Spartans need one more win to complete 'Darkhorse Dream'

[volfan2024]

Beat them Tarheels! No media experts picked this one.

 

[volfan2024]

Obviously the path of least resistance paid off for UNC last night. I think MSU was too tired to tango after taking on the likes of Kansas and UConn.

 

[notverycrucial]

Obviously the path of least resistance paid off for UNC last night. I think MSU was too tired to tango after taking on the likes of Kansas and UConn.

The path of least resistance? What do you mean?

 

[BigPapaVol]

The path of least resistance? What do you mean?

I think he means that MSU never had any prayer of beating UNC, regardless of circumstances.

 

[notverycrucial]

I think he means that MSU never had any prayer of beating UNC, regardless of circumstances.

Oh, I thought he was trying to make a point that UNC had an easier path to the championship compared to previous champions. Because that would be wrong. This year's team actually had the fourth most difficult path to the championship since the field expanded in 1985.

Most Difficult Paths to Championship Since 1985

Year...Champion.....1st..2nd..3rd....4th...5th...6th...SUM
1985 Villanova.......(9)...(1)...(5)...(2)...(2)...(1).......20
1993 N.Carolina....(16)...(8)...(4)...(2)...(2)...(1).......33
2003 Syracuse.....(14)...(6)..(10)...(1)...(1)...(2)......34
2009 N.Carolina....(16)...(8)...(4)...(2)...(3)...(2).......35

Source: http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_final4/2009/02Final Four.pdf

 

[BigPapaVol]

Oh, I thought he was trying to make a point that UNC had an easier path to the championship compared to previous champions. Because that would be wrong. This year's team actually had the fourth most difficult path to the championship since the field expanded in 1985.

Most Difficult Paths to Championship Since 1985

Year...Champion.....1st..2nd..3rd....4th...5th...6th...SUM
1985 Villanova.......(9)...(1)...(5)...(2)...(2)...(1).......20
1993 N.Carolina....(16)...(8)...(4)...(2)...(2)...(1).......33
2003 Syracuse.....(14)...(6)..(10)...(1)...(1)...(2)......34
2009 N.Carolina....(16)...(8)...(4)...(2)...(3)...(2).......35

Source: http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_final4/2009/02Final Four.pdf

I don't like that math. It assumes that all 2s, 3s and 16s are created equal, which we all know isn't the case.

 

[VolDad]

Obviously the path of least resistance paid off for UNC last night. I think MSU was too tired to tango after taking on the likes of Kansas and UConn.

You could also say that it proves the game earlier in the year was not a fluke.

 

[notverycrucial]

I don't like that math. It assumes that all 2s, 3s and 16s are created equal, which we all know isn't the case.

True, but it's the only objective measurement we have.

 

[dickens821]

True, but it's the only objective measurement we have.

But it's not objective because seedings aren't objective.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[notverycrucial]

But it's not objective because seedings aren't objective.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Still, it's the most objective measure we have.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Still, it's the most objective measure we have.

any objective measure that tries to make this field out to be difficult to best is a very poor one.

 

[notverycrucial]

any objective measure that tries to make this field out to be difficult to best is a very poor one.

I'm not sure that this year's field of 64 was any less difficult than last year's field, but that's not how championships are measured anyway (not that you said they were).