Who you rooting for, Top 2 or the field?

[BirdmanBB]

3 teams. period.

You cannot assume sweet 16 appearances from better seeding. For all you know, WSU and CU could hit the skids and lose in the first round. Then you will be wishin we had 3 teams in. 3 teams = always better because it is guaranteed money. There is no other argument.

Also, of course two teams in the sweet 16 is better than 3 one and dones when you already know the outcome, which we do not. How about this one then. 3 teams in the sweet 16 is better than 2 teams in the sweet 16. end of discussion. Heck, 2 teams in the sweet 16 plus a one and done is better than just 2 teams in the sweet 16. end of discussion.

This discussion is getting ridiculous. Again I say....take care of the teams ahead of you and you will be fine, regardless of seeding. I would think most WSU fans would prefer a route that would have them upsetting Kansas.

[shockem]

WSU has some major illnesses going around. Not sure if they will be disinterested, but they definitely could be shorthanded. Both Ragland and Stutz are sick and now they're saying Hall may be as well. This could be a real challenge for WSU.

[Aargh]

You actually want a 9-9 (or worse) MVC team in the NCAA's? That would create publicity for the Valley all right. Negative publicity.

Winning an auto bid and going one-and-done IS NOT anything that creates good press or publicity for a school. Maybe the fans of that school think it's some sort of a feather in their cap, but that's about the extent of it.

For recruiting, coaches can say, "we made the NAA's last year", but so can schools like Stony Brook, UNC-Asheville, Utah Valley, Savannah State, etc. Unless you're in a BCS conference, getting an auto bid and going one-nd-done IS NOT good publicity. You're either a weekend wonder who got hot one weekend, or you're the best of a bunch of bad teams.

It might mean something to your fans. It would mean something to your players, but past that - NO ONE CARES. Not at all. Not a little bit. Yeah, you'll be mentioned as"an NCAA team last year", but unless you have a national "brand" (like - say - Illinois), people hear "blah blah, blah - was in the NCAA's last year.

If you think it will help your team - look at what happened to Indiana State this year. That trip to the NCAA's last year did so much for them, that they are the 8-seed in St. Louis this year. Gee, if it wasn't for that huge boost they got from being in the tournament last year, I guess they would have finished below Bradley this year.

[ictjay]

WSU has some major illnesses going around. Not sure if they will be disinterested, but they definitely could be shorthanded. Both Ragland and Stutz are sick and now they're saying Hall may be as well. This could be a real challenge for WSU.

Didn't see where Hall was sick. Sounds like Stutz is recovering. Not having Hall could be crucial!

[havoc]

If you think it will help your team - look at what happened to Indiana State this year. That trip to the NCAA's last year did so much for them, that they are the 8-seed in St. Louis this year. Gee, if it wasn't for that huge boost they got from being in the tournament last year, I guess they would have finished below Bradley this year.

By this logic, you could point to WSU's trip to the Sweet 16 a few years back and say the boost it get them was an 8-10 Valley record and a 6 seed in Arch Madness.

[BirdmanBB]

You actually want a 9-9 (or worse) MVC team in the NCAA's? That would create publicity for the Valley all right. Negative publicity.

Winning an auto bid and going one-and-done IS NOT anything that creates good press or publicity for a school. Maybe the fans of that school think it's some sort of a feather in their cap, but that's about the extent of it.

For recruiting, coaches can say, "we made the NAA's last year", but so can schools like Stony Brook, UNC-Asheville, Utah Valley, Savannah State, etc. Unless you're in a BCS conference, getting an auto bid and going one-nd-done IS NOT good publicity. You're either a weekend wonder who got hot one weekend, or you're the best of a bunch of bad teams.

It might mean something to your fans. It would mean something to your players, but past that - NO ONE CARES. Not at all. Not a little bit. Yeah, you'll be mentioned as"an NCAA team last year", but unless you have a national "brand" (like - say - Illinois), people hear "blah blah, blah - was in the NCAA's last year.

If you think it will help your team - look at what happened to Indiana State this year. That trip to the NCAA's last year did so much for them, that they are the 8-seed in St. Louis this year. Gee, if it wasn't for that huge boost they got from being in the tournament last year, I guess they would have finished below Bradley this year.

Sounds good Aargh. We will all clear the way so WSU and CU can get the best seeds possible and all the publicity. You are nuts.

You are kidding about Indiana St. right? I doubt Indiana St. would have finished where they did if it weren't for preseason injuries and in season injuries. I also believe they brought in a solid recruiting class this year.

Any publicity is good publicity. For ISU making the NCAA tournament would be huge. It would be good for any team. Especially with a nice class coming out of High School in Illinois and it doesn't appear that Illinois, DePaul or Northwestern will be making the tournament. It's definitely a feather in the cap and one the Illinois recruits and their coaches will pay attention to. 3 teams is the best case scenario. Always has been. Always will be.

Why would I want WSU and CU to get all the "publicity." Don't most valley schools compete after the same recruits. Dude you are nuts. More teams in the better off the valley is. We will be seen as a higher echelon league and will get recognition from it by getting more games next year nationally broadcast. I would much rather be seen as the conference that gets multiple bids most years than the conference that has 1 or 2 good teams pop up every now and again. Do you think the media would have no longer thought of the A10, CUSA and MWC as "mid-major" by getting 1 or 2 teams in every year with good seeds? No, it is because those conferences consistently send multiple teams to the NCAA tourney win or lose. That is how you build a reputation. Years down the road most outsiders wont really care about WSU or CU getting a couple of wins, but they will see a statistic that says the valley sent multiple teams and that is meaningful.

While we are all arguing the merits of getting a 3rd team in, you are actively trying to get us to root against our own teams "for the sake of the valley" with some screwed up logic.

I will end my rant as I have before, but no matter where WSU and CU are seeded, they will have the opportunity to win games in the tourney if they take care of business (we have all seen their ability). They won't fall to an unfavorable seed either. I'm not saying you should root for your team to lose either. All I'm saying is that more teams always = better for the conference.

[valleychamp]

You actually want a 9-9 (or worse) MVC team in the NCAA's? That would create publicity for the Valley all right. Negative publicity.

Well, I guess we've pretty much heard it all now. Having a 9-9 team in the NCAA's (which would mean 3 NCAA tournament bids) is now a bad thing.

[Ace Dad]

Following is a perspective from a guy involved with two sons who went through D1 recruiting:

"You actually want a 9-9 (or worse) MVC team in the NCAA's? That would create publicity for the Valley all right. Negative publicity.Winning an auto bid and going one-and-done IS NOT anything that creates good press or publicity for a school. Maybe the fans of that school think it's some sort of a feather in their cap, but that's about the extent of it."

I want as many 9-9 teams in the field of 68 that can be handled and I want them to beat some 15-3 or 14-4 schools. Parity is a wonderful thing.

"For recruiting, coaches can say, "we made the NAA's last year", but so can schools like Stony Brook, UNC-Asheville, Utah Valley, Savannah State, etc. Unless you're in a BCS conference, getting an auto bid and going one-nd-done IS NOT good publicity. You're either a weekend wonder who got hot one weekend, or you're the best of a bunch of bad teams."

High school players and parents, when they have choices, will steer their player toward a college that went to the NCAAs. When my son was recruited in 2000, UE offered first and WSU offered second. UE has just recently had a 1999 NCAA bid. At that time, UE was more attractive and that is where he went. So, NCAA bids count for the average college recruit who is not going to the NBA or will play at Duke.

"It might mean something to your fans. It would mean something to your players, but past that - NO ONE CARES. Not at all. Not a little bit. Yeah, you'll be mentioned as"an NCAA team last year", but unless you have a national "brand" (like - say - Illinois), people hear "blah blah, blah - was in the NCAA's last year."

Put the Kool Aid away and slowly walk away from the ledge. The alumni, students, Athletic Department, basketball program, players, parents, fans, and town's folks will care. The college gets to add the NCAA year in their media guide for eternity.

"If you think it will help your team - look at what happened to Indiana State this year. That trip to the NCAA's last year did so much for them, that they are the 8-seed in St. Louis this year. Gee, if it wasn't for that huge boost they got from being in the tournament last year, I guess they would have finished below Bradley this year."

I will not waste time responding to this comment. I will let it stand on its merits.

[sect.3purple]

You do notice, don't you, how the elite conferences all structure their NCAA goals around just 2 or 3 of the "best" teams each year in order to promote their conference....NOT!

Three teams from our conference would definitely bring attention to the MVC...then, each of those teams will have to play their best to further the good publicity.

Of course, I hope it is my ACES, just as fans from other teams want their team to make the run through the tourney. This isn't the Serfdom Conference....the last time I looked we all were very competitive as we should be throughout this upcoming conference tourney. If CU and WSU are the only two teams in the NCAA's, I will
cheer them on, but if there is a third team who takes the MVC Tourney I will be even more excited about our conference's publicity...and, hopefully, success!

I don't think a 3-10 team who could win our tourney would necessarily "embarrass" the MVC by being trounced in a first-round game.....they might surprise everyone and win a game or two. That is always a possibility at the Big Dance.

[45otseoj]

You actually want a 9-9 (or worse) MVC team in the NCAA's? That would create publicity for the Valley all right. Negative publicity.

Winning an auto bid and going one-and-done IS NOT anything that creates good press or publicity for a school. Maybe the fans of that school think it's some sort of a feather in their cap, but that's about the extent of it.

For recruiting, coaches can say, "we made the NAA's last year", but so can schools like Stony Brook, UNC-Asheville, Utah Valley, Savannah State, etc. Unless you're in a BCS conference, getting an auto bid and going one-nd-done IS NOT good publicity. You're either a weekend wonder who got hot one weekend, or you're the best of a bunch of bad teams.

It might mean something to your fans. It would mean something to your players, but past that - NO ONE CARES. Not at all. Not a little bit. Yeah, you'll be mentioned as"an NCAA team last year", but unless you have a national "brand" (like - say - Illinois), people hear "blah blah, blah - was in the NCAA's last year.

If you think it will help your team - look at what happened to Indiana State this year. That trip to the NCAA's last year did so much for them, that they are the 8-seed in St. Louis this year. Gee, if it wasn't for that huge boost they got from being in the tournament last year, I guess they would have finished below Bradley this year.

It's easy to say this when: 1) your ticket is already punched, and 2) your ticket has been punched this century. Our dancin' shoes are collecting dust in Normal. We hungry.

As for Indiana State... It's all about recruiting, and the maturation of recruits is a slow process.
Let's take UNI as an example:
March, 2010: Epic run happens. ESPY and all that jazz.
2010-2011: Sign recruits who most of us like (Tut, Mitchell, etc.)
2011-2012: Finally get those players on campus
It's not until 2 seasons later that you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor,
and even then, they are only true freshman.