Right now I have seen us projected as anywhere from a #7 to a #9. Some folks seem to think seeding doesn't matter. Just get to the tournament and win your games. After all, we were a #11 when we went from the First Four to the Final Four.
However, seeding matters.
As Dr. Bruin pointed out, your chances of reaching the Sweet 16 are better for a #10 than a #9. In fact #8 and #9 seeds are terrible.
Here is how often each seed reaches the Sweet 16:
1 84.2%
2 62.5%
3 52.6%
4 47.4%
5 34.2%
6 28.9%
7 19.1%
8 10.5%
9 5.3%
10 15.8%
11 17.1%
12 14.5%
13 3.9%
14 1.3%
15 2.6%
16 0.0%
Clearly, avoiding a #1 seed in the second round is crucial if you want to play in the second week of the tournament. You woul rather be a #12 seed than a #8 or #9.
Ideally we want to be a #7 or even a #6.
It's not just how good you are in the tournament. It is also about who you play.