One bid

[Redbird Alum 2004]

I believe we have a very outside shot at this but we need to stay out of Thursday night and that looks "iffy" at best. No one in the Valley is unbeatable. Misery St and Loyola proved that last week. bu and Drake seem to getting better and UNI might make some noise down the stretch. This year will be a toss up. One bid, maybe in the 10-12 range.

It really is crazy how poorly all the teams can play and how good they can all play. That Loyola at Southern game was terrible. UNI is looking better the more games AJ Green gets under his belt. MSU can be a world beater one game or their own worst enemy then next. Heck same with Bradley. Drake is looking solid and it they can stay healthy they are trouble.

 

[FriscoBird90]

A team that gets hot and does not have to play on Thursday night and come back less than 24 hours later against a #1 or #2 seed. I think Valpo in 2020 was the first Thursday night team to get past Friday

1998: Bradley was the #7 seed and lost in the semi-finals.
2020: Drake was the #8 seed and lost in the semi-finals.
2020: Valpo was the #7 seed and lost in the finals.

It's bound to happen sometime, most likely when there is no dominant top tier of teams in the conference.

 

[cpacmel]

For what it's worth.....Lunardi has 2 in his latest bracket

 

[gobirds85]

For what it's worth.....Lunardi has 2 in his latest bracket

So nd is "first four out" but two valley teams are getting in? I have to think that is highly improbable, especially considering the current trajectory of Loyola. And as I say that, watch them light us up by 25 Wednesday night. They have been a little so-so of late.

 

[ISU86]

For what it's worth.....Lunardi has 2 in his latest bracket

Lunardi always gives the mid-major the benefit of the doubt until February, when the ninth place P5 teams pull their one upset and "justify" their inclusion

 

[Rollbirds5]

So nd is "first four out" but two valley teams are getting in? I have to think that is highly improbable, especially considering the current trajectory of Loyola. And as I say that, what them light us up by 25 Wednesday night. They have been a little so-so of late.

I'd agree with Joe that if the bracket was set today we'd have two (Drake being auto bid due to them being in 1st and Loyola at large bid). I'm not sure what happened but Loyola has really struggled the last 2-3 weeks, they could easily have another 2 or so losses in conference if not for late comebacks. Come selection sunday I'll be pleasantly surprised if we have two teams, since I think they'll probably drop another few games to pull them out of an at large bid.

Too bad Drake couldn't pick up a couple of notable non-con wins to boost their resume, go 2-2 versus Belmont, Bama, Clemson and north texas instead 0-4 and they may have been in the running for at large too.

 

[cpacmel]

Lunardi always gives the mid-major the benefit of the doubt until February, when the ninth place P5 teams pull their one upset and "justify" their inclusion

That's true. But he's doing what he thinks the committee will do. Not his own personal feelings.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Lunardi always gives the mid-major the benefit of the doubt until February, when the ninth place P5 teams pull their one upset and "justify" their inclusion

100% agree. Lunardi likes to make everyone think he’s all for fairness and is all in on the “blind test” when selecting teams based on merit. However, when it comes to actually picking teams the last week, he windsocks wildly in favor of the P5
He’s such a shill he should consider running for mayor of Chicago.

 

[gobirds85]

Nobody on the committee champions the mid major. It all comes down to the almighty $$$. Once in a while they let someone in, but then that school is saddled with a horrible seed in a stacked region.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Nobody on the committee champions the mid major. It all comes down to the almighty $$$. Once in a while they let someone in, but then that school is saddled with a horrible seed in a stacked region.

Even when they dominate. See: Wichita State, 2014. Or Loyola last year - except they blew it all up and trounced the vaunted Illini.

 

[jbird]

What I meant was that other than all of the times that it has happened, it has never happened.

 

[gobirds85]

Even when they dominate. See: Wichita State, 2014. Or Loyola last year - except they blew it all up and trounced the vaunted Illini.

The region in 2014 was a gauntlet for Wich. St. Absolutely stacked against them.

 

[Adunk33]

Joey Brackets throwing the MVC a bone with 2 teams in right now. I'd give about a 5% of being a two-bid league and that's on the high end. He has the Blers not winning the MVC Tournament and is one of the last 4 in.

 

[isuquinndog]

Loyola will either be last 4 in or first 4 out, IMO. If they don't win STL of course.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Best scenario would be Loyola win this Saturday, Northern Iowa win against Loyola next Sunday.

 

[cubird]

Yes. As much as I am disappointed that Loyola is leaving the Valley, we need 2 bids for the money. Can live with them getting in and leaving their share of the NCAA Tournament $ to the League.

 

[TBS_20]

I'm rooting for them to won now! Jones is gone either way so let's ****ing go!

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Best scenario would be Loyola win this Saturday, Northern Iowa win against Loyola next Sunday.

*Best scenario would be us winning on Sunday. Odds are about the same as the .01% ESPN had Evansville at down 82-30 to Loyola last night, but it’s still non-zero.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

*Best scenario would be us winning on Sunday. Odds are about the same as the .01% ESPN had Evansville at down 82-30 to Loyola last night, but it’s still non-zero.

“It ain’t over till I say it’s over”

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

*Best scenario would be us winning on Sunday. Odds are about the same as the .01% ESPN had Evansville at down 82-30 to Loyola last night, but it’s still non-zero.

Loyola made a huge jump in all the analytical rankings like NET and Kenpom after this win. It makes no sense except for it seems margin of victory is quite important when it comes to how these rankings are determined.