[Cracked Sidewalks] The (NCAA) Killing Field

[brewcity77]

In a week where 27 of the 46 teams on the top eleven seed lines lost, Marquette should consider themselves fortunate to have gotten two wins. We look at what all the past week's turmoil means for Marquette as well as just how close the resumes are between teams that are very safely in and those that are currently trending toward the NIT.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2020/01/the-ncaa-killing-field.html

[fjm]

This was a fantastic read. Thanks a bunch for throwing this together.

[Slim]

Brew, your in depth analysis is one of the strengths of this board and a central reason I return to read. Thank you.

[MU82]

First of all, brewski, that was outstanding research and presentation. Very easy to read and understand even for those who aren't stat geeks.

As for what's in there ... really quite amazing the upheaval in college hoops. This season, within conference play (in just about any conference), there are few, if any, "sure wins."

I have always been a guy who has happily taken any Marquette victory by any score, and who has tried not to get too down after any loss, but that's more true than ever this season.

Proclamations by some Scoopers that there's "zero" reason for MU to lose such-and-such game ... those folks need to realize how difficult it is for just about any team to win just about any game this season. They need to celebrate the good and avoid climbing on the ledge after the bad ... because the next game is just around the corner, and that'll probably be a nail-biter, too.

Well done, sir.

[StillWarriors]

First of all, brewski, that was outstanding research and presentation. Very easy to read and understand even for those who aren't stat geeks.

As for what's in there ... really quite amazing the upheaval in college hoops. This season, within conference play (in just about any conference), there are few, if any, "sure wins."

I have always been a guy who has happily taken any Marquette victory by any score, and who has tried not to get too down after any loss, but that's more true than ever this season.

Proclamations by some Scoopers that there's "zero" reason for MU to lose such-and-such game ... those folks need to realize how difficult it is for just about any team to win just about any game this season. They need to celebrate the good and avoid climbing on the ledge after the bad ... because the next game is just around the corner, and that'll probably be a nail-biter, too.

Well done, sir.

Not sure this kind of reasoned and accurate analysis is allowed here.

Well said.

[brewcity77]

Thanks guys. It really means a lot that people appreciate the effort. I enjoy creating the content but it's definitely better to share 

One more thing I noticed for anyone that thinks Marquette isn't tracking to make the Tournament. There are currently 79 brackets on bracket matrix.com. 78 of those have Marquette in the field and the only one that doesn't was updated before Marquette beat Xavier and Georgetown, both of whom were ahead of MU on his bracket. Also, of the 31 brackets that were updated over the weekend, all had MU as a single digit seed.

I'm not even that high on Marquette, there are at least 4 that have MU a full seed line higher than I do.

[tower912]

More than anything, Brew, is that it presents a big picture perspective of the season, showing how volatile the brackets are, and that MU has a solid resume. 

Just keep winning, though.

[Scoop Snoop]

Thanks Brew. As always, a professional job.

I will enjoy watching our team and hope that somehow we can navigate through this year's gauntlet. 

[JakeBarnes]

Thanks Brew. This was a great read and very well thought out. The volatility of this season is really evident. I feels like it is gonna be one of those weak bubbles where EVERYONE is in contention during the last week.

[MuMark]

Bracketville has MU as the last 6 seed.....https://bracketville.wordpress.com/s-curve/

[MU82]

Bracketville has MU as the last 6 seed.....https://bracketville.wordpress.com/s-curve/

So far, we have beaten 3 teams (Nova, USC, Georgetown) in this Bracketville composite and have lost to 4 (Seton Hall, Md, Creighton, Madison). Two others we've beaten (Purdue and X) are among the first 4 out -- because we beat them.

Weird to see teams like Virginia, Syracuse and Tennessee on the outside looking in, but it's still very early. Lots can change, and lots will change.

[IrwinFletcher]

So far, we have beaten 3 teams (Nova, USC, Georgetown) in this Bracketville composite and have lost to 4 (Seton Hall, Md, Creighton, Madison). Two others we've beaten (Purdue and X) are among the first 4 out -- because we beat them.

Weird to see teams like Virginia, Syracuse and Tennessee on the outside looking in, but it's still very early. Lots can change, and lots will change.

Bennett has gone from being the first coach to lose to a 16 seed in the tournament, to being a National Champion to possibly not making it the dance all in a span of 3 years.