Andy Katz

[UNIhoops]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3874837

Just a small note for the panthers.


" • Get used to Northern Iowa as your Valley representative. The Panthers may still need to win the conference tournament, but it's hard to dismiss their chances at this point. UNI collected its 10th straight win with a 61-57 triumph at Indiana State and is 10-1 in the Valley -- with a three-game lead in the loss column over Illinois State, Bradley and Creighton. " - Andy Katz

[Panther789]

Re: Andy Katz

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/column...ndy&id=3874837

Just a small note for the panthers.


" • Get used to Northern Iowa as your Valley representative. The Panthers may still need to win the conference tournament, but it's hard to dismiss their chances at this point. UNI collected its 10th straight win with a 61-57 triumph at Indiana State and is 10-1 in the Valley -- with a three-game lead in the loss column over Illinois State, Bradley and Creighton. " - Andy Katz

I am excited to see ESPN's "bubble watch" as well as some from some of the other sites.

We are appearing on all of the brackets because we are in first, but it will be interesting to see how we compare to some other teams if we dont win the MVC tournament.

[jman2004]

Re: Andy Katz

We actually dropped 2 spots in RPI after yesterday's win, while Evansville jumped slightly ahead of us. Ouch.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Andy Katz

dont hold your breath for an at-large. we are going to have to finish with at most two conference losses, and that is IF we can beat a decent-RPI team on the road.

[jman2004]

Re: Andy Katz

dont hold your breath for an at-large. we are going to have to finish with at most two conference losses, and that is IF we can beat a decent-RPI team on the road.

I know you've been saying this . . . I'm still not convinced. If we win the conference regular season by a couple games (even losing games at Bradley and Illinois State), and play well in St. Louis, I think we have a shot.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Andy Katz

UNI cannot have more than 9 losses heading into the NCAAs in order to have a shot getting into the Big Dance (without a MVC Tourney championship).

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Andy Katz

UNI cannot have more than 9 losses heading into the NCAAs in order to have a shot getting into the Big Dance (without a MVC Tourney championship).

If you think we can lose 3 more games and get in at-large with our RPI, you're drunk.

[DrewDog]

Re: Andy Katz

I know you've been saying this . . . I'm still not convinced. If we win the conference regular season by a couple games (even losing games at Bradley and Illinois State), and play well in St. Louis, I think we have a shot.

The fact that a couple of the BCS conferences are having a down year may help the Panthers chances of earning an at-large bid if they do not win the conference tourney.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Andy Katz

Newsy-

Ha! I was responding to jman who thought that all we had to do was win by 2 games and show well in STL. I'm not sold, which is why I said that double digit losses (which I was reading as being implied). In order for UNI to make the NCAA's without an MVC Tourney championship, I think they still have to 1.) win the regular season 2.) win Bracket Busters 3.) Have an RPI below 50 4.) Win 24+ games. I think if UNI doesn't do any of those 4, it's not going to happen.

[jman2004]

Re: Andy Katz

Talk about drunk, Andy Katz still has Wisconsin as the Big Ten's 7th at-large team . . .

Edit: I didn't read all of his article before I wrote this. He obviously won't have them in anymore, but even having them in last week was kind of a stretch if you ask me.

[jman2004]

Re: Andy Katz

In order for UNI to make the NCAA's without an MVC Tourney championship, I think they still have to 1.) win the regular season 2.) win Bracket Busters 3.) Have an RPI below 50 4.) Win 24+ games. I think if UNI doesn't do any of those 4, it's not going to happen.

I agree with that. I think we can do #1 for sure . . . the rest, we'll have to wait and see.

[Panther789]

Re: Andy Katz

Newsy-

Ha! I was responding to jman who thought that all we had to do was win by 2 games and show well in STL. I'm not sold, which is why I said that double digit losses (which I was reading as being implied). In order for UNI to make the NCAA's without an MVC Tourney championship, I think they still have to 1.) win the regular season 2.) win Bracket Busters 3.) Have an RPI below 50 4.) Win 24+ games. I think if UNI doesn't do any of those 4, it's not going to happen.

Fair points. I just think that if we lose 3 more games, we wont have an RPI below 50.

What a unique resume we would have if we only lose 1 or 2 more. No real "quality" wins by NCAA tourny standards, and a fairly week RPI.

On the other hand, a potential runaway finish in the 8th best conference in the country, and something like 18 or 19 out of our last 20 games.

In any event, even though its still a longshot, this conversation was unthinkable just a few weeks ago.

[Blue42]

Re: Andy Katz

Some of usual suspects on this board are being way too pessimistic about UNI's chances of getting in the NCAAs.

Reminds me of the folks who say Kurt Warner has to win the Superbowl to make the HOF.

If UNI wins the regular season title and makes the semi-finals of the MVC tourney then UNI will get in, even with 3 more losses.

If they win the regular season by 2 games or more, and make at least the quarter-finals then they'll get in.

[Panther789]

Re: Andy Katz

Some of usual suspects on this board are being way too pessimistic about UNI's chances of getting in the NCAAs.

Reminds me of the folks who say Kurt Warner has to win the Superbowl to make the HOF.

If UNI wins the regular season title and makes the semi-finals of the MVC tourney then UNI will get in, even with 3 more losses.

If they win the regular season by 2 games or more, and make at least the quarter-finals then they'll get in.

I disagree with just about everything there. That said, Ive got a feeling we will make the quarter-finals.

[KansasCityPanther]

Re: Andy Katz

It would be really hard to explain why the team that won the regular season title in the 8th best conference didn't get into the NCAAs. If someone can find an example of this happening, I'll worry more.