MVC Bracketbusters preview

[electricmayhem]

A pretty good article (if I do say so myself) about all 10 MVC matchups in the ESPN Bracketbusters. Any early predictions?

http://www.examiner.com/x-7020-Bradley-Braves-Examiner~y2010m2d3-Bracketbusters-matchups-and-predictions--Missouri-Valley-edition

[vbird53]

Missed your analysis over the course of much of the season. It's always a good thing to read the work of those associated with the Valley.

For all the crap we give this league, many of the members are trying to achieve that next level. It's really some highly entertaining basketball.

[electricmayhem]

Thanks vbird - I won't be writing as much as I would like to, but I'll be back on a limited basis.

I don't think the Valley is as bad as everyone thinks this year. There is much competition for the #3 spot, and we are still ranked 9th in conference RPI.

I had an article earlier in the year calling out a writer from Fox Sports for not ranking the Valley in the top 10 conferences for this season. RPI isn't everything, but two of his listed conferences in the top-10, C-USA and WCC, are ranked 11th and 13th, respectively. We have several good non-con wins against big schools as a conference, and I'm sure WSU and UNI will make some noise in the postseason, hopefully in the same tournament!

Nothing would make me happier for the league than a UNI/WSU Valley Tourney final, and a WSU victory - it might be the only way we get two bids this year. The committee doesn't like mid-majors anymore, so WSU would almost have to win out to get an at-large.

[RoyalShock]

The committee doesn't like mid-majors anymore . . .

I'm sorry, but I'm really getting tired of hearing this. A majority of the selection committee represent "mid-majors" and unless you can find a quote from them saying as such, just getting few bids doesn't mean anything other than they (mids) put themselves in the position to get passed over.

I am one of those who appreciates your columns and willingness to put yourself out there with predictions and such. You just hit on one of my hot-button issues.

[electricmayhem]

You are right. There isn't much basis for my statement, other than the growing number of snubs to qualified mid-majors, and the rapidly decreasing number of mid-majors in the dance.

I don't know for sure that the committee doesn't like mid-majors, but I would bet it's closer to that side of the fence than the other. The big schools probably don't like having an unheralded school with little or no national attention making a big splash - a la George Mason, Bradley, Wichita State, etc.

I think the Shox should just win the MVC Tourney and then we can watch the committee read off two MVC names without having to bite any nails.

[shockerfan]

You will see an increase in mid-major bids this year. This year is getting close to 2005-2006 status where alot of the BCS teams that were thought to be contenders aren't very strong. Also some of the BCS conferences just aren't doing well enough to get the number of bids they normally do.


On the other side some of the mid-major conferences have done better this year then they have the past few years. Unfortunately it won't be the Valley getting alot of the bids, but others that will soak them up (A-10, CAA, Horizon...etc)