>Good point.  But also note that for a bottom seed to win, they have to
knock
>off not only a top seed the first game(s) but also what are both seeded and
>currently-playing-well team(s) later.  And if someone takes you too lightly
>the opening round, you can bet that won't be the case in round two.  Now
add
>in the extra handicap of the top 4 getting a first round bye, and its small
>wonder the eventual winner is out of that top 4 group.
>
>Consider pro football - only one wild-card team (Oakland) has ever won the
>Super Bowl.  But doesn't it add excitement to have an Arizona in the mix,
>even if they did lose badly to Minnesota?
 
 
Two things to consider here.  One is that with a 16 team format there won't
be any byes so a low seeded team could potentially knock out the #1 team in
the first round (not likely though).  However, I support going to a 16-team
tournament once the MAAC is more established.  The bye gives the top four
seeds way too much of an advantage over the rest of the field.  Being a
higher seed already has it's advantages (playing lower seeds in the early
rounds) without added the extra advantage of getting the bye.  (Last year
was an exception)
 
The other thing , not that it matters much, is that Denver won the Super
Bowl last year as a wild-card.
 
Jim
 
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