MUScoop

Trying to nail down plans for the Big East tourney...do we have a sense of when we would clinch the double bye? If we win on Sat at UConn, does that do it or is there more at play since ND and GT are so close in the running?

I would wait until after the Rutgers game on Feb 22. Not because I think that's in doubt, but because a lot can change between now and then. If we win both games in the next week, we are a virtual lock to go 13-5. So let's look at the other teams that could finish 13-5 or better.

• Syracuse (13-1): Lock for a double-bye.
  
• Notre Dame (9-3): Not a lock, but good shot at a double-bye. Favored in 4/6 remaining, and have the tiebreaker on us.
  
• Georgetown (8-4): My other guess for a double-bye, though they play ND and @ MU to finish the season.
  
• South Florida (8-4): If they drop 2 of their next 3, we should finish ahead of them.
  
• Louisville (8-5): We have the tiebreak and they play at Syracuse to close the season. If they get a double-bye, it won't be ahead of us.
  
• Cincinnati (7-5): All their games are winnable, but all of them are tough. One more loss would be nice.

Here are the key games between now and Feb 23 that will help clarify the picture:

Feb 15: Rutgers @ ND, 'Nova at USF, Providence @ Cincy
Feb 18: MU @ UConn, GT @ Providence, UL @ DePaul, ND @ 'Nova, SHU @ Cincy
Feb 19: USF @ Pitt
Feb 21: GT @ SHU
Feb 22: Rutgers @ MU, USF @ 'Cuse, WVU @ ND
Feb 23: UL @ Cincy

If we are 12-3 and manage to see UL, Cincy, and USF all pick up a loss, we're pretty much locked into the top 4. If we get bonus losses from ND or GT, all the better. I italicized the games I feel are most likely to provide losses for some of these teams, so those are ones to watch.

One nice thing is that somebody has to lose the UL/Cincy game giving either team their 6th loss.  MU is guaranteed the tiebreaker against UL.  We still play Cincy in their gym.  And no one should count a game against SHU as a bunny.  They are playing pretty good hoops right now and could give Cincy trouble this weekend.  Also, I'd give 'Nova a decent shot against ND in Philly.  MU was certainly challenged when we visited.

This is great insight, thank you! Really appreciate it.

18 Big East games +1 - 10 Marquette wins - 4 losses by 5th place South Florida = a Marquette magic number of 5.

That means Marquette controls their own destiny. Win the 5 games remaining and the double bye is clinched.

somebody posted an updated bracket the other day, and i was wondering if there is a place online where that is published or if you did your own research and put it together?

Quote from: ODMU238 on February 15, 2012, 11:07:58 PM
somebody posted an updated bracket the other day, and i was wondering if there is a place online where that is published or if you did your own research and put it together?

go to bigeast.org and click on Championship Central

Quote from: ODMU238 on February 15, 2012, 11:07:58 PM
somebody posted an updated bracket the other day, and i was wondering if there is a place online where that is published or if you did your own research and put it together?

I believe it is his own research:

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=30461.0