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Is Ohio State a No.1 Seed? Jimmy Dykes Thinks So
Published by MoonDog on March 9, 2010
While viewing the Tennessee-Mississippi State game on Saturday, ESPN color commentator Jimmy Dykes made a pitch to the men’s selection committee.
As the Vols maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game against the Bulldogs, a lot of “fill” time was spent speculating on which teams would earn a top seed in the NCAA basketball tournament.
Like most everyone, Dykes believed Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse are virtual locks to earn No.1 seeds, but the fourth top seed has been open to debate.
Over the past several weeks, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has had four teams occupying the “open” top seed in his projected bracket, listing Villanova, New Mexico, Kansas State and this week Duke.
But on Saturday, Dykes spoke about Ohio State landing a number one seed, claiming losses by other contenders would strengthen the Buckeyes chances.
Dykes made several salient points, but the fact remains that Ohio State – ranked No. 5 in the AP and No. 7 in the ESPN/USA Today latest polls – has a less than stellar RPI and the worst SOS among any of the potential top seeds.
According to Real Time RPI, the Buckeyes have an RPI rating of 29 and a Strength of Schedule rating of 67. RPI Ratings.com has Ohio State at 29 in their ratings but lists their SOS at 76.
Regardless of the arguments Dykes and devout Buckeye fans may effort, those numbers aren’t worthy of a top seed in the tournament.
In fact, I’m of the opinion those numbers aren’t even worthy of a No. 2 seed, although Lunardi has Ohio State as a two seed in his bracket.
The Big East, Big 12, ACC and SEC all have stronger conference RPI’s and SOS’s, with the Big Ten following at No. 5.
Even if Ohio State wins their conference tournament and one of the current top seeds loses, the overall body of work won’t warrant the Buckeyes a top seed.
So for all the Ohio State fans out there, don’t let your hopes get too high. The Buckeyes have a fine team but they aren’t going to get a top seed in this year’s NCAA basketball tournament, unless Jimmy Dykes is on the selection committee.
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Tagged with: ACC, Basketball, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Bracket, Buckeyes, College Basketball, Conference, Duke, ESPN, Jimmy Dykes, Joe Lunardi, Kansas State, Mississippi State Bulldogs, NCAA, NCAA Basketball Tournament, New Mexico, Ohio State, Projections, Real Time RPI, RPI, RPI Ratings, SEC, Seed, SOS, Strength of Schedule, Tennessee Vols, Tournament, Villanova
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