BracketBuster 2007

[tornado]

Here are a bunch of the articles that are beginning to appear all over about the mid-maojors, Bracket Buster, and who among the mid-majors and at large teams should get bids.


These guys think Bradley at New Mexico State is going to be the matchup in the Bracket Buster.

http://www.draftexpress.com/blogs.php?mod=comment&p=784

These guys agree that Billy Packer is way out of touch and that they mid-majors are GOOD.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/16531545.htm

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/columns/story?columnist=creme_charlie&id=2740925

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=171359

[BU FAMILY]

I know that it's only an on-line article (draftexpress.com) and just somebody's opinion, but can anybody explain what the author means by:

BRADLEY AT NEW MEXICO STATE: "New Mexico State would probably prefer a better opponent than this"?????

Do you think the author is speculating that NMS feels they deserve to player a higher RPI team, or a "better" team than BU? NMS plays in the 9th ranked conference and has a SOS of a lousy 234. Outside of a home win versus Nevada (RPI #32), they've only beaten one team with an RPI better than 100 (a road win at Boise State - RPI #92). Although NMS is 15-4 overall and 6-1 in conference play, I don't think they have many quality wins to brag about. I'm just curious how the author of the on-line article has formulated his conclusions....

[Da Coach]

The writer is showing his ignorance.
NMSU would be ecstatic to play Bradley. They have an RPI of 81 vs. Bradley's 36. If this matchup does occur, it could likely be the biggest difference in RPI of any BB matchup. NMSU couldn't get a better deal.

[MacabreMob]

If Bradley gets NM St, I would strongly suggest Bradley get out of the BracketBuster next year. That would be 2 years in a row that BU got the shaft. Yea - maybe UNI is a good fit for Nevada instead of Bradley. Then Bradley should get VCU or Hofstra.

I still think today's games are gonna make a difference. The people who do the selections are most likely meeting this weekend and releasing info Monday.

A Bradley win at Mo St could be big enough to send Bradley to Nevada no matter what UNI does.

A UNI loss at Drake should be big enough to send Bradley to Nevada no matter what Bradley does.

Both win - advantage UNI to Nevada.

Bradley loss coupled with UNI win - advantage UNI to Nevada.

[TheAsianSensation]

I think UNI with a win gets Nevada. Quite frankly, they need the SoS boost more than us, and they'd be ahead in the standings.

I will gladly take VCU or Hofstra, though.

If we get New Mexico St, I will punch something.

Creighton still wants that late game, right? They should suck it up and take Drexel in an afternoon game, because the next best option for them would be Utah St, which won't help as much.

My predictions:

Southern Illinois at Butler
Northern Iowa at Nevada
Utah St at Creighton
Bradley at Virginia Commonwealth
Drexel at Missouri St
Ohio at Hofstra
Appalachian St at Wichita St
Hawaii at George Mason
Old Dominion at New Mexico St

[MacabreMob]

Quite frankly, they need the SoS boost more than us, and they'd be ahead in the standings.

This is what ticks me off... UNI gets Nevada because they NEED a boost in SOS? So Bradley gets penalized because UNI didn't schedule for the Non-conference worth a hoot... so UNI can make it up with 1 game on tv with a ranked opponent, sorry Bradley.

That's a bunch of crap. (I'm not barking at you AS - I have read it from other posters from this and other boards - I am just barking at the argument being made)

Bradley ALSO NEEDS a boost. We don't have any quality wins on the road... this would be a HUGE opportunity if BU gets a shot at Nevada. I think a win at Nevada could be a game that helps puts BU in the field.

You are gonna hear a lot of this statement from the muthpieces this year: "All/Most of the wins by (insert a MVC team here) against the Top50 RPI is from within their own conference (on their home floor)".

I say Bradley NEEDS the Nevada game just as much as UNI.

[TheAsianSensation]

Quite frankly, they need the SoS boost more than us, and they'd be ahead in the standings.

This is what ticks me off... UNI gets Nevada because they NEED a boost in SOS? So Bradley gets penalized because UNI didn't schedule for the Non-conference worth a hoot... so UNI can make it up with 1 game on tv with a ranked opponent, sorry Bradley.

That's a bunch of crap. (I'm not barking at you AS - I have read it from other posters from this and other boards - I am just barking at the argument being made)

Bradley ALSO NEEDS a boost. We don't have any quality wins on the road... this would be a HUGE opportunity if BU gets a shot at Nevada. I think a win at Nevada could be a game that helps puts BU in the field.

You are gonna hear a lot of this statement from the muthpieces this year: "All/Most of the wins by (insert a MVC team here) against the Top50 RPI is from within their own conference (on their home floor)".

I say Bradley NEEDS the Nevada game just as much as UNI.

I'm not saying UNI will get the game solely because their resume is worse. UNI is ahead of us in the standings, so to be fair, they get dibs on that game ahead of us.

Eh. At this point as long as we get VCU or Hofstra and get a ESPN2 game, I'll be content.

[Braves4Life]

VCU

I think UNI with a win gets Nevada. Quite frankly, they need the SoS boost more than us, and they'd be ahead in the standings.

I will gladly take VCU or Hofstra, though.

If we get New Mexico St, I will punch something.

Creighton still wants that late game, right? They should suck it up and take Drexel in an afternoon game, because the next best option for them would be Utah St, which won't help as much.

My predictions:

Southern Illinois at Butler
Northern Iowa at Nevada
Utah St at Creighton
Bradley at Virginia Commonwealth
Drexel at Missouri St
Ohio at Hofstra
Appalachian St at Wichita St
Hawaii at George Mason
Old Dominion at New Mexico St

BU at VCU? I'll take it. Just a short 3-4 hour drive

[MacabreMob]

Re: VCU

BU at VCU? I'll take it. Just a short 3-4 hour drive

I don't know.

It sounds like Drake is gonna put the Panthers down without a fight. They are down 15 now LATE in the game. This is gonna really affect their RPI!

[MacabreMob]

Damaging loss to UNI. (L at Drake)

Bradley takes a hit as well. (L at Mo St)

Let the 'Mouthpieces' at ESPN decide.... I suspect BU gets hosed.

Anyway, according to Realtime.com, Bradley drops to 41 and UNI drops to 55.

Nevada sits at 34.

[shaunguth]

My predictions for the Valley teams:

SIU (9) @ Butler (20)

Bradley (41) @ Nevada (30)

Appalachian St. (49) @ Creighton (35)

Drexel (57) @ Missouri St. (3

Northern Iowa (52) @ Virginia Commonwealth (53)

Utah St. (66) @ Wichita St. (60)

Evansville (92) @ Oral Roberts (95)

Albany (106) @ Indiana St. (94)

Miami-OH (133) @ Drake (107)

Valparaiso (173) @ Illinois St. (127)

[real fan]

I don"t think coach Les wants to play out west as the team would lose a day of practice before the N. Iowa game which may turn out to be more important.

[MacabreMob]

I don"t think coach Les wants to play out west as the team would lose a day of practice before the N. Iowa game which may turn out to be more important.

Nah... I think Sunday would be a low-key day even if Bradley played at home in the BracketBuster. Instead, they are traveling back home - no matter if it is from Reno or Richmond.

[MacabreMob]

Thru games played on 1/27/07

ROAD
9 Southern Illinois
41 Bradley
49 Appalachian St
52 Northern Iowa
56 Drexel
67 Utah St
69 Winthrop
74 Holy Cross
76 Ohio
79 Old Dominion
92 Evansville
103 Akron
106 Albany
109 Kent St
111 Sam Houston
130 Hawaii
132 Miami-Ohio
134 CalS Fullerton
135 Austin Peay
152 Northwestern St
157 UC Irvine
160 Wis-Green Bay
161 Towson
168 Youngstown St
173 Valparaiso
193 William & Mary
195 Eastern Washington
205 Canisius
209 Loyola (Maryland)
212 Eastern Kentucky
214 Portland St
216 Louisiana Tech
220 Manhattan
229 Murray St
237 San Jose St
240 Wis-Milwaukee
247 Bowling Green
255 Cleveland St
256 Central Michigan
263 UNC Wilmington
264 Elon
265 Ball State
268 Colgate
296 James Madison
301 Liberty
318 St. Peter's
320 Jacksonville St
322 Iona
325 Eastern Illinois

HOME
20 Butler
30 Nevada
35 Creighton
38 Missouri St
53 VCU
60 Wichita St
64 Hofstra
85 New Mexico St
90 Boise St
94 Oral Roberts
95 Indiana St
101 George Mason
104 Long Beach
107 Drake
114 Wright St
116 Fresno St
117 Samford
118 Bucknell
122 Siena
125 Loyola (Chicago)
126 Illinois St
128 Marist
138 Western Michigan
142 Tennessee Tech
149 UC Santa Barbara
180 San Francisco
185 Rider
187 Buffalo
191 Northeastern
196 Maine
197 CalS Northridge
203 Montana
204 Illinois-Chicago
210 UNC Greensboro
217 Niagara
218 Northern Arizona
228 Cal Poly
234 Tennessee St
244 Coastal Carolina
245 Chattanooga
250 Georgia St
260 Fairfield
261 Eastern Michigan
270 Idaho
279 Delaware
292 SE Missouri St
293 Morehead St
298 Northern Illinois
314 Tennessee-Martin

[TheAsianSensation]

I think UNI with a win gets Nevada. Quite frankly, they need the SoS boost more than us, and they'd be ahead in the standings.

I will gladly take VCU or Hofstra, though.

If we get New Mexico St, I will punch something.

Creighton still wants that late game, right? They should suck it up and take Drexel in an afternoon game, because the next best option for them would be Utah St, which won't help as much.

My predictions:

Southern Illinois at Butler
Northern Iowa at Nevada
Utah St at Creighton
Bradley at Virginia Commonwealth
Drexel at Missouri St
Ohio at Hofstra
Appalachian St at Wichita St
Hawaii at George Mason
Old Dominion at New Mexico St

Just a follow up on my own post.

I predict those first 5 will stand, and Hofstra will probably trump Wichita St for the final ESPN2 game. Pecking order between Ohio, Winthrop, Holy Cross, Appalachian St, Akron, and Old Dominion for that final road game could get messy, though.