Tourney History: 3 seeds are 102-18 against 14 seeds

[OUHoops]

...

@mhouckOU: 3 seeds are 102-18 vs. 14 seeds since NCAA field expanded to 64 in 1985 (55-5 last 15 years). 14 Mercer beat 3 Duke last year. #Sooners

@OU_MBBall: This is the 11th time in school history the #Sooners have earned a No. 3 seed or higher (last time was 2009 with a No. 2 seed).

 

[jackson_supersooner]

Let's make sure to make it 103

 

[usedtobe1]

I remember when we were a 4 seed and lost to #13 Manhattan coached by Fran Fraschilla (familiar name?) in Kelvin Sampson's first season in 1995. Score was 77-67. Upsets can happen although I don't think it will this time.

 

[Zimwillett]

It's definitely splitting hairs, but if you look at their resume, Albany is more in line with the #15 seeds than the #14s. North Dakota State had a better RPI and SOS and played in a better conference. NDSU arguably deserved this 14 slot, but the committee may have had to switch them with Albany to avoid a rematch from last year's tournament.

In the end, this is probably pretty irrelevant, but if you're willing to view Albany more like a 15 than a 14, the percentages are even more in OU's favor (95%).

 

[DenverSooner]

I remember when we were a 4 seed and lost to #13 Manhattan coached by Fran Fraschilla (familiar name?) in Kelvin Sampson's first season in 1995. Score was 77-67. Upsets can happen although I don't think it will this time.

That team was a perfect match up for a mid major. Abercrombie was an undersized post. The bench was very thin. They over achieved all season.

This year OU has five guys that can score. OU can score in the paint or from the perimeter. All three guards can go to the rim. Buddy is a star much like Minor was in 1995 but his surrounding cast is better in my opinion. I will be very surprised it OU does not handle Albany.

 

[usedtobe1]

That team was a perfect match up for a mid major. Abercrombie was an undersized post. The bench was very thin. They over achieved all season.

This year OU has five guys that can score. OU can score in the paint or from the perimeter. All three guards can go to the rim. Buddy is a star much like Minor was in 1995 but his surrounding cast is better in my opinion. I will be very surprised it OU does not handle Albany.

I agree. Maybe something like 73-58. They don't have the game to play catchup so it's important to jump out at the start. If we get them playing faster it can be a runaway. If they get a lead, they will let the air out of the ball and make it frustrating.

 

[MercedeSooner]

They slow it down but don't defend the 3 line that well, if we can run a little high low and make some shots from deep we can pull away. On the flip side if we don't value possessions, run down and chuck up 3s while making a low percentage we could play right into their hands.

Confidant we'll win and be ahead and win this one without having that real scary moment. Our guys are really hungry.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

"2014 ... 14 seed Mercer beat 3 seed Duke last year"

2014 Time Magazine Article:
What Mercer Beating Duke Says About March Madness

http://time.com/33827/duke-mercer-ncaa-tournament-2014-march-madness-bracket/

Excerpt:

The Mercer win says even more about coaching. Mercer’s Bob Hoffman coached the pants off Krzyzewski. Down the stretch, he made chess moves on defense that gave Duke shooters fits. Mike Krzyzewski is a Hall-of-Famer, winner of four national titles, two gold medals, and pulling in $7 million a year, at least. Hoffman is well, a guy named Bob Hoffman, not making nearly as much. The best basketball coaches are often the ones who make the least. They’re scattered across the country, in high schools, junior colleges, Division III institutions. If Coach K has humility, and I think he does, he’d be the first to admit: “Big-name” coaches, like himself, are most often ridiculously overrated, and overpaid.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I remember when we were a 4 seed and lost to #13 Manhattan coached by Fran Fraschilla (familiar name?) in Kelvin Sampson's first season in 1995. Score was 77-67. Upsets can happen although I don't think it will this time.

Wow. Twenty years ago. I remember it well.

 

[sperry]

Albany is better than the typical 3 seed, but OU should obviously win comfortably.


Overall, this is the most favorable bracket imaginable. I think Nova is easily the weakest 1 seed, and while Virginia is a really good team, they're slow it down muck it up style makes them vulnerable in any game.

 

[Northbase]

Albany is better than the typical 3 seed, but OU should obviously win comfortably.


Overall, this is the most favorable bracket imaginable. I think Nova is easily the weakest 1 seed, and while Virginia is a really good team, they're slow it down muck it up style makes them vulnerable in any game.

Albany is a 13 seed.

 

[Max Power]

Albany is a 13 seed.

14

 

[Northbase]

14

LOL! Dang, I can't even get my correction correct!!!:facepalm