Lunardi's way too early brackets are out

[bhoyal]

Seriously. I know it's September but he's got brackets out.

He has 10 SEC teams in and VU is not one. And not on the bubble.

Bama as a one seed. Kansas top overall seed. Auburn as a two. Lipscomb as a 15 vs Auburn. (ouch)

[mathguy]

Well, he has to earn his paycheck somehow.

If the SEC does have 10 legit tournament teams other than us, that will make it hard for us to have the season we are all hoping for. I'd like to think that we can make the tourney, or at least be well on the bubble ... but unless we are a LOT better than expected, we are not a top 25 team. I can envision a scenario in which we look like a good team, but just come up short in too many games against tough opponents.

Hopefully we are better than the national media anticipates (not usually hard to do for us) while 1 or 2 of the other SEC teams disappoint.

[bhoyal]

Well, he has to earn his paycheck somehow.

If the SEC does have 10 legit tournament teams other than us, that will make it hard for us to have the season we are all hoping for. I'd like to think that we can make the tourney, or at least be well on the bubble ... but unless we are a LOT better than expected, we are not a top 25 team. I can envision a scenario in which we look like a good team, but just come up short in too many games against tough opponents.

Hopefully we are better than the national media anticipates (not usually hard to do for us) while 1 or 2 of the other SEC teams disappoint.

With the new teams added and the SEC beating up on each other, I still don't think the league gets 10 in.

[mathguy]

With the new teams added and the SEC beating up on each other, I still don't think the league gets 10 in.

I don't follow other teams closely enough to have an opinion. The direction the selection committee has gone in over the last several years greatly favors major conferences over mid-majors, so I can easily imagine *a* conference getting 10 teams in during the new super-sized conference era. I just don't know enough to say if the current SEC is that conference.

[bhoyal]

If they can triple the number of football teams in the playoffs, when will be big dance increase from it's current format?

[VandyManners]

For me this is a throw away year. New Coach, new system and a completely new team. None of which have played together, so the chemistry may take some time. I am not expecting us to be terrible, but if we make the dance, it will be a pleasant surprise. Looking at CMB teams he has taken over, it did not take long to turn programs around, so I am going to enjoy the ride. I have pretty high expectations of what this program is going to look like in 3-5 years. I just have a feeling this is going to be the next Tim Corbin for some reason. I never had that feeling for Stallings, Drew, or Stack. I really like this guy and am very optimistic.

[mathguy]

If they can triple the number of football teams in the playoffs, when will be big dance increase from it's current format?

Good question. I know there have been talks about it, but I don't think they are able to get coaches to agree on any plan. I've heard also concerns about timing ... having too many midweek "Dayton" games sandwiched between conference tourneys and the "real tourney" could lead to bad product on the court from tired players. Having a weekend where high seeds have a "bye week" could lead to top teams being rusty after 10 days off.

Not that anyone asked (or likely even cares), but my opinion is that I would totally support an 80 team or even 96 team tournament ... if they made one of the criteria for at large selection a .500 record in conference play. Even though it may benefit Vandy some years, I have no desire to see a team finish 6-12 in the Big 10 or SEC and then see a bunch of 1st round games between teams that we know kinda stink. I'd infinitely rather see a 13-5 team from the Atlantic Sun, who is at least interesting and novel, play than a 5-13 team from the Big East playing an 8-10 team from the ACC for right to play a good team in the next round who we already know will crush them into dust because it has repeatedly happened all season long.

[AuricGoldfinger]

If they can triple the number of football teams in the playoffs, when will be big dance increase from it's current format?

Good question. I know there have been talks about it, but I don't think they are able to get coaches to agree on any plan. I've heard also concerns about timing ... having too many midweek "Dayton" games sandwiched between conference tourneys and the "real tourney" could lead to bad product on the court from tired players. Having a weekend where high seeds have a "bye week" could lead to top teams being rusty after 10 days off.

Here's one thing that would help. I've been vocal about saying the NCAA should eliminate Dayton as permanent host of the "First Four" games. They should be held in the locations where the winners will play their first and second round games. This would help keep teams fresher the first week of the tournament. For example, as it is now, a team playing Tuesday night in Dayton has to board a plane Monday morning to fly to Dayton, then the winners have to board a plane again late Tuesday night to fly to their next venue in order to play Thursday, even if it's in Los Angeles or Seattle. Just have all the games at the Thursday/Saturday and Friday/Sunday venues.

I know the Dayton community has supported the First Four games since they were first played in 2001, but it's time to move on.

[PhilipVU94]

Well, he has to earn his paycheck somehow.

If the SEC does have 10 legit tournament teams other than us, that will make it hard for us to have the season we are all hoping for. I'd like to think that we can make the tourney, or at least be well on the bubble ... but unless we are a LOT better than expected, we are not a top 25 team. I can envision a scenario in which we look like a good team, but just come up short in too many games against tough opponents.

Hopefully we are better than the national media anticipates (not usually hard to do for us) while 1 or 2 of the other SEC teams disappoint.

With the new teams added and the SEC beating up on each other, I still don't think the league gets 10 in.

I would probably take the over at 9.5. The SEC is stacked this year, so there's a lot of room for VU to improve and still be 11th or 12th. That's frustrating.

The good news is, we have some real upside both this year and in the near future. I don't know what the product will look like but it sure feels like the program is in good hands now.

[Jason94]

Well, he has to earn his paycheck somehow.

If the SEC does have 10 legit tournament teams other than us, that will make it hard for us to have the season we are all hoping for. I'd like to think that we can make the tourney, or at least be well on the bubble ... but unless we are a LOT better than expected, we are not a top 25 team. I can envision a scenario in which we look like a good team, but just come up short in too many games against tough opponents.

Hopefully we are better than the national media anticipates (not usually hard to do for us) while 1 or 2 of the other SEC teams disappoint.

With the new teams added and the SEC beating up on each other, I still don't think the league gets 10 in.

I would probably take the over at 9.5. The SEC is stacked this year, so there's a lot of room for VU to improve and still be 11th or 12th. That's frustrating.

The good news is, we have some real upside both this year and in the near future. I don't know what the product will look like but it sure feels like the program is in good hands now.

Welcome back Phillip! Been a while!