Totally forgot that the OVC participates in the bracketbuster showcase that ESPN does every year....although this appears to be the last year they are doing it. Selections are today and I'm hoping we draw a high tier mid-major (possibly Creighton, Witchita, Bucknell, or maybe a WCC team like St. Marys or Loyola). If that happens this will be a high-stakes game.

-Winning will give a huge boost to tournament stock and a possible at-large bid....and if we get the auto bid maybe as high as a 10 or 11 seed

-Lose and we have no chance at an at large bid, probably drop to 13 seed/12 at the best assuming we win the tourney.

LINK TO THE SITE

As you can see, the Atlantic Sun is not a participating. It's infuriating to think about how much we were held back by that conference.....

(01-28-2013 02:26 AM)B HURB Wrote:  Totally forgot that the OVC participates in the bracketbuster showcase that ESPN does every year....although this appears to be the last year they are doing it. Selections are today and I'm hoping we draw a high tier mid-major (possibly Creighton, Witchita, Bucknell, or maybe a WCC team like St. Marys or Loyola). If that happens this will be a high-stakes game.

-Winning will give a huge boost to tournament stock and a possible at-large bid....and if we get the auto bid maybe as high as a 10 or 11 seed

-Lose and we have no chance at an auto bid, probably drop to 13 seed/12 at the best.

LINK TO THE SITE

As you can see, the Atlantic Sun is not a participating. It's infuriating to think about how much we were held back by that conference.....

It would be nice to get a team like you mentioned, plus I hope they schedule it as a TV game. The national spotlight can't hurt recruiting.

(01-28-2013 06:20 AM)Bruin2002 Wrote:  

(01-28-2013 02:26 AM)B HURB Wrote:  Totally forgot that the OVC participates in the bracketbuster showcase that ESPN does every year....although this appears to be the last year they are doing it. Selections are today and I'm hoping we draw a high tier mid-major (possibly Creighton, Witchita, Bucknell, or maybe a WCC team like St. Marys or Loyola). If that happens this will be a high-stakes game.

-Winning will give a huge boost to tournament stock and a possible at-large bid....and if we get the auto bid maybe as high as a 10 or 11 seed

-Lose and we have no chance at an auto bid, probably drop to 13 seed/12 at the best.

LINK TO THE SITE

As you can see, the Atlantic Sun is not a participating. It's infuriating to think about how much we were held back by that conference.....

It would be nice to get a team like you mentioned, plus I hope they schedule it as a TV game. The national spotlight can't hurt recruiting.

The most obvious choice is Creighton.

If you look at the website and the breakdowns Belmont is in the home column and Creighton are in the away column. It would be fantastic to play them at home.

Apparently the announcement has been moved to February 4th.

(01-28-2013 10:23 AM)Baker Wrote:  Apparently the announcement has been moved to February 4th.

Ugh....what a bunch of crap. That literally just changed within the past few hours. Hopefully BU is still undefeated in conference play on Feb. 4th.

Do they select the matchups based on a certain criteria?...RPI or something?

(01-28-2013 11:15 AM)BruinsFan31 Wrote:  Do they select the matchups based on a certain criteria?...RPI or something?

Per Creighton's message board, this game is 100% lock. Yes, I think it is based on RPI...which this matchup would make sense. That being said, if this game comes to fruition, hands down biggest home game in Belmont history.

(01-28-2013 11:10 AM)B HURB Wrote:  

(01-28-2013 10:23 AM)Baker Wrote:  Apparently the announcement has been moved to February 4th.

Ugh....what a bunch of crap. That literally just changed within the past few hours. Hopefully BU is still undefeated in conference play on Feb. 4th.

We have to win our two games at home this week and avoid a hiccup before the announcement.

(01-28-2013 12:45 PM)Bruin2002 Wrote:  

(01-28-2013 11:10 AM)B HURB Wrote:  

(01-28-2013 10:23 AM)Baker Wrote:  Apparently the announcement has been moved to February 4th.

Ugh....what a bunch of crap. That literally just changed within the past few hours. Hopefully BU is still undefeated in conference play on Feb. 4th.

We have to win our two games at home this week and avoid a hiccup before the announcement.

Pretty much.

There are two separate groups of people who select the matchups and they have somewhat different philosophies on who plays who.

1. ESPN selects the games and matchups it wants for TV. This is based on RPI and how many people they think will watch the games. They have commercials to sell.

2. All the remaining teams not in the TV pool are matched together by a committee of the chairmen of the conferences involved and are a bit more grab bag, but they do try and select matchups that will help the best teams in their league should those best teams win the conference tournament.

Creighton fan here. Not much of us care about Bracketbusters at all and almost all of us are happy this is the last year. Mainly because every year it never seems to help us and alot of us thought we got screwed last year getting LBSU which didn't seem to help with our seeding at all anyways. That being said, I am hopeful we get you guys for Bracketbusters. It will be easier for travel to Nashville instead of to the west coast (St. Mary's) and your RPI will not hurt us if we lose.

(01-29-2013 10:24 AM)Jet915 Wrote:  Creighton fan here. Not much of us care about Bracketbusters at all and almost all of us are happy this is the last year. Mainly because every year it never seems to help us and alot of us thought we got screwed last year getting LBSU which didn't seem to help with our seeding at all anyways. That being said, I am hopeful we get you guys for Bracketbusters. It will be easier for travel to Nashville instead of to the west coast (St. Mary's) and your RPI will not hurt us if we lose.

Most of us would like to be matched up with you for some of the same reasons.

(01-28-2013 12:25 PM)hoosbruin Wrote:  hands down biggest home game in Belmont history.

no no no,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

vs. etsu

It seems like many are pushing now for Saint Mary's to play Creighton which was suck big time for Belmont as they would have to host team like maybe Ohio who has a bad RPI but has a great team. Remember this Ohio team went to the sweet 16 nearly knocked off North Carolina last year and has all 5 starters back. If Belmont would beat Ohio as good as a win as it would be it would not help much to get an at large if needed or help seeding where as losing to Ohio would really hurt the RPI and end all at large hopes.

Belmont needs to play Creighton.

(02-01-2013 06:04 PM)HenryMuto Wrote:  It seems like many are pushing now for Saint Mary's to play Creighton which was suck big time for Belmont as they would have to host team like maybe Ohio who has a bad RPI but has a great team. Remember this Ohio team went to the sweet 16 nearly knocked off North Carolina last year and has all 5 starters back. If Belmont would beat Ohio as good as a win as it would be it would not help much to get an at large if needed or help seeding where as losing to Ohio would really hurt the RPI and end all at large hopes.

Belmont needs to play Creighton.

I agree, I would rather play Creighton.

I am feeling like it will be Creighton vs Saint Mary's now. Who knows who Belmont will get but it will be a must win game if it isn't against Creighton otherwise it will be Conf touranment or bust.

I think it's a must win for you guys anyways regardless who you get if you want to even have a shot at an at-large. It does sound like St. Mary's vs. Creighton is gaining steam, Andy Katz calling it a near lock to happen. We'll see.

Saint Mary's has an RPI of 59, Belmont 19. Doesn't seem fair at all. Belmont needs a win against a team like Creighton they do this and they would have at large hopes. Without it very doubful though no team with an RPI of 20 or better has ever missed the big dance. RPI 21 Missouri State one year missed it that was the best RPI to ever be snubbed. Problem is losing to any team in the OVC will drop the RPI by a good amount especially if the loss is to a RPI 150+ team or a home loss.

(02-03-2013 01:18 PM)HenryMuto Wrote:  Saint Mary's has an RPI of 59, Belmont 19. Doesn't seem fair at all. Belmont needs a win against a team like Creighton they do this and they would have at large hopes. Without it very doubful though no team with an RPI of 20 or better has ever missed the big dance. RPI 21 Missouri State one year missed it that was the best RPI to ever be snubbed. Problem is losing to any team in the OVC will drop the RPI by a good amount especially if the loss is to a RPI 150+ team or a home loss.

Bracketbusters is hardly ever fair. Last year, if you went by RPI, it should have been Creighton vs. St. Mary's and WSU vs. Murray State but instead of doing that, they gave Creighton LBSU and WSU got Davidson.