my NCAA perspective so far

[stever20]

looking at our current RPI's- there's 3 distinct groups...

teams in the tourney safely right now(4)-
Villanova 15-1 current RPI 5 RPI Forecast 27-4 7.1
Seton Hall 13-3 current RPI 12 RPI Forecast 21-9 25.6
Providence 13-4 current RPI 15 RPI Forecast 20-11 33.4
Butler 12-5 current RPI 24 RPI Forecast 21-10 34.0

teams with RPI's close to the bubble right now(3)
Georgetown 10-5 current RPI 39 RPI Forecast 17-12 44.9
Xavier 11-5 current RPI 41 RPI Forecast 21-10 21.7
St John's 10-4 current RPI 43 RPI Forecast 18-12 51.9

teams playing for the future(3)
Marquette 9-6 current RPI 116 RPI Forecast 14-16 116.9
Creighton 9-8 current RPI 136 RPI Forecast 13-18 149.9
DePaul 9-8 current RPI 173 RPI Forecast 12-19 190.7

I think we have a very real shot at 7 teams in. I think Xavier has the best shot of the 3. St John's and Georgetown you just worry record wise for one.

[TBC Alum]

Stever, is that you??

[TheBall]

I still walk on egg shells with butler. For whatever reason I think they are smoke and mirrors.

And I am not confidence about xavier dancing. Too many bad losses.

I still think 5 teams is the ceiling, and we have a much better chance at 4 than 7.

[xavier1994]

I don't care what the rpi says, if X doesn't figure out there road issues they are NIT bound

[JOPO]

I don't care what the rpi says, if X doesn't figure out there road issues they are NIT bound

The road is a very tough place in the Big East! Seton Hall knows that better than anyone this season. Thankfully my boys battled back for the win at Creighton to hopefully get the road woes monkey off their back once and for all.

[stever20]

I don't care what the rpi says, if X doesn't figure out there road issues they are NIT bound

I think one huge thing is the Cincy game is an away game.

Also to get to 21 wins- all that would take would be to beat Cincy, win all the home games, and beat Creighton and Marquette on the road. That shouldn't be much of an ask. Or if you lose to Nova at home, win 1 game away outside of Creighton, Marquette.

[stever20]

I don't care what the rpi says, if X doesn't figure out there road issues they are NIT bound

The road is a very tough place in the Big East! Seton Hall knows that better than anyone this season. Thankfully my boys battled back for the win at Creighton to hopefully get the road woes monkey off their back once and for all.

I dunno- a 1 pt win over last place team hardly qualifies as getting road woes off their back yet. Beat a top 7 team on the road is going to be the key.

[Boyee]

I think Creighton, DePaul, and Marquette all have a good chance of making the NIT. DePaul has had a very Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde season so far. They beat weak teams Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Drake, UIC, Northern Illinois, and Chicago State. Beat Stanford and lost to Lehigh, Illinois State, George Washington, Oregon State, Colorado, Ohio University, and Loyola Marymount, before conference play where they are 3-1, beating Marquette and Xavier at home and Creighton on the road, and losing to Villanova on the road.

[stever20]

I think Creighton, DePaul, and Marquette all have a good chance of making the NIT. DePaul has had a very Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde season so far. They beat weak teams Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Drake, UIC, Northern Illinois, and Chicago State. Beat Stanford and lost to Lehigh, Illinois State, George Washington, Oregon State, Colorado, Ohio University, and Loyola Marymount, before conference play where they are 3-1, beating Marquette and Xavier at home and Creighton on the road, and losing to Villanova on the road.

highly doubtful for any of them. Remember it's no longer done by popluarity- but by merit- somewhat. However the conference champions that lose in their conference tournies are guaranteed NIT bids if they don't make the NCAA. Last year there were about 15 of those. So Marquette who was defintely last year in the top 96 didn't get in the NIT as a result. Think the same fate awaits all 3 teams this year.

[JOPO]

I don't care what the rpi says, if X doesn't figure out there road issues they are NIT bound

The road is a very tough place in the Big East! Seton Hall knows that better than anyone this season. Thankfully my boys battled back for the win at Creighton to hopefully get the road woes monkey off their back once and for all.

I dunno- a 1 pt win over last place team hardly qualifies as getting road woes off their back yet. Beat a top 7 team on the road is going to be the key.

Baby steps, you have to start somewhere! If that is the only conference road win we get (God forbid!) then it doesn't matter. Hopefully it is the start to better days to come on the road for the Pirates!