Big East Bubble Watch
by GonzoBallSHU on Mar 1, 2010 9:29 PM EST
6 comments
In yesterday's action:
Marquette (19-9, 10-6) defeated Seton Hall (16-11, 7-9), 84-83 (OT), spoiling the Pirates senior day.
With the victory, the Golden Eagles have probably done enough to receive an at-large bid on Selection Sunday. Barring an absolute collapse to end their season (UL and ND at home) and a loss in their first BET game, they're in.
With the loss, the Pirates are most likely destined for an NIT berth. As discussed here and here, the Pirates must beat both RU and PC on the road before winning at least 2 in the BET to get back into the discussion.
Louisville (19-10, 10-6) defeated UConn (17-12, 7-9), 78-76 in Storrs, despite trailing by 13 late in the first half.
I'm not as sold on Louisville as I am on Marquette. The Cardinals have a few bad losses: UNLV, CHAR, WCU, and St. John's. They end the season at Marquette and home against Syracuse. They can easily slip to 10-8 before the BET, which may ultimately be their final litmus test.
UConn is solidifying their status as the soon-to-be most debated team on Selection Sunday. In yesterday's Bubble Watch, I referred to them as one of the hottest teams in the nation, winning road games at 'Nova and RU, while holding serve at home against WVU. All within a week. They followed up their three game winning streak by losing at home on senior day, blundering away a double-digit lead. They'll finish on the road against a Harangody-less Irish team and close their season in Southern Florida against USF. They've got a fighter's chance of arriving at the BET sporting a 9-9 BE record.
South Florida (17-11, 7-9) defeated Providence (12-16, 4-12), 99-93 in Tampa.
I've got to admit, I counted USF out following their absolutely crushing loss at Villanova. However, with a game at DePaul and closing their season at home against the Huskies, you can add them to the list of teams potentially bringing a .500 record to the conference tournament.
Tonight:
No BIG EAST bubble teams in action.
Tomorrow:
Villanova (23-5, 12-4) @ Cincinnati (16-12, 7-9) 7:00PM
South Florida (17-11, 7-9) @ Depaul (8-20, 1-15) 7:30PM
Louisville (19-10) @ Marquette (19-9, 10-6) 9:30PM
The winner will be eliminated from Gonzo Ball's BIG EAST Bubble Watch, while the loser will stick around for another week.
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Bad Losses
How is a loss at UNLV a bad loss? UNLV is 21-7 with an RPI of 43. Better than Seton Hall.
How is a loss to Charlotte a bad loss (although they got crushed)? Charlotte is 19-9 with an RPI of 62. Again, better than Seton Hall.
Just because they lost to a team better than Seton Hall doesn't mean it's not a bad loss.
Remember, Seton Hall is off the bubble at this point.
I consider UNLV a bad loss for a bubble team in the BIG EAST conference. UNLV is 10-5 in the MWC, having lost to a BAD Utah team twice. Sure they’re 21-7, but at 10-5 in the MWC, how would they fare in a power conference? I don’t believe they’d do very well.
Charlotte? Was a bubble team, but now 9-5 in the A10, having lost 4 of their last 5 came into Freedom Hall and destroyed a banged up Cardinals team. They’re not making the tournament.
You’ve got a case for UNLV, admittedly, I looked past them. But Charlotte in Louisville? I consider that a bad loss.
Gonzo Ball
[gahn-zo-bawl]
-noun 1. a game played by 13 members of a basketball team, five at a time, sometimes crisp, often sloppy, but always furiously.
by GonzoBallSHU on Mar 1, 2010 11:54 PM EST up reply actions
To quote Gonzo...
“There are teams [from other leagues] that will get into the NCAA tournament that wouldn’t last two seconds in our league.”
If UNLV were in the BIG EAST, they’d do better than 15th, but probably would be within the 5-11, 7-9, range at this point.
Gonzo Ball
[gahn-zo-bawl]
-noun 1. a game played by 13 members of a basketball team, five at a time, sometimes crisp, often sloppy, but always furiously.
by GonzoBallSHU on Mar 2, 2010 12:17 AM EST up reply actions
Yes, but...
If UNLV was in the Pac-10, they’d be in first place. That’s the story of the season is how bad that league, a supposed power conference has been. The Mountain West has essentially replaced them as the sixth power league, in both football and basketball.
Also, you can make that case for a whole lot of teams. Does Illinois compete for a tourney spot in this conference? How about Virginia Tech, who routinely was last place when they were in the Big East, yet now in the ACC are always good. I’ll give you Charlotte though, as they basically played their way off.
Well, like I said, I had overlooked UNLV initially, I do believe they'll get in.
But I do feel that they wouldn’t be able to cut it in the BE. Not that it matters much though, they’ll never have the opportunity of competing in our conference.
Gonzo Ball
[gahn-zo-bawl]
-noun 1. a game played by 13 members of a basketball team, five at a time, sometimes crisp, often sloppy, but always furiously.
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