Prof. Jacobson on NCAA Seedings: "They Call It Madness for a Reason"

3/15/2010

CS prof studies the statistical side of the NCAA bracket seeding

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University of Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson has been studying the statistical side of the NCAA bracket seeding.  Does seeding matter?  According to Jacobson, no.  At least not after the Sweet 16.

Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson
Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson
Illinois computer science professor Sheldon Jacobson

From the Chicago Tribune:

"College basketball fans are busy penciling, erasing and re-penciling teams into their NCAA tournament brackets.

Most are guided by the 10-member selection committee's seeding order.

But Sheldon Jacobson, a computer science professor at Illinois, says don't waste your time.

At least not after the Sweet 16.

From the Elite Eight on, chance is as much a determinant as seeding. After the first two rounds, where seeds No. 1, 2 and 3 dominate, the seeding system falls apart, according to a study he conducted on the 25 years of NCAA tournaments since it expanded to 64 teams in 1985.

...

'We're just looking at the numbers with rigorous statistical analysis to find out the anomalies and trends,' he said. 'You can use that to come up with a sense of what might happen. But it's very difficult. They call it madness for a reason.'"

Read the complete article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-0314-ncaa-seeds-professor-illinois20100313,0,3088174.story


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This story was published March 15, 2010.