Bob and Mike welcome Andy Bottoms from The Assembly Call to discuss the evolving world of bracketology and what the 2025 NCAA Tournament reveals about the future of college basketball.

This episode offers an insider's perspective on how bracketologists approach their craft, the metrics that matter most to the selection committee, and why the drama of bubble teams captures the public's imagination in ways similar to reality television.

The conversation explores how conference realignment has fundamentally altered tournament selection, creating a widening gap between power conferences and mid-majors.

Segment 1: The Rise of Bracketology as a Cultural Phenomenon

• Andy explains that bracketology has exploded in popularity partly because the selection process has become more data-driven and terminology has worked its way into mainstream broadcasts (7:00)
• Mike theorizes bracketology taps into the same psychological appeal as reality TV shows – the drama of inclusion and exclusion captures audience attention (19:00)
• The committee's increasing transparency through regular updates has transformed selection from a one-day event into a season-long narrative (20:30)
• Andy describes his process, noting the challenge isn't just analyzing metrics but predicting how a committee of 12 people will interpret them (28:00)

Segment 2: Power Conference Dominance and Mid-Major Disadvantages

• The 2025 tournament saw all four #1 seeds reach the Final Four, potentially reinforcing the committee's tendency to favor power conference teams (10:00)
• Andy expresses disappointment with how top mid-majors like Drake were treated on the seed list, noting how close they came to missing the tournament entirely despite outstanding seasons (59:00)
• Viewership for the 2025 tournament increased dramatically (approximately 20%), creating incentives for the committee to continue favoring matchups between power conference teams (67:00)
• Discussion of how conference realignment has made it nearly impossible for mid-majors to build nationally competitive programs as their best players get poached through the transfer portal (67:00)

Segment 3: Analytics and Future Implications

• The committee's use of metrics has evolved, with predictive analytics (like KenPom and Torvik) becoming increasingly influential in tournament selection (36:00)
• Teams now have to consider margin of victory in early-season games, creating a difficult balance between building their metrics and managing player minutes (42:00)
• Andy evaluates whether the chalky 2025 tournament was a blip or trend, suggesting mid-major disadvantages will continue while the dominance of #1 seeds might be an aberration (89:00)
• Debate about tournament expansion concludes that while it might benefit mid-majors, it would likely dilute the competitive quality and drama that makes March Madness special (94:00)

The episode provides valuable insight into how the modern selection process works while questioning whether the system is becoming too tilted toward power conferences. As the hosts note, the fundamental challenge remains the same: win games, beat good teams decisively, and build a strong enough resume to impress both the metrics and committee members.

On the mics: Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth with Andy Bottoms (The Assembly Call)

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