Middle Tennessee is the clear favorite. Arkansas State was their lone loss on the season.

Who's your sleeper team?

Here's my picks: Sun Belt Tournament Predictions

You really went out on a limb there, eh?

It's MTSU's Tourney to lose. I think MTSU will make it into the NCAA as an at-large with one more win. It's hard to see Middle losing but crazier things have happened. They have played a few close games away from home. Still don't see them losing though.

It's hard to go with an upset in this one. My picks overall weren't chalk though.

I can see it...But we would lose by 15+ in finals if we were to make it that far based on MTSU's depth vs. ours...

While an MTSU vs. WKU would be great, WKU would get raped.

(03-07-2013 08:38 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  While an MTSU vs. WKU would be great, WKU would get raped.

Not trying to just wondering why you think that? The game last week in Diddle was close until the very end when we uncharacteristically hit all our free throws.

I think if it is MT v WK in the finals, it will be a close one.

(03-07-2013 08:52 PM)ClarksvilleRaider Wrote:  

(03-07-2013 08:38 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  While an MTSU vs. WKU would be great, WKU would get raped.

Not trying to just wondering why you think that? The game last week in Diddle was close until the very end when we uncharacteristically hit all our free throws.

I think if it is MT v WK in the finals, it will be a close one.

I don't....Just due to the fact you guys are the deepest team by far in the SUn Belt and maybe in the history of the SB... we only can go 8 or 9 deep to your guys 11 or 12...If we go past 9 we get really bad quick, you guys do not ...Depth will be an issue if we made it to the finals going 4th game compared to your 3rd game..So last regular season game vs possible game in finals would be completely different scenario....Last years run to the championship, depth was not as big of a factor mainly due to North Texas not have much much depth either when we played them in finals...But imo our season ends to Ark. St....But in above scenario I could see FAU upset Ark. St...I can us beating FAU vs. Ark. st..Combined we are 0 and 4 against both...

(03-07-2013 09:07 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  

(03-07-2013 08:52 PM)ClarksvilleRaider Wrote:  

(03-07-2013 08:38 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  While an MTSU vs. WKU would be great, WKU would get raped.

Not trying to just wondering why you think that? The game last week in Diddle was close until the very end when we uncharacteristically hit all our free throws.

I think if it is MT v WK in the finals, it will be a close one.

I don't....Just due to the fact you guys are the deepest team by far in the SUn Belt and maybe in the history of the SB... we only can go 8 or 9 deep to your guys 11 or 12...If we go past 9 we get really bad quick, you guys do not ...Depth will be an issue if we made it to the finals going 4th game compared to your 3rd game..So last regular season game vs possible game in finals would be completely different scenario....Last years run to the championship, depth was not as big of a factor mainly due to North Texas not have much much depth either when we played them in finals...But imo our season ends to Ark. St....But in above scenario I could see FAU upset Ark. St...I can us beating FAU vs. Ark. st..Combined we are 0 and 4 against both...

Depth is definitely a positive for MT. It's just tough to beat the same team 3 times in one season, especially if that team is Western. With that said, I do expect MT to win it all, but I think it could very well be a nail biter.

On paper, no one should come close to MT in the tournament but then again, as stated above it's hard to beat anyone three times in one year and well, it's the conference tournament and it's sometimes a roll of the dice.

With that said, senior leadership should carry MT to the title. One can analyze their schedule and see that maybe they're vulnerable (several close games on the road to weak teams), they destroyed several teams in Murfreesboro but the tournament's not in the boro, no big wins (except Ole Miss but that was in Murfreesboro)....etc., etc. but when said and done, they did what they needed to do to win almost all their games and that's because they have senior leadership and depth. Those are hard factors to overcome at tournament time.

Then again, WKU and NT had significant injuries this year but are now healthy. Heck, I think WKU is 13-4 when Crook and Price were healthy this year but 3-11 when they were out. Even then, WKU only has one Senior and as demonstrated last Saturday in Diddle, Seniors stepped up to the plate in a tie game in the last 1 1/2 minute and MT beat WKU.

The one factor that may make a difference is Arkansas State playing in Arkansas. If it's a MT/ASU final, that place will be packed with Wolves and that may level the playing field slightly. ASU did beat MT in Jonesboro.

(03-07-2013 10:36 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  On paper, no one should come close to MT in the tournament but then again, as stated above it's hard to beat anyone three times in one year and well, it's the conference tournament and it's sometimes a roll of the dice.

With that said, senior leadership should carry MT to the title. One can analyze their schedule and see that maybe they're vulnerable (several close games on the road to weak teams), they destroyed several teams in Murfreesboro but the tournament's not in the boro, no big wins (except Ole Miss but that was in Murfreesboro)....etc., etc. but when said and done, they did what they needed to do to win almost all their games and that's because they have senior leadership and depth. Those are hard factors to overcome at tournament time.

Then again, WKU and NT had significant injuries this year but are now healthy. Heck, I think WKU is 13-4 when Crook and Price were healthy this year but 3-11 when they were out. Even then, WKU only has one Senior and as demonstrated last Saturday in Diddle, Seniors stepped up to the plate in a tie game in the last 1 1/2 minute and MT beat WKU.

The one factor that may make a difference is Arkansas State playing in Arkansas. If it's a MT/ASU final, that place will be packed with Wolves and that may level the playing field slightly. ASU did beat MT in Jonesboro.

Somebody said it on the local radio this week, that the first game for MT maybe the toughest (from a pressure standpoint) given last years outcome, and their first opponent will have already have won a game riding some momentum. After that, if MT survives, their depth really becomes a larger factor than it already is.

I know the muts are deep but honestly at this point I don't see that as huge of a advantage as other WKU fans.

As far as production WKU is getting a lot more out of the lower minute player than we were 3 weeks ago. Three games vs four might play a part in it but the style of the games up to the championship game will play just as much of a part as the total number of games.

ULL and UNT to a point likes to get up and down the floor and so does FIU so if the muts can't control tempo that would play apart on the legs come Monday night. If Western happens to make it to the championship game Ark St physical could wear us down and USA will press us. Harper is a master at tourney play so I'm sure he will limit the minutes as much as possible if he can for key players.



And the muts are no deeper than Ark St...once you get past 9 or 10 players who really cares?

(03-08-2013 07:23 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  I know the muts are deep but honestly at this point I don't see that as huge of a advantage as other WKU fans.

As far as production WKU is getting a lot more out of the lower minute player than we were 3 weeks ago. Three games vs four might play a part in it but the style of the games up to the championship game will play just as much of a part as the total number of games.

ULL and UNT to a point likes to get up and down the floor and so does FIU so if the muts can't control tempo that would play apart on the legs come Monday night. If Western happens to make it to the championship game Ark St physical could wear us down and USA will press us. Harper is a master at tourney play so I'm sure he will limit the minutes as much as possible if he can for key players.



And the muts are no deeper than Ark St...once you get past 9 or 10 players who really cares?

Pie Chart please...