BracketBusters

[Big Cats]

Re: BracketBusters

Hey guys ... another Siena fan here to talk about the upcoming matchup.

first... let me add to those that have expressed respect for your program. This should certainly provide another stern test for the Saints.

second... in response to some one of the posts above...

a) if you guys lose multiple games between now and the end of the season i would be EXTREMELY surprised to see you get even remotely considered for an at large. no offense intended it would just seem extremely unlikely

b) if you were to lose any games between now and the Bracketbuster matchup with Siena it would really make me even more unhappy with this matchup. Siena and the MAAC take a pretty good beating from selection committees/press/ranking bodies on a regular basis. Siena put themselves in position to garner a marquee matchup... ie Butler/Utah State etc... something that would give them clout come tournament time. Again.. no offense to Northern Iowa but this game does nothing for Siena besides another top 100 game. We've already got 11 of those with 7 of those victories. Whats a 12th/8th going to matter come NCAA time.

There is no doubt in my mind that this was a game to benefit the MVC and Northern Iowa (the current conference leader).

a few things about how the perception will go down and perhaps a better understanding for you folks as to why some of us are pretty pissed:

- Siena wins... as stated above... whats another top 100 win and of course for UNI it will be pimped as UNI went on the road late in the season and played a top 40 program tough. The committee will still look at the early season tournament along with the games @Kansas and @Pitt and say that Siena didnt get it done.

- Siena loses. UNI will have its first and only top 50 win on the season and get an at large consideration. Siena will be billed as overrated and underperforming.

the game really does little to nothing for the Saints... perhaps next years return game offers something this one doesnt.

You guys have a great team and it is a "good" win from a basketball standpoint should Siena win... but as it appears to the powers that be... this game could do everything for UNI and will do nothing for Siena this season.

The only way this game works for the Saints is if UNI loses to the Saints and then wins out and creeps into the top 50.

Its definitely a game i wouldnt mind as a regular season home and home prior to conference play. So I see a lot more in it for Siena next year than this...with the exception of the horrid travel for both teams.

This is one of the more intellegent posts regarding this game that I have seen from either team's fans.

[Panther789]

Re: BracketBusters

This is one of the more intellegent posts regarding this game that I have seen from either team's fans.

I agree with most of it also.

However, I disagree that this is a "can't lose" for UNI. We lose this game, and our slim at large chances take a huge hit.

[Trapped in California]

Re: BracketBusters

Read their board, and you will just feel the love radiating from them.


FWIW, they seem better today than they did last night with this match up.

Clenz - I get the impression you would be dogging Billy Graham as a hater if he had an ISU, Iowa or Siena sweatshirt on...

[MTS]

Re: BracketBusters

Hey guys, Siena fan here. I know we didn't get off to the best start since the Bracketbuster match-up was announced. We were hoping to get a Top 15 team in Butler or possibly a Top 25 team in Utah State or a final four team from a few years back in George Mason. But how can you argue with the leader from the best mid-major conference in the country?? This should be a really great game. I wish the Panthers the best of luck and hopefully both teams can come in on fire when the game takes place on Saturday, February 21st.

I've heard a rumor that we're looking at an 11am start (eastern time) on ESPN2. Is there any truth to that? I know the times/networks won't be announced for another week. I would be SHOCKED if this game wasn't on ESPN2.

Thanks for reading,

MTS

[jman2004]

Re: BracketBusters

SaintsFan -

A pretty good, knowledgeable post, but again, littered with "poor Saints" whining. I cannot for the life of me understand . . . what exactly some of you Siena fans were expecting?

You have had more opportunities at a top 50 win than UNI has (or St. Mary's or Davidson for that matter). You have failed each time. 11-0 is an impressive conference start, but let me remind you that you play in the MAAC. It's ranked 12th in conference RPI for a reason. Why exactly was ESPN supposed to reward you with one more opportunity for a victory over a top 50 school? Why do you feel that you were owed that any more than St. Mary's or Davidson, who are 0-1 and 1-2 respectively vs. top 50 RPI schools?

You have lost every single one of your tough, top 50 games this season. Why exactly do you feel like you should be rewarded with Butler or Utah State as opponents? Butler and Utah State have both WON some of those top 50 caliber games, Butler beating Xavier, Utah State beating Utah. You have failed 4 times! For that matter, why would Utah State want to travel out east and face an opponent, similar to one (St. Mary's) they can face regionally?

And about this quote:

Siena loses. UNI will have its first and only top 50 win on the season and get an at large consideration. Siena will be billed as overrated and underperforming.

Why shouldn't you be looked at as overrated if that happens? If you can't protect your home court against us, what makes you think you could've protected it against a top 50 RPI team? If you lose to us, you will definitely be billed as overrated, and probably for good reason. You will not have garnered one significant win this season, besides St. Joe's and Niagra, failing in every other decent opportunity you have had. You will have no one to blame except yourselves.

I'm not trying to rag on your team or your fanbase, but seriously, I'm tired of Siena fans coming on here with your "poor us" mentality. Are we supposed to feel guilty for you being stuck with us as an opponent? Get over it. At the end of the day, you got the best match-up you could have gotten, a match-up with the UNI Panthers. So please, stop with the "this game does nothing for us (Siena)" talk. It doesn't make us feel bad. You were given one of the top 3 marquee match-ups on Bracketbuster Saturday. That's what the selection committee will watch and care about. Stop looking for pity and just show up on February 21 and give us all you have!

- - End of Rant (for good) - -

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

jman2004...

the real problem is.. if siena wins its means NOTHING.

Siena got out of the gates roughly and perhaps not so much luck considering no time to recover with it being a tournament in FL. Since that tournament this team is 16-2 with the two losses coming at two of the toughest places in college basketball ... #2 Pittsburgh (RPI ranking) and #15 Kansas. At the time it was and still is one of the tougher outs for Pittsburgh as stated by their fans. The game at Kansas was right down to the final moments and had their fans squirming. After the kansas game the kansas fans said that Siena was one of the fastest teams theyve seen.

much like UNI had injuries and eligibility issues... one thing that doesnt seem to make news and probably because everyone thinks siena and the maac are ****... is that Siena is missing 5th year Senior PF/C Josh Duell (who started last year) and Junior PF Coree Magee both would see significant playing time this year if it wasnt for injuries. Magees career may be over and Josh Duell is just coming back and isnt in game shape yet. If you go back and look you will find little to no reference of this... strange because the big time teams would be sure to point out player losses like those. Siena spent the early part of the season adjusting to the lack of depth in the front court.

Siena's losses...

in the old spice classic at the beginning of the season...

Tennessee - Siena spotted tennessee a 20 something point halftime lead before cutting the lead to 9 a couple times and eventually losing by 14
Wichita State - Siena threw it in neutral and tried to coast after being up by as much as 14 in the second half... to WS credit... they hit 6 of 10 3s in the second half and pulled off the upset.
Oklahoma State - Siena was in a real funk from the FT line and shot 12-28. Meanwhile Oklahoma state shot 12-25 from 3.

it was a bad few day tournament and when you hit the ground in a funk you have NO time to turn it around. we all know the team played terribly in that tournament... some perhaps due to pressure and some due to missing the above mentioned players and trying to adjust to the depth issues in the front court.

the remaining losses

@Pittsburgh - Siena was under 10 in the second half but poor shooting couldnt get them over the hump. They were 6-23 from 3 for the game and had no answer for Blair.

@Kansas - Siena was within 69-65 but for the most part traded with Kansas throughout to wind up losing 91-84. They had no answer for Aldrich. A couple of questionable calls late which even the Kansas announcers chuckled at and siena couldnt get over the hump. What do you expect playing @ kansas though.

So yes Siena has some losses (5) but since that early season tournament theyve done everything expected. We as Siena fans expected ONE win in the FL tournament so if anything siena is one game off pace. Siena has been blown out by NOONE.

Siena's losses...
#2 @Pitt -13pts
#15 @Kansas - 7pts
#21 N-Tennessee - 14pts
#27 N-Oklahoma State - 9 pts
#167 N-Wichita State - 2 pts

UNI's losses
#12 N-Marquette - 30 pts??
#88 @Iowa - 19 pts
#96 @Wyoming - 9 pts
#136 Iowa State - 5 pts
#154 @Ill-Chicago - 7 pts
#243 Indiana State - 1pt

(N- Neutral Court)

Good Wins (top 100)

Siena
#66 @St Josephs
#72 Niagara
#74 Buffalo
#84 Boise State
#86 @Fairfield
#86 Fairfield
#95 Cornell

UNI
#59 Illinois State
#75 @Evansville
#77 @Creighton
#92 Bradley

Should be a good game... i think we were just looking for a little more Pop from the name of our opponent. Make no mistake... what makes this game more annoying is that there is no gurantee of a win... and we dont even get the opportunity to beat someone more regional for us for the recruiting pop.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

This stuff is starting to read as "blahblahblahblahblah".

It's the same stuff over and over again.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

and regarding what the NCAA selection committee will look at... they wont even look at the BB unless they see Siena went undefeated in the MAAC... THEN they might look at the BB for an at large chance.

Siena needed a top 50 team for an at large chance in order to suffer a single loss from here on out. Some of the other teams that got higher ranked opponents didnt have nearly the resume siena has.

and St Marys lost their best player for a month and has lost two straight... they did not deserve the matchup they got. They have ONE good win against 56 San Diego State.

Siena did not get the best matchup they deserved... they got the best matchup ESPN was willing to give. This is about money. Its funny that they can have Utah state play st marys and say its because of locale...whereas they can screw UNI and Siena when there is over 1100 miles between us.

Both UNI and Siena couldve gotten matchups that not only help RPI but also help recruiting... the difference is... your Commish made sure you got a shot at a top 50.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

This stuff is starting to read as "blahblahblahblahblah".

It's the same stuff over and over again.

no worries... its not blah blah on the court. Bring your A game... you'll need it.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: BracketBusters

I'll bring mine!! ...don't know if it will do much good, though. I usually don't see much action unless it is mop up time. You?

[clenz]

Re: BracketBusters

Clenz - I get the impression you would be dogging Billy Graham as a hater if he had an ISU, Iowa or Siena sweatshirt on...

I can only stand so much of the blah blah blah we got scewed poor woe is us bull crap before I get sick of it.

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

i notice you guys have a beefy front line... are they just big or are they any good? ie how do they matchup when playing up?

[SaintsFan]

Re: BracketBusters

congrats on the win tonight

[jman2004]

Re: BracketBusters

This stuff is starting to read as "blahblahblahblahblah".

It's the same stuff over and over again.

I agree, and I apologize. I just needed one last rant.

Saints fans think it'll mean NOTHING if they win. I don't agree, and think it's a slap in the face.

For that, I hope we kick the crap out of them!

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: BracketBusters

Thanks...very good front line. Depends on the matchups as to who gets the most touches. Not many 7 footers in the MVC, so we sometimes go with a "smaller" lineup with our 7 footer spending more time on the bench. But, we have 6'8" and 6'7" with very good ball skills to take over if that is the case. Other times, we can really use the height of the 7 footer to our advantage. He played a great first half tonight. Also depends on if the 3's are falling. Tonight we weren't hitting until late so they packed it in against the bigs for most of the 2nd half.

BTW...Our RPI should improve, so start dancing Siena fans.