I will say the same thing I always said back when we were always a top 16-team in baseball:

In the end, the goal of making the tournament is to win the title. We've got to beat the best to be the best. In a few years, nobody will remember who lost the 2019 tournament in the elite eight or in the first round. They will remember who won it all and likely which cinderella teams made it out far. And cinderella teams become cinderella teams by upsetting the goliaths. We may argue all we want about seeding, but first, the season ain't over, and second, we'll just be arguing about whether we'll get destroyed in week one versus week three of the tournament.

Nice comments about the Seniors. Glad Stanton was included even though she was unable to participate this year. Had she not blown out her knee as a HS Sr, I imagine she would have a rally nice career at Arkansas where she originally committed, but love her contributions to building the Rice program.

https://twitter.com/ricewbb/status/11027...31712?s=21

(03-04-2019 01:39 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice stays #24 in polls but gains a few new votes (up to 75 total points from last week's 67). Not really much movement in the AP poll.

http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings

It's also worth noting that the NCAA will reveal its top 16 again tonight in women's basketball (how the seeds would look if the season ended today). I'll try to post the previous top 16 and then tonight's for comparison.

NCAA selection committee's top 16
1. Baylor
2. Louisville
3. Notre Dame
4. UConn
5. Oregon
6. Mississippi State
7. Stanford
8. Iowa
9. NC State
10. Maryland
11. Oregon State
12. South Carolina
13. Miami
14. Iowa State
15. Syracuse
16. Texas A&M

NCAA's top 16 reveal:
Albany: UConn, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Miami
Chicago: Louisville, Stanford, Maryland, Iowa State
Greensboro: Baylor, Iowa, NC State, Texas A&M
Portland: Notre Dame, Oregon, South Carolina, Syracuse

So that differs a bit from the RPI in that top-16 RPI teams Marquette, Gonzaga and UCF are not in the top 16 reveal, but South Carolina (RPI of 17), Miami (18) and Oregon State (19) are there instead. Marquette and Gonzaga were in the first top 16 reveal but both have lost some games since then (well Gonzaga just once to BYU).

Aggies do make the top 16 as we’d speculated they might after last week’s win.

I’m still asking for the 5 seed for Rice & a trip to CS. Anything below an 8 at this point is a slap in the face.

We're not going to be a 5 seed - even I know that. 8 or 9 is about the best we can hope for IMO.

I know people have said 11 seeds are historically in better shape than an 8 or 9, but I do think this year is different. The 1 seeds in women's basketball aren't as dominant. Even Baylor struggled a bit tonight at West Virginia. UConn has one of their all-American seniors hurt and without her, they only beat USF by 10 on the road. Other teams like Oregon and Texas A&M also have injured stars.

We just need to get into the tournament and take it one game at a time. I was surprised to see UCF beat UH at the Fertitta Center tonight. I was thinking that might be a loss for them.

Remain "26th" in the Coaches Poll with 33 points. #25 South Dakota received 47 points.

http://sportspolls.usatoday.com/ncaa/bas...ches-poll/

http://www.espn.com/womens-college-baske...ct-bracket

At least ESPN mentions us in this championship week story. We're not in regardless but according to them, SEC and Big 12 bubble teams need to root for Rice to run the table because if we don't, then we give them bubble competition.

Charlie Creme of ESPN also had this tweet earlier today in talking about mid-majors who have 'bracket insurance' (meaning they don't have to win their conference tournament to make the NCAA tournament).

"Rice’s resume is light, but would be in the mix with a finals loss."

It's the non-conference schedule that's killing us... No wins against the top 50 or P5 schools.

Just win, and all this is moot.

(03-04-2019 10:37 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  We're not going to be a 5 seed - even I know that. 8 or 9 is about the best we can hope for IMO.

I know people have said 11 seeds are historically in better shape than an 8 or 9, but I do think this year is different. The 1 seeds in women's basketball aren't as dominant. Even Baylor struggled a bit tonight at West Virginia. UConn has one of their all-American seniors hurt and without her, they only beat USF by 10 on the road. Other teams like Oregon and Texas A&M also have injured stars.

We just need to get into the tournament and take it one game at a time. I was surprised to see UCF beat UH at the Fertitta Center tonight. I was thinking that might be a loss for them.

Just spoke to my brother who said that Stanford is injured as well, with one starter out along with a key suib.

(03-05-2019 06:15 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Charlie Creme of ESPN also had this tweet earlier today in talking about mid-majors who have 'bracket insurance' (meaning they don't have to win their conference tournament to make the NCAA tournament).

"Rice’s resume is light, but would be in the mix with a finals loss."

Good grief. I think we're in if we win Thursday and win our first tourney game. 27-4 should be sufficient.

(03-05-2019 06:29 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  Just win, and all this is moot.

(03-05-2019 05:19 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  http://www.espn.com/womens-college-baske...ct-bracket

At least ESPN mentions us in this championship week story. We're not in regardless but according to them, SEC and Big 12 bubble teams need to root for Rice to run the table because if we don't, then we give them bubble competition.

Ok in that case I shall also root for Rice!!

(03-05-2019 08:19 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-05-2019 06:15 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Charlie Creme of ESPN also had this tweet earlier today in talking about mid-majors who have 'bracket insurance' (meaning they don't have to win their conference tournament to make the NCAA tournament).

"Rice’s resume is light, but would be in the mix with a finals loss."

Good grief. I think we're in if we win Thursday and win our first tourney game. 27-4 should be sufficient.

That would make us 26-4, but your point is valid. BTW, a win Thursday would get us win #25, which would be another new Rice record.

I am tired of the constant parsing of how many and which games can we lose to barely squeak into the playoffs. Just keep winning, and all will be OK. We need to add another 10 games to our winning streak. Let the maximum be the goal, not the minimum.

Just win.

Rice predicted by ESPN to win the conference tournament.

http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26147361/predictions-women-ncaa-basketball-conference-tournaments

Good luck Lady Owls and have fun and relax. No matter what happens you have accomplished much more then anyone expected.

(03-06-2019 05:01 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Good luck Lady Owls and have fun and relax. No matter what happens you have accomplished much more then anyone expected.

??? Speak for yourself. Many of us entering this season did have Top 25 expectations for this squad. It's a testimony to the student-athletes and coaches that we met those expectations. It's one thing to have the potential. It's another thing to play to your potential.

(03-06-2019 05:34 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(03-06-2019 05:01 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  Good luck Lady Owls and have fun and relax. No matter what happens you have accomplished much more then anyone expected.

??? Speak for yourself. Many of us entering this season did have Top 25 expectations for this squad. It's a testimony to the student-athletes and coaches that we met those expectations. It's one thing to have the potential. It's another thing to play to your potential.

"The soft bigotry of low expectations"