With the conference season winding down, here are the current standings.

UAB 11-2
MTSU 10-3
Marshall 9-3
La Tech 8-4
ODU 7-5
UTEP 7-6
Charlotte 6-6
FIU 6-7
FAU 5-8
WKU, USM, UNT, Rice 4-8
UTSA 2-11

Rice has 6 games remaining - big games next week at home vs the two Florida schools, at USM and La Tech the following week, and then Charlotte and ODU to close out the season at home.

USM is not playing in the conference tournament due to a self-imposed postseason ban. But I'm not sure of the format other than it's supposed to be everyone playing (last year it was just 12 teams). I think the top 6 teams get a bye but that leaves 7 teams playing on the first day?

Regardless, it does appear that the top four teams are in good shape for a bye. UTSA probably will finish last. Rice probably needs to sweep the Florida schools, and win four of the final six to have a chance to finish close to 7th or 8th?

We need to seed 11 or better to avoid the first round "play-in" game.

And 10 or 11 is the sweet spot to avoid the host UAB half of the bracket if they hold on to the 1 seed.

Tournament Bracket
Day 1 #12 vs #13. Winner advances as #12 team

Day 2
#5 vs #12
#6 vs #11
#7 vs #10
#8 vs #9

Quarter Finals
#1 vs #8/9 winner
#2 vs #7/10 winner
#3 vs #6/11 winner
#4 vs #5/12 winner

We have to avoid finishing 12th or 13th. We don't have enough players to do any damage with more games than necessary. At the very least, we have to go 1-1 this week at home.

Although always interested in how we do and are positioning ourselves leading up to the event, I must admit it's been a long time since I've been excited about an upcoming conference basketball tournament. Personally, I think we're two years away from being in a situation where basketball conference tournament time brings the same amount of excitement/expectation among Owl fans that baseball Regionals bring. When that time comes, you can bet I'll be traveling to the tournament (along with several of my Section 103 buddies) - wherever it's located.

(02-14-2016 12:46 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  Although always interested in how we do and are positioning ourselves leading up to the event, I must admit it's been a long time since I've been excited about an upcoming conference basketball tournament. Personally, I think we're two years away from being in a situation where basketball conference tournament time brings the same amount of excitement/expectation among Owl fans that baseball Regionals bring. When that time comes, you can bet I'll be traveling to the tournament (along with several of my Section 103 buddies) - wherever it's located.

IMO, we're one year away (barring major injuries).

IMO, it would have happened this year without major injuries. If Rice isn't in the top 4 in CUSA next year, I will dump out my cup of kool-aid!

I am surprised that we have won 4 conference games considering how little depth and experience we have. It wouldn't have surprised me if had not a single conference game.

We have a good coach. Next year, I wouldn't be surprised if we double our wins!

I predicted 16 wins prior to the season. While mathematically possibly at this point it is very doubtful. I'd just like us to win more than 12 this year and maybe win a game at the tournament. I think without the injuries, we probably could have had 16 wins. An up and down year, but I'm still excited by the young talent and our coach.

(02-14-2016 10:07 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Tournament Bracket
Day 1 #12 vs #13. Winner advances as #12 team

Day 2
#5 vs #12
#6 vs #11
#7 vs #10
#8 vs #9

Quarter Finals
#1 vs #8/9 winner
#2 vs #7/10 winner
#3 vs #6/11 winner
#4 vs #5/12 winner

We have to avoid finishing 12th or 13th. We don't have enough players to do any damage with more games than necessary. At the very least, we have to go 1-1 this week at home.

After today's win against FIU Rice is slotted in the #8 spot. Still a ways to go, but would be nice to hold it, or maybe even improve a little to #7, which would take us winning out and a bit of help, I think?

(02-20-2016 05:12 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(02-14-2016 10:07 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Tournament Bracket
Day 1 #12 vs #13. Winner advances as #12 team

Day 2
#5 vs #12
#6 vs #11
#7 vs #10
#8 vs #9

Quarter Finals
#1 vs #8/9 winner
#2 vs #7/10 winner
#3 vs #6/11 winner
#4 vs #5/12 winner

We have to avoid finishing 12th or 13th. We don't have enough players to do any damage with more games than necessary. At the very least, we have to go 1-1 this week at home.

After today's win against FIU Rice is slotted in the #8 spot. Still a ways to go, but would be nice to hold it, or maybe even improve a little to #7, which would take us winning out and a bit of help, I think?

Actually in #7 now with Charlotte losing a 13 point lead at halftime to WKU.

(02-20-2016 05:51 PM)07owl Wrote:  Actually in #7 now with Charlotte losing a 13 point lead at halftime to WKU.

Wow, is that a 6 spot jump up for the owls in just one week?

Really need to try to hang on to #7 spot, as that sets us up in the tournament a bit better than #8, right? Gee whiz, maybe we could do some real damage in the tourney this year after all!

(02-20-2016 06:10 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(02-20-2016 05:51 PM)07owl Wrote:  Actually in #7 now with Charlotte losing a 13 point lead at halftime to WKU.

Wow, is that a 6 spot jump up for the owls in just one week?

Code:

Conference USA Standings
TEAM    CONF    OVERALL
UAB     11-2    21-5
MTSU    10-3    18-7
Mrsh    10-3    14-12
LAT     9-4    20-6
ODU     8-5    15-11
UTEP    8-6    16-11
Rice    6-8    11-16
Char    6-8    10-17
FIU     6-9    12-16
NTx     5-8    10-16
WKU     5-9    13-14
FAU     5-9    7-20
SoM     4-10    7-18
UTSA    3-12    5-23

Really need to try to hang on to #7 spot, as that sets us up in the tournament a bit better than #8, right? Gee whiz, maybe we could do some real damage in the tourney this year after all!

7 would give us 10, then 2, then 3/6/11 survivor. I'd rather try to come out of this bracket as a 6/7 seed than face 1 seed hometown UAB before the final round

4 games remaining in the regular season. At USM is winnable, at Louisiana Tech is a loss. And then winnable home games vs. Charlotte and Old Dominion (but both will be tougher tests than this past weekend's games). At this point, improving last year's 12-20 overall record would be a nice goal.

(02-21-2016 08:00 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  4 games remaining in the regular season. At USM is winnable, at Louisiana Tech is a loss. And then winnable home games vs. Charlotte and Old Dominion (but both will be tougher tests than this past weekend's games). At this point, improving last year's 12-20 overall record would be a nice goal.

Agree here. I think we probably are #8 right now, based on the head-to-head result with Charlotte. We get the chance to fix that.

A 9-9 conference record, and 7 conference tournament seed, would be interesting. If we could only have back the @UTSA and Southland games against Houston Baptist and Incarnate Word, the team might have seen one of the lesser post-season invitationals this year.

Future looks bright indeed. Basketball games are high energy and fun this year. Would love to see UH or other former SWC opponents at Autry next year.

We absolutely need to get UH back on the schedule. They're having a solid year too and will be top 50 to top 100 RPI next year for sure.

After yesterday it looks grouped like this:
There's "1-6", then "7-12", and then 14. (#13 USM ineligible for postseason)

If MTSU holds serve at home against UAB later today then it could become 1-3, 4-6, and 7-12.

Owls today in a 3-way tie for 7th with Char and UNT(who also swept the F_U Two this week) and FIU just a half game back.

GB PCT W-L PCT STRK
UAB 11-2 -- .846 21-5 .808 L1
Marshall 11-3 .5 .786 15-12 .556 W4
Middle Tennessee 10-3 1 .769 18-7 .720 W1
Louisiana Tech 9-5 2.5 .643 20-7 .741 L1
UTEP 9-6 3 .600 17-11 .607 W6
Old Dominion 8-6 3.5 .571 15-12 .556 L1
Charlotte 6-8 5.5 .429 10-17 .370 L2
North Texas 6-8 5.5 .429 11-16 .407 W2
Rice 6-8 5.5 .429 11-16 .407 W3
Florida Intl 6-9 6 .400 12-16 .429 L2
Western Kentucky 5-9 6.5 .357 13-14 .481 W1
Florida Atlantic 5-10 7 .333 7-21 .250 L3
Southern Mississippi 4-10 7.5 .286 7-18 .280 L6
Texas San Antonio 3-12 9

(02-21-2016 10:50 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  Future looks bright indeed. Basketball games are high energy and fun this year.

It was fabulous to see on TV that the Owls were the quickest and most-hustling team on the court yesterday.

(02-21-2016 08:00 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  4 games remaining in the regular season. At USM is winnable, at Louisiana Tech is a loss. And then winnable home games vs. Charlotte and Old Dominion (but both will be tougher tests than this past weekend's games). At this point, improving last year's 12-20 overall record would be a nice goal.

One down!

(02-25-2016 10:19 PM)sts60 Wrote:  

(02-21-2016 08:00 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  4 games remaining in the regular season. At USM is winnable, at Louisiana Tech is a loss. And then winnable home games vs. Charlotte and Old Dominion (but both will be tougher tests than this past weekend's games). At this point, improving last year's 12-20 overall record would be a nice goal.

One down!

And we have tied last year's win total of 12!