Bracket Busters

[Ixiah]

Well in a few weeks Wichita State will be playing in the bracket busters so here is a bit of a preview. WSU is on the road so below is a list of the home teams that are not a part of the valley and they have not played already. The numbers next to the teams are the RPI by Pomeroy. Currently WSU is listed #165.

There are a few teams slightly above WSU's RPI which include: Old Dominion, Loyola MD, William & Mary, UNC Wilmington, and Cal-State Fullerton.

Not much slightly below: Jacksonville State, Murray State, and then a huge drop in RPI

May seem like a lot of overanalysis but one of these guys will be on the schedule for this year and at Koch next year. Anyone have a preference?

• Atlantic Sun
  East Tennessee State #131
  
  Big Sky
  Northern Arizona #123
  
  Big South
  Winthrop #108
  
  Big West
  Cal-State Fullerton #154
  Cal-State Northridge #86
  UC Irvine #202
  UC Riverside #309
  Pacific #135
  
  Colonial Athletic
  Drexel #217
  James Madison #206
  UNC-Wilmington #158
  Old Dominion #163
  Towson #225
  William & Mary #159
  
  Horizon League
  Butler #24
  Cleveland State #64
  Detroit #294
  Valparaiso #90
  UW-Green Bay #93
  
  Mid-American
  Akron #76
  Buffalo #253
  Eastern Michigan #262
  Northern Illinois #286
  Ohio #52
  Toledo #212
  
  Metro Atlantic Athletic
  Canisius #323
  Iona #220
  Loyola MD #160
  Manhattan #271
  Saint Peter’s #316
  
  Ohio Valley
  Austin Peay #140
  Eastern Illinois #339
  Eastern Kentucky #236
  Jacksonville State #167
  Murray State #171
  
  Patriot
  Holy Cross #148
  
  Southern
  Elon #268
  
  Summit League
  Oral Roberts #60
  
  Western Athletic
  Boise State #112
  Fresno State #190
  Louisiana Tech #326
  New Mexico State #141
  Utah State #102
  
  West Coast
  Saint Mary's #18
  

[AndShock]

Doesn't seem like getting any of the higher RPIs is very likely.

I'd like Oral Roberts though.

[fastbow]

Winthrop.

Makes for good story lines...

[ShockerWheelSU]

I think it would be fun to see Marshall face his old team in Winthrop or an Oral Roberts who is close and maybe start up an annual meeting with them since we lost the Tulsa game. Anybody know why we don't play Tulsa anymore. It used to be a huge rivalary way back.

[ShockerWheelSU]

Let's play UC Irvine. Get some revenge from baseball season!

Go Shox!!

[shocks02]

Why is St. Mary's even put as an option. We'll never get to play them.

I hope we get a team from the WAC like Boise State, Fresno State, or New Mexico State

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

We don't get to choose, correct?

Don't be suprised when they will put us with Winthrop. At least there would be much interest in the game in NC and KS.

[AndShock]

After watching Winthrop play in the Virgin Islands, I think they'd beat us, bad. Unless they've had injuries since then.

[capnkirk]

HCGM does not want to play Winthrop. I am hoping for Old Dominion.

[BA2929]

I'm going with East Tennessee State. Not because I want to see them, but because I think that's who we'll play.

[60Shock]

Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico State, or Utah State might add a little flavor for a home game next year.

[Ixiah]

Why is St. Mary's even put as an option. We'll never get to play them.

Because the copy and paste is such a wonderful tool. :whistle: Really though I just figured I'd put them all up.

If I read correctly, the pairings are announced on Feb 4th. The best game looks to be Drake at Butler (Drake has already played Saint Mary's). I am kind of thinking that Butler might as well move into the Valley. A matchup with Drake would give them five games against MVC teams!

[wu_shizzle]

Irvine - for the baseball guys.
Winthrop - for the made for TV drama (we'd lose thought)
Manhattan - a team we can beat and Ramon gets to play at Home.
ORU - a team we should be scheduling anyway.

[SubGod22]

UNC-Wilmington or any other team from the southeast. Or New Mexico State because I have a friend in NM that might like the chance to check it out.

[NoVaShocker]

I'd like to see us play, ODU, W&M, or Loyola, MD because they have RPIs similar to ours - plus they are within driving distance for me. :good:

Otherwise, one of the WAC teams would make for a reasonble return game at Koch next year.