2 games remaining: Memphis and UAB.
Marshall plays: ECU and USM
UAB plays: Tulsa then us.
This UAB game is going to be big. I'm not confident about the Knights walking into Memphis.
Not only do we need to win out to even have a chance at NCAA, we need to win out to break 20 REAL wins. We have 2 non-D1 wins on our schedule, making us really 18-8 in the eyes of those who would invite us
I know I should be more optimistic about it, but I waved bye-bye to an at-large bid after the Rice loss. We weren't in great position before that game and I think that one clinched it in the eyes of those deciding.
I'm sure there is a sliver of a chance for us, but it feels like we're down by 8 with :20 to go and knowing the other team needs to miss every free throw. It would have to be a miracle if an epidemic of bad losses broke out on the teams in front of us.
(02-26-2012 04:39 PM)atsKnight Wrote: I know I should be more optimistic about it, but I waved bye-bye to an at-large bid after the Rice loss. We weren't in great position before that game and I think that one clinched it in the eyes of those deciding.
I'm sure there is a sliver of a chance for us, but it feels like we're down by 8 with :20 to go and knowing the other team needs to miss every free throw. It would have to be a miracle if an epidemic of bad losses broke out on the teams in front of us.
A bit of luck in the bubble games, winning out and making it to the finals. I would expect to get a bid then, but we need to beat memphis in memphis. Maybe even twice.
(02-28-2012 09:42 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote: How many bids CUSA looking at this year?
Probably three.
Memphis is a lock. Southern Miss is a lock.
UCF, Marshall, Tulsa, and UTEP are the only schools I see that could either get a play-in/at-large or win the auto bid.
Southern Miss not a lock. Southern Miss' last 4 games: loss to UAB, loss to Houston, loss to UTEP, buzzer beater win vs Rice. Talking heads starting to bad mouth USM and CUSA as a whole. If USM doesn't make at least the CUSA finals, they could be NIT bound.
The only 2 teams that will get at large bids are Memphis and USM. UCF lost any remote shot of an at large after getting donkey stomped last night. Tigers could have won by 50 if they hadn't called off the dogs with 7:00 to go.
Tigers will not lose again until the NCAA tournament. UTEP game, and Pastner's subsequent harsh response to losing to that crappy team, has Memphis focused. In the last 2 games, Marshall and UCF felt what Memphis basketball was supposed to be this season. All this without 2 starters, one of which is a 1st round NBA pick.
Fox Sports:UCF (20-9 overall, 9-6 conference, RPI 66, SOS 109): The bubble is weak enough that even UCF still had a pulse, but the Knights likely blew their chance by losing at Memphis on Tuesday.
Interesting to see these slim hopes still alive at the national reporting level, but I'm not buying it. I'm with atsKnight. UCF's bubble burst after the loss to Rice. In my opinion, the only chance of getting in the big dance is winning the C-USA tournament. I would love to see that, but it's not very likely. Worst case scenario, in fact, is that a quick exit from that tournament and the NIT is even at risk. Lose to UAB Saturday night and then 1st round loss in C-USA tourney and I can see the NIT passing. Yikes!
(This post was last modified: 03-02-2012 06:01 PM by MWD1001.)
