying attention to college basketball because LSU is relevant again.
The Tigers defeated Alabama today, 76-62, for their sevent straight win.
At one national sports web site, there was discussion about how many SEC teams would make it. One observer said Tennessee and whichever team won the tournament.
Personally, I don't see the SEC ever getting fewer than three. But if there was ever a year, this would be it. Still, I don't know if Tennesee is a lock even though the Vols have some of the most impressive nonconference wins in the SEC.
LSU's schedule -- while it helped the Tigers gain confidence early in the year -- is killing the Tigers now. They're still at 52 in the RPI. And if you say no big deal, there will be 65 teams in the tournament, you're missing one important point. Only 34 slots are up for at-large selection.
I've got to believe if LSU wins the West in impressive fashion then the Tigers will make the tournament. I don't think winning the West is a guarantee for making the tournament. I think it has to be won rather convincingly -- and by that I mean no more than three losses, maybe four in the league.
Anyway, at least we have something to occupy our attention until March.
posted by Scott Ferrell at 3:07 PM
2 Comments:
LSU should be considered as a tourny team. The SEC is still a confreace that has top athletes in the nation. If they win the SEC west then go on to win the SEC touney then the tigers should be a 3 or 4 seed in march madness. Prediction: LSU vs UF in the SEC tourney championship. LSU 81-76.
Revenge for that embarassing loss in the swamp on OCT.11.
I don’t know why people are labeling the SEC as a weak conference. Every team gets to pick from a pool of some of the most talented athletes in the nation. Don’t forget that an SEC team has won the tourney 2 or the last three years and two years back it was LSU and UF in the final four. If LSU wins their division and then wins the SEC tourney they should be a number 3 or 4 seed easy. Prediction LSU vs. UF in the SEC championship game. LSU-81 UF-65.
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