2015 Bracketology Thread

[LA_Mustang]

Portland would be great. I've never been but would really like to visit.

[Harry0569]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology

7 seed vs. Stanford then Nova in Pitt

[Pony_Law]

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology

7 seed vs. Stanford then Nova in Pitt

Just can't quite contimplate how Temple, cincy, and Tulsa each get in.

[ojaipony]

This thread kills me. Can't help but peak, but absolutely meaningless. I remember last year where everyone in their cousin had us in and even as high as a 4-5 seed at one point. Oy vey.

[GreenbeltPony]

This thread kills me. Can't help but peak, but absolutely meaningless. I remember last year where everyone in their cousin had us in and even as high as a 4-5 seed at one point. Oy vey.

RIP

[smusic 00]

This week is huge.

[smupony94]

Yeah

[Smerkins]

OMG Portland would be great. PDX and Seattle the best two first round sites this year.

But are probably also the worst for someone on a budget....

[Harry0569]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mens-college- ... ubblewatch

Bubble Watch:

Work left to do: SMU, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Temple

Call it a contagious, Connecticut hangover. The league that produced last season's thrilling national champion -- which helped a beleaguered conference boast its long-term basketball viability -- currently ranks ninth in Ken Pomeroy's combined adjusted efficiency metrics, behind both the Atlantic 10 and the (possible one-bid) West Coast Conference. That mediocrity has runneth over into RPI-land: Memphis is nowhere near the bubble, for example, and unlikely to get close anytime soon. (The Tigers' strength of schedule numbers are typically impressive; the problem is they've beaten exactly two teams ranked higher than 170 in the RPI.) SMU's personnel gaps and nonconference struggles have curtailed a once-elite outlook. And then there's UConn, whose nonexistent offense has left star guard Ryan Boatright stranded on an 11-9 team with a sub-100 RPI that -- after Sunday's two-point, road loss at Houston -- arrives at the first edition of Bubble Watch in critical, at-large condition. We're pretty sure UConn is better than its 11-9 record suggests -- many of its losses have been brutally close -- but the defending champion has too much work to do to warrant inclusion for now.

SMU [18-4 (9-1), RPI: 21, SOS: 79] Larry Brown's team has had as topsy-turvy a year as any program in college basketball. Consider: The Mustangs barely missed the NCAA tournament in March, made a run to the NIT final in April, were ranked No. 11 in our way-too-early top 25 at the end of the past season, lost Emmanuel Mudiay, an elite recruit and driving force behind that ranking, after he opted to sign a professional contract in China due to to likely eligibility issues, saw Markus Kennedy declared ineligible in October, got Kennedy back in December -- only to see guard Keith Frazier declared ineligible a few weeks later -- and saw forward Justin Martin suddenly turn pro. Despite all that, the Mustangs have won 16 of their past 17 games, boast the American's top-ranked per-possession offense and defense, and currently enjoy a top-25 RPI and zero sub-top-50 RPI losses. This is hardly an unassailable resume, but it's better than it has any right to be.

Cincinnati [15-6 (6-3), RPI: 37, SOS: 47] Like SMU, Cincinnati would get into the tournament if it was seeded today. As for SMU, that should count as a major accomplishment. Not only did the Bearcats lose do-it-all seniors Sean Kilpatrick and Justin Jackson, but they've also mostly lost coach Mick Cronin. In December, doctors prescribed rest and relaxation after discovering an unruptured aneurysm after Cronin complained of lingering headaches. Cronin is still involved with big-picture, programmatic tasks, but he isn't on the sidelines or at practice every day. In that context, Cincy's relative strength -- relative being the operative term -- is impressive. Sunday's ugly loss at East Carolina constitutes the first major ding in a resume that includes four top-50 wins and quality strength-of-schedule numbers (including a top-25 nonconference mark). Fewer turnovers moving forward would go a long way toward keep Cincinnati in the bubble mix.

Tulsa [16-5 (9-0), RPI: 42, SOS: 139] The most recent time Frank Haith was in his first year at a school, he led Missouri to one of its best (and most entertaining) seasons in school history. This 2014-15 Tulsa season hasn't quite been that, but Haith is getting quality stuff from juniors James Woodard and Shaquille Harrison, especially in conference play, where the Golden Hurricane sit unbeaten (9-0) atop the American. If that keeps up, an at-large bid might not be necessary. That would be a relief: Tulsa's resume is pocked by a preponderance of cupcakes (12 of its 16 wins have come against teams ranked outside the RPI top 150), which are a drag on its strength-of-schedule numbers.

Temple [15-7 (6-3), RPI: 45, SOS: 43] The selection committee is famously averse to any official recognition of margin of victory, which is a real bummer for Temple. Not only do the Owls own a win over RPI No. 1 Kansas, but that game was also a thoroughly impressive, 77-52 blowout. In a bubble world where shellackings are as good as one-point stunners and winning at UConn does you almost no good, a home win over Kansas is about all the Owls have going for them.

[skyscraper]

Whoever wrote that seems angry that we're actually doing well this season.
Why is it in recent weeks the national writers seem to be irritated we haven't collapsed??

[Treadway21]

What BS. Writers are just looking for anything to put this team down. Really incredible.

[Grant Carter]

Make sure to watch the video on the bubble watch link. All about SMU not making it last year. As a reminder, while our OOC SOS was 300+ last year, it is currently 16 and rpiforecast projects it to be 18, so we cannot be dinged for a weak OOC schedule this year.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I'm a bit more bullish on SMU than that bozo.

[Puckhead48E]

Make sure to watch the video on the bubble watch link. All about SMU not making it last year. As a reminder, while our OOC SOS was 300+ last year, it is currently 16 and rpiforecast projects it to be 18, so we cannot be dinged for a weak OOC schedule this year.

True...and I hate the negativity, but just look how many of those OOC games against RPI top 50 teams we won. Screw the whole on the road vs. home crap. You schedule the OOC games for more than just a number to give as an excuse and a paycheck, you want to win a few against the bigger opponents. I think we have AAC champ. pedigree, and I think last seasons conference playoff explosion followed by the NIT run gave the guys all the learning and motivation they need, but that opening stretch combined with Muiday not enrolling (no matter why...as even the media is admitting that he would most likely have been an eligibility problem) gives national media everything they need to mitigate any success. Doesn't mean we don't deserve a trip and a good seed, but we have to open better against that top 20 OOC schedule in order to get that greater respect.

[mustangxc]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

The AAC has 4 teams in. Tulsa, SMU, Cincinnati, and Temple. Just win!