Game 27 - Feb 16 - @ Murray State

[MVCBeat]

2nd place gets an NIT autobid and a home game with the new criteria.

We're in fantastic shape for an NIT bid if we don't get it done in StL.

That would be IF first place wins at AM.

And the way they announced it was a bit confusing. They sort of left it open for their interpretation, not necessarily straight up the next top finishing team in the standings to get the auto bid and home game.

“The top teams from each conference will be determined based on an average of a number of ranking systems: ESPN Basketball Power Index (BPI), Kevin Pauga Index (KPI), NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET), Ken Pomeroy Rating (KenPom), Strength of Record (SOR), Torvik ranking and Wins Above Bubble (WAB) ranking.”

So the way I read that, I think if AM was held today and Drake won, Bradley would probably be the “auto bid” with where it stands with CPU ratings.

Regardless, a top 100 NET probably gets us in this year with the “College Basketball Crown” poaching many teams. And, quite frankly, this just gives us another thing to play for. Not that we needed it.

[PantherAlum09]

I listened on the radio and it was actually pretty great hearing the bench and coaches every once in awhile. Ben and Trey really helped carry us tonight and Tytan had a very quiet 19 to go with that. Will did a great job stepping in for an off night from Hutty and we did a good job pulling away towards the end. It didn't feel like our best performance but the defense was solid and Trey and Ben made big plays early to help keep us in the lead. Great team win.

[UNIpanther99]

2nd place gets an NIT autobid and a home game with the new criteria.

We're in fantastic shape for an NIT bid if we don't get it done in StL.

Obviously hoping for more than the NIT this year, but if it happens... How great would it be for Fran McCaffery's last game as a Hawkeye to be a loss on the McLeod Center floor? Granted, Iowa has some work to do to even be considered for the NIT.

[BCPanther]

Obviously hoping for more than the NIT this year, but if it happens... How great would it be for Fran McCaffery's last game as a Hawkeye to be a loss on the McLeod Center floor? Granted, Iowa has some work to do to even be considered for the NIT.

The Big Ten is playing in the FOX tournament unfortunately but that would have been so awesome.

['70 Grad]

Simplification: Trey hits 3s, we win.

A good game from him keeps us out of the loss column. For the season, he is shooting .465 from 3, even better than his .438 overall!!! (and .814 on FTs - essentially leading the team.) He has gotten us 180 points on 129 3-point shots (1.4 p/s) and 1.1 p/s overall. A very good year - wish it had started sooner, but let's not split hairs now. He took over point-guard responsibilities and has shined. Thanks, Trey! Hard work on defense too.

We are not deep (esp. because of injuries) but we are peaking. Two home & two road games to go. GO CATS!

Was there any comments from the radio broadcast as to the crowd size? Any Belmont fans that were anti - Murray?

[kochrab]

Simplification: Trey hits 3s, we win.

A good game from him keeps us out of the loss column. For the season, he is shooting .465 from 3, even better than his .438 overall!!! (and .814 on FTs - essentially leading the team.) He has gotten us 180 points on 129 3-point shots (1.4 p/s) and 1.1 p/s overall. A very good year - wish it had started sooner, but let's not split hairs now. He took over point-guard responsibilities and has shined. Thanks, Trey! Hard work on defense too.

We are not deep (esp. because of injuries) but we are peaking. Two home & two road games to go. GO CATS!

Was there any comments from the radio broadcast as to the crowd size? Any Belmont fans that were anti - Murray?

I read a comment on either mvcfans or the Murray st board that there was maybe a couple hundred at most. Decent showing of UNI fans, but it obviously made for a challenging set up to be at the game.

[BCPanther]

Simplification: Trey hits 3s, we win.

A good game from him keeps us out of the loss column. For the season, he is shooting .465 from 3, even better than his .438 overall!!! (and .814 on FTs - essentially leading the team.) He has gotten us 180 points on 129 3-point shots (1.4 p/s) and 1.1 p/s overall. A very good year - wish it had started sooner, but let's not split hairs now. He took over point-guard responsibilities and has shined. Thanks, Trey! Hard work on defense too.

We are not deep (esp. because of injuries) but we are peaking. Two home & two road games to go. GO CATS!

Was there any comments from the radio broadcast as to the crowd size? Any Belmont fans that were anti - Murray?

Belmont doesn't have fans. I mean that completely seriously. They don't exist.

I think I saw 4 total in St Louis last year.

[06panther10]

Simplification: Trey hits 3s, we win.

A good game from him keeps us out of the loss column. For the season, he is shooting .465 from 3, even better than his .438 overall!!! (and .814 on FTs - essentially leading the team.) He has gotten us 180 points on 129 3-point shots (1.4 p/s) and 1.1 p/s overall. A very good year - wish it had started sooner, but let's not split hairs now. He took over point-guard responsibilities and has shined. Thanks, Trey! Hard work on defense too.

We are not deep (esp. because of injuries) but we are peaking. Two home & two road games to go. GO CATS!

Was there any comments from the radio broadcast as to the crowd size? Any Belmont fans that were anti - Murray?

This is pretty much true. Our lack of shooting is still an overarching issue, but if Trey gets hot from 3, or if we can hit like 10 3's as a team in a game, we are going to be very tough for any team to beat.

Our defense has been much better, and Tytan is such a beast in the paint on both ends. Hitting 3's at a good clip just allow us to build a lead an control games.

[06panther10]

This is pretty much true. Our lack of shooting is still an overarching issue, but if Trey gets hot from 3, or if we can hit like 10 3's as a team in a game, we are going to be very tough for any team to beat.

Our defense has been much better, and Tytan is such a beast in the paint on both ends. Hitting 3's at a good clip just allow us to build a lead an control games.

I just looked this up because I was curious:

Our team is 6-0 when we hit 10+ threes in a game.

And we are 8-0 when Trey hits 3+ threes in a game.

So there you have it. Those might be our magic numbers.

[Wxcpanther]

I just looked this up because I was curious:

Our team is 6-0 when we hit 10+ threes in a game.

And we are 8-0 when Trey hits 3+ threes in a game.

So there you have it. Those might be our magic numbers.

These takes are a bit dated with this team. We shot 26% from 3 against Illinois State, Trey only hit 2, and we still won that game. This team's identity has finally come back around to the good old days. We are going to make your life miserable on the defensive end, limit you to 1 shot, and we are going to find a way to be efficient offensively, whether inside or outside the arc. With this team though, right now, it certainly works from the inside out.

[PantherAlum09]

These takes are a bit dated with this team. We shot 26% from 3 against Illinois State, Trey only hit 2, and we still won that game. This team's identity has finally come back around to the good old days. We are going to make your life miserable on the defensive end, limit you to 1 shot, and we are going to find a way to be efficient offensively, whether inside or outside the arc. With this team though, right now, it certainly works from the inside out.

To have what amounts to a comfortable win, I think the threes are a necessity. That Illinois State game felt like we stole it. Mainly because we didn't shoot particularly well at all. The identity of the hard nosed defense has made it where we can possibly win a game even when we are off offensively too.

I agree though. The defense has been so much better and it's the main reason we are playing so well right now. The offense will need to show up tomorrow night, though.

[BCPanther]

It's just encouraging that we don't have to score 80 points every time out anymore to feel comfortable. Tomorrow night may end up being an exception but there are plenty of offensive opportunities with how Belmont defends.

[kochrab]

It's just encouraging that we don't have to score 80 points every time out anymore to feel comfortable. Tomorrow night may end up being an exception but there are plenty of offensive opportunities with how Belmont defends.

What defense? They're giving up almost 79 points per game. Defense optional kinda defense.

[BCPanther]

What defense? They're giving up almost 79 points per game. Defense optional kinda defense.

Exactly.

That's where that program has to get over the hump to compete for titles in this league. He's GOT to get more athletic so that they can defend. You can't out scheme and outscore everybody like you could in the OVC. Nagy figured that out real quick when he figured out playing super fast doesn't work and it's the reason Powell isn't going to turn it at Valpo, you have to be able to grind in this league, you have to be able to get stops, you have to be able to win a 62 possession game.

[MVCBeat]

Obviously hoping for more than the NIT this year, but if it happens... How great would it be for Fran McCaffery's last game as a Hawkeye to be a loss on the McLeod Center floor? Granted, Iowa has some work to do to even be considered for the NIT.

Aw man. That would be one heck of a consolation prize.

That said, Iowa would probably be playing in the Fox Tournament.