MVC games Sat. 1/22

[Da Coach]

Final score in 3 OTs
Indiana State 83
Wichita State 93

[bigjimmy]

ISU Blue hit the wall at about the 2:30 mark of the 3rd overtime as Wichita scored the last 12 of the game to win 93-83

[real fan]

watch out for INS....there is something to be said for playing as a team.....I think they are better than people think!

They are a good team and have great player depth, their first year coach is doing a really good job.

[jasonpeoria911]

Indiana State may actually be helping the Valley get 2 teams into the big dance. Many were expecting just Wichita State to run away with it and take the sole bid but now Wichita State, MO State and now Indiana State are all very strong. I think 2 of those squeak into the big dance and the 3rd to the NIT. If not by the Committee picking them, it may be 1 in by taking the season record, and 2nd in by taking the Valley Tourney with the way the top 3 teams are playing.

Jason

[tornado]

Indiana State may actually be helping the Valley get 2 teams into the big dance. Many were expecting just Wichita State to run away with it and take the sole bid but now Wichita State, MO State and now Indiana State are all very strong....

The Valley is viewed by many as weaker than usual, so finishing 2nd or 3rd in the Valley isn't going to impress anyone on the Selection Committee.

What will impress is a good record against a solid non-conference schedule, and some real quality wins over decent opponents...

Sadly, I have pointed out, that none of the three teams you mention have any of these...

Indiana State - current RPI 93, overall SOS 122, non-conf SOS of 83, top quality non-conf win = RPI 167 ORU
Wichita State- current RPI 52, overall SOS 83, non-conf SOS of 233, top quality noo-conf win = RPI 124 Virginia
Missouri State- current RPI 40, overall SOS 118, non-conf SOS of 211, top quality nono-conf win = RPI 139 Pacific

I just don't see much of this changing.....
for example -- last year Wichita State was 25-9, had RPI 43, their SOS was 100, and their situaiton was almost exactly as it is currently and as MSU's is as well -- but they got snubbed...no NCAA bid!
Likely their non-conference SOS of 240 was the key!

I would love to see the Valley get two bids...but for that to happen, the better teams in the Valley would need to beat each other up in their remainnig games, which unfortunately will only serve to lower the seeding the one eventual winner will get.
Not to mention, that I am planning on Bradley winning the tourney in St. Louis.


These guys also think Wichita (and thus MSU & InSU as well) has....
"a huge, gaping hole in its tournament resume.
The Shockers have yet to beat a top 100 RPI team.
Not one. Their best win at the moment is over 112th ranked Tulsa."

http://college-basketball-bracketology.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/26191645/27136591

[Bravesfan]

The Valley is viewed by many as weaker than usual, so finishing 2nd or 3rd in the Valley isn't going to impress anyone on the Selection Committee.

What will impress is a good record against a solid non-conference schedule, and some real quality wins over decent opponents...

Sadly, I have pointed out, that none of the three teams you mention have any of these...

Indiana State - current RPI 93, overall SOS 122, non-conf SOS of 83, top quality non-conf win = RPI 167 ORU
Wichita State- current RPI 52, overall SOS 83, non-conf SOS of 233, top quality noo-conf win = RPI 124 Virginia
Missouri State- current RPI 40, overall SOS 118, non-conf SOS of 211, top quality nono-conf win = RPI 139 Pacific

I just don't see much of this changing.....
for example -- last year Wichita State was 25-9, had RPI 43, their SOS was 100, and their situaiton was almost exactly as it is currently and as MSU's is as well -- but they got snubbed...no NCAA bid!
Likely their non-conference SOS of 240 was the key!

I would love to see the Valley get two bids...but for that to happen, the better teams in the Valley would need to beat each other up in their remainnig games, which unfortunately will only serve to lower the seeding the one eventual winner will get.
Not to mention, that I am planning on Bradley winning the tourney in St. Louis.


These guys also think Wichita (and thus MSU & InSU as well) has....
"a huge, gaping hole in its tournament resume.
The Shockers have yet to beat a top 100 RPI team.
Not one. Their best win at the moment is over 112th ranked Tulsa."
http://college-basketball-bracketolo...91645/27136591

Well unfortunately you are most likely right tornado. There is one fact that I have to respectively disagree with you on though, and that is the Valley was weak in the mid-90's as well and we got two teams in from 1994-96. Granted, Tulsa, SIU and Bradley all did have much better non-conference quality wins including Bradley's win over eventual ACC champion Georgia Tech in 1996. So yes, unless MSU, WSU and ISU all sweep good teams in this year's Bracketbuster, you are probably right in that we will only get one team in.

However, I can see two teams in under the following scenerio: First and most importantly, WSU MUST win at MSU to even the season record between those two teams. Second, as stated above, each team needs to take care of business against the rest of the league AND take care of business in the Bracketbusters. Third, MSU and WSU need to meet in the Valley finals and keep the game close. Finally, hopefully the expanded three bids could help the Valley obtain that elusive second bid.

Notice ISU is not in the discussion as they needed that game last night, though they already do have a nice home win against MSU. But their non-conference record was mediocre, which screams NIT. That still would be a great accomplishment for a team that has not sniffed the postseason in over a decade outside of their recent CBI/CIT appearance. But the good thing about ISU losing is that it keeps WSU in the at-large discussion. Another close home loss last night would have seriously damaged their NCAA Tournament hopes.