We Got Screwed

We got so screwed that I cannot even believe it. 8 seed!?! No frickin' way. I understand we are playing lousy right now and that our strength of schedule was not the strongest this year, but even with all those things factored in, IU should have been a #6 at worst. All of the major publications/websites had IU as a 5 or a 6 and then the committee comes up with an 8 seed!?! That makes no sense. We finish ahead of Michigan State and they end up a 5 seed and we are an 8!?!? I'm fine with Michigan State being a higher seed, but if they are a 5, we are a 6 for sure. 25 regular season wins and 14-4 in a power conference.....8 seed. Bullshit. Even if this team can pull it together for a first-round win against a hot Arkansas team, then you play the #1 seed of the whole tournament in their own backyard. I can't think of a worse possible draw. And it came right out of the gate too. A lot has gone on this year, especially in the last month, but I was still excited to see our tournament draw. I couldn't wait to see what I expected to be a winnable game against an 11 or 12 seed and then see the potential path of a tournament run. Even though this team is playing like crap right now, I was still excited to envision that possible tournament run. Then, boom, right out the gate on the Selection Show -- death sentence. The very first game that is mentioned after the #1 seeds and all my hopes (as ridiculous as they may have been) were gone. I mean, that's half the fun of the tournament, right? The hope and excitement of your team possibly making a run? But no, this is pretty much a death sentence. It feels personal. I think Myles Brand and the NCAA are really screwing with IU and their fans. First, the NCAA finally responds to the Sampson situation right before IU's biggest stretch of games against Wisconsin, MSU, and PU. Interesting timing on that one. Then, they set the hearing for June with an ultimate ruling not likely until August which really handcuffs IU's coaching search and ability to recruit new players and keep existing players and recruits. Now this. You ever notice in the years we have been on the bubble, it seems that we never get announced until the fourth bracket. Even in some of those years, it seemed we would still end up a 6 seed or something. This year, we are safely in the tournament and they lay an 8 seed on us where if you win your 1st round game, then you play the best team in the country in their backyard and they announce that immediately. I couldn't even enjoy the rest of the brackets. I'm so pissed. What a total crock of shit. IU deserved to fall to a 6 seed, but not an 8. Not 3 full seeds lower than Michigan State. Just take a look at some of the teams with better seeds than IU. It's mind-boggling. This season has been unbelievable. Low blow after low blow. IU better get this next coach right. Whoever it is needs to come in here, get this thing on the right track and take a run at a title. And when we do win another title, I'm walking around for a full year in IU gear and my middle fingers blazin'. I'm just angry at the world right now. I'm guessing we are probably looking at a first-round loss. After Friday night's game and now this draw in the tournament, this team is going to be hard-pressed to break out of the fog they have been in since Sampson screwed them over. They might continue to say the right things and have good practices, but it's my guess that they will continue to be in that fog and get bounced out right away in the first round. Of course, that could save them a 107-37 thumpin' from North Carolina. This season has taken my pride. It's taken my livelihood. I'm a shell of a man. 8 seed?!?! I still can't believe it.