Basketball is becoming a "fill in the time" hobby between Fall and Spring football in so many C-USA outposts and especially the one in Denton, Texas, USA. It's pathetic and a waste of one of the best basketball facilities in the Southwest as well.

Maybe we should exhume the graves of past coaching greats, revive them and then hope for that old black magic to return with their past successes as to give some of our programs instant success a la SMU?

$, $$$, $$$ or 7 figure coaches incomes can make it happen over-night, right Pony94?

The committee doesn't really look at what your RPI is but they use the RPI to see how you did against the top RPI teams.

Last year USM was low 30’s, but was 0-5 against the top 50.
This year they are 1-1 (big loss to Louisville and a 1 point win over #46 North Dakota State.

I think their chances this year are just as slim

(03-07-2014 12:15 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The committee doesn't really look at what your RPI is but they use the RPI to see how you did against the top RPI teams.

Last year USM was low 30’s, but was 0-5 against the top 50.
This year they are 1-1 (big loss to Louisville and a 1 point win over #46 North Dakota State.

I think their chances this year are just as slim

The commitee doesn't really "justify" your team being in, based upon RPI, unless you are from a money conference.

If that money conference team was also winless against the Top 50 (where they get those teams to play on their home floor, might I add), then the committee will "get them in" based upon a favorable RPI.

It is, what it is, I guess.

Won't change.

Don't know if anyone watched the MU/Charlotte game, don't blame you if you didn't, but the guy calling the game said he thought C-USA should be more than one bid league. At halftime Seth Davis picked UTEP to win the tournament, while Wally World and Mateen Cleaves picked So. Miss. The only reason I mention it is because I was actually suprised they were taking the time to talk about C-USA.

It has to be because the SEC sucks at bball and UK obviously isn't a serious contender, otherwise they would have been blowing the SEC the entire 15 minutes and caressing their balls gently.

Since the top conferences play each other, and the RPI is based on SOS, they maintain their high RPI's. Thus, they play more games against top 50 teams. Teams from conferences like CUSA don't have as many chances to play top 50 teams, so their records don't reflect it.

For example, last year in the three top 50 teams USM played last year, three of them were against Memphis.

(03-07-2014 12:30 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Don't know if anyone watched the MU/Charlotte game, don't blame you if you didn't, but the guy calling the game said he thought C-USA should be more than one bid league. At halftime Seth Davis picked UTEP to win the tournament, while Wally World and Mateen Cleaves picked So. Miss. The only reason I mention it is because I was actually suprised they were taking the time to talk about C-USA.

It has to be because the SEC sucks at bball and UK obviously isn't a serious contender, otherwise they would have been blowing the SEC the entire 15 minutes and caressing their balls gently.

More likely it was because they were broadcasting a CUSA game is the reason they were talking about it.

And they were talking it up because they were playing to their audience.

(03-07-2014 12:33 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 12:30 AM)MU42 Wrote:  Don't know if anyone watched the MU/Charlotte game, don't blame you if you didn't, but the guy calling the game said he thought C-USA should be more than one bid league. At halftime Seth Davis picked UTEP to win the tournament, while Wally World and Mateen Cleaves picked So. Miss. The only reason I mention it is because I was actually suprised they were taking the time to talk about C-USA.

It has to be because the SEC sucks at bball and UK obviously isn't a serious contender, otherwise they would have been blowing the SEC the entire 15 minutes and caressing their balls gently.

More likely it was because they were broadcasting a CUSA game is the reason they were talking about it.

And they were talking it up because they were playing to their audience.

I'm not sure about what broadcasts you have been watching since 2005, but typically halftime of a C-USA game not involving Memphis on CBS/CBS Sports/CBS College Sports/CSTV they like to work in their big time conference CBS is affiliated with, the SEC. And since the SEC is wayyyyyyy down the last couple years in basketball I guess they don't feel the need to praise everything they do. Typical halftime show goes like this: "Welcome to the halftime show, the score in our game today is Marshall is 35 and Charlotte 32. In other college basketball today..." SEC highlight reel begins to play.

But I'm getting off topic. I think we get two as long as So. Miss doesn't win the tournament but at least gets the semis.

(03-07-2014 12:15 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The committee doesn't really look at what your RPI is but they use the RPI to see how you did against the top RPI teams.

Last year USM was low 30’s, but was 0-5 against the top 50.
This year they are 1-1 (big loss to Louisville and a 1 point win over #46 North Dakota State.

I think their chances this year are just as slim

Last season's slim chance resulted in being the last team out.

(03-07-2014 12:15 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The committee doesn't really look at what your RPI is but they use the RPI to see how you did against the top RPI teams.

Last year USM was low 30’s, but was 0-5 against the top 50.
This year they are 1-1 (big loss to Louisville and a 1 point win over #46 North Dakota State.

I think their chances this year are just as slim

NDSU is #41.

The tourney is all about the perception of the best programs competing!

When I go onto major basketball conference boards, most of the talk is about the number of teams ranked and records vs ranked opponents - RPI is only looked at for total conference strength looking at the bottom members and I feel we're only talking about RPI as the be all.

May be it's not all that truly important.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

You guys are skipping over one key thing; however. The committee doesn't look at just top 50 games. They also look at how you fared against the top 100 and the top 150 and if you have any bad losses above 200 RPI teams.

If you look at some of the teams that are on the bubble in power conferences like Tennessee, Minnesota, Cal, Arkansas, Oregon, etc., you will find that Southern Miss' resume stacks up better than those programs. Go look at those team's top 100 and top 150 records and compare them to Southern Miss. You might be surprised.

I don't think there is any question that the committe favors the power leagues, but they do give a fair shake to the best teams in the non-power conferences. And Southern Miss has one of the best records and better overall resumes top to bottom than some of the other programs outside of the top six or seven conferences. I believe they have a legitimate shot provided they win a couple of games in the conference tournament and there are not a lot of upsets in conference tournaments.

(03-07-2014 08:35 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  You guys are skipping over one key thing; however.

You're skipping one key thing. Southern Miss is the fourth place team in a terrible league.

FWIW, C-USA isn't always terrible in my opinion. It is just plain awful this year.

I would have guessed you all are familiar enough with how the NCAA selection committee works to realize S. Miss has no shot at an at-large bid, but apparently you need a refresher. In a nutshell, here is how it works.

For "major programs" the committee looks for reasons to include them in the tournament. For "mid-majors" they look for reasons to exclude them.

With respect to S. Miss, this is a very easy decision for the committee. They will say you have absolutely no "signature wins" and your sagarin rating (whether this is fair or not is another question, but the committee does look at it) is only 67. As they explain why you were excluded, you will hear those two comments.

(03-07-2014 09:47 AM)Stick4489 Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 08:35 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  You guys are skipping over one key thing; however.

You're skipping one key thing. Southern Miss is the fourth place team in a terrible league.

FWIW, C-USA isn't always terrible in my opinion. It is just plain awful this year.

And you are skipping a major thing, Southern Miss is not the fourth place team, they are tied for first, and have the best RPI by far.. Now, Carry on with your silly statements.

(03-07-2014 09:50 AM)IULurker Wrote:  I would have guessed you all are familiar enough with how the NCAA selection committee works to realize S. Miss has no shot at an at-large bid, but apparently you need a refresher. In a nutshell, here is how it works.

For "major programs" the committee looks for reasons to include them in the tournament. For "mid-majors" they look for reasons to exclude them.

With respect to S. Miss, this is a very easy decision for the committee. They will say you have absolutely no "signature wins" and your sagarin rating (whether this is fair or not is another question, but the committee does look at it) is only 67. As they explain why you were excluded, you will hear those two comments.

And, no, it will not be easy for the committee, as we have a great RPI and are conference co champions. However, with our unlucky draw to get the home team in our first game if the conference tournament, the deck will be stacked against us.

It's a race to the finish line. Everyone else will be home watching on TV.

(03-07-2014 09:47 AM)Stick4489 Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 08:35 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  You guys are skipping over one key thing; however.

You're skipping one key thing. Southern Miss is the fourth place team in a terrible league.

FWIW, C-USA isn't always terrible in my opinion. It is just plain awful this year.

No, we're co-champs....we ended up as the 4th seed due to the tie break....my guess is you shouldn't seed at all...

...just b/c the h(t)urd sucked, doesn't mean the conference sucks...

(03-07-2014 10:08 AM)VA49er Wrote:  It's a race to the finish line. Everyone else will be home watching on TV.

No it's not....time will tell....but you can make that statement just like the media will spin the wheel that provides your fortune.

All I know, is we have a good team that could draw a 10/11 seed that can make noise.

(03-07-2014 10:03 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 09:50 AM)IULurker Wrote:  I would have guessed you all are familiar enough with how the NCAA selection committee works to realize S. Miss has no shot at an at-large bid, but apparently you need a refresher. In a nutshell, here is how it works.

For "major programs" the committee looks for reasons to include them in the tournament. For "mid-majors" they look for reasons to exclude them.

With respect to S. Miss, this is a very easy decision for the committee. They will say you have absolutely no "signature wins" and your sagarin rating (whether this is fair or not is another question, but the committee does look at it) is only 67. As they explain why you were excluded, you will hear those two comments.

And, no, it will not be easy for the committee, as we have a great RPI and are conference co champions. However, with our unlucky draw to get the home team in our first game if the conference tournament, the deck will be stacked against us.

Why do you do this to yourself every year? Just take one look at where CUSA is ranked amongst the other conferences and then you will see why bubble teams are not all created equally.

(03-07-2014 10:19 AM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 10:03 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 09:50 AM)IULurker Wrote:  I would have guessed you all are familiar enough with how the NCAA selection committee works to realize S. Miss has no shot at an at-large bid, but apparently you need a refresher. In a nutshell, here is how it works.

For "major programs" the committee looks for reasons to include them in the tournament. For "mid-majors" they look for reasons to exclude them.

With respect to S. Miss, this is a very easy decision for the committee. They will say you have absolutely no "signature wins" and your sagarin rating (whether this is fair or not is another question, but the committee does look at it) is only 67. As they explain why you were excluded, you will hear those two comments.

And, no, it will not be easy for the committee, as we have a great RPI and are conference co champions. However, with our unlucky draw to get the home team in our first game if the conference tournament, the deck will be stacked against us.

Why do you do this to yourself every year? Just take one look at where CUSA is ranked amongst the other conferences and then you will see why bubble teams are not all created equally.

We realize you are jealous... Now, settle down and beat UTEP for us.