2009 SJ.COM bubble predictions challenge

[mustangj17]

There are automatic bids and a number of locks according to ESPN.

Locks/Automatic Bids: Florida State, Boston College, UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, Clemson, UCONN, Pitt, Lousville, West Virginia, Syracuse, Villanova, Marquette, Michigan State, Purdue, Illinois, Ohio State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, USC, UCLA, Washington, Arizona State, Cal, LSU, (SEC WINNER UT/MISS STATE), BYU, UTAH, BUTLER, XAVIER, Radford, Morehead State, Cornell, Northern Iowa, Gonzaga, East Tennessee State, Sienna, North Dakota State, Virginia Commonwealth, Cleveland State, Western Kentucky, Robert Morris, Portland State, Binghamton, Memphis, American, Temple, Akron, Morgan State, Alabama State, Utah State, Cal State Northridge, Chattanooga, Stephen F Austin/That team they are playing right now.

That's 55 teams: Since 65 enter (play in-game) that leaves 8 open spots for bubble teams.

Which 8 teams do you let in the tournament and why?



That leaves spots for bubble teams? Who would you put in and in what order?

Feel free to denote which teams would be what seeds if you would like.

BIG NAME BUBBLE TEAMS TO CHOOSE FROM: (JUST TO GET YOU STARTED) Texas A & M, Dayton, Davidson, St. Mary's, Creighton, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, San Diego State, Auburn, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Providence, Maryland, VT, Miami, Kentucky....

The poster who gets the most right is the 2009 SportsJournalists.com bubble prediction champion.

 

[Moderator1]

VT ain't getting in, I'll "boldly" predict that much. 18-14 and a bad last month? No way.

 

[mustangj17]

1. Michigan - 12 SOS, 43 RPI, Big wins.
2. Dayton Solid mid major, I love to see mid majors. IMO, better than Creighton and St. Mary's.
3. Minnesota - worthy of a spot, beat Lousville. Had enough conference wins.
4. Texas A & M - Decent team from a good conference
5. Wisconsin - Better than their record shows.
6. Maryland - Deserving of an NCAA bid
7. Penn State - bad numbers in terms of SOS, but they do have some solid wins in a deep conference
8. South Carolina - You can't only have two teams from the SEC.
9. Providence - 10-8 in conference. Why not.
10. St. Mary's - Better than Creighton and better than San Diego State, although I don't see this one happening.

I may have screwed up my order a bit.

 

[mustangj17]

VT ain't getting in, I'll "boldly" predict that much. 18-14 and a bad last month? No way.

Yeah I just sorta threw them on there, a couple of those teams like Miami, stand no chance. At least in my opinion.

 

[93Devil]

I am sick of these ESPN heads debating a team that does not have a winning conference record making the tourney.

A .500 conference record should never, ever make the tournament.

Arizona played OSU, Oregon and WSU six times and could not pull off a winning record?

 

[mustangj17]

I am sick of these ESPN heads debating a team that does not have a winning conference record making the tourney.

A .500 conference record should never, ever make the tournament.

Arizona played OSU, Oregon and WSU six times and could not pull off a winning record?

So who would you put in over them?

 

[93Devil]

I am sick of these ESPN heads debating a team that does not have a winning conference record making the tourney.

A .500 conference record should never, ever make the tournament.

Arizona played OSU, Oregon and WSU six times and could not pull off a winning record?

So who would you put in over them?

****, I would put VMI in over them.

 

[nafselon]

1) Michigan -- The Wolverines are pretty safe.

2) Maryland -- In like Flynn

3) Dayton -- The Flyers are an interesting case but the NCAA occasionally rewards teams for little things...like being the host school of that god awful play-in game.

4) Wisconsin -- In for a one-round knockout

5) Penn State -- See Wisconsin

6) Providence -- Winning record in best conference, victory over No. 1 seed. Book 'em.

7) St. Mary's -- Just for the hell of it.

8) South Carolina -- The SEC will get three in, maybe four...

9) Auburn -- If Mississippi State loses, the Tigers might sneak in. They pass the tournament "eye" test being a senior-dominated team that played good basketball in the final third of the season.

10) Minnesota -- With the final four being in Detroit, the more Big 10+1 teams the better.

 

[DavidPoole]

Your list of "locks" omits Southern Conference champion Chattanooga and the Southland champion (Texas-San Antonio or Stephen F. Austin). So there are really only eight spots left.
Those eight, as I see it, would be:
Maryland
Texas A&M
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
San Diego State
Saint Mary's
Dayton
(If Mississippi State beats Tennessee, the SEC gets three with Mississippi State, Tennessee and LSU and Daytona would fall out). Creighton, Auburn, Arizona and Penn State are my last four out.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

John Feinstein hates all of you.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031402032_pf.html

 

[mustangj17]

Your list of "locks" omits Southern Conference champion Chattanooga and the SWAC champion (Texas-San Antonio or Stephen F. Austin). So there are really only eight spots left.
Those eight, as I see it, would be:
Maryland
Texas A&M
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
San Diego State
Saint Mary's
Dayton
(If Mississippi State beats Tennessee, the SEC gets three with Mississippi State, Tennessee and LSU and Daytona would fall out). Creighton, Auburn, Arizona and Penn State are my last four out.

Ahhh nice catch. I knew about Chattanooga and forgot to type them.

So 8 teams left.

I'd have to omit South Carolina and Penn State.

 

[mustangj17]

John Feinstein hates all of you.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031402032_pf.html

Problem is a lot of the mediocre teams on my list that are BCS schools have major wins that Mid majors don't have.

Michigan beat Duke.
Minnesota beat Louisville and so on.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I agree. I think Feinstein comes off as someone who just wants to give a bunch of teams a trophy (or in this case a bid) just because they're little schools. He's sort of the anti-Bilas or Packer.

 

[93Devil]

What is more exciting?

A George Mason or a Davidson making the Sweet 16 or a 12-seed Arizona?

Seriously, how "Cinderella" is a Cinderella that played like a dog for four months or has a budget that is on par with a small nation in South America?

 

[JackReacher]

I agree. I think Feinstein comes off as someone who just wants to give a bunch of teams a trophy (or in this case a bid) just because they're little schools. He's sort of the anti-Bilas or Packer.

He's always gonna have the backs of the mid majors. That's his thing.

And I haven't followed the bubble stuff that closely, but can someone please explain to me how Maryland is suddenly a lock to make the tourney after two wins in the ACC tourney? I'm not saying the Terps shouldn't be in, I'm just not sure why everyone, including Feinstein, is saying they've locked up a berth and that there shouldn't even be a doubt about it.

 

[JackReacher]

What is more exciting?

A George Mason or a Davidson making the Sweet 16 or a 12-seed Arizona?

I think you know my answer to that question.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I agree. I think Feinstein comes off as someone who just wants to give a bunch of teams a trophy (or in this case a bid) just because they're little schools. He's sort of the anti-Bilas or Packer.

I would much rather see some little schools get in than any one of a dozen medicore major conference teams (PENN STATE and about six other Big Ten teams). The little teams are just as capable of an upset as the middle of the pack majors and would rather see them get a few minutes in the sun. God forbid anyone should have to suffer through another PSU-Illinois game in the tourney.

 

[KevinmH9]

I'd love to see Kentucky get in, but I doubt it's going to happen.

 

[mustangj17]

What is more exciting?

A George Mason or a Davidson making the Sweet 16 or a 12-seed Arizona?

Seriously, how "Cinderella" is a Cinderella that played like a dog for four months or has a budget that is on par with a small nation in South America?

I guess I didn't get the memo about letting teams into the playoffs because it is more exciting.

I guess that's how they should determine a championship in all sports.

I do agree, it is more exciting to watch the mid-majors win, but if they were that good, they would win their conferences. Maybe if we did away with automatic bids. Or expanded the field to 68. Four play in games for all the garbage teams. That could free up 3 more slots for mid-majors.

 

[JackReacher]

What is more exciting?

A George Mason or a Davidson making the Sweet 16 or a 12-seed Arizona?

Seriously, how "Cinderella" is a Cinderella that played like a dog for four months or has a budget that is on par with a small nation in South America?

I guess I didn't get the memo about letting teams into the playoffs because it is more exciting.

I guess that's how they should determine a championship in all sports.

I do agree, it is more exciting to watch the mid-majors win, but if they were that good, they would win their conferences. Maybe if we did away with automatic bids. Or expanded the field to 68. Four play in games for all the garbage teams. That could free up 3 more slots for mid-majors.

EVERYBODY GETS ICE CREAM!!!!!!