First Seed Distances

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 28, 2008 12:06 PM CST

I wanted to assemble some concrete numbers on the schools distance to the regional sites. So using Google maps, this is what Ive got. Note: These are technically "driving" distances, but it should still give a good idea.

UNC - Chapel Hill:
Houston - 1173 mi
Detroit - 695 mi
Phoenix - 2193 mi
Charlotte - 143 mi

Duke - Durham
(close enough to Chapel Hill, see above)

Memphis - Memphis:
Houston - 568 mi
Detroit - 742 mi
Phoenix - 1471 mi
Charlotte - 635 mi

Texas - Austin:
Houston - 165 mi
Detroit - 1388 mi
Phoenix - 1006 mi
Charlotte - 1213 mi

Tennessee - Knoxville:
Houston - 568 mi
Detroit - 512 mi
Phoenix - 1861 mi
Charlotte - 246 mi

UCLA - Los Angeles:
Houston - 1546 mi
Detroit - 2281 mi
Phoenix - 372 mi
Charlotte - 2427 mi

Kansas - Lawrence:
Houston - 758 mi
Detroit - 830 mi
Phoenix - 1321 mi
Charlotte - 1014 mi

These are what I would consider the top front runners for #1 seeds. As I previously stated, looking at these numbers, I am really rooting for UCLA to get a #1 seed. As to how the assignment process exactly happens, no one is very clear on. But I would think it would be difficult to justify sending UCLA anywhere but Phoenix, especially given the rest of the field. On the flip side, if UCLA does not get a #1 seed, I would think its a pretty safe bet that Texas heads off to Phoenix.

The only possible one to go to Phoenix over us, if UCLA doesn't get a #1, would be Kansas. However Kansas makes a more logical choice to go to Detroit judging by the numbers, which again sends us to Phoenix. Not to mention with their recent work, I wouldn't hold my breath in KU reclaiming a #1.

So what to root for?

For me, I want the following to happen.

Texas wins out. Rooting for a loss for your own team is just silly, Houston or not.

UCLA wins out. Our best chance to not go to Phoenix is UCLA.

Memphis lose another. I think they are a lock for a #1, even with another loss, but putting them on more equal footing with us come deciding time could factor to our advantage.

Tennessee to win out. I think they represent the best shot at being a good fit in Detroit.

UNC to beat Duke. I root for all Roy Williamses.

So to summarize, our best Houston shot, in my opinion, lies in Texas, UCLA, Memphis (with another loss) and Tennessee getting #1 bids, which would hopefully lead to Houston, Phoenix, Charlotte, Detroit, respectively. If it looks like all the above is going to happen, I reserve the right to change my stance on #5 to better Texas' Houston chances.

Thoughts?

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Comments

Kansas

I think it would be in our best interest, as far as getting to Houston, to stay ahead of Kansas. If they end up a first seed, they could very well end up in Houston. If we are seeded lower, then I think chances are we are going somewhere else to keep the in-conference competition to a minimum.

TWC

by TWC on Feb 28, 2008 12:32 PM CST 0 recs

From PB's JL interview,

The committee goes one team at a time, starting with No. 1 overall, and sends each team in turn to the closest available location (provided no other bracketing principles, such as meeting a team from your own conference, come into play).

So if the #1's ahead of Texas have all been assigned, and Houston is still open, we'll go to Houston, lock it in, wrap it up. The only way I see us not in Houston is if Memphis or Kansas is a higher overall seed than us, and the committee wants to go with raw distance, and not give us a 70-80 mile break. Really, there's no difference in Memphis going to Charlotte or Houston, and there's no difference in Kansas going to Detroit or Houston, so they could easily be nice and let us have Houston. I see no need to punish us with 800 extra miles to save the "higher" #1 seed 80 miles, when they already have to go 700. Their advantage is basically the same either way, so why not send Texas to the best location?

Go boom, mothers. Please, just go boom.

by Horn Brain on Feb 28, 2008 12:39 PM CST 0 recs

Thats what I mean by not knowing exactly

When you get into those grey areas...

Is 70 miles a big enough difference for a higher seed to give a lower seed 700 more miles? Is overall consideration taken into account? How much?

If UCLA is the last #1 and we are the third, do we get Phoenix (300 miles closer) and they get boned to Detroit?

I dont know.

Best course is to hope Memphis is a lot closer to us than ahead of us, in anyone's mind. And Let UCLA have the West.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 28, 2008 12:43 PM CST up 0 recs

Memphis

Even if UCLA gets the #1 seed (and go to Phoenix), I don't see how it can help us unless Memphis loses another one. If we end up being #1 seed anyways, we might end up in Detroit or Charlotte.
In my mind, it doesn't matter where UCLA goes. Heck, it doesn't matter what Tenn and UNC do as well. As long as Memphis is higher than us, we are not getting Houston region.
My conclusion: root for Memphis to lose to UAB or in the C-USA tourney. That's it.

by horns430 on Feb 28, 2008 1:02 PM CST 0 recs

Memphis dropping one

Could be the biggest factor, you are right. Again I dont know how the gray area works. Is their 70 miles worth our 840?

I dunno, but I would find it really hard to think that Memphis, Tenn, UNC, or Duke would go to Phoenix over us. The closest one in that group is 1500 miles away...

Our best chance imo, is for both Memphis to lose, and UCLA to get a #1. I wouldnt get caught up in the order I put those in being an absolute.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 28, 2008 1:24 PM CST up 0 recs

I think Memphis should choose Detroit because...

both cities are kinda slums. They would feel more at home in Detroit than in Houston.

"I asked Darrell Royal, why he didn't recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good." W Garrison Oklahoma State

by 512 on Feb 28, 2008 1:12 PM CST 0 recs

I asked just now..

David (Austin, TX): If Memphis (1) and Texas (2) end up both being top two overall seeds in that order, what are the chances that the selection committee will put Memphis to Charlotte and send Texas to Houston? Because it would cost Texas 800+ miles to go anywhere else, yet it would only cost Memphis 80 miles to switch from Houston to Charlotte geographically.

Andy Glockner: (2:30 PM ET ) I think it's more likely one of them would end up in Detroit, as the ACC winner has a very good chance to end up in Charlotte as the 1-seed.
---------------------------------------------

So it looks like Charlotte will be "dedicated" to the ACC champions (Duke or UNC). It's that conference politics again... In other words, if we go to Houston, Memphis will be sent to Detroit (not to Charlotte) in order to give ACC champ a better spot. It kind of makes sense. It looks more and more likely that our only chance for Houston would be for Memphis to lose.

by horns430 on Feb 28, 2008 1:41 PM CST 0 recs

That makes it sound like

There is more of a global consideration for locations., not just a run down of overall number 1, overall number 2 etc... Which is obviously good for us as anywhere but Houston is ass far.

That also makes UCLA important as well, to keep everyones travel down, UCLA needs to nab Phoenix.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Feb 28, 2008 2:05 PM CST up 0 recs

My interpretation

of Lunardi's comment is gonna be unsettling to those of us preferring the Houston bracket...

Joe Lunardi, ESPN.com - The committee goes one team at a time, starting with No. 1 overall, and sends each team in turn to the closest available location

That to me says they take the #1 overall seed and slot them in the closest region, and then they move on to the #2 overall seed. That would put Memphis on the #1 line in Houston without evaluating the other 3 #1 seeds. I would love to be wrong on this one...

(Sorry for the double post but it looks more relevant here)

by Horndogger on Feb 28, 2008 2:16 PM CST 0 recs

If Houston #1 is that unlikely

As a lot of people seem to think, doesn't it behoove us to tank one of our final games in order to solidify a #2 (and a better chance at Houston)?

And yes, I used the term behoove because Longhorns have hooves.

by Meekrob on Feb 28, 2008 2:21 PM CST 0 recs

Eff that.

No losing.

Ever again.

We got enough of that from football.

Go boom, mothers. Please, just go boom.

by Horn Brain on Feb 28, 2008 2:29 PM CST up 0 recs

Barnes would

never get his team to tank a game. There's a good chance of a rematch with Kansas in th Big XII Tourney, and that could be a loss. There is no guarantee that we run the table the rest of the way.

So what if I'm tired? I can rest when I die.

by mmorales11 on Feb 28, 2008 4:01 PM CST up 0 recs

I'm still convinced

Barnes likes him team to win no more than two games in the Big 12 tournament. After that he tells them to tank it. Keeps them fresh for the NCAA's.

At least, that's my explanation for why they've never won it.

by gwh65 on Feb 28, 2008 4:33 PM CST up 0 recs

I don't wanna hear about it.

I just wanna get better.

And never go to Houston unless you absolutely have to.

by whills on Feb 28, 2008 10:30 PM CST 0 recs

I think realistically, Texas can pass Memphis...

in the polls by merely continuing the winning path they are on. So what if Memphis wins out, they are merely a Hawaii who has some serious talent but you give them a good spot(BCS Bowl Game) and they embarrass you for putting them there. They shouldnt get any real reward because they have not beaten enough significant opponents.

If Texas wins the next 3 games and goes into the Big 12 torunament and wins at least a couple, I think we will pass Memphis in the polls. Memphis can and probably still will be a #1 seed, but we got dibs on Houston.

p.s.: screw the ACC. I hope Big 12 teams kick the crap out of some ACC this year.

"I asked Darrell Royal, why he didn't recruit me and he said: "Well, Walt, we took a look at you and you weren't any good." W Garrison Oklahoma State

by 512 on Feb 29, 2008 8:41 AM CST 0 recs