Rivals Projects ND As March Madness #14 Seed

[BGIF]

Rivals.com College Basketball - Huguenin: Projecting the NCAA field of 68

Mike Huguenin
Rivals.com College Basketball Editor

"Selection Sunday" is March 13, which means we're six weeks away. Here is our first look at how we think the 68-team NCAA tournament field will look when it is unveiled that day.

It's important to note that this is a projection of how teams are going to finish, not how the field would look if it were decided today.

We will update this every Thursday until late February, when we will begin to update it daily. ...

14 ND

Behind BE teams:
2 Pit
5 Con
7 Nova
11 Syr

 

[BGIF]

3 of ND's 4 losses this season are to Projected Seeds:

10 UK
11 SYR
41 Marquette


I didn't find St John's on the list.

Big East has 9 projected teams, the most for any conference. ACC, Big 10, Big 12, each have 6.

 

[military_irish]

so what does that equate to? a #4 seed

 

[irishff1014]

There is still alot of ball that needs to be played untill we start worrying about this.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Unfortunately I live in Michigan. And I love the fact of all my MSU buddies getting all excited when bball season starts and then completely crashing when they freefall and loose to a HORRIBLE U of M team. How great it is to be an ND fan.

 

[InKellyITrust]

I'll

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

so what does that equate to? a #4 seed

Yea, I have seen them projected as high as a 3 seed. But mostly have seen them a 4 seed.

 

[InKellyITrust]

I'll start thinking about ND bball on Thursday when NSD is complete. I'd predict that they have a seed between 5-9.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

Whatever the seed-it is all about matchups for ND. I've liked what they've done against UConn and Pitt this year(both teams ND tends to struggle with, long, athletic post players). This team on a neutral court should do well, unless the matchup is a bad one. Which in ND's case, it could be them as a 4 or a 5 playing a 12 or 13 and struggling. But typically this is a bad game for the higher seed regardless. Usually once you are past a 3 seed, there is a good chance of an upset happening. My point being, I don't think a higher seed (3-4-5) is really going to help ND that much...as neither would falling to a 7-10 seed hurt them either.

 

[IrishLax]

If Scott hadn't gotten hurt against 'Cuse we very well might be a one loss team right now. Scott + Hans + Abro together is a surprisingly tough team to defend. If we had a better pure 2 guard so we could let Hans run point and a better pure big man... we would be scary good. As is, I'm pleasantly surprised and ND's seed will largely be determined by how we do in the Big East tournament. A good showing will probably land us a #3 seed and a bad season will probably land us somewhere in the #5-6 range.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Whatever the seed it is all about matchups for ND. I've liked what they've done against UConn and Pitt this year(both teams ND tends to struggle with, long, athletic post players). This team on a neutral court should do well, unless the matchup is a bad one. Which in ND's case, it could be them as a 4 or a 5 playing a 12 or 13 and struggling. But typically this is a bad game for the higher seed regardless. Usually once you are past a 3 seed, there is a good chance of an upset happening. My point being, I don't think a higher seed (3-4-5) is really going to help ND that much...as neither would falling to a 7-10 seed hurt them either.

I agree with you completely. It'll come down to the matchup more than anything else. Think of the ODU game last year. Fortunately, playing in the Big East will have them battle tested and prepared. It's on them to play consistently. I'd love to see them win a few games in the tournament. Carleton Scott is one of my favorite ND bball players of all time.

 

[NDPhilly]

I still dont think Scott Martin is completly healthy from his ACL tear and I could really see him breaking out next season

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I'll start thinking about ND bball on Thursday when NSD is complete. I'd predict that they have a seed between 5-9.

You clearly have not been paying attention then.

 

[InKellyITrust]

You clearly have not been paying attention then.

I've watched enough ND basketball over the years to know that they'll most likely hit a bit of a skid before the end of the season. If they finish with a 3 or 4 seed, that's great, but it isn't likely. They haven't played Louisville yet for instance and they always have trouble with their athleticism. What's your level of expertise again?

 

[NDPhilly]

I've watched enough ND basketball over the years to know that they'll most likely hit a bit of a skid before the end of the season. If they finish with a 3 or 4 seed, that's great, but it isn't likely. They haven't played Louisville yet for instance and they always have trouble with their athleticism. What's your level of expertise again?

If they can deal with the athleticism of Pitt Gtown and UCONN i believe they can deal with Louisville.

 

[InKellyITrust]

If they can deal with the athleticism of Pitt Gtown and UCONN i believe they can deal with Louisville.

Over the past 3 years, we've gone 6-6 v Pitt, GTown, & UConn while we've gone 1-3 v Louisville over the same span of time. Don't forget about about Nova & WVU either. It's like IrishLax said, we match up with some teams better than others.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I haven't got to watch as many games as I'd like this year, but it seems to me we run a bit different of an offense as in the past. And we don't take the 3s we did in recent years. The results have been positive and we aren't a one year team.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

I've watched enough ND basketball over the years to know that they'll most likely hit a bit of a skid before the end of the season. If they finish with a 3 or 4 seed, that's great, but it isn't likely. They haven't played Louisville yet for instance and they always have trouble with their athleticism. What's your level of expertise again?

Yes it is likely. Thank you for proving my point. And I never said I was an expert. I said that you clearly have not been paying attention to THIS YEAR'S team. But I will play your game. Pitino was quoted last year as saying that ND is a terrible matchup for them. Louisville is a very good team and Pitino one of the favorites for big east coach of the year, but to automatically assume a loss is just naive. Could they lose? Of course. But they will be favored at home, thats likely. Also I dont think the NCAA selection committee sits down and says we cant put ND at a 4, they usually dont match up well with athletic teams. I think they look at things like what conference do they play in, what is their rpi, strength of schedule, quality wins, etc... What will they find when they look at ND? Oh an RPI and SOS that is both in the top 10, 3 wins against top ten teams and more wins against the top 50 RPI than any other team in the country.

So again, I am not claiming to be in expert, but when you say that it isnt likely we end up a 3 or 4, i think that is just as outrageous as you saying we could end up as low as a 9, and i think I provided enough evidence to support that.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Yes it is likely. Thank you for proving my point. And I never said I was an expert. I said that you clearly have not been paying attention to THIS YEAR'S team. But I will play your game. Pitino was quoted last year as saying that ND is a terrible matchup for them. Louisville is a very good team and Pitino one of the favorites for big east coach of the year, but to automatically assume a loss is just naive. Could they lose? Of course. But they will be favored at home, thats likely. Also I dont think the NCAA selection committee sits down and says we cant put ND at a 4, they usually dont match up well with athletic teams. I think they look at things like what conference do they play in, what is their rpi, strength of schedule, quality wins, etc... What will they find when they look at ND? Oh an RPI and SOS that is both in the top 10, 3 wins against top ten teams and more wins against the top 50 RPI than any other team in the country.

So again, I am not claiming to be in expert, but when you say that it isnt likely we end up a 3 or 4, i think that is just as outrageous as you saying we could end up as low as a 9, and i think I provided enough evidence to support that.

I agree that a 9 seed is very unlikely but who knows depending on whether or not they have an early exit in the Big East tournament. Personally, I'm just happy that they'll be in the tournament. I'm sorry that I gave off the vibe that I haven't watched many games this year but I've seen most of their games this season. This team is a lot more fun to watch due to them playing more as a team instead of Harangody ball. But again, I'm not backing off my stance, a 5-7 seed is still where I see them ending up. I'll leave 8-9 & 3-4 seeds as unlikely slots for them.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Like someone else has said, it's still too early to speculate about this type of thing because a lot of things can change in the next couple of weeks, but it was nice reading your view on the matter. You brought up a lot of critical topics that the selection committee must weigh on Selection Sunday. I think the main thing here is whether or not they can continue to play the way that they've been playing to earn that high of a seed. At this point last year, we were wondering if they'd make the tournament so it's nice knowing this early in the season that ND will be "dancing."

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I've watched enough ND basketball over the years to know that they'll most likely hit a bit of a skid before the end of the season. If they finish with a 3 or 4 seed, that's great, but it isn't likely. They haven't played Louisville yet for instance and they always have trouble with their athleticism. What's your level of expertise again?

Due to the Jeckyl/Hyde performances based on where the game is:

1) Home = Sweet Sixteen team or better
2) Road = Early Exit

 

[IrishLax]

We'll probably lose 2 to 3 games during the home stretch of the regular season. A good BE tournament could get us as high as a #2/#3 seed if we win the whole thing, a bad showing could drop us as low as a #6 seed if we particularly tanked down the stretch here. Predicting anything below a #6 seed is completely ludicrous.

 

[irish4ever]

Yea, I have seen them projected as high as a 3 seed. But mostly have seen them a 4 seed.

IF they finish very strong in regular conf. games, plus the conf. tourney, I could see them getting a 3rd seed. More likely, they'll end up getting in as a 4th or 5th seed. Definitely can't afford to lose any games that they are "expected" to win (i.e. tonight against Depaul).

 

[IrishandColts]

I think ND wins out

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

ND wins out and wins the BE tourney for a #1 Seed.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

@ DePaul
vs Rutgers
vs #13 Louisville
@ USF
@ WVU
@ Providence
vs Seton Hall
vs #12 Nova
@ #7 UConn

If ND can repeat their 6-3 Big East start over these remaining 9 games, they will be in good position going into the BE Tournament. I think a 4-seed is definitely a possibility and maybe even a #3 if we can stay in the Top 10.

 

[NDPhilly]

@ DePaul
vs Rutgers
vs #13 Louisville
@ USF
@ WVU
@ Providence
vs Seton Hall
vs #12 Nova
@ #7 UConn
If ND can repeat their 6-3 Big East start over these remaining 9 games, they will be in good position going into the BE Tournament. I think a 4-seed is definitely a possibility and maybe even a #3 if we can stay in the Top 10.

I think losses at WV and at UCONN. Because we play Nova and louisville at home I think we will win.

So 12-5 in coference and 23-6 overall

 

[IrishLax]

Currently projected as a 2 seed in the most recent bracketology on ESPN: Bracketology - NCAA College Basketball Brackets and Predictions - ESPN. Gotta say I would LOVE to be in that bracket. Purdue as a #3 seed = elite 8. And while Texas beats up on the Big 12 they've lost to the two Big East teams they've played.

Also there is a picture of Carleton Scott dancing in the student section or something on the front page of the NCAA BB page.

 

[irish4ever]

I'd be surprised to see 11 Big East teams make it in. I'm guessing 10 max. A lot of basketball to play between now and the real brackets, but I would be surprised to see both Marquette and St. John's making the cut!?