First 2009 March Madness thread

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by philcski

Creighton- if they had won the Illinois State game in the semis they would have locked up a bid but now they have to sweat. I think they're on the right side of the bubble right now with their 9-5 record against the top 100 and sharing the league title with UNI but certainly are playing with fire. IN

They are 5-5 against the top 94. Two wins each over #95 Evansville and #99 Bradley that I don't think the committee is going to treat as big wins. Giving them big points for 9-5 against the top 100 is like giving big credit to Niagara for 5-3 against the top 100 when two of their wins are over #97 Fairfield. When I look at Niagara and Creighton's resumes I'm not seeing much difference. Add to it that Niagara destroyed Illinois St in the bracket buster and then Illinois St destroyed Creighton in the MVC semis and I don't see how Creighton can be in and Niagara not even under consideration. Neither looks like an NCAA tourney team to me, even in a weak bubble.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

They are 5-5 against the top 94. Two wins each over #95 Evansville and #99 Bradley that I don't think the committee is going to treat as big wins. Giving them big points for 9-5 against the top 100 is like giving big credit to Niagara for 5-3 against the top 100 when two of their wins are over #97 Fairfield. When I look at Niagara and Creighton's resumes I'm not seeing much difference. Add to it that Niagara destroyed Illinois St in the bracket buster and then Illinois St destroyed Creighton in the MVC semis and I don't see how Creighton can be in and Niagara not even under consideration. Neither looks like an NCAA tourney team to me, even in a weak bubble.

i know, and it's a shame that Niagara that doesn't really show up on the radar even though their page isn't much different from some of the other teams that have had 8,9 chances at top teams are are 2-7 against the top 50. Here is exactly what the selection committee looks at on a team by team basis, I love this site.

http://www.bbstate.com/schools/CREI/sheet

[SniperSB23]

Thanks for the link, useful site.

Pretty funny that RPI #18 Oklahoma State and RPI #20 Siena faced each other in the Toilet Bowl (7th place game) of the Old Spice Classic.

[ateamstupid]

Bad loss for Wisconsin.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Bad loss for Wisconsin.

They'll still get in though.

South Carolina really doesn't want to go dancing. Hard to believe a 22-9 team that went 10-6 in the SEC could be left out.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

They'll still get in though.

South Carolina really doesn't want to go dancing. Hard to believe a 22-9 team that went 10-6 in the SEC could be left out.

I don't know. Nothing significant in the nonconference, 4-10 against the RPI 1-50. I realize not many teams are locking up bids, but I don't think they're in right now.

South Carolina sucks. They're not getting in, even if they win this game.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

South Carolina sucks. They're not getting in, even if they win this game.

They'd have gotten in with a win cause there is no way they'll only take 2 from the SEC. I think the winner of Florida-Auburn gets in now unless Miss St makes a run to the finals.

[ateamstupid]

Baylor does it again. Now the Bears, finally playing up to their potential, only need to beat an inconsistent Missouri or average Oklahoma State team to sneak into the Tournament.

UPDATED 9:21 EST: 6 bids left, probably 5

Xavier stole another at-large bid from a bubble team, losing to Temple 55-53 today in the A-10 semifinals.

Maryland, meanwhile, looks to be on the doorstep of an at-large bid after convincingly beating Wake Forest in the ACC quarterfinals tonight. The Terps, 7-9 conference record and all, probably need only to not get blown out by the Duke/BC winner to get a spot in the Dance.

With New Mexico, Virginia Tech, Miami (FL), Providence and South Carolina likely all playing themselves out of the Tournament the past two days, here are the remaining teams vying for those five precious at-larges:

Arizona, Penn State, Wisconsin, Florida, Auburn, San Diego State, Tulsa, Dayton, Creighton, Utah State, St. Mary's, Davidson, Kansas State, UNLV. The last three are extreme fringe candidates, but I think they deserve consideration at least.