Wedge
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
(02-12-2018 11:30 AM)Cyniclone Wrote: Kentucky's struggling, Miami has losses to Boston College and Georgia Tech, which aren't dancing, and New Mexico State, which is the kind of team that you'd see one the 11 or 12 line. Most if not all of those teams have multiple losses to non-NCAA tournament teams. So while they're certainly going to be tough outs, if you put them against, say, New Mexico State, Middle Tennessee, WKU, Vermont, Virginia Tech and N.C. State, there's going to be upsets. There always are.
No prediction method is guaranteed, but the safest thing is to look at not just any 4-6 seed, but look at teams who struggle in their last 10 games and teams who have a high seed for the first time in a very long time. That's who to pick to go out early, and IMO that's an even bigger factor than which lower seed they're playing. Almost any 11-13 seed has a chance against a team that is playing poorly or gets shaky when the NCAA tournament pressure is on.
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02-13-2018 02:10 AM |
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BadgerMJ
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
(02-12-2018 01:02 AM)Huskypride Wrote: I love the NCAA tourney and I love to when a Cinderella type team pulls some upsets and goes on a mini run. \
What are some mid majors that could be a threat to potentially make it to the second weekend
a few that come to mind are UB, UVM and Middle Tennessee!!
Any others??
I know the traditional definition of "Cinderella" is a small school of mid-major, but I'm going to go off the reservation and include a school who doesn't fit that mold, but is a non traditional basketball power. In fact, I'd say their name and basketball are never associated with one another.
That school is Nebraska.
IF (and that's a big IF) they are able to make the tourney, I think they have a real chance to make a run.
Every time I've watched them, they look solid and play well. They have some good young talent and a few transfers that seem to be meshing together at the right time.
Enough offense, enough defense, and playing together can go a long way.
(This post was last modified: 02-13-2018 08:17 AM by BadgerMJ.)
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02-13-2018 08:13 AM |
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C2__
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
Nebraska has never won a Tournament game.
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02-13-2018 08:48 AM |
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stever20
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
depending on the draw- wouldn't want to see Houston in my pod if I'm a 2 or 3 seed.
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02-13-2018 09:19 AM |
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BadgerMJ
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
(02-13-2018 08:48 AM)_C2_ Wrote: Nebraska has never won a Tournament game.
Even more reason to put them into the Cinderella category.
Eventually all streaks come to an end, just like Northwestern last year.
If they're able to make it and win a game (or a couple), it would make for a nice story.
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02-13-2018 09:37 AM |
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The Cutter of Bish
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella canidates!!
(02-13-2018 09:37 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote: (02-13-2018 08:48 AM)_C2_ Wrote: Nebraska has never won a Tournament game.
Even more reason to put them into the Cinderella category.
Eventually all streaks come to an end, just like Northwestern last year.
If they're able to make it and win a game (or a couple), it would make for a nice story.
Something could happen for them. I have to wonder if they aren't a bit under-served because the conference is so down this year. Four teams are pretty much locks, and then there's the depleting bubble of Nebraska (still has a chance), Maryland (probably out), and Penn State (it's going to take a mighty effort, but winning any one or two of those games will propel PSU way up). It used to be there were quite a number of teams you could beat to help out your case. This year, it's really only Purdue, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Michigan. If you aren't beating more than one of them, you probably shouldn't get your hopes up for a bid.
I think Nebraska could prove to be a controversial selection if they win most of the way out and make it into the field. The best win they have in the conference is Michigan at home. There aren't return games with Sparty, Purdue, and the Buckeyes, and the losses against bubble teams like UCF and St. John's don't help. And there's not much beating Maryland can really do for you...they aren't seeing anyone but Michigan from here on out. The RPI is high, but the SOS and, especially, NC-SOS are not great.
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02-13-2018 12:19 PM |
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Huskypride
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella candidates!!
if temple gets in they have a chance to make some noise if theycan be consistent
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02-22-2018 02:58 PM |
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C2__
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella candidates!!
How about Houston? I've never seen a Houston NCAA Tournament game start-to-finish my entire life (I didn't become a Houston fan until after 1992). I'd like to see at least see at least five this year. Or six, why not? Seven if necessary.
(This post was last modified: 02-22-2018 06:34 PM by C2__.)
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02-22-2018 06:33 PM |
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Huskypride
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella candidates!!
(02-22-2018 06:33 PM)_C2_ Wrote: How about Houston? I've never seen a Houston NCAA Tournament game start-to-finish my entire life (I didn't become a Houston fan until after 1992). I'd like to see at least see at least five this year. Or six, why not? Seven if necessary.
I don't really consider Houston a Cinderella. They are high level tourney team.
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02-22-2018 06:35 PM |
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C2__
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella candidates!!
They have to make it first. After Tom Penders' teams' and disappointments, I don't take being on the bubble for granted. Even as a top 5 seed, Houston would be still be a wail of a story if it advanced past the Sweet 16.
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02-22-2018 07:47 PM |
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The Cutter of Bish
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RE: this years NCAA tourney Cinderella candidates!!
Losing at Memphis isn't that terrible. It'll be a Group 2. 5-2 vs. Group 1 is the stuff that will keep them in over others who may trip up these remaining few weeks.
Consider their case versus Rhode Island, Nevada, Gonzaga, St. Mary's, or any of these "team of the moment" types, flawed last-in types from the major conferences...Houston's got this.
I suspect, though, they won't be seeded as generously like a Rhode Island or Gonzaga, and that's done to protect the higher seed in the likely second game of the first weekend. If you're a 1 or 2-seed, you're going to be fuming seeing Gonzaga across from you. The numbers aren't strong for them this year, and WCC is never good for it, but, we know this team is good for it. Same for Rhodie...it's still the A10, even if it's a very bad A10 year. With Houston, that lack of tournament experience, on-off performance on the road...I don't see UH getting a high seed. How tough are they? Put them in the 7-10 stew where they can face the 1 or 2 the first weekend and we'll see.
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02-23-2018 04:57 AM |
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