Bracketbuster Projections

[BirdmanBB]

Looking at the other teams at the top of the RPI, I don't see how they couldn't match WSU(RPI: 27) up with Murray St (34). Their other choices as of Jan.22 are...St. Mary's(32...who will likely be playing Creighton), Long Beach St.(42), UNI (47), Akron (65), Nevada (73). Both Murray and WSU will be pushing for a game against each other. It also makes for a much more interesting tv matchup than any of the others.

If Murray St. is to lose, I think they would much rather it be against a top 50 team. Their only choices really are WSU and Long Beach St. Which would you rather watch on tv?

[NeutralObserver]

The BracketBuster was supposedly created to "help" a team's chances at an at-large Dance bid. Sometimes it does (VCU, Butler, Nevada in the past) but most of the time it just puts another nail in the coffin of a mid-major who should have been in the dance and would have been even after losing their conference tourney championship but not after having also lost their bracketbuster game? I can list a lot of heartbroken teams here but do not want to take the time to compile them. A loss in this thing allows another 8th place team from the ACC or Big 10 to dance.

[TrueBlueJay]

The BracketBuster was supposedly created to "help" a team's chances at an at-large Dance bid. Sometimes it does (VCU, Butler, Nevada in the past) but most of the time it just puts another nail in the coffin of a mid-major who should have been in the dance and would have been even after losing their conference tourney championship but not after having also lost their bracketbuster game? I can list a lot of heartbroken teams here but do not want to take the time to compile them. A loss in this thing allows another 8th place team from the ACC or Big 10 to dance.

That first line is SO far from what the Bracketbusters was supposed to be. It was supposed to showcase high profile mid-major teams (I think there were originally 10 games?) that would end up being NCAA Bracket Busters....hence the name of the event. However, because they play it on a Saturday during the conference seasons they decided to add ALL of these freaking teams into it so teams wouldn't have a Saturday off if not selected to play. Since the expansion it has turned into a mini-playoff to see if some of the teams are NCAA worthy.

[2livewu]

Andy Katz will set-up the bracket for all of the tv games. Creighton will probably get St. Mary's. Wichita will not get who they think they will and will be somewhat disappointed. Murray State will not play a Valley team. My two cents from regularly reading Katz right or wrong?

Are you calling Andy a liar? Because he has stated unequivocally that he does not have a say in the match-ups. Just curious from where you draw your information.

[DUBulldog]

Here's something I didn't realize.....judging by this tweet from a Drake assistant, the teams have some input in the selection process.

http://twitter.com/#!/MGibson2210/status/162645614725840896

[DoubleJayAlum]

Here's something I didn't realize.....judging by this tweet from a Drake assistant, the teams have some input in the selection process.

http://twitter.com/#!/MGibson2210/status/162645614725840896

This is absolutely true for the non TV games. I know in the past there have been stories about how Bradley, etc. lobbied for Chicago teams when their bracketbuster games weren't going to be on TV.

[Jet915]

Here's something I didn't realize.....judging by this tweet from a Drake assistant, the teams have some input in the selection process.

http://twitter.com/#!/MGibson2210/status/162645614725840896

This is absolutely true for the non TV games. I know in the past there have been stories about how Bradley, etc. lobbied for Chicago teams when their bracketbuster games weren't going to be on TV.

Question is, what other MVC team will get a TV game??? I'm assuming UNI still since they have a nice RPI, maybe Missouri State or Drake?

[BirdmanBB]

Right now I think Creighton, WSU, MSU, Drake and Indiana St. could all be on some form of ESPN. You have to keep in mind that the home teams have much stronger RPI's than the road teams this year. You are going to get a lot of teams within the top 100 playing teams outside of the top 100. This is why I think Indiana St. has a chance at the very least some sort of ESPN game as there are 13 televised ones this year.

[TylerDurden]

Here's something I didn't realize.....judging by this tweet from a Drake assistant, the teams have some input in the selection process.

http://twitter.com/#!/MGibson2210/status/162645614725840896

Yep, for non-TV games - Creighton and Bradley have both asked for Loyola in the past, Drake asked to go to California a couple years ago, etc.

Edit: didn't see DJA's reply. But it's still true.

[ihsi]

Creighton definitely wants St Marys and vice versa. Would be a huge disappointment if it didn't happen.