Mike Machnik wrote:
 
> Rick Comley did not set the policy of avoiding conference matchups.  That
> is set by the NCAA and holds true across all sports.
 
This may be, but someone ought to have the sense to point out that
policies need to be adjusted for circumstances.  The general NCAA is
thinking in terms of sports that have a larger number of conferences (up
to thirty-some in basketball).  Someone should introduce them to the
simple mathematical concept that if there are only four conferences into
which the four brackets are divided, then you have to allow for
conference match-ups.  Otherwise, this is what you get.  I have been
informed that Rick Comley is no longer on the committee, so I take back
that part of the statement.  Other than that, though, I still maintain
that it is the responsibility of this committee to produce the seedings.
 One part of this job is to make the NCAA realize the absurdity of this
kind of regulation.
 
It is particularly galling, since the criterion isn't even met.  I think
that Michigan State is a tougher team than raw computation of the
numbers indicates.  After all, they beat Michigan twice this year.  It
is not at all unthinkable that they will beat Minnesota on Saturday.  If
this happens, what do you get?  A Michigan-Michigan State match-up that
is not only between conference rivals, but repeats a conference final
from last night.  Excuse me?  Isn't it to avoid this that Minnesota got
shifted up a bracket?  Today, the NCAA was both stupid and inconsistent.
 
J. Michael Neal
 
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