MUScoop

MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: KC_Warrior on February 11, 2011, 11:46:36 AM

Title: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: KC_Warrior on February 11, 2011, 11:46:36 AM
Lunardi has us as an 8 seed vs. Utah State as of today (2/11)

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Norm on February 11, 2011, 11:52:39 AM
First, happy to even be in bracketology.

Second, if we get past Utah State, Kanasa in Tulsa? Yikes.

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 11:56:29 AM
Not too keen on a second-round game against a 1, but I'd dance for joy over a first-round matchup against The Legend. Watched their game Wednesday night, and that team has no business anywhere near the top 25.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: BrewCity83 on February 11, 2011, 11:56:42 AM
How will we ever get past Utah State and their legendary coach?

Edit:  haha, you beat me to it!
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Benny B on February 11, 2011, 12:12:34 PM
Well... at least MU's misery at the FT line will neutralize the impact of Wild Bill.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 12:18:33 PM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 11:56:29 AM
Not too keen on a second-round game against a 1, but I'd dance for joy over a first-round matchup against The Legend. Watched their game Wednesday night, and that team has no business anywhere near the top 25.

Please list your top 25, especially if they have NO BUSINESS being there.  I wonder if people based watching MU against USF if they felt we had any business being in the tournament?  Judging a team by one game....silly.

College basketball is HORRENDOUS this year, you could make the same claim for just about every team outside of the top 10.

Utah State has lost both games they played against the top 100 RPI teams, at #1 BYU and at #5 Georgetown.  They are not as good as they were two years ago when we beat them by 1.  Then again, we aren't as good as we were two years ago, either.

Here's what the power polls say

Ken Pom  USU 28, MU 27
RPI  USU 25, MU 61

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Lennys Tap on February 11, 2011, 12:25:27 PM
BYU is #1 in the rpi? What a joke. Thank goodness the committee doesn't pay as much attention to it as it used to.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: NavinRJohnson on February 11, 2011, 12:44:34 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 12:18:33 PM
College basketball is HORRENDOUS this year



Yet after 3 years, at a school with all the advantages that come with being at one of the top programs in the country, Tom Crean still can't get Inidana out of the basement of the Big ten, let alone, above .500 overall.  ;D
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: TallTitan34 on February 11, 2011, 12:46:16 PM
That was complete crap in 2009.  We played Utah State in Boise.  The crowd was mostly Utah State fans and they were intense.  I have never even been to a road game that had that kind of anti-Marquette crowd.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 12:54:37 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 12:18:33 PM
Please list your top 25, especially if they have NO BUSINESS being there.  I wonder if people based watching MU against USF if they felt we had any business being in the tournament?  Judging a team by one game....silly.

College basketball is HORRENDOUS this year, you could make the same claim for just about every team outside of the top 10.

Utah State has lost both games they played against the top 100 RPI teams, at #1 BYU and at #5 Georgetown.  They are not as good as they were two years ago when we beat them by 1.  Then again, we aren't as good as we were two years ago, either.

Here's what the power polls say

Ken Pom  USU 28, MU 27
RPI  USU 25, MU 61



Sorry to have offended The Legend (and activated Chico's knee-jerk need to defend other programs by disparaging Marquette)

That said, USU has played exactly two teams in the RPI top 100, losing both times. Their best win of the season is over Long Beach State, an 11-10 team with an RPI of 116 (Pomeroy 101).  Their next best win is over 11-12 New Mexico State, RPI 127 (Pomeroy 137). Only six of their 25 games have come against teams with winnng records. They're .500 in those games.  On Wednesday night they were handled relatively easily (never got closer than six in the final 8+ minutes) by an Idaho team whose resume includes a 42-point loss to Montana.
Sorry, Stew fan, but these are not the credentials of a top 25 team. And, I suspect, we'll see that when the new rankings come out Monday.
Apparently the bracketology folks agree with me, given their projected seeding (Lunardi has them an 89, Sports Illustrated has them a 9, your boy Palm has them a 12).
Tell me, do legit top 25 teams routinely get seeded in the lower half of their bracket?

I'm still trying to figure out what saying USU doesn't belong in the top 25 has to do with Marquette belonging in the tournament, but I know it's hard for you to pass a chance to take a dig.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: groove on February 11, 2011, 12:55:55 PM
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Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 01:05:21 PM
Quote from: Lennys Tap on February 11, 2011, 12:25:27 PM
BYU is #1 in the rpi? What a joke. Thank goodness the committee doesn't pay as much attention to it as it used to.

But they still pay attention to it, that's the point. It's their metric based rating system, so they are going to use it.

BYU is actually #2 this morning, behind Kansas.  They have been rewarded for playing a top 20 schedule (OSU's schedule is pretty bad which is why they aren't ahead of BYU).
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 01:07:46 PM
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on February 11, 2011, 12:44:34 PM
Yet after 3 years, at a school with all the advantages that come with being at one of the top programs in the country, Tom Crean still can't get Inidana out of the basement of the Big ten, let alone, above .500 overall.  ;D


With 3 starters out this year, that does make things tougher.  They have one starter back now, the other two still down.  I'll bet they fire him any second now because MU fans think he sucks.  LOL.  As most IU fans say, "beat us now because it's not going to happen very much in the future."  They are going to be LOADED and all those advantages have started to kick in with the next two classes.  Plus they are currently the 2nd youngest team in the Big Ten as it is. 
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 01:18:14 PM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 12:54:37 PM
Sorry to have offended The Legend (and activated Chico's knee-jerk need to defend other programs by disparaging Marquette)

I didn't disparage MU at all.  You said "Watched their game Wednesday night, and that team has no business anywhere near the top 25".   I said, if you're going to judge a team by watching just one sample, then I wonder how many people think MU is tournament worthy if they were to judge our performance that SAME NIGHT against USF.  Using one sample point is stupid.

Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 12:54:37 PM
That said, USU has played exactly two teams in the RPI top 100, losing both times. Their best win of the season is over Long Beach State, an 11-10 team with an RPI of 116 (Pomeroy 101).  Their next best win is over 11-12 New Mexico State, RPI 127 (Pomeroy 137). Only six of their 25 games have come against teams with winnng records. They're .500 in those games.  On Wednesday night they were handled relatively easily (never got closer than six in the final 8+ minutes) by an Idaho team whose resume includes a 42-point loss to Montana.
Sorry, Stew fan, but these are not the credentials of a top 25 team. And, I suspect, we'll see that when the new rankings come out Monday.
Apparently the bracketology folks agree with me, given their projected seeding (Lunardi has them an 89, Sports Illustrated has them a 9, your boy Palm has them a 12).
Tell me, do legit top 25 teams routinely get seeded in the lower half of their bracket?

I also said they lost both games to top 100 teams.  I asked you to list your top 25 teams.....hopefully we'll get that from you at some point.  As far as the bracket seedings, according to the Bracket Matrix which pulls 58 different bracket projections around the country, the avg Utah State seed is a 9, but 14 of them have them in the upper part of the bracket...some at a 5 seed.  I noticed you didn't include those so I'm happy to provide them

http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm

Utah State can only control their schedule so much.  No one wants to go up there to play them.  They're a mid major that everyone ducks, so their schedule is what it is.  We do agree that they are not as good this year as they were two years ago, but this MU team (I don't know if you agree) is not as good as that MU team two years ago either, not by a long shot IMO, yet we won by 1 point with 2 NBA players and 4 of our top 10 scorers of all time on that squad.

Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 12:54:37 PM
I'm still trying to figure out what saying USU doesn't belong in the top 25 has to do with Marquette belonging in the tournament, but I know it's hard for you to pass a chance to take a dig.
You said "Watched their game Wednesday night, and that team has no business anywhere near the top 25".   I said, if you're going to judge a team by watching just one sample, then I wonder how many people think MU is tournament worthy if they were to judge our performance that SAME NIGHT against USF.  Using one sample point is stupid.  

It wasn't a dig at MU, it was a dig at your comment.  I predicted MU would be in the tournament in November on CS, I haven't backed down from those predictions here on MUSCOOP.  MU will get to the tournament, so where's the dig?  If you mean comparing your one game sample argument to my one game sample argument, I'm just playing your game.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: leever on February 11, 2011, 01:18:37 PM
Do they practice free throws?

I understand this is important.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: esotericmindguy on February 11, 2011, 01:19:31 PM
The only flaw of the  NCAA tourney, better off being a 14 seed then an 8 seed.  If they reseeded inside each bracket after each round it would be more fair (see all other major sports tournaments). It will never happen because of the gambling and the interest drawn from gambling, which is why I wouldn't want it to change either.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: NavinRJohnson on February 11, 2011, 01:23:27 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 01:18:14 PM
t but this MU team (I don't know if you agree) is not as good as that MU team two years ago either, not by a long shot IMO, yet we won by 1 point with 2 NBA players and 4 of our top 10 scorers of all time on that squad.

I notice this has been a consistent drum beat coming from you since you have been back. Wonder why that is.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 01:57:09 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 01:18:14 PM
I didn't disparage MU at all.  You said "Watched their game Wednesday night, and that team has no business anywhere near the top 25".   I said, if you're going to judge a team by watching just one sample, then I wonder how many people think MU is tournament worthy if they were to judge our performance that SAME NIGHT against USF.  Using one sample point is stupid.

I wasn't using one sample point. I was mentioning that I watched them play, and that they have no business in the top 25. Not "Based on watching them play one time ..."
Perhaps my syntax could have been better, but I'm pretty sure you know what I meant. And even if you didn't, all the other factors I've put forward supports what I've said. Rather than dealing with my conclusion - that USU isn't a top 25 team - you've chosen instead to criticize your perception of how I arrived at that conclusion. In all likelihood that's because you agree with my conclusion, yet feel some need to defend The Legend.

Quoteaccording to the Bracket Matrix which pulls 58 different bracket projections around the country, the avg Utah State seed is a 9, but 14 of them have them in the upper part of the bracket...some at a 5 seed.  I noticed you didn't include those so I'm happy to provide them

http://bracketproject.50webs.com/matrix.htm

Interesting, but totally misleading. Of the sites projecting them in the top half of the bracket, none have been updated since Feb. 7. Of the those updated since Wednesday night, USU is projected as a 10, 11, 15, 12, 10, 11, 12 and 10.


QuoteUtah State can only control their schedule so much.  No one wants to go up there to play them.

Why would anyone go up there to play? There's nothing to gain from it. Stew needs to toughen up and do what Gonzaga did - play anyone anytime, on the road and on neutral courts and build up enough of a reputation and cache that teams in power conferences have something to gain from scheduling home-and-homes. Right now, there's no benefit to it. Beating USU has much less of an upside than the downside of losing to them.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Doris Burkes Thong on February 11, 2011, 02:32:34 PM
Utah St. has a very rich basketball tradition, led by a great traditional coach in Stew Morrill, and a roster made up of great traditional players that carry on their rich traditon. Oh, and they have an awesome traditonal looking superfan in "Wild Bill". When it comes to "traditionalism" Utah St epitomizes it, and as an MU fan I envy and admire that program so much.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 02:45:15 PM
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on February 11, 2011, 01:23:27 PM
I notice this has been a consistent drum beat coming from you since you have been back. Wonder why that is.

Do you feel this team is better than the MU team two years ago?  I'll remind you that team two years ago was coached by Buzz and he did a wonderful job.

I find it hard to fathom that anyone would think this year's team is as good as the one that had DJ, McNeal, Lazar, Wesley Matthews, Jimmy Butler coming off the bench, Acker, Cubillan, some decent size with Burke, etc.

That was a special team that got nailed with a terrible injury.  Even with that injury, that was a better team than today's.  Doesn't mean today's team is somehow bad, just not as good as that team.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 02:57:39 PM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 01:57:09 PM
I wasn't using one sample point. I was mentioning that I watched them play, and that they have no business in the top 25. Not "Based on watching them play one time ..."
Perhaps my syntax could have been better, but I'm pretty sure you know what I meant. And even if you didn't, all the other factors I've put forward supports what I've said. Rather than dealing with my conclusion - that USU isn't a top 25 team - you've chosen instead to criticize your perception of how I arrived at that conclusion. In all likelihood that's because you agree with my conclusion, yet feel some need to defend The Legend.


Nope, I didn't know what you meant.  I took it as you watched them last Wednesday and based on what you saw, they shouldn't be ranked.  I doubt you've watched them any other time this year since it's very difficult to see their games.  I'm not defending "the legend" at all, I'm criticizing what I inferred as you saw them once and deduced based on one viewing that they didn't pass your test.  Now, the irony here is that I have been outspoken against the rankings for years here.  I think they are crap.  I asked you to list your top 25, you still haven't, but rest assured I'm not defending Utah State, I was critical of what I inferred to be a ridiculous process in how you came to your conclusion.  Now, you say you also went into all these other metrics to make that deduction, but that's not what you initially said.  Watching you and Lenny always get so particular about what was ACTUALLY said, I find it ironic that you're going down this path.

Your Gonzaga analogy is kind of funny, too.  Go back through Gonzaga's history and find out how long it took Gonzaga to actually get to that point where they could play anyone, anytime.  Most of their "away" games weren't even away, but on neutral sites and part of tournaments.  The fact of the matter is, it took multiple NCAA bids and driving performances for teams to be willing to take a chance on playing them.  Now, playing Gonzaga is a good thing for most other programs, but it wasn't worth the risk for many schools.  Took years to get to that point.  Gonzaga is also a private school with a basketball budget approximately 2X the Utah State budget. They can carry more risk to do that.

I know you and a few others love to get a kick out of the legend comment, but in that part of the world and in the west, he's considered one of the top coaches.  For those of you who don't realize there is a world west of the Mississippi, I can't help you.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 03:22:46 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 02:57:39 PM
I asked you to list your top 25, you still haven't, but rest assured I'm not defending Utah State, I was critical of what I inferred to be a ridiculous process in how you came to your conclusion. 

1. My personal top 25 is irrelevant to whether or not USU is a top 25 team. And, to be honest, I have no inclination to spend my time listing a top 25 here.

2. Your inference was incorrect.


QuoteYour Gonzaga analogy is kind of funny, too.  Go back through Gonzaga's history and find out how long it took Gonzaga to actually get to that point where they could play anyone, anytime.  Most of their "away" games weren't even away, but on neutral sites and part of tournaments.  The fact of the matter is, it took multiple NCAA bids and driving performances for teams to be willing to take a chance on playing them.  Now, playing Gonzaga is a good thing for most other programs, but it wasn't worth the risk for many schools. 

Ummm ... yeah. That's my point about USU. They, like Gonzaga, are going to have to earn enough respect that it's worth teams from power conferences to travel to lovely Logan, Utah for games. Right now, the risk/reward doesn't justify it. Is that fair? I don't know. Don't really care either. But if USU wants to do something about it, they can. Just like Gonzaga did.

QuoteTook years to get to that point.  Gonzaga is also a private school with a basketball budget approximately 2X the Utah State budget. They can carry more risk to do that. 

Actually, no.
Gonzaga spent $3.05 million on hoops in this reporting period, compared to $2.33 million from USU. I'd wager much of the difference is in coaching salaries (Few reportedly makes over $1 million, Stew's was reported at a little over $400,000 in 2009).
http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/18/news/companies/basketball_profits/index.htm


QuoteI know you and a few others love to get a kick out of the legend comment, but in that part of the world and in the west, he's considered one of the top coaches.  For those of you who don't realize there is a world west of the Mississippi, I can't help you.

I can only hope that one day I'll be as worldy as you.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Freeport Warrior on February 11, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I'd love to get in as a 10 (or 11) and catch fire in the tournament. This team isn't better than the one two years ago by a long shot, but they have proven that they can play with anyone. I'm just happy to be "in the game" knowing that it's possible that DJO or Crowder could get hot and go for 40 in a game. These guys are streaky and if and when they get hot -- watch out.

(Cue the crotchety old man voice) All you half-empty young guns have been spoiled by recent success. In the mid to late 80's when I was at MU, our whole season was one stinking Notre Dame home game and zero NCAAs. We beat Bucky and ND once (ND was even home and away) the entire time I was in school. We finished 10-18 one year losing to Cleveland State, Fordham, Valpo, Iona and Loyola. This year's team is a good one filled with studs and a ton of potential for next year. Enjoy the talk of seedings, NCAAs, NBA potential, etc. Success is fleeting.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Benny B on February 11, 2011, 03:59:27 PM
Quote from: Doris Burkes Thong on February 11, 2011, 02:32:34 PM
Utah St. has a very rich basketball tradition, led by a great traditional coach in Stew Morrill, and a roster made up of great traditional players that carry on their rich traditon. Oh, and they have an awesome traditonal looking superfan in "Wild Bill". When it comes to "traditionalism" Utah St epitomizes it, and as an MU fan I envy and admire that program so much.

Just search Youtube for some clips on Utah State & their fans.  Wild Bill is always fun to watch... how many people can say they inspired their entire student section to sing "I'm a little teapot" AND got the shooter to miss a FT?

Their fans get into it - the cheers, the chants, everything.  And it's not just the students... it's everyone.  (Evidently the majority of their season ticket-holders aren't over the age of 60.)  For a low-major in the middle of nowhere, that's quite impressive in my book.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 04:09:07 PM
Pakuni, that Gonzaga financial report is not complete.  We've been through this a number of times with the MU one as well.  They are a private institution, they are not required to turn over those numbers which are qualified by the source.

I figured since you were so good at identifying who isn't top 25 worthy, you could share additional sage advice and let us know who the proper top 25 should be.  We would all benefit.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 04:14:18 PM
Quote from: Freeport Warrior on February 11, 2011, 03:45:52 PM
I'd love to get in as a 10 (or 11) and catch fire in the tournament. This team isn't better than the one two years ago by a long shot, but they have proven that they can play with anyone. I'm just happy to be "in the game" knowing that it's possible that DJO or Crowder could get hot and go for 40 in a game. These guys are streaky and if and when they get hot -- watch out.

(Cue the crotchety old man voice) All you half-empty young guns have been spoiled by recent success. In the mid to late 80's when I was at MU, our whole season was one stinking Notre Dame home game and zero NCAAs. We beat Bucky and ND once (ND was even home and away) the entire time I was in school. We finished 10-18 one year losing to Cleveland State, Fordham, Valpo, Iona and Loyola. This year's team is a good one filled with studs and a ton of potential for next year. Enjoy the talk of seedings, NCAAs, NBA potential, etc. Success is fleeting.

+1

We rushed the court.  I'll bet IU message boards back then were starting threads saying "Look how far MU has fallen that they have to rush the court to beat Notre Dame"

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 04:16:11 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 04:09:07 PM
Pakuni, that Gonzaga financial report is not complete.  We've been through this a number of times with the MU one as well.  They are a private institution, they are not required to turn over those numbers which are qualified by the source.

I figured since you were so good at identifying who isn't top 25 worthy, you could share additional sage advice and let us know who the proper top 25 should be.  We would all benefit.

Sigh ...

Yes or no, is Utah State a top 25 team in your opinion?

If you say yes, you're ridiculous.
If you say no, you agree with me. In which case, you're arguing throughout this thread no reason other than cause you like arguing.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 05:01:01 PM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 04:16:11 PM
Sigh ...

Yes or no, is Utah State a top 25 team in your opinion?

If you say yes, you're ridiculous.
If you say no, you agree with me. In which case, you're arguing throughout this thread no reason other than cause you like arguing.

Are they a top 25 team?  Yes, both polls say so.  It's a fact.

Here, I'll even provide links to them for you.  LOL

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings


In my opinion, as I stated much earlier, college basketball is HORRENDOUS this year.  I also think the rankings are terribly constructed, especially the preseason rankings (which again this year show how ridiculously misguided those are).  Saying anyone outside of the top 10 is truly a top team is a stretch.  A great article about this last week that I can't find but will post if I can.

Looking at the top 25, it looks to me like teams 20 through 35 are pretty much interchangeable.  Not much distinguishes them from one another.  They all have terrible losses, or good wins that are largely on their home courts only.  I'd cut off the rankings at the top 10 and be done with it.

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 05:07:04 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 05:01:01 PM
Are they a top 25 team?  Yes, both polls say so.  It's a fact.

Here, I'll even provide links to them for you.  LOL

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings

Thanks for not answering my question.
I'll take it that your gamemanship simply means you think I'm right, but don't dare say it.

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Freeport Warrior on February 11, 2011, 05:19:10 PM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 04:16:11 PM
If you say yes, you're ridiculous.

Not at all. It's a poll average. Utah State has not beat anyone of note, but they've taken care of business home and away. They held their own against BYU and were only down 4 at half to Georgetown so it's not like they are a total fraud.

Put me down as "ridiculous" because I think they are in back end of the Top 25 discussion.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 06:33:16 PM
Quote from: Benny B on February 11, 2011, 03:59:27 PM
Just search Youtube for some clips on Utah State & their fans.  Wild Bill is always fun to watch... how many people can say they inspired their entire student section to sing "I'm a little teapot" AND got the shooter to miss a FT?

Their fans get into it - the cheers, the chants, everything.  And it's not just the students... it's everyone.  (Evidently the majority of their season ticket-holders aren't over the age of 60.)  For a low-major in the middle of nowhere, that's quite impressive in my book.

Wildbill was literally dead for 7 minutes last year.  Guy is lucky to be alive

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/seth_davis/02/10/utah.state/

Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: brewcity77 on February 11, 2011, 06:41:12 PM
Love ya, Chicos, but one thing I didn't miss about you being gone was that threads tended to stay on topic. Yes, Utah State is projected as our opponent, but is the debate of whether or not they belong in the top 25 really pertinent here?

Let's try to get this back to talking about Marquette. I just looked at Sports Illustrated's new bracket prediction from Andy Glockner, and frankly, I think it'd almost be a free pass for Marquette to the Sweet 16.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_glockner/02/07/bracket.projection/index.html

It has us as a 10-seed against Xavier in the first round and San Diego State in the second. I don't think this year's Xavier is anywhere near as good as last year's team, and San Diego State reminds me of last year's New Mexico. Great in a poor conference, but largely still flying high off a winning streak against other mid-majors, highlighted by a win over a vastly overrated Gonzaga team. I even think we'd have a decent shot against UNC or 'Nova in the Sweet Sixteen.

And with that in mind, this Marquette team reminds me of the Green Bay Packers. Sure, we probably have more losses than we should have, and even a loss to a team that we shouldn't have lost to (Gonzaga = Detroit Lions), but no one has blown us out (Green Bay's biggest loss 4, our biggest loss 8). If we get hot, there's no one in the country we couldn't beat on our night. While I do think we could lose to just about anyone capable of making the Dance (like GB in the playoffs), I also think we could beat anyone in the land. The only teams that really give me pause are Ohio State and Kansas, but I think that with a decent draw, this team could just as easily be an Elite 8 team as it could be a one-and-done. It wouldn't even surprise me if we made the Final Four. My guess is our luck would run out before a title, but we've already shown we can play with anyone. The only game where I never really felt like we had a chance was Duke. Against Pitt, I thought the shooting would run out, against 'Nova we had the ball in the closing minutes down just three. We had a chance in every game, and I think we'd have a shot against Duke if we played them again.

Thoughts? Is a Final Four possible? Is there anyone in the country that really scares you?
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Doris Burkes Thong on February 11, 2011, 07:54:06 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 06:33:16 PM
Wildbill was literally dead for 7 minutes last year.  Guy is lucky to be alive

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/seth_davis/02/10/utah.state/


Wow, that was an eye opening article. Thnaks for sharing. Wild Bill most importantly better get his health under control because that's just crazy how much he's been in the ER.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: Tugg Speedman on February 11, 2011, 09:42:42 PM
Insider has more info ....

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology/predictions

Marquette
Odds to Make Sweet 16 = 15.2%
Odds to Make Final Four = 3.2%
Odds to Win Tournament = 0.3%
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 11:25:00 PM
Brew, no one scares me but we don't scare anyone either.  The Packers were a popular pick to win the super bowl before the season started, I don't think it's appropriate to compare us to them.  It would be Cinderella run if we made the Final Four, but it wasn't for the Packers.  They won because they were the best team in the NFC regardless of their seed
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: NavinRJohnson on February 12, 2011, 07:45:50 AM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on February 11, 2011, 11:25:00 PM
Brew, no one scares me but we don't scare anyone either.  The Packers were a popular pick to win the super bowl before the season started, I don't think it's appropriate to compare us to them.  It would be Cinderella run if we made the Final Four, but it wasn't for the Packers.  They won because they were the best team in the NFC regardless of their seed

I agree that as it turned out, the Packers were the best team in the NFL, as most expected them to be before the season started. Obviously, a lot of things happened throughout the season to put that in serious doubt, and they did an unbelievable job, sticking with it and piecing things together to get back to being the best team in the NFL by the time the end of the year rolled around. Plenty of people declared the season over after some of their struggles, particularly that loss to Detroit, heading into a game at New England, so I think the comparison isn't too bad. I made it myself a couple weeks ago after everyone was wringing their hands about the loss to UConn.

I don't see any way this team goes to the Final Four. In fact with the PG combo of Buycks and Cadougan, I don't like their chances of doing much in the tournament, but as I think brewcity is ultimately suggesting, nothing would surprise me. Like the Packers back in December, even after all of the injuries, I think they are a better team than most are giving them credit for.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: We R Final Four on February 12, 2011, 09:17:46 AM
It wouldn't even surprise me if we made the Final Four???????????????????????

Have you lost your mind?  Have you seen this team play?  If it wouldn't surprise you to make the Final Four, why stop there?  What about a National Title?

If people of here are not afraid of the likes of Kansas, OSU and Texas........what about St. Johns, Seton Hall and Cincinnati?  Those are the teams that should scare you.  Comedy.

C'mon, man.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: 4everwarriors on February 12, 2011, 09:29:07 AM
MU beatin' Georgetown is no gimme. All the smack talk in the middle of Feb. Don't mean stink.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: brewcity77 on February 12, 2011, 12:46:50 PM
While a Final Four wouldn't shock me, neither would a first round exit. I don't honestly believe we will string together the 4 consecutive needed to make it to the Final Four, but I'm just saying there's no one in the country we can't beat, and if we catch fire, it's not unfathomable. As an overall goal I agree it looks like too much to hope for, but taken one game at a time there's no team Buzz's boys can't compete with.
Title: Re: New bracketology: rematch of first round 2009
Post by: ChicosBailBonds on February 20, 2011, 12:23:47 AM
Quote from: Pakuni on February 11, 2011, 05:07:04 PM
Thanks for not answering my question.
I'll take it that your gamemanship simply means you think I'm right, but don't dare say it.



I did answer and will answer again.  You can fill in any one of probably 20 teams that could fill those spots from 15 to 25, they're all the same.

Tonight, #24 Utah State beat #23 ranked St. Mary's in Nor. Cal by 10 tonight.  In my mind, they're both basically the same types of teams...good but not great.  Are they top 25?  Polls say so, but I'm not much a of a poll guy.  Tell me the teams that should be ahead of them...I can't argue any that are slam dunk that should be. 
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