Darling of the Bubble Teams

[radome]

Why has the media made us the darling of the bubble? Do you think it is the close games? Maybe the feeling that we are undersized but hanging in there?  It started with Lunardi, did everyone else pile on?  We are on darn near every site, now the cbssports.com bubble watch video.

[Skatastrophy]

Why has the media made us the darling of the bubble? Do you think it is the close games? Maybe the feeling that we are undersized but hanging in there?  It started with Lunardi, did everyone else pile on?  We are on darn near every site, now the cbssports.com bubble watch video.

It was my assumption that it's because of our win streak.  Out of the bubble teams we've been the safe choice thus far, especially with the teams that we had left on our schedule. 

I have no *actual* clue, though.  Just guesses. 

[Doctor V]

This is interesting, because I was just thinking the same thing... This "darling" persona may lead many of us, including myself, into a false certainty of an NCAA berth.

Looking at ESPN's bubble watch, its clear that MU doesn't have the best RPI compared to some of these others. While Im aware that the RPI isnt the end-all of the decision process, it scares me because many of the categories used are based on it... for example record against top 50, top 100, etc. So in the end it is a HUGE factor in the process

That said, conference record is also huge and 11-7 in the BE cant really be overlooked. However, if we finish 10-8 i think we have work to do in the conf tourney because of our weak computer numbers

Lastly, our best win against G'Town isnt as good as some of the other bubble teams best wins against Cuse, Nova, WVU, etc and our bad losses are worse in many cases.

The wildcard in all of this is that EYE TEST and all those close losses, but that was a long time ago and I am weary about how that would hold

In other words, lets win 11 so that selection sunday doesnt have the opportunity of being a heartbreaker

[GregClausenForever]

F that.  Let's just win out.  We seriously can.  It's not the most likely outcome, but we can, and we should want to.

[T-Bone]

Hopefully being a darling means we won't be playing at 11:00 AM on the first day of the tournament again (though I'd gladly take that over being in the NIT).  It always winds up being a long lunch.  Would rather have a night game.  Last night first rounder I remember was vs. MSU, I think. 

[MUBurrow]

the best reason I can come up with is because as of right now, we add some simplicity to the bubble scene.  despite our lack of great success against higher echelon teams, we have taken care of business against other bubble teams. with all the confusion and factors that go into who's in and who's out, i think our success against fellow bubble teams both in conference and out (xavier) is refreshing head to head. it allows pundits to set aside the locks and we come out on top when you start sifting the bubble teams.

[LAZER]

F that.  Let's just win out.  We seriously can.  It's not the most likely outcome, but we can, and we should want to.

Thank you!!  Why is it so out of the question that Marquette finishes 12-6.  They're better than Seton Hall, Louisville, and ND.  I was starting to think I was crazy thinking that MU could win out.  Maybe i'm just overly optimistic, but i think we have a good shot at doing it.  12-6 would be ridiculous and would definitely throw Buzz's name into a serious BE COY conversation.

[Windyplayer]

+1. This team now knows how to win games. No reason why we can't expect them to continue their winning ways. They had a horrid night from beyond the arc (their greatest strength) against a surging St. Johns team and still won. They're finding ways to win, or avoid losing--something they could not not find earlier in the year. 3-0 is definitely attainable.  The toughest game will be this Sunday. Win that one and we'll take care of business at home.

[Big Papi]

I have heard it mentioned twice already on ESPN that the committee does take into account close losses.  I would think that losing 4 games to teams in the top 10 by only a few points puts us in a better light.  Also, that those losses happened early on and now we are winning the close ones has to help. 

As of right now, I don't think we are on the bubble.  I think we are sitting really good in that 8-9 seed range.  Probably need 2 wins out of 3 regular season and Big East tourny to be a lock.

[Windyplayer]

If we win 2 of our last 3 regular season games, we're a lock--regardless of what happens in New york.

[Brewtown Andy]

If we win 2 of our last 3 regular season games, we're a lock--regardless of what happens in New york.

Losing the first game against St. John's/USF (the matchup based on standings right now) wouldn't be a good thing, though.

[Benny B]

Losing the first game against St. John's/USF (the matchup based on standings right now) wouldn't be a good thing, though.

Yes.... but win 2 of the last three, and the committee will likely already have MU in the field before their first game (assuming a bye), making the results relevant only for seed.

[Brewtown Andy]

Part of what created the "darling" status was what caused Andy Glockner to start calling MU "Team Bubble Watch."  After watching MU barely lose to top 10 teams, when they were 2-5, he predicted that as long as Buzz could keep the team's chin up, and they kept playing that hard every night, they'd go 11-7.

And when one guy starts talking us up because we're making him look smart, everyone else runs to jump on the bus to look smart as well.

[PGsHeroes32]

Sunday is going to be a big game. If we lose we are by no means done(we are far enough in as a 10 seed right now that we wont even move to last 4 in) so the pressure isnt on. We just need to go out feeling loose and if we win this game there is no way we will be left out. Not only would we already have wins against bubble teams Uconn, USF, Cincy and Seton Hall but 3 would be on the road and we would have 5 straight road wins. Most teams dont have more than 2 road wins.

[Brewtown Andy]

Not only would we already have wins against bubble teams Uconn, USF, Cincy and Seton Hall but 3 would be on the road and we would have 5 straight road wins. Most teams dont have more than 2 road wins.

I was just looking at Lunardi's rundown to see how many road/neutral wins it takes to get a mention (11), and noticed that ND is tied for the worst road team being considered (1-6) and Louisville is tied for the 6th worst (3-6).

So we got that going for us.

[MU83]

I think we are the darling of the bubble teams because we play extremely hard every game.  Coaches and former players who make up a large percentage of announcers really appreciate this as well, so they continue to mention it.  The fact that we recovered from the difficult Big East start is known by everyone.

As an aside, does anyone else want to kill the next announcer who tells us how hard the Indiana kids are playing?  What a joke.

[MarquetteDano]

Sunday is going to be a big game. If we lose we are by no means done(we are far enough in as a 10 seed right now that we wont even move to last 4 in) so the pressure isnt on. We just need to go out feeling loose and if we win this game there is no way we will be left out. Not only would we already have wins against bubble teams Uconn, USF, Cincy and Seton Hall but 3 would be on the road and we would have 5 straight road wins. Most teams dont have more than 2 road wins.

I don't know if I agree with if we win on Sunday there is "no way" we will be left out.  What if we win on Sunday, get blown out at home versus Louisville, lose at home versus N.D., and look bad in our first Big East tournament game versus a 9-16 seed?

We need to win 2 of the next 3 games for me to feel comfortable.  Even then, I wouldn't mind a win in the BET so that there is no nervousness on Selection Sunday.

[Doctor V]

I don't know if I agree with if we win on Sunday there is "no way" we will be left out.  What if we win on Sunday, get blown out at home versus Louisville, lose at home versus N.D., and look bad in our first Big East tournament game versus a 9-16 seed?

We need to win 2 of the next 3 games for me to feel comfortable.  Even then, I wouldn't mind a win in the BET so that there is no nervousness on Selection Sunday.

I don't think there will be very much nervousness on selection sunday if MU wins 2 of 3 and finishes 11-7. That would put us at a 5 or 6 seed in the conf tourney and our likely first opponent would still be a pretty good team

2 of the next 4 should be a lock. Hopefully we get one tomorrow and then need 1 of 3

[Daniel]

and . . . we're downright exciting to watch - makes good for ratings!