NCAA basketball teams across the country gathered in front of televisions today to see the latest unveiling of bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s seeding projections for the NCAA tournament. The picks are Lunardi’s 16th edition of the season, the first coming back on November 7th before the season even tipped.
“This is pretty huge,” said Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin of the analyst’s projection. “In November he had us as the 11-seed in the West, then by early February we were the 3-seed in the East and then a few days ago he had us as the 4-seed in the South. What will today bring? We can hardly handle the suspense. Where will we be theoretically playing and against who according to one guy? AAAH! I can’t stand it!”
Cronin admits the big swings in seedings and region have made it difficult for his team to focus throughout the season.
“That’s how it is for all teams, though,” he said. “Every coach deals with this. You call a timeout late in the game and a kid says: ‘Coach, if we hit this shot, do you think we have a chance at being projected as a 3-seed in the East or possibly the 2-seed in the Midwest? And if not by Joe Lunardi, then maybe by that guy with CBS Sports with the hair?’ I hear that pretty much every game. And I can’t blame them. I think about it, too.”