In this special bonus episode of the 11Point7 College Baseball Podcast selection committee members Ben Upton, Dmitri Kourtis, and Noah Bieniek dive into their Bracketology Field of 64 projections for the NCAA Baseball Tournament!
Following a successful first week, the trio returns with another in-depth analysis, this time structured with regular season 1st place automatic bids as they prepare for conference tournament week. The panelists start by discussing the top 16 seeds and their reasoning behind each choice, fueled by numerous disagreements and intense debates. From the logical placement of Texas at number one to the contentious inclusion of Oregon State in the top eight, or West Virginia and Florida in the Top 16, no decision was made lightly. Teams like Florida State, Auburn, and Vanderbilt are examined closely, with detailed explanations of their strengths and weaknesses. Controversial placements, such as LSU and Arkansas, are also defended. The team discusses the nuances of RPI, strength of schedule, and Quad1 wins, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the selection process.
Next, the conversation then shifts to the automatic qualifiers and at-large bids. The podcasters tackle the critical task of slotting teams into the 64-team field. As they fill out the brackets, the hosts highlight potential matchups, geographic considerations, and the politics behind hosting decisions. Listeners are treated to a lively debate on bubble teams and potential dark horses. The hosts weigh in on teams like Arizona, Virginia, Western Kentucky, and Xavier with Ben offering his trademark conspiracy theories about the committee’s decision-making process.
The episode concludes with a conclusion of the meticulous selection of the last few spots, accounting for potential stolen bids and the influence of conference affiliations. Whether you're a die-hard college baseball fan or just getting into the sport, this episode is packed with insightful commentary, expert analysis, and plenty of spirited discussions.
Make sure to watch until the end and leave your thoughts in the comments on where the team hit or missed! Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more college baseball content.
EPISODE TIMECODES
00:00 Intro and YouTube Visuals
01:03 Top 16 Seeds Discussion
06:05 Debating the Top 8 National Seed Bubble
10:03 Filling Out the Regional Brackets
24:54 Finalizing the 4-Seeds
39:03 Assigning the 2-Seeds
52:22 Debating 2-Seed Regional Placements
59:56 3-Seeds and Bubble Teams
01:10:12 Last Four In and First Four Out
01:36:29 Potential Stolen Bids
01:38:26 Concluding Thoughts
In this special bonus episode of the 11Point7 College Baseball Podcast selection committee members Ben Upton, Dmitri Kourtis, and Noah Bieniek dive into their Bracketology Field of 64 projections for the NCAA Baseball Tournament!
Following a successful first week, the trio returns with another in-depth analysis, this time structured with regular season 1st place automatic bids as they prepare for conference tournament week. The panelists start by discussing the top 16 seeds and their reasoning behind each choice, fueled by numerous disagreements and intense debates. From the logical placement of Texas at number one to the contentious inclusion of Oregon State in the top eight, or West Virginia and Florida in the Top 16, no decision was made lightly. Teams like Florida State, Auburn, and Vanderbilt are examined closely, with detailed explanations of their strengths and weaknesses. Controversial placements, such as LSU and Arkansas, are also defended. The team discusses the nuances of RPI, strength of schedule, and Quad1 wins, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the selection process.
Next, the conversation then shifts to the automatic qualifiers and at-large bids. The podcasters tackle the critical task of slotting teams into the 64-team field. As they fill out the brackets, the hosts highlight potential matchups, geographic considerations, and the politics behind hosting decisions. Listeners are treated to a lively debate on bubble teams and potential dark horses. The hosts weigh in on teams like Arizona, Virginia, Western Kentucky, and Xavier with Ben offering his trademark conspiracy theories about the committee’s decision-making process.
The episode concludes with a conclusion of the meticulous selection of the last few spots, accounting for potential stolen bids and the influence of conference affiliations. Whether you're a die-hard college baseball fan or just getting into the sport, this episode is packed with insightful commentary, expert analysis, and plenty of spirited discussions.
Make sure to watch until the end and leave your thoughts in the comments on where the team hit or missed! Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell for more college baseball content.
EPISODE TIMECODES
00:00 Intro and YouTube Visuals
01:03 Top 16 Seeds Discussion
06:05 Debating the Top 8 National Seed Bubble
10:03 Filling Out the Regional Brackets
24:54 Finalizing the 4-Seeds
39:03 Assigning the 2-Seeds
52:22 Debating 2-Seed Regional Placements
59:56 3-Seeds and Bubble Teams
01:10:12 Last Four In and First Four Out
01:36:29 Potential Stolen Bids
01:38:26 Concluding Thoughts
