2021 has put the “mad” in March Madness...

[HailToPitt725]

This year’s Sweet Sixteen will feature four double-digit teams; 11 UCLA, 11 Syracuse, 12 Oregon State, and 15 Oral Roberts. In comparison, that’s as many double-digit teams as the last three tournaments combined (not counting 2020). The last tournament with this many was 2011.

So, what is the cause of this? Did the fluky Covid scheduling leave some teams over or under ranked? Was it the NET ranking system? Maybe it’s just the “year of the underdog,” or something else? Interesting food for thought...

 

[happjack]

Besides Syracuse I don't think it was all due to COVID scheduling, a team like Oral Roberts is always going to be a 14 or 15 seed, the PAC12 is always off everyones radar and I think they bumped UCLA down a seed or two so they could do the matchup with Michigan State. In a normal year Syracuse might have been a 7ish seed.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

This year doesn't seem all that crazy to me. Loyola has seemingly ascended to mid-major elite (with teams like Creighton and of course Gonzaga). I don't think it's really any suprise to see UCLA and Syracuse in the S16. Oregon St. and especially ORU are surprises but you usually have a few of those.

Now if we end up with a few of these teams in the Final Four, I may change my tune.

 

[Saboteur II]

COVID is the excuse of the century.

 

[JohnnyGossamer]

Given all but one double digit seed is from a P5 league, I'd say this year's far more run if the mill than folks wanna let on. Now, if ORU and Loyola are in the FF, I'll change that.

We've had years with multiple teams from mid major leagues in the FF too though.

 

[Pitt79]

Loyola has seemingly ascended to mid-major elite (with teams like Creighton and of course Gonzaga).

It would be cool if Pitt could ever get to be as good as those programs. Sadly, they're a few notches below their level.

 

[Pitt79]

Now if we end up with a few of these teams in the Final Four, I may change my tune.

I love when the subjectively determined BEST TEAMS get bounced, that's why the NCAAT is way, way, way better than the football playoff.

 

[Pitt79]

Virginia has the National Championship in the middle, but how about their last 3 tournaments, Lose to #16 seed UMBC, win NC, Lose to # 13 seed Ohio.