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Around SBN: News And Other Updates Leading Up To Pats-Giants

Big Ten Tournament Final Open Thread

So, Ohio State - Minnesota it is.  (If you picked that matchup, you almost certainly won the tournament pool.  Also, you are clairvoyant.)  Ohio State has looked vulnerable in the past two games -- until the final minute, of course, when either Evan Turner and David Lighty has absolutely taken over.  Minnesota, meanwhile, had no trouble getting over playing the late overtime game against Your Spartans, as they absolutely demolished Purdue.

Minnesota is looking to become only the second team in tournament history to win the championship after having to play on the first day.    (Iowa did it as a #6 seed in 2001.  Also, if Minnesota wins, Pete will eat his hat, which should be entertaining.)  For that reason, you might give the advantage to Ohio State, but the Gophers are a very deep team--nine players average more than ten minutes per game, as you might recall--and consequently are reasonably well-equipped to handle four games in four days.  Ultimately, as Martin Tyler might say, it's the irresistable force versus the immovable object.  Should be great, but I'm not betting against Evan Turner.

So, enjoy the game, and talk about it here.  We'll be back with another open thread for the tournament selection show later this evening.  (FWIW, Rexrode thinks we're heading out west.)

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What does the secelection committee do

if it’s a close game heading toward 6? Do they err on the side of putting Minnesota in?

by Lesmana Lim on Mar 14, 2010 11:27 AM CDT reply actions  

Im sure they have what if brckets...

…for if Minnesota wins and if Mineesota loses.

by BennieBladesFan on Mar 14, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions  

I'm seeing a lot of argument for Minn in, Illinois out regardless

Which would surprise me a bit (not the order among those two, but Illinois out in favor of a VT team that essentially pulled a Penn State 2009 in their non-conference – and that might be unkind to Penn State).

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions  

As a matter of fact ...

PSU 09: 22-11, RPI 48, SOS 71, 6-9 vs. RPI top 50, 7-10 vs. top 100, 7-8 road/neutral. Won first-round match in Big Ten tourney (vs. Indiana), lost to Purdue. 10-8 in #2 RPI conference, 6 of 7 tournament teams in conference played twice.
VT 10: 23-8, RPI 59, SOS 132, 3-4 vs. RPI top 50, 8-7 vs. top 100, 8-7 road/neutral. Lost first round of ACC tournament to Miami. 10-6 in #3 RPI conference, but played none of the 6 projected tournament teams twice.

If not for the weakness of the bubble this year relative to last (and that seems to be suddenly tightening up), there’s no way VT is anywhere near close.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

RPI of 59?!

I’m not sure where to look it up, but I feel pretty sure that very few teams with an RPI that low have ever made the NCAA tournament without getting an auto-bid.

by nothsa on Mar 14, 2010 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions  

It's definitely happened

Lowest ever is 74, I think. (And Illinois’s this year is 73.) The difference is that Illinois has some redeeming values to go with that RPI. VT really doesn’t.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions  

And they have VT in

Which is insane. If the committee does that, I think Rambler’s going to head down to the Selection Committee’s hotel with a torch and pitchfork.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

Though, to be fair ...

I’m not sure how sophisticated their model is, but “10-6 ACC” is usually a pretty strong indicator and doesn’t include just three wins over tournament teams.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions  

Dear ESPN:

Get Kenny Chesney’s poor imitation of “music” the hell away from my basketball game.

Thank you.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:06 PM CDT reply actions  

MSU's seed
  1. better than #5? Potentially less travel + avoid the #1 seed for an extra round.

Match-ups more important than seed, I suppose. No dominant big men, please.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Mar 14, 2010 1:19 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

Mobile post FAIL

Supposed to start “#6 better…”

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Mar 14, 2010 1:20 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Always does that if you start a line with #

And I always forget about it until I click “Post” and watch the carnage.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Less travel

How does that work? I thought they only consider location for top 4 seeds.

by TMadison25 on Mar 14, 2010 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions  

Just going based on Rexrode's reasong on pods

May apply to 3/6/11/14 pods too, though. Didn’t read it that closely.

If anyone cares, I’ll be live-tweeting from the final. (!!!) Website loads slow inside Conseco.

Go Gophers, I suppose.

Fight for The Only Colors: Green and White!

by KJ@theonlycolors on Mar 14, 2010 1:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Bracket Update

If Minnesota wins it’s a tie between (possessions in brackets):

KarkoviceIsHawt (63)
spartyboy40 (65)
SpartanDan (65)
mikehead (66)
RobbingGormanThomas (63)

If Ohio State wins it’s a tie between (possessions in brackets):
KarkoviceIsHawt (63)
spartyboy40 (65)
SpartanDan (65)

But does anyone truly win if MSU loses first round?

by TMadison25 on Mar 14, 2010 1:25 PM CDT reply actions  

Selection time

What time do they reveal the brackets?

by TMadison25 on Mar 14, 2010 1:26 PM CDT reply actions  

6 ET

Pretty much right after the Big Ten title game.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions  

Kentucky hangs on

That might be a bubble spot for Illinois.

by SpartanDan on Mar 14, 2010 2:20 PM CDT reply actions  

I know I should be rooting for more Big Ten bids

But when Calipari’s involved, that’s mighty difficult to do.

by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

CBS bracketology predictions

Have MSU as the 4 seed in the East . . . with Kentucky, Duke, and Villanova as the top 3. That would be brutal.

by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 3:27 PM CDT reply actions  

Evan Turner is unbelievable.

We’re watching a national championship-caliber team here today.

by LVS on Mar 14, 2010 4:08 PM CDT reply actions  

Yup...

I sure as hell wouldn’t want to play that squad if I’m any team in the field.

by MooTheKow on Mar 14, 2010 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions  

Well

If MSU makes it to the elite eight there’s a good chance we’ll get another shot to beat OSU.

by RewertsSpartan on Mar 14, 2010 9:13 PM CDT reply actions  

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