BleedBlue Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) Bulls will need to finish strong in conference play (2-3 losses) if they want to secure an at-large bid. The Bonnies who play in the A-10 went 14-4 in conference play last season and it almost cost them the at-large bid. Not a good loss tonight. Edited January 23, 2019 by BleedBlue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeseph Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Cleveland is all that matters, again. with a bad loss like that we would only be able to lose one more game on the road and even that’s a maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueblue32 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 Everyone take a deep breath lol, we're still in fine shape, a Q2 loss isn't going to kill us... Joe Lunardi thinks this hardly affects us: https://twitter.com/ESPNLunardi/status/1087931637701271552 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dutchcountry7 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 This could help. It shows the team they aren't invincible in the MAC and actually have to show up for games. There are many better teams than NIU in the MAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikescherrer8 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 2001-2002 Kent State basketball, whom went to the Elite 8. Went 17-1 in conference play. Who beat them? Buffalo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportscliche Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 The MAC is a one-bid league. There is so much parity that a loss by the Bulls in conference was a statistical certainty. Another loss or two is highly likely, resulting in a slip out of the Top-25. Just because Buffalo beat Syracuse who went on to beat Duke says far more about the uncertainty of game outcomes than their predictability. The NCAA tournament is about P5 schools and automatic bids for the non-P5 conference tournament winners. The only way non-P5 conferences can improve their stature and secure at-large bids is to schedule the P5 teams OOC and beat them. Here's what the other MAC teams attempted this season, pre-conference: Akron lost to Clemson, Xavier, and Purdue Ball St lost to Purdue, Alabama, and VA Tech BGSU lost to St Johns CMU lost to TCU EMU lost to Duke, Rutgers, and Kansas Kent St lost to Louisville; beat Vanderbilt and Oregon St Miami-Oh lost to Butler and Xavier NIU lost to Michigan St Ohio lost to Xavier and Purdue WMU lost to Ole Miss, Cinci, and Michigan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire17 Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, sportscliche said: The MAC is a one-bid league. There is so much parity that a loss by the Bulls in conference was a statistical certainty. Another loss or two is highly likely, resulting in a slip out of the Top-25. Just because Buffalo beat Syracuse who went on to beat Duke says far more about the uncertainty of game outcomes than their predictability. The NCAA tournament is about P5 schools and automatic bids for the non-P5 conference tournament winners. The only way non-P5 conferences can improve their stature and secure at-large bids is to schedule the P5 teams OOC and beat them. Here's what the other MAC teams attempted this season, pre-conference: Akron lost to Clemson, Xavier, and Purdue Ball St lost to Purdue, Alabama, and VA Tech BGSU lost to St Johns CMU lost to TCU EMU lost to Duke, Rutgers, and Kansas Kent St lost to Louisville; beat Vanderbilt and Oregon St Miami-Oh lost to Butler and Xavier NIU lost to Michigan St Ohio lost to Xavier and Purdue WMU lost to Ole Miss, Cinci, and Michigan Well put. And Clemson, Xavier, Oregon St, Vanderbilt, and Rutgers are on the outside looking in at this point. Butler and the Johnnies appear to be on the bubble (as are Syracuse and San Francisco). If Buffalo loses one or two more before the MAC tourney, which seems probable, they will have to win it all in Cleveland. Having said that, they have the best team in the MAC and should be able to get to the dance. Edited January 23, 2019 by squire17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big 4 Hoops Blogger Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 (edited) Traditionally, the MAC is a one-bid league but that doesn't mean UB can't get an at-large bid this year. They've already racked up an impressive resume. They're still easily on the right side of the bubble discussion. Talk to me if they lose 2-3 more games, that's when Bulls fans should start worrying. They have 12 more regular season games and possibly three MAC Tournament games. If they go 12-3 in that stretch, they'll be 29-5 with multiple quality wins. They could possibly squeak into the tournament in that scenario. If they go 30-4 or better, they're a lock in my opinion. But honestly, I think they'll take care of business in Cleveland so I'm not even worried about their at-large chances right now. Edited January 24, 2019 by Big 4 Hoops Blogger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rma Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 If the MAAC can be a two bid league, granted it was 7 years ago, the MAC can be too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weareub46 Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 With only 2 losses so far we still have to be considered an at large but we’re on a super short leash. Would love to have MAC as a two bid league this year but I’d prefer we just won the tourney. If we do I just don’t think anyone else has the resume to get an at large. If we don’t, we pray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xDerekRx Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 If the Bulls won out and lost in the MAC title game or possibly in the game before dare I say, I think At large chances are better than 50/50. I think they built up some clout and people know 1 loss in the MAC would be super impressive. But we all know this comes down to conference tourney upsets. If most tournaments fall to the favorites it certainly helps. Id say worst case scenario they can lose 1 more MAC game and lose in the title game. That would put us 29-3ish give or take a game? Bowling Green looks great right now and if they keep it up and the Bulls take 2, those end up good as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBigbobby Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 (edited) All I know is that a significantly worse UB team with no WVU, Cuse, or USF wins was the last team out of the NCAA after losing to Ohio at the buzzer. That team was 23-10 and 11-7 in the MAC. This team has been ranked for 11 straight weeks and has a road win over a likely tournament team in Cuse that beat #1 DUke, a neutral court win over a possible at-large, San Fran, and handed WVU their first home opening loss in like 30+ years. They've been ranked as high as #14 twice and have been projected as a #4-#6 seed much of the year by the pundits. Provided they only lose 1 or 2 more times in the MAC but keep it close, there is almost no way they're not an at large if they slip up in the conference tournament. Their NET and KenPom are just far too strong. If they only lose 1 or 2 more games they would be going into tourney time 28-3 or 27-4. They will be playing in the NCAA tournament. Edited January 26, 2019 by UBigbobby 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedBlue Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 RIP national ranking and at-large bid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DooleyBull06 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 14 minutes ago, BleedBlue said: RIP national ranking and at-large bid. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...we control our own destiny. It’s a long season. February equates to the dog days of August if you follow baseball. Just win the MAC tourney and leave nothing to chance. 3 days in March. It’s what life has been for us always. So win that and we are in. Then if we win that I feel the committee will give us a seed from 7-10. And we will be that dangerous team no one wants to see. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xDerekRx Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 19 minutes ago, DooleyBull06 said: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...we control our own destiny. It’s a long season. February equates to the dog days of August if you follow baseball. Just win the MAC tourney and leave nothing to chance. 3 days in March. It’s what life has been for us always. So win that and we are in. Then if we win that I feel the committee will give us a seed from 7-10. And we will be that dangerous team no one wants to see. Pretty spot on. Its such a long season. It really matters most when you come together. Ideally like the Bulls to get rolling again by mid Feb. They've had this long stretch now of jumbled inconsistent play. Really it just puts everything back into perspective. I think dropping out of the rankings is a real possibility now. And the at large again, I think we lost our last possible game for that. Meaning winning out and losing MAC final might still leave a shot. Again MAC season is so long, and such a grind. You're really not allowed to take a week or two off to find your cohesiveness as a team. This team is so good naturally that even when not playing the best, they still win games and when they lose, its close. No consolation but shows where the potential lies once they get that fire back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UB85 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) 9 hours ago, BleedBlue said: RIP national ranking and at-large bid. Way way too pessimistic. They lost two very close ones on the road to teams that treated the game like a national championship game. Woebegone BG had their largest by almost 1k last night. The fact these teams still struggled mightily on a night where we had our C game at best says that we can smoke any team provided we get Harris back on track and Perkins playing much more consistently and as he is capable. If so, we will be well above any team in the MAC. While it’s certainly easy to waver and question the team’s ability to get their swag back given our recent uneven play, I suppose it is only a natural reaction. The fact of the matter is that the coaches and players have worked way too hard for them not to get it going again. I fully expect them to do just that. Can’t wait till we get BG in AA. It’ll be a much different story. As far as at large bids and national rankings they are mere distractions. You play not to get an at large bid or to be nationally ranked. You play the game, and more importantly prepare to be the best you can be each and every day and game. The boys have done that since the summer and as a result put themselves in the national spotlight and earned the right to be in a solid position for an at large bid should they not win the MAC tourney. But we’re only 2/3 of the way through the season. So it’s one game at a time rankings, at large bids and all the other fluff be damned. These guys will get the job done. Go Bulls!!! Edited February 2, 2019 by UB85 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trueblue32 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 15 hours ago, BleedBlue said: RIP national ranking and at-large bid. Joe Lunardi has us as the top 7 seed still lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire17 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 hour ago, trueblue32 said: Joe Lunardi has us as the top 7 seed still lmao Lunardi had the Bulls as a 6 seed in the East (Duke #1) yesterday morning. Where did you see his update? Unusual for him to establish back to back Bracketologies this early in the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DooleyBull06 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 4 minutes ago, squire17 said: Lunardi had the Bulls as a 6 seed in the East (Duke #1) yesterday morning. Where did you see his update? Unusual for him to establish back to back Bracketologies this early in the season. He puts out his bracketology on Tuesday and Friday, but he tweeted that we are 25th in his Saturday seed list. Which equates to a 7 seed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xDerekRx Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 10 hours ago, UB85 said: Way way too pessimistic. They lost two very close ones on the road to teams that treated the game like a national championship game. Woebegone BG had their largest by almost 1k last night. The fact these teams still struggled mightily on a night where we had our C game at best says that we can smoke any team provided we get Harris back on track and Perkins playing much more consistently and as he is capable. If so, we will be well above any team in the MAC. While it’s certainly easy to waver and question the team’s ability to get their swag back given our recent uneven play, I suppose it is only a natural reaction. The fact of the matter is that the coaches and players have worked way too hard for them not to get it going again. I fully expect them to do just that. Can’t wait till we get BG in AA. It’ll be a much different story. As far as at large bids and national rankings they are mere distractions. You play not to get an at large bid or to be nationally ranked. You play the game, and more importantly prepare to be the best you can be each and every day and game. The boys have done that since the summer and as a result put themselves in the national spotlight and earned the right to be in a solid position for an at large bid should they not win the MAC tourney. But we’re only 2/3 of the way through the season. So it’s one game at a time rankings, at large bids and all the other fluff be damned. These guys will get the job done. Go Bulls!!! Pretty spot on here as well. Too much world is ending posts around here. I get it. I'm just as used to it at the sabres message boards. And expectations create even more negativity and knee jerk reactions. But the Bulls are good. The world is not over. Being unranked, so be it. It was a great ride and I still can't believe we were ever ranked this long. The two losses are exactly as you said. And they should be looked at that way. Only thing that matters is they slowly find that all around game they had before. I think they will. Lots of games left. Ub85 some people are going to choose the omg the effort defense turnovers hustle and Harris all suck. Seasons over. Hello nit. No way we win in March... Yeah i get. Ive watched every minute of every game. I see what they look like. But why am I writing a post mortem half way through the Mac season ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UB85 Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 Frankly D I think there’s a 50-50 chance they’re still ranked. Haven’t dropped much in either KenPom or NET. Of course besides the point. Just focus on getting it together. A lot of fun in store in the future. Go Bulls!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigo230 Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 BG is a pretty solid team. It’s not like the Bulls lost to a lousy MAC program. It was a close road game in a rough environment. The NIU loss was more concerning. But I agree with some, they may have one more tough loss to give before its wave goodbye to the Top25 for good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xDerekRx Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 5 hours ago, UB85 said: Frankly D I think there’s a 50-50 chance they’re still ranked. Haven’t dropped much in either KenPom or NET. Of course besides the point. Just focus on getting it together. A lot of fun in store in the future. Go Bulls!! If they end up #25 somehow on Monday, no I wouldnt be totally shocked. But 50-50 is probably what that'll be. Id agree with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBigbobby Posted February 4, 2019 Share Posted February 4, 2019 I understand the feeling that we're a mid-major, so being skeptical of getting an at-large if they stumble in the tournament, but even now after the BG and NIU losses they have a slight chance of staying in the top 25. They've been ranked in the top 25 for 12 straight weeks rising to #14 twice. They are currently #23 in the NET. There is absolutely NO chance this team doesn't get an at large. Even if they lose one more game, they'll still be fine. The committee is not going to leave out a team ranked in the top 25 for over half the season and top 25 in NET out of the tournament. It's just not going to happen, no matter which conference they come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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