10+ seed could win it all this year
by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports
The 12 active national title-winning coaches in men’s college basketball have seen seismic changes in the game over the past few decades.
Against the background of the 75th NCAA tournament, USA TODAY Sports offers lengthy interviews with these dozen active title-winning coaches, all of whom still are head coaches at the Division I or II level. They provided a window into their ever-changing world, offering perspective on several big-picture issues that affect modern-day college basketball.
Thursday, March 21 Question:A No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed or a double-digit seed winning the national title?
John Calipari: “Wow. Probably a double-digit winning the whole thing. The reason I say that is because you can have a veteran team as a double digit playing a freshmen team, like I had last year, and that could happen. The 1-16, if the ones are down, usually the 16s will be down, you know what I am saying.”
Mike Krzyzewski: “Either one could happen. 16 beating 1 is not out of the question. It is so balanced. It is so balanced. The double-digit thing could happen because of upsets. Double-digit seed might never play a top-five seed. That could happen in a tournament. Crazy things like that. Crazy because they have not happened before, not so crazy with the chances of it happening because there is so much balanced now. There’s not as big of separation. It is easier to lose now than ever before. Maybe that is why that is happening a little bit.”
Roy Williams: “A 16 beating a 1. We’re very close. I really do believe that. A double-digit seed making a run through the tournament is hard because you have to win six games. We have some 15 beating 2s, but not many of them. There is just one more step that is all you got to go to get to the other one.”
Bill Self: “A 16 beating a 1. I do think we’re getting closer. The whole thing is that is one game. A double-digit seeded team, it can happen, Kansas won it when they were a six, and VCU got to the Final … [For more on Coaches Round Table: Double-digit seed could win it all this year, click here.]
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