Seven through 11 are pretty interchangeable. Did IU catch lightning in a bottle, or do they have back to back very good seasons...that question is a toss up for me.
IMHO, there are zero reasons to have play-in games. Pick the top 16 and use a normal bracket. Home field goes to the higher ranked team in first two rounds.
Yes and no, IMHO. He was the benefactor of a different kind of unequal system. I believe when he saw that was going to change, he saw it as a good time to exit.
Hmm, that's 16¢ a beer... being of drinking age back then I can maybe believe $4 for a 12-pack since that's about what a 6-pack of beer went for back then.