Bracketbusters

[MTXE]

Get rid of Bracketbuster right now!!!! It serves absolutely ZERO purpose! It's actually hurting us this year.

It very much could potentially hurt us this year. We must win this game as well as the Northern Iowa game on the road to keep any hope for an at-large alive. Winning at Utah could do much to erase the bad loss at Drake.

[JaminShock]

Get rid of Bracketbuster right now!!!! It serves absolutely ZERO purpose! It's actually hurting us this year.

I disagree. I think it's helping us- how many good RPI games do we have left? It at least gives us a chance to improve our at-large chances. Take out that game and we pretty much have to win out and make the finals.

[1972Shocker]

I like the Bracket Busters. With the difficulties we are obviously faced with in scheduling any chance to line up with a Top 100 opponent is worthwhile. More so this year than most. Time slot is not great, but it is what it is. Seems to me we need all the help we can get upgrading our schedule.

I am confused with the issue of the return game however. (I know, I know, "What's New!")

A couple of posters about the benefit of getting a return game from Utah State next year. A couple of others posted it will be in 2 years.

I thought I read or heard that due to a needed adjustment we will not get return game from Utah State as part of this year's Bracket Busters.

Does anyone know the straight scoop on this issue?

[vbird53]

Get rid of Bracketbuster right now!!!! It serves absolutely ZERO purpose! It's actually hurting us this year.

I disagree. I think it's helping us- how many good RPI games do we have left? It at least gives us a chance to improve our at-large chances. Take out that game and we pretty much have to win out and make the finals.

There's no question that this game is actually helping us. I'm one of few that feel we've gotten a pretty good shake from Bracketbusters. The part that's hurt is that we haven't capitalized on the game too often. It's our own fault if we can't take advantage of a top 50 opportunity.

A couple things that could really help our at-large resume are:

1) winning at Utah St.
2) MSU and InSU staying in the top 100
3) CU, BU and IlSU getting into the top 100

All said, a major opportunity is in front of the Shocks on Wednesday night.

[pinstripers]

It's a good game and a good opportunity. I was hoping for an east coast game to give us prime time exposure, tho.

[Ta town]

It's a good game and a good opportunity. I was hoping for an east coast game to give us prime time exposure, tho.

for who to see? I'm telling you bcs fans look at bracket busters and crack up.

[WSUShokker]

It's a good game and a good opportunity. I was hoping for an east coast game to give us prime time exposure, tho.

for who to see? I'm telling you bcs fans look at bracket busters and crack up.

He who laughs last laughs loudest......maybe not this year but our time is coming....

Would you relish the day that a BCS poster comes here and gives us respect? I dont think I will.....I like the chip right where it is.

[RoyalShock]

I thought I read or heard that due to a needed adjustment we will not get return game from Utah State as part of this year's Bracket Busters.

Does anyone know the straight scoop on this issue?

The return game will be delayed until 2011-2012, per the Eagle.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/shockers/story/1162859.html

[1972Shocker]

It's a good game and a good opportunity. I was hoping for an east coast game to give us prime time exposure, tho.

for who to see? I'm telling you bcs fans look at bracket busters and crack up.

That may very well be, although I'm not sure how relevent to the discussion.

Personally, I would trade a trip to a place like Utah State any day, anytime, with or without TV for home games with Fairleigh Dickinson, Arkansas-Monticello, Alcorn State, Texas Southern, USC-Upstate or North Dakota State.

Would we rather be playing Butler in primetime. Of course. But this game at least provides an opportunity for the Shocks to add some spice to their post-season resume.

Edit: And we get a nice return game from USU in the 2010-2011 season.
We could and have done a lot worse.

[1972Shocker]

I thought I read or heard that due to a needed adjustment we will not get return game from Utah State as part of this year's Bracket Busters.

Does anyone know the straight scoop on this issue?

The return game will be delayed until 2011-2012, per the Eagle.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/shocker...y/1162859.html

Thanks, Royal.

[WSUwatcher]

Exposure

It's a good game and a good opportunity. I was hoping for an east coast game to give us prime time exposure, tho.

Definitely an opportunity to do some positive things, although a tough environment in which to try doing them.

As for exposure, I suspect the ratings for even Butler-Siena or other prime time showcase games will be much higher in the teams' home areas and conference TV markets than in Big East or SEC or Big 12 country -- or especially in the markets belonging to the almighty ACC.

The only really relevant people to be watching WSU are members of the selection committee, who should be free for the Midnight Special; or potential recruits, who should be just getting underway on their evening activities at that point. And, of course, as vbird notes, the real key for those crucial audiences is for WSU to look good, which is a part of the bargain that historically the Shocks have not held up well while playing on the road.

[Denny Crane]

Recipe for the dance at large:

-Win at either UNI or USU;
-Finish with 25+ wins;
-Finish no worse than second in the league;
-No one other than UNI can win the conference tourney;
-Win at least one game in the conference tourney.

If the above recipe is followed, we are in. Put money on it.

I hope you don't have a lot of money to put on it.

While your recipe would meet the "bare minimum" required to make the dance, those ingredients definitely aren't iron-clad guarantees.

1.) I agree a win at UNI or USU would be huge. We definitely need 1 of those.
2.) 25+ wins isn't a dealbreaker. We have to do that anyways to get a shot. However, assuming we win one of the UNI/USU combo, we could still drop a deuce at Bradley or God forbid Evansville and not win a game in St. Louis and still finish with 25 wins. See, that doesn't work.
3.) Well duh. If we finish outside of 2nd that would've meant we tanked against the likes of Indiana State, Bradley, Evansville, and SIU in some form or another.
4.) This I agree with. If someone other than UNI wins in St. Louis, you can make your NIT plans. The most the Valley is getting NO MATTER WHAT is 2 this year.
5.) Seriously, just 1 game? Do you really think a loss to Creighton or Drake or Illinois State in the semifinals is going to give us a good look come tourney time? This isn't 2006, where a loss in the semifinals is still acceptable. As much as it pains me, we have to make the finals this year to have a shot at the dance. Win it (for the auto) or lose it to UNI and hope we did enough in the regular season.

Revised recipe:
1.) Must win either UNI/USU
2.) Can only afford one more conference loss (UNI, but if we beat UNI, maybeeeeee Bradley)
3.) Play UNI in the finals

Simple as that.

You are too pessimistic or I'm an optimist. I really believe if we accomplish the first four, one win will get us in. You guys need to remember if we DO accomplish the first four, that is one hell of a finish and I would bet most of the rest of these bubble teams will beat each other up and some of them will tank altogether. And while I've been a conspiracy theorist that the Valley is out to screw us, I think when all is said and done, 25+ wins will do the trick this year (but this year only).

For some reason, I just think the NCAA will pick two teams from the league this year.

[1972Shocker]

Re: Exposure

And, of course, as vbird notes, the real key for those crucial audiences is for WSU to look good, which is a part of the bargain that historically the Shocks have not held up well while playing on the road.

Nor has the Shocks history in BracketBuster games been particularly stellar either.

As far as it being a tough venue to get something good done is a plus. The tougher the venue and the opponent the bigger the opportunity.

Hopefully, we are up to the task.

[ShockerFever]

You are too pessimistic or I'm an optimist. I really believe if we accomplish the first four, one win will get us in. You guys need to remember if we DO accomplish the first four, that is one hell of a finish and I would bet most of the rest of these bubble teams will beat each other up and some of them will tank altogether. And while I've been a conspiracy theorist that the Valley is out to screw us, I think when all is said and done, 25+ wins will do the trick this year (but this year only).

For some reason, I just think the NCAA will pick two teams from the league this year.

You're too optimistic.

You really wanna rely on the NCAA to pick a team that most likely didn't win the Valley with a loss in the semifinals to Drake/sCUm/Illinois State?

What was sCUm's record/resume last year?
What was Illinois State's record/resume in 2008?

Even with a win over UNI/USU, our non-con severely lacked and that's why it's finals or bust.

[Kung Wu]

Remember the "meaningless" bracket buster game when one George Mason came into CKA and beat us? We thought it was the end of the world until they made it to the final four, and we made it to the sweet sixteen that year.

Maybe this time WE are the George Mason, walk into USU, kick some arse and accident our way into the final four? A guy can dream.