Thursday Bubblicious Report: Hoosiers likely gagged away their NCAA hopes

[SelectionSunday]

Thursday Bubblicious Report: Major opportunity awaits Gophers

A hard to ignore fact.

If the Gophers win in Madison tonight, it will be nearly impossible for them to screw up getting a NCAA bid. That's how much this one could get them over the hump. With a sweep of the Badgers the Gophers would have some margin for error down the stretch, not to mention a much-needed 4th RPI top-50 win (and 3rd top 25).

No time like the present. Why wait until Sunday to ensure this road trip is no worse than a split?

Wednesday Bubbler Results
VCU 92, #28 George Washington 75 (GW still in solid shape for at-large bid)
#42 Richmond 75, Duquesne 58 (gritty Spiders now 2-0 since losing their leading scorer)
Washington 64, #46 Stanford 60 (not a fatal loss for Cardinal, but a bad one nonetheless)
#48 Cal 80, Wazzu 76 (Golden Bears survive The Palouse in OT)
#53 Indiana State 68, Bradley 62 (Sycamores pretty much need to win out until MVC title game)
#58 Dayton 76, Rhode Island 69 (Flyers quietly have a solid resume, despite A-10 struggles)
#60 Boise State 71, New Mexico 70 (Broncos log the night's most critical bubble win, but will it be enough?)
#64 Nebraska 67, Illinois 58 (if Huskers win in East Lansing this weekend, bubble talk becomes very real)
Texas A&M 83, #66 LSU 73 (Tigers a talented enigma)
Penn State 66, #95 Indiana 65 (smattering of boos after Hoosiers gag away late 10-point lead)

Thursday Bubblers
#80 Arkansas @ #50 Mizzou, 6 (ESPN2)
#41 GOPHERS @ Wisconsin, 8 (ESPN)
#61 Saint John's @ Seton Hall, 8 (FS1)
Florida Atlantic @ #81 UTEP, 8:05
#44 BYU @ Pacific, 10
San Diego @ #52 Saint Mary's, 10

 

[Blizzard]

I watched the end of the game last night and I am thankful we're not having the trouble we did last year inbounding the ball.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I watched the end of the game last night and I am thankful we're not having the trouble we did last year inbounding the ball.

I actually felt bad for Indiana, which is kind of strange because I can't stomach Crean. Painful to watch a meltdown like that (we've seen plenty of 'em in Gopherville), but it pretty much killed the Hoosiers' NCAA chances so I'm good with that.

 

[Ope3]

Huskers

A hard to ignore fact.

#64 Nebraska 67, Illinois 58 (if Huskers win in East Lansing this weekend, bubble talk becomes very real)

Question for SS - If the Huskers lose to MSU but still get to 9-9 and win their BTT opener how would you rate their odds?

Given their schedule it looks very feasible.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Question for SS - If the Huskers lose to MSU but still get to 9-9 and win their BTT opener how would you rate their odds?

Given their schedule it looks very feasible.

That's a tough one. I'd say about a 55% chance provided they beat Wisconsin in the final game of the regular season.

But 9-9 (10-10 if including the BTT) without a win over Sparty or Wisconsin (easily the 2 toughest games remaining on their schedule)? Maybe 40%?

Not getting much help from their "nonconference wins". It wouldn't hurt the Huskers if both Georgia (currently #101 in the RPI) and Miami-Florida (#108) sneak into the top 100.

 

[Section201]

I actually felt bad for Indiana, which is kind of strange because I can't stomach Crean. Painful to watch a meltdown like that (we've seen plenty of 'em in Gopherville), but it pretty much killed the Hoosiers' NCAA chances so I'm good with that.

Watching I4 and Crean lose is a beautiful thing. Life is good.

 

[Ope3]

That's a tough one. I'd say about a 55% chance provided they beat Wisconsin in the final game of the regular season.

But 9-9 (10-10 if including the BTT) without a win over Sparty or Wisconsin (easily the 2 toughest games remaining on their schedule)? Maybe 40%?

Not getting much help from their "nonconference wins". It wouldn't hurt the Huskers if both Georgia (currently #101 in the RPI) and Miami-Florida (#108) sneak into the top 100.

In their favor they have no bad losses, but they have work to do as far as signature wins & road/neutral record.

 

[MinnesotaBoiler99]

In their favor they have no bad losses, but they have work to do as far as signature wins & road/neutral record.

Nebraska and Minnesota have very similar tourney resumes. The Huskers lost 2 more NC games but they played a much tougher schedule. They also have the head to head win over the Gophers. Neither team has done anything on the road so tonight's game in Madison is huge for MN.

 

[jaymil]

Nebraska and Minnesota have very similar tourney resumes. The Huskers lost 2 more NC games but they played a much tougher schedule. They also have the head to head win over the Gophers. Neither team has done anything on the road so tonight's game in Madison is huge for MN.

Minnesota's non-conference SOS is 34 while Nebraska's is 102. Minnesota has a signature road win in beating Richmond. Using this team comparison it's pretty obvious each team's resume shouldn't be called "very similar".

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology/team-comparison

Tonight's game is important but if we take care of business against Northwestern, Penn State, and Illinois we really only have to win one out of four against Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio State to be a lock.

 

[MadtownGopher]

Tonight's game is important but if we take care of business against Northwestern, Penn State, and Illinois we really only have to win one out of four against Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Ohio State to be a lock.

I really think we can beat Ohio State on the road. They just aren't that good. The other 3 will be tougher.

 

[Dano564]

If we beat NW, PSU, and Illinois we are a lock with a 10-11 seed.
If we win 4 of 7, we are in with at worst a 9 seed.
If we finish 7-11 we are on the bubble for a 11,12,13 seed depending on other bubble teams and Mid-major tournament upsets.

Nebraska's RPI

Indiana at this point is essentially toast. They'd have to win the rest of their games or lose just one to be in consideration.
If Nebraska finished 10-8, they are in the same boat we are in if we go 7-11.
If they go 11-7, they are in.

 

[Dano564]

Thursday Bubblers
#80 Arkansas @ #50 Mizzou, 6 (ESPN2)
#41 GOPHERS @ Wisconsin, 8 (ESPN)
#61 Saint John's @ Seton Hall, 8 (FS1)
Florida Atlantic @ #81 UTEP, 8:05
#44 BYU @ Pacific, 10
San Diego @ #52 Saint Mary's, 10

Go ARKANSAS!!!!
GO GOPHERS!!!
GO SETON HALL!!!!
GO FLORIDA ATLANTIC!
GO PACIFIC.
GO SAN DIEGO!!!

 

[stocker08]

If we win three more.....we should be in. The problem is......there doesn't seem to be any pushover teams in the Big Ten. Even the Illini who are in free fall, could be hitting their shots when we play them. As a middling B10 team, we could beat the best teams or lose to the worst teams simply based upon which team comes out to play.

 

[Dano564]

If we win three more.....we should be in. The problem is......there doesn't seem to be any pushover teams in the Big Ten. Even the Illini who are in free fall, could be hitting their shots when we play them. As a middling B10 team, we could beat the best teams or lose to the worst teams simply based upon which team comes out to play.

Agreed. The only think helping us compared to Indiana, Nebraska, Penn State, Etc., is that we've had a better strength of schedule and the Gophers happened to win some of those games.