ESPN Bracketbusters

[battlebasset]

Aren't we supposed to hear something today?

[tornado]

pairing announced this evening - covered by ESPNU

http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/

http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/component/content/article?id=15

[SFP]

So why is The Valley still in this? The question is who will WSU or CU play? There's a bunch of non very good home teams this year. I bet CU will play St. Mary's. Wouldn't it be funny and probably create a complete melt down on this board if we play UC Davis.

[BUBalum05]

Wouldn't it be funny and probably create a complete melt down on this board if we play UC Davis.

The thought of playing UC Davis has already come to mind for me. I also wondered how many people's heads would explode from the overload should this happen.

[Da Coach]

Here are the current RPIs of the home and road BracketBuster teams-

http://www.rpiforecast.com/bb.html

There are a lot fewer quality road teams than home teams, so many of the home teams are going to get disappointing matchups. Wichita State and Indiana State, who will be looking to improve their RPI and enhance their resume', are in for a letdown. They are the #2 and #3 ranked home teams, but are looking at probably getting North Dakota State and South Dakota State (the #2 and #3 ranked road teams) which have much lower RPIs.

Bradley is the 22nd ranked road team. Assuming ESPN tries to match up teams with similar RPI and without too much travelling, it looks like Oakland, Texas-Arlington, Youngstown St., Wright State, Charleston, UNC-Ashville, and Toledo are among the likeliest matchups. UC-Davis would be a real longshot, and would only happen if someone at ESPN wants to play a cruel hoax on Bradley.

[tornado]

With geography in mind - I suspect they'll try to give us UIC or WIU - but...
I also have reason to believe that each team (both home & away) can use an option akin to a veto but cannot use broad vetoes to specifically engineer a favorable matchup...
With that in mind - then I think we'll do our best to avoid getting paired with a road game against a team we consider a recruiting rival -- so I predict we'll get Wright State, Youngstown, Toledo, or Oakland..

[lightsout]

Creighton @ St. Marys

Detroit @ Wichita St.

Iona @ Indiana St.

[lightsout]

Illinois State @ Utah State

UWGB @ Drake

Denver @ UNI

Evansville @ Wright State

cant find anything about Bradley yet

[jeffsu]

Friday, Feb. 22
North Dakota State at Akron, ESPN2, 7 ET
Stephen F. Austin at Long Beach State, ESPNU, 9 ET

Saturday, Feb. 23
Iona at Indiana State, ESPNU, 11 a.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky at Valparaiso, ESPNU, 1 ET
Canisius at Vermont, ESPN3, 1 ET
Pacific at Western Michigan, ESPN3, 2 ET
Montana at Davidson, ESPNU, 3 ET
Northwestern State at Niagara, ESPN3, 3 ET
Detroit at Wichita State, ESPN/2, 4 ET
Creighton at Saint Mary's, ESPN/2, 6 ET
South Dakota State at Murray State, ESPN2, 8 ET
Denver at Northern Iowa, ESPN3, 8 ET
Ohio at Belmont, ESPN2, 10 ET

[lightsout]

Bradley @ Illinois Chicago

[JMM28]

I'm so glad it's over next year. Another "eh" draw.

[DeltaBrave03]

I'm so glad it's over next year. Another "eh" draw.

+1, a bracketbuster style event with the WCC, MWC, MVC and A10 would be great, but the valley has absolutely nothing to gain with the current participants.

[jeffsu]

Let me save everyone the usual debate...

- BOOO another lame draw.

- HOOORAY another game in Chicago for the alums/recruiting.


Both valid points, both debated ad neuseum. Lets just win the game.

[Da Coach]

A game we should win against a team with a better RPI.

[LittleBrave]

Bradley @ Illinois Chicago

Yyyyyuessss!!!

Just a short bus drive from my home!

I'll be there 4 sure! Anyone else??