Wow

[BCPanther]

I think 11-7 and a win in St. Louis gets us in. That would make us 20-10 (Wartbug doesn't count). It would be awfully tough to deny a 20 win team from the MVC this year.

I really don't think 6 bids os out of the question...

[Panthers to the Bone]

Here are some stats to think about:
2006:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of the NCAA's (1-Colorado)---in the #5 RPI conference, individual RPI of 59
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of the NCAA's (2- Nebraska and Florida State)---FSU RPI 63, NU RPI 96

2005:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)

2004:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (1- Oklahoma, RPI of 50)---Big12 #4 conference

2003:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)

2002:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (1- Syracuse, RPI of 66, 4-9 in last 13 games)---Big East #4 RPI conference
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)

2001:
Teams with 20 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (1- Alabama, RPI of 51, lost 5 of last 6)
Teams with 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference left out of NCAA's (ZERO)

So, history shows that typically 20 win teams in a top 5 conference gets in the tourney, and to an extent 19 wins in a top 5 RPI conference get in. The only times they are left out is if they have RPI's of over 50. It's something to keep an eye out for.

[SteinPizza]

Let's be careful calling a Horizon League team a "very good team". I don't think that's a conference we want to lose to if we are claiming we should shed the "mid-major" label. They played well, but we looked like crap. We had better figure out an offense or SIU will hold us to single digits. This will certainly not be the best defensive team we see by a long shot. Time to get fired up and play some real basketball.

Media, that's a damn good conference. I'd say it's actually better than the Valley was just a few years ago (but not now). Blake Schilb is also an NBA caliber shooting guard/small forward. How many of those do we have on our roster right now, and how many does the Valley have as a whole??? Also, while shutting down Adam Haluska was nice work by Josten/Kwazdo, Schilb would run circles around him athletically. Not trying to beat the drum for the Horizon, just pointing out that Loyola isn't isn't Wartburg, Simpson, Upper Iowa, etc. PTTB, myself and others have been saying for months that this game scared us. Loyola also had this game "circled" on the calendar as a revenge game, similar to the way Bucknell did.

There's no reason to give up on this years' team. With so much of your bench being freshman, things like this happen, and will continue to happen in Valley play.

[UNI MadCat]

People upset over this loss need to chill out. It really is amzing how the sky falls for some of you on this board after every loss.

Like PTTB, I've been sayign for weeks that this game had "hiccup" written all over it. Am I disappointed in the loss? No doubt. Does it ruin the season?? Heck no.

It would be great to be totally focused for every game, but lets not forget that we're talking about 18-22 year olds that, in theory, are students first. Remember what they had to go thru this past week? Oh yeah, that's right... FINALS!! I didn't play a sport and finals week was always a killer... I can't imagine what its like to be an athlete having to study, take tests, and then prepare for a game and go ON THE ROAD to play a talented team in a lifeless atmosphere.

Add to that, whether some of you consider them "big" wins or not, the recent games against Iowa and ISU were very emotional and it would be tough to "get up" for this next game in comparison.

So, again, I'm not suprised one bit by this loss and I'm also not worried about it.

I was originally very against the Wartburg game but now I'm looking at it as a good chance to work out some kinks and have a little fun before kicking it into high gear in MVC play.

Brooks, EC and Stout will lead this team to their 4th straight NCAA. They know how to get it done. The team is fine.

[DWadle1983]

I look at it this way. At the end of the year you can put together a resume and generally have a few "good wins" and a few "bad losses" At this point, I dont think we have any in either category. I would say the only team that we have beaten that has a realistic shot at the tourny would be Bucknell, and they would probably be a 10 seed or higher.

I guess its important to explain what I mean by a "good win" Certainly, the Iowa and ISU wins are good wins for in-state exposure, bragging rights, etc. That doesnt however, make them good wins when you are trying to put together a resume for a potential at-large bid. ISU is probably looking at a below .500 conference record, and I would guess Iowa will hover around .500 as well. It goes to the argument Bilas made in his article the other day. Other BCS teams wouldnt get alot of credit for those wins, and I dont think we will either. Last year at this time we had a win over a #3 seed in the tourny and a #4 on the road as well. Anything can happen, but we more than likely dont have those wins yet.

In short, we are quite a ways behind where we were at this point last year. However, there is plenty of time to make up lost ground. A split with Wichita would likely give us a win over a 3-5 seed in the NCAA at worst. The MVC is obviously strong so 11-7 would probably get us on the bubble again.

I agree with your analysis above. UNI is missing the "good" wins it had at this time a year ago, but also doesn't have any bad losses. A fourth place finish in the MVC, especially if the MVC can finish ahead of at least one BCS conference, and it should, the Big 12, and a total of 20 wins should make the tournament.

If Bucknell makes the tournament this season, it will be as a 14 or 15 seed.

[DancerHall Cat]

I dont think anyone has claimed that the sky is falling with this program or that all of the sudden "we suck." A few people have made the argument that this team is not where we had hoped it would be right now, and that last nights game was a large disapointment.

The fact is, Loyaly probably is a very good team, but I would still think we have come to expect a much better effort than we saw last night. Im sure we will see better play down the road, but that doesnt make lass nights loss meaningless by any stretch.

Also, I dont know this for a fact, but I would guess Loyola had finals this week as well. (I could be completely wrong) I realize that we were going on the road, but we Im assuming we didnt travel until Friday at the earliest - after finals were over.

Also, I dont buy the letdown after the Iowa/ISU wins. The ISU game is now several weeks old and the Iowa game was 11 days before last night. Not only that, we had a game vs UMKC in between in which we played well. To me, that would have been the letdown game if there was such a thing.

The fact is, we got handled fairly well last night. It certainly doesnt mark an end to our season, but that doesnt mean we should come up with 100 excuses and give the performance a pass either.

[UNI MadCat]

I dont think anyone has claimed that the sky is falling with this program or that all of the sudden "we suck."

Uhhhh... likewise, I never said that you naysayers feel that the PROGRAM is going downhill. I do think some of you ae reading too much into what this loss and our NC schedule will/wont do for our at-large status this SEASON though.

But, regardless, I'd say these fall into the "sky is falling" category...

UNI needs to start playing some better ball, that crap they played tonight at chi-town was horrible!

and

They played well, but we looked like crap. We had better figure out an offense or SIU will hold us to single digits. This will certainly not be the best defensive team we see by a long shot. Time to get fired up and play some real basketball.

and

In short, we are quite a ways behind where we were at this point last year.

and

Unfortunately I think we have the makings of a non-conference schedule/result very similar to what Missouri State had last year.

Look, all I'm saying is that the writing was on the wall well before this game even tipped. Its not making excuses, its telling it like it is. I just don't get why you and others like you are apparently surprised by this loss and so concerned. There is a lot of season left. People so worried about our position this year vs. last need to remember that for as good as the MVC was last year it is BETTER this year so, believe it or not, we have more wiggle room.

But instead of worrying about our at-large status how about we start talking about winning the MVC & MVCT and getting that auto-bid and perhaps a top-4 seed? At this point, there's no reason to think this team doesn't have it in them to do that.

Enjoy the ride!!

(And to think, I'm usually one of the negative nellies on this board!!)

[Matt Trump]

Someone just got "owned".

[Panthers to the Bone]

(And to think, I'm usually one of the negative nellies on this board!!)

You look good in that new attitude you're sporting, MadCat!

[panther2317]

Loyola could be the UW-Milwaukee (Horizon) team in the NCAA's the last two years. They have that much talent. We need to be careful about how we judge teams from a 'lesser' conference...as I know all of us HATE IT when BCS conference fans do the same thing to us.

[TravelingPanther]

Our SOS will go up with valley play. Wins over WSU, MSU or Creighton would get things moving in the right direction.