Initial Reactions to the 2018 March Madness Bracket Preview
I will try to keep my reactions to the 2018 March Madness bracket preview show short and sweet because I am less than pleased.
For some reason, North Carolina was on the #3 line when basically none of the acclaimed bracketologists had them any higher than a #4 seed. If that doesn't sketch you out, then I don't know what does. Ohio State and Tennessee both have better cases for a #3 seed than the Tar Heels.
Next and most importantly, Oklahoma somehow landed the last #4 seed (the #16 seed overall in the bracket) over Rhode Island. Not only have the Sooners lost six of their past eight games but they were only considered to be a #6 seed by CBS Sports' bracketologist Jerry Palm and a #5 seed by ESPN's Joe Lunardi. With the way that they are currently trending, the Sooners will be lucky to grab a #6 seed by Selection Sunday. Also, it was no mistake that CBS' Seth Davis and Clark Kellogg both said that Rhode Island had a strong argument for a #4 seed, while the broadcast was still live. Personally, I would have been more accepting if they had given the last #4 seed to West Virginia, the team that has already swept their season series with Oklahoma.
In the prospective bracket that Jerry Palm placed URI in, the Rams received a #5 seed in the Midwest region. Ironically, there are quite a few positives to take away from a scenario in which URI was placed in a region with the rest of these other 15 teams. Foremost, URI would earn the opportunity to play Oklahoma after they basically took their seat at the round table. Next, I do not look at any of the other teams in the region pictured below and see a team that would undoubtedly beat Dan Hurley's team. In fact, the Rams already beat Seton Hall and Florida Gulf Coast this season. Moreover, they nearly beat Alabama on the road, while playing without E.C. Matthews and having a horrendous shooting night. With all of this said, Palm claimed that the #12 seeded Loyola-Chicago would upset Rhode Island because they're "not afraid of anyone" and they upset Florida on the road this season. I'm 100% sure that Rhody MBB does not fear any team either and that they would run over the Ramblers.
For obvious reasons, the entire bracket preview show was a bummer for Rhody MBB fans. I guess everyone just has to wait until URI continues to keep winning and teams like Oklahoma keep losing so that URI can be seeded where they deserve to be seeded.
