Conference of the Americas......one-bid

[stever20]

thing with all those bubble teams is we really need to see the next 3 weeks(like Gumby says). We need to see if Butler goes 4-1 or 3-2 and gets them in. If Seton Hall goes 3-3 they're in. You can say that with a lot of teams....

Butler had a good OOC in terms of a few big wins. But overall their SOS wasn't good in OOC play vs UConn. UConn 56, Butler 213. That's a big reason why UConn by most accounts is very comfortable right now- while Butler is in trouble.

I think AAC may be heading towards 3 quite frankly. UConn is in excellent shape right now. Cincy I think is in pretty good shape. If they can go 4-1 rest of the way- with @ Tulsa, UConn, @ ECU, @ Houston, SMU- as long as they don't have a bad loss in the AAC tourney, it's tough to see them out. 35 RPI at that point with a 23-8 record. That's in. And Temple may win the conference.... Or Tulsa. Or Houston. A lot easier to see a non top 2 team winning it and stealing a bid in the AAC vs the Big East IMO....

It's interesting about the head to head game with Temple/Nova. I think it's more of a thing where it could elevate the AAC than hurt the Big East because the perception going in is that Nova is the best team of the country and Temple is around #50. You would expect Nova to win big. When you get a situation like that- it's almost a no win situation for the #1 team. It'll be really interesting to see come Thursday/Friday what the impact of that game is either way.

[billyjack]

The selection committee isn't made up of robots. They can think beyond the RPI.
This discussion is reminding me of the Tulsa-Temple arguments from last year, and now we're reading the same incorrect talking points.
Butler is in a great place, among other things because they have won at Cincinnati, vs Purdue, and vs Temple.

[stever20]

The selection committee isn't made up of robots. They can think beyond the RPI.
This discussion is reminding me of the Tulsa-Temple arguments from last year, and now we're reading the same incorrect talking points.
Butler is in a great place, among other things because they have won at Cincinnati, vs Purdue, and vs Temple.

Butler isn't in a great place if they keep on losing. Why I say they need 3 wins and they're in is that will get in is that that gets their conference record to 9-9. I don't think Butler's resume is good enough to get in with a losing record.

[billyjack]

That's a worthless, alarmist statement...
You can say that about every team outside of the top-15...

Pitt isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Florida State isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Texas isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Washington isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.

Difference is that Butler has great ooc wins and no bad losses.

Anyway, if anything isn't taken care of in the regular season, there is still the Big East Tourney to provide even more opportunities for good wins. If PC loses to Butler or Creighton, that's a nice extra feather in one of their caps.

[stever20]

You can say that about every team outside of the top-15...

Pitt isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Florida State isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Texas isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.
Washington isn't in a great place if they keep on losing.

Difference is that Butler has great ooc wins and no bad losses.

Anyway, if anything isn't taken care of in the regular season, there is still the Big East Tourney to provide even more opportunities for good wins. If PC loses to Butler or Creighton, that's a nice extra feather in one of their caps.

But for Butler for instance. If they finish 8-10, they almost certainly will play a no win game vs St John's, then have to face Xavier. If Georgetown beats Butler for instance- Butler would have to either win 3 games OR win 2 games with 1 being Nova to finish ahead of Georgetown(if Georgetown only wins that game). Providence already ahead of them. They would need Seton Hall to lose all but 1 game(and that's with St John's and DePaul on the schedule). Creighton may finish 3rd and see Georgetown in the QF. It's a win but not a feather in the cap type of wins... Like look at the bracket right now. Butler would see St John's 1st round, then Xavier QF. Creighton/Georgetown in the QF. Creighton may have to make the final in that scenario, while Butler would need to make the SF to probably get in.

[whiteandblue77]

Stever, in moment of honesty, when he realizes the American Athletic Conference is a dumpster fire

[billyjack]

too many variables.

[Wizard of Westroads]

I nominate "Conference of the Americas ...... one-bid" for the most (fill in the blank) thread in the history of basketball message boards. It defies description.

[jfan]

I nominate "Conference of the Americas ...... one-bid" for the most (fill in the blank) thread in the history of basketball message boards. It defies description.

How about "Pointless" and I'm being nice!

[stever20]

too many variables.

Not really. Butler at 8-10 would need a LOT of help to avoid the 1st round. That puts them in a track with St Johns/Xavier- and not PC.