30% still pretty good

[amckillip]

I really think we need to go 5-1 in the remaining regular season games. I just think if we don't there will be enough of an argument against us getting in, no matter the argument for us getting in.

[Chucky T's]

Seems like last year we had more "quality wins" against top 50 RPI teams. Correct me if I am wrong but I don't think we have any top 50 RPI wins. (until tonight ) If we are on the bubble come selection Sunday, this will be our downfall if BU doesn't get in.

[Da Coach]

We had several wins against Top 50 RPI teams last year, because so many MVC were in the Top 50. This year, just SIU, Missouri State, and Creighton are Top 50 teams, other tha Bradley at #50. --
We had wins over Creighton, SIU, Missouri State, and UNI twice. Western Kentucky finished with an RPI of 54.

This year, just the SIU win at home was a Top 50 win (SIU is currently #11).

2006-2007 schedule/RPI--

http://www.kenpom.com/sked.php?team=Bradley

2005-2006 schedule/RPI--

http://www.kenpom.com/sked.php?team=Bradley&y=2006

[ceflentroy]

abesimpson

I completely agree with your assessment, that we are in better shape for an at-large bid this year opposed to last year. At this juncture, we are, "correct me if I wrong", (2) games ahead of where we were last year. As for tonite's game, we will most definitely regain our shooting touch, which will lead us back to playing tenacious defense again, and we will sustain this momentum throughout the remainder of the season, into the big dance and beyond!!!

[MacabreMob]

Now maybe you're a purist and believe they don't consider revenue issues when handing out bids......yeah right...

I don't think they consider revenue T.

The tickets are sold in advance of selecting the field.

The advertising is sold well in advance.

Whether Kentucky is playing Arizona or Murray St is playing Northern Arizona, it doesn't matter... the tickets and advertising spots are already sold.

[VromanFan]

Re: 30% still pretty good

So yeah, 3 bids sounds right. As of right now.

I'd be curious as to anyone else's opinion. Thanks for letting me ramble.

You must be a cheap date, but you should be more demanding.

Last year the Valley got 4 bids and proved beyond question that those bids were worthy of being in the NCAA Tourney.

This year the Valley is even stronger top to bottom.

At least 6 of the Valley teams are among the top 64 teams in the nation. The Valley as a conference has hovered between 3rd and 5th in RPI all season, and recall that the RPI is the very formula that all the BCS boys devised to show how much their 2nd through 6th teams deserved NCAA bids ahead of the 2nd best guys in smaller conferences.

The Marylands and the talking heads don't want you to know this, but...........
The best 6 teams in the MVC have been routinely knocking off some of the BCS guys all year. Those teams belong in the NCAA.

The heck with this 3-bid argument, I think the MVC deserves 6 bids, but I'd be happy with 5.

Trust me, I'd love the MVC to get more than three. But it IS actually about the teams. Do you honestly think WSU, UNI, or BU deserve a bid if the season ended today? That's my proposition you don't really question. If you think they do tell me why, I'd be curious as to your opinion.

The top 64 of the RPI is not a meaningful statistic....with all the auto bids you are looking at about the top 40 RPI if you want to be an at large (if they look at the RPI). Are those three schools in the top 30 or 40 RPI (I honestly don't know)?

Well, interesting stuff.


The conference doesn't earn bids. The teams within it do. Last year we should have had 5 or 6. Agreed.

[TheAsianSensation]

Last year we deserved 5.

Right now, this year, we deserve 3.

It's that simple. In principle, a conference of our status deserves 4. But it doesn't work that way.