montyaloofah
Active member
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130108/bracket-watch/?sct=uk_t11_a5
Are we really this close?
Are we really this close?
Bracketology
- Thread starter montyaloofah
- Start date
St. John's (9-5, 1-1; RPI: 68, SOS: 48)
The Red Storm actually have beaten a few semi-decent teams, but also have a questionable loss or two to offset them. Someone is going to emerge from this "middle class" in the league, and the Johnnies may be the best bet to be that club. A three-game homestand against Rutgers, Georgetown and Notre Dame is on tap, which could help define which way this is going to go.
GW: at Cincinnati
BL: UNC Asheville, at San Francisco
The Red Storm actually have beaten a few semi-decent teams, but also have a questionable loss or two to offset them. Someone is going to emerge from this "middle class" in the league, and the Johnnies may be the best bet to be that club. A three-game homestand against Rutgers, Georgetown and Notre Dame is on tap, which could help define which way this is going to go.
GW: at Cincinnati
BL: UNC Asheville, at San Francisco
The Gumbinator
Member
I hope they're right. Very encouraging to see.
I think that anlaysis is spot on, including what they said about the next several games.
The last 4 in our the perceived weakest 4 teams to make the tourney. The first (or last) 4 out are the four teams closest to getting in to the field but at the moment are on the outside looking in.
boo haarvey
Active member
I'm sorry, but this is utter nonsense. Nothing is impossible, but as of today, this team is nowhere near being a tournament team. The Big East is a little bit down this year. I think we would need to go 11-7 in conference to have a prayer. Based on the way we have played so far, I don't think that's realistic. I sure hope I'm wrong.
I don't think it's realistic either, but no way 11-7 conference record is needed to make it. If we can knock off G'Town and ND plus maybe 1 more good conference win and finish with a .500 record in conference, I think we have a shot. That would give us a resume of beating ranked teams: #14 Cincy, #19 G'Town, #21 ND plus Charleston and Detroit are top tier mid majors. As long as we get at least a .500 conference record and a few more ranked wins, there is a chance for sure. If we don't take care of the Rutgers, Seton Hall, DePaul, Providence type teams, it will get ugly.
A great win is a great win at the time. You don't look back at teams and see where they finished. It's all about if that team was ranked at that moment. For example, last year we nearly beat Arizona who was like #15 at the time I believe. They ended up non-ranked but it still would have been a major boost for us if we had been a bubble team. #14 is #14 no matter how you slice it. Once it's on your resume, it's on your resume...it doesn't change. I would bet money we just make the tourney if we somehow go on to win our next 3 games and maintain at least a .500 record in conference. 3 ranked wins and a .500 conference record in the best basketball conference in America (right now) will get us in.
Funny thing is Florida Gulf Coast has a better RPI than Detroit and Charleston right now (they're all top 100, barely). To get in at .500 conference there would either need to be 2+ wins in the BET or a big time win or two in conference play which at this point is only Syracuse or Louisville anywhere or UND on the road. UConn at home might help as well. Marquette at home might do the trick as well to end the season depending on how they go the next 15 games.
Jeez that seems like a lot to ask just to barely get in the tourney. You don't have to be great to get in the tournament, you just have to be decent with some signature wins under your belt and a solid to great conference record (better conferences have more forgiveness with that). Remember, UConn in its last championship season didn't even go .500 in conference play. I believe they were 2 games under .500! .500 in our conference is a very respectable feat in itself. Making a ton of noise in the tourney would be great and all but guarantee our spot, but I don't think it's totally necessary if we can take out ND, G'Town, and one of Marquette or Pitt.
That UConn team did go 9-9 in conference and had OOC wins against #2 Michigan St, #9 Kentucky, and #12 Texas. Besides, they won the BET so they got an automatic bid.
That said a record like you describe wouldn't be dissimilar to WVU last year and they got in with a 19-12, 9-9 record and a first round BET exit. And also last year UConn got in with a losing conference record and only one big OOC win but as you always tell me, they're UConn, they are great by reputation alone. I don't see 9 BE teams in the tourney this year but who knows. The conference RPI is still #2 in the country despite what looks like a slightly down year.
Same here Boo, I`m not buying into the hype BS, let them go on the court and prove that they are a tournament team. Tonight I want to see if we get a nice 12pnts lead in the 2nd half, if we close them out (like a true tournament does would), or ease up and let RU back in the game like Asheville. Now that would be a step toward being a legit tournament team.
Pre-Lavin years we lost numerous Ashville type games - early in the year. Heck even late in the year.
Now we have Coach Lavin, an improved staff and better players.
Some teams and players improve as the year progresses - and surely we have the type of talent that can improve.
I would give as past examples (of improvement) Mark Jackson, Willie Glass, Jayson Williams - each started with less playing time and less apparent talent. A few of these considered transferring.
Why cannot Sampson or???...blossom as February arrives?
I'll remain optimistic.
all the best
Or how about beating both Georgetown and ND, now wouldn`t that make a statement? Every program had a turning point when they are just an avg team then all of a sudden become a good solid team. I`m hoping (not expecting it) that they can carry that cincy into these 3 games and win all 3, 4-1 for this team would be really impreissive.
So in March we`ll look back at this 3 game home stand say either this 3 game home stand was the turning point in the season or it was just 3 games on the schedule and we`re still avg.
We all know they have the talent now can they come as one and be a team, time will tell. One game at a time.
GO REDMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1