Updated DPPI and Seeding (Does KU deserve a 1 seed?)

Does KU deserve a 1 seed. That depends entirely on what your criteria are. Is KU likely one of the best 4 teams in the country. I would say almost definitively no. I have Villanova as the top team with Virginia 2nd. But here is where my DPPI will differs from the criteria of the selection committee. My DPPI is intended to be predictive of outcome. It does not reward a wion purely because it is a win since the fact of the win is not as improtant to predictive accuracy as the scoring margin or the way they play (consistency, get tougher when the competition is tougher, etc.) If you are rewarding seeding, it should be (in my opinion) more heavily weighted on winning. And when it comes to winning KU has done that. They won the Big 12. KU has defeated 13 top 50 teams. That is tied with North Carolina dn only 1 behind fellow No. 1 seed Virginia. Louisville has defeated 12 and 4 teams are tied with 11. Louisville has also lost to and UNC has lost to 8. KU has the second best record (13-2) to Virginia (14-2). As for top 25, Kansas has the most wins and the best record. KU has defeated 6 top 25 teams which is tied with North Carolina. But KU has lost only once compared to North Carolina's 4 losses. Duke, by the way, is 4-3. Kansas has not played a top 10 DPPI team and you can't penalize them for that. So I'd say there is nothing that can keep KU off the one line at this point. It is a fait accompli even though I have them as the 10th best team in the country. As for Xavier, that is a much tougher sell. I have Xavier as the 11th best team in the country and the composite of all computers had them at 7 before their loss to Providence. By my DPPI, they are 1-2 against top 10 teams, 3-2 against top 25 teams and 8-2 against top 50 teams. Xavier is a nice team but I would not have them on the 1 line. So if Virginia and Villanova are no-brainers and KU seems to have the CV to be on the one line, who should be the 4th 1 seed? I submit 4 teams that have the CV to make a case.

Duke -- Ranked 3rd in DPPI, 3rd in composite, 2-3 against top 10 teams, 4-3 against top 25 teams, 11-5 against top 50. They finished 2nd in the ACC and lost to NC in the semi's of the ACC tourney.

Purdue -- 4th in the DPPI, 5th in composite, 2-2 against top 10, 5-4 against top 25 and 9-4 against top 50. Sounds similar to Duke. Purdue finished 2nd in the Big 10 and lost to a strong Michigan team in the Big 10 tourney final. Based on the computer composite, the Big 10 is the 5th rated conference (ACC is 4th).

Michigan St. -- 5th in the DPPI, 6th in composite, 2-3 against top 10, 3-4 against top 25 and 6-4 against top 50. They won the Big 10 regular season and lost to the eventual champ Michigan in the semi's of the Big 10 tourney.

North Carolina -- 6th in the DPPI, 9th in composite, 3-3 against top 10, 6-4 against top 25 and 13-8 against top 50 They finished 6 games back and in a 4 way tie for third in the ACC. They are playing for the ACC championship today.

I submit that all of these teams would rank ahead of Xavier for me. North Carolina has too many losses (9) and was not competitive in the ACC regular season title. Michigan won the Big Ten and that has clout and they have only 4 losses. I would give then serious consideration for the 1 seed but Joey Brackets has them as a 3 seed so I will say it probably is not going to happen.

Purdue was 2nd in the Big Ten regular season and tourney. No championship to claim. (But neither does Xavier). They have 6 losses but KU has 7. Purdue has to be in the discussion. Duke, is Duke. They are the creme de la creme of the game and good for ratings. They have 5 1st rounders on the roster and Grayson Allen who everyone is rooting for to have a meltdown. Heck, he had another incidence in the UNC game yesterday. It was played down only because Duke owns ESPN or at least Jay (how can you doubt me) Bilas used his Duke force and said "move along, these are not the droids you are looking for." and ESPN dutifully moved along. Seriously, Duke has the best claim to the final 1 seed at this point. They have 7 losses, like Kansas, no championship but who would not love a KU Duke final four matchup? I say Duke gets the last No. 1 seed.

HE - yes, would be great if KU were in Midwest Region. I have tickets for it - naturally, I like you stated, would hate to see WSU there if KU is there. Don't want any 2015 repeats. WSU still has two games left in the AAC tourney - of course the finals end just before the selection show starts - beyond moronic IMHO. Of course, one bad game and possibly neither get past the first weekend.
CJ - Wouldn't worry about what Lunardi thinks - he is below average among bracketologists (at least in making picks - probably gets paid more than most though).
The plot thickens.

On a bit unrelated topic. I do not understand why Joe says OU who is in shambles is last 4 in and OSU who really came on late in the year is first 4 out. That makes no sense to me.

Short answer to the OP is yes. A month ago I wasn’t sure. I am now. Who is better?

Also agree on OSU. They are a much better “team” than OU.

But, Guys.....how can the team w the national player of the year be left out of the field? That could cause a national uproar.

Selections and seedlings ALWAYS prompt much conversation.