Bracketology: Risers/Fallers

Written by Daniel Evans on 20 November 2009

Before tonight I had been only updating the records on my bracketology. I felt that was the only fair way to do it until each team had at least two or three games completed. Tonight, after three top 25 showdowns, I finally changed seedings and moved teams up/down based on the results thus far. From this point on, expect the bracketology to be updated nightly (like always).

Remember: I know we are only two weeks into the season, but a lot of people love this stuff all the time. They want to know where their team stands at all times. This bracketology is based on what has happened so far, along with preseason expectations. It won’t be long before preseason expectations are factored out completely, but at this point they have to be included.

Here’s some of the risers/fallers:

Risers:

Tennessee Volunteers (2-0): The Vols move up due to a combination of their own stellar play, and Kentucky’s lackluster defense so far. I now have Tennessee projected as the SEC champs and have given them the #1 seed in the South. The other three #1 seeds remain unchanged.

Dayton Flyers (2-0): Although many haven’t noticed what Dayton has done so far (neither one of their wins was on TV), I have. Wins over Creighton and Georgia Tech has Dayton on the top five seed line. If you want to argue it, name another team with two wins that can compare to Dayton’s.

Syracuse Orange (3-0): Syracuse crushed California tonight and moved up four seed lines in the process. I didn’t see that win coming, especially after Syracuse’s poor offensive play in its first two outings. Their reward is a 5 seed in my bracket.

North Carolina Tar Heels (4-0): North Carolina, like Syracuse, benefited from a win today over Ohio State. I expected the Buckeyes to win, but outside a big Ohio State run to finish off the game, the Tar Heels were in control. UNC, a team I thought was overrated in the preseason due to last season’s title, is a #2 seed in tonight’s bracket.

Memphis Tigers (1-1): Memphis fans, it’s too early for me to say I was wrong (because were only two games into the season), but I think I was wrong about the Tigers. I’ve had them just out of all of my brackets until this update. How can I not put a team that took the nation’s #1 team to the wire as a top 7 seed? I’ve adjusted, and due to their seeding (compared to Tulsa’s) I have also made Memphis the projected Conference USA champs.

Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-1): Gonzaga fans, I think I might’ve been wrong on the Zags too. I did have Gonzaga in my field, but I had the Bulldogs as an 11 seed in the preseason. After taking #2 Michigan State to the brink, and leading most of the game, I have rewarded Gonzaga with a #8 seed.

Fallers:

Kentucky Wildcats (3-0): Kentucky is 3-0 and really, that’s all that matters, but it hasn’t been a pretty start. None of the three wins, Morehead State, Miami (OH), and Sam Houston State, have Wildcat fans pounding their chests in approval. The Wildcats three point defense has been awful and it will bite them if they don’t fix it before better competition comes calling. For now, Kentucky falls to a 3 seed.

Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-1): I feel like I should probably move Mississippi State down a few more spots (their a 7 seed) due to their opening loss to Rider, but have hesitated to do so. At this point, preseason expectations are the main reason Mississippi State is still seeded where they are.

UCLA Bruins (1-1): The Bruins opening night loss to Cal State Fullerton had me banging my head on the wall. Why did I have UCLA as a 4 seed anyway? I thought everyone was overlooking them, but I see now that they should be overlooked. I moved the Bruins down to a 6 seed, but might even adjust to move them lower soon. Someone has to make the tournament from the Pac 10, outside Washington and California, right ?