There is a song I like entitled "Looking At The World through Rose Colored Glasses". I get it, you're excited that we're 11-1. I am, too. How does a MAC team get in the NCAA tourney? In most years it means win the MAC tourney. What would change that? Beating teams at your level or below when you are considered a mid-tear team in a mid tear conference? Sometimes below the middle of the pack in conference rankings. Had we played more teams like Louisville and beaten some of them, I might be dreaming of at-large bids and and such, but I think we have to do it the old fashioned way. That's another great song written by Johnny Mercer, "I'm Old Fashioned." And maybe we are good enough to beat those teams if we had played more of them. Too bad we didn't.
Regardless of everything you've said, and regardless of the thought of an at-large bid, what we do now and these numbers effectively determine your seeding, and thus difficulty of opponent and odds of advancing beyond the first round, regardless of how you get in the tournament.
I don't think we will stay top-20 in the RPI, but I think with this strong start, assuming we take care of business in conference, we can position ourselves to finish top-50, which can have a huge effect on who we may play. I also don't necessarily think an at-large is totally out of the question, but it will require an exceptional conference record, and losing late in the MAC tournament, probably finals. I'd rather just win the thing!
Last Edited: 12/28/2011 6:39:28 PM by anorris