GoZips Posted January 30, 2009 Report Share Posted January 30, 2009 I think that Bracket Buster selection occurs after this coming week end of play.One knowledgeable blog has Akron visiting James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Conference.While we are way of the mark to garner any TV exposure, JMU is a nice opponent. They wouldvisit Akron next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z.I.P. Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I think that Bracket Buster selection occurs after this coming week end of play.One knowledgeable blog has Akron visiting James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Conference.While we are way of the mark to garner any TV exposure, JMU is a nice opponent. They wouldvisit Akron next year.In this case, it might be favorable for Akron to face a better team than JMU -- one who like Nevada two years ago would lead to their coming to Akron in the fall of 09, in a 'trap' they may not be aware is awaiting them. IOW -- we might be better off playing a team we have little chance of beating THIS year, in exchange for an opportunity to beat someone nationally ranked or 'name' in the NEXT year (of course to acquire such a foe we need more 'W's for the ESPN selectors). I don't know who that might be though. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infofan Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I think that Bracket Buster selection occurs after this coming week end of play.One knowledgeable blog has Akron visiting James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Conference.While we are way of the mark to garner any TV exposure, JMU is a nice opponent. They wouldvisit Akron next year.In this case, it might be favorable for Akron to face a better team than JMU -- one who like Nevada two years ago would lead to their coming to Akron in the fall of 09, in a 'trap' they may not be aware is awaiting them. IOW -- we might be better off playing a team we have little chance of beating THIS year, in exchange for an opportunity to beat someone nationally ranked or 'name' in the NEXT year (of course to acquire such a foe we need more 'W's for the ESPN selectors). I don't know who that might be though. Any ideas?Bracketbuster games are to be selected on Monday, Feb 2nd. My educated guess is that well be sent to either Drexel or Old Dominion. While JMU is a possibility espn usually does not pit schools against each other when they have a history. We played a home and home with JMU in around 2003,2004 ( or so). Another possibility is Milwaukee from horizon league. Our RPIs are similar 110 vs 122. All things considered weve gotten treated pretty well by espn in bracketbuster selections in past. Certainly better thanCant St going to Mt St Mary Calif, or Cleve state going to Pepperdine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 I think that Bracket Buster selection occurs after this coming week end of play.One knowledgeable blog has Akron visiting James Madison of the Colonial Athletic Conference.While we are way of the mark to garner any TV exposure, JMU is a nice opponent. They wouldvisit Akron next year.In this case, it might be favorable for Akron to face a better team than JMU -- one who like Nevada two years ago would lead to their coming to Akron in the fall of 09, in a 'trap' they may not be aware is awaiting them. IOW -- we might be better off playing a team we have little chance of beating THIS year, in exchange for an opportunity to beat someone nationally ranked or 'name' in the NEXT year (of course to acquire such a foe we need more 'W's for the ESPN selectors). I don't know who that might be though. Any ideas?Bracketbuster games are to be selected on Monday, Feb 2nd. My educated guess is that well be sent to either Drexel or Old Dominion. While JMU is a possibility espn usually does not pit schools against each other when they have a history. We played a home and home with JMU in around 2003,2004 ( or so). Another possibility is Milwaukee from horizon league. Our RPIs are similar 110 vs 122. All things considered weve gotten treated pretty well by espn in bracketbuster selections in past. Certainly better thanCant St going to Mt St Mary Calif, or Cleve state going to Pepperdine.I don't know if they take such things into account but I would wonder if the fact that we played a CAA and/or another Virginia team in last year's event would lead the selectors to choose someone other than JMU.My question of this...would we rather play a team in the top half of a pretty decent conference like UW-Milwaukee in the Horizon League or a team that is at the very top of their middle ranked conference but doesn't play as tough a schedule like Vermont? I think either of those teams are possibilities at this point as is a team like UIC or Tennessee-Martin. It will be interesting to see how they do this with us this year since we are likely well out of the TV games mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted January 31, 2009 Report Share Posted January 31, 2009 Z.I.P.....that's a great point. We should be more concerned about the quality of opponent that we'd get at home next year. And a chance to knock off someone with some credibility next year presents the best opportunity for us to grow our program.However....I know that the bracketbuster games are intended to pit two similar teams against each other. So, I don't expect us to get someone like a VCU or a Nevada type team this time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Today's the day. Any last-second guess as to who our opponent will be? Our RPI is 123.Some likely matchups:Vermont: 121Drexel: 100James madison: 140UW-Milwaukee: 111Drake: 126Tennessee-Martin: 139Anybody other than these and we're either travelling to the West Coast or grossly undermatched/overmatched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Here's my quick thoughts on order of preference:Drake is having a so-so year, but I like the fact that they're from the Missouri Valley conference, which gets a lot of love from sports media.Drexel is in the top third of the Colonial Athletic conference, which is pretty well regarded. James Madison is in the same conference, but a couple of notches behind Drexel.UW-Milwaukee is third in the Horizon League, just behind highly regarded Butler, though the rest of the conference is not so highly rated.Vermont is leading the America East, but that's not a conference that gets a lot of media love.UT-Martin is ahead of Eastern Kentucky, which waxed the Zips, in the modestly regarded Ohio Valley conference, so more potential downside than upside here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I'm most interested in who would give us the best return gaem at home next year. A bracketbuster win or loss this year doesn't really mean anything, but next year we need the best team possible to come to the JAR. I'm not sure which one of those teams will be improved the most, or which ones lose their top players and will be rebuilding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Watching the ESPNU broadcast of the bracket buster selection show...interesting tv matchup in VCU vs Nevada: two former Zips bracket buster opponents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 In favor of Drake, they were expected to contend for the NCCA tournament this year, but have somewhat underperformed. Only one senior among their top five scorers, and a good recruiting class coming in next year. They play in a tough conference, and would definitely be a challenge for the Zips, both this year and next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 So, did they announce who our opponent is going to be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 apparently it was too much to ask for the espnu selection show to be coordinated with http://www.espnubracketbusters.com . Still no word on Zips opponent, other than that they WILL NOT be on tv. Buffalo and Miami are the televised MAC teams in the bracketbuster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Who's off the board? I can't find anything on the web and didn't see the show on TV.I know Vermont and Evansville are out, but who's left that would be a good matchup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I only had it in the background...listening for MAC teams. It's weird being in the "middle tier" of bracket buster teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Valpo is a crap matchup. They're #211 in the RPI.Just like when we got Austin Peay, we should blow them out on the road and at home next year with no trouble at all.Valpo message board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoZips Posted February 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 This is terrible. Valpo (rhymes with Alpo) has a plus 200 RPI, is 3-8 in their conference (Horizon)and is 6-16 on the year. They beat YSU 68-57 in Y-Town. Basically, the Zips got dissed. No respect.On the plus side, Valpo is highly recognizable mid-major name thanks to several years of excellentplay. Alas, at 6-16, this is not one of those years. This is two must wins for the Zips. Winninggains us little, but, losing, kiss a post season bid good bye even with a 20+ win season.Right now the Zips are at the least, the third best team in the MAC. Our reward for solid play ... screwed.Does it ever change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Valparaiso may be one of the worst possible draw for the Zips this year. They're currently 9th in the 10-team Horizon League. But they've played a tough schedule, losing to North Carolina, Purdue and Butler. So they could play a lot tougher than their Horizon League position might indicate. The other side of the coin is that their top two and three of their top five scorers are seniors, so they'll be seriously reloading next year, and they could be much improved. They appear to have a serious recruiting class for 2010, with one player who should match up well against Zeke and an interesting guard from Australia:Crusader men’s basketball head coach Homer Drew announced today that Beas Hamga (Douala, Cameroon/Decatur [ill.] Christian), a 7’0”, 225 lb. transfer from UNLV, has enrolled in classes for the spring semester at Valparaiso University and will become eligible to play at the end of the fall semester for the 2009-2010 season. Hamga, who redshirted last year at UNLV and played in five games this season before being released by the Runnin’ Rebels, was ranked as the 26th-best player in the nation and fifth-best center in his class by Rivals.com coming out of high school and was a five-star recruit. Hamga averaged 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocked shots per game as a senior at Decatur Christian.Valpo men’s basketball head coach Homer Drew announced today that the Crusaders have received a National Letter of Intent from Ryan Broekhoff and that he will join the program as a freshman for the 2009-2010 campaign.Broekhoff, a 6’6”, 190 lb. guard from Frankston, Victoria, Australia, is in his second year at the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport. Named the Australian Junior National Male Player of the Year earlier this year, Broekhoff has twice been a member of Victorian state teams that won national championships, in 2007 with the Victoria U18 squad and in 2008 with the Victoria U20 squad. He was also named U20 national MVP in the latter championship. Broekhoff was also selected as a member of the Australian U19 Emus team that won bronze medals at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany and The William Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 what a HORRID draw again. Wasn't this supposed to be similarly matched teams in RPI? How do you justify #120@ #209... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 what a HORRID draw again. Wasn't this supposed to be similarly matched teams in RPI? How do you justify #120@ #209...Scanning the matchups, somehow K-e-n-t draws OVC leader and #158 Morehead state. A game that would actually benefit them this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eguins Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Trust me. If you overlook them, they will beat you. Ask #11 Butler how tough they are.Valpo nearly upset them the other day at the Hinkle Fieldhouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Think 2010. Beas Hamga and Zeke could put on the show of the year at the JAR. Hamga has a 7-5 wingspan and a 9-6 standing reach. Below is a photo of Mr. Hamga that may get your attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJGood Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Just looking at this matchup on the surface it doesn't make much sense.When looking closer, though, I think this matchup was put together with next year in mind more than this season. Both Valpo and Akron are in what most of their own fans are calling "rebuilding" years. Both fanbases seemed to be pointing toward next season by the time this season was just a few games old if not before it started.The difference is Akron is having a pretty decent year (we still have a shot at another 20 win season) despite a roster that is primarily freshmen and sophomores. Valpo is struggling this year. Both programs are arguably bringing in the biggest (by size and/or reputation) recruits in their programs' history next season.One of the posters on the Valpo board said that we better get them this year because next year might get ugly. I assume he meant that we will not be able to handle them next year. Obviously that poster knows nothing of our program. The exact opposite is true if Valpo wants to beat the Zips they better do it this year because next year this program which is 60-7 at home the past few years will be fielding more talent than it ever has before and the game is at Rhodes Arena. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Think 2010. Beas Hamga and Zeke could put on the show of the year at the JAR. Hamga has a 7-5 wingspan and a 9-6 standing reach. Below is a photo of Mr. Hamga that may get your attention.Zeke will tear that guy apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuweathernerd Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 it'll be a good game, trust me. valpo plays better than we have let on over the course of the season. we ran with butler at hinkle on friday night, and this is going to be a home game for both teams. as for the rematch next year, we're going to be very dangerous. we have currently the highest-rated incoming class in the conference. the rematch could be dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuweathernerd Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 eguins is right. it's going to be a much better game than you all realize. look forward to it. and the rematch is going to also be dangerous because of our incoming recruits. it'll make for an excellent series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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