I wanted to get peoples thoughts on playing the Play-in opponent instead of just facing a normal 14 seed. I can see +/- to this.
Biggest + is that the opponent has to play in Dayton then travel the next day and get ready to play MU.
On the flip side we don't know who we are playing so we really can't prepare until Wednesday.
Playing a game 2 days later shouldn't make fatigue much of a factor
The play in winner might be more ready to go while MU could have some rust having not played for a week.
Forgetting about the actual opponent is facing a playin an advantage or disadvantage?
I only think it's a disadvantage in the way that we effectively got a 4/5-seed where a 3-seed was supposed to be. Based on the seed lines, BYU/Iona should have been either a 12 or 13 line play-in, while our second round game against Murray State (assuming they win) is far more like playing a 4 than playing a 6. When was the last time you saw a 30-1 6-seed that is 4-0 against the top-100?
But at this point...you just play the games. We have the best talent of any team in our five-team tournament, now Buzz just has to make sure the guys show up.
And to top it off, Murray State gets pretty much home court advantage by playing in its home state. That is going to make a huge difference and will make it much tougher for Marquette to beat Murray State if that scenario plays itself out. (I would really love for Colorado State to upset Murray State in the Thursday game.)
You have to assume all of the Kentucky fans in attendance will be cheering for Murray State as well.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 12, 2012, 03:11:34 PM
You have to assume all of the Kentucky fans in attendance will be cheering for Murray State as well.
Is that true? Would you cheer for the Badgers if they were playing in Milwaukee against some no name team? A more apt comparison might be UW-M or UW GB.
I figure Kentucky (the school) fans favor their team over any in the state, and would root against state rivals just to show further supremacy of State U.
Then again, I might be wrong.
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 12, 2012, 03:23:33 PM
Is that true? Would you cheer for the Badgers if they were playing in Milwaukee against some no name team? A more apt comparison might be UW-M or UW GB.
I figure Kentucky (the school) fans favor their team over any in the state, and would root against state rivals just to show further supremacy of State U.
Then again, I might be wrong.
UK fans won't have the fondest of memories watching Marquette play.
I'd have to assume they don't care for us, and would prefer the higher seeds be eliminated.
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 12, 2012, 03:23:33 PMIs that true? Would you cheer for the Badgers if they were playing in Milwaukee against some no name team? A more apt comparison might be UW-M or UW GB.
I figure Kentucky (the school) fans favor their team over any in the state, and would root against state rivals just to show further supremacy of State U.
Then again, I might be wrong.
When we played in Minneapolis, there were a lot of fans that cheered for both MU and UW (we played back-to-back). Some Badger fans even stayed the weekend to watch Marquette play UK and cheered for us over the Wildcats. March Madness can make for strange bedfellows.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 12, 2012, 03:11:34 PM
You have to assume all of the Kentucky fans in attendance will be cheering for Murray State as well.
This.
Don't think people realize or care right now, but playing the Racers in Lou is going to be a straight road game. Been to all of our tourneys this decade (except Florida)... this will be more of a roadie than Utah State in Boise, Washington in Pac-10 country, or X in Ohio.
1) UK fans are passionate rabid fans... they will be into the game.
2) I checked the Louisville board, and they went out of their way to say, "normally we'd root for our Big East brethren, but we can't get past this local storyline of Murray State."
3) At San Jose a couple years ago, there were plenty of Racer fans who traveled out there to see them upset Vandy and almost Butler. I imagine the vast majority are going to make the 4hour car ride if MSU and MU meet up.
I think we're the better team, but wish we got a break here.
Most 3 seeds get road games in the 3rd round, no?
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 12, 2012, 03:23:33 PM
Is that true? Would you cheer for the Badgers if they were playing in Milwaukee against some no name team? A more apt comparison might be UW-M or UW GB.
I figure Kentucky (the school) fans favor their team over any in the state, and would root against state rivals just to show further supremacy of State U.
Then again, I might be wrong.
It's the local cinderella storyline... there's not animosity there are at all... quite the contrary.
Quote from: Aughnanure on March 12, 2012, 03:24:50 PM
UK fans won't have the fondest of memories watching Marquette play.
That's a great point. I was at the game and remember a lot of MU fans, more than would be expected at the HHH. And Kentucky fans are probably still smarting over Wade's triple double.
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 12, 2012, 03:32:31 PMThat's a great point. I was at the game and remember a lot of MU fans, more than would be expected at the HHH. And Kentucky fans are probably still smarting over Wade's triple double.
Not to mention us dumping them out in 2008.
One advantage laying the play in opponent is our board gets a couple of days of peace without fans from the western potential opponent coming on our board, feeling the need to give us pretty much worthless scouting reports and generally being all insecure about their teams. Oh wait, even the the fact that they haven't even played their play in game yet didn't stop that BYU fan from coming over here. :)
Or MU's win in 1994 to go Sweet 16 or MU's win in the first round in 2008 in Anaheim. The Wildcats fans don't have short memories.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 12, 2012, 03:11:34 PM
You have to assume all of the Kentucky fans in attendance will be cheering for Murray State as well.
Of course they will, as they should. Now you know why my concern about our play of late outside of the BC. We need to do a better job.
On the subject line, there are advantages and disadvantages. Do not agree with Brew that it is a disadvantage only. We will prepare for Iona and BYU today and tomorrow. That's a disadvantage, but it is no as if we don't know who we are playing. We know we are playing one or the other. They will have a game under their belt. That's an advantage for them. They have to travel late Tuesday night and get to Louisville sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Advantage for us. We will be fresher and if we play like we should, we will take advantage of that and run them to death. By the 10 minute mark of the second half, we should have them on their last legs.
We're a 3 seed guys, let's act like it.
Quote from: Hoopaloop on March 12, 2012, 03:56:26 PM
We're a 3 seed guys, let's act like it.
I have no issue with not knowing opponents or even drawing what really is a 12seed in our first game due to the Mormon law.
I do have issue with playing what will be a true road game as a 3-seed in our second game. That shouldn't happen. In fact, it's supposed to be the exact opposite if at all.
I do understand why it happened though. It's a classic example of the committee giving a make-up call for giving the #10 team in the country a #6 seed... "we'll put them in Louisville, so that should make up for it." Unfortunately, this make-up call far outweighs what they probably felt was slight underseeding.
Funny part is I made this exact prediction to my buddy in January via text... "watch MU land a 3, Murray State will lose a game, still be ranked top 10, and we'll play them in Louisville as a 6." He laughed, and I said watch it happen.
I wish I was this prescient with a lot more meaningful things...
This being said, MU has won in tougher environments, but MU will not have played a game of this magnitude on the road. I have faith the guys will come to play in Louisville and TCOB.
Quote from: wardle2wade on March 12, 2012, 03:30:11 PM
this will be more of a roadie than Utah State in Boise
Not sure about that.
Quote from: 5YearsatMU on March 12, 2012, 04:25:57 PM
Not sure about that.
The Boise fans were mostly disinterested until the very end when it was anyone's game. The Kentucky and Louisville fans are both very passionate and knowledgeable college basketball fanbases. They'll be into it the whole game.
Worst cases based on Kenpom rankings
Marquette
BYU #50
Murray State #45
Georgetown
Belmont #23
North Carolina St #44
Florida State
St. Bonaventure #51
Cincinnati #31
Baylor
South Dakota St. #55
UNLV #33
Yes, it sucks having to play a team that only lost one game in the regular season. Yes, it also sucks having to play them so close to their home. However, I don't think that it is right to say that the selection committee did not "protect" us as a three seed. This is the NCAA tourney, you can't sneak your way to a final four.
Well, considering that the other 6 seeds are UNLV, Cincinnati and San Diego State, I'm not complaining about potentially facing Murray State, even if it is in their home state.
The way I see it the the records vs tourney teams for MU and for our potential first weekend opponents are as follows:
MU
9-6
Iona
2-2
BYU
1-6
CSU
6-5
Murray state
3-0
My conclusion is that Murray State hasn't been truly tested and has a gaudy record basically because they have played cupcakes all season. Their 3 wins against tourney teams are Southern Miss in OT, Memphis early in the season, and St Marys. I'm thinking that they are like the local tough guy in the following video (and there is a very good chance they get bounced by CSU):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=FfeK5xvZcDo
I think people are overestimating the Kentucky influence. I am not sure if they will cheer for Murray State or not. I suspect, though, they will not really be focused on the game with their game following. If it is close or Murray State is making a comeback, they will cheer and have an impact - but that would be the case for any mid-major facing a 3 seed in any venue.
Quote from: downtown85 on March 12, 2012, 05:09:04 PM
My conclusion is that Murray State hasn't been truly tested and has a gaudy record basically because they have played cupcakes all season. Their 3 wins against tourney teams are Southern Miss in OT, Memphis early in the season, and St Marys. I'm thinking that they are like the local tough guy in the following video (and there is a very good chance they get bounced by CSU):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&v=FfeK5xvZcDo
St. Marys was without one of their starters and the game at Murray State.
Quote from: Hoopaloop on March 12, 2012, 03:56:26 PMOn the subject line, there are advantages and disadvantages. Do not agree with Brew that it is a disadvantage only. We will prepare for Iona and BYU today and tomorrow. That's a disadvantage, but it is no as if we don't know who we are playing. We know we are playing one or the other. They will have a game under their belt. That's an advantage for them. They have to travel late Tuesday night and get to Louisville sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Advantage for us. We will be fresher and if we play like we should, we will take advantage of that and run them to death. By the 10 minute mark of the second half, we should have them on their last legs.
We're a 3 seed guys, let's act like it.
I don't mean it's only a disadvantage. I do see the advantage of them being tired having traveled and played just beforehand. However, like you say at the end, "we're a 3 seed". Except based on the seeding, playing a 12-seed in the first round and a road game in the second round (making Murray State the "protected" seed), that's not exactly how a 3-seed is supposed to be treated in the tournament. It's supposed to be a protected seed and we have pretty much the exact route you'd expect for a 5-seed.
I still think we should win these games, we are the best team in our pod, and I'm hoping for a Sweet 16 appearance, but to be told you're on the 3-line and then get the treatment befitting a 5-seed, I think that's a disadvantage.
I don't understand the purpose of the play-in game for the lowest (16) seeded at large teams. When the NCAA first instituted the play in game (at 65 teams), it was said this would give those teams a chance to win a NCAA game. Logically, it makes more sense to me to have the 4 lowest rated teams to have the pleasure of playing the highest rated #1's (UK and Cuse).
Quote from: wardle2wade on March 12, 2012, 04:40:56 PM
The Boise fans were mostly disinterested until the very end when it was anyone's game. The Kentucky and Louisville fans are both very passionate and knowledgeable college basketball fanbases. They'll be into it the whole game.
The entire top half was Utah state fans. We've all see how passionate they are. I sat second row behind The MU bench. The fans were definitely interested. It was loud the whole game.
Quote from: 5YearsatMU on March 12, 2012, 06:11:07 PM
The entire top half was Utah state fans. We've all see how passionate they are. I sat second row behind The MU bench. The fans were definitely interested. It was loud the whole game.
I was there too... Naturally the USU fans were interested, but the Boise locals in the corners and behind hoop barely cared until the end of the game. That will be different in Louisville.
Couple years ago, I was the only one on scoop saying it'd be a road game when we played UW in San Jose due to alum, Pac-10 country, etc... everyone went at lengths saying it wouldn't matter and it's neutral. When the game started, it was very obvious that there was lots of purple in the Shark Tank. I've been to a lot of MU roadgames, and the Shark Tank felt like we were playing UW at the Kohl Hole. It fueled the Huskies big run and got every 50/50 and ticky-tack call down the stretch. We were a 6-seed though, so couldn't complain too much.
I think MU can handle it all... just a shame as Brew pointed out, we're supposed to be "protected" from this situation.
Quote from: 5YearsatMU on March 12, 2012, 06:11:07 PM
The entire top half was Utah state fans. We've all see how passionate they are. I sat second row behind The MU bench. The fans were definitely interested. It was loud the whole game.
I sat on the court ;D
That was the most hostile crowd I've ever seen and I've been to many MU road games.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on March 12, 2012, 10:52:36 PM
I sat on the court ;D
That was the most hostile crowd I've ever seen and I've been to many MU road games.
Point taken... you win on experience alone, TT
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 12, 2012, 03:26:43 PM
When we played in Minneapolis, there were a lot of fans that cheered for both MU and UW (we played back-to-back). Some Badger fans even stayed the weekend to watch Marquette play UK and cheered for us over the Wildcats. March Madness can make for strange bedfellows.
EVERY Wisconsin fan/alumnus I've met has said they cheer for Marquette and many have said they prefer Marquette over WI for basketball (shocking, I know, considering how fast-paced and high-intensity WI basketball is).
I have met, to date, 2 MU fans/alumni that also cheer for WI.
Quote from: klyrish on March 13, 2012, 06:00:32 PM
EVERY Wisconsin fan/alumnus I've met has said they cheer for Marquette and many have said they prefer Marquette over WI for basketball (shocking, I know, considering how fast-paced and high-intensity WI basketball is).
I have met, to date, 2 MU fans/alumni that also cheer for WI.
Don't know your sample size for the first, but my experience is far different. Perhaps being in enemy territory is the reason. But to your 2nd, most MU alums are not from Wisconsin. I wouldn't expect that many to cheer for WI for that fact alone.