[NU Sports] Sad

Thu Feb 16 08:40:28 CST 2012

The tournament was actually expanded last year (from 65 teams to 68) by
increasing the number of at-large bids from 34 to 37 (thereby now having 4
"play-in" games that they now call "first round" or "first four" games).
Two of those games (4 teams) are usually automatic bid teams from low tier
conferences playing for a 16 seed, and the other two are usually the last
at-large teams playing for 12 seeds (or thereabouts, I think they can
adjust these).

NU is helped by the generally lower quality of teams on "the bubble" this
year and the fact that the Big Ten is solidly the top conference in the
country.  In any case, NU needs to win at least 3 more regular season games
plus likely one conference tourney game to stay in the conversation.

The one thing that NU has done for itself is avoid any really "bad" loss
(loss to low RPI team) and their worst losses (which havent been that bad)
have come on the road.  BUT they must take care of business as they still
have PSU and Iowa on the road: two teams they've already beaten but who are
near the bottom of the conference and are definite must wins.

Jonathan

--
Jonathan Hodges
Contributor, HailToPurple
Web: http://www.hailtopurple.com/jhodges/
Twitter: @hailtopurple
Email: j-hodges at alumni.northwestern.edu

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 9:23 AM, <hakirsch at aol.com> wrote:

> I just want to remind the list that the field has expanded a bit this year.
>
> Part of the fate  may rest on whether any sub par teams from other
> conferences win their tournament and therefore take an extra spot (and
> effectively eliminate one at large spot by forcing the committee to take
> the regular season conference winner as well)
>
>  Beyond that ,for better or worse,the bar is set slightly lower with
> additional teams this year
>
> Harry
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: neonrye at aol.com
> Sender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:15:46
> To: Willie Weinbaum<Willie.Weinbaum at espn.com>; <
> nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com>
> Reply-To: neonrye at aol.com
> Cc: 'nwu-sports at tssi.com'<nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Sad
>
> I think Willie is right on.  Carmody seems to be lobbying the. Selection
> Committee--very prematurely.  While they may have been sympathetic and
> disposed to lean over backwards to extend a slot to the "Cinderella" 'Cats
> for a first Dance at the March Mall, now they may lean the other way if
> they resent the pressure.
>
> Paul Levinson
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Weinbaum, Willie" <Willie.Weinbaum at espn.com>
> Sender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
> Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:02:07
> Cc: 'nwu-sports at tssi.com'<nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Sad
>
> I think you guys made very good points, but that Carmody would be
> best-served by avoiding saying what it might take to get to the NCAA's.  I
> just don't see how putting a 3-2 finish/a sub-.500 conference record out
> there as something of a "goal" is at all constructive.  Would seem to be
> much more prudent and upbeat to say, "We've lost some very tough ones
> despite playing well a lot of the time.  We have five games left and we
> want to be at our best in all of those and in the conference tournament,
> finish strong in every game and end with a really good run to get into the
> tournament.  If we can consistently play at our best, we think we can make
> it."
>
> Why dangle a 3-2 conclusion and an 8-10 slate, even if there is the
> possibility it'll be good enough (perhaps boosted by a win or two in the
> conf. tourney)?  Teams that have lost two straight winnable games have to
> focus on the next step, not on anything down the road.
>
> This is an uphill climb and few think the Cats will pull it off.  I'd
> suggest that BC preach a version of the cliched, but apt "take it one game
> at a time and everything will fall into place." :)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Beamsley, Jeff [mailto:Jeff.Beamsley at covisint.com]
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 07:19 AM
> To: Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net>
> Cc: nwu-sports at tssi.com <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Sad
>
> Definitely disappointing game.
>
> Reminded me of early Jordan/bulls games. Jordan goes off for 45 and at the
> end of the game nobody else is willing to take a shot.
>
> Carmody said in the trib today that he thought 8 conference wins would get
> them in the conversation. Still a chance to do that.
>
> Jeff
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 15, 2012, at 10:25 PM, "Dennis W. Brandt" <tbng at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Shurna was outstanding and Marcotullio played exceptionally well, but
> they got hammered on the boards, especially in the first half, and were
> running on fumes at the end.  Same ol', same ol'.  Forget the big dance.
>  It's the NIT again - if they don't go completely into the tank after
> tonight.
> > _______________________________________________
> > nwu-sports site list
> > nwu-sports at tssi.com
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> >
>
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