NCAA Tourney Prospects for UCONN

[dpross]

The record isn't great and there are definitely some bad losses, but there are some major factors (aside from the allure of being the defending champs) that the committee will have to strongly consider:
1. Will end up with one of the best SOS in the country;
2. A decent RPI, especially from an at-large perspective;
3. Some wins that look better now than they did then - FSU, Harvard (even with a L yesterday), ND on the road, and WVU; and
4. The absence of Coach, Boat or both for quite a few of the losses.

If we can get Coach back and build upon the 36 great minutes yesterday at the Dome, things could get interesting. I think they are in with even 3 wins down the stretch, but if yesterday is a sign and they get 4-6 and a BET win, UCONN may find itself in a favorable draw with a chance to make another run in the tourney. How far?...who knows. Let Depaul be the springboard!

 

[mauconnfan]

Just saw us at #21 RPI and SOS is #1 s of yesterday. 3-3 the rest of the way with one win in the BE tourney gets us in I believe. 4-2 rest of the way gets us in for sure from what I can see. Hall, Virginia, LBeach ST, Texas, FlaST all well below in RPI so the Huskies need to win 18-19 to get in.........just a hunch

 

[zls44]

one win in the BE tourney gets us in I believe.

Winning a Tuesday game does nothing to help. Only losing has an impact.

 

[Danzz]

Just saw us at #21 RPI and SOS is #1 s of yesterday. 3-3 the rest of the way with one win in the BE tourney gets us in I believe. 4-2 rest of the way gets us in for sure from what I can see. Hall, Virginia, LBeach ST, Texas, FlaST all well below in RPI so the Huskies need to win 18-19 to get in.........just a hunch

That is probably about right. A couple of wins in the BE tourney would cinch it.

 

[Kitaman]

Sad but timely topic. UConn national champs unsure of our destiny. But I have to admit we are on the bubble. Well, they just need to win some games.

Hate to say it but this squad has become accustomed to losing. Fix that and we should be in.

 

[UofCT]

We will go 5-1 to finish off the season. @ Nova may be tough. Definitely beating Cuse at home, no doubt in my mind.

We will then win every game the rest of the way. 4-0 in Big East Tourney. 6-0 in NCAA's. Back 2 back.

 

[bobbygt]

Sad but timely topic. UConn national champs unsure of our destiny. But I have to admit we are on the bubble. Well, they just need to win some games.

Hate to say it but this squad has become accustomed to losing. Fix that and we should be in.

Bubble talk was definitely not what I was expecting going into this year. Yet the NC last year was unexpected too. Such is the life of a uconn fan these days it seems.

I think at a minimum, they need to go 4-2 over the next 6 and then win one at msg. That would put them at 9-9 in league and 19-12 overall. With that record, we'd be sweating it out on selection Sunday, but the team might sneak in with their SOS. I think 20-12 gets them in and any record better than that.

I don't seem them getting in with 13 losses this year.

 

[Henry]

19 wins before the Big East tournament and a couple of wins during the tournament should do it. We are the defending champs and with that record deserve an opportunity. However, I'm not sure if the selection committee cares about that or would prefer to beat us down a little more by excluding us. Not to be paranoid about it but the NCAA sure seems to enjoy beating up Coach Calhoun.

 

[HuskyBballFan]

5 teams received at large bids last year with 19 wins on Selection Sunday. And the bubble is even softer this year.

You can't think of it in terms of "Uconn has to win x number of games or else." The mindset is "they have to find 34 at large teams with better resumes than ours."

 

[zls44]

Definitely beating Cuse at home, no doubt in my mind.

I agree with this, even though I have no way of explaining why.

 

[Brochacho]

5 teams received at large bids last year with 19 wins on Selection Sunday. And the bubble is even softer this year.

You can't think of it in terms of "Uconn has to win x number of games or else." The mindset is "they have to find 34 at large teams with better resumes than ours."

Thats what I have been saying to my doubter friends. As bad as UConn's chances may seem, 34 better at large teams in America certainly aren't out there.

 

[tzznandrew]

They don't have to do too much to get in. Win the Depaul, Providence, and Pitt games. Winning at Nova, coupled with those, gets them in. If they beat Marquette or Syracuse (I think they get at least one), they're likely in (provided that doesn't make them 1-5).

 

[cjd05002]

How does Jeff Hathaway play into the selection process. Do you think his presence helps or hurts us?

 

[bobbygt]

I don't trust anything or anyone involved with the ncaa.

That includes the selection committee and their decision to get uconn in.

 

[champs99and04]

I don't trust anything or anyone involved with the ncaa.

That includes the selection committee and their decision to get uconn in.

This. The only way I'll be confident on selection sunday is if they win the BET.

 

[cto44]

How does Jeff Hathaway play into the selection process. Do you think his presence helps or hurts us?

Funny, I was about to post the the same thing. Crazy dynamic. The chairman of the selection committee has just been fired by a school that may be on the bubble. Committee members have to leave the room when their own school is being considered, but is UConn still considered Jeff's school? Also, whether or not he's in the room when UConn is "officially' discussed ..... I am sure there will be much off-line talk about him and his situation re UConn. As I said, this could be a very interesting dynamic.

 

[Danzz]

My guess is

Funny, I was about to post the the same thing. Crazy dynamic. The chairman of the selection committee has just been fired by a school that may be on the bubble. Committee members have to leave the room when their own school is being considered, but is UConn still considered Jeff's school? Also, whether or not he's in the room when UConn is "officially' discussed ..... I am sure there will be much off-line talk about him and his situation re UConn. As I said, this could be a very interesting dynamic.

My guess is that he obstains from anything having to do with Uconn.

 

[sledog]

My guess is that he obstains from anything having to do with Uconn.[/quote]

 

[sledog]

Wimp - then again understandable from what HE may purceive as a screw-job. Wake up Jeffie.

I met him at an alumi thing years ago, and told him that I would not be writing checks to Uconn as long as his ass was there.

 

[cto44]

My guess is

My guess is that he obstains from anything having to do with Uconn.

I agree with that. He would not be part of the "official" discussions regarding UConn. But I wonder how many "water-cooler" type conversations he might be having when other members ask him about what happened at UConn. These guys are like a fraternity. He would not have become chairman if he was not respected and/or liked there.

 

[cto44]

Wimp - then again understandable from what HE may purceive as a screw-job. Wake up Jeffie.

I met him at an alumi thing years ago, and told him that I would not be writing checks to Uconn as long as his ass was there.

I probably know Jeff better than 99 percent of the UConn fans on the Boneyard (as Fishy knows). For some reason (with him full well knowing that I am an SU fan/supporter), we developed a friendship, and I genuinely like him. I have zero professional relationship with him (and am totally useless to him as far as his career, etc), but I got a very nice "Happy Birthday" email from him this winter --- long after he was gone from UConn. What I am saying is ...... I know the guy on a personal and social level, and I think he got screwed at UConn because he was in an untenable position in the middle of two HOF coaches who won't speak to each other. Novels have been written about lesser dramas.

 

[sledog]

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