Gophers Still Have A Good Chance at NCAA Berth

[Dwight Schrute]

If The Gophers Win out, lets face the facts, We are In the NCAA Touney!! If We Don't We are in the NIT. The Schrute Home says never give up!

- Hopefully the NCAA will take it into account that we should have beat Michigan State and Purdue!

- Lets hope the NCAA selection committee takes it into account that we lost two of our top recruits

- We likely should have between 25-27 wins by not losing our top recruits and by winning games we should not have lost. Like Obamba projecting the number of jobs saved by the stimulous, I am projecting the games we would have/should have won. Lets hope the selection committee thinks like Obamba....

- Its time to be positive

[rcpratt]

Should have beat Purdue? I don't think that's the way most people are going to remember tonight. I think they'll remember Purdue being up 26-14 (or something), and then Hummel going down after scoring 11 of those.

[GopherFish]

Gophers have close to ZERO chance for an at large birth. Only route to NCAAs is winning the tournament.

[Dwight Schrute]

Like I stated, If we win out, we are in! FACT!

[GopherFish]

Good chance?? LMAO at that statement. Chances of winning tournament have to be about 5%. So you are saying 5% is a good chance?? I'll take the other side of that bet any day.

[GopherFish]

Like I stated, If we win out, we are in! FACT!

That's not what your headline says.

[Dwight Schrute]

We have a chance. And if we win out, we are in! I only speak the Facts!

[Gopherocious]

I do know that Dwight Schrute only speaks facts. Either way, this loss is one of the worst I have felt in a loooooooooong time. Simply devastating.

[howeda7]

If we win our last 3 regular season and 2 in the BTT we have an OK shot. Nothing short of that will do it.

FWIW, the Selection Comittee does not take into account missing recruits. Only injuries and only if the player will return for the tournament. None of which applies to the Gophers.

[Dwight Schrute]

I do know that Dwight Schrute only speaks facts. Either way, this loss is one of the worst I have felt in a loooooooooong time. Simply devastating.

Be positive, This was a good loss tonight. You can build a team around a loss like this. They were the #3 NCAA team in the world and we only lost by 1 point. Some losses are good and this was one of them. We played this game the right way, I would rather lose one like this then win one by not doing it the right way and getting lucky. Purdue should be more upset with this win then we should be by losing by 1 point if you ask me.

[fan of Ray Williams]

I'm getting weary......

[9194Gophs]

The NIT will be great experience for the Gophers next season, look what it has done for Penn State!!!

[GopherNation]

We need to win at least the next 5 games to be on the bubble, and 6 to get in. And pray Illinois bows out of the tourney early.

22-11 should be good enough for a tourney birth

[macgopher]

Schrute, the season is dead, without a tourney win. Hardly see them winning at Illinois after this loss, and yes, Westbrook is a head case, he cost the team dearly tonight. He certainly doesn't mean too, but he did. Game-set-match.

[Dwight Schrute]

If we win out we are in the NCAA.....Lets be positive. A loss like this might propell us to hit that next level and gel at the right time? Tubby can pull us together.

[Dwight Schrute]

I've played on some teams where losses really pulled us together as a team. If you have the right attitude, a loss can be a win if you view it this way. If the Gophers can view it this way, staying positive, they can win-out. We proved it tonight we can play with any team in the country.

[Friend Of Tubby]

We need to win at least the next 5 games to be on the bubble, and 6 to get in. And pray Illinois bows out of the tourney early.

22-11 should be good enough for a tourney birth

22 W on March 14 has a good chance of earning NCAA bid.

But it's LONGshot to get to 22 W.

[gopherbadgerman]

If The Gophers Win out, lets face the facts, We are In the NCAA Touney!! If We Don't We are in the NIT. The Schrute Home says never give up!

- Hopefully the NCAA will take it into account that we should have beat Michigan State and Purdue!

- Lets hope the NCAA selection committee takes it into account that we lost two of our top recruits

- We likely should have between 25-27 wins by not losing our top recruits and by winning games we should not have lost. Like Obamba projecting the number of jobs saved by the stimulous, I am projecting the games we would have/should have won. Lets hope the selection committee thinks like Obamba....

- Its time to be positive

Well you are positive, that is for sure. Also you must buy your kool-aid in 50 gallon buckets...

[gopherbadgerman]

Be positive, This was a good loss tonight. You can build a team around a loss like this. They were the #3 NCAA team in the world and we only lost by 1 point. Some losses are good and this was one of them. We played this game the right way, I would rather lose one like this then win one by not doing it the right way and getting lucky. Purdue should be more upset with this win then we should be by losing by 1 point if you ask me.

IMO, no such thing as a good loss. I would not want to be a fan of a team that builds around blown leads at home...I thought the Gophs played well tonight. Purdue is just pain better.

[macgopher]

Schrute, like the attitude, but not much time and no room for error. It could happen, but like the commercial, odds better getting mauled by a polar bear and a regular bear on the same day......

[Dwight Schrute]

Team USA Hockey in 1980 were better because they lost to the Russians just prior to the Olympics. The Gophers need to use this as their loss to the Russians. A loss can be a win if you let it. I say we won tonight...

Just remember, you don't pull Tretiak (the USSR Goalie), that is who got you there. So the Gophers should not pull Iverson, Westbrook, etc. We need to gel as a team....

[Flash23]

If The Gophers Win out, lets face the facts, We are In the NCAA Touney!! If We Don't We are in the NIT. The Schrute Home says never give up!

- Hopefully the NCAA will take it into account that we should have beat Michigan State and Purdue!

- Lets hope the NCAA selection committee takes it into account that we lost two of our top recruits

- We likely should have between 25-27 wins by not losing our top recruits and by winning games we should not have lost. Like Obamba projecting the number of jobs saved by the stimulous, I am projecting the games we would have/should have won. Lets hope the selection committee thinks like Obamba....

- Its time to be positive

What is the name of the drug you are taking? I want to be on it too.

[Dwight Schrute]

What is the name of the drug you are taking? I want to be on it too.

Positivityacillin !!!! Prescription Only!

[BrooklynBadger_Gopher_Fan]

If The Gophers Win out, lets face the facts, We are In the NCAA Touney!! If We Don't We are in the NIT. The Schrute Home says never give up!

- Hopefully the NCAA will take it into account that we should have beat Michigan State and Purdue!

- Lets hope the NCAA selection committee takes it into account that we lost two of our top recruits

- We likely should have between 25-27 wins by not losing our top recruits and by winning games we should not have lost. Like Obamba projecting the number of jobs saved by the stimulous, I am projecting the games we would have/should have won. Lets hope the selection committee thinks like Obamba....

- Its time to be positive

I totally agree they still have a chance... it's not going to be easy, but it's doable

[millions2spare]

matury was just on the air--he thinks we have a great chance too!

[underground629]

Yes, should've beat Purdue. Do you really want to get into a debate about missing personnel? We should've won because we were up almost the entire second half and flopped in the last minute like usual. That's why we should've won. Injuries happen and so do suspensions as you've seen. Obviously the loss of Hummel hurt, but you guys couldn't figure out how to beat the zone either.


Should have beat Purdue? I don't think that's the way most people are going to remember tonight. I think they'll remember Purdue being up 26-14 (or something), and then Hummel going down after scoring 11 of those.

[The Big L]

Team USA Hockey in 1980 were better because they lost to the Russians just prior to the Olympics. The Gophers need to use this as their loss to the Russians. A loss can be a win if you let it. I say we won tonight...

Just remember, you don't pull Tretiak (the USSR Goalie), that is who got you there. So the Gophers should not pull Iverson, Westbrook, etc. We need to gel as a team....

http://www.memedepot.com/uploads/0/207_not_sure_if_serious.jpg

[Dwight Schrute]

Nice Picture!! Again, we need to build on this loss and win out, then we are in! I thnk Maturi has the same attitude I do, Thus we are winners, even in loses we win with the right attitude.

[Missed-layup]

WOW.....This team is NIT bound!

[underground629]

Really?! Nobody had any idea that you thought that!


WOW.....This team is NIT bound!

[tjgopher]

Should have beat Purdue? I don't think that's the way most people are going to remember tonight. I think they'll remember Purdue being up 26-14 (or something), and then Hummel going down after scoring 11 of those.

That doesn't take away from the fact that the Gophers controlled the portion of the game without Hummel and should have won this specific game. Absolutely should have. Nine point lead with nine minutes left. Four point lead with 90 seconds left.

Sure, if Hummel remained healthy, it looked like a PU runaway. But, that isn't how the game played out. Minnesota controlled the game, Purdue looked lost on offense for about 17 minutes. Grant hit two big shots late to win it.

In the world of "should have wons" this was definitely a "should have won" for Minnesota.

[barniac]

We cab definitely still get in Saturdays game at Illinois is huge Bracket School still has us on its first four out list http://www.bracketschool.com/

Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[underground629]

Thank you. That comment really bothered me as well. It should've been a win because of how the game played out. The fact that Purdue is better and that Hummel got hurt are irrelevant to the argument that we should've won because of how the game turned out.


That doesn't take away from the fact that the Gophers controlled the portion of the game without Hummel and should have won this specific game. Absolutely should have. Nine point lead with nine minutes left. Four point lead with 90 seconds left.

Sure, if Hummel remained healthy, it looked like a PU runaway. But, that isn't how the game played out. Minnesota controlled the game, Purdue looked lost on offense for about 17 minutes. Grant hit two big shots late to win it.

In the world of "should have wons" this was definitely a "should have won" for Minnesota.

[ruralgopher]

Learn your rules, Learn your rules, If you don't you'll be eaten by a bear.

Love the moniker.

[Missed-layup]

Really?! Nobody had any idea that you thought that!


You've been fighting me the entire way but all along, from my very first prognostication, I have been right on. You might not like my methodology, but you should learn to like my accuracy. Just think the pain you might have missed out on if you would have realized earlier on that I was right and this was just a mediocre team. You and the Schrute boy can keep thinking we are destined for greatness.

[XMan]

The only way we make the NCAA's is to win the big ten tourney. Doesn't look likely. But keep cheering every game and always support the team!

[rcpratt]

The only way we make the NCAA's is to win the big ten tourney. Doesn't look likely. But keep cheering every game and always support the team!
Watch out, you might get burned at the stake around here for saying that the Gophers winning the BTT looks unlikely.

[underground629]

Last I checked there's still the BTT, and I never said you were wrong about predicting the NIT. I just said, like many others, that you don't need to tell us that 50 times. We get it. What else were you accurate about besides something that hasn't even happened yet? Just curious. You came to this board saying we were a mediocre team after we had lost a ton of games. Good work. Where did I say this wasn't a mediocre team btw?


You've been fighting me the entire way but all along, from my very first prognostication, I have been right on. You might not like my methodology, but you should learn to like my accuracy. Just think the pain you might have missed out on if you would have realized earlier on that I was right and this was just a mediocre team. You and the Schrute boy can keep thinking we are destined for greatness.

[nuggett]

If The Gophers Win out, lets face the facts, We are In the NCAA Touney!! If We Don't We are in the NIT. The Schrute Home says never give up!

- Hopefully the NCAA will take it into account that we should have beat Michigan State and Purdue!

- Lets hope the NCAA selection committee takes it into account that we lost two of our top recruits

- We likely should have between 25-27 wins by not losing our top recruits and by winning games we should not have lost. Like Obamba projecting the number of jobs saved by the stimulous, I am projecting the games we would have/should have won. Lets hope the selection committee thinks like Obamba....

- Its time to be positive

I would rather see someone with a positive attitude than a negative one.
You are definitely positive and that's always a good thing for a fan to be.

RE: Should have beaten Mich St and Purdue.
The NCAA does not look at who you should have beaten, they look at who you did beat.
Otherwise they could just fill in the brackets at the start of the year by looking over a
teams schedule Team A SHOULD beat Team B and so on.

RE: Losing top recruits.
They base it on how you played with what you have. ALL teams face adversity. Purdue
just lost their top player. Other teams have lost players this season for one reason or
another and those teams play on.

If there is a bright spot for the Gophers as of late it is this.
The NCAA puts more weight on how you finish the season as opposed to how you start.
They like to see teams playing better at the end of the year. In spite of the Purdue loss
the Gophers have been playing better the last week. If they can win out the last 3 and
make a STRONG BTT run then who knows? Never say never. I do think the NCAA would
like to see Tubby get in and if they were on the last team in and it was a tie between
Tubby and another coach and all else was equal I think the Gophers would get the nod.

All they can do is play their best, win the games and see what happens. If its the NIT
this year then so be it. It could be a great tool to learn from and to use for next year.

Keep up the attitude though, it can't hurt

[Missed-layup]

I would rather see someone with a positive attitude than a negative one.
You are definitely positive and that's always a good thing for a fan to be.

RE: Should have beaten Mich St and Purdue.
The NCAA does not look at who you should have beaten, they look at who you did beat.
Otherwise they could just fill in the brackets at the start of the year by looking over a
teams schedule Team A SHOULD beat Team B and so on.

RE: Losing top recruits.
They base it on how you played with what you have. ALL teams face adversity. Purdue
just lost their top player. Other teams have lost players this season for one reason or
another and those teams play on.

If there is a bright spot for the Gophers as of late it is this.
The NCAA puts more weight on how you finish the season as opposed to how you start.
They like to see teams playing better at the end of the year. In spite of the Purdue loss
the Gophers have been playing better the last week. If they can win out the last 3 and
make a STRONG BTT run then who knows? Never say never. I do think the NCAA would
like to see Tubby get in and if they were on the last team in and it was a tie between
Tubby and another coach and all else was equal I think the Gophers would get the nod.

All they can do is play their best, win the games and see what happens. If its the NIT
this year then so be it. It could be a great tool to learn from and to use for next year.

Keep up the attitude though, it can't hurt

Half the people in here are in a Wacker/Brewster type of positivity cult that denies reality at all costs. Its ridiculous and sad. Being positive is a good thing as long as its based in reality, but all these jokers in here who keep thinking we can get to the big dance are only fooling themselves. This team has a long way to go and the quicker they realize this the quicker we will start to get better as we accurately realize the predicament we are in.

[underground629]

Way to respond. I guess you were wrong.


Half the people in here are in a Wacker/Brewster type of positivity cult that denies reality at all costs. Its ridiculous and sad. Being positive is a good thing as long as its based in reality, but all these jokers in here who keep thinking we can get to the big dance are only fooling themselves. This team has a long way to go and the quicker they realize this the quicker we will start to get better as we accurately realize the predicament we are in.

[howeda7]

Half the people in here are in a Wacker/Brewster type of positivity cult that denies reality at all costs. Its ridiculous and sad. Being positive is a good thing as long as its based in reality, but all these jokers in here who keep thinking we can get to the big dance are only fooling themselves. This team has a long way to go and the quicker they realize this the quicker we will start to get better as we accurately realize the predicament we are in.

I don't think anyone is denying reality. There's nothing wrong with keeping hope alive until all possible scenerios have exhausted themselves. There's certainly nothing 'ridiculous and sad' about it. That would more aptly describe you.

Believing that a team that's lost tons of close games this year, might eventually catch a break and win a couple is not unreasonable. The fans on this message board don't need to quit 'fooling themelves and start to get better.' What does that even mean? We have no direct impact on the direction of the team. How will Gopher basketball be better off if we all accept NIT fate? The team surely has not accepted this yet, and either way there's nothing to be gained from it, save slightly increasing the playing time of one or two people.

Face it, you're a border-line troll who gets off on being able to say 'I screamed NIT first!'. Hardly a great accomplishment. But whatever makes you feel better about yourself.

[Section201]

I don't think anyone is denying reality. There's nothing wrong with keeping hope alive until all possible scenerios have exhausted themselves. There's certainly nothing 'ridiculous and sad' about it. That would more aptly describe you.

Believing that a team that's lost tons of close games this year, might eventually catch a break and win a couple is not unreasonable. The fans on this message board don't need to quit 'fooling themelves and start to get better.' What does that even mean? We have no direct impact on the direction of the team. How will Gopher basketball be better off if we all accept NIT fate? The team surely has not accepted this yet, and either way there's nothing to be gained from it, save slightly increasing the playing time of one or two people.

Face it, you're a border-line troll who gets off on being able to say 'I screamed NIT first!'. Hardly a great accomplishment. But whatever makes you feel better about yourself.


I have to think Art or BGF was first!

In any case, that accomplishment and $4 will get you a nice cup of joe at Starbucks.

:D

[stocker08]

If we win our last three games and two in the tournament......I think we will still have a shot.

[Missed-layup]

I have to think Art or BGF was first!

In any case, that accomplishment and $4 will get you a nice cup of joe at Starbucks.

:D

I believe I was the first to say this team was NIT bound. Search the Archives...Quit trying to trump my accuracy and logic.

I think Tubby is a realist and does not sugar coat things, nor does he give the boys false hope. He knows they need to dig deeper to reach the next level. That is why I am a big Tubby fan.

Being a Sid Hartman, Tim Brewster, Jim Wacker Positivinarian gets you nothing other then massive disappointment when you realize the energy you expelled was false while blindly following a mediocre team. I just hope some of those who hit bottom can recover without another prescription added to the list.

I just read a book called "How We Decide" by Jonah Lehrer and he talks about some studies that were done on political prognosticators and their accuracy in predicting the elections. These were some of the top experts in the nation. They found in these studies those who could not predict outcomes usually committed the central error, diagnosed by the researcher Tetlock, which was the "sin of certainty". When pundits were convinced that they were right, they ignored any inner brain areas that implied they might be wrong. The people on television (or in the GH) who are most certain are almost certainly going to be wrong. As Tetlock writes, "The dominant danger [for pundits] remains hubris, the vice of closed-mindedness, of dismissing dissonant possibilities too quickly."

I think many in this room fall into the trap of Hubris and definitely prefer to dismiss different ideas too quickly, thus are probably consistently wrong.

[MillionMoves]

If The Gophers Win out, We are In the NCAA Touney!(sic)

If ifs and buts were candy and nuts ...

[beowulftom]

I believe I was the first to say this team was NIT bound. Search the Archives...Quit trying to trump my accuracy and logic.

I think Tubby is a realist and does not sugar coat things, nor does he give the boys false hope. He knows they need to dig deeper to reach the next level. That is why I am a big Tubby fan.

Being a Sid Hartman, Tim Brewster, Jim Wacker Positivinarian gets you nothing other then massive disappointment when you realize the energy you expelled was false while blindly following a mediocre team. I just hope some of those who hit bottom can recover without another prescription added to the list.

I just read a book called "How We Decide" by Jonah Lehrer and he talks about some studies that were done on political prognosticators and their accuracy in predicting the elections. These were some of the top experts in the nation. They found in these studies those who could not predict outcomes usually committed the central error, diagnosed by the researcher Tetlock, which was the "sin of certainty". When pundits were convinced that they were right, they ignored any inner brain areas that implied they might be wrong. The people on television (or in the GH) who are most certain are almost certainly going to be wrong. As Tetlock writes, "The dominant danger [for pundits] remains hubris, the vice of closed-mindedness, of dismissing dissonant possibilities too quickly."

I think many in this room fall into the trap of Hubris and definitely prefer to dismiss different ideas too quickly, thus are probably consistently wrong.

You can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig.
You can wrap pseudo-logic and fancy quotes around your cynicism, it's still cynicism.

[gopherbadgerman]

I di think if they win the last 2 and 2 in the B10 tourney they will be in. But anything less than that and I dont even think they are on the bubble

[fan of Ray Williams]

Half the people in here are in a Wacker/Brewster type of positivity cult that denies reality at all costs. Its ridiculous and sad. Being positive is a good thing as long as its based in reality, but all these jokers in here who keep thinking we can get to the big dance are only fooling themselves. This team has a long way to go and the quicker they realize this the quicker we will start to get better as we accurately realize the predicament we are in.

Dude, why does it bother you when people hold on to hope? Big deal! People on here are passionate Gopher fans. Isn't the word fan derived from fanatic? Gophers lose their next two, I'm still all about them winning the Big Ten Tourney. Why not?

[macgopher]

112 of 116 teams with 10 wins in major conferences went to the NCAA tournament in recent years, since tournament expansion, but two of the four that have missed did so in the last two years.

[Section201]

112 of 116 teams with 10 wins in major conferences went to the NCAA tournament in recent years, since tournament expansion, but two of the four that have missed did so in the last two years.

Yes, and one of the other two was the 1996 Golden Gophers!

:mad:

[VarmintKong]

I believe I was the first to say this team was NIT bound. Search the Archives...Quit trying to trump my accuracy and logic.

I think Tubby is a realist and does not sugar coat things, nor does he give the boys false hope. He knows they need to dig deeper to reach the next level. That is why I am a big Tubby fan.

Being a Sid Hartman, Tim Brewster, Jim Wacker Positivinarian gets you nothing other then massive disappointment when you realize the energy you expelled was false while blindly following a mediocre team. I just hope some of those who hit bottom can recover without another prescription added to the list.

I just read a book called "How We Decide" by Jonah Lehrer and he talks about some studies that were done on political prognosticators and their accuracy in predicting the elections. These were some of the top experts in the nation. They found in these studies those who could not predict outcomes usually committed the central error, diagnosed by the researcher Tetlock, which was the "sin of certainty". When pundits were convinced that they were right, they ignored any inner brain areas that implied they might be wrong. The people on television (or in the GH) who are most certain are almost certainly going to be wrong. As Tetlock writes, "The dominant danger [for pundits] remains hubris, the vice of closed-mindedness, of dismissing dissonant possibilities too quickly."

I think many in this room fall into the trap of Hubris and definitely prefer to dismiss different ideas too quickly, thus are probably consistently wrong.

Might be one of the stupidest things I've ever read on GH.

If people choose to be hopeful, why do you care? I don't think many people here believe there is a scenario that makes us a lock other than winning the BTT. But if we win 4 more games, I think we are definitely a bubble team. Aren't true fans suppose to hope for the best? (unless you want the coach to get fired)

I have no problem with you giving up any hope of this team making the tourney, but let others have their opinions as well. Just because you have given up on this team doesn't mean we have to.

[Rosemountian]

Tourney Chances if the gophers

Win the next two and:
beat a top 5 team in the conference in the BTT = lock
Avoid a bad loss (to a bottom 5 team in the conference) = 70%
Have a bad loss = 40%

Win one of the next two and:
Win 3 BTT games = lock
Win 2 BTT games = 40%
Win 1 BTT game = 10%
Win 0 BTT games = Out

Win 0 of the next 2:
Win 4 BTT games = Automatic Bid
Win 3 BTT games = 20%
Win 2 BTT games = Out

[Missed-layup]

Tourney Chances if the gophers

Win the next two and:
beat a top 5 team in the conference in the BTT = lock
Avoid a bad loss (to a bottom 5 team in the conference) = 70%
Have a bad loss = 40%

Win one of the next two and:
Win 3 BTT games = lock
Win 2 BTT games = 40%
Win 1 BTT game = 10%
Win 0 BTT games = Out

Win 0 of the next 2:
Win 4 BTT games = Automatic Bid
Win 3 BTT games = 20%
Win 2 BTT games = Out

We have to win the next two, which we should then win at least 2 in the Big 10 Tourney to even be on the bubble. That would give us 21 wins. We have to win our next 2 or else we would have to win the Big 10 tourney. This win at Illinois was a pleasant surprise and kept the dream alive!

[Friend Of Tubby]

Might be one of the stupidest things I've ever read on GH.

How do you narrow it down (for that poster)?

[Brew_recruit]

Should have beat Purdue? I don't think that's the way most people are going to remember tonight. I think they'll remember Purdue being up 26-14 (or something), and then Hummel going down after scoring 11 of those.

I see no one feeling sorry for us that our best player wasn't on the court, or our best rebounded, or our starting PG.

[Rosemountian]

We have to win the next two, which we should then win at least 2 in the Big 10 Tourney to even be on the bubble. That would give us 21 wins. We have to win our next 2 or else we would have to win the Big 10 tourney. This win at Illinois was a pleasant surprise and kept the dream alive!

you are dumb and no absolutely nothing about bracketology.
They win the next 2 and they have to win 2 to even be on the bubble?

I'll have what you're having

[Missed-layup]

you are dumb and no absolutely nothing about bracketology.
They win the next 2 and they have to win 2 to even be on the bubble?

I'll have what you're having

I guess I missed something. We need to get to at least 21 wins to be even looked at for NCAA tourney. Why is this statement outlandish? I think 22 wins would be a certainty but 21 will likely not get us there.

[Dwight Schrute]

I knew the loss to Purdue would launch us into a good run. We just need to keep it going. Like I have said many times, that Purdue loss was a good loss and will be the reason we will make it to the dance. We just need to win 3 more games and I think we are in the show. This ILL win showed my theory might be correct. We just need to remember the Purdue loss and use this to propell our season. Let's keep it positive and we will continue to win.

[GophersOnTheRise]

No, we clearly need to get 30 wins and 15 conference wins if we want to be looked at. Anything less and were in the CBI. Right?

[Rosemountian]

I think if we win the BTT we might get looked at. Probably not in though

[GophersOnTheRise]

I think if we win the BTT we might get looked at. Probably not in though

Definitely wouldn't be a lock. We all know there is a set number of wins that we need to have in order to get looked at. No exceptions.

[Friend Of Tubby]

Definitely wouldn't be a lock. We all know there is a set number of wins that we need to have in order to get looked at. No exceptions.

Nope. BTT champ gets in regardless. Even someone as dumb as you knows that.

[GophersOnTheRise]

Nope. BTT champ gets in regardless. Even someone as dumb as you knows that.

Haha ouch. I guess I forgot :).

[Missed-layup]

you are dumb and no absolutely nothing about bracketology.
They win the next 2 and they have to win 2 to even be on the bubble?

I'll have what you're having

Where do you get your info on the "bracketology?" you are using...

[GophersOnTheRise]

If you go to the ESPN scoreboard for tuesday and change the drop-down menu to "bubble watch" the Gopher game is listed on it. Not sure how loosely they define bubble teams in that, but it can't be a bad sign.

[hyaluronic]

you are dumb and no absolutely nothing about bracketology.
They win the next 2 and they have to win 2 to even be on the bubble?

I'll have what you're having

Unfortunately it is accurate. Let's put it this way:

-We are a bubble out team right now
-The bubble will almost certainly shrink
-Generally speaking, as many teams will play themselves into the discussion as will play out
-Now assuming we remain the six seed in the Big Ten, our next three games will be against teams with less than a 100 RPI.
-Any losses in these games is a "bad loss."
-Any wins in these games does nothing.
-So, if we win the next three, we are a bubble out team, on a shrinking bubble. We will still be out...
-After a first round win, we will be playing the B10 three seed.
-This is our first opportunity to improve our resume.
-If we win on a neutral court, our resume looks relatively strong, minus a low RPI.
-With a shrinking bubble, this probably puts us in, but it is not a sure-fire bet.
-If we lose one of the next two BT games, we will need two significant wins, at least, to be a legitimate contender, AKA, we'll need to be in the conference tournament finals, to have a SHOT. You could argue we would need to win the BTT at this point.
-If we lose our next two BT games, our only chance is to win the BTT.

Anyways, winning our next four games gives us a decent chance of making the dance. Anything more puts us as a lock, anything less and we are living on a prayer.

[macgopher]

A suggestion. There is a way we might so to speak "back in." But it isn't really backing in if we win out in conference.

Anyway, Illinois could easily lose the next two games that they play. Should Minnesota win both of the last two, fifth place in conference. I may be wrong, but I don't think that fifth place has ever missed the tourney, probably the last wild card in this scenario complicating it would be Illinois winning the tourney.

[hyaluronic]

They give bids to teams, not conferences. We want Illinois to do well, as it makes our win against them look better. Of course, if they lose out, there is an extra seat in the tournament. Then again, we then would be in need of another quality victory. Miami (Fl) is considered a bad lostt by realtime RPI now, and Northwestern is dangerously close to becoming a bad loss. Personally, I would like to see Illinois win out and secure their bid, and it makes us look that much better by beating them on the road.

[Sour1729]

A suggestion. There is a way we might so to speak "back in." But it isn't really backing in if we win out in conference.

Anyway, Illinois could easily lose the next two games that they play. Should Minnesota win both of the last two, fifth place in conference. I may be wrong, but I don't think that fifth place has ever missed the tourney, probably the last wild card in this scenario complicating it would be Illinois winning the tourney.

Didn't Mike Davis make a big stink about being the fourth place team in the Big Ten and not getting in the tourney? This was in '04-'05 when we tied Indiana for fourth and we got the invite. They were 15-13 that season, but 10-6 in the Big Ten.

[macgopher]

hyaluronic They give bids to teams, not conferences. We want Illinois to do well, as it makes our win against them look better. Of course, if they lose out, there is an extra seat in the tournament. Then again, we then would be in need of another quality victory. Miami (Fl) is considered a bad lostt by realtime RPI now, and Northwestern is dangerously close to becoming a bad loss. Personally, I would like to see Illinois win out and secure their bid, and it makes us look that much better by beating them on the road.

Sour1729 Didn't Mike Davis make a big stink about being the fourth place team in the Big Ten and not getting in the tourney? This was in '04-'05 when we tied Indiana for fourth and we got the invite. They were 15-13 that season, but 10-6 in the Big Ten.

Good points. Agreed that the NCAA gives bids to teams not conferences, except that the Big Ten stature is hard to ignore, hard for selection people to ignore that. Then again, didn't know 04-05 happened either.

[Rex]

Should Minnesota win both of the last two, fifth place in conference. I may be wrong, but I don't think that fifth place has ever missed the tourney, probably the last wild card in this scenario complicating it would be Illinois winning the tourney.

I know some of you "old timers of the board" will remember this quote from Mike Davis(former Hoosier head coach). We had a pretty good time with it.

On Indiana's NCAA chances:
"We're in fourth place. We are the fourth seed. We won 10 games, you do the math."

http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/031105aai.html

Coach Davis said that after 5th seeded Minnesota beat 4th seeded Indiana in 2005. Both teams finished 10-6 in the conference. We went to the NCAAs(finished 21-11). Indy went to the NIT(finished15-14). Gophers had an RPI in the 40's, Hoosiers in the 80's.
Pomeroy had the Gophers 43, Indy 52.
I realize that our overall record isn't as bad as that Hoosier team,but a 4th seed(tied for 4th place) has been left out of the NCAAs.

Hoosiers 04-05 schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/schedule?teamId=84&year=2005
Gophers 04-05 schedule: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/teams/schedule?teamId=135&year=2005

[Rosemountian]

Where do you get your info on the "bracketology?" you are using...

They are already on the bubble genius. If they don't lose till they play the 3 seed in the 3-6 game, you think they will get knocked out of consideration?

[Rosemountian]

Unfortunately it is accurate. Let's put it this way:

-We are a bubble out team right now
-The bubble will almost certainly shrink
-Generally speaking, as many teams will play themselves into the discussion as will play out
-Now assuming we remain the six seed in the Big Ten, our next three games will be against teams with less than a 100 RPI.
-Any losses in these games is a "bad loss."
-Any wins in these games does nothing.
-So, if we win the next three, we are a bubble out team, on a shrinking bubble. We will still be out...
-After a first round win, we will be playing the B10 three seed.
-This is our first opportunity to improve our resume.
-If we win on a neutral court, our resume looks relatively strong, minus a low RPI.
-With a shrinking bubble, this probably puts us in, but it is not a sure-fire bet.
-If we lose one of the next two BT games, we will need two significant wins, at least, to be a legitimate contender, AKA, we'll need to be in the conference tournament finals, to have a SHOT. You could argue we would need to win the BTT at this point.
-If we lose our next two BT games, our only chance is to win the BTT.

Anyways, winning our next four games gives us a decent chance of making the dance. Anything more puts us as a lock, anything less and we are living on a prayer.

The statement that was made was they need to win 4 more games to even be on the bubble. They already are on the bubble. If they win the next 2 plus one in the conference tourney and then lose in the 3-6 game. They will receive strong consideration.

Going 3-1 and losing to a top 20 RPI team doesn't take you from the bubble to a definite out.

[GopherJake]

The people on television (or in the GH) who are most certain are almost certainly going to be wrong. As Tetlock writes, "The dominant danger [for pundits] remains hubris, the vice of closed-mindedness, of dismissing dissonant possibilities too quickly."

I couldn't help but notice that you seem quite certain that you are right. Hmmmmm.

[Missed-layup]

Unfortunately it is accurate. Let's put it this way:

-We are a bubble out team right now
-The bubble will almost certainly shrink
-Generally speaking, as many teams will play themselves into the discussion as will play out
-Now assuming we remain the six seed in the Big Ten, our next three games will be against teams with less than a 100 RPI.
-Any losses in these games is a "bad loss."
-Any wins in these games does nothing.
-So, if we win the next three, we are a bubble out team, on a shrinking bubble. We will still be out...
-After a first round win, we will be playing the B10 three seed.
-This is our first opportunity to improve our resume.
-If we win on a neutral court, our resume looks relatively strong, minus a low RPI.
-With a shrinking bubble, this probably puts us in, but it is not a sure-fire bet.
-If we lose one of the next two BT games, we will need two significant wins, at least, to be a legitimate contender, AKA, we'll need to be in the conference tournament finals, to have a SHOT. You could argue we would need to win the BTT at this point.
-If we lose our next two BT games, our only chance is to win the BTT.

Anyways, winning our next four games gives us a decent chance of making the dance. Anything more puts us as a lock, anything less and we are living on a prayer.

Well said!

[Missed-layup]

I couldn't help but notice that you seem quite certain that you are right. Hmmmmm.

I am certain, but not to the point where I won't hear others opinions nor consider that I might be wrong. I am open minded enough to be challenged, and on GH, verbally abused. Sometimes I feel like the Rodney King of this place. But I am a tough "Mo' Fo", thus I continue to attempt to change one mind at a time.

[Missed-layup]

They are already on the bubble genius. If they don't lose till they play the 3 seed in the 3-6 game, you think they will get knocked out of consideration?

The only bubble we are on right now is the one you live in. Lets put it this way. If the season were to end today with every team playing the same number of games, the Gophers would not be in, nor would we be considered. Thus we are not on the bubble and won't be on the bubble until we win the next 4 games. That would give us 21 wins then we might be considered but probably not in, thus on the bubble - (this is open for debate).

We have to win the next four to be on the outside edge of some bubble, that you don't live in, and 5 to be a sure thing NCAA team. That would give us 22 wins....

[Reserve]

The only bubble we are on right now is the one you live in. Lets put it this way. If the season were to end today with every team playing the same number of games, the Gophers would not be in, nor would we be considered. Thus we are not on the bubble and won't be on the bubble until we win the next 4 games. That would give us 21 wins then we might be considered but probably not in, thus on the bubble - (this is open for debate).

When people like Lunardi are including us as their last four in/first four out - We're on the bubble.

The extent of your trolling has become impressive.

[Missed-layup]

When people like Lunardi are including us as their last four in/first four out - We're on the bubble.

The extent of your trolling has become impressive.

How can we be on a bubble when if the season ended today, we would not be in or considered? We have to earn our way onto the bubble then into the NCAA tournament. We might be close but we have a ways to go. We are likely splitting hairs here, it does not matter until the season ends.

Put it this way, the Gophers control their own destiny. If they win out, they are in.

[Reserve]

How can we be on a bubble when if the season ended today, we would not be in or considered? We have to earn our way onto the bubble then into the NCAA tournament. We might be close but we have a ways to go. We are likely splitting hairs here, it does not matter until the season ends.

Put it this way, the Gophers control their own destiny. If they win out, they are in.

For Godsake you idiot the season doesn't end today. Any bracket projection is flexible pointing towards an end of the season projection.

No one is splitting hairs. It's been confirmed, you're a troll.

[hyaluronic]

The statement that was made was they need to win 4 more games to even be on the bubble. They already are on the bubble. If they win the next 2 plus one in the conference tourney and then lose in the 3-6 game. They will receive strong consideration.

Going 3-1 and losing to a top 20 RPI team doesn't take you from the bubble to a definite out.

The general consensus is that we are a bubble "out" team. If we win our next three, and lose our fourth, our RPI will be roughly the same, and we will have no more quality wins, and our record against top competition will be one loss worse. You are correct that we will still be on the bubble if we go 3-1. However, as the open positions in the tournament will likely shrink due to a few tournament spoilers, what is currently a "Last Four Out" projection will likely put us out of any serious consideration. Now, if we go 4-1, we've improved our quality wins, our overall record against quality opponents, and our RPI will increase. This gives us a good shot at making the tournament, even with a shrinking bubble.

Now, if we are talking about NCAA births from a hypothetical perspective, yes, 3-1 could get us in the tournament. However, two things would have to happen: 1.) Every team that wins their conference tournament would have made the tournament regardless OR the conference's only possible bid is from the tournament winner; 2.) A few teams that are bubble "in" rack up some bad losses, making their resume worse than ours AND no teams "below" us that are bubble "out" gain any quality wins, preventing their resume from becoming better than ours.

The first point almost never holds, and neither does the second. Some teams will improve their resumes this week, others will play themselves out. Some teams will make an upset run in their conference tournament. It's the way this time of year works.

Basically, our next three games are like walking through a field of landmines. Nothing good can come of it. Our fourth game is where we can make the headway, and make a case for the NCAA tournament.

[SelectionSunday]

"Our fourth game is where we can make the headway, and make a case for the NCAA tournament."

Excellent post. It's possible it might only be the third game, if we can get the #5 seed ahead of Illinois. Then we could avoid the potential nightmare of losing to a crappy team in Thursday's play-in round. Very little good comes out of playing Thursday. That "extra" win would help the Gophers' road/neutral record, but that's about it. As you pointed out, it's the quarterfinals when the Gophers must likely deliver.

[Missed-layup]

For Godsake you idiot the season doesn't end today. Any bracket projection is flexible pointing towards an end of the season projection.

No one is splitting hairs. It's been confirmed, you're a troll.

Seriously, take your pills. You are splitting hairs and we are not even a bubble team. We will be a bubble team when/if we get to 21 wins...

[Missed-layup]

The general consensus is that we are a bubble "out" team. If we win our next three, and lose our fourth, our RPI will be roughly the same, and we will have no more quality wins, and our record against top competition will be one loss worse. You are correct that we will still be on the bubble if we go 3-1. However, as the open positions in the tournament will likely shrink due to a few tournament spoilers, what is currently a "Last Four Out" projection will likely put us out of any serious consideration. Now, if we go 4-1, we've improved our quality wins, our overall record against quality opponents, and our RPI will increase. This gives us a good shot at making the tournament, even with a shrinking bubble.

Now, if we are talking about NCAA births from a hypothetical perspective, yes, 3-1 could get us in the tournament. However, two things would have to happen: 1.) Every team that wins their conference tournament would have made the tournament regardless OR the conference's only possible bid is from the tournament winner; 2.) A few teams that are bubble "in" rack up some bad losses, making their resume worse than ours AND no teams "below" us that are bubble "out" gain any quality wins, preventing their resume from becoming better than ours.

The first point almost never holds, and neither does the second. Some teams will improve their resumes this week, others will play themselves out. Some teams will make an upset run in their conference tournament. It's the way this time of year works.

Basically, our next three games are like walking through a field of landmines. Nothing good can come of it. Our fourth game is where we can make the headway, and make a case for the NCAA tournament.

This analysis is excellent and I agree completely with your assessment of our situation.

[Roland Brooks]

Lotta of IF"S and BUTS- this is the best scenario

Gophers finish 10-8 as does Ill. Gophers are the #5 seed.

Gophers as the #5 seed play Pur who would fall to the #4 seed.. Beat Purdue for win #20 and all be it without Hummel this win would benefit the Gophers most.

My only question is if Pur and Wisc end up tied who would have the tiebreaker? Pur at Penn St will be a game....

[Missed-layup]

I think I would rather play Purdue minus Hummel....That would be an interesting scenario

[SelectionSunday]

"My only question is if Pur and Wisc end up tied who would have the tiebreaker? Pur at Penn St will be a game...."

With the scenario you presented (assuming OSU #1 seed, MSU #2, Badgers-Boilers tied for third, Gophers #5), Purdue would get the #3 seed over the Badgers by virtue of their sweep of the Gophers.

Badgers and Purdue both split with OSU;
both split with MSU;
deciding tiebreaker would be Boilers were 2-0 vs. Gophers, Badgers 0-1 vs. Gophers.

[Dwight Schrute]

I stand corrected. Apparently the Gophers did not use the Purdue loss as a stepping stone!!! We can still get in with 5 wins in the Big Ten Tourny. We need 22 wins!

[millions2spare]

22 wins and we are in