NCAA Tourney

Today's the day. Finally. We've been waiting so long for this, six days-five days-four, and now we have reached Selection Sunday. Selection Sunday is an event that kicks off the greatest spectacle in sports, and interests so many people. Even the people that don't follow college basketball get into it because they want to get their brackets as perfect as possible. "Oh I like that name, I think I will pick them."
But anyway let's get to where I think certain teams will be seeded. Let's begin with Indiana. I was so angry when I went to bed on Friday that I don't know if I could watch the Hoosiers play again. I mean they threw that game away, and looked bad doing it. They had absolutely zero offensive movement all night long, and it really hurt them on the scoreboard. It just seems like Indiana's offense has deteriorated as the season has progressed, similar to its progression a year ago. You know there is something wrong when a true freshman guard is going one on one for a last shot. What was that all about? You have a 6-9 power forward in there, a guy that was supposed to be so great, and you have him flare out to the three point line? The call was questionable at best, and if those plays continue to be called then the Hoosiers will continue to lose. It's as simple as that. Kelvin Sampson let Bruce Weber get the best of him on the season, and should be at least a bit worried about his NCAA Tournament hopes. I think the Hoosiers get in, and come up with a No. 10 seed. I think they could make a mini run if they play the kind of ball they were playing at the beginning of the year. If not, it will be one and done.
Now for Butler. The Bulldogs have also been a recent disappointment. They have really struggled down the stretch, primarily because of A.J. Graves. Graves has not been himself lately, and Butler is really going to need him to play well if they are going to go anywhere this postseason. The Dawgs had a great opportunity to improve their seeding in the Horizon League Championship, but layed an egg against a solid Wright State team. The thing that people need to understand is that the Horizon League Championship game was the third time Butler had played Wright State on the season. When you play a team that many times it is hard to do what you normally do because they know what you want to do. Plus the game was played on Wright State's home floor, which is always a huge advantage. But Butler had a great season, and will get a No. 7 seed in the "Big Dance". It also has a chance to make a mini run, but Graves will have to lead by example and knock down big shots.
Let's move on and talk about the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame blew its chance at a top four seed when it failed to play defense against Georgetown. Everybody knows that the Irish should have been playing in that Big East title game, but they came up just short in the Semis. I think Notre Dame is the best team in Indiana, but it is really held back by its sub par defense. The Irish could score 100 points on a given night, but they can also give up a lot too. If they can buckle down on the defensive end during the tournament then I could see them going as far as the Elite Eight. But if not they could potentially get upset in the first round. They get a No. 5 seed.
Finally, it's time to talk about the Bubble Boilers. Purdue has been playing very good basketball of late, and probably deserve to make it in the tournament before a team like Indiana. The thing the Boilers have going for them is the fact that they ended the season on the strong note, a factor the selection committee definitely takes into account. When I was watching ESPN last night they were saying that it was either going to be Purdue or Illinois, but not both and I would agree with that. The Big Ten will get five teams in- Ohio State (No.1 overall seed), Wisconsin (2 seed), Indiana (10 seed), Michigan State (8 seed), and Purdue. I would take the Boilers over the Illini for the simple reason that Purdue beat Illinois in the only regular season meeting between the two teams. Purdue will get a No. 11, and has the potential to upset a No. 6, and maybe even a No. 3 in the second round. The Boilers are hot, and hot at the right time.