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Post by agibson on Feb 1, 2011 8:56:21 GMT -5
I don't think Valpo's an at-large candidate. But, I was amused to see one headline along those lines! College Basketball: Valparaiso Battles For At Large NCAA bid indiana.sbnation.com/butler-bulldogs/2011/1/31/1965675/college-basketball-valparaiso-battles-for-at-large-ncaa-bid?show_comments=trueThanks to stlvufan and his blog for pointing it out. Commenting on the upcoming CSU game, the author says I'm afraid there's more to this than just RPI. And even three or four "quality" (top-50 RPI) wins against Horizon or even MVC opponents doesn't seem likely to make us candidates. I guess we could face Butler or CSU in the tournament semis and potentially add a 5th "quality" win. Maybe in a very weak bubble.... ?
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Post by vuweathernerd on Feb 1, 2011 9:54:28 GMT -5
fwiw, lunardi's bracketology yesterday had butler as one of the last 4 in, and we weren't even one of the last 4 out. as much as i don't like the idea, our losses at ohio and toledo are really gonna come back to bite us in the ass. we're gonna have to go 7-1 to finish conference play, win the bracketbuster game, and make it to the tourney championship game to even be considered.
and to be completely honest, i'd rather have the 2 seed in the conference tourney than the 1, b/c of the simple fact that the hl tournament is during spring break, so we're not gonna have the student presence that we would otherwise have. (and no, i'm not kidding-a conference tourney game would bring in a large student turnout, if they were around.)
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Post by agibson on Feb 1, 2011 10:17:47 GMT -5
Too bad it's during spring break (it's practically always that way, right?). But, would you really rather have it in front of a, potentially large, hostile crowd? Rather than in front of a, Valpo student free, home crowd?
You'd rather play e.g. a Butler third seed than a e.g. Wright State four seed? (Well, who knows what the final table will look like.)
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Post by jerome1 on Feb 1, 2011 10:20:57 GMT -5
Too bad it's during spring break (it's practically always that way, right?). But, would you really rather have it in front of a, potentially large, hostile crowd? Rather than in front of a, Valpo student free, home crowd? You'd rather play e.g. a Butler third seed than a e.g. Wright State four seed? (Well, who knows what the final table will look like.) ag is correct. That is the difference of playing Butler at Cleveland's Wolstein Center or playing Wright State at the ARC without students. And also seeing Butler versus CSU at the ARC. That would be a complimentary game for the Valpo fans. I think I know what most Valpo fans would want.
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Post by vuweathernerd on Feb 1, 2011 12:16:57 GMT -5
Too bad it's during spring break (it's practically always that way, right?). But, would you really rather have it in front of a, potentially large, hostile crowd? Rather than in front of a, Valpo student free, home crowd? You'd rather play e.g. a Butler third seed than a e.g. Wright State four seed? (Well, who knows what the final table will look like.) ag is correct. That is the difference of playing Butler at Cleveland's Wolstein Center or playing Wright State at the ARC without students. And also seeing Butler versus CSU at the ARC. That would be a complimentary game for the Valpo fans. I think I know what most Valpo fans would want. valid points. i guess i was looking at it from the selfish standpoint of a crusader fan, without thinking about the other games as well.
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Post by wh on Feb 1, 2011 12:40:40 GMT -5
If the HL tourney is properly hyped in the newspapers and even South Bend and Chicago TV catch the fever, the ARC will become the place to be and casual fans will come out of the woodwork. No doubt the place will be packed, with or without the students - especially if Butler, Wright State or Milwaukee is there (with their fan following).
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Post by dylanrocks on Feb 1, 2011 13:18:08 GMT -5
Hey folks, I posted this on our board on Sept. 30 in a discussion about the relative merits of the Horizon League today vs. the league in 2004-05 and '05-06. "The addition of Valpo from both an historical and practical standpoint is significant and should not be overlooked. The league became better the day it became a member." I wanted to congratulate you guys for an outstanding season to date and wish you luck in all remaining games, other than the one on Feb. 16. and any other future meetings Go represent the Horizon League in fine fashion against Missouri State, a very tough draw. Having said all that, I don't think Valpo is a viable at-large candidate this season, given the losses to RPI No. 142 Green Bay at The ARC, at No. 176 Ohio and at No. 323 Toledo.
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Post by drewsaders11 on Feb 1, 2011 13:30:57 GMT -5
Without the Toledo loss, this is a much more serious discussion. At least that game led to a reality check, a 4 game win streak, and 9 out of 10.
In Lunardi's Bracketology breakdown, it lists teams going in and out. Cleveland St. was in (as being in first in the HL), and Valpo was out. He listed their chances of getting in the tourney as 25% for CSU and 20% for Valpo, as opposed to AQ (Automatic Qualifier) for lesser conferences, meaning he can see in some way both teams being an at large (most likely winning out with their last loss being in the conference finals). It could happen.
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Post by rlh on Feb 1, 2011 13:37:10 GMT -5
All that bracketology stuff only proves how much the national media is in love with Butler. They are having a hard time accepting that Cleveland State and Valpo might just be better than them this year. That's why I don't pay much attention to all that nonsense. It is what it is, and this year Butler is not the class of the Horizon...they're still good, but a couple of teams are just as good if not better.....
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Post by dylanrocks on Feb 1, 2011 13:43:20 GMT -5
Including Milwaukee, amazingly enough.
"Milwaukee's a good team," (Butler coach Brad) Stevens said. "Against Butler, they're a very good team."
Lest anyone ever forget, college basketball is all about matchups.
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Post by bbtds on Feb 1, 2011 14:38:48 GMT -5
Including Milwaukee, amazingly enough. "Milwaukee's a good team," (Butler coach Brad) Stevens said. "Against Butler, they're a very good team." Lest anyone ever forget, college basketball is all about matchups. This isn't just because you post on here, dylan, as I truly believe it. Valpo will need to be just as tough in the game at Milwaukee as they will have to be at Cleveland State. Milwaukee has now beaten Wright State, UIC and Detroit and Butler twice which is pretty solid considering the start of the season. I can see Milwaukee making a run at 4th or 5th in the seeding of the HL tourney. I don't think anyone in the league wants to have to play the Panthers at this point in the season. Good luck against Green Bay. Right now the Phoenix have created a sore spot with Valpo fans.
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Post by dylanrocks on Feb 1, 2011 15:46:07 GMT -5
"Right now the Phoenix have created a sore spot with Valpo fans."
Is that because of the 63-61 loss or something else?
Just curious, as we have anything but a soft spot for them.
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Post by valpo89 on Feb 1, 2011 15:47:51 GMT -5
I can't believe ANYONE on this board would post that they're hoping to NOT host the conference tournament. That's just insane. DUH!!
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Post by bbtds on Feb 1, 2011 18:33:53 GMT -5
"Right now the Phoenix have created a sore spot with Valpo fans." Is that because of the 63-61 loss or something else? Just curious, as we have anything but a soft spot for them. I was just thinking of the loss, at home, 63-61, the Sunday before the Butler game. Valpo was trying to have a perfect home record and Green Bay spoiled it. It still hurts somewhat.
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Post by dylanrocks on Feb 1, 2011 18:46:39 GMT -5
Gotcha.
I have to think that the trio of Tom Crean, Tod Kowalczyk and Brian Wardle (I'll call them the "Evil Axis") must have a pretty good book on Valpo, as they seem to give Homer and the boys fits.
Also strange that Saturday I'll be yelling "Beat Green Bay" and Sunday I'll be yelling, "Go, Green Bay!"
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