Bracket Buster Pairings

[xubrew]

Okay, I know that the schools were told a week ago who they were playing, and people with their ears to the ground probably already know. But, if you're like me, your ear isn't to the ground.

GOOD HOME TEAMS...

Murray State,
Creighton,
Davidson,
Ohio,
Cleveland State,
Weber (sort of. Their loss at Idaho State sours their profile).


GOOD ROAD TEAMS

Long Beach
Wichita State
Nevada
Saint Mary's


My best guess...

Wichita State @ Murray
Saint Mary's @ Creighton
Long Beach @ Davidson
Nevada @ Ohio

I would love all four of those match-ups.

[GoMuskies]

I think it will be St. Mary's @ Murray State as those are the two "premier" teams. That would really screw the MVC, because it means that both Creighton and Wichita State get lesser opponents. You'd end up with Wichita State at ORU (still pretty solid), and a much less sexy Long Beach at Creighton.

The way you've got it is probably better overall. I would have absolutely zero interest in Nevada vs. Ohio, though.

[xubrew]

I think it will be St. Mary's @ Murray State as those are the two "premier" teams. That would really screw the MVC, because it means that both Creighton and Wichita State get lesser opponents. You'd end up with Wichita State at ORU (still pretty solid), and a much less sexy Long Beach at Creighton.

The way you've got it is probably better overall. I would have absolutely zero interest in Nevada vs. Ohio, though.

I would only be interested in it because it's two teams with gaudy records that I think are good, but really don't know for soure. If both teams win out, and that includes winning that game, but fall in the conference tournament the committee will hopefully give them a look.

I forgot to even list Oral Roberts, but they certainly fall under the category of a good team.

[Xavier]

Id like to see Long Beach at Murray state.

[drudy23]

If Bracket Buster isn't the most blatant ploy to get less non BCS schools to the tourney, I don't know what is.

Most of these bubble mid-majors cannot afford to lose much to even have an at-large shot...so let's have them play each other to ensure they get more losses. And if they win, well, they only beat another mid-major.

I'd tell them to pound salt with their invite.

[GoMuskies]

The MVC basically put it together to get additional quality wins for members of their conference. The the MVC teams played the games and lost....a lot. It hasn't worked out at all for the MVC.

The bracket busters are fabulous for the winners. Pretty terrible for the losers, though. If Murray State gets SMC and beats them, it would be HUGE for Murray State. Lose, and they could easily end up with a 7 seed at 30-1.

[xubrew]

If Bracket Buster isn't the most blatant ploy to get less BCS schools to the tourney, I don't know what is.

Most of these bubble mid-majors cannot afford to lose much to even have an at-large shot...so let's have them play each other to ensure they get more losses. And if they win, well, they only beat another mid-major.

I'd tell them to pound salt with their invite.

Did you mean less NON-BCS teams??

I can't really think of an example where losing a Bracket Buster game really hurt a team. When it was first initiated, massive satellite packages existed, but it was not nearly as commonplace as it is now. So, only one person out of a hundred could really see these teams. In addition to providing teams with a quality opponent late in the year, it also put a spotlight on them that they otherwise wouldn't have had.

I may not have htis exactly right, but it's close enough. In 2002, I believe there were only two teams from outside BCS conferences that were the better seeded team in the first round.

In 2001, it was zero.

Now, it is commonplace to see non-bcs teams wearing white in the round of 64. Without question, it has been a benefit to the non-majors. One quality win is a lot more than none when it comes to selecting and seeding teams. At least it provides that opportunity.

[xubrew]

The MVC basically put it together to get additional quality wins for members of their conference. The the MVC teams played the games and lost....a lot. It hasn't worked out at all for the MVC.

The bracket busters are fabulous for the winners. Pretty terrible for the losers, though. If Murray State gets SMC and beats them, it would be HUGE for Murray State. Lose, and they could easily end up with a 7 seed at 30-1.

The MVC basically generates it's own virtual buster games whenever teams like this year's Creighton, Wichita (and to an extent Northern Iowa) play each other. If they lose in the buster, but manage wins against each other, they're still looking pretty good.

[GoMuskies]

Lamar at George Mason is confirmed (in news interesting to no one).

Indiana State will be at Butler (that's actually a pretty decent game).

[xubrew]

Lamar at George Mason is confirmed (in news interesting to no one).

Indiana State will be at Butler (that's actually a pretty decent game).

Indiana State at Butler. Two teams that were supposed to be good, and weren't. Score!!

[GoMuskies]

Beats what most Bracket Buster games will be: two teams that weren't supposed to be any good and aren't. At least you get Jake Odum in this one.

[GoMuskies]

The "premium" matchups continue to leak out:

UNC-Wilmington - Manhattan
Coastal Carolina - Tennessee Tech (TT is actually pretty good, and I expect them to beat Murray State at home in the regular season finale)
Utah State - UC Santa Barbara

[paulxu]

Hey...who are the famous Wofford Terriers from right here in Spartanburg playing?

[GoMuskies]

No word yet. Northeastern was at one point thought to be a potential opponent.

[xubrew]

I think it will be St. Mary's @ Murray State as those are the two "premier" teams. That would really screw the MVC, because it means that both Creighton and Wichita State get lesser opponents. You'd end up with Wichita State at ORU (still pretty solid), and a much less sexy Long Beach at Creighton.

The way you've got it is probably better overall. I would have absolutely zero interest in Nevada vs. Ohio, though.

The more I think about it, the more I think you're right.

Long Beach would be a quality opponent, though. They're not quite as good as Saint Mary's, but it's still a pretty solid game.

[GoMuskies]

SMC @ Murray State it is.

LBSU visits Creighton

Wichita State gets the shaft and visits Davidson

[waggy]

Anyone watch any of the Saint Mary's at BYU game? I caught some of the 2nd half. SMC might've had about a 20 point lead. BYU was trying to trap (and was hacking the shit out of) SMC's neanderthal point guard. BYU fans were bonkers on the refs. I mean, it was a nasty crowd. I think the game ended with a lot of crap being thrown on the floor. I felt the game was called correctly, so I don't know what the BYU fans were all worked up over. Maybe earlier calls before I turned it on?

Anyway, SMC seems like a team that just has it going on this year. I think that's a tough match-up for Murray.

[DC Muskie]

I was hanging out with some friends and that game was on and we were remarking how huge BYU's arena is and what those WCC teams must think of playing in it.

Of course I had to remark they were probably shocked to know that all of them were Mormons.

[xubrew]

Anyone watch any of the Saint Mary's at BYU game? I caught some of the 2nd half. SMC might've had about a 20 point lead. BYU was trying to trap (and was hacking the shit out of) SMC's neanderthal point guard. BYU fans were bonkers on the refs. I mean, it was a nasty crowd. I think the game ended with a lot of crap being thrown on the floor. I felt the game was called correctly, so I don't know what the BYU fans were all worked up over. Maybe earlier calls before I turned it on?

Anyway, SMC seems like a team that just has it going on this year. I think that's a tough match-up for Murray.

I watched it. I guess throwing things on the court isn't an honor code violation at BYU. It happened toward the end of the first half, and a technical was issued when it happened again at the beginning of the second half. By the end of the game, I guess the fans didn't care anymore.

These are the same fans that made a sign congratulating RG3 at their basketball game against Baylor after he won the Heisman Trophy. I guess some nights they're friendly, and other nights they throw things at you.

[xu95]

I was hanging out with some friends and that game was on and we were remarking how huge BYU's arena is and what those WCC teams must think of playing in it.

Of course I had to remark they were probably shocked to know that all of them were Mormons.

I figured everything after this had to be a lie.

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per ESPN....



2012 Sears BracketBusters Schedule

(All times are Eastern and are subject to change)


Date.....Time.....Game.....Network(s)

Fri, Feb 17
7 p.m. Northern Iowa at Virginia Commonwealth ESPN2 / ESPN3
9 p.m. Valparaiso at Loyola-Marymount ESPNU


Sat, Feb 18
11 a.m. Drexel at Cleveland State ESPNU
noon Wichita State at Davidson ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3
1 p.m. Buffalo at South Dakota State ESPNU
2 p.m. Akron at Oral Roberts ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3
3 p.m. Drake at New Mexico State ESPNU
4 p.m. Nevada at Iona ESPN or ESPN2/ ESPN3
5 p.m. Old Dominion at Missouri State ESPNU
6 p.m. No. 16 Saint Mary’s at No. 9 Murray State ESPN or ESPN2 / ESPN3
7 p.m. UNC Asheville at Ohio ESPN3*
8 p.m. Texas-Arlington at Weber State ESPN3*
10 p.m. Long Beach State at No. 12 Creighton ESPN2 / ESPN3





http://www.espnmediazone3.com/us/2012/01/30/espn’s-sears-bracketbusters-features-13-games-teams-from-14-conferences/