Mon 3/3, Xavier (10-6) at Seton Hall (5-11), 7pm FS1.

[Bill Marsh]

it's funny, in a way, after tonight, I hope Xavier loses. Think they with win today but losses in last 2 games would likely get a 10 seed. In a LOT of ways, that's a much better seed than the old dreaded 8/9 seed- which I think their cap is most likely unless they won the BET.

Unless you get in Wichita's bracket. Then I would take the 8/9 seed any day of the week. Xavier beats Wichita any day of the week and twice on Sunday, IMO - that is if Wichita doesn't become the first No. 1 to lose to a 16 before you get to them.

If a team like St. Johns wound up as the 16 in that bracket I could absolutely see a 16 over 1 upset. I could see a couple other bubble type teams upsetting them as well.

The point is that the committee takes injuries into consideration. That's the bottom line. The article confirms that.

According to the spokesman, more for seeding than for selection, but it varies with different committee members as to the degree it's given consideration for any of it.

Their job is to get the best 37 at-large teams. if they believe that a team as constituted at the time of the tournament is not one of the best 37 teams, then it's not likely that they'll take that team. If a team is on the bubble by its credentials alone, losing a key starter is likely all that it would take to push them to the wrong side of the bubble. Past examples of Martin and Noel have already been cited by another poster.

Can I predict this? Of course not. It's the committee's call and there's no rule about it. But to some degree, they will factor it into their deliberations.

[XUFan09]

At the very least, Xavier has to prove that they can win without Stainbrook. With Villanova and a first-round conference tournament game against another bubble team, that's a pretty tall task.

[HoosierPal]

At the very least, Xavier has to prove that they can win without Stainbrook. With Villanova and a first-round conference tournament game against another bubble team, that's a pretty tall task.

CBS Sports has Xavier back into the trouble zone today, noting that loosing to Villanova and then possibly a first round L in the tourney would not be good.

[stever20]

One thing Seton Hall winning has done is it's increased the likelyhood of Georgetown playing Nova in the QF.

It becomes very possible if Creighton beats Georgetown.
If Georgetown beats Nova- Georgetown finishes 7th, Nova 2nd.
If Nova beats Georgetown- and Seton Hall beats Butler- Nova 1st, Georgetown 8th

[stever20]

just looking today it's weird..
RPI Wizard
win vs Nova 34
loss vs Nova 43
RPI forecast
win 38.8
loss 47.7

bottom line a loss vs Nova, and then in the BET and Xavier is sweating bullets come a week from Sunday.

[JOPO]

Coaches aren't saying anything, but they are waiting on an MRI to confirm what most suspect, major knee injury, and he's done.

I watched the injury, saw the tests they did on the floor, which are standard for anyone with suspected knee injuries like MCL or ACL. Now, I am no expert, but I've seen ACL blowouts a couple of tines in person (I'm a firefighter/EMT) and my wife has had major knee reconstruction after an ACL blowout 7 months ago. From what I saw, Stainbrook did major damage to the knee. He failed the MCL/ACL test right away (on TV, so grain of salt people), and that's the very same test they gave my wife, and I asked lots and lots of questions about it then. I just hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.

I reacted the same way as you.

I was at the game last night and that tumble wasn't pretty. You hate to see any kid go down like that. He was in tremendous pain. I hope for the X-Men that he is OK and that it isn't as bad as it looked.

[xavierfano8]

For those wondering Stainbrook is out Thursday against Nova and day to day after that. He just strained the MCL which is great news for X fans.

[Bill Marsh]

For those wondering Stainbrook is out Thursday against Nova and day to day after that. He just strained the MCL which is great news for X fans.

Great news!

Hopefully Xavier will be at full strength for the tournament.

[XUFan09]

I hope he can at least make a worthwhile appearance (10+ minutes) in the BET. That would do a lot of good for how the Selection Committee evaluates Xavier. I don't know if he'll be at 100% though until after the season is over. Maybe if they make it to the second weekend!

[stever20]

I hope he can at least make a worthwhile appearance (10+ minutes) in the BET. That would do a lot of good for how the Selection Committee evaluates Xavier. I don't know if he'll be at 100% though until after the season is over. Maybe if they make it to the second weekend!

I think Xavier just needs 1 more win- whether he's full strength or not.