Louisville Claims Top Overall Seed (In NCAA Tournament)

ESPN.go.com ^ | March 18, 2013 | AP

[RonPaulLives]

Louisville is the top seed in the NCAA tournament after a topsy-turvy season in college basketball, capped by another round of upsets over the weekend.

That other team from the Bluegrass State won't even get a chance to defend its national title.

While the Big East champion Cardinals surged to the top of the 68-team bracket released Sunday, joined by fellow No. 1 seeds Kansas, Indiana and Gonzaga, the school that won it all a year ago was left out of the field. Kentucky was hoping the committee would overlook a dismal performance in the Southeastern Conference tournament, but the Wildcats had to settle for a spot in the second-tier National Invitation Tournament.

"You've got to earn it each and every year," said Mike Bobinski, the Xavier athletic director who chaired the selection committee.

As if that's not bad enough for Kentucky fans, Louisville (29-5) gets to rub a little more salt in its rival's wounds by opening the tournament about 75 miles from campus on Kentucky's home court, Rupp Arena in Lexington. The Cardinals will face either Liberty or North Carolina State in a second-round game Thursday. Kentucky plays an NIT game Tuesday -- on the road because Rupp is taken for the NCAAs -- at Robert Morris.

[Night Hides Not]

The only other team I see winning it all, and it is a “suprise” team that could do the very same is Gonzaga.

I'm so proud of the young men that represent my alma mater. My youngest son & I took the opportunity to see them play (and narrowly defeated) Oklahohma State in Stillwater.

There was one thing that jumped out at me after the game: they're a group of the most down-to-earth men I've ever seen. They enjoyed taking pictures with a few of the fans that hung around to greet them after the game. The first one's my son & Kelly Olynyk, followed by Elias Harris.

I know we haven't played Kansas (yet), but we're 5-0 against the Big 12 so far this year. I like our chances...if you focus too much on Kelly, Elias will make you pay. Pangos and Bell are genuine 3 point threats, and Mike Hart will drive the opponent crazy with his offensive rebounding and defensive skills. Our bench is deep, and we've been tested at very tough venues.

[Coldwater Creek]

I agree. So many top rated teams have been knocked off by none rated ones. The little guys might actually make this tournament interesting.

[Coldwater Creek]

Traveling fans? Maybe that is the reason the my team (Memphis) actually got the seed that they deserve.

[M Kehoe]

Good morning sir. Good to see your moniker.

I was watching ESPN last night, and one of the analysts (Jay Bilas?) picks them for the Final Four!

IIRC, Bilas was the one two years ago that stated VCU shouldn't be in the Big Dance [They lost to Butler in the Final Four]. He is just hedging his bet.

Fifty percent chance of thunder storms today...

5.56mm

[Night Hides Not]

There is no stand out dominate team this year. Any one of 10 teams could potentially win this year.

Just 10? I think you could make a case for any of the top 4 seeds in each bracket. After watching some of the analysis last night, I'm really disliking the B1G, Big-10 whatever the heck you want to call it.

I know, my Zags lost to Illinois at home earlier in the year, but we've been playing pretty good ball the last 3 months, with the exception of the last 5 seconds at Butler. That loss may have helped the team forge its identity, drew them closer together. We've gone 14-0 since that point.

Not to be repetitive, but we're also 5-0 against the Big 12.

[Hotlanta Mike]

My alma mater Ohio State has avenged every loss thus far this season except for their loss at Duke and against Kansas at home (and we lost to Kansas last year in the Final Four). We’ve won 8 games in a row including 2 wins against Michigan State and 1 win against Indiana in Bloomington.

The 2 hottest teams going into the NCAA tourney are Louisville and Ohio State. Look for them to make it to Atlanta.

[for-q-clinton]

The OP is from Kentucky...since they bombed this year to him it’s a very weak season.

[woodbutcher1963]

I would think the winner will come out of the Big East. That is the strongest division this year.

Of couse, I am biased. I went to SU.

I will be happy as long as Georgetown does not win.

[Night Hides Not]

The 2 hottest teams going into the NCAA tourney are Louisville and Ohio State. Look for them to make it to Atlanta.

The Zags are riding a 14 game winning streak...not discounting UL & OSU.

[dfwgator]

So how long will it take for the Gators to choke this year?

[Night Hides Not]

Big East, Big 10 are beastly conferences this year. However, I'm quietly confident about my Zags. For the first time in years, I feel like we're peaking in time for the Dance.

I'll bet our guys hope to get another shot at Ohio State. We acquitted ourselves well in last year's tournament, and we don't have any freshmen in our 7-10 man rotation.

[SomeCallMeTim]

I thought they put entirely too much emphasis on Noel, and the lamentations of woe at his injury.

Are you kidding? The guy WAS going to be the #1 pick in the NBA draft... he's STILL probably be a top 5 pick. He was a FORCE on the inside, especially on defense. And the scary part is: he was still IMPROVING almost every game.

WITH Noel, UK was an interesting team... still not "great", by any stretch... but, scary, and getting better. And they clearly WOULD have made the tournament.

Without Noel?? They're still decent... until Caulley-Stein goes out with foul trouble.... Then, they become awful.

Not many teams in the country could lose a player like Noel without being hurt... for Kentucky? His loss was devastating.

[Night Hides Not]

I'll bet our guys hope to get another shot at Ohio State. We acquitted ourselves well in last year's tournament, and we don't have any freshmen in our 7-10 man rotation.

Slight correction...Karnowski (7'0", 300+ lbs) is a freshman. That is one big boy...I need to track down the photo I snapped of him & my son. He'll give us some productive minutes if we get in foul trouble.

He'll be the 4th big in the rotation, behind Sam Dower. Currently the 4/5 rotation is Harris/Olynyk/Dower, while the 1-3 rotation is Pangos/Bell/Hart/Stockton/Barham.

[SomeCallMeTim]

I firmly believe, UofL wouuld have won LAST year, if Kentucky didn’t have the “superstar” lineup....

The Cards, IMO, are actually BETTER this year. The defense is just as strong, but, their offense is much improved.

Most real UK fans could never bring themselves to cheer for the Cards... but, we’re from Texas. I only became a UK fan when I started writing them checks for my sons’ education.

I have no problem cheering for the home town team. :-)

[T-Bird45]

I was at that Gonzaga v. OSU game, too. I kept hoping my Cowboys would get it done but they still hadn’t gelled the way they did later in the season to defeat KU. However, I don’t begrudge Gonzaga anything as I always enjoy watching them. I first got to see them in person in Las Vegas at a holiday tournament where the Cowboys were also playing against another team. It was a good night of basketball and I was able to return to the casino sports book to collect winnings on all three games I had bet that evening. I took the over on the Gonzaga game, the Cowboys laying the points, and whoever OU played that night. It was the only time I bet in a sports book.

[RonPaulLives]

I knew you were from Texas, so I wondered how you became an UK fan, :>

[Night Hides Not]

Y'all made a LOT of noise for a game that wasn't sold out (NY's Eve). I can see why very few teams beat you at home.

Unlike some places I've been, your fans were great, and we had some good natured kibbitzing during the game. Hopefully, Marcus Smart will hang around for one more year, but I suspect that he and Kelly Olynyk will be lottery picks.

[TruBluKentuckian]

Louisville better hope they don’t have a night where the officials call the game tighter than normal. UL fouls more than any team in the NCAA with their press, they just don’t get called for it. One game with things called right and they will be in trouble.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Louisville better hope they don’t have a night where the officials call the game tighter than normal.

That's true, but... Russ Smith is like an insurance policy against that. If the refs are calling it TIGHT, you can be sure Russ will have the other team in foul trouble too!

If they only call it TIGHT on one end?? Well, most teams would be in trouble...

[WKUHilltopper]

Beat Kansas! Go Cards! WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS: 45 conference championships, third-most in NCAA history. 41 seasons with 20+ wins, sixth-most in NCAA history. 38 All-Americans, 37 national post-season appearances, 23 NCAA Tournament berths. 14th in NCAA history in all-time wins. 8th in NCAA history in all-time winning percentage.