Here's why 10-8 gets in ......

[olshin]

We're worried about a "bad" loss to Illinois .....

Lunardi has Syracuse in the tournament in his last update before the weekend ..... The same Syracuse who lost to 12-14 St. John's at home ...... by 33!

Also has 2 other RPI 100+ losses.

Those are the type of resumes on the bubble right now. It's not a particularly strong bubble year. College basketball, on the whole, is more unpredictable than ever.

It's not just "we're 10-8 in a weaker than normal Big Ten" ..... you still have to find the three dozen at large teams with better credentials than us. We win a few more and there won't be any.

Now ......... we just have to, you know ... WIN a few more.

 

[Catreporter]

Syracuse also got blown out by Wisconsin!

 

[Frabjous]

If the Cats win 2 B1G tournament games, maybe a 6 seed in Milwaukee, a virtual home game.

 

[NURoseBowl]

If the Cats win 2 B1G tournament games, maybe a 6 seed in Milwaukee, a virtual home game.

That #6 seed is what I've been hoping/shooting for all along; not to get ahead of ourselves, but it means a non-Top 10 matchup in Round 2.

 

[Bradleywildcatsfan]

We're worried about a "bad" loss to Illinois .....

Lunardi has Syracuse in the tournament in his last update before the weekend ..... The same Syracuse who lost to 12-14 St. John's at home ...... by 33!

Also has 2 other RPI 100+ losses.

Those are the type of resumes on the bubble right now. It's not a particularly strong bubble year. College basketball, on the whole, is more unpredictable than ever.

It's not just "we're 10-8 in a weaker than normal Big Ten" ..... you still have to find the three dozen at large teams with better credentials than us. We win a few more and there won't be any.

Now ......... we just have to, you know ... WIN a few more.

Agreed, but Syracuse also has more quality wins than Northwestern (two top 15 wins), and are playing in an even more difficult conference than Northwestern is. Plus Syracuse has been playing much better of late, sans the Pittsburgh game, which btw is on the same level as Illinois. So while Syracuse is not a lock yet for the tournament, I can perfectly understand why most have them in or on the bubble right now. If Syracuse beats Louisville tonight, they almost lock themselves in.

All this being said, this has nothing to do with NU getting in as I think both teams will be in. And even with the "down year" in the Big Ten, 10-8 should be enough for the Cats, as long as they don't lose to Rutgers. I think they will win more than 10 though.