College basketball fans of area men’s programs vying for a spot in the NCAA Tournament should not expect that their teams would automatically be sent to early-round games at Denver’s Pepsi Center if those teams do not warrant high seeds.
Speaking in generalities, tournament selection committee chairman Gene Smith delivered that message Wednesday during a teleconference.
While the committee tries to avoid sending teams across the country, Smith said another important consideration is avoiding the possibility in the early rounds that a higher-seeded team would have to face a lower-seeded team that had the home crowd.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, we take geography into consideration (when placing teams),” said Smith, Ohio State’s athletic director. “That’s very important. (But) we try to make sure that our higher seeds are not put in a disadvantage relative to crowds.”
An example would be if a No. 4 seed from, say, the Big East Conference is sent to the Pepsi Center (March 17 and 19) and would draw a Colorado State, Colorado, Northern Colorado or Denver team seeded No. 13. That’s not likely to happen. The committee goes out of its way, Smith said, to “protect” the top four seeds in each region in the early rounds.
It doesn’t mean, however, that a lower-seeded local team won’t be sent to the Pepsi Center.
“I can’t tell you that in every case (the bracketing decision) is the same,” Smith said.
The expanded 68-team bracket will be announced March 13.
UNC (Big Sky Conference) and Denver (Sun Belt) likely must win their league tournaments. CSU and CU are hoping to fill at-large spots.
A misconception by fans, Smith said, is that the selection committee goes into the meeting room with an idea that a particular conference deserves a certain number of teams.
“We literally move through teams,” Smith said. “I know there is a lot of conversation about conference RPIs and all that kind of stuff. But we look at the body of work for individual teams.”
In other words, a team such as Colorado State will be evaluated on its own merit, its total body of work, and finishing third in the Mountain West Conference wouldn’t guarantee a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“Conference standings don’t really come into the conversation,” Smith said. “It still comes down to, ‘Who did you play, where did you play and how did you do?’ We don’t look at conference standings but how did a team get to their league record?”
As for what to expect in this year’s NCAA Tournament, Smith said parity should foster a lot of surprises.
“In 2008, we had four No. 1 seeds (North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis, UCLA)that for the first time in our history went right on through to the Final Four,” Smith said. “Then last year, it was a lot more unpredictable. I think that’s what this year represents.
“I think this year will be a lot more unpredictable. We have some great coaches that have emerged, great role players have emerged. So I think it will be an exciting tournament.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
