Why is an #11 playing an #11?

[BeantownKnight]

I don't know too much about how all of this works but I don't imagine that MSU (#11) playing UCLA (#11) is a normal thing, right? Why is this happening?

 

[RUfanSinceAnderson]

I don't know too much about how all of this works but I don't imagine that MSU (#11) playing UCLA (#11) is a normal thing, right? Why is this happening?

Last two at large bids. Very normal.

 

[jordkap]

The last 4 teams into the field have to play an extra game. Whoever wins is slotted into the 11 seed, thus they technically all are 11s

 

[ecojew]

Hasn't it been two 12-12 matchups some years? It might depend upon the relative strength of the lowest at-large teams compared to the conference champs of the better one-bid conferences.

 

[bac2therac]

the last 4 at large teams are slotted in the seed list. Sometimes they will be 12s, sometimes 11s, sometimes 2 11s and 2 12s and actually there were some 13s

 

[fluoxetine]

It's "normal" in this tournament format which is decidedly abnormal. Play-in games are stupid.

 

[BigRnj]

It's "normal" in this tournament format which is decidedly abnormal. Play-in games are stupid.

Not for the teams and fan base of those teams. There were MANY years I would have welcomed Pay-In status for Rutgers

 

[WhichReligionIsRight]

68 team tournament. The four first round games are typically played Tuesday-Wednesday.

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

the old play-in game was for a 12 seed.

the new "first 4" slots one 11 seed.

 

[Night Man]

the last 4 at large teams are slotted in the seed list. Sometimes they will be 12s, sometimes 11s, sometimes 2 11s and 2 12s and actually there were some 13s

Or this:

14 vs 14

 

[herdof3]

4 extra teams from 64. 4 extra games. last 4 autobids play in as 16 seeds and last 4 at large bid teams (typically 11 - 12) play in. after that you are down to 64 for the regular tournament.

 

[bac2therac]

wow what a sequence

welcome to March Madness

 

[BigEastPhil]

There goes Bo getting his air time. He’s the star. Not the players.

 

[BigEastPhil]

End of game setting up for a last second shot to win

 

[bac2therac]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

The Drake holds on

 

[Sideline20]

I think the play ins are normally 12's but since the Ivy League did not play and had an autobid there were more at large teams therefore the last at large teams were 11's.

 

[BeantownKnight]

Oh. I thought the play-in games were (always) slotted as #16. They have those games where the teams play for the opportunity to get squashed by a #1.

 

[Sideline20]

There were always 2 16 vs 16 games to face 1's and 2 12 vs 12 teams to face the 12's that didn't have a play in game.