MVC Getting No Love This Year

[BradleyBrave]

As mentioned though, Chitown, in every year between 1998-2004, our league champion has had an excellent resume (generally a top 40 RPI) and more than one BCS win.

The lone team that didn't meet that criteria was SIU in 2002.

If our league champ has an RPI of 48 and their biggest win is at home vs. a non-BCS, it's 50/50 at best they get in.

I disagree. The league champ will go. We may whine about not getting respect, but the MVC does get enough respect to make the league champ a virtual lock. Outside of Missouri St, what MVC team has gotten shafted in the last decade? I can't recall any that truly deserved a bid and didn't get one.

[VromanFan]

That's why I was so bummed about the Michigan St loss. It was a game we had in hand, and one that would have pretty much punched our ticket (barring a conference season meltdown).

I guess the one positive is that our non-con in '05-'06 didn't have any noteworthy names on it (DePaul was bad that year), and included an 0-2 record against the Horizon League. Yes, we had the injury to fall back on, but we had that last year too and it didn't mean squat. I think our finish will determine where we go. If you take a look, there's a lot of TV games and some darn good opponents in our home stretch. That will hold more weight than our non-con IMO.

True but in '05-'06 BU picked up wins against the RPI top 50 within the MVC. The league as a whole isn't nearly as good this season. We can't count on getting those big wins on the NCAA resume in conference this year.

I agree, that's why MSU hurt so much.

To answer an earlier post, it doesn't matter if we're in the top 65 nationwide. With the auto bids we need to be somewhere around the top 40. Our resume looks solidly like a NIT team right now. I hope that changes but its going to take a win against Butler and/or nothing short of a stellar MVC season.

[dogsrus]

Considering that the NCAA tournament is about determining the national champion, and you want teams that are likely to win at least one game, No.

Bradley has not shown the ability to beat a top 10 team, just the ability to beat any team worse than 50, and possibly hang with a top 25 team. (Much like last year's resume) You can say Bradley may be one of the 65 strongest overall teams, but there are probably weaker overall teams that already have an upset win under their belts, thus more likely to win an NCAA game. Currently you would be inviting Bradley in the NCAA to most certainly lose a game. In 05/06 BU seemed likely to upset a stronger resume team or 2, and did...

So App. State should have recieved a BSC bid in football....they beat UM so they are MOST likely able to win at least ONE game.

OK maybe not the BEST comparison but I don't think a team can get in based off their ability to win ONE game in the NCAA.

[Dallas Brave]

Yes, I agree the lack of a big time victory over a top 25 school hasn't happened. And a conference needs those wins so that the talking heads can pontificate and bombast up on stage. But, by contrast the A10 hasn't had the type of accomplishments that make it head and shoulders over the MVC and I think the RPI is an indicator of that.

Dayton: beat Louisville, but lost to George Mason
Xavier: beat Indiana, but lost to Miami (Ohio)
UMass: beat Syracuse and Boston College but lost to Northern Iowa and lost to IUPUI
Rhode Island: beat Syracuse, lost to Boston College

Unfortunately, the Big Gun of the MVC, SIU came up pretty short in its big games this year except for St. Mary's.

Bradley and SIU will be responsible for reclaiming what positive perception that can be gained for the MVC. Bradley victories over Butler and VCU would be huge and noticed. SIU needs to trounce St. Louis and play their best against Butler and Western Kentucky. There isn't much else out there that the MVC can do at this point other than Wichita State's game against LSU.

[jasonpeoria911]

Don't the coaches get to send in a letter or something promoting there teams success? I think the big factor this season compared to last season is that we aren't getting blown out like last season. We were tied or within 2 points with 2 minutes left against soon to be 2 top 15 teams. Plus we just beat a good Wright State team on the road. The NCAA committee likes teams that can give a competition and make the games close. We've shown we can do that against 2 great teams and a couple other good ones. If Bradley can keep the Butler game close, finish in the top 3 of the MVC, do good in the tourney, beat VCU and the bracket buster then I think were a lock. Still 20 some odd games to go, a lot can happen to any team. Injuries, upsets, hot streaks, etc.

Jason

[Anthony Parker is my Hero]

Finish first in the MVC and you're a lock (for the NIT literally), but I also think a lock for the NCAA. This year we have to get out of fourth place, we have to be in the top 2 to have a shot. 4th place and we'd be lucky for the NIT.