Bracketbuster

[agibson]

Interesting - I've not followed that development.  It'd push us ahead of Indiana State.  But, it would push Northern Iowa above us.  Might be a wash.

[historyman]

what we need is the teams above us in RPI to lose before Monday (Belmont, St Mary's, and Akron). All 3 of these teams have stronger SOS and similar records to us.   

Wed 
Akron 71,  Toledo  56

Thur
Belmont 64, Morehead St 63
San Diego 48, St. Mary's 81


These teams are not helping Valpo get higher in the rankings.

[HC]

I'm just hoping for a start time of 5pm or later.

[valpocleveland]

On a +, Utah St has lost 3 straight and should not jump Valpo for a better matchup.
I'm thinking it is down to loser of ND St/SD St game on Saturday, Loyola MD, or Ohio.

[agibson]

On a +, Utah St has lost 3 straight and should not jump Valpo for a better matchup.

Indeed, that helps our cause - I guess they've had key injuries?  Oral Roberts' RPI is dropping on home victories against weak teams, and may continue to do so.

Northern Iowa dropped a little winning at home, but probably passes us if they beat Indiana State on the road.  And, others are still hanging around in the high 80's, 90's, and 100's...

We dropped slightly to 86.

[vusupporter]

According to ESPN's TV listings, the BracketBuster selections are not this coming Monday - instead the following Monday, Feb. 4

http://espn.go.com/espntv/onair/index?start=2-04-13-2:00-PM

[vu72]

On a +, Utah St has lost 3 straight and should not jump Valpo for a better matchup.

Indeed, that helps our cause - I guess they've had key injuries?  Oral Roberts' RPI is dropping on home victories against weak teams, and may continue to do so.

Northern Iowa dropped a little winning at home, but probably passes us if they beat Indiana State on the road.  And, others are still hanging around in the high 80's, 90's, and 100's...

We dropped slightly to 86.

Can't see ESPN gving a TV game to a team that is currently 10-9 plus, with Creighton and Wichita State for sure getting games I doubt they would given one conference 3 TV games.

[StlVUFan]

On a +, Utah St has lost 3 straight and should not jump Valpo for a better matchup.

Indeed, that helps our cause - I guess they've had key injuries?  Oral Roberts' RPI is dropping on home victories against weak teams, and may continue to do so.

Northern Iowa dropped a little winning at home, but probably passes us if they beat Indiana State on the road.  And, others are still hanging around in the high 80's, 90's, and 100's...

We dropped slightly to 86.

Can't see ESPN gving a TV game to a team that is currently 10-9 plus, with Creighton and Wichita State for sure getting games I doubt they would given one conference 3 TV games.

They've given the HL 3 TV games before.

[agibson]

According to ESPN's TV listings, the BracketBuster selections are not this coming Monday - instead the following Monday, Feb. 4

http://espn.go.com/espntv/onair/index?start=2-04-13-2:00-PM

Help me out - which channel, at which time?  I'm not seeing it on that schedle on either the 4th or the 28th.

I've been operating based on
http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/press/press-releases?id=15
which says they'll be announced Monday, January 28.

[vusupporter]

ESPNU, 6:30 p.m. ET.  This is consistent with when the Bracketbuster selection show has been in the past.

[historyman]

ESPNU, 6:30 p.m. ET.  This is consistent with when the Bracketbuster selection show has been in the past.

Yes, I see it now on Feb. 4, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.  "Ramada Worldwide Bracketbusters Se..." (I assume it says "Selection Show.")

If that is the case there are more games that Akron, Belmont and St. Mary's could lose and 2 more games for Valpo against YSU at Youngstown and Milwaukee at the ARC to sway the ESPN decision makers.

EDIT: the times for those ESPN listings are Eastern Standard so the Bracketbusters Selection Show is 5:30 pm Valpo time.

[agibson]

Thanks.  Poking around, I'm seeing some murmurings that the date was pushed back a week.  But, your TV schedule is the closest thing to definitive that I've seen.

When they announced, in December, that this was the last bracketbusters they still had the January date.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8736253/bracketbusters-event-discontinued-2012-13-season

I do hope we don't wind up on ESPNU - their blackout was rough .

[agibson]

If that is the case there are more games that Akron, Belmont and St. Mary's could lose and 2 more games for Valpo against YSU at Youngstown and Milwaukee at the ARC to sway the ESPN decision makers.

Hmm...  Our RPI might drop even on two wins.

[valpocleveland]

Indiana St just squeezes by Northern Iowa at home. Was hoping for NI to pull the upset as a 16-5 Valpo is more attractive than a 12-8 ISU in my opinion. Oh well... at least it ends the discussion of NI jumping us a spot for a better TV spot.

[valpocleveland]

3 of top 5 Away BB  teams lost yesterday: ND State, SF Austin, and Eastern Kentucky.

I watched the end of the Ohio game yesterday and I think it would be good to go against a guard like DJ Cooper to prepare us for better guard play in March. Both teams are 15-5 (RPI records) as of today, Ohio's RPI is 96.

[historyman]

Akron, Belmont, Indiana St, Northern Iowa, St. Mary's and Wichita St

Sat.-

Belmont 85, E Kentucky 74
Buffalo 64, Akron 68
Pepperdine 72, St. Mary's 84
Northern Iowa 58, Indiana St 59
Bradley 39, Wichita St 73

[talksalot]

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE:  ramadaBracketbuster2013
posted this under "description of page":

The matches will take place on February 22nd and 23rd with 9 nationally televised games on ESPN2 and ESPNU. The NCAA hopefuls will be selected from a pool of 122 teams from 15 conferences, including Ohio University, which made a run into the Sweet Sixteen.

ESPN2 will feature five BracketBusters games, while ESPNU will house four games. The 9 televised matchups will be announced Monday, Feb. 4th with dates, times and networks. The televised matchups are selected by ESPN, while a Committee of Conference Commissioners determines the additional non-televised games.

(it does not mention 4 games on ESPN3)

I just updated the rankings for Sagarin and Nolan...through games 1/26

Nolan Rippy:

1.  Belmont 15-4 (40) Creighton 17-3 (28)
2.  Wichita State 19-2 (29)  SD State 13-6 (30)
3,  Indiana State 12-7 (51)  ND State 14-5 (58)
4.  St. Marys 16-4 (59)  Eastern Kentucky 15-5 (75)
5.  Akron 14-4 (68) Stephen F Austin 12-2 (77)
6.  VALPO 15-5 (83)  McCallum & Son 11-8 (86)
7.  Western Michigan 11-7 (92)  Ohio 15-5 (96)
8.  Murray State 13-5 (95)  Northwestern State 8-6 (101)
9.  Northern Iowa 10-10 (97) Loyola MD 15-6 (102)
10. Tennessee State 10-10 (98) Evansville 11-9 (107)
11: Oral Roberts 11-8 (99) Iona 13-7 (108)
12: UIC 12-8 (100) Pacific 10-8 (109)
13: Long Beach State 9-8 (103) Denver 11-8 (120)
14: Davidson 12-7 (112) Canisius 13-7 (123)
15: Vermont 13-7 (132)  Montana 12-4 (124)

Now the Sagarin:

1.  Wichita State (29) Creighton (15)
2.  Belmont (40) Ohio (75)
3.  St Marys (45) McCallum & Dad (77)
4.  Akron (64) ND State (80)
5.  Northern Iowa (71) Illinois State 12-9 (82)   <<ISU's Nolan is a 131>>
6.  VALPO (79) Stephen F Austin (88)
7.  Indiana State (101) Denver (89)
8.  Davidson (103) SD State 98
9.  Murray State (110) Iona (108)
10. Long Beach State (117) Loyola MD (118)
11. Oral Roberts (121) Evansville (120)
12. Western Michigan (123) Green Bay 10-10 (122)  <<Nolan rating 166>>
13. Fairfield 11-10 (127) Weber State 11-5 (126)
14. Utah State (135) Pacific 10-8 (138)
15. College of Charleston (137) Canisius (140)

Would it not be cool to have UDM have to travel to St.Marys?

One more Comparison, but it's using last weeks data, the MidMajor Top 25...

15 teams are "home" only 10 are "Visiting" (ranking every team with votes)

Valpo lands in 7th for the home teams...Montana is the 7th rated visiting team at #23
Detroit is the 8th rated visiting team at #33, Davidson is #8 home at #24.


I'm still noticing a wide disparity between Sagarin and Nolan...

Cases in point for the "Home" Bbuster teams:
Tennessee State:  Sag 179 Nolan 98 Diff 81
UIC  Sag 174 Nolan 100, Diff 74
High Point:  Sag 226, Nolan 278, Diff 52
Indiana State:  Sag 101, Nolan 51, Diff 50
Western Carolina:  Sag 241 Nolan 291, Diff 50

For the Visiting Teams:
Bowling Green Sag 212, Nolan 299, Diff 87
Jacksonville State Sag 224, Nolan 146, Diff 78
Savannah State Sag 203 Nolan 125, Diff 78
Northern Arizona Sag 312, Nolan 235, Diff 77
Eastern KY Sag 48, Nolan 75, Diff 73
SD State, Sag 98, Nolan 30, Diff 68
Northwestern State Sag 162, Nolan 244, Diff 56

CSU-Fullerton Sag 166, Nolan 243, Diff 77
Coastal Carolina Sag 197, Nolan 271, Diff 74
Manhattan Sag 213, Nolan 266, Diff 53

There are only 4 schools where they are in exact agreement:

Iona 108
Texas-Arlington 163
Cal State Northridge 218
Texas A&M Corpus Christi 328

[truth219]

When are they announcing the opponenet

[bbtds]

ESPNU, 6:30 p.m. ET.  This is consistent with when the Bracketbuster selection show has been in the past.

[/b]

Yes, I see it now on Feb. 4, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. "Ramada Worldwide Bracketbusters Se..." (I assume it says "Selection Show.")

If that is the case there are more games that Akron, Belmont and St. Mary's could lose and 2 more games for Valpo against YSU at Youngstown and Milwaukee at the ARC to sway the ESPN decision makers.

EDIT: the times for those ESPN listings are Eastern Standard so the Bracketbusters Selection Show is 5:30 pm Valpo time.

[agibson]

And they've updated their website now to reflect this.  They've even retroactively changed their press release...

[crusadermoe]

Not sure I give a fig about the buster this year.     Since it's a home game, we can just take it in stride and get back to the business at hand.   Will take any seed this year.   Just get me back to the dance.

[SanityLost17]

Not sure I give a fig about the buster this year.     Since it's a home game, we can just take it in stride and get back to the business at hand.   Will take any seed this year.   Just get me back to the dance.

Disagree.  We MUST be a 13 seed or better on the years we do make the tournament!  We moved to a better league knowing we would make the tournament less, but when we did make it we would get a better seed, and with better recruits, have a better chance to win.  So here we are with 7 seniors and we are projected to get a 14 seed despite being 6-1 in the 12th ranked conference in the country.   NOT ACCEPTABLE!  Our SOS is absolutely terrible this year and we are in dire need of a win over a potential top 100 RPI team to help ease the pain of such a poor schedule.       

[bbtds]

Not sure I give a fig about the buster this year.     Since it's a home game, we can just take it in stride and get back to the business at hand.   Will take any seed this year.   Just get me back to the dance.

Disagree.  We MUST be a 13 seed or better on the years we do make the tournament!  We moved to a better league knowing we would make the tournament less, but when we did make it we would get a better seed, and with better recruits, have a better chance to win.  So here we are with 7 seniors and we are projected to get a 14 seed despite being 6-1 in the 12th ranked conference in the country.   NOT ACCEPTABLE!  Our SOS is absolutely terrible this year and we are in dire need of a win over a potential top 100 RPI team to help ease the pain of such a poor schedule.       

Agree with your disagree. This bracketbuster, though ending, could mean the difference between a first round win and a first round loss in the NCAA tournament. That's pretty straight forward.

[wh]

Not sure I give a fig about the buster this year.     Since it's a home game, we can just take it in stride and get back to the business at hand.   Will take any seed this year.   Just get me back to the dance.

Disagree.  We MUST be a 13 seed or better on the years we do make the tournament!  We moved to a better league knowing we would make the tournament less, but when we did make it we would get a better seed, and with better recruits, have a better chance to win.  So here we are with 7 seniors and we are projected to get a 14 seed despite being 6-1 in the 12th ranked conference in the country.   NOT ACCEPTABLE!  Our SOS is absolutely terrible this year and we are in dire need of a win over a potential top 100 RPI team to help ease the pain of such a poor schedule.       

Your point is well made.  You are absolutely right that getting the same pathetic seed less often than we used to get is not a good trade off for our move to the HL.  I see 3 reasons for the dilemma we find ourselves in: (1) our SOS as you point out, (2) inexcusable losses to Oakland and Loyola (you HAVE to beat the teams you're supposed to beat), and (3) pathetic OOC W/L records by Milwaukee and Green Bay.  The GB thing is especially irksome because they dramatically underachieved at a time when it could have helped the conference, then miraculously get it together when it's of no help to anyone but themselves.  Very similar to what Detroit did last year.  Because of their piss poor OOC record, they earned a 15 seed.  Had they not won it, their piss poor OOC record would have negatively impacted the seed of whichever team did win it.  That's the biggest difference between us and the MVC, for example.  We typically have more teams at the far extreme of bad than they do. 

[SanityLost17]

I think WH is correct.  However, I would add poor scheduling on our part to the list.  Too many teams on the schedule with really low RPI's.  Playing Chicago St., IUPUI, IPFW, Bethune Cookman, and NIU every year is not helpful.  Winning all 5 of those games is probably worse than going 3-2 agianst teams with RPI's in the upper in the 170-190 range, or 2-3 against teams with RPI's around the 70-90 range. 

I hope the HL can find a way to go 10-0, 9-1, or 8-2 in the bracketbuster.  I wonder how much a 10-0 showing by the HL in the bracketbuster would improve everyone's RPI?