what are we rooting for upsets? What could happen that would end up helping our cause come tournament time?
Quote from: GoMarquette32 on March 06, 2011, 04:55:06 PM
what are we rooting for upsets? What could happen that would end up helping our cause come tournament time?
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/03/mus-final-rpi-and-who-to-root-for-in.html (http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/03/mus-final-rpi-and-who-to-root-for-in.html)
The Cracked Sidewalks article is great in terms of other conferences, but here's who I'll be cheering for in the Big East tourney, game-by-game:
First Round
Connecticut v DePaul: We played the Huskies twice and have a win over both teams. UConn does more for our RPI if they keep winning.
Seton Hall v Rutgers: We played SHU twice and have a win over both teams, but if SHU loses, we risk picking up a bad loss as they could fall below 100 RPI. Go Pirates!
Villanova v South Florida: We have a win over USF and not 'Nova. With USF's frontcourt and 'Nova's recent play, this isn't unthinkable.
Marquette v Providence: Duh
Second Round
Connecticut v Georgetown: I have to assume UConn will beat DePaul. Again, we played the Huskies twice and they're the only dog in this fight that we beat. Go UConn.
Seton Hall v St. John's: Ideally, SHU is in this game and if they win it would be very good for us. Even if Rutgers is playing here, we want to cheer against the Johnnies. After all, we beat Rutgers and not St. John's.
South Florida v Cincinnati: If USF upsets 'Nova, we want them to keep it going as we have a road win over them. If 'Nova wins, it really doesn't matter who wins.
Marquette v West Virginia: Duh. If Providence upsets us, I think we'd be better off cheering for Providence, as we would have a win over both, but two games against the Friars, so it would be better for our RPI.
Quarterfinals
Connecticut v Pittsburgh: If UConn gets this far, we want them to keep going. If G'Town is here, it really doesn't matter who wins.
Seton Hall v Syracuse: SHU continuing to advance would be best for us because of the two games. If they aren't here, our hope is for St. John's to lose. So cheer for Syracuse if they're up against St. John's, and cheer for Rutgers if they're here because it's fun to pull for an underdog.
South Florida v Notre Dame: If USF gets here, we want them to keep going because their RPI going up helps us immensely because we beat them on the road. If USF isn't here, as much as it may gall us, cheer for the Irish. We beat them, so if they advance, it's good for us.
Marquette v Louisville: Duh. But regardless, cheer against the 'Ville. We'd have a win over both Providence and West Virginia, so either of them continuing would help our cause.
Semifinals
In the top half, UConn, Seton Hall, and Syracuse would all be positives for us if they made the final. Cheer for any of them in that order against Pittsburgh or St. John's.
In the bottom half, obviously cheer for Marquette if we're still there. Otherwise, cheer for USF, Notre Dame, Providence, and West Virginia (in that order) against Cincinnati, Louisville, or Villanova.
Finals
Best for us: Go Marquette!
If that doesn't happen, cheer for any of the "former" teams from the two semifinals against any of the "latter" teams.
Hope that helps :)