Profile 3/3 Version

[BFieldHusky]

Selection Sunday is now 13 days away!

20-9. 12-6 in the BE. Home: 12-2/ Away: 7-4/ Neutral: 1-3

Our metrics as of this morning:

NET: 35
KenPom: 36
ESPN BPI: 20

Quad 1: 4-5
Quad 2: 6-3
Quad 3: 5-1
Quad 4: 5-0

Notable Wins (NET rankings)

Baylor (H) 32
Texas (A) 46
Gonzaga (N) 8
Marquette (A) 22
Creighton (A) 39

Notable Losses:

Colorado (N) 100
Dayton (N) 69
Seton Hall (A) 201

Bracketology:

Jerry Palm: 9 (3/2)
Joe Lunardi: 9 (2/28)
Mike Decourcy 9 (3/2) (34 on his S curve; 2nd 9th seed)

Commentary: UConn is still on the 8/9 line as they head into the final two games of the regular season. The positives are the 4 Quad 1 wins, with all 4 of those of those wins coming away from home. The negatives are the last two losses in Maui, and the loss to Seton Hall. This team is in the tournament now, and one more win should not only get them in, but keep them out of Dayton.

Last week was a case of wins not helping us a ton, but losses would have really hurt. As for this week: a home win against Marquette helps, especially for seeding in the Big East Tournament. Can't afford to lose to Seton Hall a 2nd time.

Winning our final two games this week would get us the 3 seed in the Big East tournament, which I think is our better option. We would most likely play a desperate Villanova team in the quaterfinals, but with an additional day of rest. Xavier/Vilanova are both desperate, so its really pick your poison. I like having an extra day of rest. A win there most likely sets up an essential home game against Creighton in the semifinals.

I think if UConn can get to the BE finals, and win their last 2 regular season games, they can get to the 7 line, maybe the 6. Which is a HUGE difference in the quality of opponent they could face in the early rounds. But as last week showed, moving the needle multiple seed lines is challenging this time of year.

 

[bendm]

Agreed. Only hope of going from a 9 to a 7 is to win the next 4, ie not lose until the BET final

 

[Matt1010]

FWIW on Bracket Matrix 28 entries are updated as of 3/2. We are a 8 in 14 of them and a 9 in the other 14. Overall sitting at the last 8 seed.

 

[UCFan1513]

Hate that. A 7 would be really ideal. Would rather be a 10 than an 8/9. Seton Hall may end up knocking us down a line in the end

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

Hate that. A 7 would be really ideal. Would rather be a 10 than an 8/9. Seton Hall may end up knocking us down a line in the end

Maybe, but I’d love to pull Duke in the second (or technically third) round. The only 1 seed that would suck to be in a region with is Auburn. The others aren’t so scary (well maybe Duke, but I still really want that game).

 

[JB75]

I think if we win our next two regular season games and one big east game we are definitely off the 8/9 line. We impress against Marquette and roll seton hall I think we are a 7 seed going into Monday morning. We get to the final and lose a close one to St. John’s, You could make a case for six seed. We win it- possibly weakest 5. As everyone said, that seton hall loss was a killer. Probably the difference between a 5/6 seed or an 8/9. Hope we smash them by 40 Saturday. Another very likely scenario we lose to Marquette tomorrow night - beat seton hall Saturday and Lose in the quarters- I think we’re solidified as a 10 seed- Which wouldn’t be the worst at least we avoid a one seed in the second round. Roll the dice with this team. Who knows. Tmrw night will tell us a lot.

 

[Ewekon]

7 avoids the 1 in the first round. A big plus should Huskies get 7. IMHO, If St John's runs the table they have to be the 4th one or 1st two. Conversely, we run the table for back 2 back BE titles and 6 may be ours to grab.

 

[RuffRuff]

FWIW on Bracket Matrix 28 entries are updated as of 3/2. We are a 8 in 14 of them and a 9 in the other 14. Overall sitting at the last 8 seed.

Even the composite of BM isn’t gospel but if at all accurate just have to keep winning and pull for these other teams on the 7-8 line to lose down the stretch. Within reach and I’d think we creep awfully close if we win both this week. Give us a 7 and line us up with a B10 team.

The Bracket Project's Bracket Matrix - 2025

 

[UCLJ0211]

Is there a world where we are on the 8/9 line but not in the East region?

 

[auror]

Is there a world where we are on the 8/9 line but not in the East region?

Sure that's possible.

 

[Tenspro2002]

The 8/9 line is a death sentence. We've been there 3 times, and we've been:

• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed
• blown out in the 8/9 game
• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed

We really need to win 3-4 more games to make a case for a #7.

 

[BFieldHusky]

The 8/9 line is a death sentence. We've been there 3 times, and we've been:

• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed
• blown out in the 8/9 game
• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed

We really need to win 3-4 more games to make a case for a #7.

Agreed. Its a terrible game. Coin flip game to start the tournament, and your reward is one of the best teams in the tournament on a short prep, most likely in their backyard.

 

[Connecticut13]

The 8/9 line is a death sentence. We've been there 3 times, and we've been:

• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed
• blown out in the 8/9 game
• blown out in the 2nd round by the #1 seed

We really need to win 3-4 more games to make a case for a #7.

So, what you're saying is, we're overdue for a nice run as an 8 or 9 seed.

 

[80shusky]

Is there a world where we are on the 8/9 line but not in the East region?

Yep, maybe they'll ship us out west. That has worked out before.

 

[alphasigko]

Our guys need to catch Lightning-in-a-Bottle starting tomorrow evening, or an 8 or 9 seed is in their future.

 

[CTBasketball]

We won’t get higher than 7, so pray we either stumble or get hot.

 

[AntG168]

We won’t get higher than 7, so pray we either stumble or get hot.

I’m not necessarily afraid of 8/9 depending on who the 1 is. Outside of Auburn and Duke let’s play ball. And even with Duke it’d be fun to knock them off

 

[SubbaBub]

Would like to have a winning Quad 1 record and obviously no more bad losses. After than let it rip and let the mojo take over.

 

[jake14mw]

Agreed. If we could get four wins in a row, a 7 seed would be great. That's certainly not likely given how this season has gone though. I know we're giddy over 2 wins in a row but...

 

[CTBasketball]

I’m not necessarily afraid of 8/9 depending on who the 1 is. Outside of Auburn and Duke let’s play ball. And even with Duke it’d be fun to knock them off

Yep agree. At the same time I don’t think the committee would shaft the 1’s like that unless we’re out West.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Agreed. If we could get four wins in a row, a 7 seed would be great. That's certainly not likely given how this season has gone though. I know we're giddy over 2 wins in a row but...

What percentage of posters feel obligated to pump the brakes, be realistic, cover their ass in case things aren't wholly positive, hedge their enthusiasms, quickly take note of prior faults or flaws in each player, etc?

Why are these equivocations such a point of emphasis within so many threads, even ones with titles that invite favorite memories and appreciations of specific players, and then degenerate into pointed criticisms of unmentioned players?

What is it that conjured the need to extend this particular post and so many others past, in this case, its second sentence?

This is the time of the season to root hard for victory in each individual game, prior to each next game.