Bubblicious Thursday: Resilient Colorado. ... you've earned your bid

[SelectionSunday]

I'm still mystified at Pitt's resume and how they are solidly in and off the proverbial bubble. Either Jason King or Jeff Goodman rips Pitt via twitter on how they still haven't beat a "tournament team". With the bracket projections, a shaky Stanford squad would be their only win against a projected tourney team.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rpi/_/teamId/221

Agree completely. Pitt is one of those teams I'd take the Gophers ahead of every day of the week. Charmin soft resume. Hopefully Clemson beats them this weekend and Lunardi will finally figure out Pitt is one of the biggest frauds out there. Not saying the Gopher resume is stellar, but it's got more meat to it than Pitt's does.

 

[jovs]

Nebraska currently has 10 BT wins and the best we can do is 8. Has a Big Ten team ever jumped over another BT team that had 2 more conference wins........for ncaa bid that is.

I don't see how Nebraska is left out, especially if they win in the first round of the B1G tournament, they don't have any bad home losses, only one bad non conference loss, and a couple of games over 500 in the B1G.

 

[stocker08]

I'm still mystified at Pitt's resume and how they are solidly in and off the proverbial bubble. Either Jason King or Jeff Goodman rips Pitt via twitter on how they still haven't beat a "tournament team". With the bracket projections, a shaky Stanford squad would be their only win against a projected tourney team.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rpi/_/teamId/221

Ouch......only one top 50 rpi wins? And that's against Stanford sitting at 48.

 

[howeda7]

I respect Lunardi, his numbers speak for themselves, but there's one thing that needs to mentioned about his game-by-game updates when there are games on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU. It is blatantly obvious that his last 4 byes/last 4 in/first 4 out/next 4 out projections cater to whichever teams are currently airing on the Mother Ship's airwaves, or to a lesser extent any bubble team that is playing that night.

For example, leading up to last night nary a peep from Lunardi about Stanford or Colorado being anywhere near the bubble, but then, presto, Stanford vs. Colorado airs on ESPNU and all of a sudden on one of Lunardi's game-by-game updates both Stanford/Colorado magically appear. LSU plays Vandy tonight on ESPN2. Don't be surprised at all if all of a sudden LSU will be listed as one of Lunardi's "next 4 out", even though we've heard or seen nothing all week from Lunardi about the Tigers. (edit: what a shocker, this morning Lunardi just included LSU in his next 4 out) LSU is nowhere near to being one of the next 4 out, but that won't stop Lunardi.

His game-by-game updates are driven strictly by ratings. Don't trust those ones.

Bracketologists I trust:
1. SS
2. Palm
3. Lunardi
4. Everyone else

On his final picks, Lunardi's as good as anyone, but I agree he plays the typical ESPN BS whenever required. And I suppose it's a coincidence, but he has St. Joe's a little safter than they are, IMO.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Here's who we cheer for according to Palm to help our RPI (and it's an interesting little thing for those of you who haven't found the Palm reader)

New Orleans needs to beat Lamar

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi needs to beat McNeese State

Richmond needs to beat Virginia Commonwealth

Iowa needs to beat Michigan State

Montana needs to beat Sacramento State

Lots left to shake out in the coming 9 days. it's getting dicey!

I appreciate getting a consolidated list like this now when it is based off of Palm and they have an imminent impact on our tourney hopes. Thanks for posting Upnorthkid, this is much better than last year when #1alphabet would start an entirely new thread anytime one of our out of conference opponents won a game anywhere.

 

[Dano564]

Iowa and Richmond are probably the two most important.

 

[howeda7]

Iowa and Richmond are probably the two most important.

I'd rather Iowa lose out and join us on the Bubble.

 

[Gopher+RamFan]

Iowa and Richmond are probably the two most important.

I'll be at the game. Richmond is without a slew of players (leading to their recent losses, and loss of bubble status), doubtful they could pull it off. Shaka's never won there, but if the Spiders win, they would have definitely earned it.

 

[mcal24]

I'll be at the game. Richmond is without a slew of players (leading to their recent losses, and loss of bubble status), doubtful they could pull it off. Shaka's never won there, but if the Spiders win, they would have definitely earned it.

Say hi to RichmondInsider for me!

 

[Dano564]

Bracketologists I trust:
1. SS
2. Palm
3. Lunardi
4. Everyone else

On his final picks, Lunardi's as good as anyone, but I agree he plays the typical ESPN BS whenever required. And I suppose it's a coincidence, but he has St. Joe's a little safter than they are, IMO.

Lunardi is not as good as anyone. Check out bracketmatrix where they compare who the best are.

 

[Gopher+RamFan]

Say hi to RichmondInsider for me!

Oh I'll be on the lookout!

 

[Rouser]

Nebraska currently has 10 BT wins and the best we can do is 8. Has a Big Ten team ever jumped over another BT team that had 2 more conference wins........for ncaa bid that is.

The fact that Nebraska didn't have to travel to the Barn makes the 2 game swing a little more even.. If the situation were in reverse and the only game was in the Barn, the odds are we would both have a 9-9 record (if they lose to Wisky). Nebraska is a nice story with some good wins. They also have some bad losses and a bad non conference schedule (compared to Gophers). If Wisky can win at Nebraska (another schedule quirk favoring Nebraska as they don't travel to Wisky) and we beat Penn State, I think both teams are even (despite conference record) as it comes to selection Sunday. Meaning performance in the BTT could separate the two. I can also see BOTH teams making it if the Gophers win 2 or 3 in a row. Bottom line, win Sunday and lets go from there..

2 wins minimum, 3 will lock us in IMO

 

[ethomasp31]

ESPN has Nebraska's RPI at 43, while the Gophers is at 49. I'm beginning to think the Gophers will need a good win to make the tournament....not just two wins against Penn State. We are 3-9 against teams with an RPI in the top 50. I thought we were in with two more wins.....but I'm a little less confident right now that two wins will do it. I think we need to beat Wisconsin as well.

 

[topos]

Lunardi is not as good as anyone. Check out bracketmatrix where they compare who the best are.

I think we all are curious to know if you happen to be a fan if the bracket matrix?

 

[USTHoops]

Here's who we cheer for according to Palm to help our RPI (and it's an interesting little thing for those of you who haven't found the Palm reader)

New Orleans needs to beat Lamar

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi needs to beat McNeese State

Richmond needs to beat Virginia Commonwealth

Iowa needs to beat Michigan State

Montana needs to beat Sacramento State

Lots left to shake out in the coming 9 days. it's getting dicey!

New Orleans is getting pounded by Lamar 58-38 in the second

Texas A&M-CC is up 62-45 in second

Richmond up 4 at half

Iowa up 2 at half

Montana and Sacramento St. Is just beginning

 

[BJN]

New Orleans is getting pounded by Lamar 58-38 in the second

Texas A&M-CC is up 62-45 in second

Richmond up 4 at half

Iowa up 2 at half

Montana and Sacramento St. Is just beginning

Iowa gets blown out in the second half.

Richmond loses by two.

****.

 

[Dano564]

ESPN has Nebraska's RPI at 43, while the Gophers is at 49. I'm beginning to think the Gophers will need a good win to make the tournament....not just two wins against Penn State. We are 3-9 against teams with an RPI in the top 50. I thought we were in with two more wins.....but I'm a little less confident right now that two wins will do it. I think we need to beat Wisconsin as well.

It's looking ugly for the Gophers. Not playing for a week during a week like this in the past has been a good thing as other teams choke it away, but almost every team that needed to win this week has won making the Gophers an afterthought.

 

[Twinsfan007]

wow, watching that Richmond game I just had a feeling they were going to lose it. How do you miss a easy tip in from that close?.....oh wait (It's okay Mo!)

 

[ethomasp31]

That wouldn't really be fair for the Gophers to have 10 home games in the B1G and Nebraska to only have 8. We would have had to have another road game, where we have only beaten Penn State and Northwestern, and had to take away a home game which we probably already won. Nebraska would get to replace another road game with a home game also. So actually, it would have very low odds that we both would be 9-9 if that game would have been at the Barn.

 

[BieberHole69]

Utah certainly has no chance for an at-large bid if it loses, extremely doubtful even with a win. I was beyond generous adding the Utes to the radar this morning. Their nonconference schedule ranks #339 (of 349) in the country. But I couldn't ignore the Utes' 4 RPI top-50 wins, with the opportunity for at least 2 or 3 more.

I think Stanford's squarely on the bubble, but that changes if they lose at home to Utah. That would be back-to-back home losses to end the regular season, both against good but not great opponents. That would scream, "Don't select us."

Even with a win, Stanford will have some work to do.

I remember reading somewhere during the pre-season that is was the tourney or bust for Stanford. They had some high expectations. Here's to the Cardinal $hitting the bed vs. Utah, missing the tourney, Dawkins getting fired, and you know who rethinking his collegiate decision. A slim chance, no doubt.