HKBear97! said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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barsad said:

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sycasey said:

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Pretty shocked that UNC got in after Louisville got stuck with an 8 seed! They still love the brand names.

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UNC was a shocker (1-12 in Quad 1 games!), but so was Texas with 19 wins.
Then Stanford and Santa Clara gets the NIT, and San Jose St. is in the NIT with only 15 wins? I guess because it's a host institution? Not sure.
But Cal and USF are the only two Bay Area schools without a dance partner.

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I've looked into it and it seems like UNC had the best advanced metrics/computer ratings were the best of the bubble teams. They had a bad record in Quad 1 because they only played teams at the top top of that quad. So I suppose that is defensible.

West Virginia is the team that almost everyone had getting in and got snubbed. In fact, they aren't in any postseason tournament! I assume they just turned down the NIT or CBC bids?

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ESPN and the rest of the media's exaggerated outrage machine are wrong about West Virginia, Indiana, Boise, etc. Their fallacy is that if Texas and UNC were not truly deserving, then someone else must deserve their places. A more realistic way of looking at it is that the bubble is full of teams that have, at best, a very weak argument for deserving a spot, and the committee has to pick two or three out of the not-really-deserving pile of teams.

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Sure, but still you can argue about who is best or most deserving of that group. Having looked deeper into it, I can't necessarily say UNC is a bad selection, as the computer metrics loved them (again, as compared to the others on the bubble).

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We can argue, but no one got "robbed". If my neighbor wins the lottery and I don't, I didn't get robbed just because he got something he didn't earn and I didn't get something I didn't earn.

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Only the first half, but UNC looking like they belong so far.

Edit: different topic - I used to root for the PAC-12 teams in the tournament each year, rooting for ACC teams just does not feel right.

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San Diego stink'n State, onceagain.

Yep, making unc look real good again.

Ugh

LOL at everyone who cried about UNC being in the tournament while not complaining about SDSU's inclusion.

HKBear97! said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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barsad said:

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sycasey said:

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Pretty shocked that UNC got in after Louisville got stuck with an 8 seed! They still love the brand names.

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UNC was a shocker (1-12 in Quad 1 games!), but so was Texas with 19 wins.
Then Stanford and Santa Clara gets the NIT, and San Jose St. is in the NIT with only 15 wins? I guess because it's a host institution? Not sure.
But Cal and USF are the only two Bay Area schools without a dance partner.

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I've looked into it and it seems like UNC had the best advanced metrics/computer ratings were the best of the bubble teams. They had a bad record in Quad 1 because they only played teams at the top top of that quad. So I suppose that is defensible.

West Virginia is the team that almost everyone had getting in and got snubbed. In fact, they aren't in any postseason tournament! I assume they just turned down the NIT or CBC bids?

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ESPN and the rest of the media's exaggerated outrage machine are wrong about West Virginia, Indiana, Boise, etc. Their fallacy is that if Texas and UNC were not truly deserving, then someone else must deserve their places. A more realistic way of looking at it is that the bubble is full of teams that have, at best, a very weak argument for deserving a spot, and the committee has to pick two or three out of the not-really-deserving pile of teams.

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Sure, but still you can argue about who is best or most deserving of that group. Having looked deeper into it, I can't necessarily say UNC is a bad selection, as the computer metrics loved them (again, as compared to the others on the bubble).

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We can argue, but no one got "robbed". If my neighbor wins the lottery and I don't, I didn't get robbed just because he got something he didn't earn and I didn't get something I didn't earn.

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Only the first half, but UNC looking like they belong so far.

Edit: different topic - I used to root for the PAC-12 teams in the tournament each year, rooting for ACC teams just does not feel right.

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Yeah, looks like the advanced metrics were right about UNC being a quality team.

The ACC winning more tournament games means more money to the conference and thus to Cal, right? Think of it that way.

sycasey said:

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HKBear97! said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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barsad said:

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sycasey said:

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Pretty shocked that UNC got in after Louisville got stuck with an 8 seed! They still love the brand names.

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UNC was a shocker (1-12 in Quad 1 games!), but so was Texas with 19 wins.
Then Stanford and Santa Clara gets the NIT, and San Jose St. is in the NIT with only 15 wins? I guess because it's a host institution? Not sure.
But Cal and USF are the only two Bay Area schools without a dance partner.

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I've looked into it and it seems like UNC had the best advanced metrics/computer ratings were the best of the bubble teams. They had a bad record in Quad 1 because they only played teams at the top top of that quad. So I suppose that is defensible.

West Virginia is the team that almost everyone had getting in and got snubbed. In fact, they aren't in any postseason tournament! I assume they just turned down the NIT or CBC bids?

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ESPN and the rest of the media's exaggerated outrage machine are wrong about West Virginia, Indiana, Boise, etc. Their fallacy is that if Texas and UNC were not truly deserving, then someone else must deserve their places. A more realistic way of looking at it is that the bubble is full of teams that have, at best, a very weak argument for deserving a spot, and the committee has to pick two or three out of the not-really-deserving pile of teams.

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Sure, but still you can argue about who is best or most deserving of that group. Having looked deeper into it, I can't necessarily say UNC is a bad selection, as the computer metrics loved them (again, as compared to the others on the bubble).

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We can argue, but no one got "robbed". If my neighbor wins the lottery and I don't, I didn't get robbed just because he got something he didn't earn and I didn't get something I didn't earn.

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Only the first half, but UNC looking like they belong so far.

Edit: different topic - I used to root for the PAC-12 teams in the tournament each year, rooting for ACC teams just does not feel right.

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Yeah, looks like the advanced metrics were right about UNC being a quality team.

The ACC winning more tournament games means more money to the conference and thus to Cal, right? Think of it that way.

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UNC has talent. They did not perform well enough to deserve the bid during the regular season. But they are capable as we saw last night. SDSU was awful though.

Texas another team that probably should not have been selected plays tonight. They are talented as well. Their HC is likely to be fired anyway. This Texas team like UNC played beneath their talent level much of the season. But got rewarded anyway.

That the UNC AD is the head of the selection committe is a travesty. He also received a $100K bonus for the TarHeels getting selected. He should donate that money to something worthwhile.

6956bear said:

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sycasey said:

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HKBear97! said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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barsad said:

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sycasey said:

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Pretty shocked that UNC got in after Louisville got stuck with an 8 seed! They still love the brand names.

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UNC was a shocker (1-12 in Quad 1 games!), but so was Texas with 19 wins.
Then Stanford and Santa Clara gets the NIT, and San Jose St. is in the NIT with only 15 wins? I guess because it's a host institution? Not sure.
But Cal and USF are the only two Bay Area schools without a dance partner.

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I've looked into it and it seems like UNC had the best advanced metrics/computer ratings were the best of the bubble teams. They had a bad record in Quad 1 because they only played teams at the top top of that quad. So I suppose that is defensible.

West Virginia is the team that almost everyone had getting in and got snubbed. In fact, they aren't in any postseason tournament! I assume they just turned down the NIT or CBC bids?

---

ESPN and the rest of the media's exaggerated outrage machine are wrong about West Virginia, Indiana, Boise, etc. Their fallacy is that if Texas and UNC were not truly deserving, then someone else must deserve their places. A more realistic way of looking at it is that the bubble is full of teams that have, at best, a very weak argument for deserving a spot, and the committee has to pick two or three out of the not-really-deserving pile of teams.

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Sure, but still you can argue about who is best or most deserving of that group. Having looked deeper into it, I can't necessarily say UNC is a bad selection, as the computer metrics loved them (again, as compared to the others on the bubble).

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We can argue, but no one got "robbed". If my neighbor wins the lottery and I don't, I didn't get robbed just because he got something he didn't earn and I didn't get something I didn't earn.

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Only the first half, but UNC looking like they belong so far.

Edit: different topic - I used to root for the PAC-12 teams in the tournament each year, rooting for ACC teams just does not feel right.

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Yeah, looks like the advanced metrics were right about UNC being a quality team.

The ACC winning more tournament games means more money to the conference and thus to Cal, right? Think of it that way.

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UNC has talent. They did not perform well enough to deserve the bid during the regular season. But they are capable as we saw last night. SDSU was awful though.

Texas another team that probably should not have been selected plays tonight. They are talented as well. Their HC is likely to be fired anyway. This Texas team like UNC played beneath their talent level much of the season. But got rewarded anyway.

That the UNC AD is the head of the selection committe is a travesty. He also received a $100K bonus for the TarHeels getting selected. He should donate that money to something worthwhile.

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Not sure what "deserve" means here. We're talking about the last few teams that made the tournament. The closest competition for the last spot was West Virginia, which had a 19-13 record and lost in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament to Colorado (the worst team in the conference). Were they truly deserving either?

UNC and Texas each managed to win a couple of conference tournament games before bowing out against highly-ranked teams, by the way.

I would agree that the UNC AD being on the committee is a "bad look," so to speak, but you know that the committee has rules that any member is not allowed to talk about their own school's case and in fact must leave the room for that discussion, right? I'm sure it's not a perfect process but they do try to avoid the conflicts. Just about everyone there has an affiliation to SOME school.

The people who were so upset about UNC being selected are not able to give an answer to the question: If not UNC, then who?

Not only did West Virginia lose to lowly Colorado to go one and done in their conference tournament, but they lost 9 of their last 15 games. I'm not losing sleep over them not getting in.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels won 8 of their last 10 with both losses coming against Duke (the #1 team in the country). Regardless, they put the whole controversy to rest last night by humiliating the Aztecs. Should we now be asking how SDSU got a bid?

Some people just need to be outraged: "It must be a conspiracy!"

Addicted-to-TopDog said:

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The people who were so upset about UNC being selected are not able to give an answer to the question: If not UNC, then who?

Not only did West Virginia lose to lowly Colorado to go one and done in their conference tournament, but they lost 9 of their last 15 games. I'm not losing sleep over them not getting in.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels won 8 of their last 10 with both losses coming against Duke (the #1 team in the country). Regardless, they put the whole controversy to rest last night by humiliating the Aztecs. Should we now be asking how SDSU got a bid?

Some people just need to be outraged: "It must be a conspiracy!"

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The other thing is that the committee stated that they would be looking at advanced metrics and ranking systems like KenPom and NET. UNC was easily the best of the bubble teams by those metrics. The only thing they didn't have going for them was "Quad 1 wins," the thing all the critics want to focus on.

Houston looking good. Wisconsin not. Who do you predict to win it all?
Ucla looks terrible. Our center is better than that stiff fucla has

UConn up 4 on No. 1 Florida. Why didn't I pick the Huskies to do something in my bracket? Don't bet against Dan Hurley.

barsad said:

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UConn up 4 on No. 1 Florida. Why didn't I pick the Huskies to do something in my bracket? Don't bet against Dan Hurley.

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Florida storms back and wins.

sycasey said:

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barsad said:

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UConn up 4 on No. 1 Florida. Why didn't I pick the Huskies to do something in my bracket? Don't bet against Dan Hurley.

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Florida storms back and wins.

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Clutch shooting from Clayton Jr., that guy could carry them to a championship. Anyone else heading to Chase Center in SF to see him and the Gators?

Clayton single-handedly saved the Gators in the 2H. He was reminding me of someone else who plays in Chase Center on a regular basis.

I haven't been watching/noticing: Is Mahaney playing for UConn? How is that going?

EDIT: I was being lazy there (^) ... He's played in most all of their games, but only averaging 12 mpg and 4-5 ppg.

Maddog would be able to get him back to his St. Mary's form if not better

Fantastic inbound play by Houston to win. Fun fact, I saw Uzan on an official visit 3 years ago during homecoming. Fox was trying to recruit, I knew we had no shot seeing him host.

BC Calfan said:

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Fantastic inbound play by Houston to win. Fun fact, I saw Uzan on an official visit 3 years ago during homecoming. Fox was trying to recruit, I knew we had no shot seeing him host.

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Good coaching!

How to recruit this guy away from Florida to replace Mady?

7'9" freshman Olivier Rioux didn't need a ladder to cut the net 😂 @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/UW2sEZUfZP

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 16, 2025

3 different reads, great execution

Golden One said:

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BC Calfan said:

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Fantastic inbound play by Houston to win. Fun fact, I saw Uzan on an official visit 3 years ago during homecoming. Fox was trying to recruit, I knew we had no shot seeing him host.

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Good coaching!

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barsad said:

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How to recruit this guy away from Florida to replace Mady?

7'9" freshman Olivier Rioux didn't need a ladder to cut the net 😂 @GatorsMBK pic.twitter.com/UW2sEZUfZP

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) March 16, 2025

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I had just been thinking that this is a guy who would get some buzz going. Not sure how much help he would be on the court, especially the first year or two.

There was a 60 Minutes special on him not too long ago. Seems like a great guy. 7-9, geez... "Hi, I'm Olivier Rioux, Cal's new player! I've already met some hoop alums: Here are three of my new little friends, Max Zhang, Kameron Rooks and Connor Vanover. When they can't reach something, I always help them out!"

Just saw Duke play great defense against Alabama; they really defend the 3 well, not to mention protecting the rim!

I kinda wanted Duke to lose because Duke, but then I remembered: ACC, baby!

6956bear said:

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BeachedBear said:

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Big C said:

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Just saw Duke play great defense against Alabama; they really defend the 3 well, not to mention protecting the rim!

I kinda wanted Duke to lose because Duke, but then I remembered: ACC, baby!

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Duke vs Alabbama:

Our best players probably wouldn't crack the rotation of either of those teams (much less start). And watching their staffs make adjustments during timeouts, breaks, halftime was very impressive.

Schemes and rosters that match up. Excellent individual fundamentals, communication and execution. Duke's use of the extra pass and their efficiency was masterful.

We are more than a player or coach or two behind programs like these. But something to aspire to.

I'm not a fan of either program, but really enjoyed the game watching how well they played.

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Excellent teams chock full of NBA level athletes. Good to great coaching. Literally the best teams money can buy. I dislike Duke but admire how they play. They come to Cal next season. Flagg likely goes pro, but they already have the Boozer twins committed. Likely a major blowout loss.

The SEC and B1G have such an advantage right now. They have the resources to buy a roster and fans filling large arenas. Cal is literally playing to get to .500 so they qualify to make the NIT. Unless the NIL and transfer rules are radically changed Cal has almost no chance for major success in hoops.

Duke and Cal play in the same league, but are not even close to being in the same league.

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A solution to team skills mismatch: promotion-demotion conference system:
https://bearinsider.com/forums/3/topics/126517/replies/2482290

There's no fun in a final 4 with 4 one seeds. Most sterile madness ever.

Talent disparity is more prevalent than ever. And teams has no consistent personality from year to year. Players don't have local area pride after high school.

PenBear said:

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Talent disparity is more prevalent than ever. And teams has no consistent personality from year to year. Players don't have local area pride after high school.

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You fail to take into account laundry.

If chalk tournaments keep happening, then I think it's a problem. One season in which this happens? Not sure yet.

bearsandgiants said:

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There's no fun in a final 4 with 4 one seeds. Most sterile madness ever.

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I picked all four, so theres that.

75bear said:

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oskidunker said:

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bearsandgiants said:

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There's no fun in a final 4 with 4 one seeds. Most sterile madness ever.

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I picked all four, so theres that.

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You really went out on a limb!

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Only 17 out of 175 in my pool did

fwiw (nada) seems like i've aged out of basketball interest, men's esp
# things change

bearsandgiants said:

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There's no fun in a final 4 with 4 one seeds. Most sterile madness ever.

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I doubt the powers-that-be are bothered, and they probably won't lose casual viewers anyway. For example here's an ESPN take.

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44497275/jay-bilas-march-madness-2025-ncaa-tournament-final-four

Quote:

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All No. 1 seeds? All for it! Why this men's Final Four will be great

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