Wednesday's Big East Schedule

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Originally Posted by MU_Iceman

A start like that and there is NO chance of making the NCAA's...that's just the reality. I still say, the EASIEST path to the NCAA's is for MU to NOT lose at home...that's 9 wins right there, win @ DuhPaul, @ Providence and @ SJU, that's 12 wins right there. Win all your home games, and it doesn't matter what you do @Creighton, @ Xavier, @ Nova.

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Ah, you do realize that in the scenario you gave as the "EASIEST path to the NCAA's" would put MU at 1-2 after this weekend, correct? So which is it, "A start like that and there is NO chance of making the NCAA's" or "I will say, the EASIEST path to the NCAA's ..."?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MU_Iceman

A start like that and there is NO chance of making the NCAA's...that's just the reality. I still say, the EASIEST path to the NCAA's is for MU to NOT lose at home...that's 9 wins right there, win @ DuhPaul, @ Providence and @ SJU, that's 12 wins right there. Win all your home games, and it doesn't matter what you do @Creighton, @ Xavier, @ Nova.

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1. We could start 3-5 and still easily make the tournament. 2-6 and it gets dicey.

2. Our easiest path to the tournament is to get 10 conference wins. We're not going to win all of our home games. Sweep DePaul. Sweep SJU. Sweep Providence. Sweep Georgetown. Beat SHU at home. That's 9 wins. Then get one of the home games vs. Nova, X, Creighton, or Butler

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Originally Posted by MU_Iceman

No way...have to look at the short term...this pretty much guarantees no way MU wins Saturday now. Nova hasn't lost two in a row in 3 years. A Nova win, and I would have really liked MU's chances...just another reason that Hall loss is REALLY going to haunt them come selcetion Sunday...Had MU started 2-0, losing to Nova...eh..no big deal..but starting 1-2?? That's a hill to climb.

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You're going to give yourself an ulcer man! Butler/Nova was a great game and I didn't care who won. I actually agree with a previous post that I'm probably slightly happier Butler won. Speaks to the strength of the league if Nova doesn't run through the regular season.

Concerning Saturday, meh, don't think it makes a difference. Nova is really good, regardless of the result yesterday. All any team can do is hope to steal a couple conference games on the road. Nova isn't one anybody should expect to steal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MU_Iceman

A start like that and there is NO chance of making the NCAA's...that's just the reality. I still say, the EASIEST path to the NCAA's is for MU to NOT lose at home...that's 9 wins right there, win @ DuhPaul, @ Providence and @ SJU, that's 12 wins right there. Win all your home games, and it doesn't matter what you do @Creighton, @ Xavier, @ Nova.

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4 of our first 8 are on the road. Of the home games, 2 are Seton Hall (who killed us last year) and Villanova. All four of the road teams are projected to make the NCAA tournament. I am hoping for 3-5. I wouldn't be crushed with 2-6.

After that, we still have Providence twice, St. John's twice, and DePaul once. If we're worthy of being a tourney team, that's five wins. Then we also have Creighton, Xavier, and Butler at home. More winnable here than away. The other two are Georgetown and Xavier on the road. Go 3-2 in those last five and we get to 10-8 even with a 2-6 start. Just as important, we'll be 8-2 in our last 10 going into the BET.

Look at the schedule on the whole. The requisite is 19 total wins before the Big East tournament. Do that and we have a shot. Don't freak out because of a slow start. Our schedule sets up terribly in January, then starts to open up with Providence at home January 28. In my opinion, if we start 4-4 or 5-3, buy your NCAA tickets, because we are a mortal lock to make the tournament.

Just saw this from Lunardi:
Villanova, despite loss, will remain No. 1 overall in Thursday's bracket. Wildcats came in with a significant edge on the other No. 1 seeds.