NCAA Tournament - General Discussion

The Dude · Unread post by **The Dude** » 9 years ago

Valparaiso won their conference tournament and is in the big dance. The last time Valpo was in the dance was in '98 when Rhody beat them to advance to play Stanford. The rest is history. Tyson...we still love you.

LET'S GO RHODY! WE CAN'T LET VALPO BEAT US TO THE DANCE!

When I saw Valpo had advanced to the big dance I started to feel a little Deja Vu coming on, so I took a walk down memory lane and below is what I found. It's kind of fascinating. Unfortunately, Rhody will have to win more in the A10 tournament to get into this year's NCAA Tournament than the '98 team had to do to get in, but the comparison is a bit intriguing. I'm just happy to be typing about a good Rhody team and the possibility of Rhody having a decent post season in the same sentence.

Rhody in '97-'98:
Finished 2nd in conference.
Conference record was 12-4.
Ended conference play (prior to tournament) with 21-7 record.
Conference Tournament: Won quarterfinal game, then lost semi-final game.
Post Season Tournament: NCAA birth and went to elite eight.

Rhody currently:
Finished tied for 2nd in conference (according to record only...obviously Dayton won the head to head).
Conference record is 13-5.
Ended conference play (prior to tournament) with 22-8.
Conference Tournament: ???
Post Season Tournament: ???

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Actually Valpo has been to five NCAAs since 1998.

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

There is a list of schools in the NCAA that have never reached an NCAA,
constantly shown, in reference to St. Francis Brooklyn never making the NCAAs.
UNH started playing in 1906, so they'd be an original NCAA team
Same with Maine. Neither has ever made the NCAAs, so not sure why they're not on that list.
UNH's All-Time Overall Record: 812–1324 (.380), HAS to be the worst in NCAA history.
They actually went 19-12 this year, which may be their best record ever.

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 9 years ago

I believe the 5 "original" teams listed are Army, The Citadel, St. Francis (Brooklyn), Northwestern, and William & Mary.

W&M had a shot this season against our old friend Bill Coen. I feel like Chris Collins will get Northwestern a berth within the next 3 years. You're right Rod, I don't know what an "original" team is classified as.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Really. Maine and UNH are old programs, dating back to the beginning
of the 20th century.
I rooted for St. Francis, but they kinda choked down the stretch.
Army has has like one winning season in the last few decades.
Long way from the days when Knight and Coach K lead the Black Knights.
W&M and St. Francis got so close this year......

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 9 years ago

I was pulling for St. Francis too, free throws were their demise at the end. W&M had probably the most exciting game I've seen this year against Hofstra in the semifinals of the CAA tournament. I love watching these smaller conference tournaments, lots of talent that gets little to no exposure during the season.

PlayMikeMotenMore · Unread post by **PlayMikeMotenMore** » 9 years ago

You may think Chris Collins will get Northwestern there but the reality is he'll have to climb over some very established programs and coaches to do it. I don't think Wisconsin, Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan (lost 2 injured starters this year), and others will be taking a step back any time soon. In fact, Purdue stepped up this year and Illinois has talent in the program.

So unless Collins can get his program beyond those aforementioned schools and hold off Minnesota and Indiana, then he's still got his work cut out for him.

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

Army athletics I think suffer becauase the Army actually has been fighting wars the past decade.

There is a show or documentary I guess you could call it that follows the Army football team right after 9\11. Interesting stuff. The guys say they went to West Point intending to never fight any battle.

Obviously the 50s were much different times, but the last quarter of the 20th century those kids didn't anticipate actually fighting.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 9 years ago

That 98 team got thumped in the A10 tourney by a good Xavier team, before going on there NCAA run. I think the X team with Lumpkin and Larkin? Regardless, they didnt need to do much in the conf tourney to get a bid, this one has to win it all to advance. So I am not seeing the similarities besides the record.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

People go to West Point and don't like the idea of combat, when called?
The place of Lee, Grant, Eisenhower, and MacArthur.
What do they think West Point is there for? It's to train America's future
Army officers for war or possible war, not to get a free ride at taxpayer's expense.
They are considered US Army assigned to West Point.

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 9 years ago

Moten, being a Spartan lifer as well, you're right about navigating the pitfalls of the Big Ten. Not saying they'll win any titles while he's there, they certainly won't. But to be part of that middle pack of Iowa/Indiana/Illinois/Minnesota isn't a stretch. They have a solid freshman core this year with McIntosh and Vic Law leading the way. They have a guy who Rhody fans should be familiar with, Aaron Falzon coming in next year, an ESPN Top 100 guy. I can definitely see them as that 6th or 7th team that gets in from the Big Ten in 2-3 years.

rhodyrudder · Unread post by **rhodyrudder** » 9 years ago

Murray st.?
They just might have a chance...

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

rhodyrudder wrote:Murray st.?
They just might have a chance...

I apologize if this is sarcasm. But if not - I'm starting to get nauseous with the talk about Murray State being deserving of anything but an NIT second round exit...if not first. If they didn't win their conference regular season...they are barely an NIT team.

RPI 70, SOS 260, Average win #216, Average loss #122. Best win home vs #66 Illinois State (NIT), worst lost home vs #251

0-1 vs top 50, 1-1 vs 51-100...3 games against teams that are "tournament quality." The 2 NCAA teams they played, Xavier and Valpo, EMBARRASSED them by 27 and 35 respectively.

They were 15-1 outside of the top 200, and have a home loss against #251 Houston.

Of their 30 games, 27 were outside of the top 100, 22 of those outside of the top 150. It's fucking absurd to even consider them tournament worthy.

For comparison to URI: RPI 65, SOS 129, Average win #174, Average loss #59. Best win away #52, worst loss away #159.

0-5 vs top 50, 5-1 vs 51-100. Averaged single digit losses in those contests.

Please for the love of God stop talking about Murray state. They would get throttled in an NCAA game, and will probably lose by double digits in an NIT match up.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:People go to West Point and don't like the idea of combat, when called?
The place of Lee, Grant, Eisenhower, and MacArthur.
What do they think West Point is there for? It's to train America's future
Army officers for war or possible war, not to get a free ride at taxpayer's expense.
They are considered US Army assigned to West Point.

I think the point he was trying to make is that the military academies are struggling to recruit athletes because kids just want to play their sport and get a degree. The specter of being sent to a war is not a great tool in recruiting.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

BYU is the interesting case this year, only 1 top 50 win but it was Gonzaga. also have 3 more wins vs 51-100 but also 3 bad losses (100+)

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

It's in the documentary I'm talking about. The class of '01 went to the school not expecting to fight a war. I'm sure that was the norm.

After 9/11 going to West Point has obviously meant you would have to lead men in battle. Kids in high school have not been jumping for that. At least not kids that would translate into better athletic programs.

Explaining West Point to me?? Yea I didn't go there I went to uri but I've been in a platoon that was led by lieutenants that were about to be relieved for cause and LTs that I would run through a brick wall for. I believe in West Point. Many do not.

PlayMikeMotenMore · Unread post by **PlayMikeMotenMore** » 9 years ago

BPR2010...Northwestern had some good freshmen. Don't know if they'll have enough good players to vault into the middle of the Big Ten. Those other schools (Illinois, Minnesota, etc.) have guys on scholarship too.

BPR2010 · Unread post by **BPR2010** » 9 years ago

We can agree to disagree Moten, that's the joy of this forum. I just think NWestern finally has the athletes to hang with the middle of that pack, they've never really had them before. I'm giving it 2-3 years, when this year's freshmen and incoming 2015 class are juniors and seniors. You know there won't be any leaving early from Evanston!

Gonebarongone · Unread post by **Gonebarongone** » 9 years ago

Let's not make the middle of the present BIG 10 into 1985 Big East. It's pretty mediocre these days. Illinois might have given a way a bid and Minnesota isn't going anywhere. And Northwestern's 2014 and 2015 classes are good. I think they will compete finally for a bid over the next few years.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

ace · Unread post by **ace** » 9 years ago

Tournament time is the best but not so easy on the nerves

http://zagsblog.com/articles/both-hurle ... ate-title/

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

I'd have to disagree with Bobby saying we had no tradition.
He should look up Frank Keaney, Jack Kraft, Ernie Calverley,
Sly Williams, Jim Harrick, Tom Penders, and Lamar Odom, among others.
We may not have Duke's pedegree, but we sure aren't UNH.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

rodfromcranston wrote:I'd have to disagree with Bobby saying we had no tradition.
He should look up Frank Keaney, Jack Kraft, Ernie Calverley,
Sly Williams, Jim Harrick, Tom Penders, and Lamar Odom, among others.
We may not have Duke's pedegree, but we sure aren't UNH.

Dan has talked positively about our tradition many times.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Guess Bobby wasn't listening.......

bressler3south · Unread post by **bressler3south** » 9 years ago

Love this season record…….16-17, 8-10 SEC.

Ah, Florida….The Transfer State.

rhodyrudder · Unread post by **rhodyrudder** » 9 years ago

not sure that this is the right thread for this post, but...

there are 2 tourneys now in ny,

but 3 going on simultaneously in vegas...wow

The Dude · Unread post by **The Dude** » 9 years ago

Notre Dame beats Duke! So happy! It is almost St. Patrick's Day. Luck of the Irish coming up big!

On a separate note:
Who can possibly beat Kentucky in the Tournament? I have no idea...especially after Virginia lost to UNC today and Villanova barely beat PC.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Wisconsin. They are big, deep and can play defense.
They have Frank The Tank, who is awesome.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

I would love to see Wisconsin win it all. they are capable.

BTW, fucking UConn is probably going to steal another bid. Playing their tourney at home, what a fucking joke! Mickey Mouse league.

At least they have ZERO chance of repeating last year. They are nowhere near as good.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

The Dude wrote:Notre Dame beats Duke! So happy! It is almost St. Patrick's Day. Luck of the Irish coming up big!

On a separate note:
Who can possibly beat Kentucky in the Tournament? I have no idea...especially after Virginia lost to UNC today and Villanova barely beat PC.

And a very nice game from Bonzie Colson coming off the bench to lead ND in scoring in the upset over Duke.
Colson with a nice line of 17 points, 7-8 FT, 5 rebounds.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

The one that got away from PC - Joe Young - was POY in the conference
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?categoryI ... d=12481197

seanmc94 · Unread post by **seanmc94** » 9 years ago

Kid is like 35; crazy how things work out. His scholly turned into Bryce Cotton

CTRamfan · Unread post by **CTRamfan** » 9 years ago

Here is a shocker in my mind.
.....ESPN which doesn't really cover the A10, has in their "BPI" updated this morning,

URI ranked 48, and "projected in as a 12 seed".

rjsuperfly66 · Unread post by **rjsuperfly66** » 9 years ago

Which perfectly illustrates the stupidity of the BPI's intended purpose.

CTRamfan · Unread post by **CTRamfan** » 9 years ago

I always figured the BPI was a slanted system to promote the conferences ESPN broadcasts......Maybe not so.

Their explanation is that it differs from the RPI in the amount of weight the RPI puts on SOS. The BPI is more performance based.

section(105) · Unread post by **section(105)** » 9 years ago

Where is the tourney next year?

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Pittsburgh, then DC.

rhodyrudder · Unread post by **rhodyrudder** » 9 years ago

CTRamfan wrote:Here is a shocker in my mind.
.....ESPN which doesn't really cover the A10, has in their "BPI" updated this morning,

URI ranked 48, and "projected in as a 12 seed".

Updated joe lunardi bracketology today on espn.com has us in next 4 out just ahead of buffalo...
I'm telling you, 1 more win just might be enough...

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 9 years ago

Beat Dayton and we are in!

Will elevate the stupid RPI enough to make URI an easy choice.

Really mid major with 23 wins and we are out? Some real interesting like able players/ good stories and we are out? Head coach from BB royalty and we are out?

Not buying your negativity folks....not with this club!

Seawrightspostgame · Unread post by **Seawrightspostgame** » 9 years ago

We won last night with heart. Dial up a big hassan martin game!! More heart!!

A10 champs.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 9 years ago

Hahaha nooooo make it stop!

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 9 years ago

adam914 wrote:Hahaha nooooo make it stop!

That just could be the best avatar ever adam914!!!

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 9 years ago

hrstrat57 wrote:
adam914 wrote:Hahaha nooooo make it stop!
That just could be the best avatar ever adam914!!!

Haha thanks, from last nights game. I saw it and had to rewind and pause it so i could grab a picture with my phone. Way too good to pass up!

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 9 years ago

ramster wrote:The one that got away from PC - Joe Young - was POY in the conference
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?categoryI ... d=12481197

I saw that and was wondering if that was the same kid. Thanks for posting this.

hrstrat57 · Unread post by **hrstrat57** » 9 years ago

Yeah saw it too - the Hurley interview after the game talking about his parents input from the stands was classic.

We are playing loose and free. We have a lock down defense ( and I mean really lock down defense!!) in place!

I have seen a lot of basketball....this is really coming together and URI is a super dangerous team now!

We know we will be in foul trouble with these officials and we responded with some solid bench play.

Impressive!

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Congratulations to Bobby Hurley and Buffalo on their first trip ever
to the NCAAs.
Bobby beat two former local coaches, Jim Baron and tonight,
Keno Davis of Central Michigan.
The Bulls are fun to watch.
Bobby is the first to the NCAAs of the Hurley brothers.

ramfan85 · Unread post by **ramfan85** » 9 years ago

Hard to beat a Keno Davis team.

PlayMikeMotenMore · Unread post by **PlayMikeMotenMore** » 9 years ago

Good job by Buffalo. Lost to Central Michigan twice during regular season and then beat them in the conference tourney finals.

CMU vs. URI in the NIT???

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