A knowledgeable source in women's basketball told me the other day she believes the NCAA committee frequently couples male coaches in the same region (typically UConn's Region) so that they eliminate themselves.
I hadn't thought of this before, but when I checked the top seeds in each region in this year's bracket it is pretty remarkable.
UCONN's BRACKET
1. UConn - Geno Auriemma
2. UK - Matthew Mitchell
3. Louisville - Jeff Walz
4. Cal - Lindsey Gottlieb
MARYLAND'S BRACKET
1. Maryland - Brenda Frese
2. Tennessee - Holly Warlick
3. Oregon State - Scott Rueck
4. Duke - Joanne McCallie
NOTRE DAME'S BRACKET
1. Notre Dame - Muffet McGraw
2. Baylor - Kim Mulkey
3. Iowa - Lisa Bluder
4. Stanford - Tara VanDerVeer
SOUTH CAROLINA'S BRACKET
1. South Carolina - Dawn Staley
2. Florida State - Sue Semrau
3. Arizona State - Charli Turner Thorne
4. North Carolina - Sylvia Hatchell
I don't have time to look at past years brackets, but it may be something to watch in the future.
I do know that last year UConn's bracket had male coaches at 3 of the top 5 seeds (1, 3, 5).
I hadn't thought of this before, but when I checked the top seeds in each region in this year's bracket it is pretty remarkable.
UCONN's BRACKET
1. UConn - Geno Auriemma
2. UK - Matthew Mitchell
3. Louisville - Jeff Walz
4. Cal - Lindsey Gottlieb
MARYLAND'S BRACKET
1. Maryland - Brenda Frese
2. Tennessee - Holly Warlick
3. Oregon State - Scott Rueck
4. Duke - Joanne McCallie
NOTRE DAME'S BRACKET
1. Notre Dame - Muffet McGraw
2. Baylor - Kim Mulkey
3. Iowa - Lisa Bluder
4. Stanford - Tara VanDerVeer
SOUTH CAROLINA'S BRACKET
1. South Carolina - Dawn Staley
2. Florida State - Sue Semrau
3. Arizona State - Charli Turner Thorne
4. North Carolina - Sylvia Hatchell
I don't have time to look at past years brackets, but it may be something to watch in the future.
I do know that last year UConn's bracket had male coaches at 3 of the top 5 seeds (1, 3, 5).
