Who Has The Better Resume?

[doodyny33]

Nova is now a lock for the tourney. 18 wins, 3 top 17 ranked wins. We really needed them to lose.

Who cares what Nova does? If we take care of our business there's enough room on the dancing floor for both of us.

Seriously. when did this become an either or? We need to get to 19 or 20 wins and we're in regardless.

Today's game is why I didn't want to enter into this conversation. At this point, an NCAA bid would require a minor miracle. I was hoping for a reasonable facsimile of branch to show up, and instead we got about a dozen tentative minutes. Hopefully they win one or two more games between now and NIT bid time, and we regroup by then.

Basically, they'd have to win about 4 or 5 straight games to get in (Providence, Notre Dame, Marquette, and 2 wins in the conference tournament). And let's be honest ... they aren't going to pull that off. The team has too many bad losses and not enough signature wins. Combine that with the fact that they've lost by 15+ to Syracuse, Louisville, and Pitt and it is hard to see them being tournament worthy.

Our team is extremely athletic and very talented, but it's also flawed. We are a poor shooting team w/ only 2 or 3 legitimate threats who can even knock down a mid range jump shot. And our play down low is just tremendously inconsistent. Given another season, I believe Sampson and Obekpa will be a formidable front court, but I do fear we really lack the bulk to ever truly compete against the upper echelon teams in college BB (even w/ GG coming back).

 

[MJDinkins]

Nova is now a lock for the tourney. 18 wins, 3 top 17 ranked wins. We really needed them to lose.

Who cares what Nova does? If we take care of our business there's enough room on the dancing floor for both of us.

Seriously. when did this become an either or? We need to get to 19 or 20 wins and we're in regardless.

Today's game is why I didn't want to enter into this conversation. At this point, an NCAA bid would require a minor miracle. I was hoping for a reasonable facsimile of branch to show up, and instead we got about a dozen tentative minutes. Hopefully they win one or two more games between now and NIT bid time, and we regroup by then.

Basically, they'd have to win about 4 or 5 straight games to get in (Providence, Notre Dame, Marquette, and 2 wins in the conference tournament). And let's be honest ... they aren't going to pull that off. The team has too many bad losses and not enough signature wins. Combine that with the fact that they've lost by 15+ to Syracuse, Louisville, and Pitt and it is hard to see them being tournament worthy.

Our team is extremely athletic and very talented, but it's also flawed. We are a poor shooting team w/ only 2 or 3 legitimate threats who can even knock down a mid range jump shot. And our play down low is just tremendously inconsistent. Given another season, I believe Sampson and Obekpa will be a formidable front court, but I do fear we really lack the bulk to ever truly compete against the upper echelon teams in college BB (even w/ GG coming back).

I think they'd have to either go 11-7 in conference play or 10-8, along with 2 or 3 wins in the Big East Tournament, in order to get in. Frankly, I don't believe that'll happen either. I'll certainly wish and hope it happens, nonetheless.

To be honest, the committee doesn't care how many times you get your arsed kicked, as long as you have a few signature wins and a decent-to-good conference record. The 2001-2002 Johnnies were 9-7 in conference play, and were spanked several times. The key was they had about four or five signature wins that got them over the hump.

The current team is flawed (ie, lack of shooting and lack of hoops IQ). No doubt about it! I'm looking forward to seeing each player back a season from now, along with Gift, and possibly, Jordan (if we're lucky, then Sanchez as well). Maybe, next season they can make a substantial leap.

 

[redmen2014champs]

Nova is now a lock for the tourney. 18 wins, 3 top 17 ranked wins. We really needed them to lose.

You have some good points some of the time(Creighton for example) but they are normally overshadowed by your need to overstate things for shock value, attention or some unknown reason. I would agree that Nova appears to be a tournament worthy team at this point, however, they certainly are not a lock. They will be a slight fave against the Hall but they certainly can lose that game. If they lose then they will most likely lose their next two since they have a very small chance of winning at Pitt. Winning against Georgetown will also be very difficult obviously. I am not saying they will, but they certainly can lose their last 3 games and depending on their matchup lose their first game in the BET. They would not be a tourney team at that point. Additionally, we don't need them to lose because the committee does not limit the teams that make it from each conference. The only way we would need them to lose is if the last at large bid actually came down to a choice between Nova and SJU which is very unlikely.

Joe3, would you like to retract the Nova is a lock statement yet? I was actually right about 2 things yesterday, Nova was certainly no lock and JJ and Dale, Jr. would finish 1-2 in the Daytona 500, lol. I think Nova fans are aspiring to be a program like St. John's that doesn't choke away games to Seton Hall. We just let them give us a late scare. I hope you know I am just having a little fun with you, you need to know that not everyone has a problem with you.

 

[LINY89]

Ehh, honestly I was just reading through and just found out Nova lost. Does this hurt them? Yeah, but I think that Marquette win put them over the top. I honestly think they might still be a lock. What they did was ridiculous and reminds me of our 2011 season...they beat 2 top 5 teams in Cuse and L'Ville, and a top 15(?) squad in Marquette. Their bad losses can be explained more than ours can. We also have been blown out against the top Big East teams every time while Nova has beaten 3. I think Nova is still basically a lock unless they lose out which I highly doubt.

 

[brooklyndon1]

Ehh, honestly I was just reading through and just found out Nova lost. Does this hurt them? Yeah, but I think that Marquette win put them over the top. I honestly think they might still be a lock. What they did was ridiculous and reminds me of our 2011 season...they beat 2 top 5 teams in Cuse and L'Ville, and a top 15(?) squad in Marquette. Their bad losses can be explained more than ours can. We also have been blown out against the top Big East teams every time while Nova has beaten 3. I think Nova is still basically a lock unless they lose out which I highly doubt.

i agree even if they lose the last two they just beat better teams then us also they beat us .

 

[STJ11Redmen]

Ehh, honestly I was just reading through and just found out Nova lost. Does this hurt them? Yeah, but I think that Marquette win put them over the top. I honestly think they might still be a lock. What they did was ridiculous and reminds me of our 2011 season...they beat 2 top 5 teams in Cuse and L'Ville, and a top 15(?) squad in Marquette. Their bad losses can be explained more than ours can. We also have been blown out against the top Big East teams every time while Nova has beaten 3. I think Nova is still basically a lock unless they lose out which I highly doubt.

You can't say they beat two top 5 teams then project Marquette to be a top 15 win. If you say Nova beat 2 top 5's then you also have to give us credit for a Top 15 road win, which as we all know isn't the case. Cuse and Louisville are nowhere near being Top 5 teams right now. Still very good wins, but not insane wins.

 

[LINY89]

If I was a betting man I would put a ton of money saying Nova gets in. We have some good wins too don't get me wrong I'm proud we beat UConn, Cincy, and ND. But we have shown we lack the ability to even compete for a full game against the top 3 or 4 teams. Nova has that ability. Nova is going to win at least 1 of Pitt or G'Town. Mark my words. I know I'm not citing anything scholarly or evidence-based when I say this, but my gut just tells me Nova is extremely dangerous and even G'Town can fall to them. The game's at home for them too, so you know the atmosphere will be nuts. Nova only has 1 true really bad loss and that's to Columbia. Every other loss is either to a good team OOC i.e. LaSale, Temple or in the Big East i.e. Prov, SH.

 

[brooklyndon1]

If I was a betting man I would put a ton of money saying Nova gets in. We have some good wins too don't get me wrong I'm proud we beat UConn, Cincy, and ND. But we have shown we lack the ability to even compete for a full game against the top 3 or 4 teams. Nova has that ability. Nova is going to win at least 1 of Pitt or G'Town. Mark my words. I know I'm not citing anything scholarly or evidence-based when I say this, but my gut just tells me Nova is extremely dangerous and even G'Town can fall to them. The game's at home for them too, so you know the atmosphere will be nuts. Nova only has 1 true really bad loss and that's to Columbia. Every other loss is either to a good team OOC i.e. LaSale, Temple or in the Big East i.e. Prov, SH.

setonhall is a bad loss .

 

[STJ11Redmen]

If I was a betting man I would put a ton of money saying Nova gets in. We have some good wins too don't get me wrong I'm proud we beat UConn, Cincy, and ND. But we have shown we lack the ability to even compete for a full game against the top 3 or 4 teams. Nova has that ability. Nova is going to win at least 1 of Pitt or G'Town. Mark my words. I know I'm not citing anything scholarly or evidence-based when I say this, but my gut just tells me Nova is extremely dangerous and even G'Town can fall to them. The game's at home for them too, so you know the atmosphere will be nuts. Nova only has 1 true really bad loss and that's to Columbia. Every other loss is either to a good team OOC i.e. LaSale, Temple or in the Big East i.e. Prov, SH.

They haven't played a true Top 3-4 team. Cuse and Louisville have shown their warts since losing to Nova.

 

[LINY89]

But my point is, even watered down a bit, Cuse, L'Ville, Marquette (and UConn) are still MUCH better wins than Cincy, ND, UConn. I can't remember the last team to beat 3 of the top conference members and not get in. I could be wrong though...someone look it up.

 

[redmen2014champs]

If I was a betting man I would put a ton of money saying Nova gets in. We have some good wins too don't get me wrong I'm proud we beat UConn, Cincy, and ND. But we have shown we lack the ability to even compete for a full game against the top 3 or 4 teams. Nova has that ability. Nova is going to win at least 1 of Pitt or G'Town. Mark my words. I know I'm not citing anything scholarly or evidence-based when I say this, but my gut just tells me Nova is extremely dangerous and even G'Town can fall to them. The game's at home for them too, so you know the atmosphere will be nuts. Nova only has 1 true really bad loss and that's to Columbia. Every other loss is either to a good team OOC i.e. LaSale, Temple or in the Big East i.e. Prov, SH.

I am not betting against Nova getting in and at this point they do deserve it over SJU, I was just saying you should not overuse the word lock. My buddy at work today told me that Syracuse and Nova were locks tonight. I told him I was glad he said that since I already had money on Marquette and the Hall. I do not believe Nova has a realistic chance of winning at Pitt but I do agree that beating Gtown at home is possible and that would put them in. Even if they lose their last 3 they still have a chance if they win a game or two in the Big East. It is almost a "lock" that they would not get in if they lose their last 3 and their first round tourney game.

 

[austour]

If its not about Nova vs St Johns and just is Nova in or out, they're probably still in today but not if they lose to Pitt and GTown to finish the season 17-13. Just my opinion. No one can argue that Nova's top wins are not better than STJ but STJ's isn't a tourney team at this point so that point is moot.

 

[STJ11Redmen]

But my point is, even watered down a bit, Cuse, L'Ville, Marquette (and UConn) are still MUCH better wins than Cincy, ND, UConn. I can't remember the last team to beat 3 of the top conference members and not get in. I could be wrong though...someone look it up.

I'm not arguing their wins vs ours because like someone above me said Nova obviously has better wins at this point but they have a similar profile to us because they have a plethora of bad losses. If we take care of business the rest of the way we will have no problem making the tournament and if Nova slips up in their last two games they will have a tough time making the tourney. Nothing is settled yet. We could get another chance against Nova at the Garden and we will see how that turns out.

 

[LINY89]

Austour, they have 18 wins. The next one would be 19. They will also take 1 of those Pitt/G'Town games with my guess being G'Town.

 

[austour]

But my point is, even watered down a bit, Cuse, L'Ville, Marquette (and UConn) are still MUCH better wins than Cincy, ND, UConn. I can't remember the last team to beat 3 of the top conference members and not get in. I could be wrong though...someone look it up.

I'm not arguing their wins vs ours because like someone above me said Nova obviously has better wins at this point but they have a similar profile to us because they have a plethora of bad losses. If we take care of business the rest of the way we will have no problem making the tournament and if Nova slips up in their last two games they will have a tough time making the tourney. Nothing is settled yet. We could get another chance against Nova at the Garden and we will see how that turns out.

Columbia and the Hall do not a plethora make. Based on Top 100 RPI Alabama, Providence, Cincy, LaSalle and Temple are not BAD losses. In fact only Alabama and Providence are outside the top 51 RPI.

Joe, in the eyes of the selection committee they have 17 wins. Their first game against DC doesn't count for RPI or Tourney selection purposes since their not Div 1A. Was going by RPI stats when I made my post, but officially they do have 18 wins.

 

[SJUalum98]

Since when is it a no-brainer? They are neck and neck in the eyes of the Selection Committee with Nova having the head-to-head advantage.

Nova-
RPI 55
SOS 33

SJU
RPI 59
SOS 31

Remaining Nova schedule (opponent's RPI/SOS):
Marquette (14/17)
@Seton Hall (122/62)
@Pitt (40/45)
GTown (16/43)

Remaining SJU schedule (opponent's RPI/SOS):
Pitt (40/45)
@Prov (85/38)
@ND (44/79)
Marquette (14/17)

Out of all of those teams, only Marquette (an NCAA tourney lock) has played a tougher schedule than SJU. Not even Georgetown.

Nova has lost to Providence twice this season. Nova's remaining average opponents' RPI is 48. SJU's is 45. Nova's game @Seton Hall is the worst of the bunch win or lose.

Looking at the upcoming schedules, it is very possible for both Nova and us to lose out the rest of the way. So much for us vs. them, eh.