Win and In?

[NJCat83588]

Chris Collins has been saying that he wants to be playing meaningful games in March. Well, this week's games are pretty important. I believe that if the Cats win both games, against PSU and Nebraska, they are in the NIT. Right now the Cats sit in 11th place in the Big 10 (according to the ESPNU graphic of the BTT seeds on TV yesterday). The conference will probably send 7 teams to the NCAA, which leaves one team currently with 10 wins in the NIT. The Big 10 probably sends 3 teams to the NIT. Obviously, if NU loses both games they're not going to the NIT. But win both, and they will be 8-10 with 3 wins against their closest competition, PSU and Nebraska. Would be hard to see how they wouldn't be in the NIT with 20 regular season wins and 8 wins in conference, riding a 3 game regular season winning streak. Lose 1 game and the OOC schedule probably works against NU, and OSU/Michigan, PSU and Nebraska probably are NIT bound.

Will be an interesting week.

 

[Catreporter]

Chris Collins has been saying that he wants to be playing meaningful games in March. Well, this week's games are pretty important. I believe that if the Cats win both games, against PSU and Nebraska, they are in the NIT. Right now the Cats sit in 11th place in the Big 10 (according to the ESPNU graphic of the BTT seeds on TV yesterday). The conference will probably send 7 teams to the NCAA, which leaves one team currently with 10 wins in the NIT. The Big 10 probably sends 3 teams to the NIT. Obviously, if NU loses both games they're not going to the NIT. But win both, and they will be 8-10 with 3 wins against their closest competition, PSU and Nebraska. Would be hard to see how they wouldn't be in the NIT with 20 regular season wins and 8 wins in conference, riding a 3 game regular season winning streak. Lose 1 game and the OOC schedule probably works against NU, and OSU/Michigan, PSU and Nebraska probably are NIT bound.

Will be an interesting week.

I agree it's an interesting week ahead with meaningful games, but I'm not sure Nebraska or Penn State get to the NIT with a losing overall record, so BTTourney results could factor into all of that as well.

 

[Ubermorgen]

ESPNU announcers stated they felt wins against PSU and Nebraska would get us to the NIT.

 

[Sec.112]

After a hope for two wins this week, my NIT concern is whether the B10 gets two teams. As of Thursday, Lunardi says OSU is lower than one of the first eight teams out.

Last year, there were 12 automatic qualifiers in a 32 team NIT field. In 2014, 13 automatic qualifiers. In 2013, 10 qualifiers.

So, for the sake of conversation, let's call it 12 qualifiers this year.

Is NU one of the top 20 teams outside the tournament?

Right now, Lunardi's power index says they are the 21st team outside the tournament field. KenPom has them just a tad lower. RPI has them much lower.

It's going to be tiiiiiiiiiiight!! Gotta get those wins.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

Will be an interesting week.

I'd say an interesting week and a half. Many of the lower conference championships are will be determined by March 9th. By that Wednesday we'll start to get an idea of how the soft the NIT bubble will be.

EDIT: Riffing on Sec's point, I'm pulling for Ohio State and the rest of the conference bubble to get in. It's hard to imagine the NIT completely passing on the BIG (especially a squad with 20 wins no less). The 'Cats will need all the little things on their side to compensate for what will be a weak RPI come selection Sunday.

I think we all agree that Penn State and Nebraska are must wins. A win in the first round match up of the BTT might guarantee a bid.

 

[YesterdaysCat]

After a hope for two wins this week, my NIT concern is whether the B10 gets two teams. As of Thursday, Lunardi says OSU is lower than one of the first eight teams out.

Last year, there were 12 automatic qualifiers in a 32 team NIT field. In 2014, 13 automatic qualifiers. In 2013, 10 qualifiers.

So, for the sake of conversation, let's call it 12 qualifiers this year.

Is NU one of the top 20 teams outside the tournament?

Right now, Lunardi's power index says they are the 21st team outside the tournament field. KenPom has them just a tad lower. RPI has them much lower.

It's going to be tiiiiiiiiiiight!! Gotta get those wins.

It would be great to get into the NIT. The NIT is preferable to the pay-to-play tournaments. Yet, I think I would be satisfied with any postseason experience, even if we have to pay. The young guys need as much experience and practice time as possible. There's an increased chance of injury, but I think the experience is more valuable and that's a guarantee, whereas any injury would be unpredictable.

 

[hdhntr1]

After a hope for two wins this week, my NIT concern is whether the B10 gets two teams. As of Thursday, Lunardi says OSU is lower than one of the first eight teams out.

Last year, there were 12 automatic qualifiers in a 32 team NIT field. In 2014, 13 automatic qualifiers. In 2013, 10 qualifiers.

So, for the sake of conversation, let's call it 12 qualifiers this year.

Is NU one of the top 20 teams outside the tournament?

Right now, Lunardi's power index says they are the 21st team outside the tournament field. KenPom has them just a tad lower. RPI has them much lower.

It's going to be tiiiiiiiiiiight!! Gotta get those wins.

If we win both, have to think we are in IMO regardless of BTT. If we win just one of the two, likely depends on us winning one game in the BTT.

 

[JournCat]

One projection linked here has us as a 7-seed in the NIT. That's extremely close to the fringe given that a few teams will inevitably grab NCAA bids in their conference tournaments and cause a chain reaction. My guess is we'd need to go at least 1-1 this week and win our first tournament game, and I wouldn't feel secure even if we won all three of those games.

 

[JournCat]

Templon's projection doesn't even have us in right now:
http://www.nycbuckets.com/2016/02/nit-bracketology-feb-25-2016/

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

Templon's projection doesn't even have us in right now:
http://www.nycbuckets.com/2016/02/nit-bracketology-feb-25-2016/

Templon has Michigan in the dance and Ohio State as #2 seed in the NIT. If the Buckeyes can beat MSU on Saturday, I'll start liking their chances to snag an at large and thus leaving NU as the only viable BIG option for the NIT (assuming the 'Cats take their last two regular season games).

 

[mikewebb68]

Chris Collins has been saying that he wants to be playing meaningful games in March. Well, this week's games are pretty important. I believe that if the Cats win both games, against PSU and Nebraska, they are in the NIT. Right now the Cats sit in 11th place in the Big 10 (according to the ESPNU graphic of the BTT seeds on TV yesterday). The conference will probably send 7 teams to the NCAA, which leaves one team currently with 10 wins in the NIT. The Big 10 probably sends 3 teams to the NIT. Obviously, if NU loses both games they're not going to the NIT. But win both, and they will be 8-10 with 3 wins against their closest competition, PSU and Nebraska. Would be hard to see how they wouldn't be in the NIT with 20 regular season wins and 8 wins in conference, riding a 3 game regular season winning streak. Lose 1 game and the OOC schedule probably works against NU, and OSU/Michigan, PSU and Nebraska probably are NIT bound.

Will be an interesting week.

More importantly, if the Cats win their next two games, you are guaranteed to receive an interesting screen name....

 

[NURoseBowl]

One projection linked here has us as a 7-seed in the NIT. That's extremely close to the fringe given that a few teams will inevitably grab NCAA bids in their conference tournaments and cause a chain reaction. My guess is we'd need to go at least 1-1 this week and win our first tournament game, and I wouldn't feel secure even if we won all three of those games.

Gotta believe three wins will do it, Journ. Two, I'm not so sure.

 

[NJCat83588]

More importantly, if the Cats win their next two games, you are guaranteed to receive an interesting screen name....

I am hoping against hope they do, and I do..........

 

[Bradleywildcatsfan]

I think two wins will do it as well, but I would not want to try to get that second win in the first round of the B1G tourney against a team like Iowa or Indiana. Hope they make it easier and they get that win against Penn St. Thursday night.

And I hope they make it into the NIT as well. It's a solid tournament with a lot of NCAA Tournament caliber teams, and the true "best of the rest" tournament. More importantly, it would represent a nice step up in progress from last year, and get us closer to the ultimate prize.

 

[backdoorpass]

And I hope they make it into the NIT as well. It's a solid tournament with a lot of NCAA Tournament caliber teams, and the true "best of the rest" tournament.

This struck me as funny. It is a solid tournament. But, by definition, it has NIT caliber teams--not NCAA Tournament caliber teams.

Anyway, agree with all the rest. Really hoping we can win out, make the NIT and do some damage. It would represent an important step for the program, a little "proof" to sell recruits and something to build on. (Regardless, we're going to be quite good and definitely NCAA Tournament bound in 2017-18. Not sure about next season.)

 

[NJCat83588]

This struck me as funny. It is a solid tournament. But, by definition, it has NIT caliber teams--not NCAA Tournament caliber teams.

Literally true. But objectively, the best 68 teams in the country are not in the NCAA, due to the socialistic requirement to include the tournament winner of all of the minor conferences. Therefore, there wil be several deserving teams who get crunched by the numbers and fall into the NIT, who are in the top 68 teams in the nation otherwise. And who would be in the NCAA tournament if the SWAC champ or MEAC champ or some other dopey conference champ wasn't automatically in.......

 

[hdhntr1]

I think two wins will do it as well, but I would not want to try to get that second win in the first round of the B1G tourney against a team like Iowa or Indiana. Hope they make it easier and they get that win against Penn St. Thursday night.

And I hope they make it into the NIT as well. It's a solid tournament with a lot of NCAA Tournament caliber teams, and the true "best of the rest" tournament. More importantly, it would represent a nice step up in progress from last year, and get us closer to the ultimate prize.

If they are in the 1st round, it would mean that they are up against Rutgers, IL or MN. To be in that position, it means we likely lost both games. Winning one would likely have our 1st game in the second round against someone fairly tough like Mich, Purdue, even OSU or MSU. Easier to get two wins against NEB and PSU.

 

[ToledoCat]

20 wins and they can get in the NIT given PSU /Neb overall records and the desire for Big - but it will be a road game. The pay to play Tourneys are fine... anything to keep them playing with some nice experience.... would be great to see a 21st win.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Chris Collins has been saying that he wants to be playing meaningful games in March. Well, this week's games are pretty important. I believe that if the Cats win both games, against PSU and Nebraska, they are in the NIT. Right now the Cats sit in 11th place in the Big 10 (according to the ESPNU graphic of the BTT seeds on TV yesterday). The conference will probably send 7 teams to the NCAA, which leaves one team currently with 10 wins in the NIT. The Big 10 probably sends 3 teams to the NIT. Obviously, if NU loses both games they're not going to the NIT. But win both, and they will be 8-10 with 3 wins against their closest competition, PSU and Nebraska. Would be hard to see how they wouldn't be in the NIT with 20 regular season wins and 8 wins in conference, riding a 3 game regular season winning streak. Lose 1 game and the OOC schedule probably works against NU, and OSU/Michigan, PSU and Nebraska probably are NIT bound.

Will be an interesting week.

ESPNU announcers stated they felt wins against PSU and Nebraska would get us to the NIT.

If we win both, have to think we are in IMO regardless of BTT. If we win just one of the two, likely depends on us winning one game in the BTT.

One projection linked here has us as a 7-seed in the NIT. That's extremely close to the fringe given that a few teams will inevitably grab NCAA bids in their conference tournaments and cause a chain reaction. My guess is we'd need to go at least 1-1 this week and win our first tournament game, and I wouldn't feel secure even if we won all three of those games.

Templon has Michigan in the dance and Ohio State as #2 seed in the NIT. If the Buckeyes can beat MSU on Saturday, I'll start liking their chances to snag an at large and thus leaving NU as the only viable BIG option for the NIT (assuming the 'Cats take their last two regular season games).

20 wins and they can get in the NIT given PSU /Neb overall records and the desire for Big - but it will be a road game. The pay to play Tourneys are fine... anything to keep them playing with some nice experience.... would be great to see a 21st win.

Congratulations to the Wildcats for the win over the Lions. The Nebraska game becomes all the more important now based on the above quoted views. Go Cats!

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

We looked great against PSU. Beat Nebraska and we are in for sure

 

[NJCat83588]

We looked great against PSU. Beat Nebraska and we are in for sure

Agree.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

Congratulations to the Wildcats for the win over the Lions. The Nebraska game becomes all the more important now based on the above quoted views. Go Cats!

We looked great against PSU. Beat Nebraska and we are in for sure

Agree.

Congratulations once again, this time for the win over the Huskers. Nice to see the Wildcats rise to the occasion when so much was on the line. Go Cats!