What would it take for UC to make the NCAA Tournament?

[bearcatn8]

Now, I don't thinks it's gonna happen. But given the excitement of the wins over Louisville and Syracuse, what does everyone think it would take for UC to make the NCAA tourney given: (1) it's early season home losses to BG and Belmont; and (2) its 130ish (currently) RPI?

What if UC were to finish 6th or 7th in the conference standings? Would that be enough? Would they have to finish higher? Only way would be for them to make and win the Big East Tourney? 'Nova made it last year going 9-7 in the conference, but 'Cuse did not after going 10-6.

Similarly, what would it take for UC to make the NIT?

(I am not starting this thread to debate how many more wins the Cats will get, just wondering how many wins people think it would take for them to make a post season tourney.)

[Bearcat Fan Since 1958]

Win the BEast tourney to make NCAA.

Win 17 games to make NIT.

(My guesses, not fact)

[ralph1950]

Easy answer, win the Big East Tournament.

[bearcatn8]

Easy answer, win the Big East Tournament.

But is that the ONLY way for them to make it? What if they finished 4th in the conference but didn't win the big east tourney? Not enough?

[CincyBeerCo]

I would think it would take 12 (maybe13) overall wins in the BEast, and at least 1/2 BEast tourney win to overcome our early season droppings of the ball. That means 10/11 and 5/4 the rest of the way. Doable but damn tough.

Lets just win the tourney though.

[ralph1950]

But is that the ONLY way for them to make it? What if they finished 4th in the conference but didn't win the big east tourney? Not enough?

No one knows but the NCAA Tourney committee members. Maybe Jim Beheim can provide an answer, Syracuse went 10-6 in the Big East last year and did not get in. The only way to know for sure that you are in is to win the Big East Tourney.

[jeffto]

No one knows but the NCAA Tourney committee members. Maybe Jim Beheim can provide an answer, Syracuse went 10-6 in the Big East last year and did not get in. The only way to know for sure that you are in is to win the Big East Tourney.But Syracuse lost 6 more games after barely beating UC on Jan. 17th.

For us to even be considered, we'd have to win most of our remaining games in one of the top 3 conferences in the country. We'd be the hottest team in the country. Win a couple of tourney games and we're in baaaaabeeeeeeee.

[The real Bearcat Fan]

In order for UC to be invited to the NCAA Tournament I believe the surest way is to be invited to the Big East Tournament and winning the Big East. I also believe if the Bearcats could finish strong in the Big East like winning 12 or 13 games in the Big East. I really believe finishing strong is more important to the NCAA Tournament Committee than early season wins or losses. They want teams that are hot at the end of the season.

[shaunsimpson]

We are currently 7-8 and 2-1. W/ 18 big east games (I assume we don't have any more OOC games, but could be wrong) it would take 11 more wins putting us at 18 wins and a conference record of 13-5.

I would love to go over .500 and make it to the NIT.

[BasketBySteveLogan]

Even if they finish pretty well in the Big East standings, there are zero non-conf wins that matter...

But if they finish really hot like 8-2 or 9-1 some-crazily-how, then the committee would have to look at em

unfortunately, it's gonna be murder on the road in conference (even though they got one already), so assuming the Bearcats go like 2-7 or 3-6 at best on the road, then we're talkin 9-0 at home to get towards the top of the standings, which is highly unlikely

NIT isnt totally out of the question.. but it would take at least 10-8 in conference and a tourney win for that to happen

Realistically, I think we're lookin at 13-17 (8-10)

[Inchickinkick]

Having not read anyone's posts, Here is what i think mick needs too do too make the BE tourney> Start McClain AT center, move AdamH over, move Williamson too the wing, with Warren and Vaughn.
<the new starting rotation>
1G- Warren
2G- Vaughn
3F- Williamson
4F- AdamH ( he is just playing out out position)
5C- McClain
---------------
6M- Gentry
7M- Sikes
8M- Bishop
9M- Davis
10- Mitchell
11- Belton
12- Wilks
13- Miller

Thanks for letting me participate
ICIK

[jeffto]

Having not read anyone's posts, Here is what i think mick needs too do too make the BE tourney> Start McClain AT center, move AdamH over, move Williamson too the wing, with Warren and Vaughn.
<the new starting rotation>
1G- Warren
2G- Vaughn
3F- Williamson
4F- AdamH ( he is just playing out out position)
5C- McClain
---------------
6M- Gentry
7M- Sikes
8M- Bishop
9M- Davis
10- Mitchell
11- Belton
12- Wilks
13- Miller

Thanks for letting me participate
ICIK

I'd like to see Mick try that.

[dp3113]

win big east tournament is the only way.

we already have 8 losses. lets be honest- this team is going to drop several games they probably should win on the road, and will drop a few at home. Thats the reality of the situation. They are not mature enough yet and still are learning how to win games (showed signs of blowing it last night vs cuse late). we likely will lose at least 6 more games.

Our best hope is to have a 4 game winning streak or so going to the big east tournament, and somehow get 4 wins in the tournament and get an automatic bid.

[jeffto]

win big east tournament is the only way.

we already have 8 losses. lets be honest- this team is going to drop several games they probably should win on the road, and will drop a few at home. Thats the reality of the situation. They are not mature enough yet and still are learning how to win games (showed signs of blowing it last night vs cuse late). we likely will lose at least 6 more games.

Our best hope is to have a 4 game winning streak or so going to the big east tournament, and somehow get 4 wins in the tournament and get an automatic bid.You missed the point. The thread is not "what will happen", but what would it take. I believe they could make it w/o winning the tourney.

[dp3113]

did you not read my first and last line of my post?

win the big east tournament is the only way. i believe i addressed the point right there.

[Corporateballa]

the only way this team makes the NCAA tourny is to go 11-4 the rest of the way and get to 18 wins + 2 conference tourny wins. They'd have to get to 20 wins, and they'd still be a bubble team. They have some horrible losses, and no signiture wins out of conference. If this team can finish 15-15 (10-8 in conference), then Mick is coach of the year in the conference.

They would have to get significantly better play from at least two of the freshmen who have yet to contribute, and Adam. The is no reliable scorer other than Vaughn. This team reminds me of Huggin's 1st team when Steve Sanders hit the game winning shot against Minnesota in the first game ever at the Shoe. NIT team.

[jeffto]

did you not read my first and last line of my post?

win the big east tournament is the only way. i believe i addressed the point right there.So you're saying that if they win out except for the tourney championship, they don't go? They would have a 18 game winning streak in maybe the toughest conference in the country going into the conf. championship game and they wouldn't get a bid?

[GoCats1994]

The reason Syracuse did not go last year had nothing to do with their 10-6 record. It had everything to do with the selection committee sending a message to Syracuse (and anyone else that would listen) that they need to play SOMEONE in their out of conference schedule.

Last season, Syracuse played exactly two games out of conference away from the Carrier dome... In Madison Square Gardens (which by the way is still in NY) where they lost to the only legitimate team they played - Oklahoma St. The other "away" game was at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo where they beat Canisius.

Their home schedule consisted of the following teams: Wichita St & Drexel (losses) and St Francis, Penn, UTEP, Northeastern, Charlotte, Holy Cross, Colgate, Baylor, St Bonaventure (wins)

This is downright laughable.

Of course, Syracuse learned their lesson this year. They scheduled two games at MSG to go with one game in Charlottesville, VA.



To answer the original post question...

I think the Bearcats would need to work themselves into the #5 spot in the league. At #6, the committee would be able to rationalize taking the #7 or #8 team ahead of them due to the "bad losses" at the beginning of the season. At #5 there would be no way they could get passed over.

[Justin Register]

For them to not win the conference tourney and still make the NCAA, I think they have to go at worst 18-12 (13-5), and win one or two in the conference tourney (so we'll say 20-12). We don't really have any big OOC wins, so we need to finish well above .500 for the year and with a great conference record. We can't be sitting in the middle of the pack like two years ago, when 8-9 teams in the Big East are being looked at.