Bracketbuster 2011

[valpo84]

VCU Board does a nice job of trying to predict Bracketbuster games. Currently, they have us with Northern Arizona. www.vcuramnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4429

They do have two MAC teams playing each other and a couple Colonials matching up, but generally, the matchups are based on RPI seatings so you can make some adjustments. The importance of the opponent is to get somebody that makes for a good game the next year too. Northern Arizona is generally a good matchup, and maybe you pair that with another west coast game against a BCS team or high mid-major (UNLV, Utah, Utah State, BYU).

Another important nugget is that the Horizon has the highest rated game right now. It would also be great for Valpo to get a TV game out of it.

[vuweathernerd]

do we host this year? or are we on the road again?

[agibson]

We're at home.

Updating our RPI, without checking the away teams, we could be up against... VCU? But, plenty of games to be played between now and selection time.

[valporun]

Dec 29, 2010 11:29:30 GMT -5 agibson said:

We're at home.

Updating our RPI, without checking the away teams, we could be up against... VCU? But, plenty of games to be played between now and selection time.

I was just looking back at last year's schedule, and we went to Bowling Green for Bracketbuster last year, so we know one of our home games next season is with Bowling Green, since that game wasn't returned this non-conference seaason. rlh, chef, valpo89, any reason why BGSU didn't come to the ARC this season?

[vuweathernerd]

Dec 29, 2010 14:30:44 GMT -5 valporun said:

Dec 29, 2010 11:29:30 GMT -5 agibson said:

We're at home.

Updating our RPI, without checking the away teams, we could be up against... VCU? But, plenty of games to be played between now and selection time.

I was just looking back at last year's schedule, and we went to Bowling Green for Bracketbuster last year, so we know one of our home games next season is with Bowling Green, since that game wasn't returned this non-conference seaason. rlh, chef, valpo89, any reason why BGSU didn't come to the ARC this season?

i think it had something to do with not being able to find a date that worked for both schools. but this was a while ago.

[rlh]

I agree...I believe I heard that a date that worked for both couldn't be found so they put it off a year. You actually have two years to return a date with your Bracketbuster opponent I believe

[browntown]

Anyone know of a particular date the Bracketbusters get announced?

[agibson]

I saw it recently, maybe on the Bracketbusters home page?

I think it's Jan 31.

[dylanrocks]

The games should either be announced on Sunday, Jan. 31 or Monday, Feb. 1.

Personally, I think the BracketBuster series outlived its usefulness when it was expanded from 20 to 108 teams after the first year.

In the first year, the event gave us Gonzaga at Creighton and Milwaukee at Southern Illinois.

Now, it will create such home-and-homes and Youngstown State and SUNY-Stony Brook. Anyone interested?

[vu84v2]

I know that this assumes Valpo keeps playing well and winning, but I believe if the game is chosen to be televised by ESPN that the game time could be changed and it is even possible the game would be Friday night (at least this is what has been done in previous years).

Also, did anyone notice that Butler has "graduated" from the Bracket Buster?

[dylanrocks]

Like Gonzaga after the first year, the BracketBuster does very little (read: nothing) for a program that has "arrived."

It's a lot easier for programs such as these to enhance their profile and improve their RPI by scheduling quality non-conference competition outside of the BracketBuster event.

For most of the rest of us, it's a nuisance non-conference game in late February.

[vu72]

Jan 11, 2011 13:15:47 GMT -5 vu84v2 said:

I know that this assumes Valpo keeps playing well and winning, but I believe if the game is chosen to be televised by ESPN that the game time could be changed and it is even possible the game would be Friday night (at least this is what has been done in previous years).

Also, did anyone notice that Butler has "graduated" from the Bracket Buster?

I don't think there is any "graduating" involved. Butler had to change some things up to fit Duke into their schedule. I'd be surprised if they aren't part of it next year.

[wh]

Jan 11, 2011 13:29:49 GMT -5 vu72 said:

Jan 11, 2011 13:15:47 GMT -5 vu84v2 said:

I know that this assumes Valpo keeps playing well and winning, but I believe if the game is chosen to be televised by ESPN that the game time could be changed and it is even possible the game would be Friday night (at least this is what has been done in previous years).

Also, did anyone notice that Butler has "graduated" from the Bracket Buster?

I don't think there is any "graduating" involved. Butler had to change some things up to fit Duke into their schedule. I'd be surprised if they aren't part of it next year.

Butler should be playing a Bracket Buster game like every other team in the Horizon League. Oh, I mean every other team except UIC, who got screwed out of their game to accommodate the big Butler-Duke "rematch." Talk about taking one for the team.

Assuming Butler remains at or near the top of the HL standings and keeps their very respectable RPI when the B-B games are decided, they would have been paired against a top notch team from another Mid. It would have guaranteed our league a featured TV game. If they won their game, it would have been another feather in their cap for an at-large if they don't win the conf. tournament. It would be another boost for a possible better seed. It would give the league more positive exposure, which is good for all of us. Isn't that the party line - Butler's success gives all of us some crumbs off their table? Isn't that why we set the table for the No.1 seed to win the conf. tournament every year? It's all about the betterment of the league, right?? Then tell me how Butler not playing a B-B game supports this all so clever master plan? The answer is it doesn't. It's nothing more than an accommodation for a self-serving program that for one year in their history was too good for the Horizon League. When you stop to think about it, we're all taking one for the team - team Butler.

[agibson]

Is the bracketbuster mandatory in the HL?

I suppose the national title game rematch drew more attention to the conference than any bracketbuster game could have done.

[justducky]

Jan 11, 2011 14:26:47 GMT -5 wh said:

Jan 11, 2011 13:29:49 GMT -5 vu72 said:

I don't think there is any "graduating" involved. Butler had to change some things up to fit Duke into their schedule. I'd be surprised if they aren't part of it next year.

Butler should be playing a Bracket Buster game like every other team in the Horizon League. Oh, I mean every other team except UIC, who got screwed out of their game to accommodate the big Butler-Duke "rematch." Talk about taking one for the team.

Assuming Butler remains at or near the top of the HL standings and keeps their very respectable RPI when the B-B games are decided, they would have been paired against a top notch team from another Mid. It would have guaranteed our league a featured TV game. If they won their game, it would have been another feather in their cap for an at-large if they don't win the conf. tournament. It would be another boost for a possible better seed. It would give the league more positive exposure, which is good for all of us. Isn't that the party line - Butler's success gives all of us some crumbs off their table? Isn't that why we set the table for the No.1 seed to win the conf. tournament every year? It's all about the betterment of the league, right?? Then tell me how Butler not playing a B-B game supports this all so clever master plan? The answer is it doesn't. It's nothing more than an accommodation for a self-serving program that for one year in their history was too good for the Horizon League. When you stop to think about it, we're all taking one for the team - team Butler.

The term self-serving might be a little strong but we get your point. Getting home court and a double-bye should be viewed as stacking the deck anywhere outside of Vegas. The best we can do to return Butler to earth is to lump 4 conference losses on them and try to pull Hinkle.