2 more wins and the 'Cats should be permanently on the bubble...

[Katatonic]

and depending on how it shakes out in the other power conferences and the # of upsets in mid-major conference tournaments, could get a nod w/o having to win a B1G tourney game.

If one of the wins is against UW, PU or UMD - probably will get a bid notwithstanding what happens in the B1G tournament (but still, would like to see at least a 10-8 conference record to kick to the curb another weight of history and just to be safe).

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Lots of winnable games left! We can win the BT

 

[FanatiCat]

If we got only 2 more wins and no B1G tourney wins that would mean finishing 2-8. We would not look all that attractive with a finish like that.

 

[No Chores]

If we got only 2 more wins and no B1G tourney wins that would mean finishing 2-8. We would not look all that attractive with a finish like that.

Not possible, since we have only 9 BIG games left!

 

[No Chores]

If we got only 2 more wins and no B1G tourney wins that would mean finishing 2-8. We would not look all that attractive with a finish like that.

Oops, I forgot about the Tourney game. You were right!

 

[NURoseBowl]

I'll say the magic number now is 4.

 

[TejasCat]

I'll say the magic number now is 4.

Yep. Win 4 of our 5 games at home and we are in. That would include a quality win over Maryland or Purdue. Massey has us favored in all 5 of those games (and underdogs in 3 of the 4 road games left).

 

[mickbula]

Benson will now emerge and be our breakthrough player of the second half of the season! Keep the momentum going and keep winning- we can do it! Every team has to deal with injuries. Let's just win out like GBay's Rogers did!

 

[Fitz51]

Lunardi, Palm, and USA Today all have us as a 7 seed this morning.

 

[EvanstonCat]

Let's just win them all.

Including the BTT.

 

[NJCat]

Lunardi, Palm, and USA Today all have us as a 7 seed this morning.

Joe Lunardi Senior Writer, ESPN.com

"The long wait is all but over. At 7-2 halfway through the Big Ten schedule, Northwestern is heading to the NCAA tournament."

 

[Styre]

To make the NCAAs, I think 4 or more additional wins is a lock, 3 puts us at about 80-20 to get in, 2 would be on the bubble, and 1 or 0 would be NIT.

And it's not February yet.

 

[hdhntr1]

To make the NCAAs, I think 4 or more additional wins is a lock, 3 puts us at about 80-20 to get in, 2 would be on the bubble, and 1 or 0 would be NIT.

And it's not February yet.

As the guy on BTN said last night. Lat time we were in the conversation asa bubble team going into BTT was about 2012 and we had 18 wins going in. We already have 18 wins with 9 games to go.. He also have potentially gotten beyond that maybe and to the point that so long aswe play well down the stretch and take care of business...

 

[mickbula]

Who is Lunardi? Is he a Medill grad? He looks like Mike Adamle.

 

[Mr Wickerpark]

Lots of winnable games left! We can win the BT

I like your thinking on this. In my opinion, the bar of conversation is now higher. It is very reasonable to start discussing the bigten championship. At this point, we control our own destiny and do not have to worry about other teams losing.

 

[Fitz51]

Who is Lunardi? Is he a Medill grad? He looks like Mike Adamle.

Google helps.

 

[stpaulcat]

If we got only 2 more wins and no B1G tourney wins that would mean finishing 2-8. We would not look all that attractive with a finish like that.

What do I not understand--we are now 7-2, how could we get to 2-8?

 

[GlideCat]

As the guy on BTN said last night. Lat time we were in the conversation asa bubble team going into BTT was about 2012 and we had 18 wins going in. We already have 18 wins with 9 games to go.. He also have potentially gotten beyond that maybe and to the point that so long aswe play well down the stretch and take care of business...

In 2012, the B1G was considered a very strong BB conference. This year, the conference does not have that going for it. Although I clearly admit to being a bandwagon BB fan at this point, my incredibly ignorant opinion is that 20 wins is needed to be a bubble team this year and 22 with 1 being quality gets the Cats in. A strong run (2+ wins) in the BTT also makes it a lock.

Bottom line is that their work is not done yet.

 

[GlideCat]

What do I not understand--we are now 7-2, how could we get to 2-8?

I had to read it twice. 2-8 in the final 10 games of the season + BTT.

 

[Katatonic]

If we got only 2 more wins and no B1G tourney wins that would mean finishing 2-8. We would not look all that attractive with a finish like that.

I said that the 'Cats would be on the bubble, not that they would get a bid.

If 1 of the 2 wins came against, say, Wisky, think that even w/ the 'Cats stumbling down the stretch, that there would be a shot depending on how the other conferences shake out in terms of bids (the reason why so many have the B1G getting 8 bids, even in a down year, is that so many other conferences are in weaker shape), esp. if the 'Cats win a B1G tourney game.

In a previous thread, stated that the 'Cats would be a lock if they went 6-5, and probably in at 5-6 (esp. if they get a win over one of the better B1G teams).

The point of this thread is that the 'Cats have already done most of the work - 2 more wins gets them permanently on the bubble.

 

[jjjjjjj]

I said that the 'Cats would be on the bubble, not that they would get a bid.

If 1 of the 2 wins came against, say, Wisky, think that even w/ the 'Cats stumbling down the stretch, that there would be a shot depending on how the other conferences shake out in terms of bids (the reason why so many have the B1G getting 8 bids, even in a down year, is that so many other conferences are in weaker shape), esp. if the 'Cats win a B1G tourney game.

In a previous thread, stated that the 'Cats would be a lock if they went 6-5, and probably in at 5-6 (esp. if they get a win over one of the better B1G teams).

The point of this thread is that the 'Cats have already done most of the work - 2 more wins gets them permanently on the bubble.

Here I thought Wrassler had cornered the market on insane predictions! But even poor ol' Wrassler isn't foolish enough to think that NU would still be on the bubble after a 2-8 finish. Maybe the NIT bubble...!!!

 

[Katatonic]

^ Not insane.

Lot of prognosticators still have Wake (sitting at 12-9/3-6) as one of the last 4 into the Tourney.

At 20-11/9-9 the 'Cats would still be in the bubble talk as it is projected to be a weak field for many conferences (hence, WF still being in the discussion).

Not saying that they would get in w/ that (would need one of the wins to be over a top 25 team and at least 1 B1G Tourney win, if not 2).

The committee takes into account the strength/weakness of a schedule and in these last 9 games, the only bad losses would be to Rutgers and Illinois at WR (but would trade a W against the UI for a win against one of the B1G 3).

 

[jjjjjjj]

So when you originally said 2 conference wins plus 0 conference tournament wins would keep NU on the bubble:

and depending on how it shakes out in the other power conferences and the # of upsets in mid-major conference tournaments, could get a nod w/o having to win a B1G tourney game.

You actually meant that 2 conference wins plus 1 or 2 conference tournament wins would keep NU on the bubble:

^Not saying that they would get in w/ that (would need one of the wins to be over a top 25 team and at least 1 B1G Tourney win, if not 2).

In other words, the "magic number" is 3 or 4, not 2.

 

[BosCat]

"A strong run (2+ wins) in the BTT also makes it a lock."

Hard to believe, but at this rate 2 wins gets us to the B1G finals -- only 3 to win it all. As a top 4 team we would start on Friday in round of 8!

Bracket

 

[SmellyCat]

"A strong run (2+ wins) in the BTT also makes it a lock."

Hard to believe, but at this rate 2 wins gets us to the B1G finals -- only 3 to win it all. As a top 4 team we would start on Friday in round of 8!

I sat down with my 10-year-old son last night and explained how the whole Big Ten tournament works. Though he's been an NU fan since birth (the only lullaby I knew to sing to him as a newborn was "Go U Northwestern"), there was never any reason for him to know about this, other than "Daddy is probably going to be in a bad mood when he comes home from work Thursday night."

 

[Katatonic]

So when you originally said 2 conference wins plus 0 conference tournament wins would keep NU on the bubble:

You actually meant that 2 conference wins plus 1 or 2 conference tournament wins would keep NU on the bubble:

In other words, the "magic number" is 3 or 4, not 2.

Gee, you seem to be having difficulty in discerning the difference btwn being on the bubble and getting into the Tourney.

Being on the bubble merely means still being in the discussion.

As I had stated before, Wake, right now is still being seen as a bubble team, but they have a lot more work to do.

And as I had also previously stated, it also depends on how things shake out in other conferences, including the mid-majors.

 

[jjjjjjj]

Gee, you seem to be having difficulty in discerning the difference btwn being on the bubble and getting into the Tourney.

Being on the bubble merely means still being in the discussion.

As I had stated before, Wake, right now is still being seen as a bubble team, but they have a lot more work to do.

And as I had also previously stated, it also depends on how things shake out in other conferences, including the mid-majors.

Discuss all you want, but an NU team with 20 wins and 2-8 in its last 10 won't be invited to any tournament better than the NIT. We'd better hope that Lindsey gets well fast.

 

[GlideCat]

Discuss all you want, but an NU team with 20 wins and 2-8 in its last 10 won't be invited to any tournament better than the NIT. We'd better hope that Lindsey gets well fast.

Yes. It is a tough stretch of games. But there are more than two very winnable games left. There are five games left in which we could/should be favored. I don't think it is overly Pollyanna to be looking for 6 to 7 wins out of our last 11. If this teams stays on fire, we could be looking at 9 out of our last 12.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Yes. It is a tough stretch of games. But there are more than two very winnable games left. There are five games left in which we could/should be favored. I don't think it is overly Pollyanna to be looking for 6 to 7 wins out of our last 11. If this teams stays on fire, we could be looking at 9 out of our last 12.

OK, at what point then does our conversation change from "will we get in" to "where will we be seeded?" 3 more wins? 6 more wins?

 

[GlideCat]

OK, at what point then does our conversation change from "will we get in" to "where will we be seeded?" 3 more wins? 6 more wins?

We are Cats fans. We don't count our chickens until they are plucked, fried, and half eaten. No jinxing!

 

[Alaskawildkat]

We are Cats fans. We don't count our chickens until they are plucked, fried, and half eaten. No jinxing!

You need to remind Smithee as well. Until this week, I didn't know that jinxing could transmit mono.