Bracketology - January 26, 2015

[ivet]

That would be interesting and odd. Not a scare, Shaka will leave one day. We have the university and athletic leadership to make a good coaching hire, as we have done in the past decade (Capel, Anthony Grant, Shaka). Not saying we wouldn't miss a beat, but I'm fairly confident that our program wouldn't drop (our worst RPI in the last decade was at 80).

Hard to understand how someone would know what would occur 2 years from now. If Shaka wanted to follow in his former coaches footstep (yes I know he coached under Purnell), wouldn't he be better suited to following Donovan at Florida? Similar coaching styles, and he's more familiar with the SEC/ACC area down there (coached at Florida, Clemson).

Also, when Illinois offered, there apparently was talk that Shaka did not want to deal with Chicagos AAU circuit and recruiting. He would obviously need to do that if he went to DePaul. Many VCU fans have heard from other fans that they had inside information that Shaka would leave for "x" school. MD, NC State, Illinois, UCLA, my Gophers and finally Marquette ("done deal"). From what I've heard, he's never been remotely close to leaving, using other schools interests as leverage to improve the program: private jet for recruiting, higher salary for assistants etc...

I'm sure if Purnell isn't extended, DePaul would make a push for Shaka. Any program replacing a coach will obviously at least feign interest. No offense, but I doubt that Shaka is planning two years in advance to take the job. He may one day, but it seems too far away to create buzz. He certainly has ties to the area, and loves the Cubs.

Yea I totally made all that up, just starting a rumor. But hey, wouldn't it be great if Shaka went to DePaul? Well great for DePaul and the Big East but not for you guys buts OK, you guys will find another good coach. Oliver Purnell has 2 years left in his contract.

[DudeAnon]

So what gives? Xavier is 28 in RPI and a 10 seed by Lunardi. Shouldn't a 28 put us at the 7 seed?

[X-man]

So what gives? Xavier is 28 in RPI and a 10 seed by Lunardi. Shouldn't a 28 put us at the 7 seed?

Lunardi has always dissed the A10 in his bracket seeding, and continues to do so with former A10 teams. Butler, seeded 6th in his Bracketology, should be 4 based on Butler's RPI. Both 'Nova and Seton Hall are seeded consistently with their RPI's, while Providence and Georgetown are also "under-seeded". But the largest "error" is for the two former A10 teams.

[stever20]

So what gives? Xavier is 28 in RPI and a 10 seed by Lunardi. Shouldn't a 28 put us at the 7 seed?

Lunardi has always dissed the A10 in his bracket seeding, and continues to do so with former A10 teams. Butler, seeded 6th in his Bracketology, should be 4 based on Butler's RPI. Both 'Nova and Seton Hall are seeded consistently with their RPI's, while Providence and Georgetown are also "under-seeded". But the largest "error" is for the two former A10 teams.

Butler and Xavier have a lot of losses. RPI is not a hard fast thing especially with seedings.

I think Xavier is hurt as well by their road struggles. Unless they can win more road games, they are going to be underseeded.

and I would look at the Bracket Matrix-
Butler avg right now is 5.36
Xavier right now is a 9.60

So Lunardi having them at a 6 and 10- he's hardly alone.

[Westbrook#36]

Actually we don't, we use a 1-2-2 three quarter court trap often

I stand corrected on that.

VCU's half-court defense has improved tremendously since the 'Nova game (Against A-10 teams), and I think we'd beat Nova convincingly today.

Our half-court defense was also horrible against Toledo and ODU. It's not the quality of the opponents, it's VCU's execution. They've been swarming lately.

Nova went on that 16-0 run in the second half because VCU started taking and bricking bad shots (Because Nova was playing stifling D and VCU is slighty above St. John's level in disciplined offensive shot selection, not a good recipe)

Shot selection and ball movement is still much better today from watching them. It really started with the Cincinnati game.

VCU would probably compete for a top 4 place in the BE, yes, but let's not overstate the level of the A-10. That GW team you brag about crushing also got crushed by Penn State. The BE is a serious step up from the A-10.

GW also beat Wichita State.

From looking at the current Bracketology I'd love a rematch with UVA in the Sweet 16 and a rematch with 'Nova in the Elite 8. VCU has improved all around dramatically while 'Nova has stayed about the same, got crushed by a Georgetown team that just lost to Xavier, 'Nova made Georgetown look like a national title contender.

Nova hasn't got better? LOL, Ochefu has shown big time improvement, Phil Booth is contributing to the rotation now, and everyone else has found their role on this team. That wasn't the case earlier in the season, when we played VCU we were sputtering and still crushed you by 24. Nova has played one poor game this season and you have a knee jerk overreaction, good for you hanging your hopes on that. I actually hope we do see VCU in the S16 or E8, if they're anywhere as overconfident as you, we'll roll again with an easy game to the E8 or F4. Hell they don't even have to be over confident, good chance we'd roll you anyway.

[Edrick]

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... no-1-seed/

[Westbrook#36]

VCU is playing good ball right now, but they still only beat St. Louis (RPI - 207) by 2 points last week. If you don't bring your "A" game in the BE every night, you're gonna lose.

That's the biggest change from the A10 to the BE. Xavier could play poorly on some nights in the A10 and still win. That is not the case in the BE. Plus, the overall size in the BE is a lot greater than the A10. Every BE team has size, except Nova, but they are just so solid all over the court, it doesn't really matter.

Daniel Ochefu says hello.

[GumbyDamnit!]

As W36 stated ... VCU is the kind of team that Nova loves to play. I can tell you that the overly-athletic-yet-a-bit-undisciplined teams (VCU, SJU, etc.) are the ones that we just seem to match up really well against. That "havoc" gimmick gets exposed by the good teams (UVA, Nova). After Rd 1 inthe tourney these are the kinds of teams that you'll need to beat and I just don't see it happening. FWIW, our PG, over 40 minutes of "Havoc" had ZERO turnovers. Didn't UVA (who averages in the 60's) put up 75 or so against you guys? Teams like Creighton last year or Gtwn this year that have a very definitive and disciplined style, and can hit 3's in bunches, are the ones that usually give Nova fits. Certainly not teams like VCU.

VCU might be looking better to you in your eyes because they are beating up on the St. Joe's and LaSalle's of the world. Yeah we beat those guys by 20+ too, just like we did to you guys. Big deal. If VCU was in the BE I would expect that you'd be right around .500 just like SHU or DePaul. 5th/6th place seems about right from what I've seen. Maybe 10-8, 11-7 at best. VCU would make the tourney as an 8-10 seed.

[GumbyDamnit!]

VCU is playing good ball right now, but they still only beat St. Louis (RPI - 207) by 2 points last week. If you don't bring your "A" game in the BE every night, you're gonna lose.

That's the biggest change from the A10 to the BE. Xavier could play poorly on some nights in the A10 and still win. That is not the case in the BE. Plus, the overall size in the BE is a lot greater than the A10. Every BE team has size, except Nova, but they are just so solid all over the court, it doesn't really matter.

Daniel Ochefu says hello.

C,mon now, he's only 6'11"

[lquarles]

Nova hasn't got better? LOL, Ochefu has shown big time improvement, Phil Booth is contributing to the rotation now, and everyone else has found their role on this team. That wasn't the case earlier in the season, when we played VCU we were sputtering and still crushed you by 24. Nova has played one poor game this season and you have a knee jerk overreaction, good for you hanging your hopes on that. I actually hope we do see VCU in the S16 or E8, if they're anywhere as overconfident as you, we'll roll again with an easy game to the E8 or F4. Hell they don't even have to be over confident, good chance we'd roll you anyway.

Villanova relies on the 3 pointer too much, and the biggest improvement in our half-court defense is closing out on shooters. So you can try to beat us inside all you want, it won't be enough to win the game.