2013 Sears ESPN Bracketbuster Game

[DoubleJayAlum]

Are you for certain that the conference can mandate it? I thought ESPN mandated it by saying there had to be full conference participation, otherwise the league as a whole would take a hit in games televised by them. I think the WSU and CU brands may have elevated to the point where we don't need a guarantee in order to get our better games picked up by either ESPN or some alternative networks?

You are right.

I wasn't talking about now, as much as when it comes up for renewal again. If the rest of the conference wants to participate, so be it. But I want the conference to take a stand and say that unless the caliber of competition improves, our marquee programs can opt out like those in the WCC are allowed to do.

[shock]

In a heartbeat. Host it in KC or Vegas. Maybe even Chicago. Of course they would probably have to rotate out certain teams from the A-10 over the years. They do have alot of quality programs.

Never Vegas

[Aargh]

Gonzaga
St. Mary's
Xavier
VCU
Wichita
Creighton
UNLV
New Mexico


That would sell. :)

Elgin would do anything in his power to prevent that. It would have to be the schools putting that together and not the league if The MVC were involved.

Put the package together right and you'd get fans of 4 non-BCS conferences involved, plus the national interest from the better non-BCS names in D1. It could lead to some quality wins, but no punishment for losing to a top-50 type program.

I think it's a great idea.

[rrshock]

Elgin would do anything in his power to prevent that. It would have to be the schools putting that together and not the league if The MVC were involved.

Put the package together right and you'd get fans of 4 non-BCS conferences involved, plus the national interest from the better non-BCS names in D1. It could lead to some quality wins, but no punishment for losing to a top-50 type program.

I think it's a great idea.

So how do we do this? IBA would be a great first host site.

[Kung Wu]

Gonzaga
St. Mary's
Xavier
VCU
Wichita
Creighton
UNLV
New Mexico

That would sell. :)

Yes, but push it to the beginning of the season during normal non-con play.

[Kung Wu]

You are right.

I wasn't talking about now, as much as when it comes up for renewal again. If the rest of the conference wants to participate, so be it. But I want the conference to take a stand and say that unless the caliber of competition improves, our marquee programs can opt out like those in the WCC are allowed to do.

I think it's beyond that now. I think WSU and CU need to just refuse to continue it outright. In fact, this really comes down to Marshall. If he doesn't want it, he needs to come right out and put it on Sexton to prevent it from happening in the future. If Marshall's happy with it because it gives him one "safe" non-RPI killer per year that he doesn't have to worry about scheduling, then that's fine. What Marshall wants, Marshall gets.

[rrshock]

Yes, but push it to the beginning of the season during normal non-con play.

Christmas time would be good.

[Dave Stalwart]

Yeah I like mid to late December (15th through 23rd ish) for it because that leaves the November tournaments unchanged. It would just add another nice tournament and invites could be based on November and early December performance just like bracket busters kind of is.

[shock22]

Here's the thing ---

If the WCC, among other conferences, gets to have some of its top teams (Gonzaga, BYU) opt out of this event, Creighton and WSu should be given the same option.

The WCC is not under contract to participate, so no one is opting out. St. Marys and Loyola Marymount decided to play, but that's it.

[Ixiah]

Here are the potential WSU opponents in Bracketbusters and their respective records.

Loyola (Md) - (8 - 3) - Metro Atlantic

Eastern Kentucky (7 - 0) - Ohio Valley
Albany (7- 2) - American East

Cal State Northridge (6 - 2) - Big West
Ohio (6 - 2) - Mid American

Canisius (5 - 1) - Metro Atlantic
Jacksonville St. (5 - 2) - Ohio Valley
Cleveland state (5 - 3) - Horizon
Kent St. (5 - 4) - Mid American

North Dakota St. (4 - 2) - Summit
Loyola Marymount (4 - 3) - WCC
Savannah St. (4 - 4) - MEAC
St. Peters (4 - 5) - Metro Atlantic

Stephan F Austin (3 - 1) - Southland
Sacramento State (3 - 2) - Big Sky
Montana (3 - 3) - Big Sky
Iona (3 - 3) - Metro Atlantic
Central Michigan (3 - 3) - Mid American
Morgan State (3 - 3) - MEAC
South Dakota St. (3 - 3) - Summit
Radford (3 - 4) - Big South
Pacific (3 - 4) - Big West
Ball St. (3 - 4) - Mid American
Miami OH (3 - 4) - Mid American
Bowling Green (2 - 4) - Mid American
Northern Arizona (3 - 5) - Big Sky
Gardner-Webb (3 - 5) - Big South
Green Bay (3 - 5) - Horizon
Morehead St. (3 - 5) - Ohio Valley
UMKC (3 - 5) - Summit
Idaho (3 - 4) - WAC
Eastern Illinois (3 - 6) - Ohio Valley

Weber State (2 - 2) - Big Sky
Northwestern St. (2 - 3) - Southland
Detroit (2 - 4) - Horizon
SIU Edwardsville (2 - 4) - Ohio Valley
VMI (2 - 5) - Big South
U.C. Irvine (2 - 5) - Big West
Cal State Fullerton (2 - 5) - Big West
Manhattan (2 - 5) - Metro Atlantic
Austin Peay (2 - 5) - Ohio Valley
Sam Houston St. (2 - 5) - Southland
Denver (2 - 5) - WAC
Texas St. (2 - 5) - WAC
Milwaukee (2 - 6) - Horizon

Citadel (1 - 4) - Southern
Nicholls St. (1 - 4) - Southland
Coastal Carolina (1 - 5) - Big South
Longwood (1 - 6) - Big South
U.C. Riverside (1 - 6) - Big West

McNeese St. (0 - 3) - Southland
North Dakota (0 - 5) - Big Sky
Southeastern Louisiana (0 - 5) - Southland

[ABC]

That's quite a murderer's row.

No Murray State? I thought they hosted last year.

At this point, I only see one decent option and that is Ohio U.

[Ixiah]

That's quite a murderer's row.

No Murray State? I thought they hosted last year.

At this point, I only see one decent option and that is Ohio U.

Murray State has a home game this year:

http://espnbracketbusters.com/site/component/content/article?id=15

It is interesting that only 13 teams on post's list have a winning record. Eastern Kentucky might be an interesting game if they can keep that perfect winning record.

[ShockTalk]

For those hoping for a good opponent in Ohio (approx 50-55 projected RPI), they laid a big rotten egg today losing at home to a +300 RPI Withrop.

[shox1989]

Boy this thing as really gotten bad when we are hoping to get Ohio U.

[CBB_Fan]

Boy this thing as really gotten bad when we are hoping to get Ohio U.

Ohio U? Please. Give me Eastern Kentucky!

But you are right, it is a good thing this is dying.