1st round: W Michigan v Auburn| Thu 11/30 - 4 PM ET| ESPN+

[trojansc]

Nov 30, 2023 22:28:30 GMT -5 fightingminime said:

Nov 30, 2023 17:59:30 GMT -5 donut said:

^it really isn't.

Folks need to understand that tournament results, in a single-elimination tournament, have no impact on whether the right teams made the tournament. 

Yes. We should all just accept and no one should debate anything.

Or maybe, just maybe, we aren’t basing it on a strictly W/L result but a score (they got whomped), they looked rough (yes I watched), and we have seen other teams who we felt looked better.

My eyeball test says SOMEONE (imho a b1G team, Loyola Chicago, KSU, someone) deserved a shot over what I saw from the 7th? 8th? best team from the SEC.

Auburn tied for 4th in the SEC! They tied with Florida (split H2H) and Georgia (Auburn beat UGA twice)

They got absolutely embarrassed in one match with Arkansas and then in the other it went 5. They may just be that type of team too.

[jjweb]

Nov 30, 2023 22:34:46 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Nov 30, 2023 22:28:30 GMT -5 fightingminime said:

Yes. We should all just accept and no one should debate anything.

Or maybe, just maybe, we aren’t basing it on a strictly W/L result but a score (they got whomped), they looked rough (yes I watched), and we have seen other teams who we felt looked better.

My eyeball test says SOMEONE (imho a b1G team, Loyola Chicago, KSU, someone) deserved a shot over what I saw from the 7th? 8th? best team from the SEC.

Auburn tied for 4th in the SEC! They tied with Florida (split H2H) and Georgia (Auburn beat UGA twice)

They got absolutely embarrassed in one match with Arkansas and then in the other it went 5. They may just be that type of team too.

Arkansas played 8 out of their last 11 on the road plus played in Lexington Wednesday night the day before Thanksgiving then played in Auburn Friday at 3pm. Plus in reality the two "biggest wins" for Auburn the last two years were against teams having to play D2 setters because of injuries to their starters.

[trojansc]

Nov 30, 2023 22:57:56 GMT -5 jjweb said:

Nov 30, 2023 22:34:46 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Auburn tied for 4th in the SEC! They tied with Florida (split H2H) and Georgia (Auburn beat UGA twice)

They got absolutely embarrassed in one match with Arkansas and then in the other it went 5. They may just be that type of team too.

Arkansas played 8 out of their last 11 on the road plus played in Lexington Wednesday night the day before Thanksgiving then played in Auburn Friday at 3pm. Plus in reality the two "biggest wins" for Auburn the last two years were against teams having to play D2 setters because of injuries to their starters.

Do you have any excuses for the SMU-Florida State wins? Me defending Auburn feels filthy. But I don't get what the argument is here. Should Georgia have not gotten in? Of course, they could beat a very good ASU team tomorrow.

Auburn looks awful at times and hangs with big dogs/gets at least 'decent' wins with quality teams.

[fightingminime]

Nov 30, 2023 23:04:22 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Nov 30, 2023 22:57:56 GMT -5 jjweb said:

Arkansas played 8 out of their last 11 on the road plus played in Lexington Wednesday night the day before Thanksgiving then played in Auburn Friday at 3pm. Plus in reality the two "biggest wins" for Auburn the last two years were against teams having to play D2 setters because of injuries to their starters.

Do you have any excuses for the SMU-Florida State wins? Me defending Auburn feels filthy. But I don't get what the argument is here. Should Georgia have not gotten in? Of course, they could beat a very good ASU team tomorrow.

Auburn looks awful at times and hangs with big dogs/gets at least 'decent' wins with quality teams.

I don't think Auburn or Georgia should have gotten in. So there's that.

The "RPI" push from beating Florida after injuries is a false bubble and we all know it.

And none of this is because I think a team got left out that would have made it to the sweet 16. I just .. don't like RPI. And hate how it influenced the picks.

[trojansc]

Nov 30, 2023 23:28:53 GMT -5 fightingminime said:

Nov 30, 2023 23:04:22 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Do you have any excuses for the SMU-Florida State wins? Me defending Auburn feels filthy. But I don't get what the argument is here. Should Georgia have not gotten in? Of course, they could beat a very good ASU team tomorrow.

Auburn looks awful at times and hangs with big dogs/gets at least 'decent' wins with quality teams.

I don't think Auburn or Georgia should have gotten in. So there's that.

The "RPI" push from beating Florida after injuries is a false bubble and we all know it.

And none of this is because I think a team got left out that would have made it to the sweet 16. I just .. don't like RPI. And hate how it influenced the picks.

They didn't need to beat Florida to get in though, but I guess the committee probably should have left Florida State out too.

I mean, Texas State got destroyed by SMU today (a team that Auburn beat too).. I'm sure you're already aware of Stephen F. Austin.. JMU got absolutely rolled by Baylor. I just think it's a weird take.

The other ranking systems don't have Auburn as 'bad' - 40s in both Massey/Pablo, which, they have Washington ahead of Auburn, though Washington beat like nobody all year. Interestingly, Pablo thinks UCSB shouldn't have made the tournament (as well as the 3 Sun Belt at-larges)

[trojansc]

Besides Auburn being a qualified team (in terms of W/L if nothing else)... I think this all might be a little disrespectful to a Western Michigan team that probably most of the people attacking Auburn have never watched before today.

Auburn has shown to be a team that can get down early and.... stay.. down. Far down.

[fightingminime]

Nov 30, 2023 23:41:54 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Nov 30, 2023 23:28:53 GMT -5 fightingminime said:

I don't think Auburn or Georgia should have gotten in. So there's that.

The "RPI" push from beating Florida after injuries is a false bubble and we all know it.

And none of this is because I think a team got left out that would have made it to the sweet 16. I just .. don't like RPI. And hate how it influenced the picks.

They didn't need to beat Florida to get in though, but I guess the committee probably should have left Florida State out too.

I mean, Texas State got destroyed by SMU today (a team that Auburn beat too).. I'm sure you're already aware of Stephen F. Austin.. JMU got absolutely rolled by Baylor. I just think it's a weird take.

The other ranking systems don't have Auburn as 'bad' - 40s in both Massey/Pablo, which, they have Washington ahead of Auburn, though Washington beat like nobody all year. Interestingly, Pablo thinks UCSB shouldn't have made the tournament (as well as the 3 Sun Belt at-larges)

I like Pablo. *shrug*

I know its not perfect. I just think at some point, beyond team number 6 in a power conference finish, teams number 7 and 8 better really show out so there is no arguement why they are there. I mean heck .. just put up a little saucy fight like Southern Alabama did against GT.

[fightingminime]

Nov 30, 2023 23:48:06 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Besides Auburn being a qualified team (in terms of W/L if nothing else)... I think this all might be a little disrespectful to a Western Michigan team that probably most of the people attacking Auburn have never watched before today.

Auburn has shown to be a team that can get down early and.... stay.. down. Far down.

I have watched WMU. Both live and on strems. Simkins is a boss.

I picked WMU to win the match. They are good this year. And they have had a chance to show that and I am happy for them.

I had watched Auburn once earlier this year. Much earlier.


I am trying to finish watching the Hope (DIII) seminfinal match. But I don't know if my Michigan butt can stay awake.

[trojansc]

Nov 30, 2023 23:48:07 GMT -5 fightingminime said:

I like Pablo. *shrug*

I know its not perfect. I just think at some point, beyond team number 6 in a power conference finish, teams number 7 and 8 better really show out so there is no arguement why they are there. I mean heck .. just put up a little saucy fight like Southern Alabama did against GT.

Well, Pablo would have had Auburn in (but not South Alabama). South Alabama also got outscored by about the same margin as Auburn, and, South Alabama lost to Auburn earlier this year. (but I think South Alabama shouldn't be completely judged on its NCAA match due to its missing players/injuries)

How do you feel about Texas A&M's performance against Texas (a team who finished 2-8 in the SEC). I thought they looked tournament worthy - even though they had some poor stretches of play.

[vbshrink]

Nov 30, 2023 22:57:56 GMT -5 jjweb said:

Nov 30, 2023 22:34:46 GMT -5 trojansc said:

Auburn tied for 4th in the SEC! They tied with Florida (split H2H) and Georgia (Auburn beat UGA twice)

They got absolutely embarrassed in one match with Arkansas and then in the other it went 5. They may just be that type of team too.

Arkansas played 8 out of their last 11 on the road plus played in Lexington Wednesday night the day before Thanksgiving then played in Auburn Friday at 3pm. Plus in reality the two "biggest wins" for Auburn the last two years were against teams having to play D2 setters because of injuries to their starters.

While I am completely sympathetic to the overall point of this post, the last match vs UK was in Fayetteville, not Lexington. Otherwise, carry on.

[kevinmalone]

Auburn has been a very medium team this year and basically have won the social media battle to promote themselves and their head coach. Who have they really beaten all year long? Basically no one. After Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas and maybe Florida on a good day is anyone scared to play a SEC team?

[fightingminime]

Dec 1, 2023 9:55:18 GMT -5 kevinmalone said:

Auburn has been a very medium team this year and basically have won the social media battle to promote themselves and their head coach. Who have they really beaten all year long? Basically no one. After Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas and maybe Florida on a good day is anyone scared to play a SEC team?

Not WMU.

[gibbyb1]

Dec 1, 2023 9:55:18 GMT -5 kevinmalone said:

Auburn has been a very medium team this year and basically have won the social media battle to promote themselves and their head coach. Who have they really beaten all year long? Basically no one. After Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas and maybe Florida on a good day is anyone scared to play a SEC team?

Because the NCAA is heavily influenced by social media campaigns.

[trojansc]

Dec 1, 2023 9:55:18 GMT -5 kevinmalone said:

Auburn has been a very medium team this year and basically have won the social media battle to promote themselves and their head coach. Who have they really beaten all year long? Basically no one. After Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas and maybe Florida on a good day is anyone scared to play a SEC team?

TIL the CO-ACC Champions are a nobody. SMU is a nobody. Speaking of other SEC teams, I guess Georgia Tech is a nobody too.

I'm fine with SEC teams not making the tournament. But can these other mighty teams PLEASE stop losing to them?     

[trojansc]

Maybe Mississippi State should have gotten the bid instead. They beat both Auburn & WMU!