How many Big East teams will make the NCAA tourney?

[Bill Marsh]

Can teams in the same conference play each other in the first four games?

Yes.

I defer to your knowledge of the rules. But can you provide a link because I couldn't find that in the rules? Probably just overlooked something.

[kayako]

can you provide a link because I couldn't find that in the rules? Probably just overlooked something.

Sorry, I can't find anything either because it's never happened. As of 2 years ago, it would've been impossible to avoid (conference mates being matched up in the first four). Now they are able to make excuses to make it really hard to happen:

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basket ... on-process

[Hall2012]

Here you guys go:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-03-13/march-madness-bracket-how-68-teams-are-selected-division-i

From the linked article:

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional final if they played each other three or more times during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional semifinals if they played each other twice during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference may play each other as early as the second round if they played no more than once during the regular season and conference tournament.

Any principle can be relaxed if two or more teams from the same conference are among the last four at-large seeded teams participating in the First Four.

[kayako]

Here you guys go:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-03-13/march-madness-bracket-how-68-teams-are-selected-division-i

From the linked article:

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional final if they played each other three or more times during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional semifinals if they played each other twice during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference may play each other as early as the second round if they played no more than once during the regular season and conference tournament.

Any principle can be relaxed if two or more teams from the same conference are among the last four at-large seeded teams participating in the First Four.

I think you meant to say yeah it's possible?

[Hall2012]

Here you guys go:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2016-03-13/march-madness-bracket-how-68-teams-are-selected-division-i

From the linked article:

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional final if they played each other three or more times during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference shall not meet prior to the regional semifinals if they played each other twice during the regular season and conference tournament.

Teams from the same conference may play each other as early as the second round if they played no more than once during the regular season and conference tournament.

Any principle can be relaxed if two or more teams from the same conference are among the last four at-large seeded teams participating in the First Four.

I think you meant to say yeah it's possible?

That's ultimately the message, yes. I went back and bolded the last line to make that more clear.

[TheDon]

7 remains possible but XU can't afford a slip up in either game against DePaul as their resume was already thin before Sumner got hurt and it would be hard to argue they are anywhere near one of the best 34 at large candidates.

[stever20]

7 remains possible but XU can't afford a slip up in either game against DePaul as their resume was already thin before Sumner got hurt and it would be hard to argue they are anywhere near one of the best 34 at large candidates.

Good thing there are 36 at large slots

[kayako]

To me right now it's
6- 50%
5- 25%
7- 25%

I don't know why, but I am not seeing some of your posts until much later.

5 - 5%
6 - 65%
7 - 30%

Is what I'm feeling right now. I just want to say 7 definitely doesn't happen without injured Watson and Sumner. Probably 5 bids relatively safe, maybe 6th with a favorable BET results. 6 or 7, hopefully the conference can do some damage in the tournament. We're due for a random run.

[stever20]

lets look at the absolute worst case scenario now...
DePaul beats Xavier 2x
Butler beats Seton Hall
Creighton beats Marquette
St John's beats Providence

Seton Hall, Marquette, Providence finish in 3 way tie for 4th. PC 4/Seton Hall 5/Marquette 6.

PC/Seton Hall winner is an absolute lock.
Marquette loses to Creighton.

The big question will be PC/SH loser along with Marquette. Either/Neither/Both?

The thing that's scary is that DePaul/Xavier is the only thing that would be a real surprise.

[stever20]

by the way- my percentages right now
6- 80%
7- 10%
5- 9%
4- 1%