tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post3888889533680423231..comments2023-09-01T06:51:04.030-04:00Comments on Basketball Predictions: Getting Left BehindJeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12767101715737129123noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-69847814160001036942007-03-06T12:18:00.000-05:002007-03-06T12:18:00.000-05:00Jeff-You're right, the remaining bubble slots may ...Jeff-<BR/>You're right, the remaining bubble slots may get taken by teams with a big win or two, even if they don't win the auto bid. I was just saying that it must be a relief that none of the slots have been gobbled up yet.<BR/><BR/>As for Old Dominion vs. Drexel, Drexel is really hurt that Old Dominion beat them twice, home and away, and the game at Old Dominion was a blowout. If there's only one bid there, I think that makes up the difference between ODU's win over Georgetown, compared with Drexel's wins over Villanova, Creighton & Syracuse. All of those wins, for both schools, are road wins, by the way.<BR/><BR/>That said, in everything but name recognition, Drexel's resume looks outstanding to me. It's just really hard for me to look at the records of an Alabama, Illinois, or even Syracuse and think they're more deserving. Unless they make a big statement in their conference tourney.<BR/><BR/>A couple of bubblers to keep an eye on are the ones with semi-home games in their conference tourneys. After beating Penn State, Illinois will have a semi-home game against Indiana (they've shown some foldability) in Chicago. Florida State in Tampa has interesting possibilities, as Al Thornton has been monstrous lately, they have Toney Douglas back, and they face recently shaky Clemson and Carolina.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-44705234271640554482007-03-06T11:18:00.000-05:002007-03-06T11:18:00.000-05:00In my mind, Missouri State still should be in. An...In my mind, Missouri State still should be in. And Bradley and Appalachian State are probably done. I think there is one bid to be had between Old Dominion and Drexel, and I'm going to put some thought into it before I respond. It just feels like the Colonial should get a second team.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Remember that during Championship Week spots aren't only lost because some non-favorite wins a conference. They can also be lost when some mediocre bubble team in a big conference goes on a roll. For example, what happens if Kansas State rolls to the Big 12 finals? They're probably getting in. And that's one less spot for Drexel, Old Dominion and the rest. It's an opportunity that bubble teams in the big conferences have that bubble teams in the small conferences don't.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12767101715737129123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22972768.post-39213423674642569892007-03-06T02:19:00.000-05:002007-03-06T02:19:00.000-05:00So far, no bubble slots have been lost in conferen...So far, no bubble slots have been lost in conference tourneys that have completed. Have I missed any? In all the conferences with bubble teams, the favorites (Creighton was close enough) have won out: VCU, Davidson, Gonzaga, etc. I'm sure half of the Colonial, Big Ten and SEC conferences are relieved.<BR/><BR/>Here are the final profiles of the main bubblers that are done (except for lobbying and whining) until the selection show. They're listed in RPI order. How do they rank in terms of who should get in before who?<BR/><BR/>Missouri State<BR/>RPI 38<BR/>Top 25 1-5<BR/>Top 50 2-0 (3-5)<BR/>Top 100 6-4 (9-9)<BR/>Bad Losses 134<BR/>Road Record 8-4 road, 2-2 neut<BR/>Neutral Wins 4, 100<BR/>Road Wins 43, 79, 100, 112, 137, 139, 186, 262<BR/>Final Record 21-10<BR/><BR/>Old Dominion<BR/>RPI 39<BR/>Top 25 1-0<BR/>Top 50 3-2 (4-2)<BR/>Top 100 2-2 (6-4)<BR/>Bad Losses 108, 120, 301<BR/>Road Record 8-5 road, 1-1 neut<BR/>Neutral Wins 155<BR/>Road Wins 17, 46, 87, 120, 180, 198, 230, 262<BR/>Final Record 24-8<BR/><BR/>Bradley<BR/>RPI 43<BR/>Top 25 1-5<BR/>Top 50 1-3 (2-8)<BR/>Top 100 4-3 (6-11)<BR/>Bad Losses 143<BR/>Road Record 5-7 road, 1-2 neut<BR/>Neutral Wins 79<BR/>Road Wins 47, 112, 134, 137, 139<BR/>Final Record 20-12<BR/><BR/>Drexel<BR/>RPI 46<BR/>Top 25 2-0<BR/>Top 50 1-4 (3-4)<BR/>Top 100 4-2 (7-6)<BR/>Bad Losses 198, 200<BR/>Road Record 13-5 road, 1-0 neut<BR/>Neutral Wins -- 180<BR/>Road Wins 19, 30, 49, 65, 76, 88, 164, 179, 241, 260, 299, 301<BR/>Final Record 22-8<BR/><BR/>Appalachian State<BR/>RPI 62<BR/>Top 25 -- None<BR/>Top 50 3-2<BR/>Top 100 2-0 (5-2)<BR/>Bad Losses 109, 124, 195, 208, 299<BR/>Road Record 9-6 road, 4-0 neut<BR/>Neutral Wins -- 37, 47, 111<BR/>Road Wins 47, 51, 100, 109, 222, 243, 247, 299, 306<BR/>Final Record 22-7Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com