Bracket Busters column

[ShoxFan45]

Never understood the BB hate. Still don't. If it wasn't for BB this year we wouldn't have a shot at any top 50 RPI teams at home outside MSU. Last year our game against Utah State provided us with a chance to keep our at-large hopes alive.

I can see where people are coming from, but we have been provided with chances to help our resume's because of BB. If WSU can stay as one of the top teams year in year out, it basically gives us a home and home with another team of our level of mid-major, and that's something I like.

One series a year of that makes for a pretty good schedule boost.

[Ta town]

I really used to like BB and I still do for just the basic interest in a OCG game against a team we typically dont play. Its still better than our buy games at the beginning of the year.

But.... I dont see it helping us in anyway though....It stands the chance of doing much more damage than good. Another home loss would be horrible

Nice BCS attitude.

It's the truth...you don't impress the naysayers by beating other teams they think are fellow mid majors. Just the way it is. Doesn't mean WSU fans don't respect other Solid mid major programs. Just simple logic, if the bias is that team a and team b are both ok but couldn't hang with average bcs teams then they will reason that the team that losses is really bad.

I don't like the BB and I particularly don't like the timing of it. More than 90% of the games are totally meaningless as a way to get to the Dance. That said and logic go hang, I don't believe in ducking competition either. You prove yourself on the court, or not, and live with the results.

Your simple logic has another side to it, a catch-22 if you will. Many say that most quailty BCS teams won't play a quality mid major even up, or home and home, so to prove your as good, you have to bend to a stacked deck which will give you a worse chance of winning. Given those two scenerios, I'll pick a home and home against a quality mid major that has as high, perhaps higher, RPI than that BCS team.

If I play a quality schedule and do well, but don't make the Dance, that's shame on them, not me. I don't believe in playing chicken and try to back door the Dance. Yes, I know it's big business and about the money. Reality tells me that a better schedule will make my team better and more prepared for conference play/tourney or even for next year, so that money may still be there.

If I play a quality schedule and don't do well, that's on me. We didn't do what was needed. Hopefully, the team will reap the benefit of that quality schedule later.

I'm not suggesting WSU schedule cupcakes, I'm suggesting they get out of Bracketbusters.

[ABC]

Actually, this seems like year we need bracketbusters.

We need top-50 wins and BB givs us a chance.

[wusphlash]

Don't forget the benefit of the return game. One "should be" decent game that Gregg doesn't have to worry about begging for. Utah State should have returned a game this year. (Still don't understand why that didn't happen.) They are currently 25th in the Coaches Poll which would have been a big boost to our schedule.

[Ta town]

Actually, this seems like year we need bracketbusters.

We need top-50 wins and BB givs us a chance.

I could be wrong but right now I see 4 top 50 road teams.

Cleveland St and Utah St I doubt because of recent play.

Mizz St is in same league.

So WSU better hope for George Mason.

[ShockBand]

Don't forget the benefit of the return game. One "should be" decent game that Gregg doesn't have to worry about begging for. Utah State should have returned a game this year. (Still don't understand why that didn't happen.) They are currently 25th in the Coaches Poll which would have been a big boost to our schedule.

They changed the system to where the return is two years after the original. This was done to eliminate the fact that you used to play your season's return game and your new BB game as both home or both away in the same year.

[vbird53]

Last year our game against Utah State provided us with a chance to keep our at-large hopes alive.

You could make the case that last year the Utah State game did bust our bracket. Had the Shocks won that game, they probably would have earned an at-large bid.

[Kung Wu]

From my perspective both arguments are true and not mutually exclusive (though the opinion drawn from the arguments are).

1) A loss in BracketBuster will generally do more harm than the benefit a win will provide, but

2) BracketBuster gives you an opportunity that you wouldn't have otherwise to make your case.

Based on this I don't think BracketBusters sucks, I think the system that makes BracketBusters necessary sucks.

[Ta town]

Just wait till some clown starts talking about mid runs and mid majors etc.

With all the negative things I've said I will be happy with George Mason or even VCU.

[WSUShokker]

From my perspective both arguments are true and not mutually exclusive (though the opinion drawn from the arguments are).

1) A loss in BracketBuster will generally do more harm than the benefit a win will provide, but

2) BracketBuster gives you an opportunity that you wouldn't have otherwise to make your case.

Based on this I don't think BracketBusters sucks, I think the system that makes BracketBusters necessary sucks.

+1.. Thanks that was I was trying to say.... I dont think its being elitist to say that going forward and at this point in this season I have some trepidation towards the benefits or lack there of that BB might provide. It also sucks that as teams get better they start opting out of BB which decreases the pool of quality teams.

[tropicalshox]

I think we will get George Mason. ESPN can talk about it being a rematch of the springboard game for GM to the final four.