2025 Arch Madness

[Da Coach]

Tickets for the individual sessions just went on sale this morning (at 10 am). Of course, we don't know which session Bradley will play in yet. Pretty high likelihood Bradley will not be playing in one of the two sessions on Thursday, March 6.
There are two sessions on Friday, March, 7 (4 quarterfinal games), one session on Saturday, March 8 (2 semifinal games- 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm), and one session on Sunday, March 9 (championship game 1:10 pm).

Arch Madness website- https://mvc-sports.com/feature/25Arch
Team Hotels- https://mvc-sports.com/sports/2019/12/6/ArchHotels.aspx
Arch Madness game schedule- https://mvc-sports.com/feature/25Arch (scroll down to bottom)

And the 2025 Arch Madness Bracket-

[Da Coach]

If the standings stay the same as they are today (2-20-2025), here is how the bracket would look (thanks to March to the Arch Podcast) - https://x.com/MarchArchPod/status/1892713939831591044

Bradley would be the # 3 seed, and would get a bye for the Thursday, March 6 games. Then in the Friday, March 7 night session (Session 4), Bradley would play the second game of the session (Game # 8 ) versus the winner of the # 6 Evansville vs. #11 Valparaiso game from Thursday, March 6.

[bigjimmy]

3 games to go and about the only guarantee is Missouri State as the 12 seed and Drake, UNI and BU will not play on Thursday. And they surely won't be anything decided after this weekend either.

[egib52]

I actually like our current draw better than having to play the ISUs.

[BUfan17]

I actually like our current draw better than having to play the ISUs.

I agree, this would be a decent path for us. Make it to the championship and play a hopefully exhausted Drake team. Our depth would be beneficial in Arch Madness.

[Da Coach]

I actually like our current draw better than having to play the ISUs.

I do too. But there is a good chance it will change. If Bradley wins out (beating Murray State, Valpo, & UNI) they will likely move back to the # 2 seed, since they have the NET tiebreaker against UNI.
Current NET ranking- https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basket...l-net-rankings
Drake 59
Bradley 84
UNI 90
ILL State 113
UIC 132
Belmont 140
Murray St. 149
SIU 192
IND State 210
Valparaiso 231
Mo State 233
Evansville 246

[tomahawk chop]

If the standings stay the same as they are today (2-20-2025), here is how the bracket would look (thanks to March to the Arch Podcast) - https://x.com/MarchArchPod/status/1892713939831591044

Bradley would be the # 3 seed, and would get a bye for the Thursday, March 6 games. Then in the Friday, March 7 night session (Session 4), Bradley would play the second game of the session (Game # 8 ) versus the winner of the # 6 Evansville vs. #11 Valparaiso game from Thursday, March 6.

I have Bradley finishing 2nd and playing Ind. St. or Murray St. with Ill. St. in 5th playing Mo. St. with the winner playing Belmont. Just a guess because predicting this year is not easy. Never figured us to lose 3 home games.

[bigjimmy]

I would think we would clinch no lower than a 3 seed if we win tonight because of the difference in NET rankings between us and Belmont. We just need to take care of business.

[Da Coach]

I would think we would clinch no lower than a 3 seed if we win tonight because of the difference in NET rankings between us and Belmont. We just need to take care of business.

Yes, with 2 games left, Belmont is 2 games behind Bradley, and the teams split the two head-to-head games. So the tiebreaker would be the NET rank.
Today's NET numbers will change a little, but there is no way for Belmont to catch Bradley. Bradley is guaranteed no lower than the # 3 seed.
Drake 58
Bradley 84
UNI 90
ILL State 115
UIC 131
Belmont 140
Murray St. 150
SIU 191
IND State 210
Valparaiso 232
Mo State 234
Evansville 2467

Standings - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ngs/_/group/18

The only way Bradley could get the # 1 seed is if Drake loses their final 3 games, and Bradley wins their final 2. That scenario is also dependent on UNI not only beating Drake tomorrow, but also losing their other 2 games, because if all 3 end up in a 3-way tie, the tiebreaker is different (a mini-round robin format) and Bradley, with a 1-3 record against Drake and UNI doesn't win that.
If Bradley ends up in a tie with UNI for 2nd place, Bradley would be the # 2 seed by virtue of a better NET.
If Drake finished 1st and UNI finishes ahead of Bradley, Bradley will get the # 3 seed.

[bubraves82]

Yes, with 2 games left, Belmont is 2 games behind Bradley, and the teams split the two head-to-head games. So the tiebreaker would be the NET rank.
Today's NET numbers will change a little, but there is no way for Belmont to catch Bradley. Bradley is guaranteed no lower than the # 3 seed.
Drake 58
Bradley 84
UNI 90
ILL State 115
UIC 131
Belmont 140
Murray St. 150
SIU 191
IND State 210
Valparaiso 232
Mo State 234
Evansville 2467

Evansville has really fallen apart

[Da Coach]

Hey now... it was late, and I might have celebrated a little too much last night.

Here are today's NET numbers-
Drake 58
Bradley 84
UNI 91
ILSU 111
UIC 135
Belmont 137
Murray State 148
SIU 201
Ind. State 208
Valpo 230
MO. State 235
Evansville 245 (quite an improvement)

[bubraves82]

Hey now... it was late, and I might have celebrated a little too much last night.

Here are today's NET numbers-
Drake 58
Bradley 84
UNI 91
ILSU 111
UIC 135
Belmont 137
Murray State 148
SIU 201
Ind. State 208
Valpo 230
MO. State 235
Evansville 245 (quite an improvement)

Just pulling your chain, really appreciate all the effort you put into the site

[bigjimmy]

After this weekend's games not much has been decided. Drake will clinch the regular season championship with a win at Evansville on Wednesday or at home against Missouri St on Sunday. Belmont can clinch 4th with a win at Missouri St on Wednesday or a win at home Sunday against Murray State. As for anything else not too sure much will be decided after the games on Tuesday and Wednesday.

[houstonbrave]

Our situation is pretty clear - win Sunday finish second and play at 6pm on Friday. Lose Sunday and make me stay up for the 830 pm game because we finish 3rd

[LittleBrave]

Our situation is pretty clear - win Sunday finish second and play at 6pm on Friday. Lose Sunday and make me stay up for the 830 pm game because we finish 3rd

I did some research, and to have the 2-seed is a considerable adv. over the 3-seed in Arch Madness since 1999. Only 4 times has a 3-seed made it to the Championship game with 2 eventual championships, with the last being Indy St. in 2011. But 19 times has the 2-seed made it to the Finals in that period! Could it be that waiting so long to play your 1st game and the late start and short turnaround to play on Sat. have an effect? I would bet it does, and last season with BU the 3-seed, we got out to a scorching start, but seems Drake had more energy to outlast us, and then go on to win the title as the 2-seed.

That last game of the season will be a big one to get the 2-seed, while also helping our chances for a home game in the NiT should we not win in St. Lou.
That 3-game slide a few weeks back really hurt us, but we've done well to refocus...still not playing our best, though the games vs SIU and at Drake were good signs.