Same matchup every year: Belmont vs perennial MVC expansion candidate Murray St.

Saw my first Belmont game in the early 1980s and taught part-time at the university in the late 1990s. BU is a major part of the Nashville cultural and historic fabric so — and following the devastating tornado that hit our city earlier this week and how our citizens need some positive things now — it would be nice for a Belmont win and a Big Dance bid. (Ditto for Lipscomb vs. Liberty.)

I will be rooting for the Bruins but Murray is always tough.

I always feel bad for OVC teams who go into Nashville and draw Belmont. The crowd is one thing. The refs are another. Neither team is clean, but, yikes, I hate it when the whistle is swallowed when guys drive and defenders aren’t set. It’s partly why I have lost interest in the game, because it’s just easier to lob them up behind the line. Don’t deal with whatever might or might not get called under the net.

(03-07-2020 02:30 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

Same matchup every year: Belmont vs perennial MVC expansion candidate Murray St.

MVC’s too interested checking out Detroit. They tuned this one out.

Congratulations Belmont, OVC champs!

And to Murray State, excellent game.

(03-07-2020 09:58 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I always feel bad for OVC teams who go into Nashville and draw Belmont. The crowd is one thing. The refs are another. Neither team is clean, but, yikes, I hate it when the whistle is swallowed when guys drive and defenders aren’t set. It’s partly why I have lost interest in the game, because it’s just easier to lob them up behind the line. Don’t deal with whatever might or might not get called under the net.

What does that have anything to do with it? The tournament was in Evansville, IN.

this is what someone tweeted (not doing the tweet because of the curse word)
it is literally impossible for there to ever be a Belmont-Murray State game that isn't fun as ****

(03-07-2020 10:22 PM)leofrog Wrote:  

(03-07-2020 09:58 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I always feel bad for OVC teams who go into Nashville and draw Belmont. The crowd is one thing. The refs are another. Neither team is clean, but, yikes, I hate it when the whistle is swallowed when guys drive and defenders aren’t set. It’s partly why I have lost interest in the game, because it’s just easier to lob them up behind the line. Don’t deal with whatever might or might not get called under the net.

What does that have anything to do with it? The tournament was in Evansville, IN.

Because this game felt like it was in Nashville in that way. These games are great, though.

Belmont will likely be a 13 or 14 seed. Great game.

The Bruins won this one for Music City. Murray with an excellent effort. Belmont fortunate to go to the Dance.

(03-08-2020 09:28 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  The Bruins won this one for Music City. Murray with an excellent effort. Belmont fortunate to go to the Dance.

Yes, I watched the last 10 minutes. Belmont had about a 6 point lead when I tuned in but then a star player had to sit with 4 fouls, and MS came back. For much of those last 10 minutes, including until the final seconds, it looked like Murray State was going to win. Definitely a knifes-edge win.

Congratulations, Belmont!

(03-08-2020 10:02 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(03-08-2020 09:28 AM)bill dazzle Wrote:  The Bruins won this one for Music City. Murray with an excellent effort. Belmont fortunate to go to the Dance.

Yes, I watched the last 10 minutes. Belmont had about a 6 point lead when I tuned in but then a star player had to sit with 4 fouls, and MS came back. For much of those last 10 minutes, including until the final seconds, it looked like Murray State was going to win. Definitely a knifes-edge win.

I missed the game and will get the full assessment from my father today. Glad you enjoyed.

(03-08-2020 01:17 AM)sctvman Wrote:  Belmont will likely be a 13 or 14 seed. Great game.

Yeah, this is going to be an intriguing one. You might see the committee seed them higher than they should because the name and work is recognizable. And if the idea is that you protect your top seeds, I don't know how Belmont, even in a down year like this, helps them. If they do fall to 13 or 14, they probably line up against the weakest 4 or 3-seed respectively; the team that's lucky to even be on that line.

There's potential for a lot of chaos between lines 10-13. With Belmont and Liberty assured their spots, what happens if you get Vermont, NMSU, the MAC champion (either Akron or BGSU), Wright State, Yale/Harvard, SFA, the CUSA and maybe SBC champs, all in there with the last of the at-larges? And where do you seed ETSU if they win?

Only the 1's and 2's might have an easy Thursday and Friday. They'll all have their hands full Saturday and Sunday.