Blue & Gold Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 In this piece George discusses the potential of getting an at-large bid to the madness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyZip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I got my question answered by Lunardi on this week's Bracketology chat. I asked if Akron, if we ran the table and lost the championship, had a chance for an at-large. His answer? "Not happening, Justin." I think its best the team operate under the "no tomorrow" mindset, though I think a 25-8 record with a 25-30 rpi would be hard to ignore. Especially because we would've won 15/16 to end the yr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I see it this way. If At-Large becomes an option for us, that means we'd have at least 8 losses, because we didn't win the MAC tournament. I think that's a few too many. And we still have a brutal 3-game stretch coming up to end the season, with two of them on the road, and it's very hard to imagine surviving that stretch with a 3-0 record. In looking at head to head, you'd have to figure that Middle Tennessee, Cleveland State, and WVU all would go in ahead of us, if any of them are also in consideration. Don't we only have ONE win against an upper tier team (Miss. State)? I think that weighs heavily against us. How are the Duquesne and Valparaiso games going to look in front of a selection committee? The RPI is close to putting us in the ballpark. But in my opinion, with our SOS being down near the 100 mark, although better than in the past, probably still required us to have no more than 5-6 losses. Thanks MAC West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Had we beaten VCU and/or CSU, we had a legit at-large shot. It is fun to see the Zips in the at-large conversation. Short-sighted Zips fans have long opined "The Zips will never get an at-large...the only thing that matters it the MAC Tourney...the MAC hasn't had an at-large in 10+ years...wah wah wah." The MAC hasn't seen a team as talented and deep as this Zips squad in 10-or-so years. The Zips, or any other MAC program, are a decade+ removed from serious at-large discussion because, quite frankly, they didn't deserve to be discussed. If this team didn't contract the Marsupial Suspension Flu in December, an at-large possibility would be very real. It's nice to finally be in the discussion. Look for real, serious NCAA at-large Zips banter in 2012-13. Especially after a couple NCAA tourney wins in 2012. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 You're forgetting a certain team to the East that would have absolutely been an at-large in 2006 and was briefly in the Top 25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 You're forgetting a certain team to the East that would have absolutely been an at-large in 2006 and was briefly in the Top 25. I've mentioned this before as a comparison. But didn't they have a much higher RPI ? Does anyone know? I agree with C. Kangaroo that people need to stop whinning about an At-Large not being possible. We have to try, every year, to give ourselves a second chance to get into The Dance, no matter how long some people think the odds might be. The schedule still needs to get a little better and/or we needed to post a few more wins, and/or we needed another big win or two. But, we weren't that far off. The higher SOS at least put us in the ballpark. I hope this is just a taste of what can happen if we make a concerted effort to keep getting better in all aspects needed to achieve an At-Large. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Z Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 We need some more attention, get Tressel on PTI or something and have him talk about his new position at Akron, slip in something about the NCAA tourney bid. Use him while we have him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 You're forgetting a certain team to the East that would have absolutely been an at-large in 2006 and was briefly in the Top 25. They lost every measuring stick OOC game that season. Their loss to the Zips in March wouldn't have helped their cause either. That K.e.n.t. team would certainly have been in the at-large conversation, but ultimately they wouldn't have made it. And judging from their Pitt beatdown in the tourney, they shouldn't have made it. And don't get me started on their follow up "appearance" vs. UNLV. Something like 40-10 at the half? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 They lost every measuring stick OOC game that season. Their loss to the Zips in March wouldn't have helped their cause either. That K.e.n.t. team would certainly have been in the at-large conversation, but ultimately they wouldn't have made it. And judging from their Pitt beatdown in the tourney, they shouldn't have made it. I was referring to the 2007-08 team (not 2006, my mistake) with a top 30 RPI and wins over St. Mary's, George Mason, and Cleveland State. I remember them being listed as a lock in every bubble watch out there before the championship game. They would've gotten in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I was referring to the 2007-08 team (not 2006, my mistake) with a top 30 RPI and wins over St. Mary's, George Mason, and Cleveland State. I remember them being listed as a lock in every bubble watch out there before the championship game. They would've gotten in. I think Kangaroo might be thinking of the wrong year. I was thinking about thier 07-08 team also. And that was indeed the year that UNLV clobbered them in the tourney. Are you sure their RPI was Top 30? If so, I don't think we can even remotely get to that number, even if we win out. I said this in another thread: Based on the fact that Ken+ got a #8 or #9 seed that year, you'd have to think that they would have been an At-Large selection. We're only left to wonder if a loss to Akron in the tournament final would have had any impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxpayer Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I'm still upset with the homer job the Zips got at valpo; they shot 38 free throws to the Zips 7! Coach D got T'ed up for asking why a foul was called. Walsh was hurt in pregame and played 9 minutes. Zeke played 11 minutes, took zero shots and fouled out. The refs made a mockery of the game. The next night against Duquesne, Alex popped his knee early, Walsh played 30 min on one leg and Serb had a melt down. All that and missed free throws took the Zips down. What a terrible weekend of basketball and from what I'm reading, could ultimately cost the Zips big time. I truly hope valpo comes to the JAR so we could provide similar home cooking and explain it the way their fans did to me....welcome to Indiana! I just hope the Zips can win out and keep others opinions out of the discussion whether they get to dance or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mivid12 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I'm still upset with the homer job the Zips got at valpo; they shot 38 free throws to the Zips 7! Coach D got T'ed up for asking why a foul was called. Walsh was hurt in pregame and played 9 minutes. Zeke played 11 minutes, took zero shots and fouled out. The refs made a mockery of the game. The next night against Duquesne, Alex popped his knee early, Walsh played 30 min on one leg and Serb had a melt down. All that and missed free throws took the Zips down. What a terrible weekend of basketball and from what I'm reading, could ultimately cost the Zips big time. I truly hope valpo comes to the JAR so we could provide similar home cooking and explain it the way their fans did to me....welcome to Indiana! I just hope the Zips can win out and keep others opinions out of the discussion whether they get to dance or not. Linardi's mind set is representative of most of the big boy conferences. the selection goons will take .500 team from oh say the ACC before a second MAC team regardless of record hell the nit took a a 13-13, 7-9 georgia tech team over a 26-7 akron team a few yrs ago i thought that when geo mason, butler x2 & vcu made the final 4 it would help change the mind set, but it remains the aristocrasy & the peasants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I think Kangaroo might be thinking of the wrong year. JSF said 2006, not me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I was referring to the 2007-08 team (not 2006, my mistake) with a top 30 RPI and wins over St. Mary's, George Mason, and Cleveland State. I remember them being listed as a lock in every bubble watch out there before the championship game. They would've gotten in. Thank God they didn't get an at-large that year...it would have ruined any MAC program's chance at an at-large bid for eternity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 StatSheet.com shows the highest 5 Can't final RPI ratings over the past 12 seasons as follows: #15 in 2001-2002 #21 in 2007-2008 #35 in 1999-2000 #48 in 2005-2006 #49 in 2009-2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 JSF said 2006, not me. Sorry. My bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 StatSheet.com shows the highest 5 Can't final RPI ratings over the past 12 seasons as follows: #15 in 2001-2002 #21 in 2007-2008 #35 in 1999-2000 #48 in 2005-2006 #49 in 2009-2010 Thanks, Dave. That's the year, right there. And there's no way we can get anywhere close to that number. Does anyone even have an idea where we could possibly be if we win out and lose in Cleveland? Even if we probably drop a bit over these next couple of games against the MAC West? And I just looked it up. Ken+ was a #9 seed that year. There were At-Large teams as low as #12 seed. So, that probably tells us that they were going to be an At-Large. But, that won't stop people from arguing that a loss to Akron in the MAC title game would have been devastating, if someone really wants to believe what they want to believe about the MACs "zero" chances at At-Large bids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZoner Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Thank God they didn't get an at-large that year...it would have ruined any MAC program's chance at an at-large bid for eternity. That's silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 On RPIForecast.com's Akron page, you can click the big words "With Conference Tourneys" to get altered RPI projections that include the conference tournament scenarios. If we win out through the MAC tournament, they project our RPI to be 13.9, and if we win every game but lose in the MAC tournament, they project our RPI to be 18.6 We NEED to win out in the regular season to have a chance, but with those kind of numbers we are absolutely in at-large bid territory. Beating ORU, OU, and Can't all on the road would boost our current RPI by 30 spots. It's very difficult, but not impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burrdie Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I am a bit concerned about this At Large Bid. Not sure why we are discussing it. They will win the MAC and those of you of little faith be gone. Come on we need a more positive attitude towards OUR guys. Honestly, I expect them to win their remaining games. Now don't make me eat my words, please. StatSheet.com shows the highest 5 Can't final RPI ratings over the past 12 seasons as follows: #15 in 2001-2002 #21 in 2007-2008 #35 in 1999-2000 #48 in 2005-2006 #49 in 2009-2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Our only hope is that all the mids like MTSU, Cleve St and a couple of others win their tourney and regular season crown to insure that the other conferences nobody else in. MTSU would be very hard to ignore. Get ready to hear the phrase " body of work" constantly very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 I am a bit concerned about this At Large Bid. Not sure why we are discussing it. They will win the MAC and those of you of little faith be gone. Come on we need a more positive attitude towards OUR guys. Honestly, I expect them to win their remaining games. Now don't make me eat my words, please. I just wanted to say that it's nice to hear from a lady fan of the Zips. There hasn't been many here so a belated welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Am I the only one who is a little uncomfortable with the timing of this discussion? Flenard Whitfield is back in the starting line-up, Skidmark is coming off the bench and the Broncos would like nothing better than to end this speculation right here and now. Factor in Saturday's 30 point blowout of EMU and tonight's game is probably KD's biggest challenge, from a motivation standpoint, all season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Hip Zip Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 Am I the only one who is a little uncomfortable with the timing of this discussion? Flenard Whitfield is back in the starting line-up, Skidmark is coming off the bench and the Broncos would like nothing better than to end this speculation right here and now. Factor in Saturday's 30 point blowout of EMU and tonight's game is probably KD's biggest challenge, from a motivation standpoint, all season. No, you are not alone. Every aspect of your post is 100% correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted February 8, 2012 Report Share Posted February 8, 2012 That's silly. 10 points in an entire 1st half. By a #9 seed. Could you imagine trying to defend that selection, and seed, if it were an at-large? THAT would be silly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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