Buehrle>Wood

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 07:47 PM) SI has (2) Kansas vs (15) Belmont. If only. If the SC had any sense of humor, it would happen.

Yeah, if this keeps up, no way do they deserve one. They were borderline anyway, so I don't think they get one(again, is this keeps up).

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 07:20 PM) I dare you to rationalize KState over Illinois... Or ODU. Or Drexel. Or Stanfraud. Still haven't seen a logical explanation for any of these teams over Arkansas or Illinois. I'd also like to know how a team could play so terrible yet beat a team that is apparently a lock above them. Anyone?

Awesome

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) If you're going to use the injury excuse for Illinois you must for Stanford as well. They were missing Brook Lopez at the beginning of the year(when they got blown out by Air Force) and they were missing Andrew Goods for this bad stretch they've had, now they're both back. I was only using it to begin with because of Stanford. To me, the SC should not be able to grant a team phantom wins just because of injuries. It's stupid and it makes no sense at all. There is no guarntee any one player could have made a difference in any one loss. Besides, weren't they all back for their last game vs. USC? I'm not sure they were, but I do know they lost. If they wanted to actually use the flawed argument of injuries, then they had to win this game, but they didn't. QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) They also have an insane amount of good wins compared to other bubble teams: Texas Tech, @ Virginia(only team to win there this season), Washington State, USC, UCLA, Oregon. This is what is so flawed about the selection process. Apparently it's better to be strong in one part of your resume and be terrible in every other field than it is to be solid in every part of your resume. Again, dumb logic. QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:58 PM) They also have 0 bad losses(just like the Illini). Stanford belongs in the field. Apparently you missed this: "Home losses to Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and California. Loss @ Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention they lost by 35 to Air Force at home?" Now I'm going to get lectured on how each one of those isn't. But in the end there is no denying that tourney teams should be losing to teams like these consistently. And Illinois lost @ Iowa too. That's one bad loss, albeit a better loss than any of Stanford's bad losses.

QUOTE(Brian @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:47 PM) I don't know much about Stanford, but they are 18-12. Teams with better records should get in over them. What is their RPI and such? I'll post what I did in another thread: 18 wins RPI of 66 12 losses 4-6 in their last ten 4-8 against the RPI top 50 1st round conference tourney loss Home losses to Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and California. Loss @ Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention they lost by 35 to Air Force at home? How teams like Stanford and Kansas State are even being considered is beyond me.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:24 PM) Katz has arkansas in also. I'm fine with that. They have a way better resume than all of these bubble teams other than maybe Illinois. Lunardi doesn't even have them close.

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 04:33 PM) Even though I think Illinois should be in, there seems to be a lot of momentum towards them being out right now. And based on what(Not to you, but to those leaving them out)? They have a much better resume than all of these perceieved bubble teams. They are very stong in the 3 most important factors(RPI, SOS, L10). Many of their losses came with their best players out. Anyway, their going to be in. Their not going to leave out a top 30 RPI team from a major conference out.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 04:21 PM) How are they terrible? They might not be great but they won at Villanova, at Syracuse and at Creighton, all 3 will be in the tournament. They took 4th place in the Colonial. They've lost to Penn. They've lost to Hofstra. They've lost to William and Mary. They've lost to Rider. Any wins they may have had should be voided upon further review.

Drexel is another terrible team. If they get in, well, I won't even know what to say about that.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 07:09 AM) dont know what you mean by this comment? If you think Stanford should not be in your definitely wrong. Illanoy beat well Indiana a few times, big deal. Standford beat UCLA, WAsh St., Oregon etc....... 18 wins RPI of 66 12 losses 4-6 in their last ten 4-8 against the RPI top 50 1st round conference tourney loss Home losses to Santa Clara, Gonzaga, and California. Loss @ Washington. Oh yeah, did I mention they lost by 35 to Air Force at home? Thanks for playing though.

Why is Stanfraud even on the bubble?

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Mar 11, 2007 -> 05:16 AM) haha just what illanoy fans want to hear. The future is bright at IU, not so much in champaign. What an original and insightful post. Anyway, Illinois has a solid class coming in next year, especially considering how thet got screwed over at the last minute. Add that to the fact that Bruce Weber pulled off one amazing coaching job this year, their going to be fine.

Hmmm.

Illinois' RPI moved up after the loss.

For comparison's sake Illinois has: 1. Better RPI 2. Better SOS 3. 2-1 Head to head over Indiana 4. More Big Ten wins 5. 7-3 in their last ten over 5-5 6. Better on the road (9-7 vs 5-10) 7. 3 more wins overall Indiana has: 1. More signature wins 2. Less losses Not as close as it seems.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 03:09 PM) IU has better wins, that's why. Which still doesn't make up for the fact that every other aspect of Illinois' resume is better now. Even so, they have a home win over Wisconsin over Illinois, and thats it. Not nearly enough to make or brake a team.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 01:41 PM) Everything I read still has Indiana as a lock. It's Illinois that should be worried -- Bracketography has them out after last night's win and in the Suntimes today Jerry Palm (who knows what he's talking about it) said that Illinois is still on the bubble at best and needs to beat Wisconsin. Thinking about it, I just don't see 6 Big Ten teams going. Unless Illinois beats Wisconsin today I still think they're out. Indiana has probably dropped down, but it's still the 3rd Big Ten team in. Again, Illinois is top 30 in the RPI and play in a major conference. They are a lock, no question. IU has now stooped below both UI and MSU in terms of seeding now too. Illinois has the better RPI, the better SOS, 3 more wins, and a 2-1 record vs Indiana. Why would UI be a bubble team but IU not be? Again, doesn't matter though, both teams are locks.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 05:32 AM) No -- no way. Earlier, Lunardi on ESPN said that Illinois would still be out even with a win over Indiana (since Xavier and Nevada lost). I think Purdue makes the NCAA as the 5th team and thats it. For starters, Illinois has a top 30 RPI and play in a major conference. They are a lock, even moreso than Indiana now. If he actually said that Illinois would be out even with this win, Lunardi truely has no idea what he is talking about.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 05:16 AM) If Purdue wins, maybe michigan state doesnt go? It'd be Indiana before Illinois or Michigan State. But I don't think there is reason to worry for them, Purdue is probably the only bubble team left in the Big Ten.

So if Illinois wins these next two, their looking at a 4 or 5 seed. Amazing what one weekend can do for you. Of crouse, they have to win first. Also, what is up with talkbigten?

QUOTE(fathom @ Mar 10, 2007 -> 04:28 AM) I can't believe this horrific conference is going to get 5 teams in the tournament. Who in the heck are you going to put over them? MSU, UI, IU, Wisconsin and OSU are all legit tourney teams, there is no denying this.

This is madness.

Just got back from the BTT, Lot of fun, hopefully I can go again tommorrow. As for Illinois, I don't think they played too bad. The only reason the game was even close is because Mike Walker decided he was God, and there was nothing the Illini could do about it. Jeremy Nash just pulled a complete choke job for NU. I guess that is expected though.