Rematch of our NIT quarterfinal from a few years ago. CBS talking heads said they picked us to beat Minnesota in an "upset" (5-12 seed game).

Go get it MTSU.

This is the most confident I've been in our conference representative since the Memphis days.

12 seed is actually a gift from the committee. It's no secret that 12 seeds get better shots at winning games than 8/9 seeds. Take this opportunity to make a Sweet Sixteen run.

this is a very winnable game for MTSU

As I said in the other thread, Minn is very big. Will create matchup problems for us.

Most of their scoring comes from guards, so it will come down to who defends better and who shoots better, but I worry about our guys with rebounding and having difficulty making things happen in the paint.

Unfortunaly all the mid majors that get love always end up losing lol. Like last year few picked MTSU and they did well.

(03-12-2017 06:25 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  As I said in the other thread, Minn is very big. Will create matchup problems for us.

Most of their scoring comes from guards, so it will come down to who defends better and who shoots better, but I worry about our guys with rebounding and having difficulty making things happen in the paint.

I agree, they are going to crush you on the boards, but if you don't miss too many, you can out gun them. If the Raiders have a great offensive night and hold their own on the defensive end, they have a real chance. They won't get many rebounds though, especially on offense, so hit your first shot.

You'll get to see what a treat little Pitino is. He's a real dick. He did a pretty damn good job down at FIU his one year there losing to us in the conference finals. Probably best year ever at FIU.

I know there'll be size matchup problems for Middle but I think Middle is a seasoned team with their work last year and what they did this year in the conference tourney.

Very impressed with the Blue Raiders' season. A good team last year is even better this year. 30-4 is an incredible run by any measure and winning their last 10 games in a row. Playing great basketball in March and carrying momentum into the Big Dance on top of being a talented/well coached team makes them a tough out. Glad I'm not a Minnesota fan. Best of luck Middle Tennessee! FWIW, I'm a bit biased since my brother-in-law teaches there.

(03-12-2017 06:36 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  You'll get to see what a treat little Pitino is. He's a real dick. He did a pretty damn good job down at FIU his one year there losing to us in the conference finals. Probably best year ever at FIU.

That FIU beat a great MTSU team (28-6, 19-1) in the conference tournament. Raiders got an at-large bid out of the Sun Belt which was obviously not easy to do.

Not the best region for a deep run...

From SI:
2. The blue bloods of the South Region

Speaking of the South Region, there may not be a group of teams better designed for a college basketball history buff. North Carolina, Kentucky and UCLA, programs that have combined for 24 championships and 54 Final Four berths, all share the region. That’s a lot of trophies in one quadrant of the bracket.

It isn’t just the high-profile programs that make this region stand out, though. Butler, the South Region’s No. 4 seed, swept Villanova, beat Arizona and won 12 games in the Big East. Cincinnati, the No. 6 seed in the South, won 29 games, is one of the best defensive teams in the country and earned a top 25 kenpom.com rating. Wichita State surprisingly drew a No. 10 seed in this region despite winning 30 games and sweeping the regular season and tournament titles in the Missouri Valley Conference. And No. 12 seed Middle Tennessee State is everyone’s favorite potential Cinderella after it ran through Conference USA all season with Jacorey Williams and Giddy Potts. Basically, the South Region is stacked, top to bottom.

Here’s one good way to think about the strength of the South. Typically, beating teams like Kentucky, UCLA and North Carolina means a squad is at least in the national championship game, if it hasn’t already won it. This year, that’d only get someone to the Final Four. And, if chalk reigns supreme, Kansas will be waiting for whoever gets there.

MTSU got a good draw...Minny is inexperienced and not great with their guard play...As long as Williams and Upshaw stay out of foul trouble I like MTSU's chances....What drives me crazy is every year the selection com. has to pit so called "mid majors' vs. each other...This season its St Mary's vs. VCU, Dayton vs. Wichita St.....No one will ask anyone either why they do this..I can tell you to elimate quickly a team that could be a blueblood, as well as for ratings and money....NCAA is rigged as all get out...

(03-13-2017 09:55 AM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  MTSU got a good draw...Minny is inexperienced and not great with their guard play...As long as Williams and Upshaw stay out of foul trouble I like MTSU's chances....What drives me crazy is every year the selection com. has to pit so called "mid majors' vs. each other...This season its St Mary's vs. VCU, Dayton vs. Wichita St.....No one will ask anyone either why they do this..I can tell you to elimate quickly a team that could be a blueblood, as well as for ratings and money....NCAA is rigged as all get out...

I was looking at it the same way, but you can also look at it from the perspective that 2 of those teams are guaranteed onto the next round

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We got matched up with Butler twice (when they were in the Horizon League).

Two grandparents went to the U of M. My father went to the U. My mother was a cheerleader on the last U of M football team to win the football national title (actually, at that time there was only one cheerleading squad, so she was a cheerleader for football, basketball, and hockey). Been to games in Memorial, the Humpty Dome, and TCF ... but I'll be rooting for MT in this one. Minnesota will be fine, long-term. I actually think they (like just about every university in america) need to de-emphasize sports a bit after some of the scandals of the last few years. CUSA needs a boost badly though, for all the members. I would be happy if MT could pull off an upset or (calm, calm) two.

No respect as a 12 seed, but I actually like your matchup. Not far fetched for you guys to have a sweet 16 matchup against UNC in Memphis.

It's a pickem' on some sports books.