Bracket Buster?

[BI_Brave_alum]

Does anyone know when they will announce Bradley's Bracketbuster opponent?


Go BU!

[cpacmel]

Monday at 4pm I believe.

[Da Coach]

With only 2 games left before the pairings are made, it's looking likely Bradley will get Nevada.

Here are the Bracket Buster teams with RPIs updated from Realtimerpi.com--

Rk. Home (League).........RPI.....Road (League)...........RPI
1. Butler (Horizon).........20.......S. Illinois (MVC)..........9
2. Missouri St. (MVC).....31.......Bradley (MVC)............35
3. Nevada (WAC)..........32.......Drexel (CAA)..............41
4. Creighton (MVC)........42.......App. St. (Southern)....43
5. Wichita St. (MVC)......60.......UNI (MVC)................46
6. Hofstra (CAA)...........66........Holy Cross (Colonial)...67
7. New Mexico St.(WAC).68.......Utah State (WAC)......69
8. VCU (CAA)................72.......Ohio (MAC)...............74
9. Indiana St. (MVC)......75.......Winthrop (Big South)...83
10. Long Beach St. (BW)..95......Sam Hou St.(So.land)..86
11. George Mason (CAA)..98.......Old Dominion (CAA)....92
12. Boise State (WAC)....104 .....Evansville (MVC)........94
13. Toledo (MAC)..........105 ......Albany (Am. East).....110
14. Drake (MVC)............113......Kent State (MAC).....117
15. Marist (MAAC).........116.......Hawai???‚¬?„?i (WAC)..........130

Here are my predictions--
SIU at Butler
Bradley at Nevada
Drexel at Missouri St.
Appalchian St. at Creighton
UNI at Hofstra
Holy Cross at Wichita St.
Utah State at VCU
Ohio at Indiana State
Winthrop at George Mason
Sam Houston St. at New Mexico St.
Old Dominion at Boise St.
Evansville at Toledo
Albany at Marist
Kent St. at Drake
Hawaii at Long Beach St.

[OrangeandBlack74]

I think it's likely that whoever gets to play Nevada will be a national (ESPN/ESPN2) TV game.....probably a late (11pm) start time.

I know our RPI is better than UNI, but I can't help but think they will get to play Nevada and we will get Hofstra.

[Braves4Life]

Nevada

I hope we get Nevada. Just last night Jay Bilas (I think) picked them as his sleeper team to surprise in the Tourney.

This would be a great game for us PR-wise. Though the selfish in me would love to see us play at Winthrop, George Mason, or VCU so I could go to the game. I think a Winthrop match-up would be a very exciting game as both teams play similar style.

I have no idea how these match-ups are chosen. Any chance of these match-ups?

[Da Coach]

I think the matchups are selected by ESPN, with some input by the conferences and the NCAA. The criteria considered the highest is appeal for TV, followed by factors like travel concerns, and scheduling issues. The teams have to be able to play each other the following season. Teams from the same conference, or who are already scheduled to play each other that year or the next won't be paried in the BB, and they try to match the RPIs as closely as the other factors allow.

http://www.espnbracketbusters.com/

I know Coach Cornelius is hoping for a matchup with Nevada!

[MacabreMob]

The teams Nevada has to be looking at in their possible opponent...

Drexel
RPI 41
1/24 @ 259 UNC-Wilmington
1/27 vs 72 VCU

UNI
RPI 46
1/27 @ 113 Drake

Bradley
RPI 35
1/24 vs 128 ISU
1/27 @ 31 Mo St

[MacabreMob]

Teams UNI and Bradley are looking at...

Nevada
RPI 32
1/25 vs 221 La Tech
1/27 vs 69 Utah St

Hofstra
1/24 @ 239 Georgia St
1/27 @ 146 Towson

New Mexico St
RPI 68
1/24 vs 282 Idaho
1/27 @ 223 San Jose St

VCU
RPI 72
1/24 @ 97 George Mason
1/27 @ 41 Drexel

[MacabreMob]

One of us is gonna get hosed - either UNI or us. We both would like the better RPI opponent.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, I have a feeling ESPN would like the draw of a recent Sweet 16 team that is having another pretty good year matched up with a ranked team. But then again... what do I know.

[Da Coach]

The Bracket Busters are slated to be announced by Monday. I don't see Bradley dropping below UNI (RPI 46) even after Saturday's games, unless Bradley loses tonight to ISU (RPI 127). UNI has a road game at Drake (RPI 113, and Bradley has the game against ISU tonight and at MSU (RPI 31) Sat. Even a loss at MSU won't drop Bradley a lot.
So with the big difference between Nevada (32), and the next cluster of home teams, Hofstra 66, NMSU 68, and VCU 72, the decision between Bradley and UNI playing at Nevada would be one of the biggest calls ESPN has to make. I agree that Bradley should seem like the better TV draw.

[Majik45]

UNI has made the NCAA tournament 2 or 3 years in a row now, so they do have a little drawing power. They also had a great bracketbuster game against Bucknell a year or two ago on TV, so I wouldn't count them out yet. If Bradley wins both game this week or UNI loses at Drake on Saturday, we're probably the more attractive team. If we lose to ISU tonight, UNI is the more attractive team. If UNI wins and we split this week, I have no clue what they'll do.

[MacabreMob]

Agreed Majik. I should have said some of those things that are in UNI's favor. Plus, IMO, they have been a good road team this year.

Breakdown...

UNI
RPI 46
Non-conf SOS 294
Overall SOS 89
Away/NC Record 6-4
vs Top50 RPI Record 3-2

Bradley
RPI 35
Non-conf SOS 36
Overall SOS 13
Away/NC Record 4-6
vs Top50 RPI Record 1-5

* wonder if they consider us without JC and knowing he will be back by BBuster

[OrangeandBlack74]

The Bracket Busters are slated to be announced by Monday. I don't see Bradley dropping below UNI (RPI 46) even after Saturday's games, unless Bradley loses tonight to ISU (RPI 127). UNI has a road game at Drake (RPI 113, and Bradley has the game against ISU tonight and at MSU (RPI 31) Sat. Even a loss at MSU won't drop Bradley a lot.
So with the big difference between Nevada (32), and the next cluster of home teams, Hofstra 66, NMSU 68, and VCU 72, the decision between Bradley and UNI playing at Nevada would be one of the biggest calls ESPN has to make. I agree that Bradley should seem like the better TV draw.

BU had the great tournament run last year, but UNI has been consistently good the past few years, and this year is no exception. They are ahead of us in the conference standings, and have recently been receiving votes in the polls. I understand the RPI thing, but I still think they get the nod over BU to play Nevada. Just a hunch.....

[real fan]

I think UNI will get Nevada and we will play Hofstra ; don"t ask why as this is just a gut feeling.

[MacabreMob]

The Bracket Busters are slated to be announced by Monday. I don't see Bradley dropping below UNI (RPI 46) even after Saturday's games, unless Bradley loses tonight to ISU (RPI 127). UNI has a road game at Drake (RPI 113, and Bradley has the game against ISU tonight and at MSU (RPI 31) Sat. Even a loss at MSU won't drop Bradley a lot.
So with the big difference between Nevada (32), and the next cluster of home teams, Hofstra 66, NMSU 68, and VCU 72, the decision between Bradley and UNI playing at Nevada would be one of the biggest calls ESPN has to make. I agree that Bradley should seem like the better TV draw.

BU had the great tournament run last year, but UNI has been consistently good the past few years, and this year is no exception. They are ahead of us in the conference standings, and have recently been receiving votes in the polls. I understand the RPI thing, but I still think they get the nod over BU to play Nevada. Just a hunch.....

Yea, as much as this event is driven by the RPI, it is driven doubly by ESPN (and opinions) for the tv games.... as much as I want us to get Nevada, I have gotta believe ESPN would rather send a team receiving votes (therefore recognized nationally) to a team in the polls.

Point - Set - Match

UNI goes to Nevada. Look out Hofstra, here comes Bradley.