Arch Madness

[bigjimmy]

Arch Madness is now upon us. The brackets go like this:

Game #1 #9 Evansville vs. #8 Drake at 6:05 on Thursday
Game #2 #10 Loyola vs. #7 Bradley at 8:35 on Thursday

Game #3 winner of Game #1 vs. #1 Wichita at 12:05 on Friday
Game #4 #5 Illinois State vs. #4 Missouri State at 2:35 on Friday

Game #5 winner of Game #2 vs. Indiana State at 6:05 on Friday
Game #6 #6 Southern Illinois vs. #3 Northern Iowa at 8:35 on Friday

Game #7 winner of Game #3 vs. winner of Game #4 at 1:35 on Saturday
Game #8 winner of Game #5 vs. winner of Game #6 at 4:05 on Saturday

Game #9 winner of Game #7 vs. winner of Game #8 at 1:05 on Sunday

Good luck to anyone who plays the Shockers. You're gonna need it.

[Da Coach]

Here is the bracket-

[bigjimmy]

Wichita could be the most overwhelming favorite to win the Valley tournament in quite some time. UNI might be the favorite to meet them in the finals as they have won 5 of their last 6 and seem to be playing their best ball of the season. SIU have won 7 of their last 10 and should give UNI all they can want. ISU Blue has lost their last 3 but they have a veteran group so you shouldn't count them out. The Missouri State/ISU Red game should be another barn burner. The Evansville/Drake game should be very entertaining. The BU/Loyola game should be a no brainer. Loyola is 2-8 in their last 10, having lost their last 6. We've beat them twice, the last time was pretty easy. Yet, with this years team resume, there are no guarantees. We should be looking at major changes to the program but even if we lose I don't think Madame President and her minions think that anything is wrong. If they are right I'll be the first to admit how wrong I am. I really want to be proven to be wrong. Just don't see it.

[Da Coach]

From what I saw when Loyola was at Bradley, and another later game, they looked like they weren't interested in playing any more, and were ready for their vacations. But today, though they never lead against Evansville, and could have just mailed it in, they played hard and almost pulled the game out at the end. Nick Osborne, who had been suspended, did play 9 minutes in the game. So I thought we might have an easy time next Thursday, but now I think Loyola will give us a good game.

[carter]

Brackets

Can someone post a printable bracket for the MVC since the teams are now in place?

[tornado]

Here is a bracket

http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/mvc/081CA563-F63D-444B-9EF7-D3C3B4958BB7/ArchMadness_Bracket_312014.pdf

or print this one from Da Coach's post above

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=292588&postcount=2

[Da Coach]

Here is the seating chart for the Scottrade Center-

[Da Coach]

Interesting Arch Madness Preview from a local TV station in St. Louis-

http://www.ksdk.com/story/sports/ncaab/march-madness/2014/03/05/2014-missouri-valley-conference-tournament-arch-madness-information/6086883/

I thought it was a little strange that the photo they show with their Arch Madness article is a picture of Gary Ricks, Jr. of Drake, who was injured way back in early December and is out for the rest of the year, and will not play in St. Louis. Of all the good teams (including one ranked #2 in the country) and all the All MVC players who will be playing this weekend, I don't understand why they couldn't find a photo of someone who will actually be playing this weekend for a team with a chance to win, instead of someone who plays for one of the worst teams, and is out for the year with an injury.