Please explain this "play in" scenerio's

[Tennman]

How are two play in teams seeded as a number 11 seed. I noticed 2 of the last four games are seeded as 11 and the other 2 at 16. Shouldn't they all be 16 seeds? My brain just can't comprehend this. If someone can explain, I would truly appreciate it.

 

[Adam2014]

How are two play in teams seeded as a number 11 seed. I noticed 2 of the last four games are seeded as 11 and the other 2 at 16. Shouldn't they all be 16 seeds? My brain just can't comprehend this. If someone can explain, I would truly appreciate it.

The 11 seed teams are "at large" bids while the 16 seed teams won their conference tournament.

 

[wtmvol]

How are two play in teams seeded as a number 11 seed. I noticed 2 of the last four games are seeded as 11 and the other 2 at 16. Shouldn't they all be 16 seeds? My brain just can't comprehend this. If someone can explain, I would truly appreciate it.

My man, we've been doing this format for 15 years.

Just teasing ya. Essentially, the worst 4 teams in the tournament are placed into the 16 seed play-in games. Then the last 4 at-large teams (teams who did not win their conference tournament but got selected to the tournament) are put into play-in games. Their seeding can change from year to year, depending on where the committee places them relative to other teams who got automatic bids. For example, the committee felt that SMU and Miami, OH were stronger than 12 seeds like Akron, so they are playing their way into that 11 seed.

 

[VolNGA1]

How are two play in teams seeded as a number 11 seed. I noticed 2 of the last four games are seeded as 11 and the other 2 at 16. Shouldn't they all be 16 seeds? My brain just can't comprehend this. If someone can explain, I would truly appreciate it.

This started in 2011 when the tournament expanded to 68 teams. The 11 seeds are traditionally the point where the at-large bids end. Thus the 2 11 seed playoff games are from the group of last ones picked to be in the tournament. The 2 16 seed games are the bottom 4 from the smaller conference tournament winners. They always play them in Dayton. If nothing else, it gave the TV package 2 more nights of games.

 

[Tennman]

Thank you everyone. I did know this isnt new, just never knew how they come up with it.

 

[Special Ed]

I believe you mean scenarios.