March is upon us. The term 'bubble' is in the air and relevant again. 'Under Consideration' is how the NCAA committee would phrase it. Quick review: 31 conference tournament champions receive automatic bids and the rest of the field is made up of the 34 best at large teams. How they arrive at those at large bids is always a source of much conjecture and debate. Let's preview some conference tournaments outside of the Top 6 and who teams on the mythical bubble should be pulling for to win those tourneys:
ATLANTIC 10: Xavier or Dayton. Xavier is being projected as a #5 seed currently in most brackets. Dayton has a big test today at home against Temple. If they lose today it will be three in a row and UD will be putting their NCAA chances at risk.
CONFERENCE USA: Memphis. The Tigers have dominated CUSA, something along the lines of 55 straight conference wins. If they were to lose in the CUSA tournament I would expect it would be either against UAB (no way Robert Vaden goes 0-17 against the Tigers twice) or Houston.
HORIZON: Butler. Butler polished up their resume by winning at Davidson on 'Bracketbusters' last weekend. They have stumbled of late in conference so teams facing them in the Horizon league tournament know their beatable. They play alot of underclassmen so anything is possible.
METRO ATLANTIC: Siena It is highly likely Siena needs to win their conference tournament after last night's loss at Niagra. Still their 'team card' shows they have a RPI in the high twenties and their non conference strength of schedule of 3 stands out. IF they can stay where they are at currently and make it to the MAAC championship game and lose I think they are in.
MISSOURI VALLEY: Creighton. The Blue Jays are gaining steam. They are another team that shares the 'bubble' with top 6 conference teams. However if they won their conference tournament there would be one less on the bubble to contend with.
MOUNTAIN WEST: Utah and BYU. Many bracketologists out there are saying the Mountain West could get as many as 4. I think that number decreases if either Utah or BYU win the MWC tournament. Since games against non D1 opponents do not count against RPI, the Utes embarrassing loss to start the season does not hurt them and they are in the top 10 currently.
WEST COAST: Gonzaga. The tournament darlings are sitting in good shape to get an at large bid if they do not win the WCC tournament. Santa Clara and St. Mary's are both capable of winning that one. It will be interesting to see how the committee handles St. Mary's. They lost their star all american candidate in Patty Mills halfway through conference season but should have him back for the conference tournament.
Also bubble teams should pay attention to the top 6 conference tournaments in addition to those listed above. The SEC has been wide open and remember Georgia came out of nowhere to win that one in 2008 stealing a bid. Any of those leagues could see a talented underperforming team come alive at just the right time.
I am ready and excited for March basketball. Intensity and stakes are raised which generates some great performances to witness. After today we will be two weeks away from Selection Sunday.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
St. Joseph's Recap
Xavier picked up a much needed road win 68-54. Derrick Brown led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds. BJ Raymond added 18 and CJ Anderson chipped in 10. Terrell Holloway was 0-6 from the field but the silver lining is he had four assists with NO turnovers.
Ahmad Nivins is the A10 POY and he led the way for the Hawks with 24. He kept Love and Frease in foul trouble all night. Tasheed Carr suffered a concussion earlier in the week during practice and was held out of tonight's game. The senior guard certainly would have helped and this is the Hawks' first five game losing streak since 1999.
Also of note: Temple lost to LaSalle tonight. I think their bubble is popped after that one. I still hope they beat UD this weekend. With an 11-3 conference mark we currently hold a one game lead over Rhode Island.
The Musketeers are off for a week before taking on Dayton next Thursday night at 9 PM. The school will be on spring break so the team should have plenty of time to work on improving things. It is senior night and we owe them a return beat down.
Ahmad Nivins is the A10 POY and he led the way for the Hawks with 24. He kept Love and Frease in foul trouble all night. Tasheed Carr suffered a concussion earlier in the week during practice and was held out of tonight's game. The senior guard certainly would have helped and this is the Hawks' first five game losing streak since 1999.
Also of note: Temple lost to LaSalle tonight. I think their bubble is popped after that one. I still hope they beat UD this weekend. With an 11-3 conference mark we currently hold a one game lead over Rhode Island.
The Musketeers are off for a week before taking on Dayton next Thursday night at 9 PM. The school will be on spring break so the team should have plenty of time to work on improving things. It is senior night and we owe them a return beat down.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday Musings
The polls came out early this afternoon and as expected X took a tumble in both. The ESPN poll has us at #22 and the AP at #19. Safe to say we need a win at St. Joes to stay in both next week. The Hawks have lost four straight so the pessimist in me says they are due for a win, the optimist says X closes out these last 3 league games and wins the A10 title.
Other things noticed:
- Brad Redford is leading the A10 in 3 Point Shooting Percentage at 48%. He is 45-94 on the season. BJ Raymond is shooting from deep at a 42% clip on 150 attempts. DBrown is a very good 43%. Holloway is at 38% on 34 attempts and Dante' checks in at 32% on 98 tries. Hopefully we get hot in March and stay on a roll from outside. I like our chances against anybody if we can hit 8 or more treys a game.
- ESPN has done their own mock bracket. They used a lot of 'what if' scenarios and X landed as 5 seed playing Western Kentucky. The trend the last couple of years by the selection committee has been to place teams from non power conferences against each other in the first round so that seems plausible. What doesn't fit in my mind though is having Notre Dame seeded as a 10 and Georgetown at 9 WITHOUT having the Bearcats in the tournament. They are listed as one of the first four out. It is important to note this is not Joe Lunardi's 'bracketology' as that comes out a little later this week and I don't think Joe will have both ND and G'Town in.
- Also of interest is Temple is listed as one of the first four out. They are 'bubbling' up based off strong recent play. Their RPI is in the thirties and if they can beat UD on the road next week they may squeeze themselves in.
I don't believe they have lost since X beat them at home.
- St. Louis is making a late season push and it wouldn't suprise me if they end up with a first round bye in the A10 tournament. Solid NIT team and Rick Majerus is starting to lay the foundation. Reportedly the brand new Chaifetz Arena was rocking during their upset of UD on Saturday night. I like their senior guards a lot and you never know they could peak in the A10 tournament and punch a ticket to the big dance.
- Speaking of our St. Joseph game it is being televised at the same time as the UC/West Virginia game on Thursday. I am going to have to DVR that one and you guys need to know I turned down a couple tickets from a vendor for the return of UC's all time winningest coach. IF it was any other day I would have been all over it. It's going to make for great television and probably the only time in my life I would root for Bob Huggins. Why? Because I like Mick Cronin even less. At least Bobby could back up his talk. And if you really know me that is a big statement.
- In the next week or so I will be throwing up teams outside of the top 6 conferences that the big boys on the bubble need to keep an eye on during conference tournmament time. In another week March will be here and soon ESPN will have all kinds of tournament action to view. I love all the intensity March basketball brings.
Other things noticed:
- Brad Redford is leading the A10 in 3 Point Shooting Percentage at 48%. He is 45-94 on the season. BJ Raymond is shooting from deep at a 42% clip on 150 attempts. DBrown is a very good 43%. Holloway is at 38% on 34 attempts and Dante' checks in at 32% on 98 tries. Hopefully we get hot in March and stay on a roll from outside. I like our chances against anybody if we can hit 8 or more treys a game.
- ESPN has done their own mock bracket. They used a lot of 'what if' scenarios and X landed as 5 seed playing Western Kentucky. The trend the last couple of years by the selection committee has been to place teams from non power conferences against each other in the first round so that seems plausible. What doesn't fit in my mind though is having Notre Dame seeded as a 10 and Georgetown at 9 WITHOUT having the Bearcats in the tournament. They are listed as one of the first four out. It is important to note this is not Joe Lunardi's 'bracketology' as that comes out a little later this week and I don't think Joe will have both ND and G'Town in.
- Also of interest is Temple is listed as one of the first four out. They are 'bubbling' up based off strong recent play. Their RPI is in the thirties and if they can beat UD on the road next week they may squeeze themselves in.
I don't believe they have lost since X beat them at home.
- St. Louis is making a late season push and it wouldn't suprise me if they end up with a first round bye in the A10 tournament. Solid NIT team and Rick Majerus is starting to lay the foundation. Reportedly the brand new Chaifetz Arena was rocking during their upset of UD on Saturday night. I like their senior guards a lot and you never know they could peak in the A10 tournament and punch a ticket to the big dance.
- Speaking of our St. Joseph game it is being televised at the same time as the UC/West Virginia game on Thursday. I am going to have to DVR that one and you guys need to know I turned down a couple tickets from a vendor for the return of UC's all time winningest coach. IF it was any other day I would have been all over it. It's going to make for great television and probably the only time in my life I would root for Bob Huggins. Why? Because I like Mick Cronin even less. At least Bobby could back up his talk. And if you really know me that is a big statement.
- In the next week or so I will be throwing up teams outside of the top 6 conferences that the big boys on the bubble need to keep an eye on during conference tournmament time. In another week March will be here and soon ESPN will have all kinds of tournament action to view. I love all the intensity March basketball brings.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Game Recap: G-Dub
X took care of business and rolled George Washington 71-53 Sunday afternoon. They were the perfect opponent for us to get back on track. CJ Anderson hit a three and scored all 14 of his team leading points in the second half. 5 XU players ended up in double figures showing that 'balance' that has been key to their success in the past. Next up is a struggling St. Joseph's team who dropped a close decision to UMASS at home today. 'Home' for the 'Hawks this year is the Palestra. We get them on Thursday night at 7 PM. Thankfully it is not in that on campus band box Alumni Fieldhouse. They are putting several million dollars in renovation work on the gym this season. It will result in a 'lipstick on a pig' type effect I would imagine. They could spend a million alone in the locker rooms in that place.
They jumped on the Colonials early and never looked back. The game was very 'ugly' in the second half with GW doubling everybody on the perimeter. The flow was never there in stanza #2. The Musketeers will punish poor perimeter defensive teams as was the case today. Karl Hobbs' honeymoon has been over for some time but I think they owe him another year to turn it around. The win today gives Xavier a half game lead for first in the A10.
Of bigger interest to me was the recruit in the house today. EVERYBODY gave plenty of attention to Kyryl Natyazhko. You couldn't miss him. He is in the 6-10, 6-11 range and is not your typical BWS. Rivals.com rate him as the #75 prospect in the class of 2009. The four star recruit has listed offers from Arizona State, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami (FL), Pittsburgh, and of course X. Hopefully the visit went well but the young man certainly has some attractive options for basketball. Obviously he would be a nice get for the team.
They jumped on the Colonials early and never looked back. The game was very 'ugly' in the second half with GW doubling everybody on the perimeter. The flow was never there in stanza #2. The Musketeers will punish poor perimeter defensive teams as was the case today. Karl Hobbs' honeymoon has been over for some time but I think they owe him another year to turn it around. The win today gives Xavier a half game lead for first in the A10.
Of bigger interest to me was the recruit in the house today. EVERYBODY gave plenty of attention to Kyryl Natyazhko. You couldn't miss him. He is in the 6-10, 6-11 range and is not your typical BWS. Rivals.com rate him as the #75 prospect in the class of 2009. The four star recruit has listed offers from Arizona State, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami (FL), Pittsburgh, and of course X. Hopefully the visit went well but the young man certainly has some attractive options for basketball. Obviously he would be a nice get for the team.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
I hate the Cardinals
Well, one more time the Bearcats prove they cant the really good teams. Opportunities to prove themselves are running out and the selection committee doesn't care if you have 10 "good losses". It looks like the Huggins homecoming is now a must win. Oh I hate the damn Cardinals. Any city with 5 ways to pronounce its name deserves to be renamed Doucheville.
p.s. I know I haven't been posting much. I apologize for that and thank Deck for carrying the load. We(my wife and I) are getting a better handle on the new family situation and more frequent updates are on the way. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Unless you are a Louisville fan. If thats the case you suck(yes I am just pissed and very petty).
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