Evansville at Indiana State (2/19)

[Snaggletooth]

In the 68-team era, I'd wager the Sycamores would be in the discussion, with Dayton being their ceiling.

Just last year, Middle Tennessee was Dayton-bound with just 1 Top-100 RPI win.

Middle Tennesee State also had a RPI 33 and Non-Conference SOS of 10. Lunardi doesn't even have them on his radar.

In a normal year, ISUB might have actually won the MVC and maybe been at large but a perfect storm has occurred to stop them from being "their year"

1. Then their non-conference schedule seemed at least decent, but Belmont went from a Top 25 RPI to sucking this year - and they had them on the schedule twice and worse they lost once to them.

2. Notre Dame seemed like they would be a top 50 victory, but they have struggled all year to be 0.500 team.

3. Couldn't beat STL, and their margin for getting a good non-conference win vanished

4. Then there was the MVC, 4 teams with 200+ RPI sucking the life out of their RPI and then losing to one of them. MVC RPI tanked from 8th last year to 11th.

5. Then the cherry on top - WSU just dominating the conference and running away with the race.

If you think it going to happen you will be peeing green in the morning from all the kool aid your drinking. Even the ISUB beat writer has agreed when he attended the NCAA mock draft last week - there was no realistic discussion for ISUB making it as an at-large.

Strong argument, and I'll concede it's dependent on other teams forcing their way off the bubble.

2012 Oral Roberts was revealed as the last team in, until St. Bonaventure winning the A10 in clutch knocked off ORU at the 11th hour. That year, ORU posted a 65 RPI & 187 SOS. 7 Losses, including San Antonio & Western Illinois. Only Top-100 RPI wins were Xavier, South Dakota State, & Akron. (Hate to say it, but the Sycamores could've really used a matchup with, say, Green Bay in BracketBusters.)

2012 Iona received a ticket to Dayton after posting a 48 RPI & 142 SOS. The Gaels' 7 losses included falling victim to 2 200+-RPI schools (Siena & Hofstra). Iona's 4 best wins: Nevada, Loyola-Maryland, Saint Joseph's, Long Island Blackbirds.

Laugh all you want, but the consensus laughed at similar cases (MTSU, ORU, Iona). Still think a 24-7 ISU losing competitively to WSU and help from others forcing their way off the bubble elicits discussion.

Lunardi has his last 8 out as:

West Virginia
Richmond
Baylor
Oklahoma State
Next Four OutOregon
Dayton
Southern Miss
Louisiana Tech

What scenario do you see ISUB somehow jumping over those 8 schools?

There is not a game left on their schedule that is going to help their resume. And frankly the way they are playing I expect they will lose at least one game before the MVC tournament.

Only path besides "hope and a prayer" that the NCAA selection committee believe in welfare is ISUB has to win in STL.

[Snaggletooth]

So tell me, how many phone calls did the ISU Assistant Coach make with teams that fall within the 40-100 RPI range in an attempt to bolster the schedule?

Not enough

I would be carefull, WSU could have been in a similiar condition as ISUB this year. The only saving grace has been WSU has won all their opportunities vs Top 50. Also WSU has had some of their opponents not be quite as good as expected. Had they not won vs STL and have a undefeated record things might be little decier - and there still are 3 MVC games left.

We all know scheduling is not just as easy as making a phone call, you have to have somebody willing to answer the call. In ISUB defense the BCS team were likely looking at ISUB being a veteran team and not wanting to risk a loss. Now if ISUB didn't work hard to schedule better, especially just accept some really poor team instead of buying better RPI games - then shame on them.

[Wufan]

My argument for inclusion of ISU as "on the bubble" is a good deal of wins…nothing more. The schedule is not playing out in their favor when compared to others. The Trees have a good resume, but not the type of resume that is needed to push themselves into the dance. The unfortunate part is that, had they played a tougher schedule, I believe they would have had the appropriate resume for invitation and that they are good enough to be a dangerous 12 seed.

[shocktheheart]

So tell me, how many phone calls did the ISU Assistant Coach make with teams that fall within the 40-100 RPI range in an attempt to bolster the schedule?

Not enough

I would be carefull, WSU could have been in a similiar condition as ISUB this year. The only saving grace has been WSU has won all their opportunities vs Top 50. Also WSU has had some of their opponents not be quite as good as expected. Had they not won vs STL and have a undefeated record things might be little decier - and there still are 3 MVC games left.

We all know scheduling is not just as easy as making a phone call, you have to have somebody willing to answer the call. In ISUB defense the BCS team were likely looking at ISUB being a veteran team and not wanting to risk a loss. Now if ISUB didn't work hard to schedule better, especially just accept some really poor team instead of buying better RPI games - then shame on them.

The difference is WSU is not scheduling home and homes with teams that have RPI's north of 200 on a regular basis. WSU's home and homes are Tennessee, Alabama, and St Louis. Not Eastern Illinois, IUPUI, Ball St, and UMKC. Those should be buy games for Valley teams.

[acepurple84]

I would like to see as many MVC teams get into the tourney as possible. WSU, ISUB, and Maybe 1 more. They earned it. No matter what others might say it is a tough conference with good teams. Good Luck to all teams that get in any tourney. Win them all I say.

[shocktheheart]

I would like to see as many MVC teams get into the tourney as possible. WSU, ISUB, and Maybe 1 more. They earned it. No matter what others might say it is a tough conference with good teams. Good Luck to all teams that get in any tourney. Win them all I say.

How did Indiana State earn a bid?

[acepurple84]

"Earned" or awarded it doesn't matter. All I said was I would like to see as many MVC tems in the tourney as possible. Yes WSU has earned it. At large or win the tourney. OK

[Wufan]

I would like to see as many MVC teams get into the tourney as possible. WSU, ISUB, and Maybe 1 more. They earned it. No matter what others might say it is a tough conference with good teams. Good Luck to all teams that get in any tourney. Win them all I say.

Despite having "good teams" we don't have good resumes. ISU is a bubble team if they win out to the MVC finals in St. Louis AND lose to WSU. Anything short of that leaves them out. WSU could probably lose 4 straight and make the NCAA tourney. At this point it is WSU and one more team pending a win in St. Louis or a very slim shot for ISU. No way three teams can make it from the MVC this year. Resume's are too weak.

[shocktheheart]

"Earned" or awarded it doesn't matter. All I said was I would like to see as many MVC tems in the tourney as possible. Yes WSU has earned it. At large or win the tourney. OK

I want as many teams as well, but you have to earn your way into the tournament either by resume or winning the conference tournament. Indiana St hasn't earned a bid yet, and the only way I see that is them winning St Louis.

[Snaggletooth]

ISU is a bubble team if they win out to the MVC finals in St. Louis AND lose to WSU.

No they are not, please show me 1 team off of Lunardi bracket you would replace them with. They have nothing in their favor that make them a bubble team. They are a "want-a-be" bubble team.