Forecasting the NCAA field

[FloridaGatorforLife]

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=767393

They gave UF a 7 seed.

Florida

Overall seed: No. 28.
Record: 18-3.
RPI: 42.
Best win: 86-64 vs. Vanderbilt on Jan. 27.
Worst loss: 65-51 vs. Florida State on Nov. 23.
Behind the choice: The Gators have won three in a row and seven of their past eight. Three of the next five are on the road (Arkansas, Tennessee and Vanderbilt), and if they can win one of those, they're looking good for an NCAA bid - assuming they also beat the teams they should the rest of the way. A potential problem: The schedule has been easy, and 15 wins have come against teams with an RPI of 105th or worse.
I think we cab do better if we play well down the stretch.

Others to note:

2 seed
Tennessee

Overall seed: No. 6.
Record: 17-2.
RPI: 1.
Best win: 80-60 vs. Vanderbilt on Jan. 17.
Worst loss: 72-66 at Kentucky on Jan. 22.
Behind the choice: The shocking loss at Kentucky notwithstanding, the Vols still should finish strongly. If they can beat Memphis it could put them in play for a No. 1.

6 seed
Mississippi State

Overall seed: No. 23.
Record: 14-5.
RPI: 53.
Best win: 88-68 vs. Ole Miss on Jan. 26.
Worst loss: 67-60 vs. Miami University in Anaheim, Calif., on Nov. 25.
Behind the choice: The Bulldogs have won nine in a row after some early season inconsistency and look like the best team in the SEC West. Still, there's no non-conference win of note and that could hurt down the line in terms of seeding. They play at Arkansas on Wednesday, then play host to Tennessee on Saturday. Wins in both of those, and the Bulldogs can start dreaming of a No. 4 seed.
8 seed
Ohio State

Overall seed: No. 30.
Record: 14-6.
RPI: 21.
Best win: 79-65 vs. Syracuse in New York on Nov. 21.
Worst loss: 75-68 at Purdue on Jan. 12.
Behind the choice: The Big Ten is a five-bid league at best. Right now, the Buckeyes are our fourth Big Ten team. Ohio State doesn't have a true "bad" loss, but the Buckeyes also lack a true marquee victory. The next three games look winnable: at Penn State, at Iowa and vs. Michigan.
8 seed

 

[FloridaGatorforLife]

Ole Miss

Overall seed: No. 31.
Record: 15-2.
RPI: 15.
Best win: 85-82 vs. Clemson in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 22.
Worst loss: 80-77 at Auburn on Jan. 19.
Behind the choice: The Rebels have lost three of their past five and were blown out by 20 at Mississippi State in their last game. Up next is a home game against Vanderbilt, so the losing could continue. Then again, Vandy is struggling even more than the Rebels. Getting another road win (or two) is vital. Ole Miss has just one true road victory, over UCF, and is 0-3 on the road in SEC play.
9 seed
Vanderbilt

Overall seed: No. 34.
Record: 17-3..
RPI: 13.
Best win: 97-88 vs. Massachusetts on Jan. 5.
Worst loss: 79-73 at Kentucky on Jan. 12.
Behind the choice: The Commodores started 16-0 but have hit a bad patch. Plus, three of their next four are on the road, including Wednesday night at Ole Miss. The good news is that five of the final seven regular-season games are at home, and Vandy is tough to beat in Memorial Gym.
11 seed
Miami

Overall seed: No. 42.
Record: 15-4.
RPI: 32.
Best win: 64-58 at Mississippi State on Dec. 13.
Worst loss: 76-70 vs. Winthrop on a neutral court in Miami
Behind the choice: The Hurricanes are the fourth of four ACC teams in our field. The ACC is No. 1 in conference RPI, but only four league teams are among the top 48 in RPI. Four of UM's next five games are on the road. The flipside is four of their final six regular-season games are at home.
12 seed
Arkansas

Overall seed: No. 48.
Record: 14-5.
RPI: 47.
Best win: 85-78 vs. Baylor in Dallas on Jan. 5.
Worst loss: 70-66 vs. South Carolina on Jan. 16.
Behind the choice: The Hogs are our sixth team from the SEC. The next five will determine whether Arkansas is a legit NCAA team: Mississippi State, Florida, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Mississippi State again, with the last two on the road.

 

[gatorsare#1]

Unless they take their game to a whole new level, I don't think miami will
make the NCAA tournament.

 

[sammy]

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=773443

Down to a #9 seed.

 

[TebowISgod]

By the time it's all said and done, I think the Gators will be a #11 seed.