They could have done a lot of things but this isn't an earned event.  As I said before this is a made for TV event that is intended to make money for ESPN. It's not made to make a fair seeding of teams.  I assume ESPN put New Mexico State on 3pm on Saturday because they feel they will draw a better TV rating.  It's frustrating as hell but it is what it is.

Completely understand the feeling of OU fans who may be "offended" by this match-up but allow a UNCA homer from Ohio to provide some context.


Last year we came on strong to win our conference (clearly inferior to the MAC) and were placed in the 'play'in' game... We not only won but gave #1 seed Pitt a pretty decent scare.  This year we returned 4 of 5 starters and our entire bench...granted...we lost our best big man due to injury for 2011/12 (DJ cunningham...from ohio...who was a top recruit by wright state, and dayton, among others).... Yet our guard play and young/undersized big men have played well.  We are blowing out our conference and have played close games vs. UNC, UT, Uconn and NC state.  We also have wins against Utah and several other strong programs.

Realize OU is top 80 or so in RPI but Asheville will be coming to Athens with two of the top guards in the nation (Primm & Dickey) and a big chip on their shoulder.  Granted OU will be favored -- but as someone who grew up in ohio and is familiar with MAC programs I would caution anyone against overlooking asheville.  As much as I love my home state the reality is that NC is a far better basketball state and somehow assuming asheville is an inferior matchup and the fact the game is on ESPN3 is 'demeaning' is far from the case.

I can't wait to see UNCA beat OU -- but an OU win would be far bigger for their recruiting in the southeast than beating some of the other schools your guys have said you want to face....  As a slightly less than objective observer.... A LOT of people watch games online via XBOX and espn3 these days... Maybe not so much in rural Ohio (and I'm from a city in ohio) -- but a lot of my friends have given up cable and only watch online...etc.

Should be a great game -regardless...and hopefully some of you "fans" become more educated on the pedigree of eddie biedenbach and his program....  Eddie has more basketball royalty in his left pinky than the entire OU program.

Feel free to join us to discuss at: http://www.uncafans.com

False, at least for this season.



Great, but we don't really recruit the southeast.

My issue is not playing UNC-Asheville. My issue is playing UNC-A on ESPN3. 

If we play this game on ESPN2 or ESPNU I have no problems with facing a team with a slightly higher RPI.

Agreed.  Not disrespecting UNC-A, their program, or their ability to come to the Convo fired up and put it to us.  That's not my point.  My point is that I don't want to play them in the first place because in my mind the BB was supposed to be a totally different opportunity.  We've already had plenty of UNC-A type teams on our schedule and another one is just the status quo and in my estimation does nothig to help us "bust into the bracket."

You are arguing a completely different issue.  I have no doubt that they could very well beat us. That's the problem.  We get no benefit from playing this game.  I'm not saying we deserved a better opponent. I'm saying we deserved an opponent with a better RPI.

+1

I get that -- respect it... Gotta say though ESPN U's footprint is just as small if not smaller than ESPN3.  Most people get ESPN3 for free with a basic cable package or even (like I do) an Internet only package through AT&T.  ESPN U is an add on for most major cable companies.

I know it stinks that we get no TV... 17-4, and two opponents that we beat handily got TV games. Sucks for the players.

But I can't help but chuckle that we announce a Bobcat Blackout for the BB game, and then, when the match-ups are announced - our game is effectively blacked out with no TV.

Glad to see Groce ticked off. I hope it rubs off and they play with an attitude.
My bottom line, though, is lose to Bowling Green = no right to complain.