Bracketbusters Questioned by MVC Coaches

[BirdmanBB]

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_d209c350-3986-11e0-b263-001cc4c03286.html

I posted this on our board, but thought others would be interested in seeing this as well.

I think I would much rather us push the season back to how it normally was and replace the bracketbusters with another challenge with the A10, CUSA or even the CAA. If Elgin can get it done with the MWC, I see no reason why other conference commissioners/coaches wouldn't entertain the idea of doing something similar.

The only difference is that it would be at the beginning of the season rather than near the end when we know who the favorites truly are, however, I think the quality of games would be better for the entire conference overall.

Of course, I would be open to keeping the bracketbuster and still trying to get another "challenge" going. It would also be possible to keep the season schedule how it normally is and just slide these games in the same weekend and do it "bracketbuster" style where top teams play each other.

[Jet915]

What I would love is if ESPN grew some balls and changed the format of this thing. If they would invite the MWC, A-10, Horizon, CAA, Conference USA and MVC only, it would be more competitive and be truly a bracketbuster. I would think if it was set up like that, the conferences would want to be part of it. Or maybe, make a rule where your average RPI for the last 5 years needs to be 150 or less in order to get an invite. That would take out a lot of the "trash."

[UNI]

I think people are getting WAYYYY to picky about this thing. The Bracketbuster is an easy game to schedule. It's a non-conference game that we get to play every year. Those with the opportunity to make the Big Dance get a shot at the end of the season to play another team with a shot of making the Big Dance. They may be from any random conference, but a team with a 40 RPI playing another team in the 40's is only going to help come Selection Sunday...no matter what the name on the jersey is.

The teams that have no shot at the tourney (sub 100 RPI teams) play other teams that have no shot at the tourney (sub 100 RPI teams). Therefore, what difference does it make whether they play #120 Murray State in the Bracketbuster or they go out of their way to fill it in with a sub-100 RPI team that isn't participating in the Bracketbuster? I just don't see why it's a problem.

The Bracketbuster is ALWAYS a great opportunity for those teams with a shot at making the Big Dance. It will help those teams this year...Wichita State has a shot to get their best win of the year in the Bracketbuster (#61 Virginia Commonwealth)....Missouri State has a shot to get their second best win of the year (#51 Valpo...ony #50 WSU is better). I know the names might not be much, but if you don't think Top 50 and Top 100 RPI wins mean anything, you are sadly mistaken. This is a key factor in teams making the tournament. These wins (if they get them) will definitely help their resume. Even a loss will mean a loss to a top 100 (or perhaps top 50) RPI team. There definitely are things such as a good loss....these would both be considered one.

[Ali]

I hate stopping the conference season at this point to play the BB game. That being said, this is Elgin's baby so I don't think he'll give it up anytime soon.

[Haha]

I love it, the coaches all hate this turd too. Yet some of you still defend it.

Don't come at me with the scheduling bullcrap either. MSU could get a home and home with Valpo and on the other end I'm pretty sure Drake vs GreenBay or whatever the other games are could easily be set up as well. This is a dog and always has been.

There is a reason why A-10, Conf USA, MWC want no part of it. Perception is huge whether right or wrong and bracket busters screams SMALL TIME!!!! SMALL FING TIME!!!!

Oh look everybody where on espn and these announcers are saying how we are pretty good at this level and if we win the next 9 games in a row we too can get an at large. A little self respect people, please.

[TylerDurden]

I love it, the coaches all hate this turd too. Yet some of you still defend it.

Don't come at me with the scheduling bullcrap either. MSU could get a home and home with Valpo and on the other end I'm pretty sure Drake vs GreenBay or whatever the other games are could easily be set up as well. This is a dog and always has been.

There is a reason why A-10, Conf USA, MWC want no part of it. Perception is huge whether right or wrong and bracket busters screams SMALL TIME!!!! SMALL FING TIME!!!!

Oh look everybody where on espn and these announcers are saying how we are pretty good at this level and if we win the next 9 games in a row we too can get an at large. A little self respect people, please.

Guess what these are?
146
197
25 - L
95 - L
220
129
202
339
54 - L
173
197

These are the non-conference opponent's RPIs for MSU this year. They played as many 200+ teams as they did top 100.

Guess what this is?
51

Valpo's RPI.

MSU has played one non-conference opponent with a better RPI than Valpo. One.

If you could get these games, you would.

I know fans like to act like their school is the exception to poor scheduling, but they aren't. The fact is that this BB game with Valpo is going to be the second-best RPI game you'll play this year.

Don't tell me this isn't a good scheduling move for the top teams in the MVC. That is what this is about. When you're good you likely need another game against a good team.

Admittedly, the teams at the bottom likely play the team they get paired with...but this event isn't really about them.

It's about the top teams and TV games.

[Haha]

Wow thats great, just changed my mind. LMAO

MSU could secure that home and home by themselves.

Coaches know more than you an they say its a turd, I'll go with the coaches.

[BradleyBrave]

I don't like it. Haven't liked it for a while. We should get out and try and schedule something with the A-10, C-USA, or another comparable league.

[TylerDurden]

Wow thats great, just changed my mind. LMAO

MSU could secure that home and home by themselves.

Coaches know more than you an they say its a turd, I'll go with the coaches.

But they haven't secured it.

Your argument isn't a new one. People always say, "My school could get that game without help."

But your school doesn't get that game without help. Just go back and look. BB gets the top teams good games that they weren't getting on their own.

There are legitimate reasons to have questions about the event - travel, timing of the games during conference play and the diluted overall field -- but to say it gives the top schools games they could already get doesn't hold water.

[Haha]

Wow thats great, just changed my mind. LMAO

MSU could secure that home and home by themselves.

Coaches know more than you an they say its a turd, I'll go with the coaches.

But they haven't secured it.

Your argument isn't a new one. People always say, "My school could get that game without help."

But your school doesn't get that game without help. Just go back and look. BB gets the top teams good games that they weren't getting on their own.

There are legitimate reasons to have questions about the event - travel, timing of the games during conference play and the diluted overall field -- but to say it gives the top schools games they could already
get doesn't hold water.

Why doesn't it?