Selection Sunday

Post staff writer Eric Prisbell talks seeds, bubbles, Cinderellas and more as the bracket for the 2008 NCAA men's college basketball tournament is announced Sunday, March 16.

Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.

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Eric Prisbell: Hello, everyone. Let's start right away. The selection show just ended. Tech didn't get in. I only got one wrong. I had Ohio State in over South Alabama.

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Washington, D.C.: Why did Virginia Tech get in or not get in?

Eric Prisbell: I had Virginia Tech bumped out after Georgia won. We'll ask Tom O'Connor, the selection chair in 20 minutes if TEch was the team bumped because Georgia won.

In the end, TEch had a 1-7 record against the top 50. The Miami win was good. So was the latest UNC loss. BUt the entire body of work is what the committee looks at. And Tech fell short. Barely. It will be interesting to see Greenberg's reaction because he went off after the UNC game yesterday about being one of the best 65 teams.

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Toms River, N.J.: What is the best strategy to use when trying to choose between an 8 and 9 seed when filling out brackets?

Eric Prisbell: In general, I usually like going with the hot team unless the team has just expended a ton of energy in the conference tournament (like PIttsburgh). When it comes to an 8-9 matchup, it is often a crapshoot. I'll have to look at the others closer, but I like Oregon over Mississippi State. The Ducks, disappointing most of the year, have gotten hot of late. They have four starters back from the Eite Eight team from last season.

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Arlington, Va.: Big East should have had nine teams represented- rather than eight. Syracuse would mop the floor with Mount Saint Marys and Baylor. And in fact, did mop the floor with St. Joe's. What gives?

Eric Prisbell: Even Jim Boeheim knew his team was out when it lost to Villanova. I'll give CUse credit. It only played one team all season rated 200 or worse, and that was Rutgers. BUt the Nova game essentially was an elimination game and Cuse really folded down the stretch. I doubt Cuse was in the final batch of four teams that just missed. That small pool probably included Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Illinois State, etc.

ASU has a gripe because it swept Arizona.

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Rockville, Md.: What change would you make to the selection process?

Eric Prisbell: Great question.

I would provide more time for putting the actual bracket together -- meaning the matchups. It takes a while because you have to follow rules to avoid conference matchups. O'Connor said they usually don't start putting together the bracket until 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The other obvious thing I would do is move the start time for the conference tournament games on Sunday. The Georgia result required the committee to change things up at the least minute. There is no reason why you can't play tha game earlier.

Another thing, I would allow one pre-selected media member the chance to observe the process so we know without question that there is no problems and that it is all legit. I believe it is legit, but a media member should observe.

I also would do away with the play-in game.

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Homer: What do you think about having many of the local teams (Georgetown-UMBC and Mt. St Mary's-Coppin State) pitted against each other in the first round?

Eric Prisbell: i like it. it generates more interest in those first round games. Coppin State is a great story. Maybe the play-in game now gets decent ratings in the area. well, i shouldn't go that far.

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Shrewsbury, Mass.: So you think Pittsburgh has run out of gas?

I bet Georgetown, Marquette, and Louisville were counting on that, too.

As Pitino said the other night at the half: We're wearing them out.

Yeah, by sometime in June they should be exhausted.

Eric Prisbell: Many teams that have played great in the conference tournament have run out of gas in the NCAA tournament. I do't think it will happen here because I don't think PItt's run was simply a matter of getting hot. I think this team is legit. I may take them to beat Memphis.

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Anonymous: Which of the No. 1 seeds will fail to make it to Final Four?

Eric Prisbell: Memphis. Free throws.

It's Stanford or Texas in that region.

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Bethel Park, Pa.: So Illinois State was cheated out of a bid by oldtimers choosing a nothing Kentucky team?

It ain't your old Kentucky. It's too bad the committee still has blinders on.

Sorry, ASU just didn't have the track record, sweep of UW or WSU [can't recall which] notwithstanding.

Bring on the game at Dayton!

Eric Prisbell: The more I looked at Illinois State, the more I thought they did not belong. The best wins were against Creighton. And they were blown out in the MVC final.

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Anchorage, Alaska: Tell Adam Kilgore he was spot on Friday. He said something to the effect of: Pittsburgh is very dangerous. And then he said he thought they'd take the trophy.

He was right. They did, last night beating Georgetown for the Big East tournament.

Well done, Master Prognosticator.

Maybe you should tell him how the first few games will play out.

Thanks.

Eric Prisbell: Adam nailed it with Pitt.

Tom O'Connor just said on the conference call that the Big 12 title game did affect the No. 1 seeds.

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Houston: How fair is it that South Alabama gets nearly a home game and Texas gets nearly home advantage in the Sweet 16?

Eric Prisbell: I wonder how much fan support South Alabama will have in BIrmingham. I talked to Ronnie Arrow a few days ago and he was cautiously optimistic about getting in. I thought South Alabama's resume was pretty good, including non-conference play.

Texas in the Sweet 16 oculd be interesting because Memphis would be a higher seed. BUt I'm sure the Horns will have plenty of support there.

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Shanghai, IN: How much does an early exit in a conference tournament affect a team's run, like Notre Dame?

Eric Prisbell: It could affect a team's seeding a lot. I think it helped Clemson's seed, Arkansas's, and certainly PItt.

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Buckeye: Congratulations on your 98.5% correct pre-announcement bracket. That's actually very impressive.

Of course, I'm sad not to see OSU there. Why South Alabama and not the Buckeyes?

Eric Prisbell: Thank you.

Tom O'Connor just said on the conference call that Ohio State's road record was a big problem.

South Alabama's entire body of work was very solid, no question. I didn't like them losing in the conference tourney semifinals, but the committee felt they were one of the best 34 at-large teams.

I thought Butler got screwed a little on seed.

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Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: I know we all just saw the selections on CBS but do any of the lineups show an early run for the first two games to any of the teams? I don't just mean the first four seeds, but did anything launch out at you as: "Hey, HooHah could run to the Sweet 16!"

Thanks much.

Eric Prisbell: I like Clemson's road.

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College Park, Md.: What was the most controversial pick?

Eric Prisbell: Maybe Arizona. The conference record was questionable. Arizona was swept by Arizona State, which did not get in. But I like Arizona now that they are healthy.

O'Connor just said Arizona State did not get in in large part because of the non-conference schedule. It was very weak.

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Rockville, Md.: What is the most important quality in a national championship team and which team do you think has it?

Eric Prisbell: Future pros. Good point guard. Multiple scorers. Good inside presence.

Usually the most talented team wins. The exception was UConn in 2006. That's why I like UCLA, Kansas, UNC.

Sleepers include Xavier, Louisville, USC.

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Game times?: When does the info on who's playing session 1 and 2 at Verizon come out?

Eric Prisbell: Either late tonight or tomorrow, I believe. Great teams and matchups in Verizon. I hope i stay in town for those. Great story lines.

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Great Falls, Va.: So, I was the Hoya who was lobbying for Raleigh. I got my wish. Is it a mistake? Or given how we stunk up the Garden last night, does it even matter if they can't turn it around this weekend?

Eric Prisbell: Great call.

You might get Davidson a few hours down the road from Davidson. I'd love to watch that one. I think Georgetown is in good position to get to Detroit. The Wisconsin-Georgetown game could be played in the 40s.

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Westcliffe, Colo.: Georgetown is a 2 seed! You gotta be kidding me. PITT beat them twice this year. Both times by 9 points. And PITT isn't even ranked for the last few weeks.

Georgetown might, I say might, be a legitimate 3 seed. Like Louisville.

But a 2! That's one spot behind NC and Memphis. Goodness, meltdown in the minds of the committee. They must be running old game footage upstairs.

Eric Prisbell: O'Connor just said V-Tech left out because only one win against the tournament field and because of four losses to beow 100 teams.

I think G-town is a legit No. 2 team. I think its resme speaks for itself.

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The Best Part of the Selection Show...:...is watching Nantz and his grandpa complain about only 4 ACC teams.

Eric Prisbell: Did they really? Sorry I missed that.

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Mt. Lebanon, Pa/: Since Pitt went four for four in four, including beating three ranked teams, Pitt should at least get the seating of the best of those. Fair is fair, right?

So you have no problem with Pitt getting Georgetown's seating? After all, how many times did the Hoyas beat the Panthers this year? NONE.

And perhaps Rick Pitino was right this year when he said that Georgetown was mostly lucky through its season skipping out of near-misses. Until they had to play on the road against the Panthers.

The Big East has 16 teams of which seven or eight or going to the dance. It's either a very important conference or it isn't. So, the Big East tournament winner for a two seed?

Thanks much.

Eric Prisbell: I thought the top four seeds were very deserving of those top seeds. I didn't think G-town's resume measured up with those top teams.

I had PItt correctly as a No. 4 in today's paper. Wininng the four games allowed the Panthers to rise up.

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Keep the Play-In Game: But make it between the worst two of the big-name mediocrities. Let the little guys have their day in the sun--they at least earned it.

Eric Prisbell: i totally agree.

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Rockville, Md.: Which player do you think will have the biggest impact on his team's NCAA tournament fortunes?

Eric Prisbell: michael beasley

hansbrough

dj augustin

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Eric Prisbell: thanks for coming everyone. let the games begin on thursday. take care.

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