Softest bubble in a decade?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I spoke to Jerry Palm today of CollegeRPI.   I asked him if he thought this was the softest bubble in a decade with the ACC and Pac Ten so down, the Big Ten not up to pre-season expectations, etc.

His response..."I'd agree.  I put nine teams in Monday's bracket that aren't really tournament quality.  That's a pretty high number for this late in the season"

He went on to say that certain pockets are down but there are conferences like the Big 12 that are having fine seasons.


We picked a very good year to have a "rebuilding" year.  Timing is everything.   

[NYWarrior]

We picked a very good year to have a "rebuilding" year.  Timing is everything.   

Reloading Chicos, reloading.

[Ready2Fly]

Nice name dropping. Ur sooper kewl dewd!

I take it this is your pre-emptive strike for backhanded compliments towards Buzz?

I can see it now:
"Buzz has never missed the tournament with MU, but according to my important friend we were lucky to catch a down year."

Get a life.

[NersEllenson]

The moral of this post being perhaps:  Buzz hasn't really done an exceptional or Tom Crean caliber of coaching job with this squad this year, as NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball, including the Big East is the weakest its been in the last 10 years?  In other words, our results this year are more a matter of good fortune and "picking a good year to have a rebuilding year."

[NersEllenson]

Nice name dropping. Ur sooper kewl dewd!

I take it this is your pre-emptive strike for backhanded compliments towards Buzz?

I can see it now:
"Buzz has never missed the tournament with MU, but according to my important friend we were lucky to catch a down year."

Get a life.

Funny you saw this post exactly the same way I did....coincidence?  Probably not.

[tower912]

Another knife in the back.   Thanks. 

[esotericmindguy]

There has been 1 in the rebuilt Big East to miss the tourney with a winning record.  With a 10-8 finish likely I'd have a hard time believing MU would be left out of tourney regardless of the Pac 10.  They've won 6 of their last 7 and a 10-8 record would mean winning 8 of their last 11....no way they wouldn't make it.

[wyoMUfan]

I spoke to Jerry Palm today of CollegeRPI.   I asked him if he thought this was the softest bubble in a decade with the ACC and Pac Ten so down, the Big Ten not up to pre-season expectations, etc.

His response..."I'd agree.  I put nine teams in Monday's bracket that aren't really tournament quality.  That's a pretty high number for this late in the season"

He went on to say that certain pockets are down but there are conferences like the Big 12 that are having fine seasons.


We picked a very good year to have a "rebuilding" year.  Timing is everything.   

agreed, how did you talk w/ that guy cool doode convention in cali?
I didn't see this as having any underhanded motives, just observation; you guys try and egg it on.

[DavantesInferno]

I didn't see this as having any underhanded motives, just observation; you guys try and egg it on.

+1

[PGsHeroes32]

I dont care how soft the bubble is. As long as we get in.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Who cares if it's a "soft bubble?"

[wyoMUfan]

I can't wait till you can google "soft bubble" and this thread is on the list...

[Marquette84]

The moral of this post being perhaps:  Buzz hasn't really done an exceptional or Tom Crean caliber of coaching job with this squad this year, as NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball, including the Big East is the weakest its been in the last 10 years?  In other words, our results this year are more a matter of good fortune and "picking a good year to have a rebuilding year."

If Palm is correct, the "moral" you cite above is pretty much spot on correct, even if you don't like its implications.

[NersEllenson]

If Palm is correct, the "moral" you cite above is pretty much spot on correct, even if you don't like its implications.

Well, I'd love to know the empirical data Palm cites to make this assertion.  It seems purely subjective and conjecture at best. What is true in college basketball is there is more parity than ever before, and due to early entry candidates, some mid-majors who assemble modest talent that stays 4-years in college basketball, has a chance to compete on a higher level against the more marquee traditional basketball powers who have 1,2 or 3 and done players.  I am quite confident that as technology and training evolves athletes are only getting bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled - to where the teams of 2010 are stronger, and better than those of 2005.  Go back and watch old NCAA or NBA games on ESPN Classic - the players seem to be in slow motion, and the defense almost non-existent.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I dont care how soft the bubble is. As long as we get in.

I agree completely.  That's why our timing is fortunate.  In 10 years, no one will know it was such a bad year for college hoops.  My question to Palm was more of a historical question as he and I have followed the tournament for many years and exchanged many communications in the past.

I couldn't recall a softer bubble than this year and wanted to bounce that off him to see if he agreed.

[Pakuni]

Chico's .... what's with the ongoing effort to diminish this team's success?
This is the third (at least) thread in which youve cited this so-called "soft bubble" and/or said it's a lucky year for MU and/or said it's a good year to be a "slightly above average team" (a laughable contention in and of itself). You seem pretty eager to get that point across.

I think we get that you're far from inclined to credit the coaching staff  - after all, you've put Buzz on the five-year plan - but I'm confused as to why you're so eager to not give credit to at least the players who are proving themselves to be a great group of overachievers. (Of course, it seems you believe they're not overachievers ... it's just everyone else is bad).

[jmayer1]

Too bad '04 and '05 weren't soft bubble years!!!!

I was talking to my buddy John Wooden and he said that maybe if we would have had 3 NBA players on those teams we could have made the tournement.

[Lennys Tap]

Word on the street is that Jerry Palm's sister Rosie is an even better friend of Chico.

[Marquette84]

  Well, I'd love to know the empirical data Palm cites to make this assertion.  It seems purely subjective and conjecture at best. What is true in college basketball is there is more parity than ever before, and due to early entry candidates, some mid-majors who assemble modest talent that stays 4-years in college basketball, has a chance to compete on a higher level against the more marquee traditional basketball powers who have 1,2 or 3 and done players.  I am quite confident that as technology and training evolves athletes are only getting bigger, stronger, faster and more skilled - to where the teams of 2010 are stronger, and better than those of 2005.  Go back and watch old NCAA or NBA games on ESPN Classic - the players seem to be in slow motion, and the defense almost non-existent.

Emprical data?  You're kidding, right?  Palm is the publisher of collegerpi.com. 

Where's your empirical data that proves that athletes are bigger, stronger, faster and more gifted than those of 2005?

[MUBurrow]

more Chicos hate when there are other times I'm sure it would be far more warranted.

Ill take the soft bubble, but there's no doubt it is a soft. Fortuitously this year, this team is somewhere between the 60-70 best team in America when that normally would not be the case.  

Main point: Everyone is jumping all over this saying "OH YOU'LL JUST SAY BUZZ GOT LUCKY ARGHHG!"  Has anyone stopped to think maybe this is important to acknowledge for next year when we don't take the step forward everyone thinks we will?  There's a very good chance that with an upswing in the way the teams break down, we will be on the bubble again when its stronger.  Then all of the Buzz viagra takers will LOVE talking about how strong/weak the bubble is...

[MUBasketball]

In my opinion, you bring this up to minimize the fact that this MU team is potentially on the verge of a 5th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a crazy thought going into the season.

I can't remember exactly what you said, but before the season you said something along the lines that if Buzz were to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament this season after what they lost, you'd be completely behind him (talk about a crazy thought).

Now, this team has so far exceeded anybody's wildest expectations...yet you keep stressing this "soft bubble" and keep saying you will judge him in 3 or 4 years.

What gives?

[dw3dw3dw3]

There is no such thing as a soft bubble... There is always a winner. Some traditional schools might not be as good this year, but somebody beat them and thus they are better.... Its pretty simple.  Its the same every year, The best 30 some best at large teams out of some 300 teams go to the dance.  If anything there is more parity, making it harder to determine what teams are the 30 best. Saying the sum of all teams is worse from year to the next year is false and I'd like you to provide a stat to prove otherwise. I can guarantee the winning percentage for all teams for all games played every year is .500.

[MarquetteNation]

Regardless of being on the bubble, this team has consistently beat much more talented rosters.  That's a credit to Buzz, his staff, and ofcourse, the players who have bought into his system.

[Ready2Fly]

LennysTap wins.

[MUBurrow]

There is no such thing as a soft bubble... There is always a winner. Some traditional schools might not be as good this year, but somebody beat them and thus they are better.... Its pretty simple.  Its the same every year, The best 30 some best at large teams out of some 300 teams go to the dance.  If anything there is more parity, making it harder to determine what teams are the 30 best. Saying the sum of all teams is worse from year to the next year is false and I'd like you to provide a stat to prove otherwise. I can guarantee the winning percentage for all teams for all games played every year is .500.

The debate was never whether one team must win or lose any game.  But you cannot be serious that because the same number of teams get in every year, they are all of the same quality.  You honestly think that watching the 4th or 5th A-10 team that will get in this year is qualitatively equal with last years Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Arizona (last big conference at large in tournament) or Maryland?  That is just not true.