What effect will some of these mid-major finals have on other at-larges?
Gonzaga and St. Mary’s will meet for the WCC title tonight, and I’m projecting winner is in at #12 seed, with Gonzaga potentially moving up to an #11 with a win, while the loser is out of luck for an at-large. I’m certain that St. Mary’s needs to win; Gonzaga would be in the last four at-large discussion with a loss, but I’ve got them out in that event.
We’ve got two situations tonight that could also disrupt the at-larges. Virginia Commonwealth (vs. Old Dominion) and UW-Milwaukee (vs. Butler) are not getting in as at-larges, but I’m projecting that their opponents are already in the field, even with a loss. To account for this in today’s seed projection, I put VCU/UWM in on one slot on the #13 line in the event one gets the auto bid. If both get the victories and the auto bids, that tightens it up even more. If only one wins tonight, then the projection holds, and if neither do, someone like Alabama or Memphis gets back in the field as the extra at-large. That is until someone else besides Utah State, or Xavier/Temple win their conference tourneys.
Who is realistically on the bubble, and who could fall out?
I think any team I have listed below at #8 seed or better is solidly in, regardless of what happens in the conference tournament, with the results only affecting seeding. I think the #9′s and #10′s are in barring a bad loss that would cause their profile to drop, and most are probably still in anyway. Right now, the last at-larges I have in, are in order: UAB, Tennessee, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Georgia, Colorado, Richmond, Boston College, and Cleveland State (though realistically, Cleveland State will get squeezed by the shrinking bubble and the results some bubble teams will put up in the major tournaments). Colorado is a team that I improved my projection when I did a cross-comparison of all teams that might be considered “bubble” by the talking heads. I think their wins over Texas, Kansas State (twice) and Missouri separate them right now and get them in. The teams I have just on the outside, but can play their way in this week and surpass other teams who lose, are Memphis, Alabama, Clemson, Southern Cal and Southern Miss.
Previewing The Horizon League Championship Game--Mid-Major Madness
Tuesday Update: CAA, WCC title games shift bubble--MICentralSports.com
The fun continues Tuesday. Here's what's on tap:
• Butler will play at Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the Horizon auto bid, with a modest chance of landing an at-large if it loses. Bubblers are rooting hard for the Bulldogs.
...
IN THE MIX
Butler (22-9, 13-5; RPI: 37, SOS: 71)
Next game: Tuesday at UW-Milwaukee in the Horizon final
OK, the table's set. Win and obviously in. Lose and try to become the first team ever to get an at-large after losing three times to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It's unclear at this stage whether Butler's profile could hold up for five more days as major-conference teams play their events.
GW: Florida State (N), Washington State (N), Cleveland State twice?
BL: Evansville (without Nored), UW Milwaukee (twice)?, at Wright St, at Youngstown State
Utah Jazz: Knick trio too much for Jazz--Deseret News
The other highlight: Rookie Derrick Favors scored a career-best 16 points with eight boards off the bench, and Gordon Hayward (11 points) hit a long ball in front of Lee, the nemesis of his childhood hero Reggie Miller.
Utah Jazz: Rookies make a pitstop for pasta in N.Y.--Deseret News
Jazz ripped apart by Knicks, 131-109--Salt Lake Tribune
Bell exited Utah’s locker room before the media was allowed in. But his deathly stare said everything that everyone from Corbin to rookie Gordon Hayward soon stated. The Jazz (33-31) were completely embarrassed on the world’s biggest basketball stage. And it was not just another regular-season loss. It was a humbling blowout defeat — one that kicked off a possible season-defining four-game road trip during a playoff crunch with a weak whimper.
Milwaukee's Hill has presented problems for Butler for 2 seasons--The Indy Star
Horizon final represents renewal of League’s fiercest rivals--Victory Firelight
Andrew Smith is Runner-Up for the StatSheet Horizon Player of the Week - March 7th, 2011--Butler Blue Fever
Butler vs. Milwaukee: A championship on the line--Butler Blue Fever
Kaylon Williams makes all the difference for Milwaukee (audio included)--Butler Blue Fever
Three questions for tonight’s Horizon League Championship game--Butler Blue Fever
Vikings Begin Defense of League Championship Against UIC--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Thornton's Career High 25 Fuels Detroit's Comeback Victory over Valparaiso--detroittitans.com
Titans To Meet Butler In Horizon League Quarterfinals On Wednesday--detroittitans.com
Year One: A tempo-free look at Howard Moore’s first season at UIC--Fan the UIC Flames
Women's Basketball Returns To Cleveland For Horizon League Quarterfinals--uicflames.com
Defensive Stand Helps Loyola Knock Off Youngstown State In Horizon League First Round, 49-47--LoyolaRamblers.com
Semifinal Berth On The Line As Loyola Heads To Top-Seeded Green Bay--LoyolaRamblers.com
Women's basketball: UWGB to host Loyola in Horizon quarterfinal--Green Bay Press Gazette
Phoenix Faces Loyola in Horizon League Quarterfinal--uwgbathletics.com
Panthers hope to keep good times rolling--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
All eyes on the Cell--PantherU
I Believe--PantherU
Tonight for the Title Belt--PantherU
Live Blog: Milwaukee vs. Butler - Horizon League Championship--Panther Blog Zone
Final Countdown On For Tuesday's League Title Battle At Cell--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Return To Dayton For League Quarterfinals--uwmpanthers.com
Detroit’s late big run eliminates VU--The Post-Tribune
Season comes to a close for the Crusaders--The NWI Times
Crusaders Eliminated From Horizon League Tourney by Detroit--valpoathletics.com
Coming a long way--The Post-Tribune
On this day 7 years ago - Mar 08, 2004--Valpo Daily
Brown Blocked at Buzzer in Penguins’ Tough 49-47 Loss at Loyola--ysusports.com
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