Manhattan takes out Iona

[Bill Marsh]

Manhattan became the first of the bid thieves, beating Iona to win the MAAC, aka the Little East. Does Iona, a team that has been top 50 RPI, get an at-large bid?

I say, no.

[RDinNY]

Lunardi agrees with you.

[Jet915]

No way. A lot of teams are closer to the bubble then Xavier so it doesn't really matter n terms of Big East imo.

[stever20]

I say no way.. 0-3 vs RPI top 100 and 53 RPI right now. Oh and 5 sub 100 losses. Nothing about their profile screams tourney team at all.

[billyjack]

Right, i don't see Iona stealing Xavier's spot, but i wouldn't mind them blocking Pitt or Miami (Fla).

Actually, Iona has a good team and is fun to watch, but it's amazing that their RPI is 53 because they've really beaten no one. Top win is vs 125 Cleveland State. They beat 126 Wake. But a really weak schedule. Manhattan will be a difficult game for any NCAA opponent.

Speaking of the "Little East", that's a real conference in Division-3. Home to the Rhode Island College Anchormen.

Also, a side note in New England Div-1 hoops... Holy Cross canned their head coach Milan Brown over the weekend. A rumor on their message board mentioned that Fran Fraschilla may be interested. The Cross is my darkhorse BE expansion candidate for the year 2025... again, i selfishly want a nearby conference road game...! By the way, they have a very entertaining message board at Crossports...

On another note in New England, the CAA's only team up here, Northeastern, earned their first NCAA bid since 91 by beating William and Mary (one of 5 original D1 teams to have never made an Ncaa tourney). Northeastern is coached by Bill Coen, who has had a string of solid years at NU. Coen used to be an assistant coach under Al Skinner at BC, along with Ed Cooley and Tim O'Shea (who has done a good job at Bryant).

Finally, Green Bay faces Valpo tomorrow in the Horizon semi's. Keep an eye on the coaches, because each could be a candidate for the DePaul job, provided that Purnell is asked to leave. Brian Wardle has Green Bay at 24-7, and they play defense. Bryce Drew (less likely candidate) has Valpo at 27-5. Might want to check out their teams and see if either would look good for the Blue Demons.

[stever20]

Right, i don't see Iona stealing Xavier's spot, but i wouldn't mind them blocking Pitt or Miami (Fla).

Actually, Iona has a good team and is fun to watch, but it's amazing that their RPI is 53 because they've really beaten no one. Top win is vs 125 Cleveland State. They beat 126 Wake. But a really weak schedule. Manhattan will be a difficult game for any NCAA opponent.

Speaking of the "Little East", that's a real conference in Division-3. Home to the Rhode Island College Anchormen.

Also, a side note in New England Div-1 hoops... Holy Cross canned their head coach Milan Brown over the weekend. A rumor on their message board mentioned that Fran Fraschilla may be interested. The Cross is my darkhorse BE expansion candidate for the year 2025... again, i selfishly want a nearby conference road game...! By the way, they have a very entertaining message board at Crossports...

On another note in New England, the CAA's only team up here, Northeastern, earned their first NCAA bid since 91 by beating William and Mary (one of 5 original D1 teams to have never made an Ncaa tourney). Northeastern is coached by Bill Coen, who has had a string of solid years at NU. Coen used to be an assistant coach under Al Skinner at BC, along with Ed Cooley and Tim O'Shea (who has done a good job at Bryant).

Finally, Green Bay faces Valpo tomorrow in the Horizon semi's. Keep an eye on the coaches, because each could be a candidate for the DePaul job, provided that Purnell is asked to leave. Brian Wardle has Green Bay at 24-7, and they play defense. Bryce Drew (less likely candidate) has Valpo at 27-5. Might want to check out their teams and see if either would look good for the Blue Demons.

Pitt I don't think has a chance unless they beat NC State and then Duke in the QF. Anything less and they're NIT. Miami might have to beat Notre Dame to get in.

The Green Bay/Valpo game is the title game- not the semi's....

[Bill Marsh]

Right, i don't see Iona stealing Xavier's spot, but i wouldn't mind them blocking Pitt or Miami (Fla).

Actually, Iona has a good team and is fun to watch, but it's amazing that their RPI is 53 because they've really beaten no one. Top win is vs 125 Cleveland State. They beat 126 Wake. But a really weak schedule. Manhattan will be a difficult game for any NCAA opponent.

Speaking of the "Little East", that's a real conference in Division-3. Home to the Rhode Island College Anchormen.

Also, a side note in New England Div-1 hoops... Holy Cross canned their head coach Milan Brown over the weekend. A rumor on their message board mentioned that Fran Fraschilla may be interested. The Cross is my darkhorse BE expansion candidate for the year 2025... again, i selfishly want a nearby conference road game...! By the way, they have a very entertaining message board at Crossports...

On another note in New England, the CAA's only team up here, Northeastern, earned their first NCAA bid since 91 by beating William and Mary (one of 5 original D1 teams to have never made an Ncaa tourney). Northeastern is coached by Bill Coen, who has had a string of solid years at NU. Coen used to be an assistant coach under Al Skinner at BC, along with Ed Cooley and Tim O'Shea (who has done a good job at Bryant).

Finally, Green Bay faces Valpo tomorrow in the Horizon semi's. Keep an eye on the coaches, because each could be a candidate for the DePaul job, provided that Purnell is asked to leave. Brian Wardle has Green Bay at 24-7, and they play defense. Bryce Drew (less likely candidate) has Valpo at 27-5. Might want to check out their teams and see if either would look good for the Blue Demons.

Actually Iona is Exhibit I for why the RPI is an awful way to measure the performance of basketball teams. Most Predictive Power Ratings don't even have them in the top 100:

Sagarin - 104
BPI (ESPN) - 101
Team Rnkings - 81

Today Holy Cross seems far fetched, Billy Jack, but the funny thing is that they were on the original list of Big East schools as conceived by Gavitt and the others. They turned down the offer. They were one of the top teams in New England back then, former national champs, and they had the Worcester Centrum going for them.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Anybody else find any information on DePaul hosting Eli Cain on Saturday at Marquette? I thought it was odd that A.) a school would host a recruit at a rival's home game and B.) DePaul is locked in a recruiting battle for Cain with Iona.

If Purnell battling for recruits with Iona doesn't scare anybody at DePaul, I honestly don't know what will.

[stever20]

Anybody else find any information on DePaul hosting Eli Cain on Saturday at Marquette? I thought it was odd that A.) a school would host a recruit at a rival's home game and B.) DePaul is locked in a recruiting battle for Cain with Iona.

If Purnell battling for recruits with Iona doesn't scare anybody at DePaul, I honestly don't know what will.

just looking quickly- isn't Providence involved as well?

[Edrick]

Xavier isn't really a bubble team, assuming they dont just completely embarrass themselves on Thursday, they are a lock. There are just way too many teams below them on the fringe for it to realistically matter