It's been suggested (?) that not hosting the first two rounds means elimination, thereby necessitating a#1-4 seed. Hmm...I'm not saying it's easy, but it's not that unheard of to enter into the Sweet 16 (or even the Elite 8) as a 5 seed or lower. Just looking at the last two years:
2023:
4 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds...winning in hostile turf
Ole Miss, a #8, beat #1 Stanford in Palo Alto, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Louisville, a #5, beat #4 Texas in Austin, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8).
Colorado, a #6, beat #3 Duke in Durham, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Miami, a #9, beat #1 Indiana in Bloomington (after beating #8 Oklahoma State), advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8)

2024:
3 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds.
Colorado, a #5, beat #4 Kansas State in Manhattan, KS.
Baylor, a #5, beat #4 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Duke, a #7, beat #2 Ohio State in Columbus.

So...it's not easy, but not even approaching impossible. Would love a #4 or higher, but not getting it doesn't equate to a Doom Cycle.

I just would like to host so it's easier to go to those first two games!

ethan0l said:

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I just would like to host so it's easier to go to those first two games!

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Now we're talking some reality!

Last time Cal hostex as a number 4 seed, e lost to a number 5 seed (Texas.). i was at that game. Was Shocky?

Woodacre said:

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It's been suggested (?) that not hosting the first two rounds means elimination, thereby necessitating a#1-4 seed. Hmm...I'm not saying it's easy, but it's not that unheard of to enter into the Sweet 16 (or even the Elite 8) as a 5 seed or lower. Just looking at the last two years:
2023:
4 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds...winning in hostile turf
Ole Miss, a #8, beat #1 Stanford in Palo Alto, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Louisville, a #5, beat #4 Texas in Austin, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8).
Colorado, a #6, beat #3 Duke in Durham, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Miami, a #9, beat #1 Indiana in Bloomington (after beating #8 Oklahoma State), advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8)

2024:
3 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds.
Colorado, a #5, beat #4 Kansas State in Manhattan, KS.
Baylor, a #5, beat #4 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Duke, a #7, beat #2 Ohio State in Columbus.

So...it's not easy, but not even approaching impossible. Would love a #4 or higher, but not getting it doesn't equate to a Doom Cycle.

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Nicely done, appreciate you taking the time.
Radical idea: how about the team plays as well as they can, and the seeding will take care of itself? We can talk about it all we want, but for the team, looking beyond "the next game" is an excellent way to lose the next game. Also not going to make me feel any better if they got a home tournament game, and then didn't play their best basketball and lose.
Even before the tournament stuff, I would love Cal to make noise in the ACC Tournament...which obviously could help with seeding....

mbBear said:

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Woodacre said:

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It's been suggested (?) that not hosting the first two rounds means elimination, thereby necessitating a#1-4 seed. Hmm...I'm not saying it's easy, but it's not that unheard of to enter into the Sweet 16 (or even the Elite 8) as a 5 seed or lower. Just looking at the last two years:
2023:
4 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds...winning in hostile turf
Ole Miss, a #8, beat #1 Stanford in Palo Alto, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Louisville, a #5, beat #4 Texas in Austin, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8).
Colorado, a #6, beat #3 Duke in Durham, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Miami, a #9, beat #1 Indiana in Bloomington (after beating #8 Oklahoma State), advancing to the Sweet Sixteen (and then to the 8)

2024:
3 of the Sweet Sixteen teams did not host the first two rounds.
Colorado, a #5, beat #4 Kansas State in Manhattan, KS.
Baylor, a #5, beat #4 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Duke, a #7, beat #2 Ohio State in Columbus.

So...it's not easy, but not even approaching impossible. Would love a #4 or higher, but not getting it doesn't equate to a Doom Cycle.

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Nicely done, appreciate you taking the time.
Radical idea: how about the team plays as well as they can, and the seeding will take care of itself? We can talk about it all we want, but for the team, looking beyond "the next game" is an excellent way to lose the next game. Also not going to make me feel any better if they got a home tournament game, and then didn't play their best basketball and lose.
Even before the tournament stuff, I would love Cal to make noise in the ACC Tournament...which obviously could help with seeding....

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Stop it mbB. You're being too damn logical!

I think Charmin should try to get the team peaking at that time. Not worry aout seeding. We might have to have more bench moments as she tries to amp it up. but it might hurt our seeding. I always say you should get your team to play at its best.