Thursday, Jan. 23
North Texas 79 at UTSA 55
Charlotte 44 at Florida Atlantic 65
UAB 74 at Southern Miss 68
Old Dominion 66 at FIU 39
Middle Tennessee 60 at Louisiana Tech 78
Rice 69 at UTEP 61

Saturday, Jan. 25
Western Kentucky 74 at Marshall 65
Charlotte 64 at FIU 50
Old Dominion 75 at Florida Atlantic 63
North Texas 63 at UTEP 67
Rice 74 at UTSA 62
UAB 71 at Louisiana Tech 51
Middle Tennessee 77 at Southern Miss 69

Standings entering the week

Rice 6-0
Old Dominion 4-1
UTEP 4-1
Middle Tennessee 4-2
Southern Miss 3-2
WKU 3-3
UAB 3-3
Charlotte 2-3
UTSA 2-3
Florida Atlantic 2-4
North Texas 2-4
Marshall 2-4
Louisiana Tech 1-4
FIU 1-5

The new Bracketology came out today with three Cusa mentions:
Rice as auto-bid (12 seed)
WKU as one of first four out
MT as one of next four out.

To me this puts all three teams right around that 12 seed line, meaning all three are just below but within reach of an at-large bid. At least according to one analysis.

The at-large “last four in” were 11-seeds (except for one 10-seed)

(01-20-2020 07:42 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  The new Bracketology came out today with three Cusa mentions:
Rice as auto-bid (12 seed)
WKU as one of first four out
MT as one of next four out.

To me this puts all three teams right around that 12 seed line, meaning all three are just below but within reach of an at-large bid. At least according to one analysis.

The at-large “last four in” were 11-seeds (except for one 10-seed)

That's a welcome change from years past. It seems like we only had one team within striking distance each year.

Rice at Utep will be a very entertaining game this week

(01-20-2020 08:11 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  Rice at Utep will be a very entertaining game this week

Agree. Expect a good battle.
25(!) game CUSA winning streak notwithstanding...
We’ve been without our MVP Erica Ogwumike for two games due to injury. She should be back Thursday, however.
In her absence, Nancy Mulkey has stepped up her game and several others have picked it up, too.

Women's basketball, CUSA has four teams in the top 60 RPI. Men's only one in the top 90.

(01-20-2020 07:42 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  The new Bracketology came out today with three Cusa mentions:
Rice as auto-bid (12 seed)
WKU as one of first four out
MT as one of next four out.

To me this puts all three teams right around that 12 seed line, meaning all three are just below but within reach of an at-large bid. At least according to one analysis.

The at-large “last four in” were 11-seeds (except for one 10-seed)

ODU & UTEP are both ahead of WKU & MT at this time. Why would they be included in the Bracketology but ODU & UTEP left out based on current records?

MT won't be in the bracketology anymore after a bad loss at Louisiana Tech. ODU all alone in 2nd place now, but Rice is probably looking at a 9-0 conference start before the schedule gets tougher for them starting on Feb. 6th.

ODU I had as #2 a few weeks ago, and they’ve solidified that with wins against Middle, Charlotte, and Western.

I still have Middle as my #3 based on the entire season but WKU could also be worthy of consideration if they can finish strong.

But I think the DIS by ESPN there has more to do with recent history of strong MT and WK teams and their solid OOC rankings.

Anyway I’ve got ODU in MY Bracketology!!!

And UTEP made a game of it early (and again, late) but Rice extended the streak to 26 in a row last night in ElPaso.

I don't see Rice going undefeated this year because Mulkey has been having back problems all year. She did have a great game against UTEP the second half but just not sure if she can play every game the remaining season.

(01-24-2020 01:46 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  And UTEP made a game of it early (and again, late) but Rice extended the streak to 26 in a row last night in ElPaso.

(01-24-2020 05:24 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  I don't see Rice going undefeated this year because Mulkey has been having back problems all year. She did have a great game against UTEP the second half but just not sure if she can play every game the remaining season.

(01-24-2020 01:46 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  And UTEP made a game of it early (and again, late) but Rice extended the streak to 26 in a row last night in ElPaso.

That is gonna depend on matchups. Yes when she does go out opponents cram it inside. The backup cant defend like Mulkey. The ? is how many teams are strong enougn in the post to take advantage. With what you have left to play thats only odu, middle and uab.
The key matchup for Rice is the 4 spot. A team with a good athletic 4 can get a big boost. We were in good shape last Sat until Lephart rolled an ankle and had to sit for several mins.
If rice loses it will be at the very end with the road games.

(01-24-2020 11:01 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(01-24-2020 05:24 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  I don't see Rice going undefeated this year because Mulkey has been having back problems all year. She did have a great game against UTEP the second half but just not sure if she can play every game the remaining season.

(01-24-2020 01:46 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  And UTEP made a game of it early (and again, late) but Rice extended the streak to 26 in a row last night in ElPaso.

That is gonna depend on matchups. Yes when she does go out opponents cram it inside. The backup cant defend like Mulkey. The ? is how many teams are strong enougn in the post to take advantage. With what you have left to play thats only odu, middle and uab.
The key matchup for Rice is the 4 spot. A team with a good athletic 4 can get a big boost. We were in good shape last Sat until Lephart rolled an ankle and had to sit for several mins.
If rice loses it will be at the very end with the road games.

And with Pod Play we’ll play both UAB and ODU twice.