Is there any hope?

[That Guy]

Our record is only 20-12 as far as the selection committee is concerned...

[georgethedog]

Air Force got in last year with an RPI of 50, a SOS of 158, and lost in the 1st round of the MWC Tournament. I'd like to think we'd have a fighting chance to get in, but I just don't believe that we do.

Air Force's resume included that they were the regular season champion of the Mountain West Conf.
But as I posted in another thread, the majority of years, a team with an RPI where Bradley's is, around 40, have gotten in as at-large.
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6447

Coach, that is because most of those teams were from BCS conferences and they get better treatment.

[georgethedog]

[quote="Bravesfan"]

ESPN seems to be marginalizing the Valley again. "Much to the delight of bubble teams everywhere the two valley teams we were sure would get in our playing for the title". Dont seem to think or wont anyone else from the conference will make it.

As I have said many times before, there is no way that the number five ranked conference (or even number six or seven) will not get at least three teams in. Whether Bradley could be a fourth is anyone's guess. But three is a given. Book it! [/quote

Three is not a given unless the committee wants to make-up for screwing MSU last year. The MVC will get 2 and that is all because the numbers just don't favor BU or MSU. The only real help for MSU is they beat Wisconsin and that may be enough... we really did not beat anyone (other than SIU at home).

Well george, has there ever been a top 7 conference that did not get at least three teams in? Maybe someone can do the research, or I can check the records.

There is always a first for everything! Look at MSU's rpi last year and they did not get in.

[Braves4Life]

Disagree

Blind Resume:

Record: 21-12
RPI: 40
SOS: 19
Conference Record: 10-8, 4th place
Conference RPI: 5
Road/Neutral Record: 8-9
Record v Top 50: 2-6
Record v Top 100: 6-10
Record in Last 10: 6-4

Lost leading scorer for 8 conference games (5-3)

If that comes from the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, SEC, or Pac-10, it's a no-brainer. The seeding is the only real question. But, that's BU's resume, but we're barely even talked about for an at-large bid.

I gotta disagree with you about BU barely getting a mention. Nearly every show talking about bubble teams has gone out of their way to mention Bradley (not MSU or any other Valley teams, mind you).

This is a good thing. I still hold out hope that we'll slip into the dance. Say a prayer

[BradleyBrave]

Re: Disagree

Blind Resume:

Record: 21-12
RPI: 40
SOS: 19
Conference Record: 10-8, 4th place
Conference RPI: 5
Road/Neutral Record: 8-9
Record v Top 50: 2-6
Record v Top 100: 6-10
Record in Last 10: 6-4

Lost leading scorer for 8 conference games (5-3)

If that comes from the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, SEC, or Pac-10, it's a no-brainer. The seeding is the only real question. But, that's BU's resume, but we're barely even talked about for an at-large bid.

I gotta disagree with you about BU barely getting a mention. Nearly every show talking about bubble teams has gone out of their way to mention Bradley (not MSU or any other Valley teams, mind you).

This is a good thing. I still hold out hope that we'll slip into the dance. Say a prayer

That's why Saturday's loss was so tough to take. I truly believe if we win that game, we are in.

[IlliBraves]

Well, boys, VCU is about to do us a HUGE favor. Can't ask for a better scenario than VCU winning the CAA. Yes, there is still a chance that ODU and Drexel will get a bid, but now our RPI is automatically boosted. You've gotta figure the committee is not going to give the CAA 3 bids. KEEP THE FAITH!!

[BTID]

We've all fantasized about being a fly on the wall during the selection committee's annual rendezvous. I just wonder about lasting impressions in your last game. Remember, the 34 at-large teams will enter the field of 65 coming off losses. While Missouri State has some heft from that big win over Wisconsin, and they have a 2-0 advantage over Bradley, the Braves went 1-4 against Creighton and SIU. The Bears finished 0-5 against the Jays and Salukis. The lasting impression on the committee could be the fact that Bradley pushed Southern Illinois to the limit and very nearly won in the MVC semifinals, while MSU got smoked in their semi against Creighton. We're still the longest of long shots unless some really stupid things happen during the rest of the week. And by stupid, I mean other bubble teams losing their first games of their respective conference tournaments.

[BradleyBrave]

The more I look at this, the more I think it will be a slight travesty if BU doesn't get in. Nothing like MSU's screwjob last year, but nonetheless a travesty. I am looking at Jerry Palm's bracket, and I think Jerry is great at what he does. I just can't figure out these teams being in ahead of BU. It essentially says that RPI, SOS, and wins away from home mean NOTHING.

Here are some of Palm's teams that he has in WAY ahead of BU:

Drexel - 22-8, RPI 40, SOS 98, 13th rated conference, 2 losses outside top 100
Purdue - 20-10, RPI 48, SOS 46, 2 road wins, 2 losses outside top 100
Syracuse - 21-9, RPI 49, SOS 49, 2 losses outside top 100
UMass - 23-7, RPI 56, SOS 137, 3 losses outside top 100, 10th rated conference
Old Dominion - 24-8, RPI 39, SOS 90, 1 loss outside RPI top 200, 13th rated conference

Now, I am sure that I am biased, but I think BU's profile of 20-12, RPI 44, SOS 19, and only 1 loss outside the top 100 is at minimum discussion-worthy, if not worthy of at-large consideration. I know it is living in a fantasy world to think of getting an at-large bid, but d@mn it, our profile puts in any other BCS team and it's even putting in mid-majors in lesser conferences. It just isn't right.

[BTID]

I understand your logic BB. I think we are hurt by what we have in the loss column (12 games). Purdue comes closest to us right now with 10, and depending on who you read or listen to, the Boilermakers are listed among the last teams in or out of the field.

[BradleyBrave]

I understand your logic BB. I think we are hurt by what we have in the loss column (12 games). Purdue comes closest to us right now with 10, and depending on who you read or listen to, the Boilermakers are listed among the last teams in or out of the field.

The his last 4 out are:

DePaul - 17-12, RPI 60, SOS 34, 3 losses outside top 100, lost to BU by 20
Illinois - 21-10, RPI 35, SOS 26, only 3 road wins, beat BU by 4
Florida St - 19-11, RPI 47, SOS 24, 7-9 conference record, lost 5 of last 7
Stanford - 18-11, RPI 57, SOS 23, 4-6 in last 10

Heck, they're almost better than the 5 teams I listed as Palm already having in the tournament! Again, BU can't even make this discussion? Because they're in the MVC? A top 5-7 conference with the #4 non-con SOS? It defies logic, it really does. Yes, maybe I am still in meltdown mode after the heartbreaker to SIU, but it seems like the 'important' numbers just don't mean anything unless you're in a BCS conference.

FWIW - These are all numbers WITHOUT the 13 game Jeremy Crouch injury consideration. If we are given ANY credit for that, our numbers are even better. This week is going to drive me insane.

[BI_Brave_alum]

I understand your logic BB. I think we are hurt by what we have in the loss column (12 games). Purdue comes closest to us right now with 10, and depending on who you read or listen to, the Boilermakers are listed among the last teams in or out of the field.

The his last 4 out are:

DePaul - 17-12, RPI 60, SOS 34, 3 losses outside top 100, lost to BU by 20
Illinois - 21-10, RPI 35, SOS 26, only 3 road wins, beat BU by 4
Florida St - 19-11, RPI 47, SOS 24, 7-9 conference record, lost 5 of last 7
Stanford - 18-11, RPI 57, SOS 23, 4-6 in last 10

Heck, they're almost better than the 5 teams I listed as Palm already having in the tournament! Again, BU can't even make this discussion? Because they're in the MVC? A top 5-7 conference with the #4 non-con SOS? It defies logic, it really does. Yes, maybe I am still in meltdown mode after the heartbreaker to SIU, but it seems like the 'important' numbers just don't mean anything unless you're in a BCS conference.

FWIW - These are all numbers WITHOUT the 13 game Jeremy Crouch injury consideration. If we are given ANY credit for that, our numbers are even better. This week is going to drive me insane.

now if Depaul wins they improve their chances of getting in and improves BU's RPI ranking, but that would mean they take away another spot as well... do u think we still cheer for depaul?

[Scouter]

I think DePaul needs to win two in the Big East tourney to get in. The second of those would be against top-seeded Georgetown, which would most certainly get them in.

Their first-round game against Villanova is a bit puzzling. Most people have Villanova in already, but if they lose in the first round, do they still get in? Would that win alone vault DePaul into the Big Dance? Would both teams get in?

This week is turning me insane. At least the teams that are supposed to win have been winning (KNOCK ON WOOD).

[egib52]

If DePaul gets in (without winning tourney) and BU does not...that just furthers the bias given to the major schools. I understand DePaul has had some good wins (ex. Kansas), but fact remains BU beat them, has a better record and better RPI. Plus Depaul has some bad losses during the season.

[BradleyBrave]

I think DePaul needs to win two in the Big East tourney to get in. The second of those would be against top-seeded Georgetown, which would most certainly get them in.

Not according to WSCR's Lawrence Holmes, who really showed how little he knows about the college game yesterday while filling in for Terry Boers on 'Boers and Bernstein'. He was very confident that with 1 win DePaul would be in the NCAA Tournament (meaning they finished 18-13 with an RPI in the 50's), and that Creighton HAD to win on Sunday or else they were out (essentially saying the MVC is a 1-bid league). My advice to Lawrence is to stick to covering the Bears, as there are ZERO categories where DePaul looks better than any of the top 4 MVC teams in regards to getting into the NCAA Tournament.