MVC Conference [Final]: Drake vs Loyola-Chicago, 3/7, 1:10 PM, CBS

[ISU FAN 1]

The difference I see is that Drake was somewhat competitive today (down 2 starters). Meanwhile, ISU came in and looked like they were unprepared and got blitzed by the Shockers. Also, losing by 40 at Wichita in the prior matchup didn’t look good. Think Drake is a little bit more respectable than 17 ISU at this point.

I doubt the committee will look deep for reasons to include Drake. But I’ll bet they look deep for reasons to exclude them. Today’s game not that competitive. Drake lost to 2 MVC shitbags. And the committee doesn’t care about injuries. They still lost those games. The down year for blue bloods does have some merit for considering their inclusion.

 

[bombay]

Who cares.

 

[kw34]

Who cares.

Each game a team plays in the tournament means not insignificant money for the conference.

 

[gobirds85]

I love the fact that Loyola is ranked #20 and they will be looking at a 9 seed. Do the math.

Drake will have a long, nervous week. I hope they get in, but I won’t be surprised if they don’t.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

I doubt the committee will look deep for reasons to include Drake. But I’ll bet they look deep for reasons to exclude them. Today’s game not that competitive. Drake lost to 2 MVC shitbags. And the committee doesn’t care about injuries. They still lost those games. The down year for blue bloods does have some merit for considering their inclusion.

At least the Big Ten will find a way to get nine teams in.

 

[ISU86]

I doubt the committee will look deep for reasons to include Drake. But I’ll bet they look deep for reasons to exclude them. Today’s game not that competitive. Drake lost to 2 MVC shitbags. And the committee doesn’t care about injuries. They still lost those games. The down year for blue bloods does have some merit for considering their inclusion.

not often I am nearly in lockstep with 1, but for the most part he is spot on. The only thing I would differ on (slightly) is the committee does care about injuries if the school is from a P5+BE, the rest not so much. Any excuse is a good excuse to put a P5+BE in, and any excuse is a good excuse to keep a lesser light out.

1-11 as a P5+BE in Quadrant one is better than a non-P5+BE 0-0, regardless of the rest of the resume.

 

[ISU86]

Who cares.

money in our coffers

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

I doubt the committee will look deep for reasons to include Drake. But I’ll bet they look deep for reasons to exclude them. Today’s game not that competitive. Drake lost to 2 MVC shitbags. And the committee doesn’t care about injuries. They still lost those games. The down year for blue bloods does have some merit for considering their inclusion.

I’m not arguing the committee is going to do drake any favors, I’m simply arguing I think they’re in a better place than 17 ISU. Today’s game was at least single digits late in the second half. 17 title game was a complete and utter beat down. I may have blacked out but don’t recall the lead being in single digits at any point in 2nd half

 

[ISU86]

I’m not arguing the committee is going to do drake any favors, I’m simply arguing I think they’re in a better place than 17 ISU. Today’s game was at least single digits late in the second half. 17 title game was a complete and utter beat down. I may have blacked out but don’t recall the lead being in single digits at any point in 2nd half

It would be interesting if it were possible to calculate what the 'birds BPI & NET was at selection Sunday in '17.

It is also interesting just how "valuable" NET is today. I think it is not much better/worse than RPI ~ holds weight to justify one school, just one of many opinions to eliminate another. LU came in today with a NET of 16 and was sitting no better than a nine seed. If DU had won today and the Ramblers needed to be awarded an at-large would they have got it? My guess is they would have ended up in a play-in game.

 

[gobirds85]

The “eye test” is what the committee uses to keep teams like Drake out. It’s such a load of bullsh*t. RPI was dumped because non power 6 schools cracked the RPI code. NET, quadrant 1 wins, etc. all boils down to who they want in because their team “looks” like they should be in. Drake belongs in, but that isn’t how it’s determined.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

money in our coffers

Ok, as long as we can use that money to buy-out Muller, I’m back on the “I care” wagon.

 

[FriscoBird90]

That sound you will hear will be the selection committee moving the goal posts when Drake's name comes up for their consideration. Being "last four in" with a week of conference tournament games yet to be played is generally not a good position to be in unless, of course, you are from a P5 conference. If they leave out Drake, it will be like the '89-'90 Salukis being stiffed after winning the conference regular season, then losing the Valley Finale on our court in a nail biter. That selection committee had no problem giving SIU the shaft then; this selection committee probably won't have any problem doing the same to Drake now, especially if they feel that is what it will take to drag a name like Duke into the tournament.

 

[MadBird]

That sound you will hear will be the selection committee moving the goal posts when Drake's name comes up for their consideration. Being "last four in" with a week of conference tournament games yet to be played is generally not a good position to be in unless, of course, you are from a P5 conference. If they leave out Drake, it will be like the '89-'90 Salukis being stiffed after winning the conference regular season, then losing the Valley Finale on our court in a nail biter. That selection committee had no problem giving SIU the shaft then; this selection committee probably won't have any problem doing the same to Drake now, especially if they feel that is what it will take to drag a name like Duke into the tournament.

And it won't help if Penn and Hemphill can't play - they'll use that to suggest they aren't "as good" as they were when they built up the gaudy record, and so no longer worthy.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

If you put any stock in Lunardi or Palm, Drake dropped yesterday, and is now 2 spots away from being left out of the field. It’ll only be as long a week as Drake fans want to make it for themselves. If they do make it, they can thank the Ivy League for donating their AQ bid as an at large for this year.

 

[gobirds85]

With Morehead St. winning on Saturday, does Belmont still factor into the mix? That might be one less bid out there and Duke is now 10th in the acc so they still have a shot. Sarcasm. They will probably lock it down with a win over mighty 4-15 BC Eagles.

 

[Manchester Matt]

With Morehead St. winning on Saturday, does Belmont still factor into the mix? That might be one less bid out there and Duke is now 10th in the acc so they still have a shot. Sarcasm. They will probably lock it down with a win over mighty 4-15 BC Eagles.

Belmont has no chance at an at-large. They are 90 in the NET rankings after the loss to Morehead.

 

[Redbird82]

I don’t post much controversial stuff on here, but I know this is an unpopular opinion. Especially among those who somehow believe our football program will get us to a P5 conference. But we didn’t make it in 2017, UNI after losing to a play in team wasn’t getting in last year. If Drake doesn’t, what’s the point of being in the valley? It’s good enough it’s tough to win and if it’s just gonna be one bid regardless why not be in an easier conference to win? I know people will say play a tougher schedule and win. But that’s harder with P5 schools playing more conference games. We’ll never have a schedule that allows for 4-5 bad losses because we won 2 of our dozen chances at a quad 1 win. The P5 schools get so many chances and no matter how many they lose it’s all about those couple wins. We made 6 championship games and 6 NITs, 7 top 3 finishes, if we are in the OVC or Horizon wouldn’t we probably have made 2-3 NCAAS? Instead of none? I know we could simply be better, but it’s been over 20 years, doesn’t seem like we exactly have the formula.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

Belmont is toast. They lost to Morehead twice in the last 10 days of their season, and to EKU once. The OVC is ranked around 26th in conf rankings while the MVC is ranked 11th.

 

[ISU FAN 1]

I don’t post much controversial stuff on here, but I know this is an unpopular opinion. Especially among those who somehow believe our football program will get us to a P5 conference. But we didn’t make it in 2017, UNI after losing to a play in team wasn’t getting in last year. If Drake doesn’t, what’s the point of being in the valley? It’s good enough it’s tough to win and if it’s just gonna be one bid regardless why not be in an easier conference to win? I know people will say play a tougher schedule and win. But that’s harder with P5 schools playing more conference games. We’ll never have a schedule that allows for 4-5 bad losses because we won 2 of our dozen chances at a quad 1 win. The P5 schools get so many chances and no matter how many they lose it’s all about those couple wins. We made 6 championship games and 6 NITs, 7 top 3 finishes, if we are in the OVC or Horizon wouldn’t we probably have made 2-3 NCAAS? Instead of none? I know we could simply be better, but it’s been over 20 years, doesn’t seem like we exactly have the formula.

Mid majors are 1 bid leagues. It pissed me off when during the Southland final, the announcer said that “mid major leagues know what they’ve signed up for”, in terms of needing the AQ to dance. Like being in a non P5 league is totally of our choosing.

 

[gobirds85]

Belmont is toast. They lost to Morehead twice in the last 10 days of their season, and to EKU once. The OVC is ranked around 26th in conf rankings while the MVC is ranked 11th.

I agree with you. Drake at 47 and Belmont at 90 in NET. Colgate is 12-1 and currently #8. What gives? I'm pulling for Drake. I would love to see them in, but I'm not holding my breath.