Joe Lunardi's Latest Bracketology
Michigan State is now listed among his last 4 in. Michigan is not, so presumably we are comfortably in at this point.
Still would like to beat Illinois to hopefully insure that we're not playing in one of the 2 play-in games. And to avoid getting screwed if conference tourneys go insane.
Last four in are the play in games, so we're safe for the moment.
I want a win and a 10 seed because I think Notre Dame gets a 2 and I doubt the committee could resist the potential of that match up in the second round. We could beat them.
If we lose to Illinois, we will fall a bit. That would put us in the last 4 in again. If a few top teams lose their conference championships, then some of those spots go away and we might not even make it in at all. That's a lot of ifs though.
That the 12 seed that plays in on Tuesday or Wednesday could have a huge ad on the 5 seed that is sitting and waiting. See the conference tourneys every year.
Only the last two at-large teams play in the First Four. The other two spots are for the lowest rated AQs.
there are now 3 play in games. 1 is for the 2 lowest automatic qualifiers. The other 2 are for the 4 lowest at-large teams.
play in games.
Lowest 4 Automatic Qualifiers play a 16 seed play in and lowest 4 At Large play a 12 seed play in.
Nevermind. My math sucks. And I can't edit the post for some reason. My stupidity preserved forever :(
Can't edit a post after someone replies to it. Unless all the responders get ban-hammered and their posts eliminated, so there is a chance.
Michigan is in. Bkfinest it
gordie bell it
Gordie Howe?
So they are not in?
Thanks Joe
Like Swimwear!
Ready like spaghetti!
I didn't know I had some fellow Rod Benson fans on this here Internet website.
Link?
not sure if he's updated his online bracketology yet.
Gotta win just one more game 2 be sure.
On the bubble.
POP! POP!
greatest political debate of our century...POP POP! vs. PSSSSHHHHHHPPPP!
I don't want to go to the play in game like some bullshit team from the MAAC or the SWAC. But also I don't think anyone is "safe." Remember his bracketology assigns autobids to the top regular season team. Even best-case senario, you have to assume there is some upset that in an otherwise one-bid conference. Add that to the natural uncertainty and if we're fifth from out, I wouldn't be confident even if conference tournaments generally go our way. Also important to remember that losing the 4/5 game would hurt us as much as winning it wold help us, so we'd fall probably back into the last four in.
is that the list of mid-major teams who have locked up bids is smaller than usual this year.
that have a shot at stealing an auto-bid, knock an expected autobid into the at-large pool infront of us.
Would Lunardi have MSU in the dance at this moment? I'm guessing no, if you were to freeze everything, play the league tournaments in secret, and then just announce the winners. Being on the "Last Four In" means you're one of the first to be elbowed out by a mid-major also ran that only has to win one or two games against tournament quality opposition to win its league.
It's great to see us above the "Last Four In". But I think a Friday loss would put us back there, having to root against league tournament upsets and someone in the "Last Four Out" taking the opportunity to go deep and move ahead of us.
is that very few mid-major conferences have any shot at 2 bids. Whoever steals an autobid is, in most cases, stealing the autobid from a team that can't get in any other way.
We wouldn't play a team from a one-bid conference, we'd play another at-large team. That would actually be kinda cool because it would be another bubble calibur team like us, and I like our chances at this point. I think we're playing our best bball right now - it we played like this all season we'd be a 9 or 10 seed at least.
Agreed. A lot of teams are limping to this point and we're winning like never before.
Here's my take. If we lose our first round BTT game against Illinois, we're a 12 seed. Every win we get from today on moves us up one seed. If we beat Illinois we're an 11 seed. If we follow that up with a win over OSU, we're a 10 seed. If we win the BTT over Purdue or Wisconsin, we're a 9 seed. It makes sense.
I think you are probably about right. I'll probably steal it from you at a birthday party I gotta hit later.
Yeah, that's cool. I doubt anyone at your party would know who WolvinLA2 is anyway.
If they know what's good for them they oughtta.
Does this party happened to be in Clinton township? I'm going to a birthday party myself
I like the 12 seed idea, but I think a win vs Illinois would indicate we are no bubble team anymore, as we are playing our best basketball and are SO HOT right now ( like Hansel)..I would say it moves us to a 10, and another win puts us in the 8-9 range...(maybe even 7, assuming its OSU or Purdue?)...with those wins, it would be established that we are no fluke, and a legitimate middle seed...
We will certainly play Illinois in our first game of the BTT now and we'll play OSU if we win, assuming OSU doesn't blow it against the Minny/NW winner. And I don't think they will.
My sump pump has been running basically since last weekend and we're gonna get 2 inches of rain tonight. At least I got to see the game.
We're a 12 right now. I agree the better we do in big 10 tournament we move up in seeding. I don't know why everyone is talking about play in games. Not going to happen. You will not see a major confrence team any worse then a 12 seed. If you can't be a 12 seed you're in the NIT. Play in games are for schools like Coastal Carolina.....
There will be 6 twelve seeds in the tourney and four of them will be playing in the play in game...
I just looked up how the seeding would go and I was wrong as usual! Maybe will be in a play in game. I don't like the format at all. 12 over 5 is always the best part of first round. If you make 12's play an extra game I think it limits that from happening. Anyway I still say we won't be in a play in game ; )
At this point, 9-9 in a top conference should get UM in, especially give some of the close losses and the fact that the team has been playing way better now than at the beginning of the season. That said, you don't want to be a 12-seed floating near the bubble, and a loss to Illinois does that. Win in the 2nd round and this team will be an 11 seed, and then who knows. Luckily, there are not that many mid-major bubble teams out there, so UM should be in either way. Still, 20 wins would be a nice cherry on the regular-season sundae.
"Brett: "Michigan showing up big-time, Sparty playing like they know for sure they’re already in."
Me: "Michigan State's season is that of a lazy high school cross country runner. They lolly-gagged the whole race, started running just in time for to make their time, and then coasted the rest of the way."
Brett: "Honestly, I’m not sure they’ve made their time. If they lose their first Big Ten tourney game ... a 17-14 team with zero significant nonconference wins and a 3-9 record vs the top 50 is getting in? Based on what?"
Via ESPN
That's what happens when talented teams get too entitled--especially in a sport like basketball where lots of teams with mediocre records make the postseason.
have done enough to get in as of right now. We still have one more game left. I think we will beat whoever we play. GO BLUE!!!
seriously blown out (<15) by presumably Illinois in the BT Tourney, they are in.
What a great day. Michigan beats up on his little brother again and Iowa beats Purdue lol.
GO BLUE!
Someone also explain to me how Yahoo named Aaron Craft B10 freshman of the year over Tim Hardaway Jr.?
TH Jr. has won B10 freshman of the week 4 times this year and most likely will get a 5th one after today.
It doesnt matter, Jared Sullinger is gonna be freshman of the year.
Is there a link of some sort for this? Or where did you see this?