Do or Die

[juckerrules]

The next 2 games are absolutely crucial - win them both and the Cats are assured of a winning record in the BEast - At UConn will be tough - I can live with a loss there if we win the next 2. Losing either one (or both!) would be a tremendous downer in an otherwise "better than I expected" year (and probably sssure an overall losing record - I can't see more than one victory in the BEast tourney).

Momentum towards the end of the year is so important...last year, the Cats crashed and burned in the latter part of the year - they need to show the grit and determination that they have flashed at times during this season.

It's time to get the job done at home....it's do or die!

[ralph1950]

10-8 in the Big East would represent a fantastic season all by itself. Mick is the man. Hope to send the UC Unforgetables off with a sellout crowd on Thursday.

[Scheids21]

10-8 in the Big East would represent a fantastic season all by itself. Mick is the man. Hope to send the UC Unforgetables off with a sellout crowd on Thursday.

Sellout wont happen. Im hoping for 11-12,000.

[nachoman91]

Losing 2 of the next three and then losing in the first round of the BE tourney would mean UC would finish weak, below .500, and probably wouldn't get a bid in any post season tourney. While the season would still be a huge improvement it would cast a big time shadow over what was otherwise a great season. UC needs to finish strong to build momentum for next year.

[juckerrules]

Sad thing is, they need to win 2 of 3 AND win one in the BEast tourney just to finish at .500 overall. Remember, they're already under .500 now, winning two + one tourney game but losing to UConn and whoever beats them in the tourney puts them at 16-16

I'd take 16-16 and 10-8 in the conference.....but I still want more!

[Lowkey]

Losing 2 of the next three and then losing in the first round of the BE tourney would mean UC would finish weak, below .500, and probably wouldn't get a bid in any post season tourney. While the season would still be a huge improvement it would cast a big time shadow over what was otherwise a great season. UC needs to finish strong to build momentum for next year.

well said.....i agree with that^^^100%

[jeffto]

Root for the BEAST home teams to all win today! That would give another loss to Pitt, WVU and Seton Hall.

[Bearcat_NTS]

luckily for us Seton Hall lost to St. Johns, which probably means we won't be tied with them for 7th, also with WVU losing that puts them at 9-7 so a win tommorow and we are back ahead of them (tiebreaker). Sixth place is looking unlikely as Pitt won again.

[Kindog202]

Obviously we need to take care of business first, but assuming we finish 10-8 in conference and so do Pitt and WVU, how does a 3-way tie-break work? We would own the tie break over WVU, since we split with Pitt, what is the next tie break scenario?

I think we want to stay out of the 8/9 game because winner would appear to get G-town and that is the one team I would not want to face in the second round. Out of the prohibitive favorites for the top 4 conference spots, I would most like to face UCONN, then Louisville, then Notre Dame, then G-Town.

[jeffto]

Obviously we need to take care of business first, but assuming we finish 10-8 in conference and so do Pitt and WVU, how does a 3-way tie-break work? We would own the tie break over WVU, since we split with Pitt, what is the next tie break scenario?

I think we want to stay out of the 8/9 game because winner would appear to get G-town and that is the one team I would not want to face in the second round. Out of the prohibitive favorites for the top 4 conference spots, I would most like to face UCONN, then Louisville, then Notre Dame, then G-Town.I would guess the next tie breaker would be overall record. Purely a guess.

[Bearcat_NTS]

i see the standins panning out like this
1.G'town 15-3
2.UL 14-4
3.ND 14-4
4.UConn 14-4
5.Marquette 11-7
6.Pitt 11-7
7.UC 10-8
8.WVU 10-8
9.Syracuse 9-9
10.Nova 8-10
11.SH 8-10
12. Prov 5-13

this situation would have us playing Nova in he first round which is tough, then if we win we would play UL, I think we need to hope that SH overtakes Nova because that would be an easier matchup,or that Uconn or ND slide into the 2 spot.

[Kindog202]

I'd rather play Louisville than Notre Dame
**
I like the Villanova matchup but agree would take Seton Hall over playing Villanova if I had my druthers.

[juckerrules]

Obviously we need to take care of business first, but assuming we finish 10-8 in conference and so do Pitt and WVU, how does a 3-way tie-break work? We would own the tie break over WVU, since we split with Pitt, what is the next tie break scenario?

I think we want to stay out of the 8/9 game because winner would appear to get G-town and that is the one team I would not want to face in the second round. Out of the prohibitive favorites for the top 4 conference spots, I would most like to face UCONN, then Louisville, then Notre Dame, then G-Town.

2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING FORMULA
Overall Conference record, at the conclusion of the regular season, is used to seed teams number 1 through 16.
The top 12 seeds qualify for the Conference Tournament. The following procedures are set up to establish
seeding for the championship and to break ties. Follow the appropriate steps in order.
TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE FOR SEEDING
TWO-WAY TIE
1. Regular season head-to-head results (one or two games). If the tied teams split their two games, then
proceed to Step 2 below.
2. Each team’s record vs. the team or tied teams occupying the highest position in the standings. Continue
down through the standings until one team gains an advantage. When comparing records against a single
team or collective tied teams (before ties are broken), the following may apply:
a. If the games played against the team or group are equal, winning percentage prevails.
b. If the games played against the team or group are unequal, the following scenarios apply:
1) Most wins do prevail only if the team with fewer wins could not equal that win total if they played
the same number of games. Two examples of many scenarios that do provide an advantage:
1) Team A 2-0 2) Team A 3-0
Team B 0-1 Team B 1-1
2) Most wins do not prevail if the team with fewer wins could equal or surpass the win total of the
other team. Two examples of many scenarios that do not provide an advantage:
1) Team A 1-1 2) Team A 2-0
Team B 0-1 Team B 1-0
3) Fewer losses do not prevail if the teams have the same number of wins and if the team with fewer
games could equal or surpass the loss total of the other team. Two examples of many scenarios that
do not provide an advantage:
1) Team A 1-0 2) Team A 0-1
Team B 1-1 Team B 0-2
If an advantage is not determined, proceed to the next team or group in the standings for comparison.
If the tie cannot be broken after continuing down through the last team or teams in the standings, revert
back to comparing records against the top teams in order and allow winning percentage to prevail even if
there is a comparison of unequal games. Only then, if the percentages are both 1.000, is 2-0 better than 1-0.
However, the reverse is not true – no team gains advantage when all have a .000 winning percentage (0-1
is never better than 0-2).
MULTIPLE-TEAM TIE (3 or more teams)
1. A) Teams are viewed as a “mini-conference” when comparing head-to-head results. The team with the
best record (as determined by winning percentage, even if unequal games) vs. the other teams in the miniconference
gains the advantage. If only two teams have the same best winning percentage in the miniconference,
the higher seed goes to the team winning the head-to-head series. If the two teams split their
two games, then proceed to Step 2 under Two-Way ties. To seed the remaining team(s) in this miniconference,
proceed to Paragraph B below. If three or more (but not all) teams have the same best winning
percentage in the original mini-conference, then those tied teams create a new mini-conference and follow
the same procedures as at the beginning of this paragraph. If all teams in the mini-conference have the
same mini-conference record, proceed to Step 2 below.
B) After the top team in a mini-conference is determined, the next team is ranked by its record in the
original mini-conference. If there are any remaining teams tied by their record in the mini-conference,
then head-to-head results will determine the higher seed. If the teams split two games, then proceed back
to the two-way tie breaking procedure. If there are at least three teams remaining tied by their record in
the mini-conference, they would then form a new mini-conference and follow the procedure again at the
beginning of Step 1 (Multiple-Team Tie).
2. Compare each team’s record vs. the team or group of tied teams occupying the highest position in the
standings. Continue down through the standings until one team gains an advantage. When comparing
records against a single team or collective tied teams (before ties are broken), the following may apply:
a. The games played against the team or group are equal, winning percentage prevails.
b. If the games played against the team or group are unequal, the following scenarios apply:
1) Most wins do prevail only if the team(s) with fewer wins could not equal that win total if they
played the same number of games. Two examples of many scenarios that do provide an advantage
1) Team A 2-0 2) Team A 3-1
Team B 1-1 Team B 1-2
Team C 0-1 Team C 1-2
2) Most wins do not prevail only if the team(s) with fewer wins could equal or surpass the win total
of the other team. Two examples of many scenarios that do not provide an advantage:
1) Team A 2-1 2) Team A 1-2
Team B 1-1 Team B 0-2
Team C 1-1 Team C 0-2
3) Fewer losses do not prevail if the team(s) have the same number of wins, but the team with fewer
games could equal or surpass the loss total of the other tied teams. Two examples of many scenarios
that do not provide an advantage:
1) Team A 2-0 2) Team A 0-2
Team B 2-1 Team B 0-3
Team C 2-1 Team C 0-3
If an advantage is not determined, proceed to the next team or group in the standings for comparison.
If the tie cannot be broken after continuing down through the last team or teams in the standings,
revert back to comparing records against the top teams in order and allow winning percentage to
prevail even if there is a comparison of unequal games. Only then, if the percentages are both 1.000,
than 2-0 is better than 1-0. However, the reverse is not true – no team gains advantage when all have a
.000 winning percentage (0-1 is never better than 0-2).
COIN FLIP
If any ties still exist after implementing all of the above tie-breaking procedures, a coin flip is required. The
procedure takes place at The BIG EAST Conference office immediately following the conclusion of the last
regular season conference game. Commissioner Michael Tranghese will administer this procedure. This session
is open to the media and to athletic department representatives of the tied teams.

[Kindog202]

Thanks jucker
**
The way I am reading it then, if UC, Pitt and WVU end up tied, it will hinge on the final matchup between Pitt and WVU. UC is 2-1 against the other 2 schools. Pitt is 2-1 now and WVU is 0-2. We are rooting for WVU on Monday as a WVU victory would make Pitt 2-2 and WVU 1-2, a Pitt W would make their record 3-1 and WVU 0-3. Go Mountaineers!!