Is Drake a Bubble Team???

[ianuni57]

I am just throwing this out there. I was listening to a local sports radio station in Omaha today and Jay Bilas was on. He thinks Drake is a tournament team, but he had an interesting point. Syracuse was denied the tournament last year to make a point that they didnt play anyone outside of the Big East. He said why shouldnt Drake be penalized for not playing anyone outside of the MVC. I just thought I would see what some reactions are.

[clenz]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

If they don't win the tourney they still get in. But I think with the recent losses and coupled with a loss in the tourney they will be penalized for the perceived downess of The Valley this year. I think they'd still get in, but at a low seed

[ianuni57]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

They realistically should win 2 of their final 3 regular season games. If they lose to Butler and then at MO State for example, followed by an early exit in St. Louis, it may be a long wait to Selection Sunday.

[MarshallTucker]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Looking at numbers alone Syracuse lost 6 times in conference and 3 times out of conference. Had they only lost 1 out of conference and 2 in conference (like Drake at this point) they would have been in, shoot being from the Big East they would've been a #1 seed.

Considering teams, neither Drake this year or Syracuse last year beat anyone of note out of conference. Drake lost to St. Mary's and Syracuse lost to Wichita...both considered pretty acceptable losses. Syracuse then also lost to Drexel and Okie State.

As much as I don't like to stand up for 'em, Drake is not a bubble team.

Syracuse last year didn't deserve to be in.

And Jim Boeheim is a crybaby. Oh, and the color orange makes one look more like a flower girl than an athlete.

[joecooll6]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Syracuse was 22-10, Drake is 23-3.

[UNIPNTHR]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Syracuse was 22-10, Drake is 23-3.

Syracuse RPI at season end: 50

Drake's currently: 15

[ceaser150]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Bilas continues to try to make this Syracuse-Drake comparison and it simply does not hold water. Syracuse wasn't punished for not playing anyone OOC, they were punished for not playing anyone AND not playing a single road game OOC. Drake will have played St Mary's, ISU, Iowa, and Butler all on the road, winning at least 2 of those.

[FMPanther]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Jay Bilas HATES the MVC. Don't pay any attention to him.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Drake played Iowa State at the Knapp.

Barring an absolute blowout to Butler, or losing another conference game and then in the first round of the tourney, they should be in.

Their seed may have taken a hit, but if Bradley finishes on a strong run, they could "bubble" up if the committee actually does factor in key injuries to how they select teams.

[unigriff]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

does everyone really tihnk they can win their first round game? all i hear around campus is that they are going to destroy whoever they play by 20.

[BCPanther]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

I used to respect Jay Bilas before he became a big time BCS hack after ESPN made him one of their top 'analysts'...

Drake is an absolute lock...

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

does everyone really tihnk they can win their first round game? all i hear around campus is that they are going to destroy whoever they play by 20.

Wow! Campus must have really changed since I left if the major topic of conversation is Drake basketball and their tournament chances.

Lets be honest Griffster, you tend to exaggerate a bit by overgeneralizing and/or using blanket statements. We sit a section apart in Des Moines and I see mimimal, if any, obnoxious behavior from Drake fans, and yet you apparently see so much that you write an article telling us how bad their fans are. You have comments on Saturday about the terrible Drake fans in the Mac and I sit in front of 10 of boisterous Drake students and still think, "Hey, lots of passionate fans in attendance that have the right to be excited and celebrate a conference championship." But I digress...

Of course Drake can win their first round game. Just like we could have won any of our first rounders for three years straight. They can also lose their first round game regardless of where they are seeded. The tournament's a quirky animal where anything can happen.

As to whether they are a "Bubble" team -- unless they lose 5 in a row to close the season -- which seems highly unlikey -- I think they are safe.

[GonzoCat]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Anything higher than a 13 seed and Drake will win their first round game.

[jman2004]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

I said earlier that Drake could VERY easily lose 3 out of their next 4. Well, the first one was lost last night, close game or not. If they continue this path, losing out AND showing up poorly in St. Louis, people are going to wonder if their run was a "fluke", whether that's fair or not, I'm not saying.

If that happens and Illinois State wins the tourney, I'm afraid we're still a one bid league. If Drake rights the ship and ends the season on a high note, they'll probably be a lock. But their RPI has dropped from 8 to 15 and if they lose to Butler AND Missouri State, which could easily happen, what will it fall to? And where will they be seeded then?

IF they lose 2 of their next 3 AND loses early in St. Louis, I think we'll all be surprised by how much of a bubble team they truly are.

[MeOW!]

Re: Is Drake a Bubble Team???

Drake automatically qualifies for the NIT Tournament for winning the MVC regular season crown. The Dogs are going to playing this post season.