Can we all stop looking into our crystal balls for 5 minutes

[GumbyDamnit!]

This board is being absolutely inundated with predictions about how many teams we're going to get in...in MARCH, and which teams we are going to invite when expanding. We have yet to play one conference game against one another and yet we're already prepared to say who is going to be representing us in the tourney, and already waiting to see which teams will be next to join? I mean, really? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us play a handful of games before we've already figured out which of our teams are in and which are out, and which team of every other conference is in or out. It's December, not March. There is SOOOOOOOO much basketball left to play in our conference and in every other conference.

The bottom line is that EVERY team, and I mean EVERY, still has a shot at the tourney. Nova has had a couple nice wins and I fully expect them to do well in conference, but what if they end up 9-9 and in 5-6th? I don't think it'll happen but it could. Would there be a chance that there would be 4 more deserving teams ahead of them? Probably. The point is that, even though our OOC has not turned out exactly as we all would have hoped, we are only 1/4 of the way through the season. Teams can still get it together and make their run. Can we take just a couple hours/days/weeks? away from laying out who the 68 teams we be come March and allow this first inaugural season kick off and enjoy what will most likely be an awesome year. Way too many threads worrying about KPI's and SOS and tourney bids in Dec., yada, yada, yada.

OK, rant over. Commence discussion on the merits of Siena vs. Richmond, and how the 5th place team from the American AC might be better than our 5th place team, but how our 7th pace team is so much better than the ACC's 7th.

[billyjack]

This board is being absolutely inundated with predictions about how many teams we're going to get in...in MARCH, and which teams we are going to invite when expanding. We have yet to play one conference game against one another and yet we're already prepared to say who is going to be representing us in the tourney, and already waiting to see which teams will be next to join? I mean, really? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us play a handful of games before we've already figured out which of our teams are in and which are out, and which team of every other conference is in or out. It's December, not March. There is SOOOOOOOO much basketball left to play in our conference and in every other conference.

The bottom line is that EVERY team, and I mean EVERY, still has a shot at the tourney. Nova has had a couple nice wins and I fully expect them to do well in conference, but what if they end up 9-9 and in 5-6th? I don't think it'll happen but it could. Would there be a chance that there would be 4 more deserving teams ahead of them? Probably. The point is that, even though our OOC has not turned out exactly as we all would have hoped, we are only 1/4 of the way through the season. Teams can still get it together and make their run. Can we take just a couple hours/days/weeks? away from laying out who the 68 teams we be come March and allow this first inaugural season kick off and enjoy what will most likely be an awesome year. Way too many threads worrying about KPI's and SOS and tourney bids in Dec., yada, yada, yada.

OK, rant over. Commence discussion on the merits of Siena vs. Richmond, and how the 5th place team from the American AC might be better than our 5th place team, but how our 7th pace team is so much better than the ACC's 7th.

Lol, sorry man, I'm one of the guilty parties...
I agree with you, everything's way too early and I just want to enjoy the games from now til March...

[Bill Marsh]

This board is being absolutely inundated with predictions about how many teams we're going to get in...in MARCH, and which teams we are going to invite when expanding. We have yet to play one conference game against one another and yet we're already prepared to say who is going to be representing us in the tourney, and already waiting to see which teams will be next to join? I mean, really? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us play a handful of games before we've already figured out which of our teams are in and which are out, and which team of every other conference is in or out. It's December, not March. There is SOOOOOOOO much basketball left to play in our conference and in every other conference.

The bottom line is that EVERY team, and I mean EVERY, still has a shot at the tourney. Nova has had a couple nice wins and I fully expect them to do well in conference, but what if they end up 9-9 and in 5-6th? I don't think it'll happen but it could. Would there be a chance that there would be 4 more deserving teams ahead of them? Probably. The point is that, even though our OOC has not turned out exactly as we all would have hoped, we are only 1/4 of the way through the season. Teams can still get it together and make their run. Can we take just a couple hours/days/weeks? away from laying out who the 68 teams we be come March and allow this first inaugural season kick off and enjoy what will most likely be an awesome year. Way too many threads worrying about KPI's and SOS and tourney bids in Dec., yada, yada, yada.

OK, rant over. Commence discussion on the merits of Siena vs. Richmond, and how the 5th place team from the American AC might be better than our 5th place team, but how our 7th pace team is so much better than the ACC's 7th.

Well said. You're absolutely right.

[TheHall]

This board is being absolutely inundated with predictions about how many teams we're going to get in...in MARCH, and which teams we are going to invite when expanding. We have yet to play one conference game against one another and yet we're already prepared to say who is going to be representing us in the tourney, and already waiting to see which teams will be next to join? I mean, really? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let us play a handful of games before we've already figured out which of our teams are in and which are out, and which team of every other conference is in or out. It's December, not March. There is SOOOOOOOO much basketball left to play in our conference and in every other conference.

The bottom line is that EVERY team, and I mean EVERY, still has a shot at the tourney. Nova has had a couple nice wins and I fully expect them to do well in conference, but what if they end up 9-9 and in 5-6th? I don't think it'll happen but it could. Would there be a chance that there would be 4 more deserving teams ahead of them? Probably. The point is that, even though our OOC has not turned out exactly as we all would have hoped, we are only 1/4 of the way through the season. Teams can still get it together and make their run. Can we take just a couple hours/days/weeks? away from laying out who the 68 teams we be come March and allow this first inaugural season kick off and enjoy what will most likely be an awesome year. Way too many threads worrying about KPI's and SOS and tourney bids in Dec., yada, yada, yada.

OK, rant over. Commence discussion on the merits of Siena vs. Richmond, and how the 5th place team from the American AC might be better than our 5th place team, but how our 7th pace team is so much better than the ACC's 7th.

Revenge of the bball purist lol. This post alone is reason enough for me to be glad that I never hit that ignore button on you DamnIt...extremely well said.

[stever20]

The thing is, a lot of times, November and December are the deciding factors. We may not know which team it is, but like let's say GW turns out to be a 20 win team and makes the tournament. Marquette beating them could be the difference in getting in or not getting in. Or Vandy does a lot better than projected. That makes a difference for Butler and Providence. everything that we're seeing indicates that we're going to have a lot of bubble teams. Been that way since the start of the season. Even the numbers I posted- for most teams just 1-2 more wins and it changes the RPI considerably. Like Butler- 1 more win and their RPI goes from a projected 69 up to a projected 57. If you are at 57, you have a really good chance to make the tourney(especially with even 1 win in the BET). Every game matters. I think folks are discounting as a whole the impact of the conference OOC schedule in determining how many bids you get as a conference. These next 3 weeks have more to do in a lot of ways what our maximum potential is for tourney bids than anything we do in Jan/Feb.

[Bill Marsh]

The thing is, a lot of times, November and December are the deciding factors. We may not know which team it is, but like let's say GW turns out to be a 20 win team and makes the tournament. Marquette beating them could be the difference in getting in or not getting in. Or Vandy does a lot better than projected. That makes a difference for Butler and Providence. everything that we're seeing indicates that we're going to have a lot of bubble teams. Been that way since the start of the season. Even the numbers I posted- for most teams just 1-2 more wins and it changes the RPI considerably. Like Butler- 1 more win and their RPI goes from a projected 69 up to a projected 57. If you are at 57, you have a really good chance to make the tourney(especially with even 1 win in the BET). Every game matters. I think folks are discounting as a whole the impact of the conference OOC schedule in determining how many bids you get as a conference. These next 3 weeks have more to do in a lot of ways what our maximum potential is for tourney bids than anything we do in Jan/Feb.

Couldn't agree with you more, steve, when you say that every game matters. Every game.

You've been busy creating a lot of worst case scenarios. But that's all they are is scenarios. You're assuming that the middle of the conference will go 9-9, 10-8, 8-10. But there 's no way of knowing that. It could just as easily look like this in conference:

1. 16-2
2. 14-4
3. 14-4
4. 13-5
5. 11-7
6. 10-8
7. 6-12
8. 3-15
9. 2-16
10. 1-17

Tack on your OOC and your W-l records will look a lot different than the numbers you're throwing out. Then add on Big East tournament wins and you're pushing more teams into the 20 win column. Suppose, for example, that the 6th place 10-8 teams goes to the BE tourney finals or even wins it. Then suppose that the 11-7 team is right in the finals with them. That 2-3 more wins apiece. Stranger things have happened. There's simply no way to predict this thing at this time.

[TheHall]

The thing is, a lot of times, November and December are the deciding factors. We may not know which team it is, but like let's say GW turns out to be a 20 win team and makes the tournament. Marquette beating them could be the difference in getting in or not getting in. Or Vandy does a lot better than projected. That makes a difference for Butler and Providence. everything that we're seeing indicates that we're going to have a lot of bubble teams. Been that way since the start of the season. Even the numbers I posted- for most teams just 1-2 more wins and it changes the RPI considerably. Like Butler- 1 more win and their RPI goes from a projected 69 up to a projected 57. If you are at 57, you have a really good chance to make the tourney(especially with even 1 win in the BET). Every game matters. I think folks are discounting as a whole the impact of the conference OOC schedule in determining how many bids you get as a conference. These next 3 weeks have more to do in a lot of ways what our maximum potential is for tourney bids than anything we do in Jan/Feb.

The heck with the next 3 weeks you've been talking this way since the exhibition games. So no need to try to elaborate/pontificate, you've already made it clear that tracking stats is more enjoyable for you than the games themselves. Remember you called for the permanent benching Joshua Smith by game 4, and that was after a game you didn't even watch. Some of us want to smell the roses during this inaugural season, not just talk about our teams like stock futures all season.

[stever20]

Just want to know Bill- Do you really believe in your mind at all that the 8-10 teams won't win a single game against top 7 teams? Or #7 won't win a single game against top 6 teams? Both of those statements would be necessary to accomidate what you have posted. So who of St John's, Providence, Marquette, Butler, Xavier is in 8th and 0-14 vs top 7 teams? Or who of those is #7 and 0-12 vs top 6 teams? That's just not realistic- not with this group of teams that we have.

[BillikensWin]

Who's selling the crystal balls? I can't seem to find one in stock.

[stever20]

The thing is, a lot of times, November and December are the deciding factors. We may not know which team it is, but like let's say GW turns out to be a 20 win team and makes the tournament. Marquette beating them could be the difference in getting in or not getting in. Or Vandy does a lot better than projected. That makes a difference for Butler and Providence. everything that we're seeing indicates that we're going to have a lot of bubble teams. Been that way since the start of the season. Even the numbers I posted- for most teams just 1-2 more wins and it changes the RPI considerably. Like Butler- 1 more win and their RPI goes from a projected 69 up to a projected 57. If you are at 57, you have a really good chance to make the tourney(especially with even 1 win in the BET). Every game matters. I think folks are discounting as a whole the impact of the conference OOC schedule in determining how many bids you get as a conference. These next 3 weeks have more to do in a lot of ways what our maximum potential is for tourney bids than anything we do in Jan/Feb.

The heck with the next 3 weeks you've been talking this way since the exhibition games. So no need to try to elaborate/pontificate, you've already made it clear that tracking stats is more enjoyable for you than the games themselves. Remember you called for the permanent benching Joshua Smith by game 4, and that was after a game you didn't even watch. Some of us want to smell the roses during this inaugural season, not just talk about our teams like stock futures all season.

And you act like OOC play is pretty much meaningless.. OOC means a lot now in the tournament- way more than it used to. For one- while before teams would be playing 27-28 games, teams now play 31 games. So instead of like 10-11 OOC games, you get 12-13.

All I said for Smith was that the Hoyas were focusing way too much on him- that they were playing better when he was out of the game. You look at the numbers and he's one of the worst defensive players on the team.