UC beats St. John's 71-61

[sirthought]

Today UC sweeps St. Johns and Syracuse loses to UCONN. At 17-8 and 7-5 in conference, the cats have moved ahead of Syracuse and are currently tied for sixth place with Providence. Landing in the top eight will earn them a first round bye in their conference tournament.

According to the announcers the win guarantees the Bearcats the first winning season in Mick Cronin's three seasons at UC. I think, with only six games to go in the regular season, if they go 3-3 they make it in the tournament. A 4-2 record should do it for sure.

Rivals (http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=911268) projects them to eventually make it to a number 9 seed.

Jerry Palm on CBS (http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/11233762) says they are an 11 seed.

Maybe, just maybe, they can catch Pitt on a bad day this Saturday. Could be a trap game for Pitt, since they play UCONN on Monday.

[gladdenguy]

I hope Pitt wipes the floor with em

[xavierj]

Seriously UC needs to beat someone this year that will actually make the dance before they make the dance. If UC fails to beat a single team all year that does not make the tourney I don't know how they could go. They need to beat either Louisville, PITT or Syracuse. If not they will be NIT bound. I know they have improved but they really have not beat a team all year that is more then an NIT or CBI type team.

[Juice]

Seriously UC needs to beat someone this year that will actually make the dance before they make the dance. If UC fails to beat a single team all year that does not make the tourney I don't know how they could go. They need to beat either Louisville, PITT or Syracuse. If not they will be NIT bound. I know they have improved but they really have not beat a team all year that is more then an NIT or CBI type team.

I agree. Last year they would not have beat Georgetown or ND, and its nice that they did, but those teams are not notable wins.

[chico]

It will be very tough for UC to make it - they have Louisville, Pitt, West Virginia and Syracuse still left. They could beat WVA (but that may be a stretch given it's another Huggins homecoming) and Syracuse, but I really don't think they have the horses to beat either Louisville or Pitt. If they can go 2-2 they're in, but 1-3 will make it tough and 0-4 and they'll have to really make some hay in the conference tourney.

[sirthought]

Seriously UC needs to beat someone this year that will actually make the dance before they make the dance. If UC fails to beat a single team all year that does not make the tourney I don't know how they could go.

Ummm... it just might happen. Even if ND or GU are struggling to win look at who they are playing. Not many programs could go up against that many ranked teams and come out on top. I'd like to see how XU comes out against them. RealTime RPI lists UC's quality wins as ND, GU, UNLV, UAB, and Miss. State. They list no bad losses.

The bottom line is UC is winning and winning in the Big East. Their non-conference schedule was not considered weak. We'll see how they do against the upcoming ranked teams. If they finish in the BEast top 6, have a strong RPI and SOS then they will get an at large. Right now, they are in fine shape to play their way in.

I'm not saying they will get in, but I think they really could do it. Many people's bracketology are projecting them anywhere from a 12 to a 9 seed.
I just found the Hoops Report listing them as a 12. Bracketville lists them at 11.

I think they would get an at large before teams such as Kentucky or Wisconsin, who are also on the bubble.

[Masterofreality]

Don't drink the kool aid spewed by the Big Greased biased media.

SucKS has lost every game they have played this year to Bracket likely teams by an average of 16.6 points.

The current bracket does not include Not-re Dame and G-Town, nor should it. Marquette will soon tumble to bubble after they beat up on the next two patsies at home.

There are 5 legit Big Greased teams in the Dance- Nova, Pitt, UConn, Louisville and Syracuse. W.VA is on the border. UC plays 4 of those teams in the last 6. They'll beat none of them.

The committee understands the unbalanced nature of the schedule in the Big Greased and won't fall for such shenanigans. There was a legit reason why Syracuse was passed over a couple of years ago. The same criteria will apply to the Bore-Kitties.

[Stonebreaker]

It was a good game. No crowd there though...and quiet at times in the stands.

[xavierj]

Seriously UC has 7 wins in the big east 4 of those wins are against St. Johns, Depaul and Rutgers, combined those 3 teams have zero top 100 wins this year. UC's 3 other big east wins are against ND & GTown 2 teams who are a combined 1-12 over their last 13 games. Now you say but the big east is so tough, OK but the tough teams do not include the teams UC has beat to this point. UC must beat either Louisville, Syracuse or PITT, without a win against 1 of those teams then they are toast. You actually have to do something more then beat a bunch of cupcakes and go .500 in the big east.

[sirthought]

You call them cupcakes. I think you're just blind. Have you actually watched those teams? They aren't easy to beat.

Look at ND beating Louisville tonight. Does Louisville now suck? No, Notre Dame is a talented team, albeit with holes, that competes. Harongody had similar numbers tonight as in his first game with Louisville, which was a loss.

Look, I root for Xavier and I don't make excuses about when we take on teams like Dayton or St. Joe's or Duq. I cringe when we lose, but I know it's possible in the A10. It's the same thing with St. Johns, Depaul, and Georgetown. It's not like any team is going to give you a win. They beat up on each other.

We'll just have to see how it plays out. Me, I'm seeing UC is primed to make it.
You can say you warned me if they fail. I'll accept it. But if they're in, it'll be unique for the reasons you've stated. And all the sweeter for UC.

[drudy23]

Answer me this:

Even though ND or Georgetown has a worse record AND has lost to UC, could you see them (ND or GTown) running the table and winning the Big East tourney? Yes.

Could UC? No way.