Great Game - Butler vs. OSU on ESPN

[amckillip]

Just a heads up for people who love good college BBall (should be everyone here). It's half time right now but this has to be the most enjoyable game I have watched this season. Butler is everything I want Bradley to be. Great graduation rates, play people, contend every year, and sometimes have magical years like this one. And most of all I can say that the team are great people. I have been to a few Butler games and know several people who went/go there and all say the same thing.

That being said, to keep a decent ranking into Horizon League play, this is almost a must-win for Butler.

[versace4pres]

I was in Vegas last year for the first two rounds and sat with three older gentleman wearing Butler shirts. These guys bet against their own school. Yikes!!

That being said, I would love to see them and St. Louis in the Valley. If not St. Louis then UIC. Butler would make a huge contribution to Valley ball.

[amckillip]

I was in Vegas last year for the first two rounds and sat with three older gentleman wearing Butler shirts. These guys bet against their own school. Yikes!!

That being said, I would love to see them and St. Louis in the Valley. If not St. Louis then UIC. Butler would make a huge contribution to Valley ball.

I'd agree with Butler, but see no reason they would leave the Horizon...

[amckillip]

Butler gets their first scalp, beating OSU.

[SFP]

Butler gets their first scalp, beating OSU.

A Turnerless OSU team!

[Bravesfan]

Butler gets their first scalp, beating OSU.

Yes, this was a big win for Butler as they lost almost every game against BCS opponents this year. They have had a wicked schedule and maybe overscheduled a bit. But like I said earlier this week, if they have intentions of being the next Gonzaga, they have to schedule like them. But this was a great win for Butler today and this gets them back into at-large contention.

This would be where Bradley would like to be one of these years, I'm sure!

[amckillip]

A Turnerless OSU team!

Still a win. And come March, this will look good, though one could argue not as good as a U of I win... I was thinking about Butler, and you could really argue we have almost, if not as good, of an at-large blind resume as them - I'll get killed for that comment, but look at it blind.

[SFP]

Ampkill you are Brave but I have to agree with you. Just because you have a tough schedule it does not mean anything unless you win a few games. Butler still has a few games where it can prove itself. We have one more OOC game that could mean something. On the Ohio State game with Butler I have to disagree with you. Ohio State without Turner is not the same team and the committee will take that into consideration.

[amckillip]

Ampkill you are Brave but I have to agree with you. Just because you have a tough schedule it does not mean anything unless you win a few games. Butler still has a few games where it can prove itself. We have one more OOC game that could mean something. On the Ohio State game with Butler I have to disagree with you. Ohio State without Turner is not the same team and the committee will take that into consideration.

Exactly why, blindly, we have a better resume. Our losses come against good rpi opponents. We got our win against a better team on a neutral court, may get one more, and play in a better conference. Unfortunately, anyone who says the NCAA ignores names and conference affiliations is nuts.

[Indy_BB]

Butler's Sagarin Rating is now 33, Bradley is 105 - the resumes are not remotely close. And I mean this with no disrespect, but lets not be silly.

[Braves4Life]

Butler's Sagarin Rating is now 33, Bradley is 105 - the resumes are not remotely close. And I mean this with no disrespect, but lets not be silly.

If Butler wins there conference decisively(they should) but loses their conference tournament I believe they will get in. I don't think BU would be afforded that same luxury, IMO.

[MacabreMob]

Team A
RPI 39
SOS 35
vs Top50 RPI Record 2-1
vs 51-100 Record 0-2
vs 101-200 1-0
vs 201+ 4-0
Home Record 3-0
Road Record 3-0
Neutral Record 1-3

Team B
RPI 95
SOS 92
vs Top 50 RPI 0-2
vs 51-100 0-1
vs 101-200 2-0
vs 210+ 3-0
Home 3-1
Road 1-1
Neutral 1-1

[Braves4Life]

The stats say it all Mac. That should clear up this debate.

[Bravesfan]

Team A
RPI 39
SOS 35
vs Top50 RPI Record 2-1
vs 51-100 Record 0-2
vs 101-200 1-0
vs 201+ 4-0
Home Record 3-0
Road Record 3-0
Neutral Record 1-3

Team B
RPI 95
SOS 92
vs Top 50 RPI 0-2
vs 51-100 0-1
vs 101-200 2-0
vs 210+ 3-0
Home 3-1
Road 1-1
Neutral 1-1

Well it's pretty obvious that Butler has played more top 50 to top 100 teams than we have. However, despite Butler's two wins over top 50 teams, Bradley and Butler have the same number of wins over media poll top 25 teams. Also, Illinois should be a top 50 team easily by the end of the year if they finish in the top 3 of the Big Ten.

Also Butler obviouisly did not play as many "cream puff" teams as we have and that is dragging down our SOS. Plus a home loss against an albeit very good WCU team doesn't help either.

Butler will get the at-large bid over Bradley because I think Butler is too good not to win the Horizon league, and like most BCS teams, they have far better name recognition due to their streak of recent NCAA Tournament appearances, and will be treated as such. So Bradley better win at Iowa St. to even be considered for the tournament.

[georgethedog]

If Butler wins there conference decisively(they should) but loses their conference tournament I believe they will get in. I don't think BU would be afforded that same luxury, IMO.

Look out for UW-Green Bay in the Horizon. They just got done beating Wisconsin. Go Fighting Phoenix!!!