Who you rooting for, Top 2 or the field?

[BirdmanBB]

A CU/WSU final is a nationally televised game on CBS between two ranked teams from the Missouri Valley - and each of them will have a nice winning streak going if they make the finals. That's going to get a national audience. A finals game between - say Illinois State and Creighton or Evansville and WSU would probably get less than half the viewers as a CU/WSU final.

I know fans of any school not named WSU or CU think an upset is best for the league. I can't buy that at all. If either CU or WSU loses before the finals, it could drop them by as much as 2 seeding spots. A win in the finals over a ranked team could easily bump either CU or wWSU up a spot from where they might be seeded today. Better seeds equls a better chance of winning.

The Valley's reputation would be best improved with 2 top-25 tems in the finals and two teams each winning at least a game in the NCAA's. The chances of that happening in the NCAA's is improved with a WSU/CU final.

wrong. 3 teams is always better than two for the entire valley. You can't count on anyone winning 1 game in the NCAA tourney even if that scenario would improve seeding. You take the guaranteed cash from having 3 teams all day. CU and WSU will have a favorable seed regardless, so take care of business in your first games.

[Hail Our Panthers]

double post

[Hail Our Panthers]

A CU/WSU final is a nationally televised game on CBS between two ranked teams from the Missouri Valley - and each of them will have a nice winning streak going if they make the finals. That's going to get a national audience. A finals game between - say Illinois State and Creighton or Evansville and WSU would probably get less than half the viewers as a CU/WSU final.

[/quote]

Good point, but I'd have to assume that whatever TV audience lost in a title game not featuring WSU/CU would be more than made up for in that 3rd team's tournament game.


Seeding is important, but its not everything in the NCAA. You've got to remember that the Tourney is a bit of a thrill ride. Teams get sent off to strange places on short notice to play in the biggest games of their lives. Anything can happen. A good, athletic, senior-laden team that plays tough defense like WSU can match up with about anybody in the country and should be able to overcome an unfortunate matchup. Or maybe the same WSU team, given a favorable matchup, will lay an egg on that particular night. Who knows. Why decline the benefits of a 3rd team when the benefits of a slightly-different seed are insignificant and inconsistent? (Although yes, every Shocker/BlueJay fan should obviously be rooting for their teams)

[kochhead22]

3 teams > 2 teams. End of discussion.

I started writing a whole long response to how i dont believe that this year, 3 teams would be better than 2 teams and by the end of my rambling i had somehow changed my own opinion. I think having three teams in the tourney would be great, mainly if the auto bid team would win a game or two. I guess the only reason this season i only want to see two teams in the NCAA tourney is because i want WSU to win and break that damn streak!!

[9628]

I think it would be better to have someone other than WSU or CU win the tournament. 3 Valley teams in the NCAA is the way to go. WSU and CU are in the NCAA regardless (with WSU having the most potential for a run), and will get SCREWED ON SEEDING NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO. If I remember correctly, UNI was only a nine seed 2 years ago in spite of being regular season champions, Valley tournament champions, and being ranked at some point during the season.

[getreal4]

IMO there are only two MVC teams that can win a NCAA tourney game. Other than having Drake pull off the unrealistic one in a million longshot of going 4 for 4 in four days, I want better seeds for the Shox & Jays.

[getreal4]

Shox will be a 3 seed after they run St Louis.

future will look great Sweet 16, maybe final 8

[bleach]

I haven't read the whole thread but out side of the Bears winning the tourney, the top 2 need to do well. Higher seeds mean better chances to advance and more money. I think greater advancement would bring more revenue than a 3rd team would.

[valleychamp]

You get paid 1 "unit" for every game that your conference plays in the tournament. More teams in = more "units", more money and prestige. Pretty simple.

[pafan]

I too would like to see UNI in the finals for the purposes of a third bid / NIT invite. Which means that my ideal is an all purple final.