Bracketology:02-06

[panther2317]

SIU could play their way out of an at-large bid, but MSU could play their way into one if the play well the last three weeks. I think MSU COULD win all of their remaining games. I hope they lose this Saturday, but they have the ability to win their remaining games.

[panther2317]

I guess I see people getting upset on this site and all through Panther Nation about lack of coverage as a good thing. 10 years ago, there weren't enough people who admitted to being UNI basketball fans. Now, they are demanding media coverage...do you know how cool that is to a person like me who has been through the low times? A person who experienced those things first-hand? It's awesome. At times, I can't describe the feeling of walking into the Dome and seeing over 9,000 fans in there for a non-Iowa/ISU game. I can't tell you how cool it is there's something like Panthernation.com that exists. Going to St. Louis and seeing a ton of purple and gold...it brings a tear to me eye.

So, you see it as futile? (maybe...I'm guessing) and I see it as progress. You're right by the way, the coverage would be slanted toward Iowa...I'm sure of it on many stations. I think KCCI and KWWL would try to give equal coverage, but every other station will be Iowa biased. But that doesn't make it right

[Newsbreaker]

I'm not saying the fight for more coverage isn't 'right,' I'm at the head of the pack of people trying to see increased UNI coverage. I also understand that the "right" thing for a media outlet to do is to play to the largest possible audience...in all cases, that's Iowa fans. We are doing what we can to chip into that.

All that I'm saying is that if we were to meet Iowa in the tournament, the meltdown on here the week before would nearly match the meltdown at HR after we beat them. There would be people here with their colon falling out they'd be so upset at the Iowa coverage.

[jegbomb52]

If UNI was in the sweet sixteen playing Iowa, there might actually be more people to satisfy by showing UNI stuff, afterall, there sure would be a lot of bitter Cyclone fans out there rooting for the Panthers. If this situation does happen I will throw my computer out the window for the week to assure that I still have a marriage seeings how I would spend more time with the computer than my wife.

[GonzoCat]

If UNI played Iowa in the sweet sixteen and the coverage was 60/40 I'd be ecstatic. I'd say the coverage would be more like 75/25 and even that would be better than if they weren't playing each other.

Remember the dsm stations wouldn't cover UNI at all at the NCAA if they weren't playing Iowa because they aren't allowed to since they do not cover during the regular season.

[UNI MadCat]

unfortunatly, as much as we disagree, i wouldnt say "Lundardi has no clue what he's talking about" as he pretty much picks the field of 64 correctly every year

It's not that tough when you put out your final prediction a couple of hours before the announcement. I can do that too.

[UNI MadCat]

Hey, this is all great to think about and what makes message boards great but lets look at this realistically.

First off, I doubt we'd even get a set up to play them in the tourney in the S16, but next... we'd have to beat Seton Hall and the #1 seed Texas Longhorns. Iowa would only have to knock off last year's darlings in UW-M plus the defending National Champion Tar Heels. That's a tough hill to climb. Just thought I'd point it out.

[NJ Panther]

Yes...but he picks them correctly on Selection Sunday. So his bracket today means nothing...except it gives basketball junkies like us something to argue about for 34 days until the real bracket comes out.

I swear he bugs the deliberation room or pays people on the committe to leak info to him because his picks are often uncanny, right down to the regions.
Also, I should have known when I saw this thread had "exploded" that then term Hawkeye had been brought up.

[ejacobson]

I am still just stoked to see that many Valley teams in the hunt for at large bids, and I think that with the remaining season a lot can happen for the MVC and UNI.

[Jonsoup]

Tom Cornellis's his nephrew or brother coaches at Florida A&M. He is a graduate of Western Illinois.

[BCPanther]

I am telling you that the reason we are playing third fiddle, even this year, is because of the horrible media contract we have with FOX. Did we even negotiate with other stations or did we walk in and say "we would like you to do a half ass job in covering UNI athletics. Could you please carry as few games as possible and only produce four total, and with your football game could you please choose Drake or any meaningless game for that manner, so that the rest of the state will continue to look at us as a third rate program. And make the perception of I-AA football so bad that we get no respect for making a run to the national title game"

"Also, when you are forced to broadcast those other two basketball games besides Iowa or Iowa State, again please choose bottom of the league Drake. When you show up can you bring video equiptment straight out of 1984, so the picture is horrible and constantly pauses, also we are going to need a bunch of middle schoolers to do graphics so nothing lines up right and looks like a third rate broadcast, that is embarrassing to show on national TV highlights. And any other ideas you have to make these broadcasts a total and complete embarrassment would be welcome as well."

There has to be a clause in that contract that we are stuck with for the next 3 years that says we can buyout of it. I would think with all of the support that KWWL has given UNI over the past three or so years that they would jump at the chance to broadcast almost all basketball games and a couple of football games. Ron Steele could be the play by play guy, seeing some old clips he is really good, and there seem to be more analysts than college basketball and football know what to do with.

I guarantee that the reason we get no coverage on some stations is because they have no highlights to pick up for their newscasts. People across the state do not know what UNI is all about and we need to make them aware. If we could get that contract into the hands of a network not run by a bunch of children, that could distribute the telecast state wide I think we would see immediate returns both in gate attendance and overall state wide attention. (Slowly stepping off soapbox...)

[GonzoCat]

I know you are seriouse bf, but at the same time you made your point in a way that had me LOL.

Why is there no laughing smilie anyway?

[BCPanther]

You have found my intent, way to go!!!

[NJ Panther]

For the most part FOX games (Fox Sportsnet) are not contracted by UNI, but are part of the MVC TV Package with Fox Sportsnet. Now if you're talking about games picked up or shown by your local FOX station that are not part of that package (don't know if thats whats happen in some cases), thats another issue and one I know absolutely nothing about based on my living outside the "promised land". But, if they're FSN games then it was a conference decesion not a University decesion.

[BCPanther]

NO, it is our LOCAL FOX, the FSN guys are really pro-Valley and do a great job!!