In a basketball tournament, there are teams named 1 through 8, such that a lower number team is better than a higher numbered team. (1 is best, 2 is second best... 8 is worst) Also, a better team will always win over a worse team. (There are no upsets)

?-\__
?-/  |
     |--\
?-\__|  |
?-/     |
        |-WINNER
?-\__   |
?-/  |  |
     |--/
?-\__|
?-/

Here is the grid for the tournament

If the better team always wins (there are no upsets) and if the pairing is completely random, what is the easiest way to figure the probability that team 2 doesn't win second place?

(In reply to this is easy by nate)

... except that there are only 3 empty slots for the 2nd best team in the half that has the best team, but 4 in the half that does not have the best team.

Posted by Charlie on 2004-06-15 13:02:49