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http://www.todaysu.com/c-usa/can-uab-sav...rence-usa/

Good article. I hope UAB doesn't have to run the table for an at-large bid. Sad state of affairs for CUSA Basketball.

It's pretty much what Memphis did when they were in CUSA just before they left & probably a main reason we're a 1 bid league now w/ the extremely rare at large team. Can't have that .500 P5 feeling left out & get shuffled off to the CBI or NIT

We've got a long way to go before we come close to duplicating what Memphis did, but I'm starting to feel like what they did their last few years in CUSA.

I actually think it is possible that UAB could get an at-large bid if we run the table but lose in the semis or something of the CUSA tournament. Sure bubble teams will be ticked and everyone would question it, but regardless of the SOS, we would likely get a bid.

Assuming we run the table until the CUSA tournament, we would finish the regular season at 28-3. Moreover, we would certainly be a Top 25 team (if not Top 15) with that type of record and continued momentum. Hard, but not impossible, to see the selection committee passing on a team like that.

Were good, very good, but its unreasonable to.assume we will run the table. Weve struggled on the road with some mediocre teams. Marshall is much better than charlotte, and wku is tough and we traditionally struggle in Florida. Id love to see is not loose another game, but i wouldnt bet a dollar on it. We nees to prepare to win the conf tournament.

(01-25-2016 07:05 PM)ranger1386b Wrote:  Were good, very good, but its unreasonable to.assume we will run the table. Weve struggled on the road with some mediocre teams. Marshall is much better than charlotte, and wku is tough and we traditionally struggle in Florida. Id love to see is not loose another game, but i wouldnt bet a dollar on it. We nees to prepare to win the conf tournament.

Not saying it would be easier to run the table. Just saying I believe it is possible (however small the chance) of getting a bid outside of winning the CUSA tournament. Certainly actually would be easier to win a few games in Birmingham during the CUSA tournament and get there automatically. But should we run the table and win 1 game in the CUSA tournament and not be selected, we would be the first team in NCAA history to win 29 games and not be selected to the NCAA tournament.

(01-25-2016 06:59 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  We've got a long way to go before we come close to duplicating what Memphis did, but I'm starting to feel like what they did their last few years in CUSA.

I actually think it is possible that UAB could get an at-large bid if we run the table but lose in the semis or something of the CUSA tournament. Sure bubble teams will be ticked and everyone would question it, but regardless of the SOS, we would likely get a bid.

Assuming we run the table until the CUSA tournament, we would finish the regular season at 28-3. Moreover, we would certainly be a Top 25 team (if not Top 15) with that type of record and continued momentum. Hard, but not impossible, to see the selection committee passing on a team like that.

Regardless of the sos is a false statement. The tournament committee does not reward crappy sos's. It's one thing they have been consistent in.

Running the table is going to be almost impossible. @ Loisiana Tech, @ Marshall and @ Middle Tennesee will be games we are underdogs.

(01-25-2016 07:19 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(01-25-2016 06:59 PM)Blazer85 Wrote:  We've got a long way to go before we come close to duplicating what Memphis did, but I'm starting to feel like what they did their last few years in CUSA.

I actually think it is possible that UAB could get an at-large bid if we run the table but lose in the semis or something of the CUSA tournament. Sure bubble teams will be ticked and everyone would question it, but regardless of the SOS, we would likely get a bid.

Assuming we run the table until the CUSA tournament, we would finish the regular season at 28-3. Moreover, we would certainly be a Top 25 team (if not Top 15) with that type of record and continued momentum. Hard, but not impossible, to see the selection committee passing on a team like that.

Regardless of the sos is a false statement. The tournament committee does not reward crappy sos's. It's one thing they have been consistent in.

Not saying it would be a guarantee to get in, even in that improbable scenario. Just saying if it happens the way I said in that theoretical scenario (ie, running the table including 1 win in CUSA tournament without winning the tournament) that we would make history as the first team in NCAA history not to make it to the tournament with 29 wins.

KenPom currently gives us 44% chance at Marshall, 42% at Tech, and 37% chance at MTSU.

Easiest and most likely way to the tournament is winning 3 games in Bham in March. Id love for us to run the table but I don't see it happening, I just hope we win the regular season title.

No one member can save an entire conference. It takes at least a few programs being for real to even earn some respect, much less actually get recognized in a meaningful way. If UAB goes on to do something, people aren't going to be talking about C-USA other than to reference how terrible it is or something like that.

We've been saying for most of the season the conference tournament is the only way we're getting in and I still feel that way regardless of what happens with the streak, getting ranked, and all that.

When UAB knocked off Iowa State, I saw a post online somewhere that said: "wow, so I guess conference USA is legit".

Making waves in the tournament can definitely help the conference. If c-usa can sneak UAB and Middle Tennessee into the tournament, and both teams win at least their first games, then c-usa will be getting more cred.

CUSA isn't legit. They proved that during the OOC season.

(01-25-2016 08:22 PM)sadolakced Wrote:  If c-usa can sneak UAB and Middle Tennessee into the tournament, and both teams win at least their first games, then c-usa will be getting more cred.

No CUSA will not be getting more cred in your scenario. Are you just choosing to be oblivious to CUSA's SOS, OOC record, and ridiculous conference RPI ranking?

More cred than it'd get by putting one team in that loses its first game.

That's fair, but I think that'd say more about the programs at UAB and MT respectively as opposed to the conference itself. I like C-USA and I'm grateful we're still in it, but I feel like a run in the tournament wouldn't legitimatize the conference at all.

The only way to help the conference is for every member to help themselves first. Everyone has their eyes on greener pastures and that's perfectly understandable. In the meantime, though, we just have to make the best of where we are. I get that some of the bottom teams straight up don't care about basketball and probably won't for some time to come, but, in the long run, I feel like we'll be okay.

I don't believe there is a single school in C-USA (or any other conference) that doesn't want to win. Some are just less successful than others, but that is true of some teams in every conference. I don't believe any coach at any school has been hired and told "We don't care that you win. Just put a team out there and play the game and pick up your paycheck". It's just that every team can't finish above average.

(01-25-2016 04:27 PM)blazerjay Wrote:  http://www.todaysu.com/c-usa/can-uab-sav...rence-usa/

I don't think any one program at a single school can save the conference.

But what it does is make us the front runner the next time CUSA gets poached by another league.

And IMHO, I think we could lose 2 and still be given a realistic chance of making the NCAA tournament. As long as neither loss is a WTF, and as long as the tourney loss isn't in our first game. That would put our guys at 28-5. That will be hard to ignore by the committee, even if the SOS is 280+.