What’s the magic number?

[sdglast]

Or it will show these teams beating each other up may wear them out come March. The SEC was unreal OOC so they already kind of showed out. Will be equally interesting to see how the charmin soft schedule Dukes been playing sets up.

Speaking of that, take a look at Louisville. Don't get me wrong, great story and so happy for that team who went through hell these past few years. But they beat Clemson at home and West. Virginia. Otherwise they beat no one. And they played Duke and Clemson only once. I have seen the as high as a 5 seed. It's crazy.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I’m not a big believer in the “beat each other up” theory. Last years B12 was supposed to be the undisputed best conference in America. 0 teams in the Elite 8. ACC was supposed to be trash and got 3 in the last 8. It’s just underperforming when you’re getting 10+ teams in the tourney.

Also should note that a lot of these non conf games are early in the year. Some of these SEC teams are full of portal guys playing their 4th or 5th year that are 23 years old. Those teams are likely going to do better earlier in the year. You never know what will happen in March, but older/experienced teams in theory should do better. I’m pretty sure the Big 10 will flame out as usual because when your “top 10 team” in that league wins games scoring 50 points that just doesn’t cut it in the NCAA tournament…that league is garbage. Hoping the BE can get 4 teams in and make some noise. St. John’s reminds me too much of those Pitt teams that won the BE and then flamed out in the tournament. Only time will tell. Hoping our offense continues to click and we can play at least mediocre defense. Our offense alone can get us to the Sweet 16, but beyond that it gets dicey.

 

[auror]

Speaking of that, take a look at Louisville. Don't get me wrong, great story and so happy for that team who went through hell these past few years. But they beat Clemson at home and West. Virginia. Otherwise they beat no one. And they played Duke and Clemson only once. I have seen the as high as a 5 seed. It's crazy.

They're 9-1 in conference road games. It's really hard to win on the road, even if the ACC sucks and there are plenty of bad teams.

 

[sdglast]

They're 9-1 in conference road games. It's really hard to win on the road, even if the ACC sucks and there are plenty of bad teams.

That may be, but the only tournament teams they beat would be W. Virginia and Clemson. Not saying that aren't a tournament team, but one of the 25 best??

 

[JungleLobo]

OOC wins look worse every week.

Looks like the last 2 at home are needed and then getting bounced second round of Big East tourney to anyone other than SHU and perhaps DePaul is fine.

 

[JungleLobo]

Win out and win the BET and a 6 or even 5 is in play.

That works. UConn needs either of those on it’s Championship run bingo card still.

 

[sdglast]

ESPN has UConn a tournament lock after today's win. The road wins against Creighton and Marquette and the neutral floor win over Gonzaga will carry the day (certainly Texas and Baylor still have a chance to make the tournament). I think today's win likely has them in lock status. A win over Seton Hall keeps them out of any play in games. And then see whether they can beat Marquette on Wednesday.

 

[UCLJ0211]

They are in

 

[3rdbass]

They are in

I still feel better if they beat Seton Hall. You can't lose to Seton Hall twice.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I still feel better if they beat Seton Hall. You can't lose to Seton Hall twice.

We are not losing to Seton Hall at home. We played a literal 0/10 game and it still required a comedy of errors to lose. Including Seton Hall banking FTs with 25% shooters and missed dunks leading to threes. Was truly an unbelievable loss.

 

[3rdbass]

We are not losing to Seton Hall at home. We played a literal 0/10 game and it still required a comedy of errors to lose. Including Seton Hall banking FTs with 25% shooters and missed dunks leading to threes. Was truly an unbelievable loss.

I hope so but I'm still not sold on this team yet but it is looking a lot better with the Beast playing the way he is for us.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I hope so but I'm still not sold on this team yet but it is looking a lot better with the Beast playing the way he is for us.

Yeah Reed is a difference maker. I don’t remember why but Reed only played 10 minutes in Jersey. Feels like a lifetime ago already.

 

[djct1999]

 

[UCLJ0211]

I still feel better if they beat Seton Hall. You can't lose to Seton Hall twice.

That would suck, but it’s not going to keep them out of the tourney. Would probably move them down a seed line, however.

 

[RuffRuff]

That would suck, but it’s not going to keep them out of the tourney. Would probably move them down seed line, however.

We’re in and we’ll beat the Hall, not worried there. Goal is to beat Marquette and grab a BET 3 seed and NCAA 7 seed. I’d rather play Nova than Xavier and a 2 than a 1.

This soft travel 4 game stretch to end the season could be just what the doctor ordered.

I had thought StJ might lay down for their game at Marquette next weekend with the BE locked up, but they have a well timed bye this week, nice for them. Pitino will be gunning for the 18-2 record. They’ll have a ton of rest time between now and the BET.

 

[bazzdog]

We’re in and we’ll beat the Hall, not worried there. Goal is to beat Marquette and grab a BET 3 seed and NCAA 7 seed. I’d rather play Nova than Xavier and a 2 than a 1.

This soft travel 4 game stretch to end the season could be just what the doctor ordered.

I had thought StJ might lay down for their game at Marquette next weekend with the BE locked up, but they have a well timed bye this week, nice for them. Pitino will be gunning for the 18-2 record. They’ll have a ton of rest time between now and the BET.

That 3 seed in BE would be huge.
Let’s spank Marquette and lock it up

 

[navery12]

We’re in and we’ll beat the Hall, not worried there. Goal is to beat Marquette and grab a BET 3 seed and NCAA 7 seed. I’d rather play Nova than Xavier and a 2 than a 1.

This soft travel 4 game stretch to end the season could be just what the doctor ordered.

I had thought StJ might lay down for their game at Marquette next weekend with the BE locked up, but they have a well timed bye this week, nice for them. Pitino will be gunning for the 18-2 record. They’ll have a ton of rest time between now and the BET.

Nobody in college basketball is every laying down for a game. Even if it doesn't matter for their Big East seed it certainly affects their NCAA tournament seed

 

[JungleLobo]

Beating SHU is more important than beating Marquette.

 

[RuffRuff]

Nobody in college basketball is every laying down for a game. Even if it doesn't matter for their Big East seed it certainly affects their NCAA tournament seed

You’re right - not laying down as much as it would be a season ending trap game on the road. They have the BE reg season locked up and are pretty banged up. Even the 5-10% less aggression is meaningful.

Case in point their showing against SH yesterday.

 

[Kemba15]

Beating SHU is more important than beating Marquette.

Probably the opposite TBH. We’re in either way so getting the 2/3 in the BET is the goal. Also, to your point about non-conference wins: yes, the Texas W is looking not as good but Gonzaga is 8 in NET. We’re in, there’s nothing to worry about.

 

[RuffRuff]

Probably the opposite TBH. We’re in either way so getting the 2/3 in the BET is the goal. Also, to your point about non-conference wins: yes, the Texas W is looking not as good but Gonzaga is 8 in NET. We’re in, there’s nothing to worry about.

Texas is a horror show. I really hope they are already figuring out who they’re going after because Terry may be the worse coach in a power conference.

 

[shizzle787]

IMO, one win next week locks it up. Doomed! Let's go 2-0.

 

[6Nattys4Us]

Beating SHU is more important than beating Marquette.

I don't think this is true.

If we win vs Marquette:

1. We go to 13-6 pending Seton Hall
2. They go to 13-6 pending St. John's
3. Since we would be tied and they are playing St. John's in their last game - it would be likely they lose and we win. Even if we both lose or both win we get the tie-break (head to head) where we would be 2-0 vs Marquette and get the 3rd seed.

If we lose to Marquette:

1. We go to 12-7 pending Seton Hall
2. They go to 14-6 pending St. John's
3. With one game each left but 1.5 separating us we cannot climb to 3rd
4. Xavier comes into play as if we lose to both Marquette and Seton Hall and Xavier wins their next 2, they climb over us and we are 5th seed.