[GaryVoshol]

If this is a problem - and I'm not sure it is - what about this solution? If any team is declined X times (X = 2, 3, whatever) they lose their pick until the end of the round. Now the earth they are scorching may be their own!

I've seen two instances:

1. A team wasn't really thrilled with playing with a top seed, but agreed to accept if the seed would first pick others in the top 8 who presumably would decline. This is the true scorched-earth scenario Frank presents.

2. A team ranked #1 based on the strength of its schedule in quals. Other teams thought the #1 alliance had no chance, and so they were declined multiple times. I don't recall for sure, but I think they finally picked someone outside the top 8 who had to accept or risk not playing at all.