2024 Bracketology Already?

[Omahanian]

Way too soon, but what the hell. National title betting odds:

National Championship Odds.

Duke +1100
Kansas +1100
Purdue +1100
Michigan State +1500
Creighton +2000
Marquette +2000
Tennessee +2000
Kentucky +2000
Houston +2000
UConn +2200
Arizona +2500
Alabama +2500
UNC +3000
Arkansas +3000
Gonzaga +3000

Not trying to be a dick...but for having reached exactly one elite eight, in NCAA tournament existence, why does Creighton get such high media praise, clearly demonstrated in the odds flashed here? It is strange because, prior to last year, absolute Paper Tigers. I root for them, unless obviously playing my team (Xavier), but I don't know that I have ever seen a team get as much hype, praise, etc. than Creighton. Great program -- without any debate -- but weird how they can hold the best odds to win the NC out of our conference, especially considering another member actually won the GOT DAMNED THING LAST YEAR. This is not just a one year outlier, either. They constantly get sucked off by the media pundits for having a couple good seasons and, prior to that Elite 8 last year, perennial underachievers in the NCAA tourney that you could almost always pick for a R32 at best achievement.

Just my two cents that I am sure will not be well received. I only try to be logical. Make it make sense, someone.

I think you're question is fine and what I perceive as maybe frustration on your part as understandable. I probably know less about basketball than most here even though I have been a fan for over 50 years. I would guess I know the least about betting of anyone here as I don't particpate in that at all.

My uninformed take is that media hype and fan sentiment has a bit of a bandwagon effect that ebbs and flows. With just about anything, when the compliments are coming your way the hype is often greater than deserved and when the criticism is coming your way instead the negatives may be greater than deserved too.

Thanks in large part to the springboard membership in this great conference has provided to Creighton, we have come a long way. So grateful. It is really exhilarating as a fan. I don't know how the season will progress. I hope Creighton meets and surpasses all the great accolades it is getting right now. Time will tell. But opinions, media hype and betting odds (oh wait, I know absolutely nothing about betting odds) are pretty meaningless IMO as others have stated as well.

Another thing I don't know much about is your level of basketball knowledge. So I will just assume you know more than enough to enjoy the game and the great season that is unfolding. Good luck to you and Xavier. Well you know except for those times you play that little team from out here on the prairie.

[mel ott]

Jaybydna answered your question:


Three questions. Wasn't last year the first year that Creighton didn't exceed our preseason ranking (we were picked first)? Question 2: Why is Creighton overrated this year, i.e. not a top 10 team? Question 3: Name a year in the past 7 or 8 that we didn't lose a major player to injury before the tournament? I think that answers all your concerns.

He's correct on all accounts. CU is the only team that beat predicted finishes every year until last year! That should be the sole item you need to view. They have not been overrated by the media- just the opposite. Also, as he pointed out we were top 10 in the country late in a couple of seasons when we lost our top player and hurt our chances.

For not trying, you're doing a pretty good job at being a dick. Why not just enjoy the success of the conference members.

[kayako]

bracketville 11/13:

https://bracketville.wordpress.com/seed-list/

2 Marquette (6)
2 UConn (7)
3 Creighton (9)
5 Villanova (20)
11 Providence (44)
12 St. John's (47)
Xavier 1st team out
Seton Hall somewhere in the periphery

[kayako]

bracketville 11/20:

2 Marquette (6)
2 UConn (7)
3 Creighton (9)
8 Providence (31)
9 Villanova (35)

X 4th team out
Hall 7th team out
Johnnies 8th team out

[kayako]

bracketville 11/23:

https://bracketville.wordpress.com/seed-list/

1 Marquette (3)
1 UConn (4)
3 Creighton (9)
6 Villanova (24)
8 Providence (29)

Xavier 3rd out
Seton Hall 7th out
Johnnies 8th out

I'd say we're in a pretty good shape considering the slow start.

[kayako]

bracketville 11/25:

https://bracketville.wordpress.com/seed-list/

1 Marquette (3)
1 UConn (4)
4 Villanova (13)
5 Creighton (18)
9 Providence (33)
11 Xavier (44)
Somewhere in the periphery: SJU & Butler

Going by this bracket the multi-bid conferences are:

SEC 8
B12 8
BE 6
B10 6
ACC 5
PAC12 5
MWC 3
American 2
WCC 2

[kayako]

bracketville 11/27:

https://bracketville.wordpress.com/seed-list/

1 Marquette (3)
1 UConn (4)
4 Villanova (13)
5 Creighton (18)
9 Providence (33)
11 Xavier (44)

Butler 12 spots out
SJU 14 spots out

Unchanged from last update other than Butler moving up a bit.

[kayako]

Joe Lunardi 11/28:

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions

1 UConn
1 Marquette
4 Villanova
4 Creighton
10 Providence
11 Xavier

[kayako]

bracketville 11/27:

1 Marquette (3)
1 UConn (4)
4 Villanova (13)
5 Creighton (18)
9 Providence (33)
11 Xavier (44)

Butler 12 spots out
SJU 14 spots out

And 4 weeks later it's looking a little worse

bracketville 12/26:

https://bracketville.wordpress.com/seed-list/

2 UCONN (5)
2 Marquette (6)
6 Villanova (22)
6 Creighton (24)
7 Providence (25)

Butler 1st team OUT
St. John's 6th team OUT

[kayako]

Joe Lunardi 11/28:

1 UConn
1 Marquette
4 Villanova
4 Creighton
10 Providence
11 Xavier

Lunardi's 12/26:

https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/page/bracketology/ncaa-bracketology-2024-march-madness-men-field-predictions

2 UCONN
2 Marquette
6 Villanova
6 Creighton
8 Providence
Butler 3rd team OUT
St. John's 7th team OUT