3 MVC games Wednesday 2/18

[TheAsianSensation]

It's my favorite time of all!

*sharpens needle*

You know what's coming.

[jeffsu]

So Creighton will be picking up the conference title likely it seems.

And we can no longer pass up ISU to make 3rd, right? Since they won tonight.

Means (unless we tank) we're in the 4/5 game? I guess 6th could happen. And at this point, I think I'd rather play ISU in the 3/6 game and UNI in the semi's...

[MacabreMob]

It's my favorite time of all!

*sharpens needle*

You know what's coming.

I was waiting for you.

This actually does the committee a favor. I expect UNI to lose at ISUred. So a 2nd place finish regardless of what they do in the Bracketbuster and regardless of how far they go in the MVCTourney (unless they win it of course)... UNI is OUT.

Now Creighton, on the other hand. They are starting to create the "portfolio" (sorta) if they continue to win games. An outright MVC Championship, an RPI in the 40's, and losing in the MVCTourney... that is Bubble Worthy for discussion.

[TheAsianSensation]

*pop*

Everyone aboard the Creighton bandwagon!

[BradleyBrave]

I was waiting for you.

This actually does the committee a favor. I expect UNI to lose at ISUred. So a 2nd place finish regardless of what they do in the Bracketbuster and regardless of how far they go in the MVCTourney (unless they win it of course)... UNI is OUT.

Now Creighton, on the other hand. They are starting to create the "portfolio" (sorta) if they continue to win games. An outright MVC Championship, an RPI in the 40's, and losing in the MVCTourney... that is Bubble Worthy for discussion.

All the more reason why I didn't want to see CU until Sunday. If they're a perceived 'lock' on Sunday, I think their opponent has a better chance in doing 'what's best for the league'. Obviously that didn't hold true with Drake last year, as they went for the clean sweep, but we see this year after year in league after league - League champ going down and a 1 bid league becomes a 2 bid league. CU has the name recognition (yes, it means something), will have an outright league title, and are starting to have the 'resume' of an at-large. CU could survive a Sunday loss IMO. I'm not sure they could survive a Saturday loss to a team like us, and I don't see Dana letting them lose to us...he rarely does.

[bugregshu]

Well, UNI sucks. In terms of the actual hot teams, it's Creighton 1, Indiana State 2, Wichita State, Illinois State, then Bradley, Northern Iowa, Drake, SIU, Evansville, Mo. State. The seeds won't mean much except that InSt. and WSU? will have to play on Thursday. But as long as Creighton is playing this well, nothing else matters...

I think it is more likely for Wichita to earn the 5 seed and play us on friday. They have to beat Indiana State at home, and win @ SIU. I think Drake should lock up the 6 seed as well over Evansville, making the Thursday teams Evansville, Indiana State, Southern Illinois, and Missouri State. But knowing this league... I'm sure I'm wrong.

[jeffsu]

I'm not sure they could survive a Saturday loss to a team like us, and I don't see Dana letting them lose to us...he rarely does.

Is this the time we get to talk about how hard it is to beat a team 3 times in a season?

[BradleyBrave]

ISU has an outside shot at tying for the league title at this point. That would be good for us as ISU would have the #1 seed with their sweep of CU and a possible date with us Saturday, but would be bad for the league as I think CU's at-large chances disappear with losses to MSU and ISU to end the season (which is what has to happen for ISU to tie for 1st). Not sure what to root for (besides BU winning out).

[thefish7]

I would not want to face Indiana State in St. Louis. They have hit their stride.

You might be right, but I just can't bring myself to believe it. I've seen InSU play four different times this season (which is an admittedly small sample), and each time they've been maybe the worst MVC team I can ever remember watching. I may have caught them on off nights, but it's hard for me to ignore what I saw.

[bluedevils1]

You might be right, but I just can't bring myself to believe it. I've seen InSU play four different times this season (which is an admittedly small sample), and each time they've been maybe the worst MVC team I can ever remember watching. I may have caught them on off nights, but it's hard for me to ignore what I saw.

I think I've lowered my standards to look at the relative MVC view. If I were an outside observer, I would say InSU still stinks, but since I am used to the mediocrity and poor play at times in the MVC this year, I look at them as "hot". That way, if we lose to this bad team at some point somehow in StL, I will at least have some consolation.

[Bravesfan]

*pop*

Everyone aboard the Creighton bandwagon!

Count me in! I hope Creighton runs the table and wins the first round of the Valley tourney so we can knock them out and help the Valley get two teams in the NCAA tournament! That is the Valley's only hope for multiple bids other than us losing to Creighton and someone else knocking them off in the Valley finals.

[BradleyBrave]

Count me in! I hope Creighton runs the table and wins the first round of the Valley tourney so we can knock them out and help the Valley get two teams in the NCAA tournament! That is the Valley's only hope for multiple bids other than us losing to Creighton and someone else knocking them off in the Valley finals.

Hmm...not so sure about that. If it's a 3 way tie for 1st, or if ISU ties with CU, ISU is the #1 seed. ISU would then possibly have to play a team that either beat them already this year (WSU or INSU) in the quarterfinal round, and then may have a date with us on Saturday in St. Louis. I don't know about you, but I would much rather play ISU on Saturday than Creighton.

Of course, if UNI wins out and ISU wins in Omaha, UNI is the #1, and we're back to CU and ISU on the other side of the bracket where we want them.

[IlliBraves]

I don't understand why ISU isn't even in the discussion as a team that's "on the fence". Same for UNI. If ISU beats Niagara, I'd think they'd have to at least get a little attention from the committee. I don't think the MVC will get multiple bids, but I do think it's a possibility.

[Bravesfan]

Hmm...not so sure about that. If it's a 3 way tie for 1st, or if ISU ties with CU, ISU is the #1 seed. ISU would then possibly have to play a team that either beat them already this year (WSU or INSU) in the quarterfinal round, and then may have a date with us on Saturday in St. Louis. I don't know about you, but I would much rather play ISU on Saturday than Creighton.

Of course, if UNI wins out and ISU wins in Omaha, UNI is the #1, and we're back to CU and ISU on the other side of the bracket where we want them.

Well I'm just stating that from a Valley perspective. Obviously UNI and/or ISU would be a little easier for us since CU is so deep. I'm a Bradley fan first, but if we lose somewhere during the tourney, then the goal would be to get two teams into the tournament, where Creighton winning the regular season and someone else winning the Valley tournament would be the best scenerio for the Valley.

But let's hope Bradley wins the Valley tourney and then I couldn't care less about anyone else!

[MacabreMob]

I don't understand why ISU isn't even in the discussion as a team that's "on the fence". Same for UNI. If ISU beats Niagara, I'd think they'd have to at least get a little attention from the committee. I don't think the MVC will get multiple bids, but I do think it's a possibility.

ISU isn't even close enough to throw rocks at the fence right now.

(UNI is in quicksand and can't find rocks to throw)