Butler Thoughts

[ChicosBailBonds]

I thought all along it would be probably 3 and maybe 4 teams in. I argued with several people here who were predicting 5 or even 6 teams likely (6 will NEVER happen in this league).

Definitely not 6, I felt really good about 4 but right now that is looking pretty iffy...still lots of golf left for some programs.  St. John's might end up crashing a lot of dreams in this league down the stretch. 

[MerrittsMustache]

I thought all along it would be probably 3 and maybe 4 teams in. I argued with several people here who were predicting 5 or even 6 teams likely (6 will NEVER happen in this league).

Nova and Creighton will be in but there are currently 5 other teams (MU, PC, X, Gtown, StJ) with a chance. There will likely be 2 at most from that group, but it'll be interesting to see if any of them can get hot down the stretch and play their way in. Each of those teams still has Creighton and Nova on their schedules so opportunities for an RPI boost are there.

[mu-rara]

Yeah, I haven't read anything in any thread from the Otule-bashers. This guy has given his heart and soul to the program and he has obvious value within his defined role. He even has gotten a little better outside of his defined role (those little baby hooks and his drop-step move have improved markedly).

All in all, they complement each other nicely and I think Buzz's feel for when and how to use the two has been one of his strengths these last two years.

Most of the bashers this year only read a stat line.  Altering shots and taking up space so others get easy rebounds is important, but no stat line filler, so the bashers don't count it.

[Coleman]

I thought all along it would be probably 3 and maybe 4 teams in. I argued with several people here who were predicting 5 or even 6 teams likely (6 will NEVER happen in this league).

Definitely not this year but never say never, especially if the 6th is the auto qualifier with 5 at larges. Could definitely happen another year.

[rocky_warrior]

Marquette beat a team that they should beat, especially at home. Sure, it was an exciting game and MU played probably If they came out flat at SHU and lost by 15, I wouldn't be surprised and if they came out and blew the doors off of SHU, I wouldn't be surprised.

Whoa!  If MU blows the doors off anyone in this conference I'll be pleasantly surprised

[forgetful]

I thought all along it would be probably 3 and maybe 4 teams in. I argued with several people here who were predicting 5 or even 6 teams likely (6 will NEVER happen in this league).

Creighton and Nova are locks.  I think Xavier will end up in.  But for argument sakes lets say instead of having the horrible out of conference tournament (3 losses) they beat Iowa in OT and then followed it up with another win in holiday tournament.  Xavier in.

Assume that MU and Georgetown didn't have dissapointing years (for MU we win at ASU, against Bucky and SD St...all close game).  We'd be easily in....that's already 5 and wouldn't have been a strange year, actually just living up to expectations for each team.

Providence may be in they'll likely be a bubble team.  That would put a 6th team on the bubble. 

So if MU and Georgetown would have lived up to expectations, we would have had a legit chance at 6 this year.

Our conference is a lot stronger this year than people give us credit for.  Butler who is 2-8 in conference, took Ok. St to the wire (lost by 2) and lost in OT to LSU.  Both may very well be tournament teams.  They also beat WSU, Vandy, Notre Dame and Purdue out of conference, none great, but shows our bottom is about the equivalent of the middle in the PAC12, SEC, ACC and B10.