Arch Madness

[wh]

It's over... Too much bid thievery... Drake is screwed  and we're a one bid league again... I hate this so much...  Why did the absolute worst possible night have to happen right before the selection show? All that hope... Gone... All gone... Welcome to the hardest one bid league in the nation... That's where we are now... And it's all Drake's fault with their crappy BS schedule of no substance. WE NEED TO SCHEDULE BETTER or I just wish the MVC would just tell me it doesn't care about being a multibid league anymore so I don't have to care anymore either and can just be happy with whatever we get... Hopefully I'll feel better when I wake up tomorrow but I'm sure it's just going to sting again when Drake is left out just like every other mid every year... 

You make a legitimate point. Drake's non-conference SOS was 309, worst in the MVC. If they don't make it, they did it to themselves.

[justducky]

It's over... Too much bid thievery... Drake is screwed  and we're a one bid league again... I hate this so much...    

In a normal year a #1 seed NIT bid would have some value with maybe 1 or even 2 Power 5 teams having to visit campus. This year with a neutral site and 16 teams they may have to weigh if they even want to participate.      .  Lets go out on a bender! 

[JD24]

It's over... Too much bid thievery... Drake is screwed  and we're a one bid league again... I hate this so much...  Why did the absolute worst possible night have to happen right before the selection show? All that hope... Gone... All gone... Welcome to the hardest one bid league in the nation... That's where we are now... And it's all Drake's fault with their crappy BS schedule of no substance. WE NEED TO SCHEDULE BETTER or I just wish the MVC would just tell me it doesn't care about being a multibid league anymore so I don't have to care anymore either and can just be happy with whatever we get... Hopefully I'll feel better when I wake up tomorrow but I'm sure it's just going to sting again when Drake is left out just like every other mid every year...

I really think a couple of deep breath's are in order. Or perhaps a solid medical person to talk things over with.

[JD24]

It's over... Too much bid thievery... Drake is screwed  and we're a one bid league again... I hate this so much...  Why did the absolute worst possible night have to happen right before the selection show? All that hope... Gone... All gone... Welcome to the hardest one bid league in the nation... That's where we are now... And it's all Drake's fault with their crappy BS schedule of no substance. WE NEED TO SCHEDULE BETTER or I just wish the MVC would just tell me it doesn't care about being a multibid league anymore so I don't have to care anymore either and can just be happy with whatever we get... Hopefully I'll feel better when I wake up tomorrow but I'm sure it's just going to sting again when Drake is left out just like every other mid every year...

You make a legitimate point. Drake's non-conference SOS was 309, worst in the MVC. If they don't make it, they did it to themselves.

I've seen some comments regarding Saint Louis making it over Drake due to their schedule. I'm not of the kind to spend a whole lot of time figuring this one out.

[VUGrad1314]

It's over... Too much bid thievery... Drake is screwed  and we're a one bid league again... I hate this so much...  Why did the absolute worst possible night have to happen right before the selection show? All that hope... Gone... All gone... Welcome to the hardest one bid league in the nation... That's where we are now... And it's all Drake's fault with their crappy BS schedule of no substance. WE NEED TO SCHEDULE BETTER or I just wish the MVC would just tell me it doesn't care about being a multibid league anymore so I don't have to care anymore either and can just be happy with whatever we get... Hopefully I'll feel better when I wake up tomorrow but I'm sure it's just going to sting again when Drake is left out just like every other mid every year...

You make a legitimate point. Drake's non-conference SOS was 309, worst in the MVC. If they don't make it, they did it to themselves.

I've seen some comments regarding Saint Louis making it over Drake due to their schedule. I'm not of the kind to spend a whole lot of time figuring this one out.

That would not surprise me one bit. The only thing we might have going for us is the committee having a soft spot for the MVC for once to give Doug Elgin the Rick Byrd Treatment\Sendoff and give them the last at large bid to let him go out with his head held high and the MVC as a multibid league. At least I hope that's how it goes. That might be our only hope at this point. And if Cincinnati wins today unfortunately we might not even have that. I hope the committee does this even if it's a symbolic ceremonial tip of the cap bid. It would mean so much for the MVC to have multiple bids again for recruiting and\or potential expansion opportunities and the overall prestige of the conference. Please committee. The MVC and its fans turns their weary eyes to thee.

SLU jumped Drake in the NET today. They might be setting up to do just that. I really hope not but that's just another reason to be nervous.

[valpopal]

I am not going to criticize or apologize for mid-major teams' scheduling, especially during this unusual season. The system is normally stacked against mid-majors obtaining fair nonconference schedules, and was more so this year. First, some major conferences like the ACC and Big Ten have 20-game conference schedules, and one of their nonconference games is the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which basically gives them a 21-game schedule between them each season, assuring top strength of schedule status. Most also avoid difficult games with strong mid-majors whenever possible, and almost all those games that do occur take place on the major conference team's home court. The major conferences have enormous advantages in economic assets due to marketing, television, and university budgets. They normally boast better facilities, sometimes rivaling the NBA, and have a huge edge in recruiting over mid-majors.


I have even seen commentators elsewhere suggesting Duke should get an at-large bid. If Drake has a 25-4 overall record, and has a 15-3 record (losing in the championship game to a top-20 team, which also accounts for one of its other losses) in a conference ranked 10 or 11 (out of 34), they certainly deserve an at-large bid over a team that has a 9-9 conference record and was a 10 seed in its conference. If teams like Duke have all the advantages in economics, scheduling, facilities, and recruiting, they should be willing to accept the penalty when placing near the bottom of their conference standings.


Hell, call me old school, but I don't think we should let 10 teams from a conference into the tournament, including some that might conceivably have losing conference records. (If I remember correctly, Arizona once got an at-large despite an 8-10 conference record. And remember MVC's Missouri State was overlooked in 2006 despite an impressive strength of schedule and RPI of 21—plus two of the conference's other teams made it to the Sweet 16. Doesn't everyone remember the slight to the 2016 Valpo team!)

[VUGrad1314]

I am not going to criticize or apologize for mid-major teams' scheduling, especially during this unusual season. The system is normally stacked against mid-majors obtaining fair nonconference schedules, and was more so this year. First, some major conferences like the ACC and Big Ten have 20-game conference schedules, and one of their nonconference games is the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which basically gives them a 21-game schedule between them each season, assuring top strength of schedule status. Most also avoid difficult games with strong mid-majors whenever possible, and almost all those games that do occur take place on the major conference team's home court. The major conferences have enormous advantages in economic assets due to marketing, television, and university budgets. They normally boast better facilities, sometimes rivaling the NBA, and have a huge edge in recruiting over mid-majors. I have even seen commentators elsewhere suggesting Duke should get an at-large bid. If Drake has a 25-4 overall record, and has a 15-3 record (losing in the championship game to a top-20 team, which also accounts for one of its other losses) in a conference ranked 10 or 11 (out of 34), they certainly deserve an at-large bid over a team that has a 9-9 conference record and was a 10 seed in its conference. If teams like Duke have all the advantages in economics, scheduling, facilities, and recruiting, they should be willing to accept the penalty when placing near the bottom of their conference standings. Hell, call me old school, but I don't think we should let 10 teams from a conference into the tournament, including some that might conceivably have losing conference records. (If I remember correctly, Arizona once got an at-large despite an 8-10 conference record. And remember MVC's Missouri State was overlooked in 2006 despite an impressive strength of schedule and RPI of 21—plus two of the conference's other teams made it to the Sweet 16. Doesn't everyone remember the slight to the 2016 Valpo team!)

Of course I do! That was the day I became hungry for Valpo to move up to a better conference. When the bracket was unveiled and Bubble Boeheim took the last spot from Valpo I remember screaming "THAT'S IT! NEW CONFERENCE NOW!"  Had that not happened to us in 2016 had we gotten in I still would have advocated for taking on the challenge (I supported the idea of the MVC move when it was possible back in 2013) but I would have been much less vociferous about it.

[VUGrad1314]

Bonnies beat VCU 74-65. Good for Drake having the autobid go to the best team. Make the committee put teams like USU and VCU in the tournament. Make them give them a spot instead of them just taking it. This keeps Drake a part of those discussions with more spots available to them. Drake could very well hold on to one of the final (if not the final) spot(s) in the tournament but a Cincinnati win over Houston is probably totally fatal. We'll see. I really hope the committee is kind to the MVC for once. This conference deserves more respect than it's shown.

[valpotx]

Just keep rooting for Houston!

[VUGrad1314]

I still think despite the SOS difference after looking at the numbers Drake has the superior case to other bubble teams. Their 6 Q1-Q2 wins are equal to those of Texas Tech and still more than Oklahoma Virginia Tech and UCLA it is also equal to Xavier and Duke. It is more than any of the bubble teams of the MWC or the AAC and also more than SLU. Here are the numbers:

Q1\Q2 wins:
Drake 6
Utah State 4 
SLU 4
Wichita State 4
Memphis 4
SMU 4
Colorado State 3

Q3-4 losses:
Drake 2
Utah State 2
SMU 2
SLU 2
Colorado State 1
Boise State 1 (Q4)
Memphis 1
Wichita State 1

As you can see, despite a pretty terrible overall SOS Drake's metrics stack up very well against the bubble. Most of these teams have 2 Q1 wins against Drake's 1 but that is offset I think by the fact that Drake has 2 more Q1 and Q2 wins than any other contender and as many (or just one more) bad loss. Furthermore, in the NET, Drake trails only Utah State and (inexplicably) SLU who jumped them today for reasons that baffle me. if there's a bubble team that I say deserves to get in it's Drake in my very biased opinion but I think it's easy to see why when you zoom out and look at the entire body of work. If they do get in the MVC should send Missouri State a thank you gift for being the third good team in the conference to provide enough support to get the conference back to multibid status. They didn't sniff the bubble but without them, this isn't possible.

[VUGrad1314]

It looks like Houston is going to take the autobid ending the bid thievery. This is a huge development for Drake. I had thought they could weather one thief and maybe possibly two but not three. We're going to see if that's right. The SOS might kill them here but if the Quardrant system means anything Drake should have the advantage. They are two clear of any other bubble contender.

[valpotx]

It looks like Houston is going to take the autobid ending the bid thievery. This is a huge development for Drake. I had thought they could weather one thief and maybe possibly two but not three. We're going to see if that's right. The SOS might kill them here but if the Quardrant system means anything Drake should have the advantage. They are two clear of any other bubble contender.

Are you off the ledge now?  Step back, it will be ok, either way it goes

[VUGrad1314]

Here we go... I'm so nervous...

[VUGrad1314]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! WE DID IT! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN!

[valpotx]

See, take a deep breath, and it all works out. 

[valpotx]

Please remind me again why we should still be in the HL or dominate in the Summit? Both of their best teams are always 14/15 seeds, whereas we get an 8 and 11 seed in the MVC this year.  The Valley is not dead, and if we up our game, we get more favorable matchups in the NCAA tourney, across ALL sports.  Legitimately multiple bids are likely in all sports for the MVC.  Do we just want to make the dance, or actually have a shot at winning a game?  I would rather suffer for a few years, gain our footing, and get good seeds.

[VUGrad1314]

Please remind me again why we should still be in the HL or dominate in the Summit? Both of their best teams are always 14/15 seeds, whereas we get an 8 and 11 seed in the MVC this year.  The Valley is not dead, and if we up our game, we get more favorable matchups in the NCAA tourney, across ALL sports.  Legitimately multiple bids are likely in all sports for the MVC.  Do we just want to make the dance, or actually have a shot at winning a game?  I would rather suffer for a few years, gain our footing, and get good seeds.

Me too! Very well said!

[VUGrad1314]

I think anything beyond this is a bit too much to ask but I would be very happy if both Drake and Loyola could make the second round. Loyola has two very tough matchups if they want to make the Sweet 16 and Drake getting into the second round without Penn would be tremendous!

[elephtheria47]

Drake winning a play in game still counts as an NCAAT win. Would be nice if both teams could get at least 1 win to get more NCAAT $$ (and exposure).  Ultimately I don't think Loyola can take down U of I....but please let us actually get that match-up.

[VUGrad1314]

Drake winning a play in game still counts as an NCAAT win. Would be nice if both teams could get at least 1 win to get more NCAAT $$ (and exposure).  Ultimately I don't think Loyola can take down U of I....but please let us actually get that match-up.

I would love that!

[justducky]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! WE DID IT! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN!

Does this mean that you and I have to postpone our drunken bender  or can we still use use the poor Loyola seeding as an excuse? 

[usc4valpo]

fight on SC baby

[VUGrad1314]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! WE DID IT! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN! DRAKE'S IN!

Does this mean that you and I have to postpone our drunken bender  or can we still use use the poor Loyola seeding as an excuse? 

I'd love to but I'm in the middle of an aggressive weight loss regimen so alcohol is out for me for the foreseeable future. Feel free (if you wish) to have a celebratory beverage to toast the two bid Valley! 

[Just Sayin]

fight on SC baby

Isn't that USC coach the one who took Gulf Coast deep into the tournament a few years back with the boys who loved to dunk on the fast breaks?

[VUGrad1314]

fight on SC baby

Isn't that USC coach the one who took Gulf Coast deep into the tournament a few years back with the boys who loved to dunk on the fast breaks?

Yes I believe it is! They were a 15 seed and I think they beat Georgetown and San Diego State to reach the Sweet 16. Dunk City was a lot of fun to watch! Was it 2013? 2014?