MVC Tournament discussion

[another shocker]

It's entirely possible that the Shockers go cold by Sunday ...

They need to worry about Saturday.

[shox1989]

MoST is borderline top 100 right now, though, right? Beating Evansville and Creighton might make them a top 100 team again.

Maybe. They are at 114 right now. If they beat both UE and CU they might move into the top 100, but there is no guarantee that they would.

It is amazing how all of these 9-9 teams and SIU getting several conference wins has killed the individual rpis of Valley teams.

After non-con play finished it looked like this years Valley wasn't too much behind the 2006 Valley that had 6 teams finish in the top 50 of the rpi.

The brutal conference play ruined all of that. We are sitting at just 2 top 50 teams and one 50 to 100 team right now. That is a far cry from having 6 top 50 teams.

This conference is just way too balanced. The MWC seems to do a much better job each year of getting great separation from their top 4 teams and everyone else. It keeps getting them 3 to 4 possible ncaa bids each year while the Valley has been a one bid league for 4 years in a row. This year we will get at least 2 bids, but after the non-con play there was such a great opportunity for 3 or even 4 bids and this conference just kills itself. And with so many teams sitting just outside of the top 100 hurts our chances of getting a better seed.

I guess we really are still the "Valley of Death".

[shox1989]

I think Creighton's odds are much better than 55%.

I don't know they split with both MoST and UE this year. And even the 2 wins could have gone either way. Either of those teams would have a good chance to beat CU on a neutral court.

I actually feel like CU's chances of losing tomorrow might even be better than 50% but I am giving CU the benefit of the doubt when I say 55% chance of winning. They have managed to find a way to win several close games lately, so that is why I think their chances might be a little better than 50/50 tomorrow.

[shocker3]

I am rooting for Miss St tonight. If they win it will nudge them closer to the top 100. If they did manage to beat Creighton then at least there would be a good chance our wins over Miss State would turn into top 100 wins (wins over Creighton and Evansville and then a loss to a top 10 team-WSU- should definitely put them into the top 100).

My first preference is for WSU to beat Creighton on Sunday (giving us another top 25 win). My second preference would be for WSU to beat Miss St on Sunday (giving us 3 more top 100 wins).

A win over Evansville on Sunday wouldn't do much for us except give us another win (and more importantly avoid a bad loss) and make us MVC TOURNAMENT CHAMPS (which is kind of nice).

[forevershockerfan]

After watching Drake get beat by Creighton, I wondered how we got beat by them, even in triple OT. However, only 1 Valley road loss is to be commended. Drake may be finer than a frog hair next Season.

[Steeleshocker]

The stat I'm watching this weekend is minutes. Creighton's top 2 scorers today logged 35 and 33 minutes, respectively. Granted, it doesn't mean much unless you win, but this might make things hard tomorrow or Sunday. Granted, the same thing may happen to Colt or Weems.

[bunck]

I think Creighton's odds are much better than 55%.

I think I would have to favor Evansville by a few points in a game tomorrow with Creighton and I feel the same way as you about wanting Creighton on Sunday.

[ShockerFan87]

Just noticed this- First round, 9 & 10 seeds lost. Second round, 5-8 seeds lost. It's a nice little progression of watching the lower seeds lose. I'm hopeful it continues all the way through to Sunday.

But first, bring on Illinois State. We turned the Sycamores into firewood. Now let's roast some Redbirds!

[SHOXAAC]

It appeared most of Shocker Nation at the arena wanted the Jays to go down tonight. Short-sided thinking. I understand why, since the majority of our fan base have it out for sCUm...however it only makes sense for us to crack the Jays beaker on Sunday (i know, I know, we have to get by the Red Bird tomorrow). It is the best way to solidify a 4 seed and have even a slim hope for a 3.

GO SHOX!!!

[HarpBros]

SO I believe WSU 72 and then the Evensville 71 where the only teams that could score to save their lives today!

[Kung Wu]

Maybe. They are at 114 right now. If they beat both UE and CU they might move into the top 100, but there is no guarantee that they would.

It is amazing how all of these 9-9 teams and SIU getting several conference wins has killed the individual rpis of Valley teams.

After non-con play finished it looked like this years Valley wasn't too much behind the 2006 Valley that had 6 teams finish in the top 50 of the rpi.

The brutal conference play ruined all of that. We are sitting at just 2 top 50 teams and one 50 to 100 team right now. That is a far cry from having 6 top 50 teams.

This conference is just way too balanced. The MWC seems to do a much better job each year of getting great separation from their top 4 teams and everyone else. It keeps getting them 3 to 4 possible ncaa bids each year while the Valley has been a one bid league for 4 years in a row. This year we will get at least 2 bids, but after the non-con play there was such a great opportunity for 3 or even 4 bids and this conference just kills itself. And with so many teams sitting just outside of the top 100 hurts our chances of getting a better seed.

I guess we really are still the "Valley of Death".

IMHO - 29 wins and a MONSTEROUS win streak way out-trumps anything an additional top 100 would do for us at this point. The selection committee loves momentum. Just keep winning.

[Kung Wu]

The stat I'm watching this weekend is minutes. Creighton's top 2 scorers today logged 35 and 33 minutes, respectively. Granted, it doesn't mean much unless you win, but this might make things hard tomorrow or Sunday. Granted, the same thing may happen to Colt or Weems.

Yeah but they rested up on the defensive end.

[DwShock]

I think we are worried too much about rpi at this point. I want the shockers to keep winning I don't care if its against a 300 rpi team.

[SHOXAAC]

Yea...don't worry about things we can't control...just win BABYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

[Phantom]

Hey Shox fans,

So...we meet again! Glad it's us you guys have to go through but also not glad at the same time having to run into your buzzsaw. You guys definately seem to be on a mission and all business. We enjoyed our win in the quarters over UNI (a team we just really aren't terribly fond of lol) but to say we have a tough hill to climb today is an understatement. Hopefully we can knock down some shots and make a game out of it. Good luck to both teams and as always lets hope for a clean, hardfought game. After today, tear everyone up and make us all proud in the Dance. We'll be pulling for you 100%.

And take it easy on our fans in STL as you'll outnumber us about 4 to 1 today :)