Lunardi’s Impact games in first month

[The Thing]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21235529/impact-games-college-basketball-first-month

MU vs VCU on Lunardi's list of big games. Two teams that may be fighting for their NCAA lives early.

[MomofMUltiples]

Seriously?  Lunardi thinks if we lose the VCU game we will have lost most hopes of making the tournament?  That's a little over the top, IMO.

[bilsu]

Seriously?  Lunardi thinks if we lose the VCU game we will have lost most hopes of making the tournament?  That's a little over the top, IMO.

First, he said a poor showing. That to me would be losing the first game and another.
Secondly, the game is huge. The winner gets a good win and gets two more games against strong opponents, which increases strength of schedule. So the game does have a huge effect on either team's chance of making the tournament.

[brewcity77]

First, he said a poor showing. That to me would be losing the first game and another.
Secondly, the game is huge. The winner gets a good win and gets two more games against strong opponents, which increases strength of schedule. So the game does have a huge effect on either team's chance of making the tournament.

+1

Improves SOS and gives two more opportunities (most likely) for good wins, whereas losing would put us against two teams that offer little value.

[MU82]

I would prefer a victory over VCU. It would be better than a loss.

I won't charge a penny for that hard-hitting analysis, either!

[skianth16]

Lunardi may be overstating the importance of a Thanksgiving tournament a little, but getting the chance to earn another quality win or two would definitely be a help to our RPI and SOS stats. It seems rare for these early season tournaments to be brought up when discussing bubble teams, but the impact to season-long metrics is hard to miss.

It might just be me, but I think often the reference to the early tournaments are more often negative than positive. If you win a tournament but have a mediocre conference season, that might give a worse impression than an early out in a tourney followed by strong conference play.

[MomofMUltiples]

I agree with everything everyone said here, but I still don't buy Lunardi's "hard to imagine" statement.  Yes, strength of schedule is important. But quality wins are available through our schedule right up until the tournament selection show, and I expect this team to improve as the season goes on.

That said, I would also like us to beat VCU.

[JakeBarnes]

I am of the opinion that Marquette would be best served outscoring their opponents. I think this will go a long way in helping the optics that Marquette is a tournament team.

[CTWarrior]

I am of the opinion that Marquette would be best served outscoring their opponents. I think this will go a long way in helping the optics that Marquette is a tournament team.

I'm going to agree with you here, and I'll go farther by saying that not only would Marquette be best served by outscoring their opponents for the season, but in an as many individual games as possible, too.

[Lennys Tap]

I'm going to agree with you here, and I'll go farther by saying that not only would Marquette be best served by outscoring their opponents for the season, but in an as many individual games as possible, too.

Will not outscoring our opponents hurt our seeding?

[barfolomew]

Lunardi may be overstating the importance of a Thanksgiving tournament a little

Between May and February, Lunardi's entire job consists of overstating the importance of things.
Pretty sweet gig.

[bilsu]

I agree with everything everyone said here, but I still don't buy Lunardi's "hard to imagine" statement.  Yes, strength of schedule is important. But quality wins are available through our schedule right up until the tournament selection show, and I expect this team to improve as the season goes on.

That said, I would also like us to beat VCU.

Not doing well in this tournament is an indication of how well we will do the rest of the season. All teams improve, but at different rates.

Finishing this tournament 3-0 is a pretty good indication that we are good enough to make NCAA tournament.
There are two ways to go 2-1 and one  and 2-1 in the winners bracket is better than 2-1 in the losers bracket.
1-2 is a bad indication and 0-3 is a disaster.

Going 3-0 or 2-1 in winners bracket may be good enough to get a 9-9 Big East finish in.

[BM1090]

9 days until the season. Man, I can't wait.

[JakeBarnes]

Will not outscoring our opponents hurt our seeding?

Unclear. It is my understanding that the context of the not outscoring an opponent is important. For example, not outscoring an opponent in a closed-door scrimmage will hurt seeding.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Everyone knows MU vs VCU is a big game. As for Lunardi to say "It's hard to imagine either playing their way back into the picture with a poor showing in Maui", is a bit over the top. MU has Georgia, Wisconsin, heck even Vermont will be a top 75 RPI and the strong Big East left to play. Oregon got killed at Baylor and did have a poor showing in Maui before December.  Didn't the Ducks make it to the Final Four. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Lunardi might be a little over the top but he also isn't super wrong.

The loser of MU/VCU will however play teams like Cal/LSU or even Chaminade where wins do little to nothing and losses can add further damage.

So yeah, the loser could be in big trouble if they went 1-2 or especially 0-3. Which is a poor showing.

[mug644]

Lunardi may be overstating the importance of a Thanksgiving tournament a little

Between May and February, Lunardi's entire job consists of overstating the importance of things.
Pretty sweet gig.

Well-stated, in simplicity and accuracy.

[brewcity77]

VCU is massive for many reasons, but Lunardi is only half right. Recently we saw Wisconsin overcome an abysmal non-con with a strong conference season. We could do the same because of the Big East.

The same can't really be said for VCU. The A-10 doesn't offer the clear road back. That game is really make or break for them. It's the most significant game on our schedule because of the SOS ramifications, but for VCU it's even bigger.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

VCU is massive for many reasons, but Lunardi is only half right. Recently we saw Wisconsin overcome an abysmal non-con with a strong conference season. We could do the same because of the Big East.

The same can't really be said for VCU. The A-10 doesn't offer the clear road back. That game is really make or break for them. It's the most significant game on our schedule because of the SOS ramifications, but for VCU it's even bigger.

Calling Wades to tell us Lindenwood is the biggest game on the schedule.

[Herman Cain]

The OOC tournaments are big for everyone in every major league. If your team does well it helps your rating and also by default helps your league when conference play happens and the wins and losses equal out for the most part. Yes I agree this a big tournament for us. We need to do well .  The factors in our favor are we have the shooters and we have 15 big man fouls to give.

[GooooMarquette]

Unclear. It is my understanding that the context of the not outscoring an opponent is important. For example, not outscoring an opponent in a closed-door scrimmage will hurt seeding.

The KSU scrimmage still haunts the program....

[naginiF]

Between May and February, Lunardi's entire job consists of overstating the importance of things.
Pretty sweet gig.

So Heisey but with a 2 month vacation?

[MU82]

So Heisey but with a 2 month vacation?

[rocky_warrior]

Unclear. It is my understanding that the context of the not outscoring an opponent is important. For example, not outscoring an opponent in a closed-door scrimmage will hurt seeding.

Outscoring an opponent no matta.

You need to pay attention to the effective outscoring an opponent percentage!  Fools.

[muwarrior97]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21238280/ranking-every-team-college-basketball-1-351

The article posted below the 12 Lunardi games shows ESPN rankings for 351 D1 basketball teams

Warriors 36
Wisconsin State 43
VCU 81