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**WuShock Reaper** · January 27, 2012, 09:09 PM

Andy Katz's comments during the Iona at Fairdfield game tonight.

1. We asked who should Iona get for the Bracketbuster game Katz commented: “Someone like Wichita State would be a good opponent.”

2. When pressed later he started adding other teams like Davidson and Cleveland State might be good matchups.

3. Also, the Coach at Iona would prefer not to get Saint Mary’s, Nevada, or Long Beach State because of the travel costs and time required in the return game. The Coach at Iona also said he would prefer more of a regional game like Ohio or Cleveland State.

4. When asked at the end of the game to give his opinion “Nevada, Long Beach, maybe Wichita State.”

**GOSHOX1** · January 27, 2012, 09:29 PM

Looks like someone put a little bit of shockernet on Andy Katz chat http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat...with-andy-katz

**ShockTalk** · January 27, 2012, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by WuShock Reaper View Post

Andy Katz's comments during the Iona at Fairdfield game tonight.

1. We asked who should Iona get for the Bracketbuster game Katz commented: “Someone like Wichita State would be a good opponent.”

2. When pressed later he started adding other teams like Davidson and Cleveland State might be good matchups.

3. Also, the Coach at Iona would prefer not to get Saint Mary’s, Nevada, or Long Beach State because of the travel costs and time required in the return game. The Coach at Iona also said he would prefer more of a regional game like Ohio or Cleveland State.

4. When asked at the end of the game to give his opinion “Nevada, Long Beach, maybe??? Wichita State.”

Let's hope the selection committee doesn't disappoint him. I maybe don't want him either.

**ShockerFever** · January 28, 2012, 12:51 AM

Originally posted by GOSHOX1 View Post

Looks like someone put a little bit of shockernet on Andy Katz chat http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat...with-andy-katz

That is awesome, lol.

I love how Katz justifies his reason for Nevada-Murray State because they are both conference leaders. Uh, isn't WSU tied for first in the best conference Bracketbuster has to offer? And that logic is so, sooo bad. Why not put the leader of the Summit or the MEAC or the Atlantic Sun? Nevada is not an at-large type team. A loss to Nevada would hurt Murray State. A win over Nevada does not help them. Opposite is true if you insert WSU. Plus, the geography doesn't even make sense for Nevada-Murray State.

Yes, you're entitled to your opinion Mr. Katz, no matter how illogical and asinine it may be.

**Aargh** · January 28, 2012, 04:18 AM

Any logic that puts anything other than CU vs. SMU and WSU vs. MuSU is logic that insists Bracket Busters must be an elimination game. A loss in either of those games would not be a factor in eliminating a team from an at-large.

Put WSU on the road against an rpi 50-100 team and a loss for WSU might be a factor on Selection Sunday. If the BB selection group is looking to make BB an elimination game (rather than a game to showcase the better non-Power 6 teams), then I think the Valley should withdraw from BB and maybe set up a game with one of the other non-Power 6 conferences to replace the BB game.

**ripemupshocks** · January 28, 2012, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by Aargh View Post

Any logic that puts anything other than CU vs. SMU and WSU vs. MuSU is logic that insists Bracket Busters must be an elimination game. A loss in either of those games would not be a factor in eliminating a team from an at-large.

Put WSU on the road against an rpi 50-100 team and a loss for WSU might be a factor on Selection Sunday. If the BB selection group is looking to make BB an elimination game (rather than a game to showcase the better non-Power 6 teams), then I think the Valley should withdraw from BB and maybe set up a game with one of the other non-Power 6 conferences to replace the BB game.

Maybe explains why Katz doesn't want WSU at MSU. He can't say it, but he doesn't want either team to lose. Maybe Katz wants both teams setting pretty on Selection Sunday, and he's just afraid a loss would hurt that teams seeding.

**WuShock Reaper** · January 28, 2012, 08:50 AM

Todays (01/28/12) Bracketbuster Games of Note:

*Creighton (RPI #13) vs. Bradley (RPI #210)
*Murray State (RPI #30) vs. Eastern Illinois (RPI #283)
*Oral Roberts (RPI #46) vs. Missouri-Kansas City (RPI #224 )
*Davidson (RPI #49) at Samford (RPI #311)
Cleveland State (RPI #59) at Youngstown State (RPI #144)
South Dakota State (RPI #68) at IPFW (RPI #240)
Ohio (RPI #71) at Ball State (RPI #228)
Weber State (RPI #73) at Idaho State (RPI #279)
*Missouri State (RPI #85) vs. Northern Iowa (RPI #55)
New Mexico State (RPI #87) vs. Fresno State (RPI #202)
*Virginia Commonwealth (RPI #94) at Georgia State (RPI #162)
Loyola-Marymount (RPI #102) vs. Portland (RPI #217)
*Wisconsin-Milwaukee (RPI #104) vs. Valparaiso (RPI #124)
*George Mason (RPI #108) vs. James Madison (RPI #254)
Kent State (RPI #110) at Toledo (RPI #284)
Butler (RPI #111) at Green Bay (RPI #172)
Illinois State (RPI #114) vs. Southern Illinois (RPI #229)
Utah State (RPI #139) vs. San Jose State (RPI #280)
*North Dakota State (RPI #140) at Oakland (RPI #123)
Charleston Southern (RPI #142) at Presbyterian College (RPI #272)
Coastal Carolina (RPI #150) at Gardner-Webb (RPI #258)
Northeastern (RPI #152) at Hofstra (RPI #244)
*Bradley (RPI #210) at Creighton (RPI #13)

Commentary - *=Key Games

I added the MVC teams playing today so you could see where they are in the pecking order. The top four teams playing today will have the most impact on the Shockers, so let’s pay particular attention to those teams. Then lastly, the two Colonial Conference teams: VCU and George Mason, are going to get a lot attention because of their respective RPI Rankings, their good Win Percentage Rankings, but their god-awful Strength-of-schedule (SOS) Rankings.

**im4wsu** · January 28, 2012, 10:24 AM

Originally posted by WuShock Reaper View Post

Todays (01/28/12) Bracketbuster Games of Note:

*Creighton (RPI #13) vs. Bradley (RPI #210)
*Murray State (RPI #30) vs. Eastern Illinois (RPI #283)
*Oral Roberts (RPI #46) vs. Missouri-Kansas City (RPI #224 )
*Davidson (RPI #49) at Samford (RPI #311)
Cleveland State (RPI #59) at Youngstown State (RPI #144)
South Dakota State (RPI #68) at IPFW (RPI #240)
Ohio (RPI #71) at Ball State (RPI #228)
Weber State (RPI #73) at Idaho State (RPI #279)
*Missouri State (RPI #85) vs. Northern Iowa (RPI #55)
New Mexico State (RPI #87) vs. Fresno State (RPI #202)
*Virginia Commonwealth (RPI #94) at Georgia State (RPI #162)
Loyola-Marymount (RPI #102) vs. Portland (RPI #217)
*Wisconsin-Milwaukee (RPI #104) vs. Valparaiso (RPI #124)
*George Mason (RPI #108) vs. James Madison (RPI #254)
Kent State (RPI #110) at Toledo (RPI #284)
Butler (RPI #111) at Green Bay (RPI #172)
Illinois State (RPI #114) vs. Southern Illinois (RPI #229)
Montana (RPI #126) at Portland State (RPI #189)
Utah State (RPI #139) vs. San Jose State (RPI #280)
*North Dakota State (RPI #140) at Oakland (RPI #123)
Charleston Southern (RPI #142) at Presbyterian College (RPI #272)
Coastal Carolina (RPI #150) at Gardner-Webb (RPI #258)
Northeastern (RPI #152) at Hofstra (RPI #244)
*Bradley (RPI #210) at Creighton (RPI #13)

Commentary - *=Key Games

I added the MVC teams playing today so you could see where they are in the pecking order. The top four teams playing today will have the most impact on the Shockers, so let’s pay particular attention to those teams. Then lastly, the two Colonial Conference teams: VCU and George Mason, are going to get a lot attention because of their respective RPI Rankings, their good Win Percentage Rankings, but their god-awful Strength-of-schedule (SOS) Rankings.

Should WSU @Drake be added to the list?

sU at Drake?

**ShockTalk** · January 28, 2012, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by im4wsu View Post

Should WSU @Drake be added to the list?

Reaper only follows the Home Teams.

**WuShock Reaper** · January 29, 2012, 12:19 AM

Todays (01/28/12) Bracketbuster Games of Note :FINAL UPDATE

*Creighton (RPI #13) WON vs. Bradley (RPI #210) LOST
*Murray State (RPI #30) WON vs. Eastern Illinois (RPI #283)
*Oral Roberts (RPI #46) WON vs. Missouri-Kansas City (RPI #224 )
*Davidson (RPI #49) LOST at Samford (RPI #311)
Cleveland State (RPI #59) WON at Youngstown State (RPI #144)
South Dakota State (RPI #68) WON at IPFW (RPI #240)
Ohio (RPI #71) WON at Ball State (RPI #228)
Weber State (RPI #73) LOST at Idaho State (RPI #279)
*Missouri State (RPI #85) WONvs. Northern Iowa (RPI #55) LOST
New Mexico State (RPI #87) WONvs. Fresno State (RPI #202)
*Virginia Commonwealth (RPI #94) WON at Georgia State (RPI #162)
Loyola-Marymount (RPI #102) WON vs. Portland (RPI #217)
*Wisconsin-Milwaukee (RPI #104) LOST vs. Valparaiso (RPI #124)
*George Mason (RPI #108) WON vs. James Madison (RPI #254)
Kent State (RPI #110) WON at Toledo (RPI #284)
Butler (RPI #111) WON at Green Bay (RPI #172)
Illinois State (RPI #114) WON vs. Southern Illinois (RPI #229) LOST
Utah State (RPI #139) WON vs. San Jose State (RPI #280)
*North Dakota State (RPI #140) WON at Oakland (RPI #123)
Charleston Southern (RPI #142) WON at Presbyterian College (RPI #272)
Coastal Carolina (RPI #150) WON at Gardner-Webb (RPI #258)
Northeastern (RPI #152) WON at Hofstra (RPI #244)
*Bradley (RPI #210) LOST at Creighton (RPI #13) WON

Commentary - *=Key Games

I added the MVC teams playing today so you could see where they are in the pecking order. The top four teams playing today will have the most impact on the Shockers, so let’s pay particular attention to those teams. Then lastly, the two Colonial Conference teams: VCU and George Mason, are going to get a lot attention because of their respective RPI Rankings, their good Win Percentage Rankings, but their god-awful Strength-of-schedule (SOS) Rankings.

**GoShockers89** · January 29, 2012, 12:30 AM

I have a bad feeling that after tonight's results, ESPN is going to send SMC to Murray State, LBSU to Creighton, and the Shockers to Iona/ORU.

Hope I'm wrong.

**MVCFans** · January 29, 2012, 12:42 AM

Originally posted by GoShockers89 View Post

I have a bad feeling that after tonight's results, ESPN is going to send SMC to Murray State, LBSU to Creighton, and the Shockers to Iona/ORU.

Hope I'm wrong.

Unfortunately, I think you are correct. WSU to Oral Roberts would be my bet.

**shockar25** · January 29, 2012, 12:49 AM

If you look at the RPI, we're still the best game for MSU. Whether they look that heavily at the RPI though, but I still think we're in a good place. I will be highly disappointed if ONE loss in 3OT on the road is enough to knock us off of that match up. Monday will be interesting.

**shox1989** · January 29, 2012, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by shockar25 View Post

If you look at the RPI, we're still the best game for MSU. Whether they look that heavily at the RPI though, but I still think we're in a good place. I will be highly disappointed if ONE loss in 3OT on the road is enough to knock us off of that match up. Monday will be interesting.

Every other team in the country (except Murry St) has already lost at least once on the road this year. Our first road loss (especially against a top 100 team in 3OT) shouldn't penalize us that much.

If they send us anywhere but Murry we could be in a MUST WIN situation. And maybe that is what they want - an elimination game. WSU (#30) @Murry St (#32) should not be an elimination game for either team. A WSU@ #51 Iona or #50 ORU could very well be an elimination game for whoever loses.

**Snapshot9** · January 29, 2012, 02:00 AM

Will they have a TV show to announce the matchups for BB? If so, what channel and time?

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