Hoosiers disappointed with seed for tournament

Where's the BCS when you need it?\nThe IU men's soccer team has spent the majority of the season ranked in the top five in the nation. The Hoosiers' reputation precedes them having advanced to the College Cup 15 times in the team's 29-year existence. But some players said these records meant little to the NCAA selection committee.\n"We may have gotten the shaft a little bit," senior Ryan Mack said. "I think it's good for us to get a shot in the face, so we realize where we are right now, and what we need to do to get ready."\nDespite being knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament semifinals by host Penn State in a shootout, IU still looked in prime position for one of the top seeds heading into the national tournament.\nIf the Hoosiers had won the Big Ten Tournament, they would have been assured a top-four seed and home field advantage until the Final Four. But they did not advance, so the Hoosiers looked for other top teams to falter.\nThey were in luck. None of the top-five teams won a game in their respective conference tourneys. \nNo. 5 UConn was the only team to advance after defeating No. 2 St. John's in a shootout, but fell to No. 19 Boston College in the Big East Final. Wake Forest, which held the No. 1 position, lost in the semifinals of the ACC tournament, while No. 3 Southern Methodist lost a shootout to Bradley in the MVC semifinals. (Rankings based prior to last weekend's games.)\nOf the top-five teams prior to last weekend's action, IU and Southern Methodist are the only teams to not receive a eighth seed or better for the NCAA Tournament. \nWake Forest earned the top seed after only dropping one game this season. Maryland leapfrogged over IU from eight in the rankings to the No. 2 seed after winning the ACC Tournament. \nUCLA made the same jump by earning the third seed after being ranked ninth. The Bruins did not participate in a conference tournament last weekend. St. John's rounds out the top four seeds.\nBoston College, Virginia, UConn and Virginia Commonwealth are the remaining top eight seeds.\nVirginia Commonwealth's eighth seed bewilders IU. The No. 22 Rams (15-4-1) somehow earned the right to host two home games in the tournament after claiming the automatic tournament bid by winning the Colonial Athletic Association.\n"It's a shock for us to be in the top four all season, and the rest of the top four loses, and some random team shows up at the top," Mack said.\nIU opens the tournament at home against the winner of Notre Dame (11-5-3) and Akron (10-7-2), but the Hoosiers might not play at home after that.\n"We've been playing all year to play at home during the tournament," senior John Swann said. "At least we're lucky enough to get one at home, but if we win that, we'll definitely have to go on the road. It's nothing new. We did it two years ago, and there are a lot of people back from that team.\n"Anytime IU goes on the road, the other team is out to beat us," Swann said. "It gives us an extra incentive to come out against a team with a rough crowd."\nIU has faced steep opposition in the quest for a National Championship before. IU won two road games in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA tournament to reach the College Cup in 2000.\nThe decision by the selection committee could prove beneficial for the Hoosiers.\n"This is a tournament tested team," coach Jerry Yeagley said. "It's a team that will take to field with their heads held high, and be proud to wear the IU uniform. Their pride has been hurt, but hopefully now they'll feel like they have something to prove"