Wed. Marquette @ Xavier

[MUPanther]

9:00 - Marquette @ Xavier, FS1 - Brandon Gaudin, Nick Bahe
Line: Xavier -2

[MUPanther]

FS1 Lineup
7:00 - Women's Soccer-USA vs Germany
9:00 - Marquette @ Xavier, FS1 - Brandon Gaudin, Nick Bahe
11:00 - Washington @ 3 UCLA, FS1 - Tim Brando, Jim Jackson, Steve Lavin

[Bill Marsh]

9:00 - Marquette @ Xavier, FS1 - Brandon Gaudin, Nick Bahe
Line: Xavier -2

Forget the line. This is a really interesting matchup for a whole lot of reasons. The result will tell us a lot about where these 2 programs are as we head into the postseason.

[Hall2012]

Go MU! For 3 reasons for me:

1. X is still in better shape to be able to absorb a loss here and get in
2. Drops X out of that dreaded 8-9 game and improves 2nd weekend odds
3. If my math is right, clinches a top 6 seed and 1st round bye in the BET for Seton Hall

[Bill Marsh]

Go MU! For 3 reasons for me:

1. X is still in better shape to be able to absorb a loss here and get in
2. Drops X out of that dreaded 8-9 game and improves 2nd weekend odds
3. If my math is right, clinches a top 6 seed and 1st round bye in the BET for Seton Hall

If X loses, that will be a 6 game losing streak. A loss in the BET would be 7 of their last 8. Can they get in with only a win over DePaul in their last 8 games?

[butlerguy03]

9:00 - Marquette @ Xavier, FS1 - Brandon Gaudin, Nick Bahe
Line: Xavier -2

A little off topic, but Brandon Gaudin is a Butler graduate and former radio play-by-play guy for the Bulldogs. Great guy who has really supported one of my former radio students as he pursues the same career path.

[Hall2012]

Go MU! For 3 reasons for me:

1. X is still in better shape to be able to absorb a loss here and get in
2. Drops X out of that dreaded 8-9 game and improves 2nd weekend odds
3. If my math is right, clinches a top 6 seed and 1st round bye in the BET for Seton Hall

If X loses, that will be a 6 game losing streak. A loss in the BET would be 7 of their last 8. Can they get in with only a win over DePaul in their last 8 games?

Well the committee says "last 10 games" is no longer a factor, so if that's true I would say yes based on overall resume. The only exception would be if the committee pretty much tosses out everything they did with Ed Sumner, in which case X is pretty much screwed regardless

[milksteak]

Can't decide who needs this win more.

Probably Marquette. I'm not convinced they can make the field without 20 wins. Xavier should take care of business at DePaul, and I like their chances in the Big East Tournament if they do happen to not get a bye.

[stever20]

so looking at things if things go as projected the rest of the way.... this would include a win tonight for Xaier...
1 Nova 15-3
2 Butler 13-5
3 Creighton 10-8
4 Xavier 10-8
5 Providence 9-9
6 Seton Hall 9-9
7 Marquette 9-9
8 St John's 8-10
9 Georgetown 5-13
10 DePaul 2-16

now, if Marquette beats Xavier tonight, and then they're projected to beat Creighton on Saturday(that game would be the 3rd place game for the regular season)
1 Nova 15-3
2 Butler 13-5
3 Marquette 10-8
4 Creighton 10-8
5 Providence 9-9(they beat Butler)
6 Seton Hall 9-9
7 Xavier 9-9(they got swept by Marquette)
8 St John's 8-10
9 Georgetown 5-13
10 DePaul

so loser of tonight's game looks VERY likely to be in a 1st round game next week.

[Bill Marsh]

Go MU! For 3 reasons for me:

1. X is still in better shape to be able to absorb a loss here and get in
2. Drops X out of that dreaded 8-9 game and improves 2nd weekend odds
3. If my math is right, clinches a top 6 seed and 1st round bye in the BET for Seton Hall

If X loses, that will be a 6 game losing streak. A loss in the BET would be 7 of their last 8. Can they get in with only a win over DePaul in their last 8 games?

Well the committee says "last 10 games" is no longer a factor, so if that's true I would say yes based on overall resume. The only exception would be if the committee pretty much tosses out everything they did with Ed Sumner, in which case X is pretty much screwed regardless

Exactly. Based on their body of work, Xavier deserves to be in regardless of the losses. But if the committee takes the attitude - as some have in the past - that their job is to take the 36 best teams right now so that they can have the most competitive tournament with the strongest teams, then Xavier better win some games to prove that they are still viable or they're in trouble. It's not the old "last 10 games" thing, the Sumner loss as you pointed out. The issue is whether the committee will decide - based on the record - that they're simply not the same team without him. There's no doubt that their losing streak down the stretch will hurt their seeding if they do get selected. There's simply no way to know if the committee will extend that analysis to their very selection itself. Of course X can make all of that moot by running off a mini win streak over the next 10 days.