(01-12-2015 08:51 AM)Cscollis Wrote:  Do rankings in BB even matter? Right now these games mean almost nothing except ceding for the CUSA tournament. ODU, WKU, Utep and La Tech are best 4 in CUSA and at least 1 will make the NCAA. Not sure ranking them is anything but a pissing match.

That's exactly what this conference needs. The more interest there is the better off we all are. But being week one in conference play and mid season overall, I think most can gauge the quality of each team. I expect a few teams to leap forward and a few will fall back, but the already 4 pages shows we all care

The fact that UAB is in the top half of the conference and is expected to finish 6th overall with a 200 RPI is pretty telling. 9 of the 14 teams really gotta get better next year, including UAB (assuming we're still in CUSA). 16-18th in conference RPI is really, really bad. MTSU, UAB, and USM all dropping like rocks probably hurt us the most.

(01-12-2015 02:14 PM)NanoDawg Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 10:30 AM)Niner National Wrote:  I think people are reading too much into La Tech's beating of UTEP. UTEP has tremendous size (and talent) and that is going to give them advantages against many teams in the league.

La Tech doesn't have nearly the size of UTEP, but they play at a fast pace and have very athletic / fast players. That helps to minimize the size advantage that UTEP has. Without having seen any other teams in the league play (including WKU since I had to listen to it on the radio), I'm not sure if anyone else really has the same kind of speed or playing style as La Tech.

I still expect UTEP to finish in the top 3, and honestly, they are still my favorites to win in Birmingham.

ODU was having a lot of problem against WKU's full court pressure - wait until they play Tech.
I only saw 2 ODU games so far (against niners and hilltoppers) - ODU is not a dominant team like last year UTEP or SMU. I think Tech may have more of a problem against WKU than with ODU due to WKU's inside game.

I think our biggest issue is going to be late season road games. The UTEP win is huge, but we still have road games against UAB, MTSU, ODU, and Charlotte. The ODU - Charlotte trip could be a killer late in the season especially if there are any injuries.

Glad we have WKU at home where we normally play really well. I still remember the old days of Tech and WKU playing each other in basketball - men and women's. Tough hard fought games almost every time, and you never could predict who would win.

Still think that even though we were the preseason favorites, everyone is sleeping on us due to youth, SOS and our OOC losses (Although all 4 have winning records at least - we should have won at least 2 of them). But then again, that's why they play the games. I kind of like going in everywhere as a respected underdog.

ODU
Wku
UTEP
La Tech
All above have solid wins and played some really good teams tight, would not be surprised to see any of those win CUSA with Charlotte/UAB or MT sneak up

I think if those top four dominate CUSA this year, there is a chance for two or three to dance

(01-12-2015 05:28 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  I think if those top four dominate CUSA this year, there is a chance for two or three to dance

From past experiences, I doubt it.

Three absolutely will not happen unless two of the teams with a top 100 RPI (currently) go like 17-1 or 16-2 and have a strong performance in the CUSA tournament with a surprise team winning the conference tournament.

(01-12-2015 06:01 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Three absolutely will not happen unless two of the teams with a top 100 RPI (currently) go like 17-1 or 16-2 and have a strong performance in the CUSA tournament with a surprise team winning the conference tournament.

Three is very unlikely unless help comes from other conferences sucking things up, but two is very likely depending on how strong the top 3-4 teams are

(01-12-2015 07:24 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 06:01 PM)Niner National Wrote:  Three absolutely will not happen unless two of the teams with a top 100 RPI (currently) go like 17-1 or 16-2 and have a strong performance in the CUSA tournament with a surprise team winning the conference tournament.

Three is very unlikely unless help comes from other conferences sucking things up, but two is very likely depending on how strong the top 3-4 teams are

If ODU wins the tournament championship, we are a 1 bid conference unfortunately.

(01-12-2015 08:14 PM)Niner National Wrote:  If ODU wins the tournament championship, we are a 1 bid conference unfortunately.

Possibly but not a definite. Let's take WKU for example (the same could apply to LaTech and possibly UTEP)....

If WKU were to run the table (not likely) and made it to the championship game against ODU but lost, WKU would be 27-6. Because their Out of Conference rpi is very good (upper 40's) about half those teams are gonna win lots of games, most likely many win 20+....Mississippi, Louisville, Bowling Green, Belmont, Murray State, etc. All those wins plus WKU's wins are gonna push WKU's rpi into the bubble range if they win out. Yes, they could be left out but they'd be a bubble team and winning 22 out of 23, a bubble rpi, quality win at Ole Miss, 2 out of 3 wins over ODU, etc.....hard to overlook.

As i said, the same could apply to La Tech or UTEP....both would be around 25-5 or so with bubble rpi's.

But as i said, unlikely. The chances any team runs the table in this conference are slim to none.

I'm assuming you mean OOC SOS? Your RPI after OOC play was definitely not upper 40's.

I just don't see anyone in this league being strong enough to run the table. I'll give you that WKU has a shot if they run the table or come very close. UTEP possible as well. La Tech could win out and still be screwed though due to their OOC SOS.

(01-12-2015 08:50 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I'm assuming you mean OOC SOS? Your RPI after OOC play was definitely not upper 40's.

I just don't see anyone in this league being strong enough to run the table. I'll give you that WKU has a shot if they run the table or come very close. UTEP possible as well. La Tech could win out and still be screwed though due to their OOC SOS.

Correct, strength of schedule. Sorry...typed too fast.

(01-12-2015 08:50 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I'm assuming you mean OOC SOS? Your RPI after OOC play was definitely not upper 40's.

I just don't see anyone in this league being strong enough to run the table. I'll give you that WKU has a shot if they run the table or come very close. UTEP possible as well. La Tech could win out and still be screwed though due to their OOC SOS.

Blowing the big 2nd half lead at NCST and the loss to ULL did us in for at large berth. We needed to beat someone like either NCST or Syracuse to have a chance... ODU has the best shot at an at large but they need to win and win a lot in conference

(01-12-2015 09:24 PM)winston70 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 08:50 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I'm assuming you mean OOC SOS? Your RPI after OOC play was definitely not upper 40's.

I just don't see anyone in this league being strong enough to run the table. I'll give you that WKU has a shot if they run the table or come very close. UTEP possible as well. La Tech could win out and still be screwed though due to their OOC SOS.

Blowing the big 2nd half lead at NCST and the loss to ULL did us in for at large berth. We needed to beat someone like either NCST or Syracuse to have a chance... ODU has the best shot at an at large but they need to win and win a lot in conference

Losing at ULL may not look that bad though because they're likely to win lots of games in a bad Sun Belt so they'll have a decent record by the end of the year. But you're right....winning one of those close games at Temple, Syracuse or NCST would have been viewed as a marquee win. No marquee wins is always mentioned as reasons bubble teams don't make it...regardless of the fact that "marquee" teams rarely play teams like us away from home.

(01-12-2015 09:35 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 09:24 PM)winston70 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 08:50 PM)Niner National Wrote:  I'm assuming you mean OOC SOS? Your RPI after OOC play was definitely not upper 40's.

I just don't see anyone in this league being strong enough to run the table. I'll give you that WKU has a shot if they run the table or come very close. UTEP possible as well. La Tech could win out and still be screwed though due to their OOC SOS.

Blowing the big 2nd half lead at NCST and the loss to ULL did us in for at large berth. We needed to beat someone like either NCST or Syracuse to have a chance... ODU has the best shot at an at large but they need to win and win a lot in conference

Losing at ULL may not look that bad though because they're likely to win lots of games in a bad Sun Belt so they'll have a decent record by the end of the year. But you're right....winning one of those close games at Temple, Syracuse or NCST would have been viewed as a marquee win. No marquee wins is always mentioned as reasons bubble teams don't make it...regardless of the fact that "marquee" teams rarely play teams like us away from home.

Yep - We didn't get one last year and beat OU on the road who made the NCAA's

(01-12-2015 09:21 AM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 09:10 AM)stanman505 Wrote:  1. La Tech- Came to El Paso and kicked the crap out of UTEP
2. WKU- have only played home games but so far they are perfect
3. ODU- plays great at home but didn't pass their first conference road test
4. UTEP- failed miserable against La. Tech, lots of uncertainty here
5. Charlotte
6. UAB
7. MTSU
8. FIU
9. FAU
10. UTSA
11. UNT
12. Rice
13. Marshall
14. USM

I think 5-9 are interchangeable at this point

I don't know If going 2-1 on the road, playing 2 of the top 5 teams according to your rankings and at least winning one of those would be considered failing to me.

As I stated 5-9 are interchangeable at this point. Charlotte has the talent but the head coaching problems have limited them. ODU's road win at Charlotte might not turn out to be anything more than UTEP's at UNT. La. Tech came into the Haskins Center and laid the wood to UTEP by holding them to 14 points in a half. They did to UTEP what no other team has: #10 Arizona, CSU, or Washington.

Main reason I kept ODU at 1 is nobody else has a 13-2 record and a win over a current top 20 team and held that team to 18 points in a half. While I think WKU and La tech may have caught up with ODU , ODU is the team that holds that ace

ODU is 5 out 6 against the top 100 (2-0 against top 50 )
WKU is 4 out 7 against the top 100
La Tech is 0 out 3 against the top 100
UTEP is 1 out 5 against the top 100

(01-12-2015 10:30 AM)Niner National Wrote:  I think people are reading too much into La Tech's beating of UTEP. UTEP has tremendous size (and talent) and that is going to give them advantages against many teams in the league.

La Tech doesn't have nearly the size of UTEP, but they play at a fast pace and have very athletic / fast players. That helps to minimize the size advantage that UTEP has. Without having seen any other teams in the league play (including WKU since I had to listen to it on the radio), I'm not sure if anyone else really has the same kind of speed or playing style as La Tech.

I still expect UTEP to finish in the top 3, and honestly, they are still my favorites to win in Birmingham.

Did you see the final score of the LA Tech-UTEP game? It was NOT a fast paced game. Far from it.

(01-12-2015 11:16 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  Main reason I kept ODU at 1 is nobody else has a 13-2 record and a win over a current top 20 team and held that team to 18 points in a half. While I think WKU and La tech may have caught up with ODU , ODU is the team that holds that ace

ODU is 5 out 6 against the top 100 (2-0 against top 50 )
WKU is 4 out 6 against the top 100
La Tech is 0 out 3 against the top 100
UTEP is 1 out 5 against the top 100

Actually they are 4 out of 6 against the top 100 with three out of their four at home. I also don't think Charlotte will stay in the top 100 very much longer. People may not believe it but La. Tech is the best team in the conference, which is why they were picked to win it.

(01-13-2015 01:05 AM)stanman505 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 11:16 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  Main reason I kept ODU at 1 is nobody else has a 13-2 record and a win over a current top 20 team and held that team to 18 points in a half. While I think WKU and La tech may have caught up with ODU , ODU is the team that holds that ace

ODU is 5 out 6 against the top 100 (2-0 against top 50 )
WKU is 4 out 6 against the top 100
La Tech is 0 out 3 against the top 100
UTEP is 1 out 5 against the top 100

Actually they are 4 out of 6 against the top 100 with three out of their four at home. I also don't think Charlotte will stay in the top 100 very much longer. People may not believe it but La. Tech is the best team in the conference, which is why they were picked to win it.

Which is why I don't make predictions this early. La Tech has played lots a bad teams so it's hard to gauge how good they are. The 3 top 100 rpi teams they've played, they lost but......all were close. They've easily beat nearly everyone else. They very well could be the cream of the crop. It's still early.