Sorry its so late and right before the NT but I just started watching Mad Men and by started watching I mean I did nothing today and watched the first 9 episodes today.(I just got back from college less than a week ago and haven't heard back from any job applications so I had literally nothing to do, don't judge)
Well lets see now that the NT has arrived lets look at my previous predictions once again before I reveal my bracket:
Limestone pred. 26-0(16-0)
CSU SB pred 22-4(12-4)
SIUE pred 24-2(14-2)
SE Oklahoma St. pred 25-1(15-1)
So I was dead on for Limestone, 1 game off for CSU SB (I had them losing 1 more regular season game), pretty far off for SIUE as I thought they would breeze through the GLV but didn't even achieve a winning record. And for SE Okie St. I was dead on(I don't predict CT results where they went 2-1)
3 of those teams have F4 capabilities. Limestone, CSU SB both receiving 1 seeds and SE Okie St. getting a 3 seed.
Now looking at the brackets I'll see who got screwed or lucked out among contenders:
Screwed:
Limestone/SW Baptist, having these 2 teams in the same bracket is tough for both teams, Limestone my favorite to win, and SW Baptist would probably be top 5 conteders, Shame one will be out in the Elite 8. They did play earlier in the season with Limestone getting a double digit victory, but aejones usually wakes up and gameplans extremely well for the NT.
West Chester PA, they kind of did this to themselves with such an easy schedule they received a 5 seed even with just 1 loss and a super talented team. They have the pieces to make a run similar to season 99 where they reached the F4 as a 6 seed eliminating the 1,2, and 3 seeded teams. This also affects Quincy and CSU Stan as they will be playing games of late round caliber early on.
Millersville, granted a super obvious weakness in rebounding is something colonels has managed excellently this season, but 2nd round matchup against either NMHU or Central Mizz are super unfavorable with NMHU top notch rebounding and Central Mizz's ability to matchup athletically and hold an advantage rebounding.
Bottom half of the west bracket: Florida Tech, SE Oklahoma St, and Lewis are 3 super talented teams, Florida Tech and SE Oklahoma received low seeds for their easy schedules but have top level talent and wins to back it up. Throw in the fact that you have Lewis facing 1 of 2 upper echelon coaches in the 2nd round in tj or wilco who both are retooling this season after excellent runs last season.
Lucked out:
UMSL to make a deep run like irrev0cable hinted at, they sured received a nice bracket. Their 4 seed matchup is arguably the least talented of the 4 seeds, and doesn't have any advantages over UMSL, meanwhile a potential meeting with a 1 seed who they have a clear rebounding advantage and a tad bit more speed to matchup pretty well.
Incarnate word, how does a 16 seed get a nice bracket? By being in the tournament in the first place, new coach ericsmith lit the fire under his teams feet and needing a CT to make the NT did just that! 1st round exit most likely but that's much better than PI or what was a strong chance of no post season.
Speaking of this bracket here it is!
BRACKET
A few thoughts on what I predicted:
I was nervous of the SW Baptist/Limestone matchup I think SW Baptist has the talent and coaching ability to knock off Limestone before they can get farther, however I think Limestone is just too good and will overcome aejone's gameplan.
Like I said earlier Quincy shouldn't be too happy about seeing West Chester so early on, and on cue West Chester makes another deep tourney run.
I talked about UMSL's good fortune in their bracket matchups and the strong coaching or irrev0cable manages to take advantage and knock off 1 seed CSUSB as well as 2 seed Tarleton St. in a "surprise" run to the final four
I have SE Okie State making the championship game from the West even with some tough games, arguable one of the harder paths I think they are elite and will be able to make that deep run, however an early exit would not be completely out of the question. I think whoever makes it out of that bracket out of those 3 teams makes a run to the title game.
Personally I'm a little disappointed in my Wheeling Jesiut team, the PIT is a consolation, but I thought in my 3rd season of the rebuild I'd make the jump to the NT and be relevant. Lost some games to some sim teams which is what cost me. My Midwestern St. team actually won 4 games which I wasn't expecting(2 were battle of the rebuilds though) and got some really great development from my freshmen making me think that they have legit tournament ability come jr/sr season.
Hope this thread was a good read, I'll put some small updates after each sim of the NT as well!
5/13/2015 1:46 AM (edited)