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Mike Marteny takes a look at some seedings that feel off in the 2024 NCAA Tournament bracket reveal. Will this result in some upsets during the first week?
The field of 68 is finally set for the chaos of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. I doubt that this tournament tops the 2023 version. How could it? It's still going to be a lot of fun. Once again, all teams have looked fallible at times this season. We'll take a look at the seedings that feel just a little off to me.
So, which teams got a seed that perhaps they didn't deserve, for better or for worse? We will take a look at one overseeded and underseeded team from each region and what it might mean for the bracket.
In this article, I will be providing you with my seeds for the tournament that for one reason or another don't sit right. Be sure to also check out the rest of our NCAA Tournament articles and analysis including previews, predictions, sleepers, busts, and guides on how to fill out your brackets. Good luck, RotoBallers!
West Region Tournament Controversial Seeds
Overseeded - (1) North Carolina
The Tar Heels are getting a lot of credit for making the ACC Final. This is the same ACC that pundits touted as "weak" for much of the season. Houston, Connecticut, and Purdue were the easy picks. No one is disputing that. However, an Iowa State team that finished off the Big 12 Tournament hoisting the trophy -- a trophy that they got by blowing out the top-ranked team in the country -- rings louder to me.
The NET rankings agree. North Carolina is eighth in the NET. Iowa State is sixth. That blowout win over Houston is better than any win UNC can claim. The Cyclones also didn't lose to three unranked teams -- one of them at home -- during the conference season. This should have been Iowa State's seed for winning the Big 12 Tournament. The ACC favoritism this year in the committee room was mind-boggling.
Underseeded - (4) Alabama
I touted UConn as the underseeded team in this bracket last year and they ended up cutting down the nets. I don't think Alabama has that ceiling, but they definitely looked better than a four seed. The Tide finished ninth in the NET rankings, which likely should have landed them on the three-line.
If you want to argue, about the 11 losses, Alabama doesn't have a bad one. The SEC was a bear this year. The only team that Alabama lost to that is not in the tournament is Ohio State -- who likely should have been in the field. Alabama lost to five top-six teams this year. The brutal stretch of Purdue, Creighton, and Arizona in December was tougher than any team faced.
South Region Tournament Controversial Seeds
Overseeded - (5) Wisconsin
There is more than one in this region. The committee made it clear that they didn't dock Marquette for losing when Tyler Kolek was out. Since he is back for the tournament...fine. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go after the Badgers instead.
Wisconsin is 21st in the NET. Maybe solid enough for that five seed, but what really went into that ranking? They got rocked by Providence in November and lost seven of nine after the meltdown for the ages at The Vault.
Final: Nebraska comes back from 19 down to beat #6 Wisconsin 80-72!!!!
CJ Wilcher with 22 points!
PANDEMONIUM! COURT STORMING!
CAITLIN CLARK SHOWS UP TO FLOP ON THE FLOOR
I AM 7,514 YEARS OLD WATCHING THIS DAMNED THING— Corn Nation (@CornNation) February 2, 2024
I feel like the Badgers were rewarded for playing Purdue tough twice and finally beating them in the Big Ten Tournament. If that's the case...I kind of get it. This Wisconsin team is Exhibit A as to why L10 should still be part of the seeding process. They were 6-9 in the last 15 games of the season.
Underseeded - (12) James Madison
The Dukes opened the season with a Quad-1 win at Michigan State. They followed it up with a thrilling win against 2023 MAC champion Kent State. They beat eventual MAC champion Akron this year in February. That's the problem though...James Madison didn't get other chances to prove themselves. The 56 ranking in the NET suggests that the Dukes could have wound up as high as a 10 and no one would have uttered a word. Just because they are underseeded doesn't mean they got a bad draw. It's going to be Duke vs. the Dukes in the second round.
East Region Tournament Controversial Seeds
Overseeded - (3) Illinois
The Illini won the Big Ten Tournament but didn't have to play the best team in the conference to do it. At that point, they should have been left on the four-line. Their 13 NET ranking also agrees. This isn't an egregious overseeding, but Auburn and their stunning five ranking in the NET deserved this seed way more than Illinois did.
Underseeded - (6) BYU
The metrics love the Cougs. BYU is 12 in the NET rankings. The only time they lost out of conference was in the Holy War. Hell, this team beat Kansas in Lawrence! That's not something that happens often. They beat Big 12 tournament champion Iowa State. Just for good measure, they also knocked off Baylor and ACC Tournament champion North Carolina State.
Midwest Region Tournament Controversial Seeds
Overseeded - (10) Virginia
I usually don't complain much about snubs and seeds when it comes to the tournament, but this year is an exception. This is an awful Virginia team. Their 54 NET ranking makes them one of the worst at-large teams ever. Tournament expansion was supposed to be to add teams like Indiana State -- who was 28 in the NET rankings, making them the best team ever not to make the tournament -- not to pad the pockets of the already-rich ACC. This is a travesty.
robbed of Cream Abdul-Jabbar in the tourneypic.twitter.com/2R7R7aKTik
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 17, 2024
I'm not even going to complain about Oklahoma not making it. I wasn't upset about it until I saw Virginia here. Indiana State, Seton Hall, Oklahoma, St. John's, and even Pitt (in that order) deserved this bid before Virginia. They proved it by getting blasted by Colorado State in the play-in. I'm up triple digits betting before the tournament even officially started, so thanks Virginia and the ACC-favoring greed of the committee!
Underseeded - (10) Colorado State
The Rams beat Creighton, Colorado, Washington (before they tanked), and the eighth seed in this bracket Utah State by 20. Not to mention they are two slots higher in the NET rankings than the Aggies. My argument is that both should be nine seeds, but the Rams should have gotten that eight before Utah State did.
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