ACC plays NBA style basketball...by that I mean they can all shoot and nobody plays any defense whatsoever with the exception of Virginia. NCState up on Duke 51-50 and it's not even halftime yet. How can anyone think those teams are any good giving up that many points in a half of college basketball?
State of the Bubble
- Thread starter ctt8410
- Start date
We were the Cinderella that was taking down the big boys.....before Gonzaga came out as an under the radar success we were the under the radar gang.
I've been convinced forever that TU didn't take advantage of the love and the talking heads went into a new hoops crush....aka Gonzaga
I guess that makes some sense, although 10 years later the comparison seems old hat and has reversed. Gonzaga and moreso Butler were able to elevate their Cinderella success and ascend to greater heights, becoming perennial top 25 programs. (18 straight tourney appearances for Zags) Gonzaga is kind of a victim of their own core values and desire to compete with like minded schools. IMO Gonzaga could probably do even more if they had associate membership in the MWC.
I am too young to remember, but does anyone recall if UAB was held in the same "Cinderella" regard back in 1981-82, 1982-83? They too were a mid-major knocking off the big boys reach the sweet 16 and elite 8 in back-to-season out of the Sun Belt. I believe the 82-83 UAB team beat #1 ranked and #1 seed Ralph Sampson lead Virginia in the Sweet 16.
Back in the 80's and early 90's the Sun Belt Conference was a mid-major power with UAB, WKU, VCU, ODU, UNCC, and S.Bama creating tournament havoc. The start of major football realignment lead to the Metro Conference losing Florida State (ACC) and South Carolina (SEC), which ultimately trickled to the Sun Belt and lead to it's collapse as one of the top mid-major conferences..
TX
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I sort of remember UAB being the school a 3,4, or 5 seed didn't want to see in the first round back in the day...who was the coach...Gene Bartow?
Correct, he succeeded Wooden at UCLA in 1975-76, left UCLA after 1976-77 season and launched UAB from the ground up, first season of DI 1979-80. Absolutely insane that in the 2nd season of existence, UAB went to the Sweet 16, 3rd season to the Elite 8. I was off on the years, it was 1980-81 and 1981-82.
Kind of seems like before the field expanded to 64 (1985), it was not uncommon for mid-major programs or non-power conference programs to earn top 4 seeds. The 1981-82 tourney that UAB advanced to Elite 8, had Tulsa as #3 seed and UAB #4 seed. A couple of upstart programs earning immediate respect. Memphis #2, Idaho #3, and Fresno State #4 seed. That 1981-82 bracket was pretty crazy with non-blue bloods among the higher seeds. Back then the field was only 48, and the top 4 seeds received 1st round byes.
TX
Nolan was once quoted as saying had TU not lost swingman David Brown to injury, the 1981-82 could have made the Final 4.
Two of the best teams of that era faced each other in the 1983 Final Four, Houston vs Louisville. Ironically TU faced both of teams, games that bookended their epic Final Four game.
In both games TU was the higher seed and should have won.
1982 - #3 Tulsa vs #6 Houston (lost 74-78)
1984 - #4 Tulsa vs #5 Louisville (lost 67-69)
TX
Two of the best teams of that era faced each other in the 1983 Final Four, Houston vs Louisville. Ironically TU faced both of teams, games that bookended their epic Final Four game.
In both games TU was the higher seed and should have won.
1982 - #3 Tulsa vs #6 Houston (lost 74-78)
1984 - #4 Tulsa vs #5 Louisville (lost 67-69)
TX
I think we stack up pretty well against that resume, unfortunately we have to many As and not enough Cs in our conference name.
Butler in the clubhouse at 21-10. RPI is 56. 4-8 vs top 50. 6-9 vs top 100. Good wins are 16 Purdue, 33 Seton Hallx2, 40 Cincinnati. Bad loss is 107 Marquette.
Thanks for these updates CTT. It really helps show where we are relatively to other bubble type teams. But if course, this doesn't mean a thing unless we win at least 2 more.
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I thought the point of bracketology was to predict who the committee would choose if today was selection sunday. Lunardi and Palm are on opposites ends of bubble spectrum. IMO Palm's field makes sense.
Maybe Lunardi is doing his own thing then he corrects at the last minute? He must be eating a spoon full of BPI chit. Seems like the common theme with Lunardi's bubble is favoring power conference teams with high loss totals and mid-majors with high win totals, regardless of good win, bad loss totals.
Maybe he will starting moving AAC bubbles up tomorrow o they win, if not then we'll see his bias more clearly. I don't see why he would be bias, he doesn't have influence on the process, just a fantasy game he plays.
TX
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No on all 3 for me. But they did buy themselves another shot at big wins.
Lunardi has no bias year to year. He incorrectly picked Temple and CSU last year when UCLA and Indiana were instead chosen. Now, I assume it is possible he is over compensating with P5 teams after being burned by not including them last year.
Could holding the AAC championship on Sunday backfire with possible at large bids, or does that really impact the seeding?
TX
Palm's latest update has TU moving up, and Wichita State back in the picture.
Last four in: Connecticut, Tulsa, George Washington, Wichita State
First four out: Monmouth, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Michigan
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology
TX
Last four in: Connecticut, Tulsa, George Washington, Wichita State
First four out: Monmouth, Vanderbilt, Syracuse, Michigan
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology
TX
Speaking of Palm, he is a great follow on Twitter. I don't agree with everything he says, but he is always responding to stupid argument's and making them look silly. It gives me a good chuckle.
That would give us wins against Wichita St., UCONN, Cincy, Temple, and Iona who are all listed in the field plus the SMU road win. (Granted it's likely that one or both of UConn or Temple drop out if they lose to Cincy) We have 'quality' losses to UALR + South Carolina who should be in the field as well. You might even add Oregon State to that list.
Florida is in the clubhouse at 19-14. RPI is 59. 2-7 vs top 50. 7-13 vs top 100. Good wins are 10 West Virginia and 32 St Joseph's. Bad loss is 134 Tennessee. They're out.
I'm worried about GW. They're up 14 over St Joes at half. They don't deserve 5 teams. Dayton, St Bonnie, VCU and these 2.
WHAT? Cincy deserves to go. He's a freakin' moron. Like I want to punch him in his fat face moronic.
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