TheObserver wrote:Redbirds4Life wrote:Dean Wormer wrote:I don't know who is dumber...whoever created this poll and actually separated UNI from the field, or the clowns who are actually predicting UNI winning the whole thing.
Sure, there is a possibility they could win it, just like there is a possibility Bradley, SIU, MoST, Evansville, etc COULD win it.
It is clear the gap between 2nd and 3rd this year is greater than the gap between 3rd and 10th.
Northern Iowa should be a choice...they have won 8 of 9 against the same garbage WSU and ISU have beaten. I hate UNI, but Jacobson's track record is what it is, his teams are a tough out in the MVC tourney. Down year or not, they are the clear #3 team. ISU/WSU are the favorites, but I think the gap between 2nd and 3rd is equal to the gap between 3rd and 4th at this point.
The difference is that UNI also has losses to MSU, Loyola, Evansville (yikes), and Bradley (lol). They haven't beaten anybody north of 132 in the RPI. They have SEVEN 100+ RPI losses and TWO 200+ RPI losses. Those statistics don't just disappear. It has taken them an 8-1 tear over the last month just to get back to .500 at 12-12. They are closer to 10th place (4 games) in the standings than 1st place (5 games).
Credit to them for mucking it up and putting together a string of wins against the rest of the Valley. In reality though, they are the best of the heap.... and thus still part of the heap.
I think you are missing the point. It has nothing to do with the team that they were, it's about the team they are today. Those losses might matter when it comes to at-large bids and rankings, but for one weekend in St. Louis, UNI is the CLEAR #3 team in the league and has a much better chance to win the tourney than the "heap."