Over the next 3 games

[Beninator]

We've pretty much lost our ability to 'build' a resume this non-conference season. It would take wins in all 3 remaining non-con games, plus SIU getting back into the Top 25 (and us beating them at least once) for us to have a chance to build any type of at-large resume. Yes, we played a tough schedule. But you have to win some of these tougher games for it to mean anything, especially at home. Losing them all says that you're just not good enough to be in the tourney. The committee is not going to give BU one lick of credit or consideration because we lost to Michigan St or Vanderbilt in close games.

Agree for the most part, but dont forget the bracket buster later in the year.

[BradleyBrave]

Agree for the most part, but dont forget the bracket buster later in the year.

I have no faith in the BracketBuster or its benefit to our chances. In '06 we beat Tennessee Tech at home. That meant nothing come Selection Sunday. Last year, we went on the road and won at VCU, convincingly, on national TV. That meant nothing come Selection Sunday. VCU ended up beating Duke in the 1st round of the NCAA's. What would we have done? Honestly, I would rather swap one of our Horizon road games for a home game and not even play the BracketBuster. I wouldn't be do down about our chances if we didn't have that UIC loss tarnishing our record. But, that's what you get when you schedule 4 road Horizon League games, including your season opener with 7 newcomers.

[tornado]

You may be right, but it is still possible had BU played someone else, a lesser team, or lost to someone else, it could have been worse.
In 2006, we were a real bubble team, and a whole lot of people argued Bradley shouldn't have been in the NCAA that year,
so just maybe...the Bracketbuster win was the one event that tilted the decision in our favor rather than Creighton getting the 4th MVC bid in 2006.
Creighton's win over
Had BU lost that game, I seriously doubt we would have been given the chance to beat Kansas and Pitt.

Also, in 2007, SIU's BracketBuster win over Butler on the road earned them a very nice seed. (#4)

[thefish7]

2-1 is probably the right vote with wins at Wright St and vs VCU. But I voted 3-0. I WANT 3-0.

[ghunt]

3 to 4 losses more and that's it

Barring any severe lapses or injury, I really think we finish strong in terms of wins. I think we drop the Butler game there, lose at SIU and at Creighton. We can't know about the Bracketbuster paring yet, but that one and the Missouri State road game could be wild cards. However, I do not think Missouri State is that strong this year in terms of matching up with us, and given the level of talent in the Bracketbusters, I do not see any team of that caliber taking us down at home.

Although I think we may wind up with the best overall record since either '96 or '88, we will be lacking a marquee win. And, although the conference RPI may be decent right now, I really do think that us and SIU will domniate when it's said and done. So, the weaker conference and the lack of the big win will hurt our seeding--I was really hoping to see us breakout and we'd be in the top 25 with SIU by the time the conference season started. Oh, and by the way, given SIU's lack of depth this year and weak guard play, I think we win the regular season conference title.

P.S. Has anyone noticed how much national and or regional TV we have down the stretch? That will have to help indireclty with drumming up some attention come selection Sunday, I would think.

[shaunguth]

P.S. Has anyone noticed how much national and or regional TV we have down the stretch? That will have to help indireclty with drumming up some attention come selection Sunday, I would think.

These are the final five games of the season:

2/16 - vs. Creighton - MVC-TV
2/19 - @ Drake - MVC-TV
2/23 - BracketBuster - ESPN
2/26 - vs. SIU - ESPN2
3/1 - @ Creighton - MVC-TV

[ghunt]

These are the final five games of the season:

2/16 - vs. Creighton - MVC-TV
2/19 - @ Drake - MVC-TV
2/23 - BracketBuster - ESPN
2/26 - vs. SIU - ESPN2
3/1 - @ Creighton - MVC-TV

Thanks--actually I knew that. I was wondering and sort of making a point that that is a great thing and that it, combined with a good Valley record, may compensate partly for a lack of a marquee win, and still get us a good seed when it it is all said and done.

[Stryker]

All we have to do is win the Tournament or the conference, and go into the tournament from there. Yeah, we would get a better seed, but right now all we should care about is getting in the dance.

[MacabreMob]

I have no faith in the BracketBuster or its benefit to our chances. In '06 we beat Tennessee Tech at home. That meant nothing come Selection Sunday. Last year, we went on the road and won at VCU, convincingly, on national TV. That meant nothing come Selection Sunday. VCU ended up beating Duke in the 1st round of the NCAA's. What would we have done? Honestly, I would rather swap one of our Horizon road games for a home game and not even play the BracketBuster. I wouldn't be do down about our chances if we didn't have that UIC loss tarnishing our record. But, that's what you get when you schedule 4 road Horizon League games, including your season opener with 7 newcomers.

BradleyBrave - I agree with you... your points are right on with the BracketBuster. But of some potential teams that must go on the road this year (and Bradley is hosting), you think maybe an ESPN game against Davidson, George Mason, Kent, Miami-Oh or Nevada might get a raised eyebrow?

[BradleyBrave]

BradleyBrave - I agree with you... your points are right on with the BracketBuster. But of some potential teams that must go on the road this year (and Bradley is hosting), you think maybe an ESPN game against Davidson, George Mason, Kent, Miami-Oh or Nevada might get a raised eyebrow?

Yeah, I would take a Davidson or George Mason. The problem is, I think we would lose to both of those teams, especially Davidson. I just don't have any confidence in us beating a good team right now.

[Beninator]

I brought up the bracket buster as a bit of a potential wild card for us. I think that this is an improving team that has the potential to be a very strong team toward the end of the year right at the time when we get the bracket buster game. If that happens, a bracket buster win against a Davidson etc could be just what we need for our tournament resume....OK we lost Tuesday night.. but we lost to a d**n good team and took them for a hell of a ride... I had serious doubts about this team very early in the season. But Tuesday night I saw a lot of things that we can build on for the rest of the year.

[BradleyBrave]

I brought up the bracket buster as a bit of a potential wild card for us. I think that this is an improving team that has the potential to be a very strong team toward the end of the year right at the time when we get the bracket buster game. If that happens, a bracket buster win against a Davidson etc could be just what we need for our tournament resume....OK we lost Tuesday night.. but we lost to a d**n good team and took them for a hell of a ride... I had serious doubts about this team very early in the season. But Tuesday night I saw a lot of things that we can build on for the rest of the year.

I hate to be a negative nelly here, but I see a talented team that plays to the level of their competition. I expected some inconsistency early on, but we're nearly 1/3 of the way through the season, and we still don't have any reliable inside presence despite recruiting 2 players that were supposed to provide that. We also are missing a 3rd scoring option, which is killing this team when teams focus on DR and JC (which they'll be doing all year). Winning Tuesday would have pointed the arrow upward, no doubt. Right now, I think there are too many question marks to point upward because we haven't proven we can do it against quality competition.

[Chico]

The Bracket Buster isn't a sure TV game. Last year was our first Bracket Buster game ever televised.

[shaunguth]

The Bracket Buster isn't a sure TV game. Last year was our first Bracket Buster game ever televised.

Right, neither are both Creighton games. I was just listing the possibilities for the final five games of the season.

[thefish7]

I hate to be a negative nelly here, but I see a talented team that plays to the level of their competition. I expected some inconsistency early on, but we're nearly 1/3 of the way through the season, and we still don't have any reliable inside presence despite recruiting 2 players that were supposed to provide that. We also are missing a 3rd scoring option, which is killing this team when teams focus on DR and JC (which they'll be doing all year). Winning Tuesday would have pointed the arrow upward, no doubt. Right now, I think there are too many question marks to point upward because we haven't proven we can do it against quality competition.

Pretty pessimisitc... Play Davidson or George Mason like we played MSU and I think we win by 10 or 15. I'd've loved to beat MSU, but they are a top 10 program and may finish in the top 5 the way they own the boards.