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DEL.ICIO.USBarnhart lets the Dogs out
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After reading Tony’s Thursday take on the NCAA tourney field, offer your thoughts:
WHO’S IN
— Illinois (20-9, RPI 32): The Illini have won five of their last six and finish the season with two winnable road games against Penn State and Iowa. Illinois is vulnerable, however, because it doesn’t have a quality win on the road.
— Old Dominion (22-7, RPI): While middle of the road teams in the big conferences are stumbling down the stretch, the Monarchs of the Colonial Athletic Association are building quite a resume. They have won 10 straight and are 6-5 against the Top 100. They also won at Georgetown by 13 (75-62) back in November.
WHO’S OUT
— Georgia (15-9, RPI 59): It’s one thing to lose on the road in the SEC, the No. 1 conference in the RPI. It’s another thing not to show up as the Bulldogs failed to do in a 67-49 loss at Ole Miss. A team cannot give the selection committee a reason to leave them out. Wednesday’s loss, plus the season-ending injury to Mike Mercer, provided two reasons to leave the Dawgs at home.
— Oklahoma State (18-8, RPI 41): Sorry Cowboys, we just can’t watch the bleeding any more. Sean Sutton’s team has lost five of its last six and was missing in action Wednesday night in an embarrassing home loss (66-46) to Texas A&M. An NCAA team should not lose by 20 on its home floor.
WHO NEEDS A WIN
— Clemson (19-7, RPI 31): The Tigers have lost seven of nine since a 17-0 start. A win tonight against surging Duke (29-7, RPI 11) would be huge for Clemson. A loss would drop the Tigers to 5-8 in the ACC.
CONFERENCE BREAKDOWN
We project that 22 of the 31 conferences will receive one bid only to the NCAA Tournament. The remaining 43 bids will be distributed as follows:
ACC (8): Boston College, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland.
Big East (6): Pittsburgh, Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame, Marquette, Villanova.
Big Ten (6): Wisconsin, Ohio State, Purdue, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State.
Big 12 (4): Texas A&M, Kansas, Texas, Texas Tech.
Colonial (2): VCU, Old Dominion
Missouri Valley (3): Southern Illinois, Creighton, Missouri State.
Mountain West (3): Air Force, UNLV, BYU.
Pac-10 (6): UCLA, Washington State, Southern Cal, Oregon, Arizona, Stanford.
SEC (5): Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Alabama.
BARNHART’S TOP 65 BY SEEDS
1-Ohio State, Florida, UCLA, North Carolina
2-Wisconsin, Kansas, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M
3-Washington State, Memphis, Southern Illinois, Georgetown
4-Butler, Duke, Air Force, Marquette
5-Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Arizona
6-Virginia, Indiana, Texas, Maryland
7-Nevada, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Tennessee
8-UNLV, Southern Cal, Creighton, Boston College
9-BYU, Michigan State, Oregon, Villanova
10-Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Notre Dame
11-Xavier, Santa Clara, Winthrop, Illinois
12-VCU, Purdue, Missouri State, Clemson
13-Davidson, Old Dominion, Holy Cross, Long Beach State
14-Akron, Vermont, Oral Roberts, TAMU-CC
15-South Alabama, Penn, Marist, Austin Peay
16-Delaware State, East Tenn. State, Weber State, Jackson State, Central Connecticut
Play-in game: Jackson State vs. Central Connecticut
Permalink | Comments (32) | Post your comment | Categories: Tony Barnhart's daily picks
Comments
By Eric
February 22, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
So…is VCU the at-large or CAA Champ?
FYI - you have 4 teams in the tournament that have lost to Appalachian State either on their home floor, or at a neutral site…yet, no mention of the Mountaineers, who have a 5-2 record against the RPI Top 100. And a 10-5 road/neutral record…
By JohninJAX
February 22, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
First of all, I am a big Georgia fan and I love the Dawgs with all of my heart. This year I have never thought Georgia was good enough to make the NCAA tourney unless they had a little luck. I think next year they should be a lock. Coach Felton is doing a great job and will have the Dawgs in the tournament on a regular basis. Good job Tony on your articles!
By Jim
February 22, 2007 01:08 PM | Link to this
Still think Vandy is in after last night, Down 27 with 10 minutes left in the game and never led the entire game.
By ZachReb
February 22, 2007 01:09 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe that you haven’t put Ole Miss as a team that has a chance to get in. They have beaten Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Miss State, LSU. They have lost to Memphis and Uconn but at the time they didn’t have one of there team leaders in Duane Curtis, he has missed the first 7 games. They are tied for first in the SEC WEST. They have 3 games left South Carolina, Alabama, and Auburn. These are definantly winnable games. Andy Kennedy has done a remarkable job with turning Ole Miss around. Remember Ole Miss was picked to be last in the SEC WEST. It’s time to give Ole Miss respect. I love the AJC, but I am tired of them not giving the Rebels respect when it is due.
By baloney
February 22, 2007 01:15 PM | Link to this
Ole Miss deserves to be in more than Georgia. Even before they blew UGA out they deserved to be in.
By GW
February 22, 2007 01:59 PM | Link to this
Why does UGA continue to bomb away with 3 pointers when they seldom make them? It sounds like a lack of discipline to me. They’ve never deserved serious consideration for the NCAA tourney.
By Ramble ON!
February 22, 2007 02:34 PM | Link to this
THE SEC stinks people, deal with it!!!! Stick to your lady sports.
By Matt
February 22, 2007 02:56 PM | Link to this
Excellent job with the picks Tony. Its by far the fairest and most balanced Í’ve seen so far; both teams and seeds. Its about time someone had more than three Big Ten teams and Ohio State as a number one. The only things I disagree with are Clemson being in (I just think they need a big win somewhere down the stretch to justify their inclusion), and Texas Tech instead of Ok. State. Other than those solid job.
By ZachReb
February 22, 2007 03:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Ramble On , Everybody know’s that the SEC is the most powerful conference in the majority of sports. By the way you stink because you don’t know what you are talking about. Think before you make a comment smartguy.
By Rebeldawg
February 22, 2007 03:51 PM | Link to this
To all Ole Miss fans out there just remember that we were projected to be last place in the SEC West if not last in the conference. With that said, why should Tony give us respect. He was probably one of those who picked the Rebs to finish last. By giving Ole Miss credit now, he would be discrediting himself. And who out there wants to admit they were wrong? Also, given our low expectations this year, 2 home games in the NIT would also be good for the program considering our recent history. All the Rebs can do from here on out is win and hope a sportswriters bias doesn’t get in the way of a tourney bid (that is if we don’t win the SEC tourney).
By Brian Jones TECH FAN
February 22, 2007 03:51 PM | Link to this
LETS start by saying ramblin on your a damn idiot all sec and acc teams should be in tourny because both conf. are tough game in and game out. So please do what most of you other tech fans who nevr played a sport in your life need to do and worry about engineering. As a long time tech fan I have come to realize that most tech fans are the dorks that uga fans talk about. so with that said is uga a great basketball team no but neither is tech but they are both talented enough to win in the tourny because of there athletes. I would rather see uga vs nc state in the first round than uga vs flordia atlantic. so ramble go write your blogs and beat down hewitt and chan till they do something good you ignorant boob
By Eric
February 22, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this
If every ACC and SEC team made the tournament…why even have a regular season? What would be the motivation to show up for a regular season game…play hard…leave it all on the floor?
Pride? BS…the only reason those kids play hard is to win the National Title…and the only punishment you have for those kids not meeting expectations is to not get to play for that trophy. You insult every team that played hard, executed, and won by letting these B.S. mediocre teams like UGA, Tech, Texas Tech, and Michigan into the tourney…
By Ramble ON!
February 22, 2007 04:49 PM | Link to this
Brian Jones TECH FAN if you call someone an idiot, you should learn to compose a sentence and spell. It’s called creditability, clearly a fleabag impersonating a GT fan. You want to see UGA vs. NCST. Well you need to get back on your x-box, because NCST is not going to the NIT. Your buddy, the ignorant boob.
ZackREB I forgot the SEC created the plant in 6 days, and rest on the seventh. My bad.
By dbo
February 22, 2007 05:06 PM | Link to this
SEC is a joke. Florida is really good. Kentucky is above average. The rest are average at best. ACC is the cream of the crop. They deserve 9 in the tourney. They are followed closely by the Big 11 then Pac-10. SEC deserves 4 teams at most.
By ZachReb
February 22, 2007 05:33 PM | Link to this
Ramble On, learn to spell dumb boy my name is Zach. We shall see whether or not Tech will make the big dance. I personally like Georgia Tech basketball, they are my favorite ACC team. But I am an SEC fan, I graduated from Ole Miss and I think they have just as good of a chance Tech has in making the big dance, especially after their late season surge. Right now we are 18 and 9 with three winnable games left. If we win the SEC West plus one game in the SEC tourney, we are in. Mark my words. Go Rebs
By Joe Morgan
February 22, 2007 06:15 PM | Link to this
The power of Blogs…more opinions to wipe my -ss with. Projection is not factual or final. Get over it you ole miss fans. Do you think Barnhart or the AJC calls the shots??? If you are tied for first in the SEC West, you’ll probably get in and if you don’t…it won’t be b/c Tony Barnhart projected so.
BTW: ACC and Big East are strongest basketball conferences right now. From top to bottom, probably Pac 10 or ACC. If you take my opinion to heart, then you have some serious problems in life.
By Ramble ON!
February 22, 2007 06:57 PM | Link to this
Sorry Zach, Ole Miss is Alright, did you notice I missed spelled planet too?
We will be there, maybe we’ll get the chance to play you…if you’re there.
By randy
February 22, 2007 07:10 PM | Link to this
watch! georgia will stiil make the big dance!
By fuschnickens
February 22, 2007 09:28 PM | Link to this
Randy, isn’t it hilarious that there are all these people talking like the dawgs season is over…mark it down, dawgs will hold serve at home then win one in the conference tourney and they’re friggin’ in like flynn…
By JimHerrick
February 23, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Randy, The only dance they are making is if they crash the Senior Prom at Athens High School.You should have kept me and my son. We were the answer!!!!
By JJ
February 23, 2007 01:15 AM | Link to this
Tony, you act like this is some revelation that just happened after UGA lost to Ole Miss. You have never had UGA in the tournament on any daily list that I’ve read. Fact is, before the loss to Ole Miss they were firmly in, and can easily jump back in by beating MSU this weekend.
By a tech guy
February 23, 2007 01:17 AM | Link to this
zachreb you say that the rebels are in the same boat as tech, I gotta ask how do u get that siuation, considering the teams you mentioned you lost we beat, pretty convincingly in memphis and uconn. I hope you guys make the dance, but in the same boat i don’t think so.
By Thomas
February 23, 2007 04:50 AM | Link to this
I cannot beleive I just wasted five minutes on the Barnhardt column and the some of the blogs - the ones from Junior High School kids who cannot spell credibility or Harrick. Ugh. Damn, I guess the Dawgs should not bother even playing the next three games or the SEC tourney, Tony said they won’t make the tourney because of the Ole Miss blowout. So, if they had lost the last four games by slim margins they are in? Not to be crude Tony, but you suck. Your as bad as John Kerry. However, your quote would be “I predicted UGA football would beat Tech before I predicted they would lose to them.” I think you spend more time on stupid predictions to show you have no bias for UGA or the SEC that you just come up with bizzaro crap. Why don’t you become the Big 10, Pac-10, Big 12 and Big East beat writer. I cannot beleive ESPN calls you an expert. What a waste of time and space. Call me an a* for reading your dribble.
By Red Foreman
February 23, 2007 06:25 AM | Link to this
Lets face it flea bags…
UGA = NIT
…for all the boys and girls who are not sure what NIT stands for it’s…
Not In Tournament
By Elvis Nixon
February 23, 2007 07:11 AM | Link to this
If (big if) UGA goes 9-7 in conference, they will go to the NCAA’s. They will not need a win in the SEC tourny, although this will help seeding. 9-7 teams from the top RPI conference do not get left out.
By Dave
February 23, 2007 08:32 AM | Link to this
I would agree they may be a longshot, however if you look at Alabama’s schedule, being on the easier side of the SEC, who the —— have they beaten and who have they beaten on the road? NOBODY. AT least GA has had to play Florida twice. If you finsih with a winning record in the SEC and can win one or two in the tournament, you should get in.
By Big Orange Frank
February 23, 2007 08:58 AM | Link to this
Ole Miss deserves alot of credit. I think they are at worst, a team on the bubble. They have quality wins against quality teams. They are certainly worthy of strong consideration. I also resent folks saying that certain teams are a “lock” if they have only 16, 17, 18, or 19 wins. Anything can happen, not just with the remaining games and conference tourneys, but also with injuries. Go Vols.
By Matt
February 23, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Hey Red, it’s pretty obvious to me that Tech’s so bad this year that they’ll miss both tournaments. At least we’ll be playing somewhere instead of sitting in our dorm rooms trying to figure out how to hack into a government computer.
By Rebeldawg
February 23, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
I never said Tony or the AJC picked who was in the tourney. However, I do feel that the selection panel puts weight on how a team was projected to do before the season started. History shows this as many pre-season top 25 teams who did not live up to expectations during the regular season make the tourney with sub-par records. Georgia Tech is in the same boat this year. Pre-season #22 with a loosing conference record is considered on the bubble more so than Ole Miss who has a winning conference record. And if you try to start this ACC is tougher than SEC crap then grow up. They are at the very least equally tough this year.
By JustMe
February 23, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!
Which crack pipe is he smoking? Where in the world does it say that the SEC has the #1 RPI??? I just looked it up on the internet and the highest ranking I see for the SEC is #3!!!!
In every case, the ACC is ranked #1, by far, ahead of any #2 conference!
By JustMe
February 23, 2007 01:02 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe that ugay fans are still thinking that an SEC team with only 15 wins (ugay) has a shot at the NCAA tourney. If ignorance (more likely stupidity) is bliss, you guys must be giddy!!!!
By jc_dawg
February 23, 2007 08:23 PM | Link to this
I’d have to agree but I think that…as of right now… Ole Miss should be in the tournament and not Al.
IMHO….Ga is #7 in the sec right now. Furthermore…I believe they will take 6 out of the sec this year.
Dawgs still have a chance. If they win 3 of the next 4(this includes 1 sec tourney game) they are in. I dont care who is injured or how badly they lose the 1 game. They are in if they win 3 of there next 4…mark it down!