BracketBusters

[Khan4Cats]

Re: BracketBusters

I guess, if given a choice, I would rather head east than west. St. Mary's would be a "name" opponent, but with the return trip to ISU(r) after the BB game, I'd rather have a noon/2pm-type game on Saturday and then be able to have the team on a return flight by evening than a late night out west and overnight it back.

[Panther Cat]

Re: BracketBusters

St. Mary's would be a nice RPI booster, even with a loss it would certainly help our SOS. But traveling all the way to California and playing at their place (which is tough to win at) would more than likely be a loss. But the good news is we would get them at home next year which would be nice (even though our schedule will already be tough).

We played Siena at their place about 6 years ago if I remember correctly. I'm pretty sure they beat us, but they were coming off back to back NCAA apperances, or 2 out of the last 3. They used to be a regular NCAA team in their conference I thought, although I could be wrong on that?

I wouldn't mind Drexel since the CAA has a fairly decent reputation (maybe not this year though). Plus taht would be a winnable game. Niagra wouldn't be too bad either, but that like Siena, is a long trip to the Northeast.

[tcondon]

Re: BracketBusters

Keep in mind if the Panthers would get St. Mary's, it would likely be the late night game on the ESPN family of networks...I believe the last game would be an 11 pm local time start on ESPN2-9pm in California. Not sure if the times will be different this season.

[achrist70]

Re: BracketBusters

Keep in mind if the Panthers would get St. Mary's, it would likely be the late night game on the ESPN family of networks...I believe the last game would be an 11 pm local time start on ESPN2-9pm in California. Not sure if the times will be different this season.

Do you have a bed time or what?

No I get what you are saying, we wouldn't get as much exposure at that time of night. But I think committee members would see the game.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: BracketBusters

I think he was just stating a possibility. Most people aren't worried about staying up late (at least I don't think so), but rather the team having tired legs for the following game at Illinois State the next week.

I'll state it again, the team needs W's, and anyone they get matched up with on the road will raise their SOS (as they should be top 115 road opponents). The season means more than a BB game...this team is in search of a regular season conference championship. We don't want to see this team get dead legs due to travel in the last 2 weeks of the season.

I will say this...if UNI were to play Siena, they should be able to fly directly via charter plane. It's 1600+ miles from Waterloo to San Fran, while Waterloo to Albany, NY would be only 900+.

[jman2004]

Re: BracketBusters

Why is everyone so convinced that a matchup against St. Mary's would guarantee a late night (11 pm) game time? If we play St. Mary's it means that we would be chosen to be one of the more marquee matchups of BracketBusters. Wouldn't ESPN or whoever decides the pairings, want the game to be SEEN? Why take two of the teams you're most excited about pairing up and start the game at 11 o'clock at night, when no one other than the two teams' fans will be watching? Doesn't make much sense to me . . .

[TravelingPanther]

Re: BracketBusters

I think the other side of it is that UNI needs a marquee win. A top 25 St Mary's team is just that.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: BracketBusters

If UNI doesn't win the MVC regular season title or the post-season tourney, there will be no at-large bid. Stay fresh, win games, and get a championship along the way. Still alot of season to be played for the fleeting appearance on ESPN against a top 25 team 2 time zones away.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: BracketBusters

the tourney is a complete crapshoot. literally anyone can win it this year. i'd like to secure at at-large to be safe, even though its damn near impossible.

[Newshound]

Re: BracketBusters

It's not guaranteed that a UNI-St. Mary's game would be at 11 p.m. In fact, I'd be surprised if it is. Look for Creighton to be in the 11 p.m. game because Qwest has state wrestling until 7 p.m. that day. UNI-St. Mary's would be either a 5 or 7 p.m. tip (Iowa time). In past years, the marquee game has been around 3 p.m. In this case, that's Butler vs. Davidson. A 5 p.m. tip would be good exposure, plus the team would be home by midnight or 1 in the morning.

If UNI plays at Siena, that could be an 11 a.m., 1 p.m. game. It gets you back at a decent time Saturday night. I just don't see UNI staying around here playing a Midwest team, unless they lose both games this week. There's not too many teams that match up with them from an RPI standpoint.

[jman2004]

Re: BracketBusters

It's not guaranteed that a UNI-St. Mary's game would be at 11 p.m. In fact, I'd be surprised if it is. Look for Creighton to be in the 11 p.m. game because Qwest has state wrestling until 7 p.m. that day. UNI-St. Mary's would be either a 5 or 7 p.m. tip (Iowa time). In past years, the marquee game has been around 3 p.m. In this case, that's Butler vs. Davidson. A 5 p.m. tip would be good exposure, plus the team would be home by midnight or 1 in the morning.

Thanks. I was getting confused by all this "UNI-St. Mary's/11 p.m." talk. It wasn't making any sense to me WHY ESPN would want to air one of the better games of the weekend at near midnight.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: BracketBusters

Updated RPI's today

HOME AWAY

Siena 18 Butler 8
Davidson 35 Utah State 41
St. Mary’s 50 Miami (Ohio) 46
Creighton 77 Northeastern 52
Niagara 82 George Mason 53
Fairfield 90 Illinois State 64
Evansville 93 Northern Iowa 66
Nevada 100 VCU 67
Wright State 102 Buffalo 68
Drake 103 Boise State 69
Drexel 105 Green Bay 76
Milwaukee 112 Bradley 88

I am guessing that Butler-Davidson will be the prime match-up, with St. Mary's-Utah State as the western match-up. Of the teams in front of us, Miami-OH and Illinois State are not leading their conference right now, George Mason and Northeastern are separated by a game for the CAA lead. I don't see us jumping them for Siena and a Siena-Northeastern game makes sense.

That drops the pool of opponents down to: Niagara, Fairfield, Nevada, Wright State, Drexel, and Milwaukee. Of those, I could see a Niagara-Buffalo match-up (Buffalo is leading the MAC), Fairfield and Nevada would be tough games as both get a week off prior to BB.

So between Drexel and Milwaukee? I guess I'd go for Drexel-to put us in a media market and we'd be sandwiched between their conference games with Mason and Northeastern.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: BracketBusters

That drops the pool of opponents down to: Niagara, Fairfield, Nevada, Wright State, Drexel, and Milwaukee. Of those, I could see a Niagara-Buffalo match-up (Buffalo is leading the MAC), Fairfield and Nevada would be tough games as both get a week off prior to BB.

You can eliminate Nevada from this list. If they have any intentions of keeping this event fresh, they aren't going to schedule us for the 2nd time in 3 years in the BB (and therefore 4 times in 4 years).

[UNI MadCat]

Re: BracketBusters

Hey Khan -- what site do you use for RPI? Since Kenpom stopped doing it this year I've been looking at realtimerpi.com but their numbers are much different than what you have listed here (UNI 66 here, 74 on RTRPI).

Just curious...

[Panther Fan]

Re: BracketBusters

Can't remember if it's earlier in this thread of Valleytalk, but someone pointed out that the whole Bracket Buster concept is commissioner Elign's idea and hopefully he has some pull to get us a good matchup. Of any year, this might be the year it would make a huge difference for a Valley team. I'd be very disappointed if we're getting a team that's not even top 100 RPI.