Spring Break
A handful of other top teams were more deserving of a No. 2 seed than UConn.
Matt Schonvisky
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
Following back to back pathetic showings in the Big East Tournament, including a drubbing from the hands of bitter rival Syracuse, one would think the Huskies limped into the NCAA Tournament.
But not so fast my friends, to borrow a line from ESPN analyst Lee Corso, the Tournament committee handed the Huskies a No. 2 seed, one that does not seem deserving.
You could argue that if the Huskies had gone on and won the postseason tournament, the regular season co-champs of the Big East would have been deserving of that No. 2 seed. However, the fact is, they should have been eliminated by Georgetown in the quarterfinals and they still came back the next day with the same lackadaisical mentality, one that could cost them as they head into the NCAA Tournament today.
If you take a look at the rest of the field of 65, now down to 48, you can only imagine how the likes of Louisville, BC, Oklahoma and Arizona were all given seeds lower than the Huskies. Louisville, which went out and won the Conference USA crown in both the regular season and postseason tournament, did everything the committee was looking for. What were they rewarded with? A No. 4 seed to go along with their No. 4 ranking...IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!!
Boston College and Oklahoma, who each beat UConn in head to head games this season, were handed No. 4 and No. 3 seeds respectively, although they both bowed out early in their conference tournaments, but much like the Huskies; not to mention BC's 20-0 start, despite their 4-4 finish.
Finally, there is Arizona, the team that reminds everyone of the Huskies of a year ago with Salim Stoudamire and Channing Frye looking more like Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor with every game. They made it to the Pac-10 championship game after winning the regular season title and lost to Washington, a No. 1 seed, in the final minutes. The point is, all four of these teams deserved to get the higher seeds, despite UConn's strong push at the end of the regular season.
Despite this, all teams have the same shot at winning the prize and having their 'One Shining Moment.' There will be upsets, something that makes this tournament as popular as it is, but lets just hope one doesn't come in the second round by a team from North Carolina, the Charlotte 49ers. UConn could be in trouble there.
The best sporting event all year has officially tipped-off, so sit back and enjoy the ride and maybe Jon Stewart and the Daily Show will be talking about this campus once again in a couple of weeks.
But not so fast my friends, to borrow a line from ESPN analyst Lee Corso, the Tournament committee handed the Huskies a No. 2 seed, one that does not seem deserving.
You could argue that if the Huskies had gone on and won the postseason tournament, the regular season co-champs of the Big East would have been deserving of that No. 2 seed. However, the fact is, they should have been eliminated by Georgetown in the quarterfinals and they still came back the next day with the same lackadaisical mentality, one that could cost them as they head into the NCAA Tournament today.
If you take a look at the rest of the field of 65, now down to 48, you can only imagine how the likes of Louisville, BC, Oklahoma and Arizona were all given seeds lower than the Huskies. Louisville, which went out and won the Conference USA crown in both the regular season and postseason tournament, did everything the committee was looking for. What were they rewarded with? A No. 4 seed to go along with their No. 4 ranking...IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!!
Boston College and Oklahoma, who each beat UConn in head to head games this season, were handed No. 4 and No. 3 seeds respectively, although they both bowed out early in their conference tournaments, but much like the Huskies; not to mention BC's 20-0 start, despite their 4-4 finish.
Finally, there is Arizona, the team that reminds everyone of the Huskies of a year ago with Salim Stoudamire and Channing Frye looking more like Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor with every game. They made it to the Pac-10 championship game after winning the regular season title and lost to Washington, a No. 1 seed, in the final minutes. The point is, all four of these teams deserved to get the higher seeds, despite UConn's strong push at the end of the regular season.
Despite this, all teams have the same shot at winning the prize and having their 'One Shining Moment.' There will be upsets, something that makes this tournament as popular as it is, but lets just hope one doesn't come in the second round by a team from North Carolina, the Charlotte 49ers. UConn could be in trouble there.
The best sporting event all year has officially tipped-off, so sit back and enjoy the ride and maybe Jon Stewart and the Daily Show will be talking about this campus once again in a couple of weeks.