Hey MileHiJack, thanks for joining our party. Please keep hanging around. As stated before in other threads, a 12 seed is a top level seed for a midmajor. If we could top a SEC team and run the conference, a 12 seed is virtually a lock. 12 seeds are the easiest path to the sweet 16 as in theory they go through a 5 then 4 seed. All other seeds take on a 1-3 at some point.
The only way we could get a higher seed in our conference is if our nonconference schedule was stacked. We just don't play that many top 100 or top 50 teams. You have to be in a top conference to do that, so right now, yes 12 is a ceiling. It's a good spot giving us winnable tournament games.