BracketBusters

[Newshound]

It's still another two weeks before the BracketBuster pairings are announced. As of now, UNI is on the bubble for getting one of the 13 televised games (6 ESPN2, 5 ESPNU, 2 ESPN360). There are a lot better road teams than home this season.

Through Sunday (1/18) games, here's a breakdown of RPI for home and away teams. If pairings were announced today, UNI could find itself playing at either Wright State or Portland State. Five, maybe six, Valley teams should be in the TV package.

Home
29. Siena
32. Davidson
51. St. Mary's
57. Evansville
77. Fairfield
78. Creighton
91. Niagara
94. Drexel
104. UW-Milwaukee
105. Drake
106. Long Beach State
109. Nevada
130. Wright State
131. Portland State

Away
9. Butler
36. Miami, Ohio
45. Utah State
48. George Mason
50. Illinois State
55. Boise State
62. VCU
71. UW-Green Bay
72. Cleveland State
75. Bradley
79. Northeastern
82. Buffalo
89. Northern Iowa
96. Ohio
107. Austin Peay

[UNI4Life]

Re: BracketBusters

I would put money on a Butler/Davidson matchup already signed, sealed and delivered.

[Panther789]

Re: BracketBusters

It's a shame that RPI plays such a large roll in this. We hurt ourselves earlier in the season, but we are playing much better right now than our RPI indicates.

[jman2004]

Re: BracketBusters

How does Evansville have an RPI of #57? Huh?

[Newshound]

Re: BracketBusters

Evansville's RPI is so good because it played at North Carolina and Butler in the non-conference -- two teams in the top 10 of the RPI. Four of its five losses are to UNC, Butler, Illinois State and UNI -- teams all in the top 90 of RPI. And four of its five losses are on the road. Plain and simple, the Aces don't have any real bad losses.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: BracketBusters

How does Evansville have an RPI of #57? Huh?

North Carolina

Butler

they also beat Western Kentucky, who beat Louisville

[Khan4Cats]

Re: BracketBusters

As for BracketBuster, all this team has to concern itself with is to continue playing well in conference. IF we are still in first place when selections are being made: 1) our RPI will likely be a bit higher and 2) as one of the flagship leagues involved in BB, we may get a preferential match-up that jumps us over other teams with slightly higher RPI's.

As was noted, the road teams are generally better RPI's than the home teams this year; we should end up with a winnable game but probably not against a team that will markedly help our RPI.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

Would be great to get Davidson or St Marys. Maybe Sienna I guess???

[ceaser150]

Re: BracketBusters

If we can stay in first place we should get one of the top3 teams. I would agree that Davidson-Butler will be one of the matchups. It would be nice to get St Mary's. I have a hard time figuring out how Siena has such a high RPI. They lost to Wichita St on a neutral court. They ave played some good teams but lost to all of them. Pomeroy has them rated 69 which seems more accurate.

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: BracketBusters

North Carolina

Butler

they also beat Western Kentucky, who beat Louisville

Who beat #1 Pitt

[Trapped in California]

Re: BracketBusters

Would be great to get Davidson or St Marys. Maybe Sienna I guess???

I would love St Mary's - I could walk to the game. I could experience the clap-a-thon first hand.

Quit teasing me...

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

I would love St Mary's - I could walk to the game. I could experience the clap-a-thon first hand.

Quit teasing me...

You'd be one of the few UNI fans there.

[achrist70]

Re: BracketBusters

St. Mary or Davidson. I would like to see our defense's ability vs. Curry.

[Newshound]

Re: BracketBusters

Still three more important games to go, but Fairfield suddenly is looking like a possibility. For all you Iowa high school basketball junkies, Fairfield is where former Marshalltown standout Michael Bell went to school. Bell played high school ball around the time of Jeff Horner, Ben Jacobson and Greg Brunner.

The thing is, Elgin will pull his weight and get UNI a top three or four game in this if the Panthers have sole possession of the Valley lead. The RPI won't mean as much. His argument? "Hey, I've got a team that's won 10 in a row or 9 out of 10 and in first place of the top league in this. They deserve a top matchup." I think the committee will oblige.
For that to happen, though, UNI needs to win at least two of its next three.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

if we win our next 3 and get davidson or st mary's.....an at large could still be a possiblity this season