oops.. sorry about that. Try this:
<a href='http://espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0124/1498161.html' target='_blank'>ESPN's Cinderella Watch</a>
Ridicuolus... A one bid year again for the MAC?
I'd love to see just how well the last couple of at-large teams picked out of the Big Ten or Big East, etc.. would do in the MAC. A team like Wisconsin or Minnesota for instance. Heck, they'd be happy as clams to go 11-7 in MAC play in my opinion, but once again come Selection Time we'll hear all about how you just have to take 6 or 7 Big Ten teams or 5 Big East schools because of the strength of the Conference, while the MAC will once again be left with their token representative and a handful of NIT bound teams.
And then, that token MAC Rep will knock off whomever is put against them in the First Round and then have a legit shot at a Sweet 16 berth.. At that point we'll all hear the media rant and rave about how good MAC Basketball actually is and how it's a shame no one seems to notice.
Uhh, how about taking notice now, during the Conference Season?
Okie Chippewa Wrote:oops.. sorry about that. Try this:
<a href='http://espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0124/1498161.html' target='_blank'>ESPN's Cinderella Watch</a>
Kent State
Waiting To Replace Them ...
MAC Attack: Central Michigan, Marshall, Miami, Ohio, Bowling Green ... once again, the conference is beating each other up. Bowling Green already has a victory over Kent -- on the Golden Flashes' court, no less -- and even a team like Northern Illinois is being a pest to established MAC contenders. One of these years, the MAC will get two bids. But it doesn't look like this year.
Seven MAC teams mentioned. Geez, I know we had that week-long slump in early January when we lost our first couple MAC games. But with today's win the Broncos are
12-4, have the 4th best defense in the country, and have won the last 4 games by double-digit margins. So I'm wondering when the media may actually begin to notice us a little bit.
:wave:
<!--EDIT|Motown Bronco|Jan 25 2003, 09:31 PM-->
I can tell you, having been there: you need to have the best overall record in the conference with no more than 4-5 losses on the year and have the second best MAC record. Best MAC record is given the auto bid, for the sake of argument. Right now, you are behind too many other teams in conference.
Unless we run the table and then lose the tourney, in which case we might be 50-50 getting an at-large if we win our Bracket Buster game. Other than that, I don't believe the MAC will get 2 bids this year.
Honestly, I don't think anyone in the conference is as good as either Kent, BG or Ball St. were last year.
You guys only shot is to win out, sad to say. Even a streak to the MAC final, then a loss would probably not get you a second bid. If we do it, simply because of our higher profile from last year, we MIGHT get an at-large.
Right now, Bracketology has us on the outside competing with LSU, Wyoming, Hawaii, Richmond, Villanova, Clemson, Minnesota, Michigan St., and DePaul, just to get into the last at-large spot if someone falls out. Losses are greatly magnified, particularly when the conference as a whole has not performed very well against the higher rated conferences so far this year.
In terms of the automatic bid, I can see them using current conference record as a measuring stick (and when they wrote the article, WMU still had a not-too-impressive 3-3 MAC mark). Although of course, in reality, the MAC season is just the precursor to the MAC Tournament, whereas all conference records are just used for seeding purposes then are essentially "wiped clean".
In terms of an at-large bid (if the conference even gets one), it seems that once you've surpassed that magical 20-win mark, it really doesn't matter how many you've beaten, but who you have beaten, to be considered.
BTW, my initial reaction on that piece was the inclusion of Ohio, which made me question if this writer did any homework. But after a second look, I'm now assuming "Miami, Ohio" were not two separate entities, but was really just "Miami".
<!--EDIT|Motown Bronco|Jan 25 2003, 10:24 PM-->
Yeah, I think they just took a look at the overall MAC records. You started the day 7th, so, there you go. The don't know the real deal, which is that you guys are one of the serious contenders, record in MAC notwithstanding.
And how bout dem Huskies!!!
It's another dandy year, full of surprises.
With regard to Western Michigan, I believe their three early losses in the MAC put them "below the radar" with regard to being a candidate for an at-large berth in the NCAAs.
Personally, I think they have the best chance of MAC teams of getting such a bid, IF they 1) can finish at least 13-5 in the MAC; 2) get at least to the MAC tourney semifinals; and 3) not have too many at-large bids taken by teams upset in their tourneys.
Look at the facts thus far: 1) WMU has an 8-1 OOC record; 2) the Broncos won AT Michigan, AT Auburn, and vs. Virginia Tech... games that should be counted as quality wins; 3) the Bronocs are 6-2 thus far on the road, which counts for a fair amount in the eyes of the committee; and 4) 11 of the 12 wins thus far have been by double-digits. That's impressive!
Lastly, I must say the NCAA must either JUNK the flawed RPI system or use multiple ratings systems (like the BCS does) to determine teams worthy of at-large consideration. (The RPI does not take in account where you win or by how much; thus shoud RIP!)
P.S.- I also think Kent still has a viable chance for an at-large. CMU probably can't lose more than one more game for consideration. Everyone else likely needs to win the MAC tourney.
P.P.S.- What's up with Northern Illinois??? They were pretty crummy during OOC, but have already won FOUR road games in the MAC! Did someone gain eligibility for the spring semester?
This on ESPN's NCAA page today:
Quote:TEAM SPOTLIGHT
Rob Judson quietly has his Northern Illinois team in the mix in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies enter Saturday's game at Bowling Green with a four-game winning streak. It's only the fourth time in the last decade that Northern Illinois (8-8) has won four consecutive games. Making it more impressive is that three of the victories came on the road -- at Toledo, Ohio and Ball State.
Add BG to that list now. Pretty impressive, Huskies--now right in the thick of it.
How 'bout them Huskies? What the hell happened? I for one am shocked that we have won 5 in a row. No one became eligible and we actually kicked a role player off the team. Honestly though, we win by following the rules that all relatively unskilled teams use, notably defense, hustle, and unselfish know-your-role type play.
We looked completely outmanned by some mediocre teams earlier in the season and now we look great. I think that some of the more disappointing MAC teams that were supposed to be the class of the league could learn a thing or two from watching films of the Huskies!