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26 February 2010
IF THE NCAA decides to go to a 96-team men's basketball tournament, I'd miss the madness associated with March.
A team would have to be in a figurative coma in order to miss the field, and end-of-the-regular-season games would be reduced to little more than exhibitions. What drama, for instance, would there be to see if West Virginia gets a No. 2 or 5 seed? Would it matter an iota whether the Mountaineers play the No. 23 or No. 20 seed?
Today, however, we still have the madness. So let's enjoy.
Mad? Kids, it's off both the hook and chain.
Check out that Mountaineer team. It sits at 21-6. The regular season is 90 percent completed with but three games remaining - Saturday at home against Cincinnati, Monday at home against Georgetown and a week from Saturday at Villanova.
Yet ask an expert where WVU will be seeded in the upcoming NCAA tournament and see what you get. This is what Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com told me about the Mountaineers:
"Well, if they win out, they could still be a No. 1 [seed], especially with Purdue falling off [with star Robbie Hummel injured]. If they lose badly, though, they could be a 5 or 6.''
That's the great part about the current setup. These last three regular-season games - let alone the Big East tournament games - mean something to WVU's team.
"If you're a [No.] 3 seed instead of a 2,'' Palm said, "you'll play better teams in the opening round and probably play a Top 25 team in the second round. And you won't get as much consideration geographically. If West Virginia is a No. 2, it may go to Buffalo. If it's a No. 3, it may get shipped out West.''
You've gotta love incentive. At RealTimeRPI.com, WVU was still ranked No. 5 through Wednesday's games. WVU coach Bob Huggins can implore his team to play with desperation, especially after three losses in the last five games.
And how about Cincy? The Bearcats are in a position similar to Connecticut. Yes, UConn had a No. 40 Rating Percentage Index on Thursday, compared to UC's No. 59. But both are 7-8 in Big East play. Connecticut is 17-11 overall; Cincy is 16-11.
So the Bearcats will be playing with desperation. They are at the end of their proverbial rope. Up against their proverbial wall. In their proverbial soup.
And isn't it all grand?
