(12-19-2013 08:56 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 08:23 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:51 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:17 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:11 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  So what does that make Buffalo then? You have never won a bowl game and never been to the NCAA tournament. At least NIU can check both of those boxes. And we are middle of the pack this season in the MAC so I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about us, our program will be just fine.

Its a sign of how bad the NIU BBall program has been that this (Sagarin rankings):

69. Akron
77. Toledo
91. Ohio
131. EMU
133. Kent State
171. Bowling Green
237. Buffalo
245. NIU
263. Ball State
272. MiamiU
288. CMU

... is what you view as "middle of the pack".

Or perhaps also a sign of how bad the MAC is in basketball considering we are not last in the rankings. The MAC hasn't had multiple teams in the dance in decades, anyone coming on here talking down to other teams in the league and beating their chest must live in a bubble.

Well the MAC is hovering in that 11-13 range this year so I am not sure you can say that we are that bad this year.

See my comment on the MAC. Basically I think the MAC is benefitting from the leagues typically around it in the RPI being weakened by the better teams moving on to better league. Whether a league with an RPI of 11 can generate a second bid will be the test or will more bids go to the league above which are deeper.

Usually a conference has to get into the Top 10 of the RPI ratings before a second NCAA bid kicks in.

There have been some exceptions in leagues ranked 11-15 but not many.

(12-19-2013 10:29 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 08:56 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 08:23 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:51 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:17 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  Its a sign of how bad the NIU BBall program has been that this (Sagarin rankings):

69. Akron
77. Toledo
91. Ohio
131. EMU
133. Kent State
171. Bowling Green
237. Buffalo
245. NIU
263. Ball State
272. MiamiU
288. CMU

... is what you view as "middle of the pack".

Or perhaps also a sign of how bad the MAC is in basketball considering we are not last in the rankings. The MAC hasn't had multiple teams in the dance in decades, anyone coming on here talking down to other teams in the league and beating their chest must live in a bubble.

Well the MAC is hovering in that 11-13 range this year so I am not sure you can say that we are that bad this year.

See my comment on the MAC. Basically I think the MAC is benefitting from the leagues typically around it in the RPI being weakened by the better teams moving on to better league. Whether a league with an RPI of 11 can generate a second bid will be the test or will more bids go to the league above which are deeper.

Usually a conference has to get into the Top 10 of the RPI ratings before a second NCAA bid kicks in.

There have been some exceptions in leagues ranked 11-15 but not many.

It looks like for whatever reason Real Time RPI doesn't recognize the AAC so based on CBS the MAC is sitting 12th just behind the Missouri Valley. I think the best way for the MAC to pass the MVC would be to wait out Wichita and hope they jump to another league or grab Missouri State.

(12-19-2013 10:29 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Usually a conference has to get into the Top 10 of the RPI ratings before a second NCAA bid kicks in.

There have been some exceptions in leagues ranked 11-15 but not many.

Sometimes because the conference has one school that could gain an at-large bid, the regular season leader, being upset in the conference tournament, so they "earn" one bid and are "granted" their one AQ bid, when without an upset that at-large team would have also been their AQ and only bid.

(12-19-2013 10:43 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 10:29 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 08:56 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 08:23 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(12-19-2013 04:51 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Or perhaps also a sign of how bad the MAC is in basketball considering we are not last in the rankings. The MAC hasn't had multiple teams in the dance in decades, anyone coming on here talking down to other teams in the league and beating their chest must live in a bubble.

Well the MAC is hovering in that 11-13 range this year so I am not sure you can say that we are that bad this year.

See my comment on the MAC. Basically I think the MAC is benefitting from the leagues typically around it in the RPI being weakened by the better teams moving on to better league. Whether a league with an RPI of 11 can generate a second bid will be the test or will more bids go to the league above which are deeper.

Usually a conference has to get into the Top 10 of the RPI ratings before a second NCAA bid kicks in.

There have been some exceptions in leagues ranked 11-15 but not many.

It looks like for whatever reason Real Time RPI doesn't recognize the AAC so based on CBS the MAC is sitting 12th just behind the Missouri Valley. I think the best way for the MAC to pass the MVC would be to wait out Wichita and hope they jump to another league or grab Missouri State.

The MVC is currently a one trick pony with Wichita State. If they were to go it would be a huge blow to the MVC.

In the last 10 years NIU has won 82 football games and 90 basketball games. 8.2. wins/yr is pretty good for a football team, but 9.0 wins/yr for a basketball team? not so much.

RPI Rank as of today for all FBS conferences

1) B12 (.5967)
2) B1G (.5888)
3) PAC (.5809)
5) ACC (.5665)
7) SEC (.5497)
9) MWC (.5319)
10) AAC (.5304)
12) MAC (.5113)
16) SBC (.4885)
21) CUSA (.4733)

Observations:

-The MAC is having a decent year after 4-5 down seasons. Schools are stepping up their investment to basketball.

-The AAC's numbers look weaker than expected going forward with Louisville and Rutgers leaving the conference and Tulane, Tulsa and ECU entering. This league may look a lot closer to CUSA 2.0 basketball wise than CUSA 1.0 by next season.

-CUSA should improve in hoops next year with WKU in the fold and ECU, Tulane and Tulsa on the way out.

The B12 is still holding firm #1. Texas' big win over UNC helped with that.

I am curious about who's #4, #6, and #8. They aren't on the list.

(12-20-2013 10:47 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  The B12 is still holding firm #1. Texas' big win over UNC helped with that.

I am curious about who's #4, #6, and #8. They aren't on the list.

The intro says FBS conferences ~ #4 is the New Big East, #6 is the A-10, and #8 is the WCC.

Ahh!

Conference realignment is all about football, TV, $$$. Other sports don't matter. Basketball, maybe some. NIU has been terrible at basketball for a long time, but there are signs that this year may see a turnaround. I see a .500 record this year as possible and then up from there. NIU football is strong and getting stronger. NIU brings lots of TV sets and that should be the #1 topic.

Niu had great tv ratings this year but will that be sustainable if they aren't in the running for the bcs buster? How have the tv ratings been in years past?

(12-21-2013 02:29 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  NIU brings lots of TV sets and that should be the #1 topic.

Threat of BCS busting brings lots of TV sets ~ it takes a longer history of success for a $24m budget school to be at the point where they are still bringing those TV sets when they aren't in the hunt for a big bowl.

(12-23-2013 04:15 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-21-2013 02:29 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  NIU brings lots of TV sets and that should be the #1 topic.

Threat of BCS busting brings lots of TV sets ~ it takes a longer history of success for a $24m budget school to be at the point where they are still bringing those TV sets when they aren't in the hunt for a big bowl.

Especially when the Chicago media still ignores us unless something particularly noteworthy is happening, like a big bowl or Heisman candidacy.

(12-23-2013 05:22 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 04:15 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-21-2013 02:29 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  NIU brings lots of TV sets and that should be the #1 topic.

Threat of BCS busting brings lots of TV sets ~ it takes a longer history of success for a $24m budget school to be at the point where they are still bringing those TV sets when they aren't in the hunt for a big bowl.

Especially when the Chicago media still ignores us unless something particularly noteworthy is happening, like a big bowl or Heisman candidacy.

I think NIU has had great coverage the last 3 years in all the major media outlets in Chicagoland. But as you pointed out, if NIU does well they even go beyond that.

NIU brought the highest rated OB ratings to Chicagoland, Chicago cares if NIU does well.

Chicago has ALWAYS been a show me city, besides the lovable losers on the north side.

(12-24-2013 01:40 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 05:22 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(12-23-2013 04:15 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-21-2013 02:29 PM)bigredmachine Wrote:  NIU brings lots of TV sets and that should be the #1 topic.

Threat of BCS busting brings lots of TV sets ~ it takes a longer history of success for a $24m budget school to be at the point where they are still bringing those TV sets when they aren't in the hunt for a big bowl.

Especially when the Chicago media still ignores us unless something particularly noteworthy is happening, like a big bowl or Heisman candidacy.

I think NIU has had great coverage the last 3 years in all the major media outlets in Chicagoland. But as you pointed out, if NIU does well they even go beyond that.

NIU brought the highest rated OB ratings to Chicagoland, Chicago cares if NIU does well.

Chicago has ALWAYS been a show me city, besides the lovable losers on the north side.

I don't think we had good coverage until we got into the Orange Bowl. Before that, despite winning 11 games a couple years in a row, coverage was spotty and pretty much done just when it was convenient. Even one of the sportswriters admitted last year that he had no idea NIU had been as good as they were until late last year.

Also, I know it's basketball, but I was listening for the score of the men's basketball team for the Sunday game and they only mentioned Depaul and Northwestern (or UIC?). No mention that NIU played. We're apparently too far away. Considering we're at .500 for the first time in years, it kinda is news.

(12-02-2013 04:19 PM)True Bearcat Wrote:  NIU wasn't added because the AAC already has a team with the Husky mascot. Tulsa was added because the AAC did not have a school nicknamed after a weather storm. So that is why the Golden Hurricane was selected.

I thought a golden hurricane was when 2 or more men peed on a woman. aka a golden shower turned up a notch.

(12-24-2013 08:58 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Also, I know it's basketball, but I was listening for the score of the men's basketball team for the Sunday game and they only mentioned Depaul and Northwestern (or UIC?). No mention that NIU played. We're apparently too far away. Considering we're at .500 for the first time in years, it kinda is news.

Its kinda news. With RPI before the game of 175, while DePaul is 132 and NW is 156, is not yet as big news in BBall terms as the DePaul or NW scores.

If they win their next game and hit a winning record, that ought to be worth a news story, but the best hope of getting the the BBall team mentioned is pushing a "also working on building their BBall team, which has just reached .500 after several years of struggle" story as part of bowl game coverage.

(12-24-2013 02:23 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(12-24-2013 08:58 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Also, I know it's basketball, but I was listening for the score of the men's basketball team for the Sunday game and they only mentioned Depaul and Northwestern (or UIC?). No mention that NIU played. We're apparently too far away. Considering we're at .500 for the first time in years, it kinda is news.

Its kinda news. With RPI before the game of 175, while DePaul is 132 and NW is 156, is not yet as big news in BBall terms as the DePaul or NW scores.

If they win their next game and hit a winning record, that ought to be worth a news story, but the best hope of getting the the BBall team mentioned is pushing a "also working on building their BBall team, which has just reached .500 after several years of struggle" story as part of bowl game coverage.

Well they also didn't mention the morning of the game that we were playing either. Sometimes they do. It doesn't really matter if they win or lose, it appears to be spotty either way. Based on past events, they'd probably have to win 15 in a row for the Chicago media to even notice.