I Like My Crow Fried, Smothered or Baked

[cufan]

IMO, if one or two MVC teams win their game and if all other teams are competitive that should be enough if the teams that beat MVC teams have good tournaments. We are all going to be lower seeded team (except maybe WSU and possibly MSU if it wins the tourney). I see respect given to CU from last year because they lost to WSU on a last second steal and lay-up. Before, that there was respect for SIU after its last second loss to MU a couple of years ago. On the other hand, if even one team gets blown out, you will see a lot more criticism.

[steeleshocker]

While I do know that we don't have any "Top 16" teams here in the Valley, I also know that the quality of play from this conference can compete with about half of those teams that could be considered Top 16. With that in mind, and a favorable matchup or two, I could see us getting 1 or 2 teams in the sweet sixteen. It's not a make or break situation, but nobody next year would look twice at the Valley getting 4 teams if this year we get oh, say 3 first round wins and a team to the sweet 16. Just some hypotheticals, but I don't think it is easily within the realm to get a team or 2 to the round of 16.

[JVShocker]

The Valley success will depend on matchups, not necessarily seeds. I would argue that there are teams that are ranked, maybe even ranked highly, that some Valley teams would do well against. Those teams are likely to get higher seeds than Valley teams, but it won't make their games any easier.

[PoloGrounds Bears]

I am of the firm opinion that 6 (at a minimum 5) Valley teams should be in the tourney, but I only expect 1 or 2 winw in the tourney.

That is not an inconsistent position. Valley teams deserve 10 seeds and 11 seeds. These teams lse most of the time. It will not be scandalous if the Valley were to go 1-6, even though Bilas will spin it as such.

[getreal4]

I too thought 3 bids would be a stretch and no way 4. I was wrong, pass the crow my way Ace Dad.

Wins in the dance are key. Regardless of seeding, need at least 2 wins. 1-4 or 1-5 record will not spin well for next years atlarge opps.

[Ace Dad]

Earlier this year (chomp, chomp, chomp) I told several posters (chew, chew, chew) that there was no way the MVC would receive more than (swallow, swallow, swallow) three (3) bids for the big dance. I based my belief on what I perceived to be a biased selection process that favors BCS schools and our inability to play them. Since (pass the salt please) it is now apparent that I was wrong and overdramatized my position I humbly and publicly recognize ((bite, bite, bite) the posters who had the basketball intuition to understand (pull bone from my mouth) that the MVC would be good enough for four (4) bids. I do not mind eating this crow because getting four teams or five teams in this year will send a message to the "big boys" and just maybe they will schedule some home and home games in the future with us so they can improve their RPI!

LOL LOL LOL LOL

Please pass the black eyed peas.

[GoCatsGo]

It's all in good fun. No biggie.

[RockChalkWUShock]

Seleciton Sunday hasn't happened yet Ace Dad, we still don't know if you will be having crow or not. I won't believe more than three until I see it. ;)

[gosmsgo]

the only thing that will send a message to the big boys is to win in the tourney.

If we get 5 teams in and lose all 5 we would be the biggest joke in the ncaa.

We need to get 1 team to the sweet sixteen and one to the elite 8 to make a statement.

[redbirdtim]

I agree with gosmsgo. While it will be nice to get 4-5-heck, even 6 teams into the dance, we have to have success. A 50% success rate or better in first round games is key. I think all Valley teams that qualify will have the weapons to win a few games in a row...and heck, we could even see a Valley team in the Final 4. Go Valley!

[WuDrWu]

I'm not sure it's time to sit at the table but crow is certainly on the menu. It is a long time before selection Sunday and one of the biggest problems the MVC has is the long down time between the end of Arch Madness and the selection show, imho.

It's an out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing and it will be easy to leave one or 2 Valley teams out if there are any upsets in the conference tourneys.

[RoyalShock]

Elite 8??? Who this year has even hinted that a MVC team was even top-10 material? Yes that would make a statement but not making the E-8 shouldn't bring any criticism.

We've had 2 or 3 teams reach the 25-30 area. If we have two teams win first-round games then we've quietly lived up to expectations, IMO. As it stands now, we may only have 2 teams who will be the higher seed in the first round.

I do completely agree that we can't go 0-fer in the tourney.

[Myopicraiderfan]

I agree, worst thing that could happen is get 5 in and then none make it to the round of 16. You know the Valley would hear about it next year as well as Valley RPI is overated.

[TrueBlueJay]

Who has ever said the Valley has a top 16 team? The tournament is supposed to bring in the top 65 teams in the country. In my mind, the Valley does not have a top 16 team, but it does have 5 or 6 teams within the top 40 or 50 in the country (a few in the top 25 or 30 even possibly).

Why does the Valley have to get a team into the sweet 16 to prove that 5 teams were in the top 40? Your logic is flawed.

[martymoose]

It's going to be tough, most of our seeds are going to put us up against better teams. WSU appears to be the only team that might have a good seed...Maybe MSU also. I think it will be a success if at least half win the first round....Maybe 1 wins the 2nd round. It's going to be an uphill battle the whole way. The MVC is better top to bottom than we've been in a long time...but there's no standout team that is a "sure thing" to make a run in the tourney.

[Myopicraiderfan]

I'm just saying that if we go 0-5 in the first round ESPN will crush us and say we manipulated the RPI and we are no better than the MWC or WAC(which are good conferences BTW). If we win a couple and get one into sweet 16 we validate that we are closer to A10 conference and can justify 3-4 seats in future tourneys.

[TrueBlueJay]

I agree, worst thing that could happen is get 5 in and then none make it to the round of 16. You know the Valley would hear about it next year as well as Valley RPI is overated.

Actually what you said is that we must get a team to the sweet 16.

Again, my opinion is I don't know if the Valley has a top 16 team. Maybe we'll get and upset or two - I hope we do.