Week #16 - Games of Interest

[KevanBoyles]

I think Davidson losing the way they did tonight greatly increases our chances of winning on Saturday which we need and it doesn’t matter if it’s Q1 or Q2 win. The most important thing is getting the win.

I mean saying it doesn’t matter if it’s a Q1 or Q2 is just flat out 100% wrong.

The NCAA made the Quad system to determine at large bids and seeding, so how the hell can you say it doesn’t matter?

To me, the most important thing is to get in the tourney and winning at Davidson is all that matters to take the next step to accomplish that. Once we’re in, I’ll worry about seeding.

[steviep123]

St Louis and Davidson losing was without question worst case scenario for us.

Won’t matter if we do our job and win.

Ding Ding Ding!

[RhodyRam86]

I think Davidson losing the way they did tonight greatly increases our chances of winning on Saturday which we need and it doesn’t matter if it’s Q1 or Q2 win. The most important thing is getting the win.

I mean saying it doesn’t matter if it’s a Q1 or Q2 is just flat out 100% wrong.

The NCAA made the Quad system to determine at large bids and seeding, so how the hell can you say it doesn’t matter?

To me, the most important thing is to get in the tourney and winning at Davidson is all that matters to take the next step to accomplish that. Once we’re in, I’ll worry about seeding.

KevanBoyles...We need to win at Davidson anyway...so you don't think a Q1 win at Davidson would look better to the selection committee than a Q2 win?

[reef]

Yes it would have been better had Davidson won but it won’t make as much of a difference if we go there and win , a loss is going to sting regardless and a win gets us pretty damn close to dancing , just trying to put a positive spin

Also Stanford Washington is Thursday not tonight

[KevanBoyles]

I mean saying it doesn’t matter if it’s a Q1 or Q2 is just flat out 100% wrong.

The NCAA made the Quad system to determine at large bids and seeding, so how the hell can you say it doesn’t matter?

To me, the most important thing is to get in the tourney and winning at Davidson is all that matters to take the next step to accomplish that. Once we’re in, I’ll worry about seeding.

KevanBoyles...We need to win at Davidson anyway...so you don't think a Q1 win at Davidson would look better to the selection committee than a Q2 win?

Yes, but I was very scared of the roll Davidson was going to be on with a win tonight. I think the loss at St. Joes rips their hearts out and bodes well for us on Saturday.

[Section104]

The reality is if Davidson/St Louis laid an egg tonight they’re likely to lay another egg at some point this season, which due to the weakness in the bottom of the A10 will push them back a quadrant.

We need to win. We need to use whatever blueprint St. Joes and Umass put together and exploit the same weaknesses. If we win 4 of our last 5 then 1 additional Q1 or 1 additional Q2 win will maybe have a small impact on our seed.

Do I wish they both won? Absolutely, but nothing we can do about it now and I think there are some positives to pull from Davidson not being as confident entering our Saturday Game.

[Rhodymob05]

St Louis is confusing. Strong team but just forgets to show up sometimes.

[RhodyRam86]

To me, the most important thing is to get in the tourney and winning at Davidson is all that matters to take the next step to accomplish that. Once we’re in, I’ll worry about seeding.

KevanBoyles...We need to win at Davidson anyway...so you don't think a Q1 win at Davidson would look better to the selection committee than a Q2 win?

Yes, but I was very scared of the roll Davidson was going to be on with a win tonight. I think the loss at St. Joes rips their hearts out and bodes well for us on Saturday.

ok...i'm on the fence as to how much i think that loss will effect davidson on saturday, but at least you've added some rationale to your stance and i can appreciate that.

[KevanBoyles]

KevanBoyles...We need to win at Davidson anyway...so you don't think a Q1 win at Davidson would look better to the selection committee than a Q2 win?

Yes, but I was very scared of the roll Davidson was going to be on with a win tonight. I think the loss at St. Joes rips their hearts out and bodes well for us on Saturday.

ok...i'm on the fence as to how much i think that loss will effect davidson on saturday, but at least you've added some rationale to your stance and i can appreciate that.

Thanks 86.

[KevanBoyles]

Preston Santos played for UMass tonight. 13 points on 5-7 shooting. 3-4 from 3.

[reef]

Purdue loses and now sits at 14-13

Can we please put them out of the field on bracket matrix tomorrow????

[DC_Rams]

With all this “must win” talk, you guys do know that, these boys WANT to win EVERY game, right?

They said they play every game like they are the “hunted”.

[adam914]

I get that Davidson and St. Louis winning would have been a better outcome for us, but bottom line is if Davidson losing to St Joes somehow ends up affecting our tournament chances then we will have fucked up somewhere along the way, so I don't think it's worth worrying about it too much.

[Joe95]

I love Bones Hyland, kid is absolutely fearless.

[adam914]

With all this “must win” talk, you guys do know that, these boys WANT to win EVERY game, right?

They said they play every game like they are the “hunted”.

Wait...they WANT to win EVERY game!?!? I'm going to need to know your source on this.

[DC_Rams]

With all this “must win” talk, you guys do know that, these boys WANT to win EVERY game, right?

They said they play every game like they are the “hunted”.

Wait...they WANT to win EVERY game!?!? I'm going to need to know your source on this.

If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.

[SandorClegane]

Bones is a stud. Also, I noticed VCU fans crap on this kid Vann a lot. After watching this Dayton/VCU game, I totally get it. He’s frustrating to watch and I don’t even root for VCU. This VCU team would be really good if they had one 6’9 kid who could play solid defense.

[Joe95]

VCU is giving us a defensive blueprint to disrupt Dayton in Kingston.

[Rhodymob05]

Difference in this game is free throws, in favor of the Flyers.

[NYGFan_Section208]

Difference in this game is free throws, in favor of the Flyers.

9-13 vs 7-13?

[PeterRamTime]

Flyers are too poised for VCU.


We better smack Davidson on Saturday.

They some LOSERS today. Same with Saint Louis.

[Rhodymob05]

Difference in this game is free throws, in favor of the Flyers.

9-13 vs 7-13?

I wouldn’t have guessed it was that close by watching

[NYGFan_Section208]

I know it's early, but does VCU storm if they win? (I vote yes)

[reef]

Dayton VCU in an absolute war great game !!!

Yes court storm in order with a win

[PeterRamTime]

SO MANY FOULS

[steviep123]

It seems as if there’s something off with Toppin. He seems a step slow like his knee or leg is bothering him. Just slightly.

[Joe95]

VCU can't get over the hump, missing free throws left and right. This could very well be a tie game, but Dayton will prevail.

[SandorClegane]

Bones is a stud. Also, I noticed VCU fans crap on this kid Vann a lot. After watching this Dayton/VCU game, I totally get it. He’s frustrating to watch and I don’t even root for VCU. This VCU team would be really good if they had one 6’9 kid who could play solid defense.

Didn’t mean to quote myself but totally gonna roll with it. VCU fans also always state that the coach relies too much on his seniors. From the outside, I don’t blame him. But after watching the game, this Dayton game has been one of the most poorly coached games I’ve seen in a while. VCU has two good players... MSS and bones. Both led this nice comeback in the second half. Then he sat Bones for the last 10 minutes and the offense has stalled. Get the kid back in the game for crying out loud.

[steviep123]

Dayton has scored at least 70 points in every game this year. (The only team to do this). This is in jeopardy unless this goes to overtime.

[steviep123]

How many bunnies can VCU miss?

[TruePoint]

and there goes any chance of another q1 win.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

not sure i can make sense of your art there TP??

“What are you gonna do?” is I guess how I’d translate it there. URI has to win 4 more games - and probably 5 to be safe - between now and when we leave Brooklyn. All these other games are going to be played and some results will help and some will hurt, and there’s not much we can do about it.

Chaos is a ladder, and it’s chaos time of year in college basketball. I’m going to try to just enjoy it. Que sera, sera.

[reef]

Dayton wins 66-61 stay unbeaten in league

[NYGFan_Section208]

Dayton wins 66-61 stay unbeaten in league

To quote TP...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ramster]

I am rooting for the Dayton Flyers

I love seeing #5 Ranked Dayton (or any A10 Team) high high up in the AP Rankings. It’s great publicity for the A10
Just like #4 San Diego State is good for the Mountain West and #2 Gonzaga is great publicity for the West Coast Conference. Got to root for the Mid Majors.

I can’t recall ever seeing 3 of the Top 5 AP Teams being from Mid Major Conferences!!!! Great stuff.

Baylor is #1, Kansas #3
These Mid Majors have to be driving the P5 and BE Conference Teams nuts
I’d want Dayton to keep winning at this point til we play them on Senior Night. They could be even higher than #5 by then if Baylor, Kansas, Gonzaga or SDSU falter.
Imagine if 3 Mid Majors were to have the #1 Seeds in the NCAA Tournament?
Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale would need to be put in a padded room.

Congrats to #5 Dayton

• Dayton next has Duquesne at home 2pm Saturday

• #3 Kansas is at #1 Baylor Saturday 12 noon in a huge game

• #2 Gonzaga is at #23 BYU Saturday 10pm

• If Dayton beats Duquesne Saturday, Dayton should be #4 Ranked in AP Monday and possibly even #3 if BYU upsets Gonzaga

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

[RF1]

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

It certainly is great for Dayton that they got another win tonight and are climbing in the polls
I however do not think it is necessarily great for the A- 10 when none of the teams in the league can beat Dayton. For many it says Dayton is very good but the rest of the conference sucks.

I would much rather have many teams from the A- 10 in the polls than a single team in the top five.

[ramster]

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

It certainly is great for Dayton that they got another win tonight and are climbing in the polls
I however do not think it is necessarily great for the A- 10 when none of the teams in the league can beat Dayton. For many it says Dayton is very good but the rest of the conference sucks.

I would much rather have many teams from the A- 10 in the polls than a single team in the top five.

It’s not over yet. URI May very well have something to say about that undefeated record.
San Diego State and Gonzaga are other Mid Majors dominating their Leagues. Baylor and Kansas too.
Interesting to look back at the Preseason Coaches Poll:

Dayton got only 1 first place vote, Davidson 8, VCU a whopping 19.

PRESEASON POLL (First-place votes in parenthesis)

1. VCU (19) ............................................................ 381
2. Davidson (8) .................................................... 359
3. Dayton (1) ......................................................... 341
4. Rhode Island ................................................... 283
5. St. Bonaventure .............................................. 280
6. Richmond ......................................................... 248
7. Saint Louis ........................................................ 225
8. Duquesne ........................................................ 196
9. George Mason ................................................ 185
10. La Salle .............................................................. 133
11. Massachusetts ................................................ 103
12. George Washington ..................................... 93
13. Saint Joseph’s ................................................. 65
14. Fordham ........................................................... 48

[Section104]

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

It certainly is great for Dayton that they got another win tonight and are climbing in the polls
I however do not think it is necessarily great for the A- 10 when none of the teams in the league can beat Dayton. For many it says Dayton is very good but the rest of the conference sucks.

I would much rather have many teams from the A- 10 in the polls than a single team in the top five.

I tend to agree with this, but Baylor is undefeated in Big 12 and Kansas has 1 loss (to Baylor). Similarly, Gonzaga is running away with the West Coast and San Diego State with the Mountain West. Good teams can roll through their conference - it’s not like Dayton’s wins are all 15+

[ramster]

From CBS Sports

Dayton is a top five college basketball team for the first time in 64 years. The Flyers jumped a spot in the AP Top 25 on Monday to No. 5 after a 2-0 week that included a convincing 81-67 victory over a Rhode Island team projected to make the NCAA Tournament.
It marks the first time since the 1955-56 season that the Flyers have reached the top five in the AP poll. Dayton (23-2, 12-0 Atlantic 10) has won 14 straight games and is just six wins away from going undefeated in conference play for the first time in program history.
Staying in the top five won't be a cakewalk for Dayton, though. The Flyers have two Quadrant 1 road games remaining on their schedule, starting with a Tuesday trip to VCU. Dayton must also face Rhode Island on the road in the final week of the regular season.

[ramster]

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

It certainly is great for Dayton that they got another win tonight and are climbing in the polls
I however do not think it is necessarily great for the A- 10 when none of the teams in the league can beat Dayton. For many it says Dayton is very good but the rest of the conference sucks.

I would much rather have many teams from the A- 10 in the polls than a single team in the top five.

I tend to agree with this, but Baylor is undefeated in Big 12 and Kansas has 1 loss (to Baylor). Similarly, Gonzaga is running away with the West Coast and San Diego State with the Mountain West. Good teams can roll through their conference - it’s not like Dayton’s wins are all 15+

Dayton is just a very good team. Got to give them credit. The higher Dayton is ranked by the first Wednesday in March the bigger that game becomes for URI and the Atlantic 10

[ramster]

Great stuff for Dayton and for the A10

It certainly is great for Dayton that they got another win tonight and are climbing in the polls
I however do not think it is necessarily great for the A- 10 when none of the teams in the league can beat Dayton. For many it says Dayton is very good but the rest of the conference sucks.

I would much rather have many teams from the A- 10 in the polls than a single team in the top five.

I tend to agree with this, but Baylor is undefeated in Big 12 and Kansas has 1 loss (to Baylor). Similarly, Gonzaga is running away with the West Coast and San Diego State with the Mountain West. Good teams can roll through their conference - it’s not like Dayton’s wins are all 15+

Of the Top 5 Teams on AP:
Baylor, Gonzaga, San Diego State and Dayton are all undefeated in Conference play
Only Kansas has 1 loss
Kansas plays at Baylor Saturday

It’s just that Top 5 Teams tend to have very few losses by definition

I’m sure Bernadette McGlade, our AD and President, David Cox and his staff are all glad to see a school from the A10 ranked #5 with the real possibility of moving even higher by Monday

It would be awesome to have an A10 team ranked #1. A lot of great A10 publicity would be had.

[TulaneGradRamFan]

With all this “must win” talk, you guys do know that, these boys WANT to win EVERY game, right?

They said they play every game like they are the “hunted”.

Wait...they WANT to win EVERY game!?!? I'm going to need to know your source on this.

Do they do any meditations and visualizations of themselves playing various teams and beating them does anyone know? Visualizing yourself repeatedly over the course of several days/weeks as if you were watching yourself in a movie doing an outstanding performance with lots of admiration and support from others can anchor in your subconscious and really help you to manifest bringing that or something better into physical reality.

If I were the coach I would do guided meditations with the team after practice narrating a perfect game describing them playing in the NCAAs and how each player was doing so well while constantly improving that they made their way to the final four with everyone cheering for them and mentioning the Media being so surprised but giving them lots of attention.

There would be no harm in them putting that idea out into the universe and planting that kind of a seed. The idea is you just put the idea out there and at the end of the guided meditation say "May this or something better now manifest for the higher good of all concerned. So be it, so it is." You don't focus too hard on it.

[Billyboy78]

Is it just me or does St. Joe's look like a better team without Daly?

[ramster]

Is it just me or does St. Joe's look like a better team without Daly?

Billyboy,
I was thinking the same thing last night. I think they are a better team without him

[RhowdyRam02]

In tonight's bubble action

First out Purdue is at Wisconsin at 7 on ESPN
Fifth out Stanford is at Washington at 10
Sixth out Arkansas is at Florida at 7 on ESPNU

Purdue lost 69-65
Stanford didn't play Washington, that game is tomorrow. Not sure what happened there, CBS must have flipped dates on me at some point when I was checking and I didn't notice
Arkansas lost 73-59

Bubble teams are 65-61

[RhowdyRam02]

In tonight's bubble action

First out Purdue is at Wisconsin at 7 on ESPN
Fifth out Stanford is at Washington at 10
Sixth out Arkansas is at Florida at 7 on ESPNU

Purdue and Arkansas have already thus far lost tonight. Stanford tips off late tonight.

Uhh, about that Stanford game...

[Rhodymob05]

Is it just me or does St. Joe's look like a better team without Daly?

He is their best player, but his time of possession definitely hurt the team chemistry piece.

[DC_Rams]

Is it just me or does St. Joe's look like a better team without Daly?

He is their best player, but his time of possession definitely hurt the team chemistry piece.

Kids can play more loose now that the offense isn’t predicated on him scoring. They are playing with that nothing to lose mentality. Can be dangerous!

[ramster]

Is it just me or does St. Joe's look like a better team without Daly?

He is their best player, but his time of possession definitely hurt the team chemistry piece.

Kids can play more loose now that the offense isn’t predicated on him scoring. They are playing with that nothing to lose mentality. Can be dangerous!

Circle on your calendars
Leap Year Day February 29
Fordham @ St Joseph’s 1pm
Battle for the bottom

[RhowdyRam02]

In tonight's bubble action

Last bye Virginia vs Boston College at 8
Fourth to last in Georgetown vs Providence at 8:30 on FS1
Third to last in Cincinnati vs Central Florida at 7 on ESPNU
Second to last in Utah State vs Wyoming at 9 on ESPN3
Last in Richmond vs George Mason at 7
Second out Alabama vs Texas A&M at 7 on SECN
Third out Mississippi State vs seventh out South Carolina at 9 on SECN
Fourth out NC State vs #6 Duke at 9 on ESPN
Eighth out Memphis vs East Carolina at 7 on CBSSN

[PeterRamTime]

Go underdogs except for George Mason!