Arch Predictions

[BTbird]

I predict Redbird fans will be clamoring to play WSU again but forget to realize they have a game on Friday and get Evansville'd.

I'm sad to say I think this is right.

Unfortunately, it's much more probable that we lose to the ACES than make it to the MVC Championship game.

[rlh04d]

It's an interesting question. If UNI and WSU play for the championship, they will both have great seeds in the NCAA, increasing the odds of a deeper run. If somebody else wins the tournament, they will both have losses, get worse seeds (the winner will likely be a 13+ seed at best), and decrease the odds for deep runs, and thus decreasing the shares.

What would be better? Two sweet sixteen teams in WSU and UNI (meaning 6 games/6 shares) or maybe one sweet sixteen team, one round of 32 and a one and done (6 games, 6 shares).

Two Sweet 16 teams.

Same number of shares, but a full extra week of TV coverage. Sweet 16 teams get a lot of attention -- often they'll get regional Sports Illustrated covers, etc. Round of 32 doesn't mean much from a PR perspective. And a lot of college basketball is about PR.

[Aargh]

I'm in a contest to pick the winners and margin of victory in St. Louis. I got the first round game between Illinois State and Evansville.

What a dilemma. IlSU is incapable of holding onto a lead and doesn't know how to close out a game or win a close game. Evansville has managed to finish as the 5 seed with 2 1st team conference players.

I had to go with IlSU's inability to finish overriding Simmons' inability to coach to the talent on his team.

IlSU - 64
UE - 68

UNI has an advantage over the Shox in this format. UNI has a deeper bench. I doubt any Valley teams are in better condition and have better stamina than the Shox. Those guys work and work and work to prepare for this situation. WSU's short bench could cause enough fatigue to weaken or eliminate a second-half run, which has been the Shox trademark the last couple of years.

[ShocksRbest]

It's an interesting question. If UNI and WSU play for the championship, they will both have great seeds in the NCAA, increasing the odds of a deeper run. If somebody else wins the tournament, they will both have losses, get worse seeds (the winner will likely be a 13+ seed at best), and decrease the odds for deep runs, and thus decreasing the shares.

What would be better? Two sweet sixteen teams in WSU and UNI (meaning 6 games/6 shares) or maybe one sweet sixteen team, one round of 32 and a one and done (6 games, 6 shares).

I was going to say something similar to this earlier. You put it quite a bit better than I was going to though. Honestly, I do think it is better overall for the conference to get 2 high seeds than 3 teams where there is one high, one middle, and one low seed. I think a 3 and a 5 is better than a 5, 8, and 13 or something to that nature.

I agree. No one remembers who lost the first weekend except the upsets in the Tournament. If one or both WSU and UNI go farther than the first weekend, the exposure will be greater.

[Singeril]

If WSU plays like they did last Saturday, they will win it all.
If UNI plays as they did in their first meeting (and the Shockers don't play as well as they did last Saturday), they will win.
If both play as well in their wins against each other, it will be a game that will never be forgotten.

[Rollbird5]

I'm in a contest to pick the winners and margin of victory in St. Louis. I got the first round game between Illinois State and Evansville.

What a dilemma. IlSU is incapable of holding onto a lead and doesn't know how to close out a game or win a close game. Evansville has managed to finish as the 5 seed with 2 1st team conference players.

I had to go with IlSU's inability to finish overriding Simmons' inability to coach to the talent on his team.

IlSU - 64
UE - 68

The last game of the year we did finish out a close one and won in the final seconds of OT against them at their place so we have closed out one time at least!

I think we either win by 10-12 or we lose by 4 really don't know how it's gunna go

[Redbird Recon]

I'm in a contest to pick the winners and margin of victory in St. Louis. I got the first round game between Illinois State and Evansville.

What a dilemma. IlSU is incapable of holding onto a lead and doesn't know how to close out a game or win a close game. Evansville has managed to finish as the 5 seed with 2 1st team conference players.

I had to go with IlSU's inability to finish overriding Simmons' inability to coach to the talent on his team.

IlSU - 64
UE - 68

The last game of the year we did finish out a close one and won in the final seconds of OT against them at their place so we have closed out one time at least!

I think we either win by 10-12 or we lose by 4 really don't know how it's gunna go

It went into OT because we couldn't hold the lead!

[Rollbird5]

I'm in a contest to pick the winners and margin of victory in St. Louis. I got the first round game between Illinois State and Evansville.

What a dilemma. IlSU is incapable of holding onto a lead and doesn't know how to close out a game or win a close game. Evansville has managed to finish as the 5 seed with 2 1st team conference players.

I had to go with IlSU's inability to finish overriding Simmons' inability to coach to the talent on his team.

IlSU - 64
UE - 68

The last game of the year we did finish out a close one and won in the final seconds of OT against them at their place so we have closed out one time at least!

I think we either win by 10-12 or we lose by 4 really don't know how it's gunna go

It went into OT because we couldn't hold the lead!

sssshhhhh don't tell them that now championz is gunna come and make fun of us

[uniftw]

If WSU plays like they did last Saturday, they will win it all.
If UNI plays as they did in their first meeting (and the Shockers don't play as well as they did last Saturday), they will win.
If both play as well in their wins against each other, it will be a game that will never be forgotten.

Both teams playing their A game on national TV would be a game of epic proportions....

[Cdizzle]

Is there a large student group coming from Loyola this year? Thought it was pretty cool that they showed up last year.