2021-22 Games of Interest Thread

[Hacksaw]

So if UNI wins tonight, we want MSU to win too. If UNI loses, we want MSU to lose. Right? Reason is because they can't pass UNI if UNI wins, but them finishing with in a tie helps with multi team ties.

If UNI wins, no other games affect the odds of the #1 seed as it all comes down the Loyola rematch. A MSU win over Bradley boosts the 2-seed chances compared to a Bradley win which increases the odds of a 3-seed. The big one though is Drake-Valpo, as a Valpo win would lock UNI into a top 2 seed regardless of the outcome in that MSU-Bradley game.

With a UNI loss it really depends what the goal is, a Bradley win pretty much puts UNI in either the 2 or 3 seed position whereas a MSU win keeps the hopes of a 1-seed alive, but the downside is most likely a 4-seed.

Some have said on here that UNI is guaranteed a top 2 finish with a win tonight. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that's true. Drake and MSU can also get to 13 wins and Drake will win in a 2 team tiebreaker. However, I think that UNI is guaranteed to avoid the 4/5 game with a win. Right?

Technically even with a win tonight UNI could still end up in the 4/5 game. That rare situation is when Drake, Loyola, MSU, and UNI all finish in a 4-way tie at 13-5 and all are 3-3 in the mini round robin. UNI falls all the way to the 4-seed due to NET tiebreaker against those other three. I absolutely must note though that this requires Loyola to lose at home to Evansville tonight. If UNI wins and Loyola wins, then UNI is indeed guaranteed to avoid that 4/5 game.

[BCPanther]

Loyola losing to Evansville would be the most hilarious thing ever. Screw their at large bid.

I feel really good about tonight for us, fwiw. Can't sleep on a team that you know you were lucky to beat.

[UNIAlum95]

I think the mid-week goes chalk other than Bradley over Missouri State and I'm not sure that's even really an upset.

Drops Missouri State to the 4 and a rematch with Bradley, however.

Best for us:
Drake wins out
We beat Loyola
Bradley beats Missouri State

Giving us 1) UNI 2) Drake 3) Loyola 4) MSU 5) Bradley 6) SIU 7) Valpo 8)Illinois State 9) Indiana State 10) Evansville

It all goes back to this. This is what we want to see happen. Maybe there is another way to get there but with the way we play against Drake and Loyola, I'd like to wait to see them on Sunday if at all possible.

[Trapped in California]

Our game looks to be the closest contest tonight. Bradley looks almost as bad as the crowd in Springfield
the tumbleweed is lonely...

[Big Cats]

Our game looks to be the closest contest tonight. Bradley looks almost as bad as the crowd in Springfield
the tumbleweed is lonely...

There's a major ice storm in SW Missouri tonight. Nothing is moving on the highways. That's a big part of the problem with the crowd at JQH.

[Trapped in California]

Apparently Bradley took offense to my comment. They seem to have their stroke all of the sudden. As I say this, they will flame out next.

[not a drake fan]

So even with a loss Saturday, UNI is guaranteed a top 2 seed as long as MSU beats Evansville.
https://twitter.com/mjhackman/status...voBxLqpjnvbVXQ

[unipanthers8907]

Not thrilled that Loyola would likely be in the 4/5 game if we beat them Saturday. I was hoping to clinch the 1-seed and have Loyola on the other side of the bracket as a 2 or 3-seed. Oh well.

[06panther10]

Not thrilled that Loyola would likely be in the 4/5 game if we beat them Saturday. I was hoping to clinch the 1-seed and have Loyola on the other side of the bracket as a 2 or 3-seed. Oh well.

Not ideal.

Certainly possible they could lose the 4-5 game though.

[BCPanther]

Not thrilled that Loyola would likely be in the 4/5 game if we beat them Saturday. I was hoping to clinch the 1-seed and have Loyola on the other side of the bracket as a 2 or 3-seed. Oh well.

Or we kick their ass and let two real Valley teams have the CBS slot on Sunday....

An Indiana State, Loyola, Drake path will have certainly meant we earned the bid.

[CyCarp]

Unpopular opinion, but I don't hate the idea of playing Loyola on Saturday. We really only play 6 guys regularly - 7 and maybe 8 if Tytan is getting minutes and Phyfe is feeling well enough. I suppose Kimmons and Henry can play a few minutes here and there too, but our regulars are basically just AJ, Trae, Tywhon, Noah, Nate and Bowen. Part of me thinks playing them on Saturday and being just a little more fresh than Sunday could benefit us.

[not a drake fan]

I want UNI to win badly Saturday. Get that 2nd MVC title in 3 years, NIT berth, send Loyola packing with a big L.

But there is no question to me that an L [and a Missouri State W over Evansville] will result in a better STL draw that will set UNI up for a better chance at a deep run. It's a nice consolation prize if things don't go well Saturday. It's a win/win situation, all the pressure is on Loyola. Loyola is probably going to fall to the 4/5 game with a loss, so they are in for a tough tourney draw either way.

If UNI loses and MSU wins, the bears are guaranteed to be the Saturday opponent. So the road is the play in winner, the Bears, and whoever emerges from the Bradley/Drake/Loyola bloodbath.

[Neighbor]

St Louis at Richmond on now is an excellent game. FYI we lost to a Richmond 52-60.

[QCPanther05]

I want UNI to win badly Saturday. Get that 2nd MVC title in 3 years, NIT berth, send Loyola packing with a big L.

But there is no question to me that an L [and a Missouri State W over Evansville] will result in a better STL draw that will set UNI up for a better chance at a deep run. It's a nice consolation prize if things don't go well Saturday. It's a win/win situation, all the pressure is on Loyola. Loyola is probably going to fall to the 4/5 game with a loss, so they are in for a tough tourney draw either way.

If UNI loses and MSU wins, the bears are guaranteed to be the Saturday opponent. So the road is the play in winner, the Bears, and whoever emerges from the Bradley/Drake/Loyola bloodbath.

I want a win tomorrow. I don’t care if it makes STL marginally harder. That loss was embarrassing and we need to avenge it. Loyola isn’t 20 points better than us. As to the tournament, as long as we get one of the top four seeds (which is gauranteed) we’re good. Every game is going to be hard down there.

[BCPanther]

I want a win tomorrow. I don’t care if it makes STL marginally harder. That loss was embarrassing and we need to avenge it. Loyola isn’t 20 points better than us. As to the tournament, as long as we get one of the top four seeds (which is gauranteed) we’re good. Every game is going to be hard down there.

Exactly this.

The regular season title is always the right answer. We're going to have to beat two of the other top 5 no matter what so the path is more or less meaningless.

Having the NIT bid in our back pocket is going to help us play much looser. Knowing there's more basketball is a huge help in the mental game.