Can BU still make the Big Dance?

[Dallas Brave]

The UNI loss put the final nail in the coffin on BU's chances to get an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney. But, I think they have at least a 25% chance of winning the MVC tournament and getting the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. We've seen these kids put together some awesome games this year and the veterens don't shrink from the big game atmosphere. This could be the year for the Braves to win in all in St. Louis. Could happen.

 

[BuBraves55]

all depends on ruffin
usually at least

 

[Braves4Life]

Book a ticket to The Dance

Book a ticket to The Dance

I believe winning out and getting to the MVC Championship game gets us in. Even a loss in the Final will get us in IMO 8)

 

[pfunk880]

Re: Book a ticket to The Dance

Re: Book a ticket to The Dance

I believe winning out and getting to the MVC Championship game gets us in. Even a loss in the Final will get us in IMO 8)

If it's a close loss, we'll at least be in the bubble discussion, but I'd say our chances are sketchy. Especially if we end up going up against MSU in the final. There's just so many teams sitting on the bubble right now... I don't think a 10-8 conference record (12-9 i guess if you take the tourney games into account) and our record against the top 50 get us in. Michigan State beating Wisconsin the other night also really weakened our bubble case because they were right with us on the bubble and already have the blowout non-conference win over us.

As much as I'd like to see Bradley announced on Selection Sunday, I think it's going to take three wins at Arch Madness to make that happen. And I think the Braves are more than capable of pulling that off.

 

[flipper]

if we hit our three-pointers we can beat anybody in st. louis.

 

[MacabreMob]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

 

[flipper]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

thanks. i can't imagine why :wink:

i really do think we can run the table in st. louis. we just need will and daniel to both be on.

 

[MacabreMob]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

thanks. i can't imagine why :wink:

i really do think we can run the table in st. louis. we just need will and daniel to both be on.

I have thought the same as well. I think perimeter shooting teams are hard to beat when they are hot. We are a perimeter shooting team. And when we are hot - we can't be beat.

So how does a team go from hot to cold from 1 game to the next. I have no idea... but I think if we start out hot, we will stay hot and can win the MVC Tourney.

So simply - we need to shoot lights-out in St Louis... and we are capable.

 

[flipper]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

thanks. i can't imagine why :wink:

i really do think we can run the table in st. louis. we just need will and daniel to both be on.

I have thought the same as well. I think perimeter shooting teams are hard to beat when they are hot. We are a perimeter shooting team. And when we are hot - we can't be beat.

So how does a team go from hot to cold from 1 game to the next. I have no idea... but I think if we start out hot, we will stay hot and can win the MVC Tourney.

So simply - we need to shoot lights-out in St Louis... and we are capable.

i couldn't agree more. siu will be the favorite and we already have beat them. so we can do it.

 

[Bravesfan]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

thanks. i can't imagine why :wink:

i really do think we can run the table in st. louis. we just need will and daniel to both be on.

I have thought the same as well. I think perimeter shooting teams are hard to beat when they are hot. We are a perimeter shooting team. And when we are hot - we can't be beat.

So how does a team go from hot to cold from 1 game to the next. I have no idea... but I think if we start out hot, we will stay hot and can win the MVC Tourney.

So simply - we need to shoot lights-out in St Louis... and we are capable.

And we can't panic if our shots are not going down. Every offensive possession needs to be set up with patience, and the extra passes needed to open things up.

Of course we have to tighten up our defense to set up our offense, so a shootout may not always work in our favor, especially against defensive minded teams like SIU.

 

[pfunk880]

I think perimeter shooting teams are hard to beat when they are hot.

Bingo.

We are definitely a team structured to pull off three wins in three days if our shots are falling.

 

[real fan]

I think we need to beat SIU in the semi-finals and get to the championship game; another win over SIU would give us a lot better resume; we need Ruffin, Franklin,Crouch, Andrews, Tuai, Salley,Adams, Warren, and Singh to all contribute if we expect to win this tour.

 

[thefish7]

I don't think an MVC tournament win is a must, provided we play SIU in the 2nd round... Our RPI after a win over Southern, I would think, would be in the low 20s, and that with some of our quality wins, such as VCU, SIU, and apparently Wright St (what???) may be enough to get us that at large bid. As far as I'm concerned though, it's time to win an MVC tournament this year and take away the question.

 

[TheAsianSensation]

It has to be a close loss in a final, after we beat SIU in the semis, to be worthy of an at-large (note that if the 8 seed beats SIU, that pops our bubble no matter what if we lose in the finals).

 

[Dubl R 1]

I've missed you Flipper. :wink:

thanks. i can't imagine why :wink:

i really do think we can run the table in st. louis. we just need will and daniel to both be on.

Probably for your insightful posts, and all around general hoop knowledge. :wink:

 

[Dubl R 1]

I don't think an MVC tournament win is a must, provided we play SIU in the 2nd round... Our RPI after a win over Southern, I would think, would be in the low 20s, and that with some of our quality wins, such as VCU, SIU, and apparently Wright St (what???) may be enough to get us that at large bid. As far as I'm concerned though, it's time to win an MVC tournament this year and take away the question.

How about loyola, is that a good win in the selection committe's minds? They have 20 wins and just beat Butler.(Although I think Butler was way overrated.) If Butler played in the MVC, I think they would have suffered more losses, and would be on the bubble.

 

[BUBraves06]

How about loyola, is that a good win in the selection committe's minds? They have 20 wins and just beat Butler.(Although I think Butler was way overrated.) If Butler played in the MVC, I think they would have suffered more losses, and would be on the bubble.

I duno if they count it as a good win or not, but Loyola is definately getting hot at the right time, they've won 7 in a row.

 

[MacabreMob]

I don't think an MVC tournament win is a must, provided we play SIU in the 2nd round... Our RPI after a win over Southern, I would think, would be in the low 20s, and that with some of our quality wins, such as VCU, SIU, and apparently Wright St (what???) may be enough to get us that at large bid. As far as I'm concerned though, it's time to win an MVC tournament this year and take away the question.

Our Projected RPI is 43 (that's with a win over Indy St). This does not take into account ANY conference tourney games.

So I am guessing... a win over UNI would drop us to about 40. A win over SIU would bump us to maybe 35. Then a loss in the championship would set us back to about 40.

 

[MacabreMob]

Now think about this for a sec...

IF Wichita St wins at Creighton...
IF ISU wins at UNI...

not only does Wichita St get the 5 seed...
ISU gets the 7 seed (and could play #2 Creighton who they just beat)

I am sure ISU fans know all about this.

 

[BI_Brave_alum]

It has to be a close loss in a final, after we beat SIU in the semis, to be worthy of an at-large (note that if the 8 seed beats SIU, that pops our bubble no matter what if we lose in the finals).

SIU losing before the semis would make the Braves' road easier, although we haven't beaten MO ST or Creighton at all...