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That's gross.

So what is up with a couple of those play-in teams coming in at a #11 and a #12 seed? Anyone hear the explanation behind that?

Yes, it's to make sure that Duke gets Hampton in the "second" (which is to say, first) round, and keep Georgetown guessing. :D

Ask the Committee, they can rationalize it ALL! :rolleyes:

I got my picks locked in last night!

I will not be available for chat for Round 1 and Round 2 as I will be watching in Vegas. I should be in chat for the rest of the tournament though!

Those are the at-large "last 4 in". So they're from the major or mid-major conferences, and last year they would've been the last 4 left out. So, in effect, they're still considered "better" than some of the automatic qualifiers that are considered #16 seeds, that's why they still get a #11 or #12.

So, we won't get the automatic #1 vs. #16 anymore, until #16 wins one of these first round games.

The explanation I heard is that they did not want to put 8 of the lowest conference champions in those play-in games. So they put the 4 lowest conference champions against the "last 4" at-large teams to make it in the tournament.

Why the winner ends up as an 11 or 12 seed, I do not know.

Still doesn't make sense. Bringing in 4 new teams, you could still bump seeding to the point where your play-in teams are all playing for a 16 seed. Making an 11 play an extra game while not doing it to a 16 seems to defeat the purpose of seeding; at least partially.

I thought the point was to give the 1 seed a cupcake.

I think they should have had the remaining 5 Big East teams play each other for a spot or two. Not enough Big East in the dance. :D

Now that I see the braket, I see what they did. 2 of the first 4 games (Tues. and Wed.) have 2 #16's playing each other, with the winners still being a #16, playing a #1 on Thurs. or Fri. 2 #11's play each other, then move into the #6 vs. #11 game, and 2 #12's play each other, with the winner moving into the #5 vs. #12 game.

So it's not like a #16 becomes a # 11 if they win. The seeds still carry over correctly into the Thurs. and Fri. games.

So, again, you've got two 11s and two 12s who have to play an extra game while two 16s do not. Still stupid.