Rooting Interest: 3/9/14

[Retire33]

Regular Season finishes today. Things continue to get tight and the bubble is down to about 10 teams. Is Green Bay worthy of a bid? Will Wichita St go into NCAAs undefeated and avoid a bid theft.

Rooting Interest for 3/9/14

(All games EST)
Bubble Teams
Teams possibly on X Seed line
Teams that can improve Xavier Profile
Conference Championship
Big East Game



Visting Team
Home Team
Time (EST)
Channel


Winthrop (GO KELS!)
Coastal Carolina
12pm
ESPN2


Syracuse
Florida State
2pm
ESPN3


Mercer
FGCU (Dunk City!!)
2pm
ESPN2


Indiana St.
Wichita St.
2pm
CBS


La Salle
St. Joseph's
4pm
CBS Sports Network


Penn St
Minnesota
5:15pm
Big Ten Network


Wisconsin
Nebraska
7:30pm
Big Ten Network

[XUFan09]

Go Wichita State! Don't want a team stealing a bid.

[X-band '01]

Either Wright State or UW-Milwaukee could be a so-called bid thief on Tuesday, although I'd have to believe that Green Bay's two home losses to Milwaukee may relegate them to the NIT. They do have a home win against Virginia in their pocket.

[GoMuskies]

I like Jake Odum, but unfortunately I have to cheer against him for a number of reasons today.

[Masterofreality]

By the way..

A UMass loss at home to St. Louis puts them on the bubble, I believe. I know the RPI has them 14, but Pomeroy has them at 46, 3 spots below Xavier. Sagarin has them also at 46, two spots below us.

I still don't believe that 6 A-10 teams will get bids.

[danaandvictory]

Other than Wichita, I'll be most interested in seeing how Nebraska and Minnesota fare today. Both are hanging by the proverbial string.

[Musketeer_15]

I don't understand how Minnesota is a bubble team. They are 7-10 in the Big Ten and their biggest non-conference win is Florida State. Also Nebraska doesn't have the most appealing resume either. I would say if both teams lose today then they are on the wrong side of the bubble going into the conference tourney, especially Minnesota

[sirthought]

Winthrop game is close, but it seems Kels team is struggling to get the ball in the hoop.

[The_Mack_Pack]

I'll be interested in the A-10 all week. Someone is going to be left out and I think it might be Saint Joe's. Especially if they lose today. When your best non-con win is Boston University you don't really deserve much leniency.

[The_Mack_Pack]

I don't understand how Minnesota is a bubble team. They are 7-10 in the Big Ten and their biggest non-conference win is Florida State. Also Nebraska doesn't have the most appealing resume either. I would say if both teams lose today then they are on the wrong side of the bubble going into the conference tourney, especially Minnesota

A loss today by Minnesota should finish off any at-large aspirations they had.

[GoMuskies]

Looking bad for the Fighting Kelseys. I don't suppose Maryland has any hope with a win over #5 Maryland, do they? 17-14, 9-9 with a win.

Dez is having a very efficient day.

[Musketeer_15]

Looking bad for the Fighting Kelseys. I don't suppose Maryland has any hope with a win over #5 Maryland, do they? 17-14, 9-9 with a win.

Dez is having a very efficient day.
As much as I'd like to see Dez play in the tourney again, I think it's very doubtful. Currently, their best win all season is on a neutral court against Providence. They have no big wins in the ACC and even if they beat Virginia I don't think it would be enough. They also have only 2 road wins all season, so that as well hurts them.

[xavierj]

Looking bad for the Fighting Kelseys. I don't suppose Maryland has any hope with a win over #5 Maryland, do they? 17-14, 9-9 with a win.

Dez is having a very efficient day.

They have a 0% chance to do the above. Do you think Xavier could beat Xavier?

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, my post was obviously ridiculous. The idea of Maryland being #5 is just crazy.

[xsteve1]

Turgeon will be coaching for his job next year. He owes a big thank you to Xavier for giving them Wells.

[GoMuskies]

Unfortunately for Kelsey, his team shoots like him.

[paulxu]

Can you imagine the world exploding if the #14 RPI team wasn't in the tournament?

[xsteve1]

Bennett is one heck of a coach. I'm not sure he has an NBA prospect on his team. He was able to win at WSU tells me all I need to know about his coaching ability.

[xsteve1]

Hell of a flop by Dez.

[bjf123]

Hell of a flop by Dez.

Thought it was a good call. The guy definitely shoved him to get separation.


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[GoMuskies]

Maryland showed the perils of fouling up 3.

[GoMuskies]

I'm going to miss half the Wichita State game....and I live in fucking Wichita. Ridiculous.

[sirthought]

March Madness at its best. I would have fouled if I was Maryland.

[XUFan09]

Turgeon will be coaching for his job next year. He owes a big thank you to Xavier for giving them Wells.

It seemed like such a good hire at the time. It's weird how poorly some coaches transition from one job to another. And then you have guys like Tony Bennett. He's doing okay.

As a sibling of a UVA grad and as someone who almost went there, I'm rooting big time for the Wahoos!

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[xsteve1]

Maryland showed the perils of fouling up 3.

Still much better than giving up the 3. That may be the first time all season that has backfired.

[The_Mack_Pack]

That was a great inbounds play.

[GoMuskies]

Check that, they switched it here. UVA and Maryland fans in town (both of them) probably livid, but the people at the local channel will laugh at them if they call and complain.

[xsteve1]

Virginia is a real product of the staggered scheduling of a big league.

[sirthought]

Congrats to Dez Wells. He lives to see another day!

[XUFan09]

Virginia is a real product of the staggered scheduling of a big league.

Agreed, but Duke (#7) is the only one close to them (#4) in the Kenpom rankings.

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[xsteve1]

Agreed, but Duke (#7) is the only one close to them (#4) in the Kenpom rankings.

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Question? Does the committee use KenPom? I hope they do for X's chances.

[X-band '01]

I don't understand how Minnesota is a bubble team. They are 7-10 in the Big Ten and their biggest non-conference win is Florida State. Also Nebraska doesn't have the most appealing resume either. I would say if both teams lose today then they are on the wrong side of the bubble going into the conference tourney, especially Minnesota

Nebraska has a notable win away from home at Michigan State; their only loss at home this year was against Michigan.

They did beat Ohio State at home and swept Indiana, although the Hoosiers are down this year. It's going to be difficult to keep them out if they beat Wisconsin and win a game or two in the Big 10 Tournament.

[XUFan09]

Question? Does the committee use KenPom? I hope they do for X's chances.

Yes. When Bobinski was vice-chair and then chair, it was a particularly serious factor. It will be used again with this committee, and what will be interesting to see is how much. There are certain teams that will be usable as barometers after the fact, based on whether they make the tournament and how they are seeded if they do.

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[danaandvictory]

Question? Does the committee use KenPom? I hope they do for X's chances.

Yes. Prior to Bobinski all the committee members were free to use their preferred systems and the committee used only the RPI and the area coaches' polls, now use of tempo-free analytics are commonplace and made available in the room. All hail Bobo. Or what 09 said.

[xubrew]

Question? Does the committee use KenPom? I hope they do for X's chances.

It's not on the team sheets, but that doesn't really matter. They can use whatever they want, and look at several different power ratings throughout the year.

They have the internet at the hotel and in the selection room, so they can pretty much see anything they want to see.

[GoMuskies]

If Jake Odum is out, the MVC game is over. With a 15 point WSU lead, it's probably over anyway.

And back he comes.

[XUOWNSUC]

If Jake Odum is out, the MVC game is over. With a 15 point WSU lead, it's probably over anyway.

And back he comes.

Stop already with the jinxes.

[Masterofreality]

And UMess is now Bubblicious. They are now tied for 5th with udump, but are actually the 6th seed because of tiebreakers. They might want to win a couple of games in Brooklyn. They play Rhode Island first, then would probably play GW IF St. Joes loses to LaSalle today.

Oh, and by the way, LaSuck is taking it to St. Joes by 10 at half. Both St. Joes and UMess are below XU in the Pomeroys and Sagarins and if the present Lossalle score holds up, that would be losses at home by both of them today dropping them further.

As usual, the A-10 reverts to form at the end- eating their own. They will only get 5 teams in at most and that will help the Big East.

[xubrew]

Generally speaking, losing to teams ahead of you doesn't hurt that much, and beating teams behind you doesn't help that much. So, I don't think UMass will get knocked down that many pegs in the eyes of the committee.

If Saint Joe's loses to La Salle, that's a different story. I would definitely advise against it.

[xsteve1]

St. Joe's body of work really isn't very impressive. A couple wins against UD and a home wins against UMass and VCU. I guess they're hanging their hat on that VCU win. They also have a bad loss to Temple.

[xubrew]

St. Joe's body of work really isn't very impressive. A couple wins against UD and a home wins against UMass and VCU. I guess they're hanging their hat on that VCU win. They also have a bad loss to Temple.

Yup. That, and a favorable schedule has them high up on the A10 standings.

[beatuc]

Yup. That, and a favorable schedule has them high up on the A10 standings.

I think they may miss the tourney if they don't win one game too. Their resume is kind of a fraud and if someone takes a close look at it they could be out if they were to fall early in the A-10 tournament.

[The_Mack_Pack]

A loss by St. Joe's and they'll have to play UD (assuming UD wins against their first round opponent). Whoever loses that one would probably be the odd man out in the A-10. Especially if it's St. Joe's because their resume is not very good.

[Muskie]

So as I sit at my second bar of the day, my strategy is to root for the ranked team or the higher seed. Enough of those guys win and we are good.

[Masterofreality]

And, the Hawk died today.

[xu82]

So as I sit at my second bar of the day, my strategy is to root for the ranked team or the higher seed. Enough of those guys win and we are good.

I like your strategy. Change up bars so they don't think (or speak) ill of you for spending your entire day sitting in a bar - and you get some fresh air in between. Oh, and rooting to keep Cinderella from taking our ticket to the dance works too.

[danaandvictory]

That's a good point about the Dayton-St. Joe's QF in A-10 play. Certainly Dayton has a more compelling resume than St. Joe's, having won a number of games against quality teams away from UD Arena (Gonzaga, Cal, SLU). On the other hand, SJU beat them twice, once in a shithousing. That being said, were Joes to win, how can you put Dayton in over a team that beat them three times?

[Xavgrad08]

Nebraska and Wisconsin are playing right now. We need Wisconsin to win this one.

[X-band '01]

If you compare their OOC best wins, Dayton has neutral court wins over Gonzaga and Cal; the best Saint Joe's can claim are wins at Vermont (who is now out of the NCAA picture) and at home against Boston U.

Don't think we need to worry about Dayton losing to Fordham or the GooMoos; it could be an elimination game when they play the Hawks in the A-10 quarters.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Contrary to popular belief, Nebraska basketball fans do seem to exist.

[xubrew]

Contrary to popular belief, Nebraska basketball fans do seem to exist.

Every home game this year was a sellout, and secondary market tickets have been in the triple digits.

They're also REALLY good right now. You have to look at the entire season, but they have played great all through February. They're 9-2 in their last 11, and that stretch includes a win at Michigan State. They did shit the bed against Illinois, but their only loss other than that was at Michigan.

I think they're going to win this one, and I wouldn't be surprised if they played their way into the B10 semis.

[xsteve1]

Contrary to popular belief, Nebraska basketball fans do seem to exist.

With Creighton and Nebraska the state may be #2 behind the state of Kentucky in basketball attendance.

[vee4xu]

Wisconny up 52-50 at 8 minute TO.

[Cheesehead]

Cornhusker so up 3 with 7 min left

[The_Mack_Pack]

Wisconsin missing FT's like it's their job.

[Retire33]

Its getting late early in Lincoln. :(

[Cheesehead]

Nebraska up 7 now with 5 min left

[vee4xu]

I think these top 25 teams take a fall in season ending games to help bubble teams. They know they're in. They know they'll do okay in their conference tourney, so they can give two craps if they lose their last game of the season.

[Xavgrad08]

Seems like teams on the bubble have been picking up big wins.

[xumuskies08]

I've always hated Nebraska.

[vee4xu]

I've always hated Nebraska.

Ditto here.

[xubrew]

I think these top 25 teams take a fall in season ending games to help bubble teams. They know they're in. They know they'll do okay in their conference tourney, so they can give two craps if they lose their last game of the season.

Wisconsin should care, because Milwaukee is a site for the round of 64/32, and they're going to have to beat out Michigan State and Michigan to get placed there.

Nebraska is for real. It's not easy to win there. I don't think it's that Wisconsin doesn't care or because they want to help them out.

[vee4xu]

I now hate Nebraska just a little bit more.

[Cheesehead]

So, I guess folks in Lincoln do care about hoops. Great new arena and great atmosphere. Here's some trivia for you: Nebraska has NEVERwon an NCAA tournament game.

[The_Mack_Pack]

That was a great atmosphere. Nebraska relies on mostly 3 sophomores so they could be at the top of the Big 10 for awhile.

[Cheesehead]

That was a great atmosphere. Nebraska relies on mostly 3 sophomores so they could be at the top of the Big 10 for awhile.

Tim Miles seems like Brad Stevens clone

[gladdenguy]

Seems like teams on the bubble have been picking up big wins.

Besides Nebraska tonight I thought it was a good weekend for Xavier for the most part.

Florida St. lost, Wichita St. won their tourney which would have been a stolen bid, St. Joes lost, Arkansas lost, Missouri lost, Colorado lost, Providence and Georgetown got smoked. I'm missing some but for the most part.....I thought it was a good weekend.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Besides Nebraska tonight I thought it was a good weekend for Xavier for the most part.

Florida St. lost, Wichita St. won their tourney which would have been a stolen bid, St. Joes lost, Arkansas lost, Missouri lost, Colorado lost, Providence and Georgetown got smoked. I'm missing some but for the most part.....I thought it was a good weekend.

I completely agree. The only thing that really went wrong this weekend was Nebraska winning but St. Joes surprising home loss today makes up for that. It should be a fun week of basketball.

[vee4xu]

Besides Nebraska tonight I thought it was a good weekend for Xavier for the most part.

Florida St. lost, Wichita St. won their tourney which would have been a stolen bid, St. Joes lost, Arkansas lost, Missouri lost, Colorado lost, Providence and Georgetown got smoked. I'm missing some but for the most part.....I thought it was a good weekend.

Okay, who are you and what have you done with gladdenguy? :biggrin:

[xsteve1]

Besides Nebraska tonight I thought it was a good weekend for Xavier for the most part.

Florida St. lost, Wichita St. won their tourney which would have been a stolen bid, St. Joes lost, Arkansas lost, Missouri lost, Colorado lost, Providence and Georgetown got smoked. I'm missing some but for the most part.....I thought it was a good weekend.

I think Colorado is in and Stanford looks like they secured their bid by beating Utah. I still think a loss to Marquette on Thursday would put X in a very bad spot.
Win and they are in, lose and I'd say 50-50 chance. Supposedly per the Holyland message board if X loses to Marquette the RPI would go to like 63.

[gladdenguy]

Not that I think we should definitely be in if the lose Thursday but looking at some other resumes and I still believe we would have a good shot. SMU as tweeted by Snow tonight has 4 Top 125 wins. 4!!! Now they are all good wins but they have also lost to Temple and South Florida. Now this is a team supposedly not even on the bubble. Xavier has a better resume than that. Sorry. No bias. They are 7-5 against the top 125. That is an 8 or 9 seed??

[GoMuskies]

Useless trivia:with 7:06 to go in the first half of the Creighton/Nebraska matchup in December, Austin Chatman made a layup to put Creighton up 38-8.

[xubrew]

Tim Miles seems like Brad Stevens clone

I think he's actually better than Stevens.

Tim Miles has now turned around three teams that were complete dogshit. He was at North Dakota State when they transitioned up from div2, and although he had left by the time they made the NCAA Tournament, he built that team up. They won 20 games as a transitional team in his last year. That's just crazy.

Colorado State had finished outside the RPI top 25 four years in a row. They were a bubble team his third year, and in the field his fourth year.

And then, there is Nebraska. I think they're going to make it. If they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament it's pretty much a done deal. They have virtually everyone back next year.

Brad Stevens is good, but he took over a program that was already healthy. Tim Miles has not once, but THREE TIMES, turned shit into gold. I think he's one of the best coaches in the country. I'm totally serious.

[Masterofreality]

I think he's actually better than Stevens.

Tim Miles has now turned around three teams that were complete dogshit. He was at North Dakota State when they transitioned up from div2, and although he had left by the time they made the NCAA Tournament, he built that team up. They won 20 games as a transitional team in his last year. That's just crazy.

Colorado State had finished outside the RPI top 25 four years in a row. They were a bubble team his third year, and in the field his fourth year.

And then, there is Nebraska. I think they're going to make it. If they beat Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament it's pretty much a done deal. They have virtually everyone back next year.

Brad Stevens is good, but he took over a program that was already healthy. Tim Miles has not once, but THREE TIMES, turned shit into gold. I think he's one of the best coaches in the country. I'm totally serious.

This. Every bit true.

Even if Nebraska lost last night I still believe they were in. You finish 3rd/4th in the highest ranked conference in the NCAA and you've done your work.

We all know how good Creighton is.

[The_Mack_Pack]

Not that I think we should definitely be in if the lose Thursday but looking at some other resumes and I still believe we would have a good shot. SMU as tweeted by Snow tonight has 4 Top 125 wins. 4!!! Now they are all good wins but they have also lost to Temple and South Florida. Now this is a team supposedly not even on the bubble. Xavier has a better resume than that. Sorry. No bias. They are 7-5 against the top 125. That is an 8 or 9 seed??

Exactly!! I was saying this the other day. If they lose to Houston on Thursday I think they'll be left out.

Here's a good resume comparison:

A: 20-10, Pomeroy 33, 4-7 top 50, 3-2 top 51-100, SOS 100, 1 sub-100 loss
B: 20-8, Pomeroy 26, 4-5 top 50, 0-1 top 51-100, SOS 109, 2 sub-100 losses

[gladdenguy]

That would be great to see SMU lose to Houston. The media has pimped SMU because of the Top 25 but you never know what the selection committee will do with that resume. That would also be 3 losses in a row.

[xubrew]

Colorado State had finished outside the RPI top 25 four years in a row. They were a bubble team his third year, and in the field his fourth year.

Minor point of correction here. Colorado State was outside the RPI top 250 four years in a row.

If Tim Miles had been alive during WWII, he would have won the war all by himself.

[xubrew]

Useless trivia:with 7:06 to go in the first half of the Creighton/Nebraska matchup in December, Austin Chatman made a layup to put Creighton up 38-8.

I know. That's what I cannot get over.

This team is so much better than they were in November, December and January. It's hard to believe it's even the same team.

This may be sacrilege, but I think it's right up there with the Run from 2004. That team scored 4 pts in the first 16 mins of the second half against Ball State, lost badly to GW, and had some other really bad losses. By the end, it was hard to believe how well they were playing and that it was even the same team.

This Nebraska team is the same way. It's crazy. They were picked to finish last in the Big Ten, and the only reason they were picked 12th instead of 20th is because there were only 12 teams. Look at them now. When has a team ever improved that drastically throughout the course of a season?? I think they're going to beat Ohio State. If they're not in the field yet, that should do it.