College Basketball 2006-2007

[TruffleShuffle]

By the way, most important result from last night, by far, is huuuuuuuuuge GT win over UNC. They're #41 in RPI now, which means they've got a solid shot for an at-large bid. They've got a strong 7-8 record against the RPI top 50, including wins over UNC, Memphis and Duke. On the negative side, they're only 3-9 in road/neutral games, and 1-9 in pure road games, including losses to the two worst ACC teams (Wake and Miami).

 

This makes their home game against BC on Sunday a really important game for them and for other bubble teams as well. If Tech wins that and then doesn't gag against a weaker first round opponent in the ACC tourney, I'm pretty sure that's enough to cement a place in the field of 65.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm also hoping I can be up for the deciding game in the Big South, featuring Winthrop versus VMI, which upset High Point. As with any VMI game, it'll certainly be entertaining and high-scoring. I think Winthrop belongs in the tourney regardless of the outcome - there's no way in hell they're not one of the 64 best teams in the country, even if the RPI doesn't support that. Their schedule was very weak, but their only losses came on the road to the #3, 6, 11 and 15 RPI teams, and two of those games were very close.

 

Anyway, they ran the table in the Big South during the regular season, and VMI isn't all that good, so it'll probably be a moot point.

 

 

On a side note, maybe the most interesting team in terms of an at-large bid is Philly's own Drexel Dragons. They've had some great wins (@Syracuse, @Villanova, @Creighton) and some bad losses (@Rider, @William&Mary). Their 13 road wins are more than all but a few NCAA teams, and their conference has been pretty tough this year (Colonial Athletic, with a #13 conference RPI and four legitimately good teams in Virginia Commonweath, Old Dominion, Hofstra and Drexel). That conference will probably get two bids, with Drexel and ODU having the strongest arguments for an at large. That will be an interesting conference tourney to watch, especially if those big four all make the semis.

[Flames24Rulz]

SIU leads Drake 30-19 at halftime. This game could be way out of hand if we would be making our open shots.

[TruffleShuffle]

SIU leads Drake 30-19 at halftime. This game could be way out of hand if we would be making our open shots.

 

sounds like a patriot league game, at least judging by the score

[Flames24Rulz]

SIU leads Drake 30-19 at halftime. This game could be way out of hand if we would be making our open shots.

 

sounds like a patriot league game, at least judging by the score

 

Yeah, it hasn't been pretty. We're something like 3-13 on 3 piont attempts, but at least 10 of those were wide open shots. We're moving the ball well and we're attacking their zone defense well, which is usually our major weakness, so I feel confident that we'll pull away in the 2nd half.

[TruffleShuffle]

From Coach Ralph Willard:

 

I don't like conference tournaments at our level. They don't generate a lot of income for the league and unlike the BCS tournaments they don't get extra teams into the NCAA. These are the two reasons conference tournaments were started by the BCS conferences, and at our level I think the IVY League has it right. If you prove you are the best over two months, why should you have to prove it again over one week. Having to beat teams three times is difficult. At least now the games are played at the higher seed. Playing at a neutral site gives basically no credence to the regular season and creates a youth league mentality that mediocrity is fine because you can get another chance. I'm in the minority of one in our league on this issue, but I keep bringing it up every year.

 

 

I think he has a point, but I do still like conference tourneys. In a situation like this year, with HC and Bucknell both 13-1 in conference and splitting the head-to-head games, there would have to be a postseason game between the two teams - it wouldn't be fair to put HC in the NCAA tourney just because of a higher RPI. I think a good compromise would be to let the top half of teams in a mid-major go to the conference tourney, and keep the duds out. I mean, beating Iona (2-27) might be a formality, but an awful team does not deserve a chance to play for the national championship.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

SIU leads Drake 30-19 at halftime. This game could be way out of hand if we would be making our open shots.

 

sounds like a patriot league game, at least judging by the score

 

WSU was up on UCLA 23-22 at the half yesterday.

[TruffleShuffle]

to show how big that GT win was yesterday, the ESPN bracketology guy now has them as the second to last team in, and now leaves Drexel out of the tourney. I do disagree very strongly about his choice of WVU as the last team in.

 

-Their non-conference schedule was atrocious, even with the UCLA game (#272 in non-conf RPI)

-The 7-7 road/neutral record isn't bad, but looks a lot worse when you consider that their wins have been over Montana, Western Michigan, Duquesne, Marshall, Rutgers, Seton Hall and NC State (the last one being a "neutral" game in Charleston, WV) - the best RPI among that group is NC St at 113.

-They're only 3-7 in games against top 100 RPI teams, with home wins over UCLA (okay, great win), Georgetown and DePaul. Meanwhile, they're 16-1 against teams with an RPI over 100.

 

 

That doesn't look like a good profile to me.

[TruffleShuffle]

SIU leads Drake 30-19 at halftime. This game could be way out of hand if we would be making our open shots.

 

sounds like a patriot league game, at least judging by the score

 

WSU was up on UCLA 23-22 at the half yesterday.

 

good stuff!

 

by the way, UCLA has to be on track for the #1 overall seed, right? 25-3, with 21 of their 28 games having come against top 100 RPI teams. I'm really impressed with what they've done this year.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

By the way, most important result from last night, by far, is huuuuuuuuuge GT win over UNC. They're #41 in RPI now, which means they've got a solid shot for an at-large bid. They've got a strong 7-8 record against the RPI top 50, including wins over UNC, Memphis and Duke. On the negative side, they're only 3-9 in road/neutral games, and 1-9 in pure road games, including losses to the two worst ACC teams (Wake and Miami).

 

This makes their home game against BC on Sunday a really important game for them and for other bubble teams as well. If Tech wins that and then doesn't gag against a weaker first round opponent in the ACC tourney, I'm pretty sure that's enough to cement a place in the field of 65.

 

A win Sunday puts Tech in with room to spare. 20 wins, 8-8 ACC, 7-3 to finish. Tech gets in with an 8/9 seed. A loss, and I think the 1st Rd. ACC game becomes almost a must win because that game will likely be against NC State or Wake Forest.

 

The Jackets are really starting to put it together. I thought each of the last 2 games were their best of the season.

[Flames24Rulz]

SIU won 71-59. The finish to the Bradley-UNI game was a great one, I heard. Will Franklin made a 3 with just over 1 second left to give Bradley the win.

 

SIU plays Bradley tomorrow at 1:30 in the first semifinal.

[shnsajax]

Texas and Kansas play today at 11 for the #1 seed in the Big 12 tourney. Regardless of the game, if Texas can win the Big 12 tourney, I think they will jump to a #2 seed.

 

Today should be great, but it will be tough to beat Kansas at home.

[snoodmonger]

Texas and Kansas play today at 11 for the #1 seed in the Big 12 tourney. Regardless of the game, if Texas can win the Big 12 tourney, I think they will jump to a #2 seed.

 

Today should be great, but it will be tough to beat Kansas at home.

 

as usual, i have to work during the game. good luck (not really). If we win, we should lock up a 1 seed in the ncaas, too.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Alfred Aboya hurt his knee against WSU (MRI negative!) and he'll likely miss today's game againsts Washington in Seattle. Looks like Ryan Wright (bleh) and James Keefe (woo!) will get more PT backing up Mata and Mbah a Moute.

[radarluv1]

durant 12, KU 8

 

KU down 10 at home

[radarluv1]

durant is 6/8, teammates are 2/10. texas up 23-22

 

i dont remember a freshman dominating like this

[radarluv1]

:shock: durant now with 20, 31-22 texas.

[Andy]

ND plays Rutgers at 4 on ESPN. A win or Syracuse loss clinches a bye in the BET for the Irish, while a win and Louisville loss would give them a 3 seed.

[tadowdaddy]

we come out on Sr. day and beat OU. That will give us a 4 seed in the Big 12 tourney. If we win one there, we're in, if not, probably NIT bound. All this hinges on winning today however..

[Andy]

Haha, Wisconsin fans chanting "ER-IN AND-REWS" while she does her report.

[Productive Outs]

durant 12, KU 8

 

KU down 10 at home

 

why isn't this game nationally televised?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

durant 12, KU 8

 

KU down 10 at home

 

why isn't this game nationally televised?

 

I have it on CBS.

[wolf stansson]

Durant is down. Grabbing an ankle.

[reggiemiller rules]

Durant just went down with an ankle injury this could be huge for the tournament.

[wolf stansson]

It didn't look all that serious. He'll be ready for the tourney.