Bracketbusters article cut to team info

The big winners were Utah State, who beat St. Mary’s on the road, and the Colonial’s potential three-bid triumvirate of VCU, Old Dominion, and George Mason. The predominant losers in the TV games were the MVC’s Wichita State, Missouri State plus the aforementioned Gaels out of the WCC. All three would be well-advised to win their conference tournaments as a result if they want to play in the NCAA Tournament.

However, there were more losers that didn’t come close to any airtime.

The CAA’s success at the hands of Wichita State, Missouri State, and Cleveland State likely confined the Missouri Valley to a one-bid league for the fourth straight season and probably did the same to Cleveland State’s at-large candidacy. George Mason, who had just come off of a huge win at VCU last Tuesday to essentially sew up the CAA regular-season title, had nothing to gain by playing a Northern Iowa team that faded from the Valley title race earlier in the month. The Patriots won, and will almost surely be in the tournament.

One of the biggest surprises of this year’s event was Valparaiso’s home win over Missouri State. Valpo put on an impressive offensive display, scoring a phenomenal 1.27 points per possession against a team that had allowed 0.99 a trip in Valley play. On Monday, with a share of the league title on the line were they to win out, the Crusaders bottled it on the road against a middling Wisconsin-Green Bay team. Did Valpo lose because it got to full of itself after the BracketBusters win? Only the great Homer Drew knows that. But the Crusaders did have to get out of the mindset of Horizon League league play they had been in so they could face the Bears, and lost 48 hours after playing the non-conference game.

Bubble teams as of Feb 17

We’re getting closer to March Madness, and the mid-major bubble picture is as murky as ever. While many conference tournaments will decide who’s dancing next month and who stays home, the question still lingers for some teams who have performed well this season, yet would be firmly on the bubble if they didn’t win their conference’s automatic bid.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some mid-major programs that are sitting at or near the top of their conferences. They all have RPIs squarely in the bubble range. Do they need to win their conference tournament to get in the Big Dance, or should they be in regardless?

Wichita State
RPI (from CollegeRPI.com): 52
Record: 22-5, (13-3 Missouri Valley)
Last 10 Games: 8-2

MUST WIN OR GET IN?

I love Missouri Valley teams, and barring complete collapse, the selection committee should let them in whether they win the conference tournament or not. Wichita State is one of those teams that will frustrate opposing coaches. They play stifling defense, crash the boards well, and have a deep bench. Furthermore, as of tonight, they are 8-0 on the road in conference play, which demands some attention. Gregg Marshall is the real deal as coach; Winthrop had never been to the Big Dance until he took the Eagles there seven of his nine years as coach. He came to Wichita in a rebuilding phase and has built another winner. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all if the Shockers won their first round game.

On a side note, the same goes for Missouri State (21-6, 13-3, RPI 46), Cuonzo Martin’s Bears deserve to play in the NCAA tournament if they don’t win the Missouri Valley’s automatic bid.

Coastal Carolina
RPI: 56
Record: 24-3 (15-1 Big South)
Last 10 Games: 9-1

MUST WIN OR GET IN?

Kudos to Cliff Ellis for what he’s done at Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers are easily the class of the conference and already have a share of the Big South regular season title. The Chants are a small but scrappy team and I really like what Desmond Holloway brings to the table. However, the Big South is typically a one-bid conference, and the Chants did not help themselves in losing to Gardner-Webb this week. If Coastal was unable to win the Big South tournament, they’d be great NIT material, but wouldn’t grab an at-large bid. They’ve got to win their conference tournament to get in.

Southern Miss
RPI: 48
Record: 18-6 (7-4 Conference USA)
Last 10 Games: 6-4

MUST WIN OR GET IN?

The Memphis game said it all; they have to win the conference tournament to get in. Had Larry Eustachy’s crew pulled off the win, they’d be in a much stronger position to state a case for gaining an at-large bid regardless of what happens in the Conference USA tournament. However, Memphis, at 19-6 (7-3 Conference USA, RPI of 32) should have the upper hand for an at-large bid, along with Mike Davis’ talented UAB squad (18-6, 8-3, 34). Give the Golden Eagles credit for what’s been a solid year, but right now, I think they have to finish very strong to get on the dance floor.

Cleveland State
RPI: 37
Record: 22-5, (11-4 Horizon)
Last 10 Games: 7-3

MUST WIN OR GET IN?

A lot of people are predicting 10-11 Big East teams get in the tournament and in that case, Cleveland State would have to win the Horizon League tournament in an all-out battle with Butler and Valparaiso. Myself, I’d put the Vikings in regardless. First off, the Horizon League is no slouch. 2010 Butler aside, Cleveland State did cruise past the first round as a 13 seed in their last appearance. Secondly, I don’t want to see any team who didn’t finish in at least the top half of their conference in the Big Dance. I don’t care that it’s the Big East, which is no doubt the beast of all basketball conferences, if you finish 10th or 11th, you shouldn’t be in. Put the Vikings in instead and let the nation take a look at Norris Cole, who might be the best player you’ve never heard of this season.

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Cleveland State

Vs WVU – Their defense was solid, as you would expect. They switched up looks and really had WVU covered well. They were small, though, especially if their big forward/center Pogue went out. He was in foul trouble a lot.. something to watch. Also could have been because of WVU’s athletic front. They didn’t match him with another big but instead a quick small forward. On offense they were okay.. meh… point guard Cole ate up WVU .. almost at will. Between Cole and Pogue, CSU can really hang with almost anyone. Its their 4..5..6..players that show a talent drop. Verse WVU they kept it close for most of the game but in the end the deep bench of WVU wore them down.