Shocked. Eh. Like my sweet asthmatic grandma’s 70th birthday party, I wasn’t blown away.
The Buffs played as well as anyone could have asked coming down the stretch and into the conference tourney. But you cannot refute their ‘body of work’ lacked something that could, and ultimately did, end the hope of going to the Big Dance.
Colorado has the right to be upset that Michigan State, UAB, VCU, Clemson and USC all made the tournament over them. But NOT at the selection committee that chose them.
Wins, identical. Record, identical. RPI, identical. SOS, identical.
The committee has stacks upon stacks of resumes synonymous with each other. And you can’t be in that group of teams and feel comfortable about it, because there’s only so many holes to fill until… Pop.
UAB looked bad tonight. Who did they play this year? Nobody. Colorado would've waxed either team tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe Big 12 commish and the Wake Forest AD were on the selection committee. You don't think there was any revenge involved in this? (Wake had to eat Bzdelik's contract.)
VCU wins tonight and ESPN.com's headline reads: "VCU proved it belonged in the NCAA's dance, beating USC on Wednesday night." Did beating USC really prove the Rams belong? The selection process was about whether or not they DESERVED to dance, not whether or not they COULD dance. This headline seems like it is trying to throw validity towards VCU's bracket presence after the scrutiny it received. I think a lot of people are missing this. Nobody thought that VCU was a terrible team, people just thought there were better teams. Is Dr. Pure as upset as I am over this headline?
ReplyDeleteColorado had "as much right" as any of the bubble teams to be selected to the Dance. Probably a little more since the wins over Texas and K-State (3 times) occurred later in the season. Plus, early in the season "body of work" stuff doesn't adversely affect some of the higher seeds. All of the nos. 1 thru 5 teams have questionable "body of work" wins early in the year. Wins are wins.
ReplyDeleteAnd, sure there are "as many reasons" to be passed over when you are that close to being out.
But, Colorado should be happy. The Buffs are STILL playing basketball and sports fans DO watch the NIT. Sure - going to the Dance is a big deal and an accomplishment. But, basketball players are still playing basketball against good teams and the real fans are still following them. I'd rather see a highlight of a CU win against anybody than see the X on my bracket where I picked them in the Dance (I did pick UNC - BEARS - there is an X on my bracket now, but I'm now Blue and Gold - GO BEARS).
Yeah, they could be this year's Butler (comparison to last year's 2010 Dance), but let's just get behind them - they are STILL playing -- GO BUFFS!!