Can IU shock and awe the world?

Buried_Nick · Post by **Buried_Nick** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:35 pm

Great job making the shots and plays down the stretch.
Davis has the young guys playing well. If PE2 can jack it up a notch, IU could beat Wisconsin this Tue. night. Not much rest after a big win, but it can be done. MSU's gamefilm should help.

IU is now 12-5 their last 17 games. A 'W' over Wisc. @ Kohl would propell them even higher, imo. Finishing out with another win or two, would put them at 15 or 16 - 6 on this season ending stretch. IMO, that should be Dance worthy. They went through an "Izzo Like" stretch of 6 losses there early, that were brutal! Can't fault them, since we didn't win any of ours last season either.

As of today, my picks from the B-11 for the Dance:

Ill.
MSU
Wisc.
Minn.
IU

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:33 am

Indiana certainly made a strong case for a tourney bid with that win yesterday. However, they're 69th in the RPI as of yesterday...Minnesota is 47th. The Gophers are most likely in along with Illinois, Michigan State and Wisconsin...you probably won't see more than one more get in and Indiana may be that team. Iowa has a case but has a bad record in conference...without the services of Pierce though. They do have wins over Louisville and Texas early on. Without their star player though, they don't have a quality win to speak of. Being 5-9 in the Big Ten probably costs them a bid unless they make a huge run in the conference tourney.

You made an accurate comparison with Indiana this year and MSU from last year with the start of their season...a very tough non-conference slate with games against North Carolina, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Missouri and Charlotte all in a row...and dropping all 6 games. That early schedule has earned them the 16th toughest schedule in the RPI.

Their biggest problem is not having enough quality wins and with a 14-11 record...you need a few wins that puts them over the top of other teams with 10, 11 and 12 losses. A 9-5 record in the Big Ten is okay but not extraordinary. This isn't exactly a banner year for the conference. Illinois brings the conference some cred but it's a large drop down to Michigan State and Wisconsin. They'd have to win both games this week and pull off one upset in the Big Ten tournament to get in. They'd probably be no higher than a #10 or #11 seed if they do get in.

One thing going against them is that they dropped the only matchup with Iowa...the only other team in the conference that's truly on the bubble. Iowa has wins over Minnesota and Indiana but going 5-9 after starting 12-1 is going to test the committee. There are some valid arguments for both Iowa and Indiana but neither are sure things. You'd be more likely to see an extra team from the Big East, ACC, Big XII, or SEC get in over a mediocre Big Ten team. Indiana and Iowa will have to win out this week and win atleast twice in the conference tournament to put them in a good position for a spot.

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:54 am

EXCELLENT post Shoalzie. If someone would have told me in January IU would be in a legit bubble conversation when March started I'd have pissed myself laughing. They dug themselves a mighty deep hole, I just don't know if they can dig out. Hard for me to see a win at Kohl, which means we'll need 2 in the BTT. Likely 1st rounder with Minnesota will be HUGE. The prize for that victory, a date with the Illini!!!

Buried_Nick · Post by **Buried_Nick** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:46 am

4 pt game with 5:00 to go!!!!

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:34 pm

IU bubble has burst. Only the conference tourney win will get them in now. If A&M does not beat OSU tonight, same for them.

Looks like A&M and IU may get to meet in the NIT. I'd like to see them meet in the tourney, but if we both don't make it, I'd at least love to see the A&M/IU matchup. I have 25 in-laws here that went to or are still going to IU. Should make for good Easter dinner conversation should they meet.

L45B · Post by **L45B** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:20 pm

IU bubble has burst.

I dunno about that just yet. What a hell of a way to lose to a team that simply does not lose at home often. IU is playing tough right now. I still say they can win out, win a few games in the conference tourney, and still make it to the dance.

indyfrisco · Post by **indyfrisco** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:28 pm

Lance,

They needed that win last night. You can't use the excuse of "we scheduled a brutal schedule" and lose all of the games and still expect to get into the tourney. They need to at the very least make it to the conf. tourney final and make it close.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 4:40 pm

There's never been a team from the big 10 to not make it if they win at least 10 confrence games. IU has 9 and playing either Northwestern or Penn State in their final regular season game. If they win that and win a first round Big 10 game, I think they are a lock for the tourny.

Why does the Big 10 have the worst officiating crew for both football and basketball? Just curious.

Buried_Nick · Post by **Buried_Nick** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:42 pm

Killian wrote:There's never been a team from the big 10 to not make it if they win at least 10 confrence games.

Wrong again, Obi-Wan.

Michigan won 10 one year and didn't make it.
You might remember that it happened back when
the Big11 played a round robin schedule with no conf. tourney.
That made Mich a 10-8 team in conference play.

Your post SHOULD have said, No 10 win team since going to a 16 game reg. scheddy has not made the dance.

Your welcome.

err.......................

no your not. F that. :?

Buried_Nick · Post by **Buried_Nick** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 3:45 pm

L45B wrote:
IU bubble has burst.
I dunno about that just yet. What a hell of a way to lose to a team that simply does not lose at home often. IU is playing tough right now. I still say they can win out, win a few games in the conference tourney, and still make it to the dance.

If they avoid Ill in that 2nd tourney game, and maybe get to upset MSU again, then yeah, they should be in. But, if they get in Ill. bracket, it's one and done, and waiting for a miracle invite.

Those sucky assed calls by Hightower SKEEEEEE------REWWWWWWD IU, man!

That NO CALL on the rebound putback was weak!

Steve Lavin was really layin it out on the line. Good for him.

IU got jobbed there.

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 4:25 pm

Wow Babs, you sure do have 'bode on me now. :roll:

-Edit-

How silly of me, of course you don't. Are you talking about '95-'96 when they went 10-8 in the Big 10? They lost the in the opening round of the NCAA tourny to Texas you fuck twit.

Shine · Post by **Shine** » Sat Mar 05, 2005 3:46 am

IndyFrisco wrote:They need to at the very least make it to the conf. tourney final and make it close.

You're right, which is why the bubble hasn't burst just yet. If they get to the BTT title game, they'll knock off the Illini in the process. Should they do that, the strong finish coupled with W's over 2 top 10ish teams will get them in as a 10 or 11 seed.

I don't think it'll happen, but ya never know.