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/sports/arch_madness
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