Tuesday, February 9, 2016

News On The Horizon 2/9/2016

Bracketology 2016: Xavier ascends to top line after chaotic weekend--SB Nation
St. Louis (Fri/Sun)    Des Moines (Thu/Sat)
1  Xavier     1  Iowa (Big Ten)
16  UNC Asheville (Big South)  16  Fairleigh Dickinson/Hampton
↑8  Valparaiso (Horizon)   ↑8  VCU
9  Connecticut    9  Monmouth (MAAC)
...
Indeed, barring a late rally by Saint Mary's in the West Coast or upsets in the Horizon, Metro Atlantic, Missouri Valley and perhaps Mountain West, Southern and Sun Belt tournaments, it looks increasingly likely that we will see just eight conferences earn multiple bids.

Louisville's grad transfers 'playing for pride'--Louisville Courier-Journal

Friends can surface when you least expect--Varsity Press
Minnerath makes all-star festivities--Varsity Press

Sister, Sister: Ristovski Pair Share Bond of Basketball--detroittitans.com

Kay Felder is Oakland’s big little man--The Detroit News
FELDER TABBED AS NCAA NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK--ougrizzlies.com
GAME 26: OAKLAND ENTERTAINS MILWAUKEE ON THURSDAY--ougrizzlies.com

UIC falls to Valparaiso--UIC News

Nunn scores career high versus Wright State--UIC News

NCAA tournament bubble teams--USA Today
Ten NCAA tournament bubble teams with the most to prove--USA Today
*Assuming teams don't win their smaller conference tournaments and secure the automatic bid.

Locks: N/A
Probable: N/A
Bubble: Wichita State, Monmouth, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, San Diego State, Valparaiso, Chattanooga
...
Out for now

Valparaiso: 18-4 (10-1), 46 RPI, 176 SoS, 45 non-conference SoS

The good: Win vs. Oregon State

The bad: Losses vs. Wright State, Ball State
Metric-Based Bracketology: Look Out For K-State And Saint Joe's--Blogging the Bracket
Over the next few weeks, as a companion to my Tuesday morning bracket (at the very least) over on SB Nation, I'm going to produce a comparison table placing my seed list next to ones based on the current RPI and KenPom rankings. This way you'll have an idea of what teams these metrics seem to love and hate.
RANK  SEED  BRACKET  RPI   KENPOM
...
21  6  Utah   Florida  Valparaiso*
...
32  8  Valparaiso*  George Washington  Gonzaga*
...
46  12  George Washington (11)  Valparaiso*  Saint Joseph's
Measuring continuity--Kenpom.com
One interesting takeaway from these numbers is that, despite the increased likelihood of early-entries from power conference teams, those schools fare reasonably well against the rest of the country with respect to continuity. I’ll close with the average continuity by conference since 2008.
...
21 Horz 50.0
...
Regardless of what conference a team is in, a lack of continuity is inevitable at some point. Even if every player wants to stay with the team another year and the coach agrees to have them back, seniors have to go. But it takes a special set of circumstances for a team to be at either extreme of the continuity spectrum. Here’s this season’s full list from Valpo to St. John’s.

Crusaders Tangle with Oakland Thursday at the O'Rena--valpoathletics.com

Wright State women back on winning track--Dayton Daily News

YSU women’s team prepares for big road trip--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins Begin Wisconsin Week at Green Bay on Thursday--ysusports.com

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